Antimicrobial Composition and Method
An antimicrobial composition containing a cationic polymer having limited antimicrobial activity (such as a hydrophobically-modified quaternary ammonium cellulose ether) and an antimicrobial compound (such as one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of diiodomethyl-para-tolylsulfone, ortho-phenylphenol, sodium pyrithione, zinc pyrithione, 3-iodo-2-propynylbutylcarbamate, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride, 2-(4-thiazolyl)-benzimidazole, β-bromo-β-nitrostyrene, 2,4,4′-trichloro-2-hydroxyphenyl ether, chloroxylenol, chlorocresol, para-tert-amylphenol, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N′-(3,4 dichlorophenyl)-urea, and para-hydroxybenzoic acid esters). The growth of microorganisms (such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) can be inhibited by exposing the microorganism to such a composition.
1 . An antimicrobial composition, comprising: a cationic polymer having limited antimicrobial activity; and an antimicrobial compound.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial compound comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of diiodomethyl-para-tolylsulfone, ortho-phenylphenol, sodium pyrithione, zinc pyrithione, 3-iodo-2-propynylbutylcarbamate, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride, 2-(4-thiazolyl)-benzimidazole, β-bromo-β-nitrostyrene, 2,4,4′-trichloro-2-hydroxyphenyl ether, chloroxylenol, chlorocresol, para-tert-amylphenol, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N′-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea, and para-hydroxybenzoic acid esters.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial compound has a solubility in water of about 0.5 weight percent or less.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cationic polymer is a cationic polysaccharide.
5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cationic polymer is a hydrophobically-modified cationic polysaccharide.
6 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified cationic polysaccharide is a hydrophobically-modified cationic cellulose ether.
7 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial compound comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of DIMTS, OPP, NaPT, ZPT, IPBC, BIT, OIT, TBZ, BNS, 2,4,4′-trichloro-2-hydroxyphenyl ether, chloroxylenol, chlorocresol, PTAP, and N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N′-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea.
8 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of a surfactant, a pH modifiers; a salts; a rheology modifier; a dispersion stabilizers; a chelant; a fragrance; a pigments; a dye, and a UV-active compound.
9 . A method of inhibiting the growth of a microorganism by the step of exposing the microorganism to the composition of claim 1 .
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the microorganism is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
11 . A bactericidal soap composition comprising:
a fatty acid soap; and
an antimicrobial composition according to claim 1 .
12 . The bactericidal soap composition of claim 11 comprising between about 45 weight percent and about 95 weight percent of the fatty acid soap.
13 . The bactericidal soap composition of claim 11 wherein the weight ratio of cationic polymer to antimicrobial compound is between about 200:1 and 1:1.
14 . The bactericidal soap composition of claim 11 wherein the antimicrobial compound is 2,4,4′-trichloro-2-hydroxyphenyl ether, chloroxylenol, chlorocresol, para-tert-amylphenol, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N′-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-urea, or mixtures thereof.
15 . The bactericidal soap composition of claim 11 wherein the cationic polymer is a cationic polysaccharide or a hydrophobically-modified cationic polysaccharide.
16 . The bactericidal soap composition of claim 11 wherein the cationic polymer comprises a hydrophobically-modified cationic polysaccharide.