Disinfecting methods and compositions
A method of disinfecting surfaces said method comprising applying a disinfectant solution to surface to be disinfected and allowing the solvent to evaporate or wiping the excess solution from the surface after a period of time wherein the solution is an antimicrobial metal ion-acid solution.
1 . A disinfectant solution comprising a) an acid solution having a pH of less than 6 whose acid concentration is from about 0.01% to about 10% and b) at least one antimicrobial metal ion source fully or partially dissolved in the acid solution; wherein the acid is present in a molar excess relative to the antimicrobial metal ions, the antimicrobial metal ions are selected from a combination of silver and copper ions, a combination of silver and zinc ions, a combination of copper and zinc ions and a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions and the total level of the antimicrobial metal ions in the solution is from about 20 ppm to about 1000 ppm.
2 . The disinfectant solution of claim 1 further comprising c) a surfactant system containing A) at least one wetting surfactant known for enhancing the wetting or wet out of substrate surfaces with aqueous solutions, B) at least one anionic, non-ionic and/or amphoteric impact surfactant that impacts or interacts with cell wall membranes of microorganisms or (C) a combination of at least one of said wetting surfactant (A) and at least one impact surfactant (B).
3 . A disinfectant solution comprising a) an acid solution having a pH of less than 6 whose acid concentration is from about 0.01% to about 10%; b) at least one antimicrobial metal ion source fully or partially dissolved in the acid solution, and c) a surfactant system containing A) at least one wetting surfactant known for enhancing the wetting or wet out of substrate surfaces with aqueous solutions, B) at least one anionic, non-ionic and/or amphoteric impact surfactant that impacts or interacts with cell wall membranes of microorganisms or (C) a combination of at least one of said wetting surfactant (A) and at least one impact surfactant (B), wherein the acid is present in at least a 2× molar excess relative to the antimicrobial metal ions and the total level of the antimicrobial metal ions in the solution is from about 20 ppm to about 1000 ppm.
4 . The composition of claim 3 wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are selected from the group consisting of silver ions, copper ions, zinc ions, a combination of silver and copper ions, a combination of silver and zinc ions, a combination of copper and zinc ions and a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions.
5 . The disinfectant solution of claim 3 wherein the concentration of antimicrobial metal ions is from about 25 to about 500 ppm.
6 . The disinfectant solution of claim 3 wherein the concentration of the antimicrobial metal ions is from about 50 to about 300 ppm.
7 . The disinfectant solution of claim 3 wherein the pH is from about 1.5 to about 5.
8 . The disinfectant solution of claim 3 wherein the pH is from about 2 to about 4.
9 . The disinfectant solution of claim 3 wherein the molar excess of acid relative to antimicrobial metal ions is at least 5 times molar excess.
10 . The disinfectant solution of claim 3 wherein the concentration of the acid is from about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent.
11 . The disinfectant solution of claim 3 wherein the surfactant is sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium lauryl sulfate, lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, a combination of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and sodium lauryl sulfate, a combination of sodium lauryl sulfate and lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, a combination of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, or a combination of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium lauryl sulfate and lauryl dimethyl amine oxide.
12 . The disinfectant solution of claim 3 wherein the surfactant acts as both an impact surfactant and a wetting surfactant.
13 . A method of disinfecting substrates said method comprising the steps of i) applying to said surface a disinfectant comprising a) an acid solution having a pH of less than 6 whose acid concentration is from about 0.01% to about 10%; b) at least one antimicrobial metal ion source fully or partially dissolved in the acid solution, and c) a surfactant system containing A) at least one wetting surfactant known for enhancing the wetting or wet out of substrate surfaces with aqueous solutions, B) at least one anionic, non-ionic and/or amphoteric impact surfactant that impacts or interacts with cell wall membranes of microorganisms or (C) a combination of at least one of said wetting surfactant (A) and at least one impact surfactant (B), wherein the acid is present in at least a 2× molar excess relative to the antimicrobial metal ions and the total level of the antimicrobial metal ions in the solution is from about 20 ppm to about 1000 ppm. and ii) either allowing the solvent of the solution to evaporate so as to leave an antimicrobial presence on the substrate or, after a short period of time, wiping the excess solution from the surface.
14 . The composition of claim 13 wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are selected from the group consisting of silver ions, copper ions, zinc ions, a combination of silver and copper ions, a combination of silver and zinc ions, a combination of copper and zinc ions and a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions.
15 . The disinfectant solution of claim 13 wherein the concentration of antimicrobial metal ions is from about 25 to about 500 ppm.
16 . The disinfectant solution of claim 13 wherein the concentration of the antimicrobial metal ions is from about 50 to about 300 ppm.
17 . The disinfectant solution of claim 13 wherein the pH is from about 1.5 to about 5.
18 . The disinfectant solution of claim 13 wherein the molar excess of acid relative to antimicrobial metal ions is at least 5 times molar excess.
19 . The disinfectant solution of claim 13 wherein the concentration of the acid is from about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent.
20 . The disinfectant solution of claim 13 wherein the surfactant is sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium lauryl sulfate, lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, a combination of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and sodium lauryl sulfate, a combination of sodium lauryl sulfate and lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, a combination of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, or a combination of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium lauryl sulfate and lauryl dimethyl amine oxide.
21 . The method of claim 13 wherein the targeted microorganism of the disinfectant is M. tuberculosis.