Peracetic acid composition
The invention relates to anti-microbial compositions useful against a wide range of microorganisms undesirable on a wide variety of materials, including food, food contact and non-food contact surfaces, and surfaces in industrial, recreational, health care, and other institutional environments. More particularly, the anti-microbial compositions comprise peracetic acid in combination with a) citric acid or a salt and b) salicylic acid or a salt in aqueous solution.
1. An aqueous composition comprising,
a. an aqueous peracetic acid solution; and
b. an adjuvant comprising (i) salicylic acid or a salt thereof and (ii) citric acid or a salt thereof wherein the salicylic acid or salt thereof and citric acid or salt thereof are in proportionate weight ratios ranging from 1:5 to 1:1 respectively, in a solution matrix of 70-90% glacial acetic acid and 5-30% water.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the salicylic acid and citric acid or their respective salts are dissolved to their solubility limits.
3. The composition of claim 2 further comprising one or more stabilizing agents, wetting agents, hydrotopes, thickeners, foaming agents, acidifiers, pigments, dyes, surfactants, or combinations thereof.
4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the surfactant consists of one or more anionic or nonionic surfactants in concentrations up to 2% selected from the group consisting of C 20 to C 80 polyoxylene sorbitan monooleates, C 5 to C 20 alkyl long chain fatty acid metallic esters and alcohols; and alkylbenzenesulfonic acids and alcohols and/or their metallic ester salts having C 2 to C 20 alkyl groups.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the salicylic acid or salt thereof is sodium salicylate and the citric acid or salt thereof is citric acid.
6. A kit comprising
a. an aqueous peracetic acid solution; and
b. an adjuvant comprising (i) salicylic acid or a salt thereof and (ii) citric acid or a salt thereof wherein the salicylic acid or salt thereof and citric acid or salt thereof are in proportionate weight ratios ranging from 1:5 to 1:1 respectively, in a solution matrix of 70-90% glacial acetic acid and 5-30% water.
7. A method of reducing microbial contamination comprising applying the aqueous composition of claim 1 to a surface in an amount and for a time sufficient to reduce the microbial contamination.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the surface is meat, poultry, seafood, or a portion thereof.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the surface is a plant material selected from the group consisting of a leaf or portion thereof, a stalk or portion thereof, a flower or portion thereof, a fruit or portion thereof, and a vegetable or portion thereof.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the surface is a non-food contact surface.
11. The method of claim 7 further comprising recovering the applied composition and reprocessing the recovered composition to yield a recycled anti-microbial composition.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein the peracetic acid is present at in the aqueous composition at a concentrations ranging up to 1%.
13. The method of claim 7 wherein the salicylic acid or salt thereof is present at up to 20000 ppm.
14. The method of claim 7 wherein the citric acid is present up to 20000 ppm.
15. The method of claim 7 wherein the aqueous composition has a pH value between 1 and 4.5.
16. The aqueous composition of claim 1 , wherein the peracetic acid is present in the aqueous composition at concentrations ranging up to 1%.