Information medium having antiviral properties, and method for making same

1. A method for producing an information medium having antiviral activity, the method comprising:

in the presence of a catalyst, depositing on a surface of a substrate medium an aqueous composition comprising at least lauric acid and glycerol, the substrate medium comprising paper, and the catalyst selected from the group consisting of a zeolite catalyst and a lipase catalyst; and

subsequent to depositing the aqueous composition and in the presence of the catalyst, heating the substrate medium with the aqueous composition deposited thereon, wherein the heating:

comprises subjecting the substrate medium to a temperature of approximately 80° C. to approximately 100° C.,

synthesizes monolaurin, in situ on the substrate medium, from the lauric acid and glycerol, and

dries the substrate medium and the monolaurin synthesized thereon.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is present in the substrate medium prior to deposition of the aqueous composition.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is present in the aqueous composition prior to deposition of the aqueous composition.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the catalyst is present in the aqueous composition in a proportion of at least 2% by weight relative to a total weight of the lauric acid and the glycerol.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating the substrate medium comprises subjecting the substrate medium to a temperature of approximately 90° C. to approximately 100° C.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein heating the substrate medium comprises subjecting the substrate medium to a temperature of approximately 100° C.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glycerol is in molar excess over the lauric acid.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to deposition of the aqueous composition, forming the substrate medium.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising introducing the catalyst into the substrate medium during the formation of the substrate medium.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information medium produced has an antiviral activity of greater than 1 log.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate medium comprises a security element chosen from one or more of a security thread, a watermark, a pattern, a patch, a foil, a planchette, a strip, a printed thread, a metalized thread, and a particle.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the security element is detectable using one or more of ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, visible light, electricity, and magnetism.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate medium comprises cellulose fibers.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate medium comprises cotton fibers.