Composition containing sorbitan monocaprylate and antimicrobial substances

1. A liquid composition consisting of

a) from 50 to 99.9% by weight of sorbitan monocaprylate and

b) from 1 to 50% by weight of at least one antimicrobial active ingredient selected from the group consisting of the components b1) to b5)

b1) organic acids and their salts selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-2 [H]-pyran-2,4[3H]-dione (dehydroacetic acid), p-methoxybenzoic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, undecenoic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and their salts,

b2) formaldehyde donors selected from the group consisting of DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea and sodium hydroxy-methylglycinate,

b3) isothiazolinones selected from the group consisting of aqueous compositions containing from 20 to 80% by weight of methylisothiazolinone, chloromethylisothiazolinone, a mixture of methylisothiazolinone and chloromethyl-isothiazolinone in the ratio 1:3 and benzylisothiazolinone,

b4) paraben esters and their salts selected from the group consisting of methylparaben, sodium methylparaben, ethylparaben, sodium ethylparaben, propylparaben, sodium propylparaben, isobutylparaben, sodium isobutylparaben, butylparaben and sodium butyl-paraben, and

b5) pyridones and their salts selected from the group consisting of 1-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2-pyridone and piroctone olamine.

2. The liquid composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial active ingredient of component b) is selected from the group consisting of the components b1), b3) and b5)

b1) organic acids and their salts selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-2 [H]-pyran-2,4[3H]-dione (dehydroacetic acid), p-methoxybenzoic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, undecenoic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and their salts,

b3) isothiazolinones selected from the group consisting of aqueous compositions containing from 20 to 80% by weight of methylisothiazolinone, chloromethylisothiazolinone, a mixture of methylisothiazolinone and chloromethylisothiazolinone in the ratio 1:3 and benzylisothiazolinone, and

b5) pyridones and their salts selected from the group consisting of 1-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2-pyridone and piroctone olamine.

3. The liquid composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial active ingredient of component b) is selected from the group consisting of the components b1), b3) and b5)

b1) organic acids and their salts selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-2[H]-pyran-2,4[3H]-dione (dehydroacetic acid), p-methoxybenzoic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, undecenoic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and their salts,

b3) an aqueous composition containing from 20 to 80% by weight of methyl isoth iazol inone, and

b5) piroctone olamine.

4. The liquid composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial active ingredient of component b) is selected from the group consisting of the components b1) and b5)

b1) organic acids and their salts selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-2[H]-pyran-2,4[3H]-dione (dehydroacetic acid), p-methoxybenzoic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, undecenoic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and their salts, and

b5) piroctone olamine.

5. The liquid composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial active ingredient of component b) is selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-2[H]-pyran-2,4[3H]-dione (dehydroacetic acid), p-methoxybenzoic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, undecenoic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and their salts.

6. The liquid composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial active ingredient of component b) is selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-2[H]-pyran-2,4[3H]-dione (dehydroacetic acid), p-methoxybenzoic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and their salts.

7. A cosmetic, dermatological or pharmaceutical product, consisting of

a) sorbitan monocaprylate and

b) at least one antimicrobial active ingredient selected from the group consisting of the components b1) and b5)

b1) organic acid and their salt selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-2[H]-pyran-2,4[3H]-dione (dehydroacetic acid), p-methoxybenzoic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, undecenoic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and their salts, and

b 5 ) piroctone olamine.

8. The cosmetic, dermatological or pharmaceutical product as claimed in claim 7 , consisting of

a) sorbitan monocaprylate and

b1) at least one organic acid and/or their salt selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-2[H]-pyran-2,4[3H]-dione (dehydroacetic acid), p-methoxybenzoic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, undecenoic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and their salts.

9. A process for improving the antimicrobial efficacy of at least one of the antimicrobial active ingredients of component b) as claimed in claim 1 consisting of the step of adding sorbitan caprylate with the antimicrobial active ingredient to the liquid composition.

10. The process as claimed in claim 9 for improving the antimicrobial efficacy of at least one organic acid and/or their salt selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, 3-acetyl-6-methyl-2[H]-pyran-2,4[3H]-dione (dehydroacetic acid), p-methoxybenzoic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, undecenoic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and their salts consisting of the step of adding sorbitan caprylate with the at least one organic acid and/or their salt to the liquid composition.