Enhancing the antimicrobial activity of biocides with polymers

1. A composition comprising:

a) 0.05 to 1% b.w. of an antimicrobial agent, which is 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol,

b) 10 to 1000 ppm of a polyethyleneimine, which is an oligomer or polymer grafted with 0.01 to 100 parts by weight of ethylene oxide on 1 part by weight of the polyethyleneimine,

c) water, and

d) 3.5 to 80% b.w. of a surfactant comprising at least one of an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and an amphoteric surfactant, relative to the total weight of the composition;

wherein:

the polyethylenimine and the 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol form a synergistic mixture in which the polyethylenimine enhances antimicrobial activity of the 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol against at least one of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus,

the composition comprises per 1 part by weight of the antimicrobial agent (a) 0.01 to 1 parts by weight of the polyethyleneimine (b),

the composition is in the form of an aqueous composition, and

the composition is free from isothiazolinones.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyethyleneimine has a number-average molecular weight in the range from 500 to 2 000 000 g/mol.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , comprising at least one further component selected from the group consisting of hydrotropic agents, further additives that improve the antimicrobial effect, and agents stabilizing the antimicrobial agent (a) and/or the polyethyleneimine (b) in the formulation.

4. A method of manufacturing a home care formulation or a personal care formulation, the method comprising:

adding the composition of claim 1 to the home care formulation or the personal care formulation;

wherein:

the home care formulation is selected from the group consisting of a disinfectant, all purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, deodorant, fabric conditioner, product for disinfection and sanitization of hard surfaces, floor cleaner, glass cleaner, kitchen cleaner, bath cleaner, sanitary cleaner, hygiene rinse product for fabrics, carpet cleaner, furniture cleaner, or a product for conditioning, sealing, caring or treating hard and soft surfaces; and

the personal care formulation is selected from the group consisting of a deodorant, skin care preparation, bath preparation, cosmetic care preparation, foot-care preparation, light-protective preparation, skin-tanning preparation, depigmenting preparation, insect-repellent, antiperspirant, preparation for cleansing and caring for blemished skin, hair-removal preparation, shaving preparation, fragrance preparation, cosmetic hair-treatment preparation, antidandruff preparation and oral care composition.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the water is present in an amount of at least 57 wt. % relative to the composition.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises the anionic surfactant.

7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises the cationic surfactant.

8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises the nonionic surfactant.

9. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises the amphoteric surfactant.

10. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of a solution.

11. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 0.1 to 1% b.w. of the antimicrobial agent (a).

12. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 50 to 1000 ppm of the polyethyleneimine (b).

13. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 80 to 1000 ppm of the polyethyleneimine (b).

14. The composition according to claim 13 , wherein the composition comprises 0.1 to 1% b.w. of the antimicrobial agent (a).