Process for removing dry surface biofilm

1. A process for removing dry surface biofilm from a contaminated environmental surface or a contaminated non-critical medical device, said dry surface biofilm comprising embedded bacteria and protein and being formed by dehydration of biofilm, which process comprises:

dissolving a single-part powder-based composition into water to produce a solution, wherein the powder-based composition consists essentially of:

a) a hydrogen peroxide source,

b) an acetyl donor,

c) an acidifying agent, and

d) a surfactant;

(ii) allowing the solution to generate peracetic acid in a concentration of at least 0.13%;

(iii) contacting the contaminated environmental surface or the contaminated non-critical medical device with the solution containing said generated peracetic acid for a period of time sufficient to kill said embedded bacteria and remove a portion of said protein present in said dry surface biofilm; and

(iv) removing the solution and said dry surface biofilm from the contaminated environmental surface or the contaminated non-critical medical device.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the powder-based composition additionally comprises one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of a sequestering agent, a buffering agent, a flow modifier, a colourant and a perfume.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the solution is removed by rinsing off or wiping off.

4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the hydrogen peroxide source is selected from the group consisting of sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, urea peroxide, povidone-hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, hydrogen peroxide solution, and combinations thereof.

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the acetyl donor is selected from the group consisting of tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED), N-acetyl caprolactam, N-acetyl succinimide, N-acetyl phthalimide, N-acetyl maleimide, pentaacetyl glucose, octaacetyl sucrose, acetylsalicylic acid, tetraacetyl glycouril, and combinations thereof.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the acidifying agent is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, tartaric acid, monosodium tartrate, sulfamic acid, sodium hydrogen sulphate, monosodium phosphate, oxalic acid, benzoic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, toluene sulfonic acid and combinations thereof.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sodium dodecyl sulphate, Pluronic PE6800, Hyamine 1620 etc, and combinations thereof.

8. A process according to claim 2 wherein the sequestering agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, citric acid, phosphoric acid, sodium tripolyphosphate, EDTA, NTA, and combinations thereof.

9. A process according to claim 2 wherein the buffering agent is selected from the group consisting of phosphate, borate, bicarbonate, TAPS (3-{[tri s(hydroxymethyl)methyl]amino}propanesulfonic acid), Bicine (N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine), Tris (tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamine), Tricine (N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methylglycine) and combinations thereof.

10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the contaminated environmental surface or the contaminated non-critical medical device is contacted with the solution for at least 5 minutes.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the powder-based composition further comprises a peracetic acid bleachable dye that discharges color when the solution reaches and obtains the concentration of peracetic acid of at least 0.13%.

12. A process according to claim 11 wherein the peracetic acid bleachable dye is a 1-arylazo-2-hydroxynaphthyl dye.

13. A process according to claim 12 wherein the peracetic acid bleachable dye is selected from the group consisting of Amaranth (CI 16185), Ponceau 4R (CI 16255), or any other 1-arylazo-2-hydroxynaphthyl dye, and combinations thereof.

14. A process according to claim 11 wherein the powder-based composition further comprises a substantially bleach-stable dye.

15. A process according to claim 14 wherein the substantially bleach-stable dye is selected from the group consisting of Acid Blue 182, Acid Blue 80, Direct Blue 86, Acid Green 25 (CI 61570), and combinations thereof.

16. A process for removing dry surface biofilm from a contaminated environmental surface or a contaminated non-critical medical device, said dry surface biofilm comprising embedded bacteria and protein and being formed by dehydration of said bacteria, which process comprises:

dissolving a single-part powder-based composition into water to produce a solution, wherein the powder-based composition consists of:

a) a hydrogen peroxide source,

b) an acetyl donor,

c) an acidifying agent,

d) a surfactant, and

e) optionally one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of a sequestering agent, a buffering agent, a flow modifier, a colourant and a perfume;

(ii) allowing the solution to generate peracetic acid in a concentration of at least 0.13%;

(iii) contacting the contaminated environmental surface or the contaminated non-critical medical device with the solution containing said generated peracetic acid for a period of time sufficient to kill said embedded bacteria and remove a portion of said protein present in said dry surface biofilm; and

(iv) removing the solution and said dry surface biofilm from the contaminated environmental surface or the contaminated non-critical medical device.

17. A process according to claim 16 wherein the powder-based composition includes one or more colourants, and wherein the one or more colourants include a peracetic acid bleachable dye that discharges color when the solution reaches and obtains the concentration of peracetic acid of at least 0.13%.

18. A process according to claim 16 wherein the contaminated environmental surface or the contaminated non-critical medical device is contacted with the solution for at least 5 minutes.