IP Library Granted Patent US 12,396,456
Granted Patent B2
US 12,396,456 · App. 18/348,449 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Acidic biofilm remediation

Inventors: Gregory G. Griese (Saint Paul, MN); Mark Levitt (Saint Paul, MN); Richard K. Staub (Saint Paul, MN); Stefanie Gilbreth (Saint Paul, MN)
Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
A01N41/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,396,456
App. No.
18/348,449
Granted
Aug 26, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and compositions for biofilm remediation are disclosed. Biofilm is reduced and removed from soiled surfaces by providing to a surface in need an effective amount of a composition comprising a biocidal surfactant and at least one organic solvent. According to the invention, the biofilm remediation compositions reduce and remove biofilm formation by administering a one-step cleaner and disinfectant. The biofilm remediation compositions are stable and effective in concentrated and diluted ready-to-use formulations comprising an anionic sulfated or sulfonated surfactant that is not an organocarboxylic acid, a sparingly soluble organic solvent and optionally a soluble organic solvent.

Claims (21)

1. A sanitizing composition comprising:

from about 0.1 to about 90 wt-% of an anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant excludes short chain (C1-C5) organocarboxylic acid and is a sulfonated acid; and

from about 0.8 to about 60 wt-% of a sparingly soluble organic solvent; wherein said composition has sanitizing efficacy against viruses and/or bacteria, wherein the bacteria includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus , and is exposed to the composition for 2.5 minutes.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of (C 8 -C 22 ) alkylsulfonate, linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid, diphenylated sulfonates, sulfonated oleic acid, and mixtures thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said sparingly soluble organic solvent is a benzyl alcohol, a glycol ether, or a mixture thereof; and wherein the glycol ether is selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol n-propyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol t-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, dipropylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol tert-butyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether and tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, propylene glycol phenyl ether and mixtures thereof.

4. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the sparingly soluble solvent comprises benzyl alcohol.

5. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an oxidizing agent and from about 0.5 to about 30 wt-% of said anionic surfactant and from about 1 to about 40 wt-% of said sparingly soluble organic solvent.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the anionic surfactant is from about 0.5 to about 30 wt-%, wherein the sparingly soluble organic solvent is from about 0.8 to about 10 wt-%.

7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of (C 8 -C 22 ) alkylsulfonate, linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid, diphenylated sulfonates, sulfonated oleic acid, and mixtures thereof and wherein the sparingly soluble and soluble organic solvents are selected from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol, diethylene glycol n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol n-propyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol t-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, dipropylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol tert-butyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether and tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, propylene glycol phenyl ether and mixtures thereof.

8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the sparingly soluble organic solvent comprises benzyl alcohol.

9. A use solution comprising the sanitizing composition of claim 1 , and between about 16 parts water to about 64 parts water.

10. The use solution of claim 9 , wherein the composition has a pH of less than 5 achieves log reduction of 94-99% of the bacteria tested.

11. The use solution of claim 9 , wherein the water is less than about 32 parts water and has a pH of less than about 4.

12. A sanitizing composition comprising:

from about 0.2 to about 2 wt-% of an anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant is not a short chain (C1-C5) organocarboxylic acid and is a sulfonated acid;

from about 0.5 to about 5 wt-% of a benzyl alcohol in dilution; and

wherein the composition has a pH of less than about 4 and has sanitizing efficacy against bacteria and/or viruses; and wherein the bacteria includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus , and is exposed to the composition for 2.5 minutes.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of (C 8 -C 22 ) alkylsulfonate, linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid, diphenylated sulfonates, sulfonated oleic acid, and mixtures thereof.

14. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the composition further comprises a sparingly soluble organic solvent selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol n-propyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol t-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, dipropylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol tert-butyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether and tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, propylene glycol phenyl ether and mixtures thereof.

15. A use solution comprising the sanitizing composition of claim 12 , and between about 16 parts water to about 64 parts water.

16. The use solution of claim 15 , wherein the composition has a pH of less than 5 achieves log reduction of 94-99% of the bacteria tested.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2023
From: GRIESE, GREGORY G.; LEVITT, MARK; STAUB, RICHARD; GILBRETH, STEFANIE
To: ECOLAB USA INC.
Reel/Frame 064228/0122 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17448153 · Sep 20, 2021
Continuation 16689442 · Nov 20, 2019
Continuation 16291815 · Mar 4, 2019
Continuation 16110821 · Aug 23, 2018
Continuation 13045734 · Mar 11, 2011
Related Publication 20230345939A1 · Nov 2, 2023
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