Methods of reduction preventing or removing biofilms
Use of a copolymer to reduce the development of biofilm on a surface and/or to increase removal ease of removal of a biofilm from a surface.
1. A method for reducing adhesion of microorganisms and/or for reducing the development of biofilm on a surface and/or for increasing ease of cleaning of a biofilm from a surface, comprising the step of applying a composition to the surface wherein the composition comprises:
(a) A hydrophobically modified cationic polymer having the formula:
wherein:
n, m, p, and s are the mole percent of the respective monomers, such that:
n is from 96.5 to 99.5;
m is from 0.5 to 2;
p is from 0.5 to 3;
s is from 0;
R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are independently H or CH 3 ;
R 5 is an alkyl group from C 16 to C 20 ;
R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , are independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen and C 1 C 4 alkyl;
Y is independently O or NH;
Z is polydimethylsiloxane;
k is independently from 1 to 18;
X − is an anion, preferably Cl − , Br − , I − , HSO 4 − , CH 3 SO 4 − , C 2 H 5 SO 4 − , or OH − ;
and
(b) a solvent.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobically modified cationic polymer has a molecular weight of from 100,000 to 500,00 Daltons.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the hydrophobically modified cationic polymer, R 5 is C 18 .
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the hydrophobically modified cationic polymer, R 6 is H, and R 7 , R 8 , are independently selected from the group consisting of: methyl, ethyl, and propyl.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the composition comprises from 0.05 to 5 by weight of the composition of the polymer.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the solvent is a alkylene glycol ether.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the solvent is selected from alkylene glycol ethers and mixtures thereof and wherein the copolymer and the solvent are in a weight ratio of about 2:5 to 1:10.
8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the solvent is present in an amount from 0.1 to 5 by weight of the composition.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the composition further comprises a surfactant.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the solvent is present in an amount from 0.1 to 5 by weight of the composition.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the composition is a hard surface cleaning composition.