ENZYMATIC IN SITU PREPARATION OF PERACID-BASED REMOVABLE ANTIMICROBIAL COATING COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USE

1 . A method of providing control of microorganisms at a locus comprising the steps:

a) forming a composition by combining components comprising:

i) a film-forming water soluble or water-dispersible agent;

ii) an inert solvent;

iii) a carboxylic acid ester substrate;

iv) a peroxygen source;

v) an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolase activity thereby forming at least one peroxyacid to provide at least a first antimicrobial agent; and

vi) a rheology modifier;

b) applying said composition to said locus;

c) allowing said composition to dry thereby forming a coating on said locus.

2 . The method of claim 2 wherein said enzyme catalyst is selected from carbohydrate esterases of CE-7 family.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said peroxyacid is produced at a concentration of at least 20 ppm within about 5 minutes to about 2 hours of combining said components.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said components further comprise a second antimicrobial agent, wherein said second antimicrobial agent comprises a quaternary ammonium compound.

5 . A method of providing control of microorganisms at a locus comprising the steps:

(a) providing a first premixed component comprising an inert solvent and a film-forming agent;

(b) providing a second premixed component comprising an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolase activity, a carboxylic acid ester substrate and a peroxygen source;

(c) mixing said first premixed component and said second premixed component to obtain a liquid coating composition comprising a first antimicrobial agent comprising a peroxyacid;

(d) applying said coating composition to the locus; and

(e) allowing said coating composition to dry thereby forming a coating on said locus.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said first and second premixed component are provided in a multi-compartment system; wherein the first and second premixed components remain separated before step (c).

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said liquid coating composition is provided by mixing only two premixed components.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein one premixed component is in liquid form and one premixed component is in solid form.

9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one premixed component further comprises a second antimicrobial agent wherein said second antimicrobial agent comprises a quaternary ammonium compound.

10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the liquid coating composition is applied to the locus by spraying or aerosolizing.

11 . The method of claim 5 wherein said enzyme catalyst comprises carbohydrate esterases of CE-7 family.

12 . An antimicrobial composition comprising components which comprise:

a) a film-forming water soluble or water-dispersible agent;

b) an inert solvent;

c) a carboxylic acid ester substrate;

d) a peroxygen source;

e) an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolase activity; and

f) a rheology modifier

wherein, upon combining said components, a peroxyacid is formed.

13 . The composition of claim 12 wherein at least one or more said components are separately packaged from the other components in a multi-compartment system prior to their combination to form said peroxyacid.

14 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein said peroxyacid is produced at a concentration of at least 20 ppm within about 5 minutes to about 2 hours of combining said components.

15 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein said components further comprises a component that is an antimicrobial agent comprising a quaternary ammonium compound.

16 . An article comprising a coating on at least one surface thereof with an antimicrobial composition, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises:

a) a film-forming water soluble or water-dispersible agent;

b) an inert solvent;

c) a carboxylic acid ester substrate;

d) a peroxygen source; and

e) an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolase activity

wherein, upon combining components of (a) through (e), a peroxyacid is formed.

17 . The article of claim 16 wherein the at least one surface of the article comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: metals; minerals; natural and synthetic polymers; plastics; brick; tile; ceramic; porcelain; vinyl; glass; linoleum; and wood.

18 . The article of claim 16 wherein the article is equipment used in the food or beverage industry.

19 . The article of claim 16 wherein the article has a fibrous surface.