Compositions and methods for use in surface decontamination
Inventors
KANG, JASON • Tyan, Kevin • Jin, Katherine
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10344251-B2
Publication Date
2019-07-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
The disclosure provides compositions and methods for making a colorized solution of an aqueous disinfectant that is both stable in bulk solution and will fade to clear within a predetermined period of time after being applied to a surface, for example as a spray or film. The compositions and methods described here allow an end user to visualize both the extent of coverage and the duration of contact of the disinfectant with the surface, thereby providing more efficient disinfection of the surface.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides point-of-use indicator compositions and methods for surface decontamination, using a solid or liquid composition that adds an oxidizable, water-soluble dye to an aqueous disinfectant. The composition provides stable bulk color in the aqueous disinfectant for a period of time, and the color fades to clear after a predetermined contact time when applied to a surface.
The disclosed compositions include an oxidizable water-soluble pigment or dye together with a surfactant, with optional additional formulation components including an alkaline builder and a rheology modifier. The disclosure states mechanistic rationale including sequestration effects associated with micelles, alkaline pH shifting, and viscosity effects related to the rheology modifier, as well as the option of ROS-generating catalysts.
The disclosure describes tuning of color stability and fade-to-clear timing across multiple disinfectant systems by selecting dye or pigment and surfactant combinations, and by including alkaline builder and rheology modifier components within specified ranges. The documented examples show bulk stability of colored aqueous disinfectants for on the order of minutes to hours while fading to clear within seconds to minutes after surface application.
Claims Coverage
The provided material identifies one independent claim. The claim-set constrains a solid composition by component selection and specific w/w ranges, and dependent claims further constrain intended hypochlorite coloring behavior and timing or ratio relationships.
Solid composition with water-soluble pigment and high surfactant level
A solid composition comprising a water-soluble pigment in an amount of from 1-43% w/w, based on the total weight of the composition, and a surfactant in an amount of from 25-97% w/w, based on total weight of the composition, the surfactant selected from the group consisting of sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium xylene sulfonate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium myreth sulfate, sodium cholate, an acetylenic diol, alkyldiphenyloxide disulfonate, sodium toluene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof.
Solid composition with alkaline builder and rheology modifier within ranges
The solid composition further comprises an alkaline builder selected from sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof, and a rheology modifier in an amount of from 2-65% w/w, based on total weight of the composition, the rheology modifier selected from sodium alginate, glycerol, guar gum, dextran, cellulose, lambda carrageenan, sodium carbonate, fumed silica, alkali swellable emulsions, hydrophobically modified alkali swellable emulsions, hydrophobically modified polyurethanes, sodium polyacrylate, and mixtures thereof.
Coloring of hypochlorite solution with stability and fade-to-clear after spray or film application
A solid composition for coloring a bulk aqueous solution of 0.2-0.5% sodium or calcium hypochlorite with color stability for at least 15 minutes to 6 hours, while the color fades to clear within a predetermined time period after the solution is applied as a spray or film to a surface.
Two-minute to five-minute predetermined color fade timing
The solid composition has a predetermined time period of 2 to 5 minutes.
Constrained component w/w ranges for pigment, surfactant, alkaline builder, and rheology modifier
A solid composition is defined by specific weight-per-weight ranges for water-soluble pigment, surfactant, alkaline builder, and rheology modifier, including the ranges recited as: total amount of water soluble pigment 1.5-22% w/w; total amount of surfactant 10-80% w/w; total amount of alkaline builder 2-40% w/w; amount of rheology modifier 1-55% w/w.
Surfactant-to-water-soluble pigment ratio between 10:1 and 20:1
The solid composition has a surfactant-to-water-soluble pigment ratio between 10:1 and 20:1.
Bulk aqueous hypochlorite concentration limited to 0.2-0.5%
The bulk aqueous solution contains 0.2-0.5% sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite.
Across the provided independent and dependent claims, the coverage centers on a solid composition with a water-soluble pigment, a surfactant selected from enumerated surfactants, an alkaline builder selected from enumerated bases, and a rheology modifier selected from enumerated rheology modifiers, with component ranges and ratio constraints. Further limitations specify coloring performance for 0.2-0.5% sodium or calcium hypochlorite with defined bulk stability and fade-to-clear timing after spray or film application.
Stated Advantages
Provides visual coverage and a contact-time indication via stable bulk color that fades to clear after the predetermined time.
Provides point-of-use portability and cost-related benefits as stated in the document summary.
Provides rapid dissolution for forming the colored aqueous disinfectant, as stated in the document summary.
Addresses EPA inert and irritancy and efficacy considerations, as stated in the document summary.
Documented Applications
Surface decontamination or disinfection by applying a colored aqueous oxidizing-agent solution as a spray or film, and waiting until the color clears.
Use of prepared compositions in wipe form for surface disinfection, as mentioned in the provided document content.
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