Compositions and methods for use in surface decontamination
Inventors
KANG, JASON • Tyan, Kevin • Jin, Katherine
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11555168-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-17
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 invention relates to surface decontamination/disinfection additive compositions that provide transient, visually detectable color in oxidizing disinfectant solutions. A point-of-use solid or liquid additive containing an oxidizable, water-soluble pigment is combined with an oxidizing disinfectant to generate a visible color during disinfectant contact time.
The composition is configured to maintain pigment color stability in the bulk of an oxidizing disinfectant solution for minutes to hours and to fade to clear after a predetermined time when applied to a surface. The fading provides a visually detectable indication of coverage and disinfection contact time, transitioning from colored to clear.
The additive includes a surfactant and optionally an alkaline builder and a rheology modifier to modulate the pigment fade behavior. Mechanisms include controls for modulating fade rate via dye sequestration with micelle-forming surfactants and shifting oxidizing conditions using alkaline builders, while rheology modifiers slow acidification/oxidation to influence fade timing.
In additional embodiments, the additive can include a ROS-generating catalyst to accelerate fading and can be provided in forms including spray or film application, and also wipes/pouches/tablets with specified packaging options. The document further provides formulation ranges and examples showing measured fade times and bulk color stability across conventional oxidizing disinfectants.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim covers a solid composition with defined weight-percent ranges for a water-soluble pigment, a surfactant, an alkaline builder, and a rheology modifier, with specific chemical species selected within each component group. Dependent claims refine component selections, impose quantitative ratio constraints, and tie the composition to hypochlorite coloring and fade-to-clear performance upon spray or film application on surfaces.
Solid composition with defined pigment, surfactant, alkaline builder, and rheology modifier ranges
A solid composition comprising a water-soluble pigment in an amount of from 1-43% w/w, a surfactant in an amount of from 25-97% w/w, an alkaline builder selected from sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, or mixtures thereof, and a rheology modifier in an amount of from 2-65% w/w.
Hypochlorite color stability with fade-to-clear timing upon spray or film application
A solid composition that can color bulk aqueous sodium or calcium hypochlorite solutions at 0.2-0.5% with color stability for at least 15 minutes to 6 hours, while the color fades to clear within a predetermined time period of 2-20 minutes when the solution is applied as a spray or film to a surface.
Specific water-soluble pigment selections
The solid composition uses a water-soluble pigment selected from the listed dyes including FD&C Blue 1, Acid Green 50, Acid Green 25, Patent Blue V, FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow 6, Fast Green FCF, Indigo carmine, Acid Blue 80, Remazol Brilliant Blue R, Coomassie Brilliant Blue, Crystal Violet Lactone, Thymolphthalein, Bromothymol Blue, Methylene Blue, RD&C Red 2, or mixtures thereof.
Surfactant-to-pigment ratio constraint
The solid composition has a surfactant-to-water-soluble pigment ratio between 10:1 and 20:1.
The claim set is directed to a solid composition containing a water-soluble pigment plus specific categories of surfactant, alkaline builder, and rheology modifier in defined weight-percent ranges. Dependent refinements specify allowable pigment selections, impose ratio constraints between surfactant and pigment, and tie the composition to bulk-color stability and predetermined fade-to-clear timing when applied to surfaces as a spray or film.
Stated Advantages
Provides bulk color stability for at least 15 minutes to 6 hours.
Color fades to clear within a predetermined time period of 2-20 minutes after application as a spray or film to a surface.
Compatible with conventional oxidizing disinfectants, including hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, peracetic acid, and alcohol/quaternary ammonium disinfectants.
Rapid dissolution and point-of-use additive functionality with transport/storage benefits.
Option for multiple delivery forms including wipes/pouches/tablets.
Documented Applications
Coloring bulk aqueous sodium or calcium hypochlorite solutions (0.2-0.5%) to provide a visually detectable transient color that fades to clear after spray or film application to a surface.
Point-of-use surface decontamination/disinfection using oxidizing disinfectant solutions with transient, visually detectable color.
Use with application forms including spray or film, and options for wipes/pouches/tablets.
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