Synergistic disinfecting compositions with essential oils
Inventors
Lisowsky, Thomas • Esser, Karlheinz
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9795133-B2
Publication Date
2017-10-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to new, highly efficient anti-microbial compositions comprising essential oils, metal ions, organic acids and detergents. Bacteria-containing samples treated with the complete synergistic disinfecting composition according to the invention (A or B or C or D+O) do not show any living cell colonies, indicating that under these conditions all microorganisms were killed. Thus it is proven that the synergistic mixtures of the compounds according to the invention show a very effective antimicrobial effect.
Core Innovation
The document describes a synergistic disinfecting composition for antimicrobial use that comprises essential oils, at least one organic acid, at least one metal ion, and at least one surface-active compound. The composition is formulated so that bacteria and yeast treated with the complete synergistic mixture show no surviving colonies under the tested conditions, while essential oils alone or partial mixtures of organic acid, metal ion, and detergent do not fully kill the microorganisms.
The synergistic composition includes essential oils such as tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, and Melissa oil, together with defined concentration ranges for each component. The essential oil is generally described as about 0.01% to 1% (wt), the organic acids as about 0.1 to 50 mM, the metal ions as about 0.01 to 5 mM, and the surface-active compounds as about 0.01% to 0.2% (wt).
A preferred organic-acid to metal-ion molar ratio of about 10:1 is highlighted, together with an acidic pH range of pH 2 to 6. The document also describes use for disinfecting contaminated surfaces, including medical instruments, plants, and food, by applying the composition to the contaminated surface.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims define one disinfecting composition comprising a synergistic mixture with defined ranges for essential oil, organic acid, metal ion, and surface-active compound, together with an adjusted organic-acid:metal-ion molar ratio of about 10:1. The document also includes an independent method claim directed to disinfecting contaminated surfaces by applying the defined composition.
Synergistic disinfecting mixture with defined component ranges and about 10:1 molar ratio
A disinfecting composition comprising a synergistic mixture of at least one essential oil, at least one organic acid, at least one metal ion, and at least one surface-active compound, with the molar ratio of the organic acid and the metal ion adjusted to about 10:1.
Disinfecting contaminated surface by applying the defined composition
A method disinfects a contaminated surface by applying a composition as defined in the composition claim and then disinfecting the surface as a result of the application.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on a synergistic disinfecting composition defined by essential oil, organic acid, metal ion, and surface-active compound features, together with an about 10:1 organic-acid:metal-ion molar ratio, and on a method that disinfects a contaminated surface by applying the composition as defined.
Stated Advantages
The complete synergistic mixture results in no surviving colonies for bacteria and yeast under the tested conditions.
Essential oils or organic-acid/metal/detergent partial mixtures do not fully kill microorganisms compared with the complete synergistic mixture.
An acidic pH range of pH 2 to 6 is associated with reduced efficacy in basic solutions.
Documented Applications
Disinfecting contaminated surfaces, including medical instruments, plants, and food, by applying the composition to the surface.
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