Novel broad spectrum antimicrobial system for hard surface cleaners

Abstract

 A liquid hard surface cleaner having broad spectrum disinfectancy activity in an alkaline based on a synergistic effect between pine oil, a chelating agent and a hydrotrope at a pH of 0 to 12. The cleaner has disinfectancy activity against both gram positive and gram negative organisms.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an alkaline based surface cleaner having broad spectrum disinfectancy and containing pine oil.

[0002] A number of pine oil containing cleaners are known for cleaning hard surfaces, i.e. porcelain, enamel, plastic laminates and the like. Such cleaners are effective for cleaning greasy soil, and in combination with certain surfactants they have been effective in cleaning grimy soil from surface. however, pine oil based cleaners have not been found to have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity since they are only effective against gram negative organisms and not against gram positive organisms unless quaternary ammonium compounds are present. The use of quaternary compounds in a cleaner is not desirable since these compounds have a number of undesirable qualities. A high residue is left on the surface after cleaning. In addition, quaternary ammonium compounds are too tonic for this use and are highly irritating to the skin, eyes, etc.

[0003] In United States Patent Number 4,867,898, it is disclosed that a broad spectrum pine oil disinfectancy liquid cleaner, effective against both gram positive and gram negative organisms, could be obtained by a combination of pine oil and oil soluble organic acids at a pH of 0 to 6. Although this formulation was an effective, broad spectrum, disinfecting cleaner, it suffered from the disadvantage that it was harsh to the skin, eyes and also to the surfaces to be cleaner. Thus, this cleaner was not entirely satisfactory for general cleaning use.

[0004] It is known that alkaline based pine oil systems are not so harsh. However, it has not heretofore been possible to obtain an alkaline based pine oil cleaner having broad spectrum disinfectancy against both gram positive and gram negative organisms. Such formulations were effective only against gram negative organisms.

[0005] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a pine oil containing hard surface cleaner that has broad spectrum disinfectancy, but is not harsh to skin, eyes and the surfaces being cleaned.

[0006] A further object is to obtain a pine oil containing hard surface cleaner, in an alkaline medium having broad spectrum disinfectancy.

[0007] We have now found that pine oil becomes a true broad spectrum disinfectant in the presence of small amounts of chelating agent and hydrotrope in a alkaline based emulsion product. The raw materials in the amounts thereof are non-toxic, non-irritating, no medicinal odor, compatible with pine oil in a properly emulsified system, convenient and easy to use in a variety of consumer and industrial hard surface disinfectant cleaning products.

[0008] Numerous household, institutional, industrial, and agricultural surfaces become contaminated with both gram negative and gram positive bacteria. The presence of pine oil, tetrasodium EDTA, and sodium xylene sulfonate in an alkaline based cleaning preparation will totally disinfect that hard surface and deodorize the room without harm to humans and animals.

[0009] The ingredients and amounts that make up the hard surface cleaner of the present invention are listed in Table I below. It will be understood that the listing of chelating agents and hydrotropes is exemplary and not inclusive.

[0010] As previously described, pine oil is not effective against gram positive organisms, although it is effective against gram negative organisms. It has moreover only been possible to obtain disinfectancy in a pine oil composition against both gram negative and gram positive organisms in an acid medium. It is, therefore, surprising that a combination of pine oil and a chelating agent, together with a hydrotrope has broad spectrum disinfectancy and is effective against both gram negative and gram positive bacterial at a pH of 8 to 12. We have found that this is a truly synergistic effect since a composition containing pine oil but no chelating agent was ineffective against Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive). A similar composition containing pine oil but no hydrotrope was also ineffective against S. aureus. A similar composition with neither chelate nor hydrotrope was also ineffective against S. aureus. Thus, this composition has broad spectrum disinfectancy since it is effective against both gram positive and gram negative organisms.

[0011] The present liquid hard surface cleaner thus has use in hospitals, due to its broad spectrum activity, in industrial use and consumer use. The composition, according to the invention, gives excellent cleaning on greasy, grimy, fingerprint and soap scum soils. The combination of pine oil, chelating agent and hydrotrope is safe enough for use as a consumer product.

[0012] In order to demonstrate the synergistic broad spectrum disinfectancy effect of the cleaner of the present invention, the following specific Examples are set forth:

Examples I to IV

[0013] A formulation (I) according to the present application was prepared with the ingredients and amounts thereof as shown in Table I and having a pH of between 8 and 12.

[0014] Formulations II, III, IV and V were prepared identical to formulation I, with the parameters varied as shown in Table II.

Example II

[0015] Formulations of I to V of Example I were subjected to microbiological testing according to the Association of Official Analytical Chemists - Use dilution Method (AOAC-UDM) procedure as used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry in general, against S. aureus. The results are shown in Table II.

Example III

[0016] A number of Examples of Formulation I of Example I were submitted to microbiological testing against staphylococcus aureus* (synthetic nutrient), Salmonella choleraesuis* (synthetic nutrient), Pseudomonas aeruginosa* (nutrient) and Escherichia coli* (nutrient). The results are shown in Table III. It will be seen that these formulations have disinfectancy activity against both gram positive and gram negative organisms and thus broad spectrum disinfectancy:

*

S. aureus - gram positive
S. choleraesuis - gram negative
P. aeruginosa - gram negative
E. coli - gram negative

[0017] The unexpected combination of small amounts of a chelating agent such as tetrasodium EDTA (0.1%) and a hydrotrope such as sodium xylene sulfonate (1.5%) can broaden the antimicrobial activity of pine oil (20%) in an emulsified system. In the presence of the aforementioned chemical species, pine oil can not exhibit broad spectrum disinfectant activity by achieving 100% kill of both gram positive (S. aureus) and gram negative bacteria (S. choleraesuis, E. coli, Ps. aeruginosa) as defined by the Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC. Data in TABLE III verifies broad spectrum activity and TABLE II establishes the combinational effect of chelant and hydrotrope to potentiate pine oil activity.

[0018] It will be seen that the combination of pine oil and chelate with a hydrotrope has a clear and, surprisingly, synergistic effect in providing disinfectancy activity against both gram positive and gram negative organisms and that a liquid cleaner is provided for hard surfaces having a broad spectrum activity which is not harsh to skin, eyes and surfaces.

Claims

1. A liquid cleaner for hard surfaces having broad spectrum disinfectancy activity comprising pine oil and at least one chelating agent and one hydrotrope.

2. The cleaner of Claim 1 wherein the composition has a pH of 8 to 12.

3. The cleaner of Claim 1 wherein said chelating agent is tetrasodium ethylene diamene tetra acetic acid.

4. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said hydrotrope is sodium xylene sulfonate.

5. The cleaner of Claim 1 which contains in addition organic detergent compounds.

6. The cleaner of Claim 1 containing in addition isopropyl alcohol.

7. The cleaner of Claim 1 containing in addition fenchyl alcohol.

8. The cleaner of Claim 1 containing in addition ammonium hydroxide.

9. A method of imparting broad spectrum disinfectant activity to a surface comprising applying to said surface a liquid cleaner composition, said composition comprising pine oil, and at least one chelating agent, and at least one hydrotrope, at a pH of 8 to 12