Antimicrobial compositions and methods of making same

Abstract

An antimicrobial composition is provided comprising a cationic antimicrobial agent, a nonionic surfactant, an acid-base regulator, and a colorant. The invention also provides a preparation method of the antimicrobial composition. The preparation method comprises the following steps: providing a nonionic surfactant aqueous solution; mixing an acid-base regulator and a nonionic surfactant aqueous solution, wherein the acid-base regulator is organic acid containing carboxyl; and mixing the colorant, the cationic antimicrobial agent, and the nonionic surfactant aqueous solution with adjusted pH value to obtain the antimicrobial composition, thereby achieving the effect that the cationic antimicrobial agent does not produce precipitates in the antimicrobial composition.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application filed on September 10, 2018, with application number 201811051388.2 and entitled "Antibacterial Composition and Preparation Method Thereof". Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to an antimicrobial composition and its preparation method, and particularly to an antimicrobial composition having a cationic antimicrobial agent and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0003] Many infectious diseases are transmitted through contact, such as skin-to-skin contact or skin contact with surfaces in the environment that carry pathogens. High population density increases the likelihood of exposure to pathogens in public places for these reasons, and touching the mouth or nose without cleaning after contact with pathogens carries a very high risk of infection.

[0004] Hospitals, as the frontline caregivers for patients, are also major breeding grounds for germs. Within hospitals, medical staff, patients, and their families are all potentially exposed to pathogens, with medical personnel being particularly vulnerable to becoming vectors for transmission. Studies have examined samples from the hands, uniforms, stethoscopes, and workbenches of healthcare workers, and cultured drug-resistant strains. If hospitals fail to implement effective infection control measures, they pose a significant threat to patients.

[0005] To reduce the aforementioned infection risks, many antimicrobial compositions have been developed. Cationic antimicrobial agents are often the main active ingredients in commercially available antimicrobial compositions; however, cationic antimicrobial agents are relatively unstable and prone to precipitation, making industrial processing quite difficult. Among them, chlorhexidine gluconate, a cationic antimicrobial agent, has many limitations in formulation, such as: (1) because chlorhexidine gluconate is a cationic compound, it will form water-insoluble salts when it encounters anionic substances, resulting in precipitation and potentially reducing its antimicrobial ability; (2) When chlorhexidine gluconate is used in combination with cationic or nonionic surfactants, high concentrations of surfactants can form microcells, thus reducing the antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine gluconate; (3) When the concentration of chlorhexidine gluconate exceeds 0.05% (weight / volume percentage), it is prone to precipitation when it encounters inorganic acids, some organic acids and their salts (such as benzoates, bicarbonates, borates, carbonates, chlorides, citrates, iodides, nitrates, phosphates and sulfates). Precipitation is less likely to occur when the concentration of chlorhexidine gluconate is below 0.01% (w / v); (4) Generally, tap water contains chloride ions (Cl... - ), carbonate ions (CO3) 2- ), sulfate ions (SO4) 2- ), phosphate ions (PO4) 3- ), calcium ions (Ca 2+ ), magnesium ions (Mg 2+ (5) Chlorhexidine gluconate is incompatible with some thickeners, such as gum arabic, sodium alginate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, starch, and tragacanth, which react with chlorhexidine gluconate to produce precipitation. Therefore, there is indeed a need to improve the existing technology in terms of how to develop antimicrobial compositions that are process-stable and do not easily precipitate. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide an antimicrobial composition containing a cationic antimicrobial agent that is not prone to precipitation.

[0007] This disclosure provides an antimicrobial composition comprising a cationic antimicrobial agent, a nonionic surfactant, an acid-base regulator, and a colorant, wherein the acid-base regulator is an organic acid containing a carboxyl group.

[0008] In some embodiments, cationic antimicrobial agents include, but are not limited to, chlorhexidine, chlorhexidine salts, polyhexamethylene biguanide, benzalkonium halides, or combinations thereof. Benzalkonium halides include, but are not limited to, benzalkonium chloride, benzalkonium bromide, or combinations thereof.

[0009] In some embodiments, salts of chlorhexidine include, but are not limited to, chlorhexidine gluconate, chlorhexidine digluconate, chlorhexidine diacetate, chlorhexidine hydrochloride, or combinations thereof.

[0010] In some embodiments, the nonionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, decylglucoside, cocamide dea, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polysorbate 20, or combinations thereof.

[0011] In some embodiments, the acid-base regulator includes, but is not limited to, lactic acid, citric acid, or combinations thereof.

[0012] In some embodiments, the colorants include, but are not limited to, tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5), ponceau 4R, brilliant blue (FCF), sunset yellow, quinoline yellow (D&C Yellow No. 10), acid red 33 (D&C Red No. 33), allura red, or combinations thereof.

[0013] In some embodiments, the total volume of the antimicrobial composition is 100%, the weight / volume percentage of the cationic antimicrobial agent is 0.5% to 4%, the weight / volume percentage of the nonionic surfactant is 3.5% to 10.5%, the weight / volume percentage of the pH adjuster is 0.13% to 0.18%, and the weight / volume percentage of the colorant is 0.00002% to 0.036%.

[0014] In some embodiments, the cationic antimicrobial agent is chlorhexidine gluconate at a weight / volume percentage of 1.6% to 2.4%.

[0015] In some embodiments, the colorant is tartrazine and has a weight / volume percentage of 0.00002% to 0.00006%.

[0016] In some embodiments, the antimicrobial composition also includes a thickener.

[0017] In some embodiments, the thickener includes, but is not limited to, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, or combinations thereof.

[0018] In some embodiments, the antimicrobial composition also includes a humectant.

[0019] In some embodiments, the humectant includes, but is not limited to, glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, or combinations thereof.

[0020] In some embodiments, the antimicrobial composition also includes an antifoaming agent.

[0021] In some embodiments, the defoamer includes, but is not limited to, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, or combinations thereof.

[0022] In some embodiments, the antimicrobial composition further comprises a thickener, a humectant, and an antifoamer, wherein, based on the total volume of the antimicrobial composition (100%), the cationic antimicrobial agent comprises 0.5% to 4% by weight / volume, the nonionic surfactant comprises 3.5% to 10.5% by weight / volume, the pH adjuster comprises 0.13% to 0.18% by weight / volume, the colorant comprises 0.00002% to 0.036% by weight / volume, the thickener comprises 0.27% to 0.35% by weight / volume, the humectant comprises 0.1% to 5.0% by weight / volume, and the antifoamer comprises 1.0% to 4.0% by weight / volume.

[0023] In some embodiments, the antimicrobial composition is contained in a container, wherein the container is made of, but is not limited to, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or combinations thereof.

[0024] Another objective of this disclosure is to provide a method for preparing an antimicrobial composition, so as to achieve the effect of stable cationic antimicrobial agents without precipitation during the preparation process.

[0025] This disclosure provides a method for preparing an antimicrobial composition, comprising: providing an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant; mixing an acid-base regulator with the aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant, wherein the acid-base regulator is an organic acid containing a carboxyl group and is used to adjust the pH value of the aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant; and mixing a colorant, a cationic antimicrobial agent, and the pH-adjusted aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant to obtain an antimicrobial composition.

[0026] In some embodiments, the nonionic surfactant comprises decyl glucoside, cocoyl diethanolamine, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polysorbate 20, or a combination thereof.

[0027] In some embodiments, in the step of mixing the acid-base regulator with the aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant, the acid-base regulator is lactic acid, and the adjusted pH value is from pH 5.5 to pH 6.5.

[0028] In some embodiments, the cationic antimicrobial agent is chlorhexidine gluconate, wherein the weight / volume percentage of chlorhexidine gluconate is 2%.

[0029] In some embodiments, the step of providing an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant includes: mixing a humectant, a thickener, and water to obtain an aqueous solution having the humectant and the thickener; and mixing the aqueous solution having the humectant and the thickener with a nonionic surfactant to form an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant.

[0030] In some embodiments, the step of mixing a colorant, a cationic antimicrobial agent, and an aqueous solution of a pH-adjusted nonionic surfactant includes: mixing the colorant, the cationic antimicrobial agent, and the pH-adjusted nonionic surfactant aqueous solution, and then mixing in an antifoaming agent to obtain an antimicrobial composition.

[0031] As mentioned above, cationic antimicrobial agents are chemically unstable and easily react with other components in the antimicrobial composition to form precipitation. The composition ratios and preparation methods disclosed herein can achieve the effect of preventing the cationic antimicrobial agent from precipitating in the antimicrobial composition. Regarding the composition ratios, using nonionic surfactants instead of anionic and amphoteric surfactants, and using carboxyl-containing organic acids as acid-base regulators, all help to avoid the cationic antimicrobial agent forming water-insoluble salts and precipitating. In some embodiments, lactic acid is specifically selected as an acid-base regulator, and specific colorants are chosen and their usage is controlled to further enhance the stability of the cationic antimicrobial agent in the antimicrobial composition, further reducing the amount or chance of precipitation. Even when using anionic colorants, controlling the amount of colorant used can prevent precipitation of the antimicrobial agent, and the added nonionic surfactants and polyols can also act as solvents, further increasing the compatibility of the cationic antimicrobial agent with different colorants.

[0032] Regarding the preparation method, controlling the pH value during the preparation process can effectively prevent the cationic antimicrobial agent from precipitating during the preparation or storage and transportation of the antimicrobial composition. Preventing the precipitation of cationic antimicrobial agents in the antimicrobial composition ensures the stability of the cationic antimicrobial agent content in the composition, thereby achieving the antimicrobial effect. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To make the description of this disclosure more detailed and complete, the embodiments and specific examples of the present invention are described in detail below; however, this is not the only form of implementing or utilizing the specific examples of this disclosure. The various embodiments disclosed below can be combined or substituted with each other where advantageous, and other embodiments can be added to one embodiment without further description or explanation.

[0034] As used herein, the words “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and similar terms specify the features, regions, integers, steps, operations, components, and / or components described herein, but do not exclude other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0035] In this document, the term "container" refers to, but is not limited to, fixed or non-fixed shapes, such as bags, cans, tubes, or bottles.

[0036] The antimicrobial compositions of various embodiments of the present invention mainly comprise cationic antimicrobial agents, nonionic surfactants, pH adjusters, and colorants. Other additives such as thickeners, humectants, defoamers, and fragrances are added as needed for the product.

[0037] Cationic antimicrobial agents include, but are not limited to, chlorhexidine, chlorhexidine salts, polyhexamethylene biguanide, halobenzyl ammonium, or combinations thereof. Chlorhexidine salts include, but are not limited to, chlorhexidine gluconate, chlorhexidine digluconate, chlorhexidine diacetate, chlorhexidine hydrochloride, or combinations thereof. Halobenzyl ammonium includes, but is not limited to, benzyl ammonium chloride, benzyl ammonium bromide, or combinations thereof. The concentration of the cationic antimicrobial agent is from 0.5 w / v% to 4 w / v%. In some embodiments, the concentration of chlorhexidine gluconate may be 0.5 w / v%, 1 w / v%, 1.5 w / v%, 2 w / v%, 2.5 w / v%, 3 w / v%, 3.5 w / v%, or 4 w / v. The cationic antimicrobial agent is the main active ingredient in the antimicrobial composition. It binds to the negatively charged sites on the microbial cell wall with positively charged molecules, causing damage to the microbial cell wall, resulting in leakage of cell contents and ultimately cell death, thereby achieving the antimicrobial effect.

[0038] Nonionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, decyl glucoside, cocoyl diethanolamine, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polysorbate 200, or combinations thereof, with a concentration of 3.5 w / v% to 10.5 w / v. In some embodiments, the nonionic surfactant is a basic nonionic surfactant, such as decyl glucoside, and the concentration of decyl glucoside is 3.5 w / v%, 3.57 w / v%, 4 w / v%, 4.5 w / v%, 5 w / v%, 5.5 w / v%, 6 w / v%, 6.5 w / v%, 7 w / v%, 7.5 w / v%, 8 w / v%, 8.5 w / v%, 9 w / v%, 9.5 w / v%, 10 w / v%, or 10.5 w / v. Nonionic surfactants have no charge at their hydrophilic ends and do not dissociate when dissolved in water, thus exhibiting high stability and being less susceptible to the presence of strong electrolytes or the effects of acids and alkalis. Therefore, when using nonionic surfactants, precipitation is almost impossible due to their reaction with cationic antimicrobial agents.

[0039] Acid-base regulators include, but are not limited to, organic acids containing carboxyl groups. Organic acids containing carboxyl groups include lactic acid, citric acid, or combinations thereof, with a concentration of 0.13 w / v% to 0.18 w / v%. In some embodiments, the acid-base regulator is lactic acid, and the concentration of lactic acid is 0.13 w / v%, 0.14 w / v%, 0.15 w / v%, 0.16 w / v%, 0.17 w / v%, or 0.18 w / v. The main advantage of choosing organic acids containing carboxyl groups as acid-base regulators is that they are less likely to react with cationic antimicrobial agents to form precipitation. Generally, common acid-base regulators are inorganic acids, such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid. However, these inorganic acids are strong electrolytes; when dissolved in water, they completely dissociate into hydrogen ions and their conjugate base ions. These conjugate base ions readily react with cationic antimicrobial agents to form water-insoluble salts. Organic acids, especially those containing carboxyl groups, are weak electrolytes. When dissolved in water, they only partially dissociate and are less likely to react with cationic antimicrobial agents. Preferably, lactic acid can be used as an acid-base regulator because it is inexpensive and readily available, and compared to other acid-base regulators, such as gluconolactone, less lactic acid is needed to adjust the pH of a solution. This is because the pH of lactic acid (pH 1.75, 10 w / v% aqueous lactic acid solution) is lower than that of gluconolactone (pH 3.6), allowing for faster adjustment to the target pH, such as below pH 7.

[0040] Depending on the requirements, different colored colorants can be added. For example, antimicrobial compositions used on human skin or for environmental cleaning can be distinguished by adding different colored colorants. Additionally, adding a small amount of colorant to give the antimicrobial composition color allows for direct visual identification of the applied area during application; this is also a purpose of the colorant. Colorants include, but are not limited to, tartrazine, carmine, brilliant blue, sunset yellow, quinoline yellow, Acid Red 33, Allura Red, or combinations thereof. The concentration of the colorant in the antimicrobial composition is from 0.00002 w / v% to 0.036 w / v% to prevent precipitation of cationic antimicrobial agents. In some embodiments, the concentration of the colorant in the antimicrobial composition can be from 0.00002 w / v% to 0.006 w / v%, preferably from 0.00002 w / v% to 0.00006 w / v. In some embodiments, the colorant is tartrazine, and the concentration of tartrazine is 0.00002 w / v%, 0.00003 w / v%, 0.00004 w / v%, 0.00005 w / v%, or 0.00006 w / v%. The colorant is anionic and structurally negatively charged, readily reacting with the positively charged cationic antimicrobial agents to form water-insoluble salts, resulting in precipitation. However, controlling the amount of colorant used, such as below 0.036 w / v%, can prevent precipitation caused by the reaction with the cationic antimicrobial agent. Furthermore, solvents other than water in the antimicrobial composition, such as nonionic surfactants and polyols, can also increase the compatibility between the colorant and the cationic antimicrobial agent.

[0041] Thickeners include, but are not limited to, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, or combinations thereof, and their concentration is adjusted to 0.27 w / v% to 0.35 w / v according to the desired consistency to prevent the antimicrobial composition from leaking out without being pressed when loaded into downward-opening containers such as wall-mounted press bottles. In some embodiments, the thickener is hydroxyethyl cellulose, and the concentration of hydroxyethyl cellulose is 0.27 w / v%, 0.28 w / v%, 0.29 w / v%, 0.3 w / v%, 0.31 w / v%, 0.32 w / v%, 0.33 w / v%, 0.34 w / v%, or 0.35 w / v.

[0042] Moisturizers include, but are not limited to, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, or combinations thereof, with a concentration ranging from 0.1 w / v% to 5.0 w / v%. In some embodiments, the moisturizer is glycerin, and the concentration of glycerin is 0.1 w / v%, 1 w / v%, 2 w / v%, 3 w / v%, 4 w / v%, or 5 w / v. Since nonionic surfactants in antimicrobial agents can cause the loss of moisturizing substances from the stratum corneum of the skin, resulting in dryness, adding moisturizers can reduce irritation and protect the skin. Secondly, the polyols added as moisturizers can also increase the compatibility between colorants and cationic antimicrobial agents.

[0043] Defoamers include, but are not limited to, isopropanol, ethanol, or combinations thereof, with a concentration ranging from 1.0 w / v% to 4.0 w / v%. In some embodiments, the defoamer is isopropanol, and its concentration is 1 w / v%, 2 w / v%, 3 w / v%, or 4 w / v. Because the microbial composition contains surfactants, the foam generated during the manufacturing process is difficult to eliminate. Although the foam does not affect the technical effectiveness of the cationic antimicrobial agent, the large amount of foam generated during the process can affect pH readings and the difficulty of filling. Adding a defoamer can alter the surface tension, causing a localized reduction in the surface tension of the foam, leading to foam collapse and achieving a defoaming effect.

[0044] The antimicrobial composition can be customized with different fragrances as needed. This invention does not limit the types or amounts of fragrances used.

[0045] In one specific embodiment, the antimicrobial composition is prepared according to the component ratios listed in Table 1: Table 1

[0046] In one specific embodiment, the antimicrobial composition is contained in a container, wherein the container material is chosen to avoid precipitation upon reaction with chlorhexidine gluconate. The container material includes, but is not limited to, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or combinations thereof. Polyethylene can be classified into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The container shape can be designed according to usage requirements, such as bottle-shaped or tubular, and this invention is not limited thereto.

[0047] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for preparing an antimicrobial composition. Although the method disclosed herein is described hereinafter using a series of operations or steps, the order in which these operations or steps are shown should not be construed as limiting the invention. For example, some operations or steps may be performed in a different order and / or simultaneously with other steps. Furthermore, not all operations, steps, and / or features must be performed to achieve embodiments of the invention. Moreover, each operation or step described herein may comprise several sub-steps or actions.

[0048] The method for preparing the antimicrobial composition according to embodiments of the present invention comprises the following steps: (1) Provide an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant; (2) Add the acid-base regulator to the aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant and stir until homogeneous; (3) After mixing the colorant and pure water, add it to the nonionic surfactant aqueous solution and stir until uniform; (4) Add the cationic antimicrobial agent to the aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant and stir until homogeneous; (5) After adding pure water to a nonionic surfactant aqueous solution containing nonionic surfactant, acid-base regulator, colorant and cationic antimicrobial agent in a quantitative manner, an antimicrobial composition is obtained.

[0049] In step (1), when providing the aqueous solution of nonionic surfactant, the nonionic surfactant can be added to pure water and stirred until homogeneous. In some embodiments, the humectant and thickener can be mixed first until evenly dispersed and free of lumps, then poured into pure water and stirred until dissolved, and then the nonionic surfactant can be added and stirred until homogeneous to obtain the aqueous solution of nonionic surfactant.

[0050] In step (2), the pH adjuster is an organic acid containing a carboxyl group, used to adjust the pH of the nonionic surfactant aqueous solution from above pH 11 to below pH 7, preferably about pH 5.5 to pH 6.5, and in some embodiments, to between pH 5.8 and pH 6.2. Since the nonionic surfactant has a relatively high pH, ​​adjusting the pH in this step can prevent the subsequent addition of cationic antimicrobial agents from precipitating due to excessively high pH. Lactic acid is preferably used as the pH adjuster, and its advantages have been detailed above and will not be repeated here.

[0051] In step (3), since the selection and addition ratio of the colorant will affect the possibility of precipitation of the cationic antimicrobial agent, the selection and addition ratio of the colorant mentioned above can be referred to. In addition to the colorant, fragrance can be added as needed. After adding the colorant, the fragrance can be added directly to the aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant until it is stirred evenly.

[0052] Before adding the cationic antimicrobial agent in step (4), it is necessary to confirm that the pH value of the nonionic surfactant aqueous solution is between pH 5.5 and 6.5 to prevent the cationic antimicrobial agent from precipitating due to excessively high pH value.

[0053] In step (5), adding pure water quantitatively means adding pure water to the predetermined weight of the antimicrobial composition. For example, if the predetermined weight is 1 liter of antimicrobial composition, in step (5) pure water is added until the final product is 1 liter. Finally, the pH of the aqueous solution is measured to be 5.0 to 7.0, preferably 6.0 to 6.5, thus obtaining the antimicrobial composition. In some embodiments, before adding pure water, an antifoaming agent may be added to the nonionic surfactant aqueous solution and stirred until homogeneous to eliminate foam on the surface of the nonionic surfactant aqueous solution.

[0054] In one specific embodiment, the antimicrobial composition can be prepared by the aforementioned steps according to the ingredient ratios listed in Table 1.

[0055] In one specific embodiment, the antimicrobial composition mainly comprises a cationic antimicrobial agent, a nonionic surfactant, a pH adjuster, a colorant, and a solvent. In some embodiments, the solvent is water. Other agents such as thickeners, humectants, defoamers, and fragrances are added as needed. Since the cationic antimicrobial agent, chlorhexidine gluconate, is relatively unstable and prone to precipitation, the selection of formulation components and pH control during the process are crucial to avoid precipitation that could reduce the chlorhexidine gluconate content and thus affect the antimicrobial effect.

[0056] Nonionic surfactants such as ethoxylated nonylphenol pose endocrine (EC) problems. In one specific embodiment, the nonionic surfactant decyl glucoside used has low ecotoxicity, is readily biodegradable, and is heat-resistant. Because decyl glucoside has a high pH value, direct addition of chlorhexidine gluconate would cause precipitation. Therefore, the process requires adjusting the pH value with lactic acid before adding chlorhexidine gluconate, unlike existing processes where the pH value is adjusted only in the final step.

[0057] Furthermore, to avoid precipitation caused by the reaction of chlorhexidine gluconate with the anions released from the acid-base regulator, organic acids containing carboxyl groups can be selected, with lactic acid being the preferred acid-base regulator.

[0058] In one specific embodiment, adding a humectant to the antimicrobial composition can shorten the processing time. For example, hydroxyethyl cellulose can be first dispersed in a polyol (such as glycerol or propylene glycol) and then added to pure water and stirred to dissolve, thus eliminating undissolved lumps. Specifically, the conventional method involves directly dissolving hydroxyethyl cellulose in pure water, which is time-consuming and requires separate stirring in different pots. However, the preparation method of the antimicrobial composition in this embodiment involves mixing the same amount of hydroxyethyl cellulose with glycerol and then adding pure water and stirring, requiring only 1 / 3 to 1 / 5 of the time of the conventional method and eliminating the need for separate stirring in different pots.

[0059] In one specific embodiment, the method for preparing the antimicrobial composition involves adding an antifoaming agent, such as alcohol, after adding chlorhexidine gluconate in order to eliminate foam on the solution surface by changing the surface tension.

[0060] As mentioned above, cationic antimicrobial agents are chemically unstable and easily react with other components in the antimicrobial composition to form precipitation. The formulation and preparation method disclosed herein can achieve the effect of preventing the cationic antimicrobial agent from precipitating in the antimicrobial composition. Regarding the formulation, using nonionic surfactants instead of anionic and amphoteric surfactants, and using carboxyl-containing organic acids as acid-base regulators, helps prevent the cationic antimicrobial agent from forming water-insoluble salts and precipitating. In some embodiments, the specific selection of lactic acid as an acid-base regulator and the selection of specific colorants and control of their usage further enhance the stability of the cationic antimicrobial agent in the antimicrobial composition, further reducing the amount or chance of precipitation. Even when using anionic colorants, controlling the amount used can prevent precipitation of the antimicrobial agent, and the added nonionic surfactants and polyols can also act as solvents, further increasing the compatibility of the cationic antimicrobial agent with different colorants.

[0061] Regarding the preparation method, controlling the pH value during the preparation process can effectively prevent the cationic antimicrobial agent from precipitating during the preparation or storage and transportation of the antimicrobial composition. Preventing the precipitation of cationic antimicrobial agents in the antimicrobial composition ensures the stability of the cationic antimicrobial agent content in the composition, thereby achieving the antimicrobial effect.

[0062] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the concept and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An antimicrobial composition, characterized in that, Include: A cationic antimicrobial agent, wherein the cationic antimicrobial agent is chlorhexidine gluconate; A nonionic surfactant, wherein the nonionic surfactant is decyl glucoside; An acid-base regulator, wherein the acid-base regulator is lactic acid; and A colorant, The total volume of the antimicrobial composition is 100%. The cationic antimicrobial agent has a weight / volume percentage of 0.5% to 4%; The nonionic surfactant has a weight / volume percentage of 3.5% to 10.5%; The acid-base regulator has a weight / volume percentage of 0.13% to 0.18%; and The colorant has a weight / volume percentage of 0.00002% to 0.036%. The antimicrobial composition has a pH value of 6.0 to 6.

5.

2. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1, wherein, The colorants include tartrazine, carmine, brilliant blue, sunset yellow, quinoline yellow, acid red 33, allura red, or combinations thereof.

3. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1, wherein, The cationic antimicrobial agent has a weight / volume percentage of 1.6% to 2.4%.

4. The antimicrobial composition of claim 2, wherein, The colorant is tartrazine and its weight / volume percentage is 0.00002% to 0.00006%.

5. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1, wherein, It also contains a thickener, a humectant, and an antifoaming agent, the total volume of which is 100%. The thickener has a weight / volume percentage of 0.27% to 0.35%; The humectant has a weight / volume percentage of 0.1% to 5.0%; and The defoamer has a weight / volume percentage of 1.0% to 4.0%.

6. The antimicrobial composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, It is contained in a container made of materials including high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or combinations thereof.

7. A method for preparing an antimicrobial composition, characterized in that, include: Provide an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant; A pH adjuster is mixed with an aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant, wherein the pH adjuster is lactic acid and is used to adjust the pH of the aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant; and An antimicrobial composition is obtained by mixing a colorant, a cationic antimicrobial agent, and an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant with adjusted pH value, wherein the pH value of the antimicrobial composition is 6.0 to 6.

5. The total volume of the antimicrobial composition is 100%. The cationic antimicrobial agent is chlorhexidine gluconate, with a weight / volume percentage of 0.5% to 4%; The nonionic surfactant is decyl glucoside, with a weight / volume percentage of 3.5% to 10.5%. The acid-base regulator has a weight / volume percentage of 0.13% to 0.18%; and The colorant has a weight / volume percentage of 0.00002% to 0.036%.

8. The preparation method according to claim 7, wherein, The weight / volume percentage of chlorhexidine gluconate is 2%.

9. The preparation method according to claim 7, wherein, The steps of providing the aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant include: A humectant, a thickener, and water are mixed to obtain an aqueous solution containing the humectant and the thickener; and An aqueous solution containing the humectant and the thickener is mixed with a nonionic surfactant to form the nonionic surfactant aqueous solution.

10. The preparation method according to claim 7 or 9, wherein, The step of mixing the colorant, the cationic antimicrobial agent, and the pH-adjusted aqueous solution of the nonionic surfactant includes: The colorant, cationic antimicrobial agent, and an aqueous solution of a nonionic surfactant with adjusted pH are mixed, and then an antifoaming agent is added to obtain the antimicrobial composition.

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