Disinfectant foam for the treatment of animals and procedures

Abstract

A foam for the hoof treatment of animals in agriculture, in particular in the field of livestock farming, containing at least one surfactant foam carrier component, at least one antimicrobially active component and water, wherein 75% to 95% of all foam bubbles have a diameter of less than 1 mm and 5% to 25% of 1 mm or larger, characterized in that the surfactant foam carrier component is sodium lauryl(ethyleneoxy)sulfate and the antimicrobially active component is one or more compounds selected from peroctanoic acid and peracetic acid.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a foam and a method for producing a foam. The foam can be used for treating animals in agriculture, particularly in livestock farming.

[0002] Cattle, as well as sheep, goats, and breeding horses, frequently suffer from hoof diseases, particularly as a result of viral or bacterial inflammation between the ends of the hooves or toes. This inflammation, which is extremely painful, causes lameness or difficulty moving, leading to the animal's inability to eat normally, which in cows, for example, can lead to a reduction in milk production.

[0003] Consequently, these diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms pose serious problems for breeders, especially since they can be transmitted from one animal to another.

[0004] It should be noted that these problems are relatively rare in animals that live on pasture, i.e., those that move on soft, expansive surfaces. They are more prevalent in animals that are constantly indoors, particularly in so-called "free-roam" housing. In such housing, the animals move freely within a confined space, the floor of which is usually made of concrete or concrete slats separated by slots laid over a pit, allowing manure to be easily disposed of through the slots into the pit.

[0005] In practice, such surfaces cannot be kept in perfect hygienic condition, so that it is unavoidable that the animals stand and wade in dirt and especially in their own excrement.

[0006] These living conditions, coupled with the physical and mechanical stress caused by the animals' constant movement on extremely hard ground, cause constant irritation in the hoof area. This manifests itself, for example, in the softening of the horny layer at the ends of the hooves. This increases the animals' susceptibility to inflammatory diseases. In particular, diseases caused by the numerous pathogens on the ground on which the animals move spread more easily.

[0007] As mentioned, these inflammations, which manifest themselves particularly as abscesses between the ends of the hooves, are very painful and cause extreme sensitivity to touch, which makes local treatment of the inflamed areas very difficult, especially when antibiotics are applied to the skin.

[0008] Consequently, the only possible treatment is to administer antibiotics orally; however, it is becoming increasingly less effective due to the increasing resistance of pathogens in the dirt to the various antibiotics.

[0009] To counteract these disadvantages, methods for treating the hooves of breeding animals, particularly cattle, have already been proposed, the aim of which is not to cure but to prevent.

[0010] These procedures involve walking the animals to be treated through footbaths, i.e., large, shallow basins filled with disinfectant baths. These baths typically consist of highly concentrated solutions of formaldehyde and copper sulfate. They generally contain approximately 10% formaldehyde and 2% copper sulfate. In such solutions, the formaldehyde acts as a disinfectant, while the copper sulfate strengthens the horn of the animals' hooves, making them less sensitive to physical and mechanical stress.

[0011] However, such baths have proven unsatisfactory. They are foul-smelling and cause skin irritation due to their high concentration of formaldehyde. Due to the significant amounts of copper sulfate, such baths are also environmentally questionable.

[0012] The main disadvantage of these treatment baths, however, is their insufficient microbial killing effectiveness. When walking through the footbath, the animals introduce a large amount of proteinaceous dirt into the bath; the formaldehyde reacts preferentially with these organic residues, which compromises their antimicrobial effectiveness against pathogens. The effectiveness of such treatment baths thus decreases over time.

[0013] Further disadvantages in practical application have been identified as the weak wetting of the hooves and / or poor adhesion to the hooves, resulting in a short contact time, as well as the temperature-dependent effectiveness of formaldehyde, especially in cold conditions. Furthermore, the widespread use of such baths cannot be seriously considered, as the tanks must be periodically emptied to renew the treatment baths, which would result in significant amounts of ecologically harmful antibiotics being released into the wastewater.

[0014] WO 00 / 28 917 A1 recommends a method in which, in a first phase, the animals' hooves are cleaned using an automatic spray system with water or another cleaning agent containing a soap or surfactant to remove any traces of excrement, manure, or other contaminants. Following this, in a second phase, the previously cleaned animals' hooves are treated by moistening or spraying them with a disinfectant. Such cleaning must be automated. Manual cleaning is not desirable due to the time required by the personnel and the sensitivity of the animals' hooves.WO 00 / 28917 therefore recommends, preferably during the cleaning phase, leading the animals to be treated through a cleaning corridor having spray ramps on at least one side, preferably on both sides, equipped with a series of spray cans, each of which can direct jets of water or detergent at a specific pressure onto the hooves of the animals to be treated. According to WO 00 / 28917 A1, the disinfectant can be applied either in liquid form or, preferably, in the form of a foam, which has the advantage of remaining on the animal's skin longer than a liquid agent, thus prolonging the contact time with the disinfectant and consequently promoting the destruction of pathogens on the animal's skin, particularly in its skin folds.

[0015] WO 02 / 41 683 A2 provides a method for treating the hooves of animals in agriculture with foam or foam-like agents, whereby a foam blanket or foam-like coating is created on the stable floor covering as extensively as possible and the animals' hooves come into contact with the foam blanket or the foam-like coating during or after the foam is created.

[0016] Despite the many advantages of the technical teaching of WO 02 / 41683 A2, there are some disadvantages. When applying agents in the form of foam to the stable floor, the problem is that the foam decomposes quickly once it comes into contact with the hooves. As a result, the animals must remain standing in the foam until the hooves are disinfected. Stepping out of the foam causes the foam to decompose and stops the disinfection process. As a result, a risk of infection remains if the animals step out of the foam beforehand.

[0017] Accordingly, the object of the present invention was to provide a foam suitable for use in a method similar to that described in WO 02 / 41 683 A2, ensuring that the foam remains stable for at least several minutes after the animal has left the foam blanket, so that the disinfection process of the hooves is continued and a better disinfection of its hooves can be achieved.

[0018] Surprisingly, the above-mentioned aim of the present invention can be achieved by providing a foam for the hoof treatment of animals in agriculture, in particular in the field of livestock farming, comprising at least one surfactant foam carrier component, at least one antimicrobially active component and water, wherein 75% to 95% of all foam bubbles have a diameter of less than 1 mm and 5% to 25% of 1 mm or larger, characterized in that the surfactant foam carrier component is sodium lauryl(ethyleneoxy)sulfate and the antimicrobially active component is one or more compounds selected from peroctanoic acid and peracetic acid.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the foam has an average bubble diameter between 0.70 and 0.85 mm, preferably between 0.74 and 0.82 mm, most preferably between 0.77 and 0.79 mm.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the foam has a density between 70 and 90 g / liter.

[0021] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the half-life of the foam is greater than 90 minutes, preferably greater than 120 minutes, more preferably greater than 150 minutes and even more preferably greater than 180 minutes, so that the disinfection process of the hooves continues for a while after the animal has left the foam blanket, so that a better disinfection of its hooves is achieved.

[0022] The “half-life” of the foam is defined as the time after which a given volume of foam has decomposed to half of its original volume under normal conditions at room temperature.

[0023] The antimicrobial component is one or more compounds selected from peroctanoic acid and peracetic acid.

[0024] Due to its economic and ecological advantages and its application properties, peracetic acid is particularly worth mentioning as a peracid.

[0025] The proportion of the antimicrobial component in the foam is between 0.005 and 1.0 wt.%, preferably between 0.01 and 0.6 wt.% and more preferably between 0.05 and 0.3 wt.%.

[0026] The surfactant foam carrier component is sodium lauryl(ethyleneoxy)sulfate.

[0027] Preferred salts also include the commercially available products of TEXAPON ® family, including TEXAPON ® NSO, TEXAPON ® ASV 50, TEXAPON ® ASV 70 Special, TEXAPON ® K14S Special, TEXAPON ® N 70, TEXAPON ® NA, TEXAPON ® SB 3 KC and TEXAPON ® SPN 70.

[0028] TEXAPON ® NSO, a sodium lauryl(ethyleneoxy)sulfate, is most preferred.

[0029] Useful fatty acid salts (not within the meaning of the invention) include the water-soluble sodium and potassium salts of C 10 -C 18 -saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and mixtures thereof. Commercially available fatty acid salts useful as the surfactant foam carrier component of the present foam composition include sodium cocoates, sodium laurates, sodium palmitates, sodium tallowates, sodium stearates, sodium oleates, sodium linoleates, sodium linolenates, and the like.

[0030] The anionic surfactant foam carrier components also include fatty alcohol sulfates, where the fatty alcohol has a C8-C 22 -n-alkyl group, preferably a C 10 -C 18 -n-alkyl group. Commercially available surfactant foam carrier components of this class include magnesium lauryl sulfate, ammonium C 12 -C 15 -alcohol sulfate, sodium C 16 -C 20alcohol sulfate, sodium cetyl sulfate, sodium steryl sulfate, sodium decyl sulfate, sodium myristyl sulfate and the like.

[0031] An alkyl-substituted (aryl)sulfonate salt, preferably of the general formula: (R)ArSO3 M, may also be useful in the present foam composition, wherein R is a C1-C 16 -branched or -straight-chain alkyl group, and M is as defined above. R can also represent two methyl substituents. Useful surfactant foam carrier components of this class include ammonium xylenesulfonate, ammonium toluenesulfonate, ammonium cumenesulfonate, sodium decylbenzenesulfonate, lithium or potassium pentapropylbenzenesulfonate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, ammonium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate, and the like.

[0032] The quaternary ammonium salts of formula (III) preferably present in the foam are saturated or unsaturated quaternary ammonium salts resulting from the esterification of trialkanolamine, preferably triethanolamine, with fatty acids and subsequent quaternization with suitable alkylating agents. Particularly suitable fatty acids are those having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for example lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, or stearic acid. Industrially produced mixtures of fatty acids, for example acid mixtures derived from coconut, palm kernel, rapeseed, or tallow fat, are preferred. These so-called esterquats contain an average of 1 to 3 ester groups per molecule, with an average of at least 2 ester groups being preferred. Esterquats preferably contain halide, in particular chloride, sulfate, methyl sulfate, methyl phosphate, and alkyl or aryl sulfonate, as counterions.However, due to the foaming effect of quaternary ammonium salts, it may also be preferable to use commonly available QACs as foam carrier components.

[0033] The proportion of the foam carrier component in the foam is between 0.01 and 1.2 wt.%, preferably between 0.02 and 0.8 wt.% and more preferably between 0.1 and 0.4 wt.%.

[0034] In particular, it is preferred that one or more additional anionic surfactants, preferably selected from the C8-C 18 -alkyl sulfates, C8-C 18 -alkyl ether sulfates, C8-C 18 -alkanesulfonates, C8-C 18 -α-olefin sulfonates, sulfonated C8-C 18 -fatty acids, C8-C 18 -Alkylbenzenesulfonates, sulfonsuccinic acid mono- and di-C1-C 12 -alkyl esters, C8-C 18 -Alkyl polyglycol ether carboxylates, C8-C 18 -N-acyltaurides, C8-C 18 -N-sarcosinates, C8-C 18-alkyl isethionates and mixtures of the foregoing are additionally contained in the foam or foam composition according to the present invention.

[0035] The present foam or foam composition may also contain a proportion of one or more surfactants, which may act as additional foam components as they may assist in the homogeneous dispersion of the other ingredients.

[0036] Preferably, fatty acids with 8 to 12 carbon atoms are also included in the foam.

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment of the foam and process according to the invention, coloring components are contained in the foam, whereby the coloring components can be added before, during, or after the production of the foam blanket or foam-like covering. This is intended to ensure that the foam blanket or foam-like covering is not colorless or white. This should be understood to mean that the aforementioned coloring components are used as auxiliary additives and primarily serve to provide color, not to produce foam.

[0038] Preferred colors are light green, blue, brown or red or mixtures of these colors.

[0039] The coloring reduces the animals' fear of stepping into the foam or foam-like surface. This problem was observed during practical testing of the inventive method with cows. The cows stopped in front of the white or colorless foam, whereas after the foam was colored, they entered it without hesitation.

[0040] In a further embodiment of the foam and process according to the invention, a corrosion inhibitor is included in the foam. The corrosion inhibitor can be in the form of a neutralizing amount of a basic compound, for example, NaOH, KOH, silicates, and / or soda ash.

[0041] In another preferred embodiment, the corrosion inhibitor is octylphosphonic acid.

[0042] The proportion of octylphosphonic acid in the foam is between 0.001 and 0.1 wt%, preferably between 0.005 and 0.05 wt% and more preferably between 0.01 and 0.03 wt%.

[0043] Depending on the intended application, the agents to be diluted according to the process according to the invention may contain further components, for example alkalis, chelating agents, builder substances, further anionic and / or non-ionic surfactants, enzymes and / or perfumes, skin care components.

[0044] Suitable alkalis include sodium or potassium hydroxide, sodium or potassium carbonate, and sodium or potassium silicates. Suitable chelating agents include alkali metal salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), as well as alkali metal salts of anionic polyelectrolytes such as polyacrylates, polymaleates, and polysulfonates. Also suitable are low-molecular-weight hydroxycarboxylic acids such as citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, or gluconic acid. Suitable complexing agents can also be selected from organophosphonates such as 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid), hexamethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid), diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic acid), and 1-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid.

[0045] Other anionic or nonionic surfactants that can be used in the formulation according to the invention include, for example, alkyl sulfates and sulfonates, as well as alkylbenzenesulfonates of oleochemical or petrochemical origin, and alkoxylation products of fatty alcohols or fatty amines. The alkoxylates can be end-capped with alkyl groups, for example, butyl groups, and can be present as fatty alcohol or fatty amine oligoglycol ethers. This allows the foaming behavior of the cleaners according to the invention to be controlled.

[0046] With regard to the process for producing the foam which can be used for the hoof treatment of animals in agriculture, an aqueous solution is used which contains at least one surfactant foam carrier component and at least one antimicrobially active component, wherein the surfactant foam carrier component is sodium lauryl(ethyleneoxy)sulfate and the antimicrobially active component is one or more compounds selected from peroctanoic acid and peracetic acid.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment of the process for producing the foam a) one or more compositions are diluted with water, preferably independently of one another by a factor of 20 to 200, and b) in the case of dilution of several compositions, the diluted solutions are mixed together, whereby c) the at least one surfactant foam carrier component and the at least one antimicrobially active component are contained together in a composition and / or individually in several agents.

[0048] The foam according to the invention is preferably produced using commercially available foaming equipment. EXAMPLES Production of the foam

[0049] To produce the foam according to the invention, Ecolab products are used, namely Kovex Foam Base as the base component corresponding to composition A1, A2, or A3 (see below) and Kovex Foam Activator as the activator component corresponding to composition B1, B2, or B3 (see below). Each of the above-mentioned products was first diluted with water by a factor of approximately 1:50. After mixing one of the diluted A components with one of the diluted B components in a ratio of approximately 1:1, the foam was produced automatically using commercially available foaming equipment. The desired foam consistency was achieved by varying the air supply to the foaming equipment. Basic components Basic component A1: acetic acid 74.0 wt.% Hydrogen peroxide 20.0 wt.% Hydroxyethenediphosphonic acid 0.90 wt.% Caprylic acid 2.0 wt.% Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid 0.3 wt.% demineralized water up to 100 wt.% Basic component A2: acetic acid 40.0 wt.% Hydrogen peroxide 16.0 wt.% Hydroxyethenediphosphonic acid 0.90 wt.% Caprylic acid 1.2 wt.% demineralized water up to 100 wt.% Basic component A3: acetic acid 39.0 wt.% Hydrogen peroxide 24.0 wt.% Hydroxyethenediphosphonic acid 0.60 wt.% demineralized water up to 100 wt.% Activator components Activator component B1: TEXAPON ® NSO 25.0 wt.% Patent Blue V (CI 42051) 0.10 wt.% Tartrazine (CI 19140) 0.15 wt.% demineralized water up to 100 wt.% Activator component B2: TEXAPON ® NSO 25.0 wt.% Patent Blue V (CI 42051) 0.10 wt.% Tartrazine (CI 19140) 0.15 wt.% Octylphosphonic acid 1.0 wt.% demineralized water up to 100 wt.% Activator component B1: TEXAPON ® NSO 25.0 wt.% Patent Blue V (CI 42051) 0.10 wt.% Tartrazine (CI 19140) 0.15 wt.% NaOH (50%) 2-15 wt%* demineralized water up to 100 wt.% (* depending on the acidity of the component A1, A2 or A3 used) Analysis of the foam

[0050] A digital image of the foam was analyzed using a special analysis software: analySYS ® , Soft Imaging System GmbH. The microscope used was: Olympus ® SZ 40. The foam was prepared by mixing the base component A1 with the activator component B1 in a ratio of 1:1. The results: average bladder diameter 0.78 mm Standard deviation 0.191 mm minimum bubble diameter 0.22 mm maximum bubble diameter 1.30 mm Bubble diameter 0 to 1.0 mm 380 / 450 (~84%) Bubble diameter 1.001 to 2.0 mm 70 / 450 (~16%) Half-life of the foam > 180 minutes.

Claims

[1] A foam for the hoof treatment of animals in agriculture, in particular in the field of livestock farming, containing at least one surfactant foam carrier component, at least one antimicrobially active component and water, wherein 75% to 95% of all foam bubbles have a diameter of less than 1 mm and 5% to 25% of 1 mm or larger, characterized by that the surfactant foam carrier component is sodium lauryl(ethyleneoxy)sulfate and the antimicrobial component is one or more compounds selected from peroctanoic acid and peracetic acid. [2] A foam according to claim 1, wherein the density of the foam is between 70 and 90 g / liter. [3] A foam according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the average bubble diameter is between 0.70 and 0.85 mm. [4] A foam according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the half-life of the foam is greater than 90 minutes. [5] A foam according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein fatty acids having 8 to 12 carbon atoms are additionally contained in the foam. [6] A foam according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein coloring components are additionally contained in the foam. [7] A foam according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a corrosion inhibitor is additionally contained in the foam. [8] A foam according to claim 7, wherein the corrosion inhibitor is a neutralizing amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of NaOH, KOH, silicates and soda ash. [9] A foam according to claim 7, wherein the corrosion inhibitor is octylphosphonic acid. [10] A foam according to claim 9, wherein the proportion of octylphosphonic acid in the foam is between 0.001 and 0.1 wt%. [11] A foam according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the proportion of the antimicrobial active component in the foam is between 0.005 and 1.0% by weight. [12] A foam according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the proportion of the foam carrier component in the foam is between 0.01 and 1.2% by weight. [13] A method for treating the hooves of animals in agriculture, in particular in the field of livestock farming, with a foam according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a foam blanket or foam-like coating which is as extensive as possible is produced on a surface, preferably the stable floor, and the animals come into contact with the foam blanket or the foam-like coating with their hooves during or after the foam production. [14] A process for producing a foam according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein an aqueous solution containing at least one surfactant foam carrier component and at least one antimicrobially active component is used for the foam production, wherein the surfactant foam carrier component is sodium lauryl(ethyleneoxy)sulfate and the antimicrobially active component is one or more compounds selected from peroctanoic acid and peracetic acid. [15] A method according to claim 14, wherein a) one or more compositions are diluted with water, preferably independently of one another by a factor of 20 to 200, and b) in the case of dilution of several compositions, the diluted solutions are mixed together, and c) the at least one surfactant foam carrier component and the at least one antimicrobially active component are contained together in a composition and / or individually in several agents.