Acid-Anionic Surfactant Antimicrobial Composition for Norovirus Inactivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antimicrobial compositions for Norovirus, particularly in food contact and non-food contact applications, face challenges such as requiring a rinse step, leaving residues, and using quaternary ammonium compounds, which are under regulatory scrutiny, and fail to provide effective, non-flammable, and PPE-free solutions with short contact times.
Innovation Solution
Development of dilutable, non-flammable antimicrobial compositions comprising a combination of strong and weak acids and anionic surfactants, specifically C8-C22 alkyl sulfonates, that form a dilutable liquid concentrate with an acidic pH, suitable for use as a no-rinse solution, effective against Norovirus and other viruses without leaving residues and requiring personal protective equipment (PPE).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If quaternary ammonium compounds are used for antimicrobial efficacy, then antimicrobial effectiveness is improved, but regulatory compliance deteriorates due to regulatory scrutiny
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by replacing quaternary ammonium compounds with an acid-based formulation (pH 2-4) combined with anionic surfactants. This parameter change maintains antimicrobial efficacy while avoiding the regulatory issues associated with quaternary ammonium compounds, achieving both reliability improvement and harmful factor reduction simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite antimicrobial system combining acids (acetic, lactic, citric, or sulfonic) with anionic surfactants (sulfates, sulfonates, or carboxylates). This composite approach achieves effective viral inactivation including Norovirus while using chemically safer ingredients that avoid regulatory scrutiny, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and compliance
2Reliability
If traditional antimicrobial compositions are used, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but operational complexity worsens due to requiring rinse steps and PPE
Solution Approach 1:
The acid-based antimicrobial composition is designed to be self-sufficient, providing both cleaning and disinfection functions in a single application. The formulation automatically achieves the required pH level and antimicrobial activity without requiring additional rinse steps or personal protective equipment, making the system self-service and simplifying operation while maintaining efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single composition: cleaning, disinfection, and virus inactivation are achieved together in one application. By combining acids with anionic surfactants, the formulation eliminates the need for separate rinse steps and PPE, reducing operational complexity while preserving antimicrobial efficacy
3Reliability
If conventional sanitizing compositions are used, then sanitizing effectiveness is improved, but surface quality deteriorates due to leaving residues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the chemical parameters by using volatile acids (acetic, lactic, citric) that evaporate completely, leaving no residue. The anionic surfactant component is optimized to ensure complete surface coverage and penetration while maintaining surface quality. This parameter change achieves effective sanitizing while preventing the formation of hazy, streaky, or tacky residues
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation uses volatile acid components that act temporarily during the disinfection process and then evaporate, leaving no persistent residue on the surface. This approach treats the acid as a temporary, disposable agent that performs its function and disappears, maintaining surface quality while ensuring sanitizing effectiveness
4Adaptability or versatility
If acid-based compositions are used, then surface compatibility is improved, but antimicrobial strength worsens without adequate surfactant combination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite system where acids (providing surface compatibility and penetration) work synergistically with anionic surfactants (providing antimicrobial strength). This composite approach ensures that the acid-based formulation achieves both surface compatibility for penetrating biofilms and sufficient antimicrobial strength to inactivate viruses including Norovirus
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the surface-compatible acid component with the antimicrobial anionic surfactant component to create a balanced formulation. The acid provides surface penetration and compatibility while the anionic surfactant delivers antimicrobial activity, achieving both surface compatibility and adequate antimicrobial strength through combination
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compositions achieve complete inactivation of Norovirus in less than 1 minute without a rinse step, are surface-compatible, and do not require PPE, providing effective antimicrobial and antiviral efficacy across viral hierarchies while being safe for food contact surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
at least one anionic surfactant, wherein the composition is a dilutable liquid concentrate having an acidic pH
Data Source
AI summary
Antimicrobial compositions including at least one acid and at least one anionic surfactant are provided. In particular, food contact antimicrobial compositions including at least one acid and at least one anionic surfactant provide a no-rinse compositions efficacious against Norovirus, having acceptable use solution pH that do not require use of personal protective equipment (PPE), are surface compatible and do not leave residues on treated surfaces are provided. Methods of cleaning a surface with the compositions are also provided.