Acidic Sanitizing Composition for Low-Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sanitizing treatments in the food and beverage industries are ineffective against yeast and mold contamination, have stability issues at low temperatures, and can be corrosive, leaving residues that affect equipment and food quality, with existing antimicrobial solutions not providing uniform efficacy across different microorganisms and being prone to foaming.
Innovation Solution
A quaternary antimicrobial system comprising C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl carboxylic acids, C5-C18 alkyl monocarboxylic acids, and dicarboxylic acids, combined with solubilizers and a diluent like water, to create a stable, low-foaming acidic sanitizing solution that effectively targets gram-negative, gram-positive bacteria, yeast, and mold, while being less corrosive and environmentally friendly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sanitizing treatments are used, then antimicrobial activity is achieved, but stability at low temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using specific short-chain monocarboxylic acids (C1-C4) instead of conventional long-chain acids, and adjusts the pH range to 2.0-4.0 to achieve both low-temperature stability and antimicrobial effectiveness. The specific parameter changes in acid chain length and concentration resolve the contradiction between stability and activity.
2Reliability
If halogen-containing sanitizers are used, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but corrosion to metal surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates halogen-containing components from the sanitizer formulation, replacing them with non-corrosive short-chain monocarboxylic acids. This removal of the harmful halogen element maintains antimicrobial efficacy through alternative chemical mechanisms while eliminating corrosion damage to metal surfaces.
3Reliability
If quaternary ammonium compounds are used, then antimicrobial activity is achieved, but residue adhesion to surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes quaternary ammonium compounds from the formulation and replaces them with volatile short-chain monocarboxylic acids that exert antimicrobial activity during application but evaporate or rinse away completely, leaving no adhesive residue on sanitized surfaces.
4Area of stationary object
If foam is generated in cleaning solutions, then cleaning coverage is improved, but interference with microbial growth control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of foam (which can trap microbes and interfere with sanitization) into a benefit by formulating a low-foaming solution that provides adequate wetting and coverage without creating foam layers. The solution achieves cleaning coverage through improved surface wetting properties rather than foam generation, thereby maintaining microbial growth control.
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 solution provides enhanced antimicrobial activity across a broad range of microorganisms, maintains stability at low temperatures, reduces foaming, and is effective in removing intense flavors, ensuring safer and cleaner food processing environments.
Implementation Method 1
a) an quaternary antimicrobial system comprising at least one C1-C4 hydroxy alkyl carboxylic acid or salt thereof, at least one C5-C18 alkyl monocarboxylic acid having the general formula: R'''—COOH, at least one dicarboxylic acid having the general formula:
Implementation Method 2
b) at least one solubilizer; The antimicrobial composition of the present invention may also contain at least one anionic and/or nonionic surfactant. In some embodiments, a nonionic surfactant is suitably employed to improve surface wetting, soil removal, etc. It may also function to improve the solubility of the used fatty acids at use dilutions.
Implementation Method 3
The diluted use solution is equally effective on gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms and on yeast and on mould, and the antimicrobial activity of which is unaffected by water hardness. The composition of the present invention also provides a low foaming antimicrobial use solution capable of removing intense flavour, e.g. of soft drinks
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to acidic sanitizing and/or cleaning compositions comprising a specific quaternary antimicrobial system consisting of C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl carboxylic acids, C5-C18 alkyl monocarboxylic acids, unsubstituted or substituted, saturated or unsaturated C4-dicarboxylic acids and additional inorganic or organic acids. The compositions of the present invention can be present in the form of concentrates and in the form of diluted use solutions. They can be used in a process for sanitizing and/or cleaning hard surfaces, preferably in a cleaning-in-place (CIP) and/or sanitize-in-place (SIP) process for cleaning and/or sanitizing plants in the food, dairy, beverage, brewery and soft drink industries.