Antimicrobial Compositions with Cationic Polymer pH Boosters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic acids like benzoic acid have limited antimicrobial efficacy at neutral or basic pH, restricting their use in products requiring neutral pH for performance, and current preservatives at neutral pH are often costly, sensitizing, or corrosive.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating cationic polymers with organic acids, such as ammonium-containing polymers, extends the effective pH range of organic acids like benzoic acid for antimicrobial activity, allowing lower concentrations and improved efficacy in neutral to basic pH environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If organic acids like benzoic acid are used for antimicrobial preservation, then cost is reduced and ecofriendly profile is improved, but effective pH range is limited to below pH 6.5
Solution Approach 1:
A polymer booster acts as an intermediary substance that enhances the antimicrobial activity of organic acids at elevated pH levels. The polymer contains multiple amine groups that interact with the organic acid and its conjugate base to maintain antimicrobial efficacy above pH 6.5, where the organic acid alone would be ineffective. This mediator enables the organic acid to function effectively in a broader pH range without changing the organic acid's inherent properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite antimicrobial system combining a polymer booster with organic acid. The polymer contains repeating units with amine groups that work synergistically with the organic acid to extend the effective pH range. This composite approach allows the organic acid to maintain antimicrobial activity at pH levels above 6.5, where it would normally be ineffective, while retaining the cost and ecofriendly benefits of the organic acid.
2Reliability
If traditional preservatives are used at neutral pH, then microbial control is effective, but safety is compromised due to sensitizing, corrosive, and irritating properties
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces long-standing traditional preservatives with a new approach using organic acids combined with a polymer booster. This substitution eliminates the need for harsh traditional preservatives that cause sensitization, corrosion, and irritation, while achieving equivalent or superior microbial control at neutral pH through the synergistic polymer-organic acid system.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer booster serves as an intermediary that enables organic acids to achieve effective microbial control at neutral pH without requiring the use of harsh traditional preservatives. The polymer's amine groups interact with the organic acid to maintain antimicrobial activity at elevated pH, providing safe and effective preservation without the harmful properties of conventional neutral-pH preservatives.
3Ease of operation
If organic acids are used at elevated pH without polymer booster, then product performance is maintained, but antimicrobial activity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the polymer booster with the organic acid system to achieve both product performance and antimicrobial activity at elevated pH. The polymer contains amine groups that interact with the organic acid to maintain antimicrobial efficacy, allowing the formulation to operate effectively at neutral pH where product performance is optimized while microbial control is simultaneously achieved through the synergistic 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 combination of cationic polymers with organic acids enhances antimicrobial activity at elevated pH, providing effective microbial control in products typically limited by the pH range of organic acids alone, with improved safety and reduced concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
certain polymers, referred to herein as polymer boosters, have been discovered to enhance the antimicrobial activity of organic acids at an elevated pH
Data Source
AI summary
Polycationic ingredients for use in improving the efficacy of known organic acid compositions at neutral to basic pH, and/or reducing the amount of organic acids needed for antimicrobial activity. Methods of boosting antimicrobial activity of organic acid compositions is achieved through adding a polycationic compound. Use of the antimicrobial compositions in products is also described.