Alkali Metal Bisulfate Acidifying Agent for Stable Microbicidal Disinfecting Compositions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Microbicidal disinfecting compositions prepared with mineral and/or organic acids tend to become cloudy and precipitate in hard water, limiting antimicrobial agent concentration and increasing handling, storage, and transportation challenges due to corrosive properties and the need for additional chemicals to prevent turbidity.

Innovation Solution

Using alkali metal bisulfate or ammonium bisulfate as an acidifying agent, which provides high aqueous solubility and allows for concentrated antimicrobial compositions without cloudiness or precipitation, reducing the need for additional chemicals and minimizing handling hazards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If mineral acids or organic acids are used as acidifying agents, then the desired acidic pH level is achieved, but cloudiness and precipitate formation occur in hard water

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepH levelVSAvoidsolution clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the acidifying agent from traditional mineral acids (phosphoric, sulfuric, hydrochloric) or organic acids (citric, lactic) to alkali metal bisulfates or ammonium bisulfate. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by providing the necessary acidity while eliminating cloudiness and precipitate formation in hard water, achieving both pH control and solution stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If additional chemicals are added to prevent cloudiness and precipitate formation, then solution stability is improved, but the extent of antimicrobial agent concentration is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolution clarityVSAvoidantimicrobial agent concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional cloudiness-preventing chemicals by using alkali metal bisulfate or ammonium bisulfate as the acidifying agent. This single substance provides both the necessary acidity and hard water compatibility, allowing maximum concentration of antimicrobial agents without requiring separate additives for stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Temperature

If organic acids are used as acidifying agents, then the desired acidic pH level is achieved, but larger quantities are required compared to mineral acids

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepH levelVSAvoidacidifying agent quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the acidifying agent from weak organic acids to alkali metal bisulfates or ammonium bisulfate, which provide stronger acidifying capability. This parameter change reduces the quantity of acidifying agent required while maintaining the desired pH level, and also eliminates the need for larger quantities associated with organic acids.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Temperature

If mineral acids are used as acidifying agents, then the desired acidic pH level is achieved, but corrosive properties and handling hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepH levelVSAvoidcorrosivity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces corrosive mineral acids with alkali metal bisulfates or ammonium bisulfate, which are less hazardous and easier to handle. This substitution maintains the necessary acidifying function while reducing corrosivity and handling hazards, making the composition safer for storage, transportation, and use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

5Stability of the object's composition

If additional chemicals are added to alleviate turbidity, then solution clarity is improved, but storage and transportation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolution clarityVSAvoidstorage and transportation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for additional turbidity-alleviating chemicals by using alkali metal bisulfate or ammonium bisulfate as the acidifying agent. This single-substance approach provides both pH control and hard water compatibility, maximizing storage and transportation efficiency by reducing the number of components and simplifying logistics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 use of alkali metal bisulfate or ammonium bisulfate enables the creation of stable, non-hazardous, and cost-effective microbicidal disinfecting compositions that maintain antimicrobial efficacy across various concentrations and applications, simplifying storage and transportation while avoiding corrosive issues.

Implementation Method 1

An acidifying agent that includes at least one of an alkali metal bisulfate or ammonium bisulfate, both of which exhibit high aqueous solubility

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAqueous solubility: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS9538763B2Cleaning, disinfecting and microbicidal compositions
Publication Date: 2017.01.10 LOPES JOHN ALEX

AI summary

A microbicidal disinfecting composition and a method of preparing the same include the use of an acidifying agent that comprises at least one of an alkali metal bisulfate, ammonium bisulfate, or a combination thereof. The composition has broad-spectrum microbicidal properties and does not demonstrate cloudiness or precipitation when prepared, diluted, or otherwise exposed to hard water.