Disinfectant Composition for Rapid Microbial Killing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available disinfectants often require long contact times to achieve effective microbial killing, which is undesirable for efficient cleaning and disinfection in healthcare settings, and they can have issues with film integrity and wetting on hydrophobic materials.
Innovation Solution
The development of disinfectant compositions that include a peroxide, a peracid, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic polymer, and small amounts of a linear higher alcohol and an alkyl pyrrolidone, which improve killing rates and contact time efficiency, with the addition of nonionic surfactants and wetting agents enhancing film-forming and wetting characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If commercially available disinfectants are used, then microbial killing is achieved, but contact time is long which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by incorporating peroxide, peracid, anionic surfactant, nonionic polymer, linear higher alcohol, and alkyl pyrrolidone in specific concentrations. This parameter optimization enables the disinfectant to achieve 6-log reduction of C. difficile spores in just 2 minutes, dramatically reducing contact time while maintaining reliable microbial killing efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite disinfectant formulation combining multiple active ingredients (peroxide, peracid, surfactants, polymers, alcohols, and pyrrolidones) that work synergistically. This composite approach enhances microbicidal activity and speeds up killing rates, achieving rapid sporicidal action within 2 minutes compared to longer contact times required by conventional single-ingredient disinfectants.
2Reliability
If conventional disinfectants are applied, then microbial reduction is achieved, but film integrity and wetting on hydrophobic materials is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces nonionic surfactants and wetting agents as intermediary substances that facilitate the interaction between the disinfectant solution and hydrophobic surfaces. These intermediaries improve wetting characteristics and film-forming properties, enabling uniform coverage on challenging surfaces while maintaining the core microbicidal efficacy against various pathogens including spores.
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation adjusts surface-active parameters by incorporating specific concentrations of nonionic surfactants and wetting agents. This modifies the interfacial properties of the disinfectant, enhancing its ability to wet and form stable films on hydrophobic materials, thereby improving ease of application and coverage without compromising microbial reduction efficacy.
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
These compositions demonstrate significantly faster microbial killing rates, achieving a ¾ log greater reduction in microbial populations within a 60-second contact time and are effective against C. difficile spores in just two minutes, improving efficiency and compatibility with hydrophobic surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
the compositions comprise a peroxide, a peracid, an anionic surfactant, an ionic polymer
Implementation Method 2
the addition of nonionic surfactants and wetting agents enhancing film-forming and wetting characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a disinfectant composition includes a peroxide, a peracid, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic polymer, and one or both of a linear fatty alcohol and an alkyl pyrrolidone. The disinfectants provide greater killing rates for microbial populations in short periods of time, and therefore can be considered to be fast-acting disinfectants.