Antimicrobial Composition Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Glycolic Acid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antimicrobial compositions are ineffective against a wide range of microorganisms, particularly bacterial and fungal spores, and often require long contact times, posing challenges in achieving 99.999% reduction within 30 seconds as required by public health standards, while also being environmentally and user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising hydrogen peroxide, glycolic acid, and an antimicrobially-active solvent such as benzyl alcohol or phenoxyethanol, which can be used in various forms including solutions, kits, and wipes, effectively killing bacterial and fungal spores with a short contact time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional antimicrobial compositions are used, then they can kill some microorganisms, but they are ineffective against bacterial and fungal spores and require long contact times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines hydrogen peroxide (oxidizing agent), glycolic acid (chelating agent and pH adjuster), and benzyl alcohol or phenoxyethanol (solvent and antimicrobial booster) into a composite formulation. This composite approach creates synergistic effects where the combination of ingredients achieves sporicidal activity that individual components cannot accomplish alone, while maintaining short contact times
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific concentration parameters of each ingredient (hydrogen peroxide at 0.5-10%, glycolic acid at 0.1-5%, benzyl alcohol at 1-20% or phenoxyethanol at 1-20%) to achieve the desired balance between sporicidal effectiveness and short contact time. By precisely controlling these parameters, the formulation achieves 5-log reduction of spores within 30 seconds
2Productivity
If stronger antimicrobial agents are used to achieve 99.999% reduction within 30 seconds, then the required log reduction is achieved, but environmental and user safety concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses moderate concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (0.5-10%, preferably 1-5%) rather than highly concentrated peroxide solutions, achieving effective sporicidal activity while minimizing harshness. The inclusion of glycolic acid (0.1-5%) helps buffer the formulation and reduce irritation, and the solvents benzyl alcohol or phenoxyethanol (1-20%) provide antimicrobial enhancement at safe concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
Glycolic acid acts as an intermediary substance that chelates metal ions, stabilizes the hydrogen peroxide, and adjusts pH to optimize antimicrobial activity while reducing the harshness of peroxide. Benzyl alcohol or phenoxyethanol serve as intermediaries that enhance antimicrobial penetration and activity while maintaining safety profiles
3Reliability
If hydrogen peroxide is used as the primary antimicrobial agent, then environmental friendliness is improved, but stability and viscosity control over time become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Glycolic acid serves as a stabilizing intermediary that chelates metal ions which would otherwise catalyze decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. This chelation effect prevents rapid breakdown of peroxide, maintaining both antimicrobial efficacy and consistent viscosity over the product shelf life
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of hydrogen peroxide with glycolic acid and benzyl alcohol/phenoxyethanol creates a composite system where each component stabilizes the others. The organic solvent system helps maintain consistent viscosity, while glycolic acid prevents peroxide degradation, achieving both environmental friendliness and compositional stability
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 achieves a high log reduction in microbial populations, including spores like Clostridium Difficile, within 30 seconds, maintaining efficacy and safety for user and environment, with stable hydrogen peroxide levels and viscosity over time.
Implementation Method 1
an effective amount of hydrogen peroxide
Implementation Method 2
an effective amount of glycolic acid
Implementation Method 3
an effective amount of at least one antimicrobially-active solvent chosen from benzyl alcohol and phenoxyethanol
Data Source
AI summary
An environmentally- and user-friendly, aqueous antimicrobial solution comprising effective amounts of hydrogen peroxide, glycolic acid, and at least one antimicrobially-active solvent chosen from benzyl alcohol and phenoxyethanol; concentrated versions of same; kits that can be used to make same; wipes containing same; and the use of same in a method of antimicrobial treatment of a surface contaminated with a microorganism (e.g. bacterial or fungal spore such as C. Difficile).