Isopropyl-methylphenol and Terpineol Antimicrobial Composition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current antimicrobial compositions require long contact times for effective action, which is inadequate for quick cleaning practices, especially in personal and hard surface cleaning applications, and may lead to microbial resistance and environmental concerns due to the use of halogenated phenols.

Innovation Solution

The use of selected isopropyl-methylphenols and terpineol combinations in antimicrobial compositions provides rapid and effective antimicrobial action within 15 seconds, reducing the need for halogenated phenols and offering a more acceptable sensory profile, thereby enhancing disinfection efficiency and reducing the required concentrations of active ingredients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chlorine-based antimicrobial agents such as triclosan are used, then antimicrobial action is provided, but long contact time is required which is inadequate for quick cleaning practices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial actionVSAvoidcontact time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the antimicrobial agent by using phenolic compounds with specific molecular structures (containing hydroxyl group at position 1 and substituents at positions 2 and 6) to achieve rapid antimicrobial action within 15 seconds without requiring prolonged contact time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines phenolic compounds with specific surfactants and adjuvants to create a composite antimicrobial composition that enhances the speed and effectiveness of microbial inactivation, enabling adequate disinfection during short cleaning periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If halogenated phenols are used as antimicrobials, then rapid antimicrobial action is achieved, but environmental toxicity and bioaccumulation concerns arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial action speedVSAvoidenvironmental toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful halogenated phenol components from the antimicrobial formulation, replacing them with non-halogenated phenolic compounds that maintain rapid antimicrobial action while removing the source of environmental toxicity and bioaccumulation concerns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs biodegradable phenolic compounds that can be safely disposed of and decomposed in the environment, replacing persistent halogenated phenols with shorter-lived, environmentally friendly alternatives that do not accumulate in ecosystems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If phenolic compounds are used as antimicrobials, then antimicrobial activity is provided, but corrosiveness and irritating effects occur when applied on human skin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial activityVSAvoidcorrosiveness and irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the molecular structure of phenolic compounds by introducing specific substituents at defined positions (hydroxyl group at position 1, substituents at positions 2 and 6) to create local chemical properties that maintain antimicrobial activity while reducing corrosiveness and skin irritation through controlled molecular design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 isopropyl-methylphenols and terpineol combination achieves synergistic antimicrobial action, ensuring effective microbial inactivation in short contact times, reducing the risk of microbial resistance and environmental impact while providing a consumer-acceptable scent and cost-efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The isopropyl-methylphenols and terpineol combination achieves synergistic antimicrobial action, ensuring effective microbial inactivation in short contact times

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSynergistic antimicrobial action:

Data Source

PatentEP2863750B1Antimicrobial composition

Publication Date: 2016.04.27 UNILEVER NV

AI summary

The present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition and a method for disinfection involving the antimicrobial composition. It particularly relates to an antimicrobial composition for personal cleaning, oral care or hard surface cleaning applications. It was found that compositions comprising one or more isopropyl-methylphenols, terpineol and a carrier provide synergistic antimicrobial action. In a preferred aspect the composition also comprises 1 to 80 %-wt of one or more surfactants.