Low-pH Disinfectant Composition With Residual Spore Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disinfectants often require high alcohol content and high pH levels, which can be corrosive and ineffective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, particularly spores, and may lead to cross-contamination during manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A low-pH, low-alcohol disinfection composition comprising isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, thymol, surfactants, and a quaternary ammonium silane compound, which maintains a pH below 4.5 and includes a corrosion inhibitor, effectively inactivating up to 6 logs of microorganisms, including spores, within 2 minutes while providing long-lasting residual antimicrobial activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high alcohol content and high pH levels are used in conventional disinfectants, then disinfection capability is improved, but material compatibility deteriorates and corrosiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the pH parameter from conventional high pH (12-14) to low pH (2-4.5), and reduces alcohol content from 70-90% to 10-50%. This parameter inversion resolves the contradiction by achieving effective disinfection through a different chemical mechanism (acidic oxidation via hydrogen peroxide and thymol) rather than relying on high alcohol content and high pH, thereby reducing corrosiveness while maintaining disinfection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite disinfectant formulation combining multiple active ingredients (hydrogen peroxide, thymol, quaternary ammonium compounds, surfactants) with alcohol in a low-pH environment. This composite approach allows the synergistic interaction of components to achieve effective disinfection without requiring high alcohol content or high pH, thus resolving the contradiction between disinfection capability and material compatibility
2Reliability
If high alcohol content is used in conventional disinfectants, then disinfection capability is improved, but cross-contamination risk during manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the alcohol content parameter from high (70-90%) to low (10-50%) and adjusting pH to acidic levels (2-4.5), the patent alters the evaporation characteristics and microbial growth inhibition properties of the formulation. The low-pH environment inhibits spore formation and bacterial growth during manufacturing, reducing cross-contamination risk while maintaining effective disinfection capability through the combined action of hydrogen peroxide, thymol, and other active ingredients
3Object-affected harmful factors
If low alcohol content is used, then material compatibility and safety are improved, but disinfection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter to acidic levels (2-4.5) and uses hydrogen peroxide as the primary oxidizing agent instead of relying on high alcohol content. This parameter change enables the formulation to achieve effective disinfection through acidic oxidation and synergistic action of multiple ingredients (thymol, quaternary ammonium compounds) while maintaining material compatibility and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite formulation combining hydrogen peroxide (oxidizing agent), thymol (antimicrobial), quaternary ammonium compounds (surfactant and antimicrobial), and other ingredients that work synergistically. This composite approach compensates for the reduced alcohol content by providing multiple mechanisms of action (oxidation, membrane disruption, protein denaturation) that maintain effective disinfection capability while improving material compatibility
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 composition achieves high-level disinfection and long-lasting residual effects with reduced material compatibility issues and minimized cross-contamination risks, effectively killing a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including spores, while being safe for various substrates.
Implementation Method 1
hydrogen peroxide, thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol), optionally an antimicrobial agent, surfactant, corrosion inhibitor, acid sufficient to maintain the pH below about 4.5
Implementation Method 2
thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol)
Implementation Method 3
surfactant
Implementation Method 4
acid sufficient to maintain the pH below about 4.5
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides for a low pH disinfectant composition that includes a relatively low amount of alcohol. Also provided is an article of manufacture that includes a textile and the composition, as well as methods of using the composition and article of manufacture (e.g., for reducing the number of microbes located upon a substrate, for killing or inhibiting a broad spectrum of microorganisms, for killing or inhibiting spore forming bacteria, and/or for disinfecting a substrate). The composition can optionally include a stable residual antimicrobial compound, thereby providing a combination of high-level disinfection and long-lasting residual effect.