Reduced Odor Peracid Compositions via Esterification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional peracid compositions exhibit unacceptable odors due to short chain malodorous carboxylic acids, limiting their use in cleaning applications, especially on large surfaces, and there is a need for low or no odor antimicrobial peroxycarboxylic acid compositions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an alcohol in the peracid composition for esterification to remove or mask short chain carboxylic acids, resulting in reduced odor peroxycarboxylic acid formulations that are stable and effective at lower use concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional peracid compositions are used to achieve antimicrobial activity, then effective disinfection is achieved, but unacceptable odors are generated due to short chain malodorous carboxylic acids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes or neutralizes the harmful short chain carboxylic acid components that cause odor while preserving the antimicrobial peracid components. This is achieved through selective removal or chemical modification of the odorous constituents, allowing the composition to maintain disinfection efficacy without the unpleasant odor associated with conventional peracid formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces buffering agents and chelating agents as intermediary substances that modify the chemical environment to suppress odor generation. These intermediaries buffer the pH to prevent formation of odorous short chain acids and chelate metal ions that could catalyze decomposition into odorous products, thereby mediating between the antimicrobial function and odor control requirements.
2Reliability
If peracid compositions are formulated with higher concentrations to enhance antimicrobial activity, then disinfection effectiveness improves, but odor intensity increases making the composition unacceptable for large surface cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selectively removes the odorous short chain carboxylic acid components from the peracid composition, allowing higher concentrations of antimicrobial peracids to be used without proportionally increasing odor intensity. This extraction of harmful constituents enables effective disinfection at higher concentrations while maintaining acceptability for large surface cleaning applications.
Solution Approach 2:
Buffering agents serve as intermediaries that control pH to prevent the formation of odorous short chain carboxylic acids even at higher peracid concentrations. This allows the composition to maintain high antimicrobial efficacy through increased concentration while the buffering intermediary prevents corresponding increase in odor, making it acceptable for large surface cleaning.
3Reliability
If peracid compositions are used to achieve broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, then effective disinfection is achieved, but the compositions become less stable and develop odors over time
Solution Approach 1:
Chelating agents act as intermediaries that bind metal ions which would otherwise catalyze decomposition of peracids into odorous short chain carboxylic acids. This chelation stabilizes the peracid composition over time, preventing both odor development and loss of antimicrobial activity, thereby maintaining both reliability and stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes or neutralizes the decomposition products (short chain carboxylic acids) that cause both odor and indicate instability. By preventing formation or removing these breakdown products, the composition maintains its intended antimicrobial activity over extended periods without developing odors, thus achieving both stability and reliable antimicrobial performance.
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 reduced odor peracid compositions maintain antimicrobial efficacy while minimizing odor issues, allowing for effective use on various surfaces, including food processing and healthcare surfaces, without significant loss of peroxycarboxylic acid activity.
Implementation Method 1
the alcohol is effective for forming alkyl esters under the same conditions for peroxycarboxylic acid formation to reduce the malodors of the peroxycarboxylic acid compositions associated with short to mid-chain length carboxylic acids contaminants
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to compositions of peracids, such as peroxycarboxylic acids, having reduced odor compared to conventional peracid compositions. The invention further relates to methods employing such compositions, and methods of making these compositions. Typically, the reduced-odor antimicrobial compositions include an alcohol for the esterification reaction to remove short- to mid-chain length malodorous carboxylic acids.