Antimicrobial Composition Using Silver and Surfactants for Rapid Efficacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antimicrobial soap compositions require prolonged contact times to achieve effective antimicrobial efficacy, and they have limited biocidal activity against gram-positive bacteria within typical use times of 1 minute or less, while high silver compound concentrations affect aesthetic properties and environmental sustainability.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising 0.1 to 100 ppm of a silver compound, preferably silver(I) compounds with high solubility, combined with 1 to 85% of a salt of fatty acid and a salt of aromatic sulphonic acid, such as sodium toluene sulphonates or naphthalene sulphonates, to provide synergistic antimicrobial action in short contact times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional soap compositions are used for antimicrobial purposes, then antimicrobial efficacy can be achieved, but prolonged contact times (over 1 minute) are required which contradicts consumer washing habits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific silver compounds (silver nitrate, silver sulfate, silver oxide) at optimized concentrations (0.01-100 ppm) combined with surfactants and chelating agents. This parameter change enables the formulation to achieve rapid antimicrobial action within 10-60 seconds while maintaining stability and efficacy, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving reliable antimicrobial effect and reducing contact time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite antimicrobial composition by combining silver compounds with specific surfactants (anionic, cationic, nonionic types) and chelating agents (EDTA, DTPA). This composite formulation synergistically enhances antimicrobial activity, allowing effective killing of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria within short contact times (10-60 seconds), thus resolving the time-efficacy contradiction
2Reliability
If high concentrations of silver compounds are used to improve antimicrobial action, then biocidal activity increases, but aesthetic properties and environmental sustainability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the silver compound concentration parameter to a narrow range (0.01-100 ppm, preferably 0.1-10 ppm) that balances antimicrobial efficacy with aesthetic and environmental considerations. This precise parameter control ensures sufficient biocidal activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria while preventing discoloration and minimizing environmental impact, thus resolving the contradiction between enhanced biocidal activity and maintained aesthetic/environmental properties
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces chelating agents (EDTA, DTPA) and surfactants as intermediary substances that enhance the antimicrobial effectiveness of low concentrations of silver compounds. These intermediaries facilitate better silver ion release and bacterial cell membrane penetration, allowing achieving high biocidal activity at low silver concentrations (0.01-10 ppm), thereby resolving the contradiction between biocidal potency and aesthetic/environmental safety
3Reliability
If silver compounds are used to enhance antimicrobial activity, then biocidal action improves, but the composition becomes less environmentally friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the silver compound concentration parameter (0.01-100 ppm) to achieve effective antimicrobial activity while minimizing environmental persistence and toxicity. This optimized parameter range ensures sufficient killing of pathogenic bacteria but reduces silver accumulation in the environment, resolving the contradiction between enhanced antimicrobial activity and improved environmental sustainability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs biodegradable surfactants and chelating agents that facilitate the breakdown and safe degradation of silver compounds after performing their antimicrobial function. This approach allows the active ingredients to be effectively discarded after use without causing long-term environmental harm, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high antimicrobial activity and ensuring environmental friendliness
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 significant antimicrobial efficacy against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms in contact times as short as 10 seconds to 1 minute at low silver concentrations, maintaining consumer-acceptable aesthetic properties and environmental friendliness.
Implementation Method 1
The composition achieves significant antimicrobial efficacy against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms in contact times as short as 10 seconds to 1 minute at low silver concentrations
Implementation Method 2
combined with 1 to 85% of a salt of fatty acid and a salt of aromatic sulphonic acid, such as sodium toluene sulphonates or naphthalene sulphonates, to provide synergistic antimicrobial action in short contact times
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition and more particularly an antimicrobial composition for cleansing applications that provides antimicrobial efficacy in relatively short contact times. Accordingly, the present invention provides an antimicrobial composition comprising: a) 0.1 to 100 ppm by weight of a silver compound; b) a salt of a sulphonic acid; and, c) 1 to 85% by weight of a salt of fatty acid wherein, the sulphonic acid is an aromatic sulphonic acid.