Thymol and Bicyclic Alcohol Antimicrobial Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antimicrobial compositions require long contact times for effective disinfection, which is inadequate for quick cleaning practices, especially in personal and hard surface cleaning applications, and may lead to incomplete bacterial removal and contamination. Additionally, they often rely on chlorine-based agents like triclosan or phenolic compounds that can be corrosive, malodorous, and irritating, necessitating the need for alternative compositions with faster action and improved sensory profiles.
Innovation Solution
The use of compositions comprising 0.001 to 5% by weight of thymol combined with 0.01 to 5% by weight of selected bicyclic alcohols such as nopol, dihydronopol, myrtenol, dihydromyrtenol, and nopinol, along with a carrier like water or ethanol, which provide synergistic antimicrobial action, reducing the required contact time for microbial inactivation to as little as 15 seconds and minimizing olfactory disadvantages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chlorine-based antimicrobial agents such as triclosan are used in sanitising and disinfecting compositions, then antimicrobial action is provided, but contact time must be rather long which users do not spend
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by replacing chlorine-based agents with phenolic compounds (thymol, carvacrol) combined with bicyclic alcohols (nopol, myrtenol). This parameter change enables rapid antimicrobial action within 30 seconds while maintaining efficacy, resolving the contradiction between reliability and time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite antimicrobial formulations combining phenolic compounds with bicyclic alcohols. This composite approach synergistically enhances antimicrobial efficacy while reducing required contact time, addressing both the reliability and time constraints
2Reliability
If thymol is used at concentrations efficacious in rapid disinfection, then antimicrobial action is improved, but olfactory properties become too intense for user acceptance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges thymol with bicyclic alcohols in specific ratios. This combination allows reduction of thymol concentration to below 1% while maintaining disinfection efficacy through synergistic action, thereby reducing olfactory intensity to acceptable levels
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the concentration parameter of thymol from traditional higher levels to below 1%, and compensates by adjusting the ratio of bicyclic alcohols. This parameter optimization maintains antimicrobial reliability while eliminating harmful olfactory effects
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
These compositions achieve rapid and effective microbial inactivation on surfaces and skin within 15 seconds, reducing the need for prolonged contact times and minimizing the use of thymol concentrations, thereby enhancing user acceptance and reducing the risk of microbial resistance.
Implementation Method 1
compositions comprising selected bicyclic alcohols and thymol provide synergistic antimicrobial action
Data Source
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 thymol, selected bicyclic alcohols and a carrier provide synergistic antimicrobial action. In a preferred aspect the composition also comprises 1 to 80 %-wt of one or more surfactants.