ES2719696T3 - Disinfectant agent - Google Patents

Abstract

Disinfectant agent containing peracetic acid, characterized in that it is free of surfactants and as a wetting agent contains at least one polymer having dissociable cationic groups or a combination of dissociable cationic and anionic groups.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Disinfectant agent

The invention relates to a disinfectant agent containing peracetic acid, to a kit for the preparation of such a disinfectant agent, to the use of such a disinfectant agent for the disinfection of surfaces, preferably surfaces of synthetic material, as well as to a procedure for the disinfection of containers of synthetic material using the disinfectant agent.

Drinks are bottled industrially often in bottles of synthetic material. In particular, microbiologically sensitive beverages, for example fruit juices, which are exempt or poor in CO2, require a so-called cold aseptic filling to guarantee a long shelf life, possibly also without refrigeration. In this case, a purification of the product (e.g., fruit juice), of the container (bottle) and of closures and a joint conduction of the three components under aseptic conditions takes place.

In the case of synthetic material bottles, in particular PET bottles, a common form of purification is the so-called wet purification using peracetic acid. The internal and external surfaces of the bottles are sprayed in this case with an aqueous solution of peracetic acid, possibly by steam as a support medium.

For an effective disinfection, a complete wetting of the surfaces is important, therefore, a wetting agent is added to the disinfection solution.

WO 2011/005270 A1 discloses a disinfection mixture containing peracetic acid, a surfactant (phosphate ester) and a water-soluble polymer. WO 2006/076334 A1 discloses as microbiocidal agents a composition of surfactants, peroxides and polymers containing PVP or PVA. Document DE 10 2010 038 340 A1 discloses purifiers containing surfactants, percomposites and polymers.

The present invention has the mission of creating a disinfectant agent of the type mentioned at the beginning that has good wetting properties and that can be used without problems in the food sector.

This problem is solved by the characteristics of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the surprising recognition that a disinfectant agent containing peracetic acid, which as a wetting agent comprises at least one polymer, which has dissociable cationic groups or a combination of dissociable cationic and anionic groups, determines, on the one hand , a good wetting also of hydrophobic surfaces of synthetic material with the disinfectant agent according to the invention and, on the other hand, does not contain constitutive substances that are questionable for food legislation or possibly to be declared. The polymers defined above as wetting agents determine a complete wetting of also very hydrophobic surfaces, for example PET bottles and, thus, a complete disinfection by means of the action of the peracetic acid on the entire surface. The disinfectant agent according to the invention can be removed by washing without problems and largely without leaving residues and does not contain constitutive substances that are questionable for food legislation as minimum residues possibly remaining in the bottle.

In the context of the invention, the term "disinfectant agent" designates the actual application solution that contacts the surfaces to be disinfected. As a rule, such a disinfectant agent is prepared in situ from at least two components, of which the first component contains peracetic acid and the second component contains a corresponding polymer. The preparation of the disinfectant agent shortly before application can take place by mixing and, as a rule, dilution of the components with water before spraying on the surfaces, possibly also mixing on the surfaces themselves can take place by a separate spray of The two components. Accordingly, the object of the invention is also a kit based on at least two components described for the preparation of a disinfectant agent according to the invention.

In the state of the art, surfactants are used as wetting agents. The disinfectant agent according to the invention determines a good wetting surprisingly also without any surfactants. The disinfectant agents according to the invention are free of surfactants. Surfactants are compounds that reduce interfacial tension, that is, amphiphilic compounds with at least one part of the hydrophobic and one hydrophilic molecule. In the context of the invention, the term "surfactants" refers to the group consisting of anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants and block copolymers (in particular, based on units of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide). For the explanation of these classes of surfactants, for example, Rompp Chemielexikon, 10th edition, Georg Thieme Verlag, keyword "Surfactants" is referred.

The disinfectant agent according to the invention contains as wetting agents at least one polymer having dissociable cationic groups or a combination of dissociable cationic and anionic groups. As polymers are designated macromolecular compounds consisting of monomer units of low molecular weight. By way of example, Rompp Chemielexikon, 10th edition, Georg Thieme, Verlag, keyword "Polymers" is referred to.

Ionically dissociable groups dissociate into sufficiently polar solvents (eg, water) into ions and counterions. Correspondingly, the at least one polymer is present in the diluted disinfectant ready for application in aqueous solution at least partly in ionic form. In the context of the invention it is sufficient that the at least one polymer has dissociable cationic groups. Preferably, the at least one polymer is, however, an ampholytic polymer, that is, it has both cationic and dissociable anionic groups.

Preferably, the at least one polymer may comprise at least one monomer unit with at least one cationically dissociable group and / or at least one monomer unit with at least one anionically dissociable group. The at least one polymer may contain at least one monomer unit with at least one carboxyl function.

Preferably, the at least one polymer has an average molecular weight greater than 10,000, preferably greater than 50,000, more preferably greater than 100,000 and / or less than 1,000,000, preferably less than 500,000. Advantageously, the at least one polymer is a copolymer based on acrylate or methacrylate. It is preferred that the copolymer comprises as monomer units and / or N-isopropylacrylamide and / or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid.

Cationic and ampholytic polymers, as they find application in the context of the invention, are known to those skilled in the art. Reference is made, by way of example, to EP 1767 554 A1 which describes an acrylate or methacrylate based ampholytic polymer, comprising as monomer units N-isopropylacrylamide and optionally 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid. Corresponding polymers are commercially available.

The disinfectant agent according to the invention may contain more than one polymer with cationically dissociable groups or a combination of cationic and dissociable anionic groups. Preferably, the disinfectant contains two polymers with cationically dissociable groups or a combination of cationic and dissociable anionic groups.

It is advantageous that the disinfectant additionally contains at least one polycarboxylate, preferably a polyacrylate, particularly preferably a copolymer of acrylic acid with 2,5-furandione. The enumeration of possible constitutive substances is not exclusive. In particular, the disinfectant agent will, as a general rule, contain water, preferably totally desalinated water as a solvent.

Advantageously, the disinfectant agent has, at a temperature of 20 ° C, a surface tension> 50 mN / m, preferably> 60 mN / m (measured with the ring breaking method according to DeNoüy).

The disinfectant agent according to the invention preferably contains peracetic acid in a concentration of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm, more preferably 1,500 to 3,500 ppm. These concentration ranges are preferred for effective surface disinfection.

The content of the wetting agent is preferably 0.02-0.5% by weight, more preferably 0.05-0.3% by weight.

The disinfectant agent according to the invention may contain other constituent substances. For example, it may contain at least one acid for adjusting the pH value and / or as a complexer. In the case of at least one acid it may be an organic acid, preferably an a-hydroxy carboxylic acid, such as citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, etc. Citric acid is particularly preferred. In the context of the invention, the acid can also be used as an indicator, in order to verify the elimination by complete washing of the disinfectant agent according to the invention. In the case of using citric acid, for example its residual residual content can be determined enzymatically in a known manner.

The disinfectant agent according to the invention is preferably prepared immediately before application, preferably from a kit, which is a further object of the invention. The kit according to the invention is used for the preparation of an agent. disinfectant according to the invention and contains at least two components. According to the invention, a first component contains peracetic acid and a second component contains a polymer having dissociable cationic groups or a combination of dissociable cationic and anionic groups. The optional additional constitutive substances, described above in the context of the disinfectant agent, they are preferably contained in the second component (wetting agent).

The second component (wetting agent or wetting agent concentrate) preferably has a proportion of polymers with dissociable cationic groups or a combination of dissociable cationic and anionic groups of at least 0.001% by weight, preferably at least 0.01% by weight, more preferably at least 0.1% by weight, more preferably at least 1% by weight, more preferably at least 2% by weight, particularly preferably at least 3% by weight and / or at most 40% by weight, preferably at most 30% by weight, more preferably at most 20% by weight, more preferably at most 10% by weight, particularly preferably at most 5% by weight.

Preferably, this second component contains at least one of the acids described above, such as, e.g. eg, citric acid, preferably 0.5 to 30% by weight of acid. Particularly preferred are 5 to 20% by weight of acid.

Object of the invention is also the use of a disinfectant agent according to the invention or kit for the disinfection of surfaces, preferably surfaces of synthetic material. Also without the addition of surfactants, a complete wetting of hydrophobic synthetic material surfaces and a corresponding complete surface disinfection also takes place.

Another object of the invention is a method for disinfecting containers of synthetic material, in particular bottles of synthetic material. Preferred synthetic materials are PET, PE and polycarbonates. According to the invention, the surfaces to be disinfected from the bottles (external surfaces and, in particular, internal surfaces) are brought into contact with a disinfectant agent according to the invention. This can take place by spraying, possibly spraying by an auxiliary means, such as, for example, steam. Within the framework of the invention it is also possible to spray the components of a kit according to the invention (possibly diluted with water) separately, so that the disinfectant according to the invention is formed in situ on the surfaces to be disinfected. Alternatively and preferably as a general rule, a pre-mixing of the components takes place.

The process according to the invention can also preferably be used in relation to the sterile cold packaging of beverages, in particular beverages exempt or poor in CO2, such as, for example, fruit juices. Preferably, the process can be used at temperatures of 30-60 ° C, more preferably 35-45 ° C.

Examples of embodiments of the invention are described in the following with the help of the Examples.

Example 1

The disinfectant agent according to the invention is preferably prepared from a 2 component system or kit. In the first component is peracetic acid, in the second component, the wetting agent according to the invention.

Peracetic acid component (PES component):

Here commercially available aqueous solutions of peracetic acid can be used. The commercially available neoseptal® PE 15 concentrate of the trade name Dr. Weigert, which contains acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution, is used in the Examples, so that a balance with an effective acid concentration is adjusted peracetic of approximately 15% by weight.

Wetting agent component (NM component of the invention):

Three wetting agent components according to the invention are prepared according to the following recipes. All data in percentage in the examples are in% by weight, insofar as it is not indicated otherwise. In the following Examples, the wetting agent component according to Example 1.1 is used, insofar as otherwise indicated, and is designated as NMK 1.

Wetting agent component (NM component, Comparative Example):

In the Comparative Examples it is used as a moisturizing component of the state of the art doscan® CAF of the business name Dr. Weigert. It is a surfactant-containing wetting agent that contains small amounts of QAV (quaternary ammonium compounds). The essential constituent substances are polyglycol ethers of fatty alcohols and dioctylmethylammonium chloride. In what follows they are designated with NMK V.

Example 2

In this Example, the influence of the wetting agent component on the stability of the peracetic acid in aqueous solution is examined. Aqueous solutions of the PES component are prepared having a measured starting concentration of peracetic acid of 1,589 ppm. Additionally, these solutions contain the following wetting agents:

Example 2.1: 0.08% by weight of NMK 1

Comparative Example 2.2: 0.08% by weight of NMK V

Comparative Example 2.3: no wetting agent

The solutions are stirred in a beaker at 40 ° C with a magnetic stirrer. After 8 and 30 h the concentration of the peracetic acid is determined. The concentration data are indicated in Table 1 in ppm.

Table 1

It is recognized that in the absence of a wetting agent virtually no degradation of the peracetic acid takes place, while both the wetting agent according to the invention and the Comparative Example of the prior art lead to a slight degradation, which is approximately equal within of measurement accuracy.

Example 3

This Example examines the ability to remove by washing. In the water of the city of Hamburg, solutions of 1.5% by weight of PES component are prepared which, as a humectant, contain:

Example 3.1: 0.1% by weight of NMK 1

Comparative Example 3.2: 0.1% by weight of NMK V

Comparative Example 3.3: no wetting agent

The inner walls of a 1 l PET bottle are wetted with the solutions and the solutions are allowed to drain. The wetting image of Example 3.1 and Comparative Example 3.2 shows a film that covers the foam-shaped surface, which barely breaks. In the case of Comparative Example 3.3, individual adhered drops are manifested without film formation, that is, a poor surface wetting.

The moistened bottles are then rinsed 4 times successively with in each case 30 ml of VE water (completely desalted). The solution used for the rinse is collected (Sol. 1 to 4) and the surface tension is determined (Table 2, data in [mN / m]). The VE water used has a surface tension of 72 mN / m.

Table 2

It is recognized that a disinfectant agent according to the invention can be clearly rinsed better than the Comparative Example containing surfactants. Already after a rinse once, a surface tension is reached according to the invention and for which in the case of the Comparative Example with surfactants a rinse is required for four times. In the case of the solution also used for comparative purposes without a wetting agent, no decrease in surface tension takes place beforehand.

Example 4

In this Example, the solutions of Example 2 are examined for their disinfectant effect. The internal surfaces of a 1 l PET bottle are nebulized with 10 pl of a germ suspension (containing a calculated number of germs of 106) of the reference germ B. atrophaeus. Subsequently, a usual disinfection takes place in an aseptic cold packing facility and a subsequent determination of the reduction in the number of germs. This amounts (in log stages) in the case of Example 2.1 and Comparative Example 2.2 in each case to 6.3, in the case of Comparative Example 2.3 (without wetting agent) only 3.3. It is recognized that the wetting agent used in accordance with the invention leads to complete wetting as good as the prior art, without the need for surfactants.

Claims (15)

1. Disinfectant agent containing peracetic acid, characterized in that it is free of surfactants and as a wetting agent contains at least one polymer having dissociable cationic groups or a combination of dissociable cationic and anionic groups. 2. Disinfectant agent according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one polymer has dissociable cationic and anionic groups. 3. Disinfectant agent according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one polymer comprises at least one monomer unit with at least one cationically dissociable group and / or at least one monomer unit with at least one anionically dissociable group. 4. Disinfectant agent according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one polymer comprises a monomer unit with at least one carboxyl function. 5. Disinfectant agent according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one polymer is a copolymer based on acrylate or methacrylate. 6. Disinfectant agent according to claim 5, characterized in that the copolymer comprises as monomer units at least N-isopropylacrylamide and / or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid. 7. Disinfectant agent according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one polymer has an average molecular weight greater than 10,000, preferably greater than 50,000, more preferably greater than 100,000 and / or less than 1,000,000, preferably less than 500,000. 8. Disinfectant agent according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it contains peracetic acid in a concentration of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm, preferably 1,500 to 3,500 ppm. 9. Disinfectant agent according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it contains at least one acid, wherein the at least one acid is preferably an organic acid, more preferably a food acid, particularly preferably citric acid. 10. Kit for the preparation of a disinfectant agent according to one of claims 1 to 9, which contains at least two components, characterized in that a first component contains peracetic acid and a second component contains a polymer having dissociable cationic groups or a combination of dissociable cationic and anionic groups. 11. Kit according to claim 10, characterized in that in the second component the proportion of polymers with dissociable cationic groups or a combination of dissociable cationic and anionic groups amounts to at least 0.001% by weight, preferably at least 0.01% in weight, more preferably at least 0.1% by weight, more preferably at least 1% by weight, more preferably at least 2% by weight, particularly preferably at least 3% by weight and / or at most at 40% by weight, preferably at most 30% by weight, more preferably at most 20% by weight, more preferably at most 10% by weight, particularly preferably at most 5% by weight. 12. Kit according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the second component contains at least one acid, wherein the at least one acid is preferably an organic acid, more preferably a food acid, particularly preferably citric acid, preferably ascending the acid content at 0.5 to 30% by weight, more preferably at 5 to 20% by weight. 13. Use of a disinfectant agent according to one of claims 1 to 9 or a kit according to one of claims 10 to 12 for the disinfection of surfaces, preferably surfaces of synthetic material. 14. Procedure for the disinfection of containers of synthetic material, in particular bottles of synthetic material, characterized in that the surfaces to be disinfected from the bottles are contacted with a disinfectant according to one of claims 1 to 9 or with the components of a kit according to one of claims 10 to 12. 15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the disinfection takes place at a temperature of 30 to 60 ° C, preferably 35 to 45 ° C.