GB2510042A - Highly viscous disinfectant composition - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid disinfectant composition comprises a quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant and a cellulose-based thickener in an amount of ≤2 % by weight of the composition, wherein the composition has a viscosity of at least 500 mPas at 20 °C. The quaternary ammonium salt may be selected from the group consisting of dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides, preferably di-n-decyldimethylammonium chloride, N-octadecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, or N-hexadecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, and benzalkonium chlorides. Suitably, the cellulosic thickener is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose or the sodium salt thereof, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate and mixtures thereof. The composition can be an aqueous composition. Preferably, the composition further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of perfumes, dyes, preservatives, surfactants, organic solvents, pH modifiers and mixtures thereof. A liquid cleaning agent comprising the disinfectant composition is also claimed. The use of the liquid disinfectant composition for cleaning and/or sanitizing an object, preferably a hard surface, is also disclosed.

Description

I

Highly viscous disinfectant composition The present invention relates to a highly viscous disinfectant composition comprising a quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant and a thickener. This composition can be used for disinfecting hard surfaces and is also suited for use in cleaning agents. The invention also relates to the use of the disinfectant composition as such or in cleaning agents and to a method for the production thereof.

For sanitizing hard surfaces in hospitals as well as private households disinfectant-containing cleaning agents are widely used. To facilitate easier dosing and handling, it is desirable to have more highly viscous disinfectant compositions than those currently available on the market.

Furthermore, consumers associate a higher viscosity with a higher content of active ingredients so that it is also desirable to provide more viscous compositions to satisfy consumer expectations.

However, many of the currently used disinfectants are either not compatible with available thickeners in that the desired viscosity cannot be achieved due to side reactions, phase separation, precipitation and the like or suitable thickeners are too expensive for use in cleaning agents.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a highly viscous liquid disinfectant composition which is stable and based on easily available and inexpensive base components.

Quaternary ammonium chloride-containing products have been used in hard surface disinfection for many years. As a broad-spectrum disinfectant, they have good efficacy against many bacteria and acceptable efficacy against many spore4orming fungi. However, they are not compatible with many of the currently used polymeric thickeners.

Surprisingly, it has now been shown that a highly viscous, stable disinfectant composition can be obtained by combining a quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant with a cellulosic thickener.

In a first aspect, the present invention is therefore directed to a liquid disinfectant composition comprising a quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant and a cellulosic thickener, wherein the cellulosic thickener is present in an amount of «=2 %, preferably «= 1 % by weight of the composition and the viscosity of the composition at 20°C determined with a Brookfield viscosimeter (Spindle 31; rpm) is at least 500 mPas, preferably at least 700 mPas, more preferably at least 900 mPas.

It has been demonstrated that the liquid disinfectant composition can advantageously be used in a cleaning agent, in particular a cleaning agent for hard surfaces, which contains other typical ingredients of cleaning agents. In another aspect, the present invention thus also relates to a liquid cleaning agent comprising the liquid disinfectant composition of the invention.

In still another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the liquid disinfectant composition or the cleaning agent of the invention for cleaning and/or sanitizing an object, preferably a hard surface. The use can comprise applying the composition or cleaning agent to the object and, optionally after a contact time of ito 15 minutes, rubbing it with a brush, sponge, cloth against the surface.

In a further aspect, the present invention also encompasses a method for cleaning andlor sanitizing an object, preferably a hard surface, comprising contacting said object with a liquid disinfectant composition or cleaning agent of the invention. The method can also further comprise the step of rubbing the composition or cleaning agent with a brush, sponge, cloth against the surface, optionally after a contact time of Ito 15 minutes.

In a still further aspect, the invention also covers a method for the production of a liquid disinfectant composition of the invention, the method including adding a cellulosic thickener to an aqueous solution of a quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant in an amount of «=2 %, preferably «=1 % by weight of the composition.

In the context of the present invention and if not indicated otherwise, fatty acids or fatty alcohols and their derivatives represent branched or linear carboxylic acids and alcohols and their derivatives, respectively, preferably those with 6 to 22 carbon atoms. The former are particularly preferred due to environmental reasons, but the present invention is not limited to them. Other preferred compounds include the oxo alcohols and their derivatives that are obtainable by the oxo synthesis by ROELEN.

Wherever reference is made to earth alkaline metals as counter ions for monovalent anions, it is understood that the earth alkaline metal is present in the amount necessary to compensate for the negative charge of the anion, i.e. half the amount of the anion.

Compounds that can also be used in cosmetics may in the following be designated according to the International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient (INCI). Chemical compounds have an INCI designation in the English language, while plant ingredients are termed in Latin according to Linné.

The INCI designations can be taken from the "International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, Seventh Edition (1997)" (Eds. The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA), 1101, 17th Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036, U. S. A), that contains more than 9.000 INCI-designations as well as references to more than 37.000 trade names and technical designations including the respective distributors from more than 31 countries. The International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook assigns one or more Chemical Classes, for example "Polymeric Ethers", and one or more Functions, for example "Surfactants -Cleansing Agents", to each ingredient, which are explained in more detail. In the following reference may also be made to these terms.

The term CAS in connection with a number refers to the numbering used by the Chemical Abstracts Service.

The terms "disinfection", "disinfectant", "sanitation", "antimicrobial effect", "antimicrobial agent", and "biocidal agent" as used herein, have the common meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, as for example described by K. H. Wallhäusser in "Praxis der Sterilisation, Desinfektion -Konservierung: Keimidentifizierung -Betriebshygiene" (5. Aufi. -Stuttgart; New York: Thieme, 1995). While disinfection in the narrower sense of medicinal practice means the killing of -theoretically all -pathogenic germs, sanitation means the elimination of essentially all germs including those that are normally not harmful to human beings. The extent of disinfection and sanitation, respectively, is thereby dependent on the antimicrobial efficacy of the used antimicrobial agent which decreases with decreasing concentrations and increasing dilution, respectively.

Generally, as used herein, biocidal agent or antimicrobial compound or disinfectant in the context of this application refers to compounds which possess an antimicrobial action and reduce the number of microorganisms on objects, in particular surfaces, treated therewith as well as in the rinsing solution.

The quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) that are suitable as active disinfectants have the general formula (R1)(R2)(R3)(R4)NX, wherein each of R1, R2, P3 and P4 is independently linear or branched C1-C22 alkyl, C2-C22 alkenyl, C2-C22 alkynyl or C7-C23 alk(en)ylaryl that can optionally be substituted or any two or three of P1, P2, P3 and P4 combine to form a 5-6-membered, optionally aromatic, heterocyclic ring with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached; and K is an anion.

The alkyl moieties can comprise 1 to 22 carbon atoms, but preferably are either lower alkyl, comprising ito 4 carbon atoms, or C8-C13 alkyl. They are preferably linear. When substituted they can be substituted with any one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of -OR, halo, nitro, -NRR', cyano, -C(O)R, -C(O)OR, -(CO)NRR', -NR'C(O)R, -OC(O)R, C5-C20 aryl, C3-C23 cycloalk(en)yl, 3-to 8-membered heterocycloalk(en)yl, and 5-to 20-membered heteroaryl, wherein P and P are independently selected from H, C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C1 alkenyl, C2-C1 alkynyl, C5-C14 aryl, C3-C3 cycloalk(en)yl, 5-to 14-membered heteroaryl, comprising ito 4 heteroatoms selected from N, 0, and 5, and 5-to 14-membered heterocycloalk(en)yl, comprising i to 4 heteroatoms selected from N, 0, and S. The alkenyl and alkynyl moieties comprise one or more carbon-carbon double bonds or triple bonds, respectively, and are otherwise defined as alkyl above. Specifically, they are preferably linear and if substituted they are substituted with a substituent selected from the above list of Cycloalkyl refers to a non-aromatic carbocyclic moiety, such as cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl and the like. Cycloalkenyl refers to non-aromatic carbocyclic compounds that comprise at least one C-C double bond. Similarly, heterocycloalk(en)yl relates to cycloalk(en)yl groups wherein 1 or more ring carbon atoms are replaced by heteroatoms, preferably selected from N, 0 and S. Aryl relates to an aromatic ring that is preferably monocyclic or consists of condensed aromatic rings. Preferred aryl substituents are CrC12 aryl moieties, such as phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl and phenanthrenyl.

Heteroaryl refers to aromatic moieties that correspond to the respective aryl moiety wherein one or more ring carbon atoms have been replaced by heteroatoms, such as N, 0 and S. Alkylaryl and alkenylaryl relate to alkyl or alkenyl groups that are substituted with an aryl group, such as benzyl.

In preferred embodiments of the invention R1 and R2 are unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl, and/or R3 and R4 are defined as follows: (i) R3 is (C1-C4)alkyl(C6-C14)aryl, preferably benzyl, and R4 is unsubstituted C8-C13 alkyl; or (ii) R3 is unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl, and R4 is (meth)acryloxy(Ci-C4)alkyl, preferably acryloxyethyl; or (Hi) P3 and P4 are independently unsubstituted C3-C18 alkyl.

In case any two or three of R1-R4 combine to form a cyclic moiety with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, this means that for example two or three of R1-R4 together are an alkyl or alkenyl group as defined above that forms a ring with the nitrogen atom. The ring may be an aromatic, monocylic or bicyclic ring.

In various embodiments of the invention, X is selected from the group consisting of halide, sulfate, hydroxide, phosphate, preferably halide, more preferably chloride. Halide includes fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide. The anion can be selected such that the QAC is render water-soluble. In specific embodiments, the anion is selected from halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate and mixtures of these or similar anions.

QACs can be produced by reacting tertiary amines with alkylating agents, such as e.g. methyl chloride, benzyl chloride, dimethyl sulfate, dodecyl bromide, but also ethylene oxide. The alkylation of tertiary amines with a long alkyl residue and two methyl groups is achieved particularly readily, and even the quaternization of tertiary amines with two long residues and a methyl group can be carried out under mild conditions with the aid of methyl chloride. Amines having three long alkyl residues or hydroxy-substituted alkyl residues are of low reactivity and are preferably quaternized with dimethyl sulfate.

Suitable QAGs are for example benzalkonium chloride (N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, GAS No. 8001-54-5), benzalkon B (m,p-dichlorobenzyldimethyl-G12-alkylammonium chloride, GAS No. 58390-78-6), benzoxonium chloride (benzyldodecylbis(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium chloride), cetrimonium bromide (N-hexadecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide, GAS No. 57-09-0), benzethonium chloride (N,N-dimethyl-N-[2-[2-[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenoxy]ethoxy]ethyl] benzylammonium chloride, GAS No. 121-54-0), dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides such as di-n-decyldimethyl-ammonium chloride (GAS No. 7173-51-5-5), didecyldimethylammonium bromide (GAS No. 2390-68-3), dioctyldimethylammonium chloride, 1-cetylpyridinium chloride (GAS No. 123-03-5) and thiazoline iodide (GAS No. 15764-48- 1) and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred QAGs are dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides, in particular di-n-decyldimethylammonium chloride, N-octadecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, N-hexadecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride and the benzalkonium chlorides with G8-G13 alkyl residues, in particular G12-G14 alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride. Another preferred compound is methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N,N-di(caproyloxyethyl)ammonium methosulfate.

The dialkyldimethylammonium halides, the benzalkonium halides and/or substituted benzalkonium halides are commercially available, for example as Barquat® from Lonza, Marquat from Mason, Variquat® from Evonik Industries and Hyamine®from Lonza.

The disinfectant compound, i.e. the quaternary ammonium salt compound, is used in a quantity of 0.1 wt.% to 20 wt.%, preferably 0.1 wt.% to 10 wt.%, more preferably 0.1 wt.% to 5 wt.% and most preferably 0.4 to 3 wt.%. It is particularly preferred from a toxicological and ecological viewpoint for the quantity of disinfectant compound to be less than 2.5 wt.%.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the cellulosic thickener is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose or the sodium salt thereof, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate and mixtures thereof. Preferred thickeners include hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, in particular hydroxyethyl cellulose.

Generally, the term "cellulosic", as used herein, refers to cellulose itself, i.e. a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of 3(1->4) linked D-glucose units, and natural and non-natural derivatives thereof, such as cellulose ethers. The derivatives can for example be those where part of the hydroxy groups of the glucose are replaced by alkyl ether groups, such as (hydroxy)methoxy, (hydroxy)ethoxy, (hydroxy)propoxy or combinations thereof.

The cellulosic thickener can have a molecular weight of at least 10.000 g/mol, preferably in the range of 10.000 to 1.000.000 g/mol.

In a preferred embodiment, the cellulosic thickener is a hydroxyethyl cellulose having a molecular weight in the range of 10.000 to 1.000.000 g/mol. In an even more preferred embodiment, embodiment, the cellulosic thickener is a hydroxyethyl cellulose having a molecular weight in the range of 10.000 to 1.000.000 g/mol and the hydroxyethyl cellulose is present in an amount of «= 2 % by weight of the total composition.

Suitable cellulosic thickeners are commercially available from a variety of sources, for example as Cellosize OP 100 MH from Dow Chemicals, as Benecel MP 333 C, Culminal MC 2000 S and Culminal MHPC 3000 from Hercules, and MHEC 5000 PR and MHPC 600 R from Henkel.

The liquid disinfectant composition of the invention can be an aqueous composition and can, in various embodiments, comprise at least 50 wt.% water, preferably at least 70 wt.% water or more.

The liquid disinfectant composition of the invention can be comprised in a cleaning agent, as described ave, and said cleaning agent or the disinfectant composition itself can additionally comprise one or more components that are commonly used in cleaning agents, for example those selected from the group consisting of perfumes, dyes, preservatives, surfactants, organic solvents, pH modifiers and the like.

In various embodiments of the invention, the quarternary ammonium salt, as described above, is a cationic surfactant. Still, in other embodiments or in addition thereto, the composition or cleaning agent may comprise additional surfactants, preferably non-ionic surfactants. It is more particularly preferred that the non-ionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of poly alkoxylates, alkoxylated fatty alcohols, alkoxylated faty acids, alkoxylated alkylphenols, and block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Most preferably the non-ionic surfactant is an alkoxylated fatty alcohol, such as an ethoxylated and/or propoxylated 012-018 fatty alcohol.

Alkoxylated fatty alcohols are ethoxylated or propoxylated linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated 010.22 alcohols with a degree of alkoxylation of up to 30, preferably ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation (EO) of less than 30, preferably with a degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 20, preferably of 1 tol2, particularly preferred from 1 to 8. The alcohol moiety can for example be linear or be branched with a methly group in the 2-position or can comprise a mixture of linear and methyl-branched moieties. Particularly preferred are alcohol ethoxylates with linear residues of alcohols of natural origin and an average degree of ethoxylation of 2 to 8.

Preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, but are not limited to 012.14 alcohols with an EQ of 3, 4 or 7, alcohols with an EQ of 7, 013.15 alcohols with an EQ of 3, 5, 7 or 8, 012.18 alcohols with an EQ of 3, 5, or 7 and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of 012.14 alcohol with 3 EQ and 012.13 alcohol with 7 EQ. The given degrees of ethoxylation represent mean values. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates exhibit a narrow distribution of homologs (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these non-inonic surfactants, fatty alcohols with more than 12 EQ can be used. Exemplary alcohols are tallow alcohols with 14 EQ, 25 EQ, 30 EQ or 40 EQ. Further, non-ionic surfactants that comprise EQ-and PQ-groups in one molecule can be used. Further suited is a mixture of a branched ethoxylated fatty alcohol and a linear ethoxylated fatty alcohol, such as a mixture of C113 fatty alcohol with 7 EQ and 2-propylheptanol with 7 EQ.

Alkoxylated fatty alcohols can stabilize the disinfectant composition and are widely commercially available and relatively inexpensive.

In various embodiments, the composition may comprise a non-ionic surfactant, in particular an alkoxylated fatty alcohol, having an HLB value of between 10.5 and 15 and a cloud temperature of at least 50°C.

The HLB value (abbreviation of "hydrophilic-lipophilic balance") describes the hydrophilic and lipophilic proportion of mainly non-ionic surfactants and was proposed in 1954 by W. C. Griffin.

The HLB value of non-ionic surfactants can be calculated as follows: HLB = 20 x M1/M wherein M1 is the molecular mass of the hydrophilic portion of a molecule and M is the molecular mass of the whole molecule. The factor 20 is a scaling factor arbitrarily selected by Griffin. Thus a scale of 1 to 20 is generally obtained. An HLB value of 1 indicates a lipophilic compound, and a chemical compound with an HLB value of 20 has a high hydrophilic proportion.

The water solubility of surfactants is reduced by increasing temperatures. The loose complex bond between the hydrophilic regions of the surfactant (e.g. the polyglycol ether chain in an ethoxylated surfactant) and the water molecules, which brings about the water solubility, is broken down to a greater or lesser extent by the increasingly strong molecular movement. This process is reversible.

The cloud temperature is the temperature at which an aqueous solution of a surfactant suddenly becomes cloudy on heating. It is determined in accordance with DIN 53917.

In the case of water-soluble surfactants, the cloud temperature of a 1% aqueous solution is determined. Where there is a high degree of alkoxylation, the cloud temperature has to be determined in a NaCI solution.

As non-ionic surfactants with an HLB value of between 10.5 and 15 and a cloud temperature of at least 50°C, preferably alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, in particular primary alcohols with preferably B to 18 C atoms and an average of 3 to 12 moles ethylene oxide (EO) per mole alcohol are used, in which the alcohol residue may be linear or preferably methyl-branched in the 2-position or may contain linear and methyl-branched residues in a mixture. In particular, however, alcohol ethoxylates with linear residues from alcohols of natural origin with 12 to 18 C atoms, for example from coconut, palm, tallow fatty or oleyl alcohol, and an average of 4 to 8 EQ per mole of alcohol are preferred. The degrees of ethoxylation given represent statistical averages which may be a whole number or a fractional number for a specific product. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrow distribution of homologs (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). A particularly preferred non-ionic surfactant is a C12-13 alcohol with 7 EQ. This ethoxylated fatty alcohol has an HLB value of 11.9 and a cloud temperature in the range of 50 to 56°C.

The quantity of non-ionic surfactant with an HLB value of between 10.5 and 15 and a cloud temperature of at least 50°C in a disinfectant composition is between 0.1 and 5 wt.%, preferably between 0.5 and 1.5 wt.% and particularly preferably between 0.75 and 1 wt.%.

In another embodiment, the composition additionally contains non-aqueous solvents for example selected from the group of monohydric or polyhydric alcohols, alkanolamines or glycol ethers, provided that they are miscible with water in the concentration range given. The solvents are preferably selected from ethanol, n-or i-propanol, butanols, glycol, propanediol or butanediol, glycerol, diglycol, propyl or butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl, ethyl or propyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl or ethyl ether, di-isopropylene glycol monomethyl or ethyl ether, methoxy, ethoxy or butoxy triglycol, 1 -butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol t-butyl ether and mixtures of these solvents. Non-aqueous solvents can be used in quantities of between 0.5 and 15 wt.%, but preferably less than 9 wt.% and in particular less than 5 wt.%.

In one embodiment, the disinfectant composition comprises 0.5 to 5, preferably 0.5 to 2.5 wt.% ethanol and/or isopropanol. Ethanol and isopropanol also possess an antimicrobial activity and thus extend the spectrum of action of the disinfectant composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the disinfectant composition comprises a perfume composition in a quantity of usually up to 2 wt.%, preferably 0.01 to 1 wt.%, particularly 0.02 to 0.75 wt.% and particularly preferably 0.04 to 0.4 wt.%.

The perfume composition can contain individual fragrance compounds, for example the synthetic products of the type of the esters, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols and hydrocarbons.

Preferably, however, mixtures of various fragrances are used which together produce an attractive scent. The perfume composition can also contain natural fragrance compounds as may be obtained from plant sources.

The viscosity of the compositions of the invention is measured using a Brookfield viscometer LVT-l I at 20°C using spindle 31 and 10 rpm and is at least 500 mPas, preferably at least 700 mPas, more preferably at least 900 mPas. In various embodiments, the viscosity is in the range of 500 to 4000 mPas, with values between 700 and 3000 mPas being particularly preferred. The viscosity is most preferably about 1000 mPas.

In order to bring the pH of the composition into the desired range, the use of pH adjusters may be indicated. All known acids or lyes may be used here, provided that their use is not prohibited for reasons of application technology or on ecological grounds, or for reasons of consumer protection.

To improve the aesthetic impression of the compositions, they can be colored using suitable dyes.

Preferred dyes, the selection of which offers no problem to the person skilled in the art, possess high storage stability and are not sensitive to the other ingredients of the composition and to light.

As already stated above, the disinfectant composition may be part of a cleaning agent, the cleaning agent also being encompassed by the present invention. Thus, all embodiments described above in relation to the disinfectant composition similarly apply to the cleaning agents of the invention and vice versa.

The compositions of the invention can be produced by techniques for cleaning agents known to the person skilled in the art. This can take place e.g. by mixing the raw materials, optionally using high-shear mixing equipment. Accordingly, one possible method for the production of a liquid disinfectant composition according to the invention comprises adding a cellulosic thickener as defined above to an aqueous solution of a quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant in an amount of «=2 %, preferably «=1 % by weight of the composition.

The invention also relates to the use of the disinfectant composition or cleaning agent according to the invention for cleaning and/or sanitizing an object, preferably a hard surface. The cleaning and/or sanitizing includes reducing the number of microorganisms on the object or hard surface treated therewith. Alternatively, the composition or agent according to the invention may be used to reduce the number of microorganisms in a washing or rinsing solution.

Also encompassed by the present invention is a method for cleaning and/or sanitizing an object, preferably a hard surface, the method comprising contacting said object with a liquid disinfectant composition or a cleaning agent according to the invention. The contacting may be done by pouring, spraying or otherwise wetting the object, preferably a hard surface, with the composition or agent of the invention. The composition may for example be applied to an object by rubbing it with a brush, sponge or cloth wetted with the composition.

Examples

The following disinfectant composition was prepared: Component Amount (% by weight) Benzylalkonium chloride 0.6 Ethoxylated (7E0) C12.19 fatty alcohol 1.0 Preservative 0.074 Hydroxyethyl cellulose* 0.42 Citric acid 0.001 Isopropanol 0.5 Perfume 0.45 Dye 0.0002 NaOH 0.01 Water 96.9448 * having molecular weight in the range of 10.000 to 1.000.000 g/mol This formulation had a viscosity of about 1000 mPas and showed a good stability of its viscosity over the course of 8 weeks at either 0, 23 or 40 °C.

Temperature (°C) 40 23 0 40 23 0 Time (weeks) 8 Viscosity (mPas) 800 800 820 780 800 800 pH 5-6 5-6 5-6 5-6 5-6 5-6 The same formulation was prepared with the following thickeners instead of hydroxyethylcellulose: NaCI 0.5 wt.-% and 2 wt.-% Xanthan gum 0.3 and 0.4 wt.-% (Keltrol T and Kelzan ASX; CF Kelco) Acrylate polymers 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 wt.-% (Carbopol Ultrez 20, Lubrizol; Rheovis CSP, FRC, AT 120, BASF AG; Polygel K-200, 3V Sigma) Silikates (Laponite RDS; Rockwood Additives) Polyether polymers (Pure Thix 1442; Rockwood Additives) FEG/Laureth-50/MMG Copolymer (Pure Thix 1450; Rockwood Additives) Aminoplast PEG ether Copolymer (Optiflo L 100 and Optiflo H 600 E; Rockwood Additives) but no stable highly viscous composition was obtained, as either precipitates formed or the viscosity could not be increased to at least 500 mPas when measured with Brookfield viscosimeter LVT-ll (20 °C, Spindle 31, 10rpm) by the thickening agent. ii

Claims (15)

1. Claims 1. Liquid disinfectant composition comprising (i) a quaternary ammonium salt disinfectant; and (ii) a cellulosic thickener in an amount of «=2 %, preferably «=1 % by weight of the composition, wherein the viscosity of the composition at 20°C (determined with a Brookfield viscosimeter LVT-ll, Spindle 31 at 10 rpm) is at least 500 mPas, preferably at least 700 mPas, more preferably at least 900 mF'as.
2. 2. The liquid disinfectant composition of claim 1, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is a salt of the formula (Rl)(R2)(R3)(R4)N* K, wherein each of R1 R2, R3 and R4 is independently linear or branched C1-C22 alkyl, C2-C22 alkenyl or C7-C23 alk(en)ylaryl that can optionally be substituted or any two or three of R1, R2, R3 and R4 combine to form a 5-6-membered, optionally aromatic, heterocyclic ring with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached; and K is an anion.
3. 3. The liquid disinfectant composition of claim 2, wherein R1 and R2 are unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl.
4. 4. The liquid disinfectant composition of claim 2 or 3, wherein (i) R3 is (C1-C4)alkyl(C6-C14)aryl, preferably benzyl, and R4 is unsubstituted C8-C alkyl; or (ii) R3 is unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl, preferably methyl, and R4 is (meth)acryloxy(C1-04)alkyl, preferably acryloxyethyl; or (iii) R3 and R4 are independently unsubstituted C3-C13 alkyl
5. 5. The liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein K is a halide anion, preferably chloride.
6. 6. The liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides, preferably di-n-decyldimethylammonium chloride, N-octadecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, or N-hexadecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride, and benzalkonium chlorides.
7. 7. The liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims ito 6, wherein the concentration of the quaternary ammonium salt in the composition is in the range of between 0.i to 5 % by weight, preferably 0.4 to 3 % by weight of the composition.
8. 8. The liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims Ito 7, wherein the cellulosic thickener is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose or the sodium salt thereof, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate and mixtures thereof.
9. 9. The liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims ito 8, wherein the cellulosic thickener has a molecular weight of at least 10.000 g/mol, preferably in the range of 10.000 to 1.000.000 g/mol.
10. 10. The liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims ito 9, wherein the cellulosic thickener is a hydroxyethyl cellulose having a molecular weight in the range of 10.000 to 1.000.000 g/mol.
11. 11. The liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims i to i 0, wherein the composition is an aqueous composition.
12. 12. The liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the composition further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of perfumes, dyes, preservatives, surfactants, organic solvents, pH modifiers and mixtures thereof.
13. 13. Liquid cleaning agent comprising the disinfectant composition of any one of claims ito i2.
14. 14. Use of the liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims ito 12 or the cleaning agent of claim 12 for cleaning and/or sanitizing an object, preferably a hard surface.
15. 15. Method for cleaning and/or sanitizing an object, preferably a hard surface, comprising contacting said object with a liquid disinfectant composition of any one of claims i to 12 or a cleaning agent of claim 13.