IT201900000520A1 - ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOSITION, METHOD OF PREPARATION, DISINFECTANT PRODUCT, DETERGENT AND SANITIZING AGENT THAT CONTAINS IT AND ITS USE - Google Patents

Description

Description of Patent for Industrial Invention entitled:

"ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOSITION, METHOD OF PREPARATION, DISINFECTANT PRODUCT, DETERGENT AND SANITIZING AGENT THAT CONTAINS IT AND ITS USE".

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a composition which has antimicrobial properties, in particular a composition which comprises ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride and one or more monoesters of fatty acids. The invention also relates to the use of said composition in the decontamination of a liquid such as water, in particular the elimination of Legionella pneumophila from an aqueous liquid. Furthermore, the invention relates to a disinfectant product, a detergent and / or a sanitizing agent which comprises said antimicrobial composition according to the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of said disinfectant product, sanitizing agent or detergent, for example for the purification of the air in water tanks and for example for the cleaning of contaminated surfaces and the prevention of (re) contamination of surfaces by microbes. It falls within the invention that the antimicrobial composition according to the invention and the disinfectant product, sanitizing agent or detergent according to the invention have a growth inhibitory activity in particular against one or more of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and / or Legionella pneumophila.

TECHNIQUE NOTE

The surfaces of objects and articles ranging from floors, ceilings, door panels, windows to for example medical devices, plants, machinery, kitchen worktops, kitchen equipment, etc. they can all be contaminated or colonized by microorganisms such as molds, fungi, bacteria such as Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, and in fact, if left uncleaned, they are almost always to some extent contaminated with microbes. Protecting humans from health problems or even life-threatening diseases through contact with such contaminated surfaces is an unequal struggle, for example, in the field of surgery, in the home, in food production, in care health, childcare, meat processing, schools, public transport, toilets, etc.

Commercially available disinfectants, soaps, detergents and sanitizing agents used to combat contamination of solutions and surfaces with pathogens such as bacteria are only partially effective in reducing or preventing microbial contamination. Unfortunately, such disinfectants commonly cause environmental and human health problems associated with the use of disinfectants, soaps, detergents and disinfectants.

Common disinfectants and cleaners contain compounds such as chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide or chloramines that react with naturally occurring organic matter, anthropogenic contaminants and other natural elements, which leads to the formation of DBP (Disinfection By-products). These DBPs can have adverse or uncertain effects on the environment and human health. Disinfection of water with common disinfectants can cause an increased risk of cancer and negative effects on the reproduction and development of humans coming into contact with said disinfected water.

These are unacceptable risks associated with the use of these disinfectants and cleaners, and the search for alternative disinfectants and cleaners is under development.

A possible alternative is represented by disinfectants that contain quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC). QACs do not cause DBP formation and are therefore safer to use with regards to human health. However, QACs are highly toxic to numerous aquatic organisms, including fish, daphnids, algae, rotifers and other microorganisms used, for example, in wastewater treatment systems. This means that frequent use of these compounds can lead to severe damage to the aquatic ecosystem. Additionally, even though QACs are considered biodegradable under aerobic conditions, QACs can accumulate in anaerobic environments. This would increase the toxicity of areas where QACs have accumulated significantly, such as sludge from wastewater. The release of such sludges into the environment could pose serious risks to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. While QACs solve some of the health risk problems associated with DBPs, QACs cause other unacceptable consequences associated with their frequent use.

As a consequence of the aforementioned deficiencies, the search for improved or innovative disinfectants, soaps, detergents and sanitizing agents is the subject of a continuous effort; improved or new disinfectants, soaps, detergents and sanitizing agents are more efficient, more effective and / or safer when considering the duration of prevention against contamination and / or considering the degree of decontamination and / or considering the risk to human health or the environment.

SUMMARY

A first object of the invention is to provide an antimicrobial composition with improved antimicrobial activity against microbes such as bacteria, the antimicrobial composition suitable for use for the decontamination of an aqueous solution such as water, preferably without posing an unacceptable risk to the environment. or for human health.

A second object of the invention is to provide an improved disinfectant, soap, detergent and / or sanitizing agent with respect to the killing of microbes, preferably bacteria, and / or the prevention of microbial growth on a surface or in an aqueous solution, which , unlike disinfectants, soaps, detergents and sanitizing agents known in the state of the art, in which the disinfectant, detergent and / or sanitizing agent preferably does not contain compounds that can cause negative consequences for the environment and human health, is still sufficiently effective to eliminate contamination.

The present invention is described in relation to particular embodiments, but the invention is not limited thereto, but exclusively by the claims.

Further, the terms first, second, third, and the like in the description and claims are used to distinguish between similar elements or features and not necessarily to describe a sequential or chronological order. The terms are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and embodiments of the invention may operate in sequences other than those described or illustrated herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein can function in combination and in cooperation, unless otherwise specified.

Furthermore, the various embodiments, even if indicated as "preferred" or "for example" or "for example" or "in particular", are to be interpreted as exemplary ways in which the invention can be implemented rather than as a limitation of the scope of the invention.

The term "comprising", used in the claims, is not to be interpreted as being limited to the elements, characteristics or steps listed below; it does not exclude other elements, characteristics or phases. It must be interpreted as specifying the presence of the indicated characteristics, integers / values, phases or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other characteristics, integer numbers / values, phases or components or groups of them . Therefore, the scope of application of the expression "a method comprising step A and step B" should not be limited to the method consisting only of step A and step B, but, with respect to the present invention, the only steps enumerated of the method are A and B, and furthermore the claim should be interpreted as including the equivalent elements of those steps. Furthermore, reference to an element or feature via the indefinite article "a" or "one / one" does not exclude the possibility that more than one element or feature is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements or characteristics. The indefinite article "a" or "one / one" (a / one / a) therefore usually means "at least one".

A first aspect of the invention relates to an antimicrobial composition comprising:

a) at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid; And

b) ethyl lauroyl arginate.

The terms "monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid" and "monoglyceride" can be used interchangeably and both refer to the monoester of glycerol and a fatty acid.

Preferably, the monoglyceride is the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid selected from a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid or lauric acid.

In one embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises less than 0.6% by weight of nitrogen based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition and / or is free of phosphorus and / or is free of sulfur, preferably, the Antimicrobial composition comprises less than 0.45% by weight of nitrogen based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition and is free of phosphorus and sulfur.

Generally, the pH of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention is between 4 and 10, preferably around 4.55.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a disinfectant, a sanitizing agent or a detergent which comprises the antimicrobial composition according to the invention and a diluent, preferably water.

It is preferable that the disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent according to the invention has at least an antimicrobial activity against one or more of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Legionella pneumophila.

A third aspect of the invention concerns the use of the disinfectant according to the invention in the purification of the air contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium, preferably in the purification of the air by purifying the air in water tanks.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent according to the invention to decontaminate a surface contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium and / or to prevent contamination of a surface with a microbe such as a bacterium. An example is the use of disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent, in which the surface is a surface of a body like the human body, like the hand of a human subject.

A fifth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention in the decontamination of an aqueous solution such as water contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium, in which the antimicrobial composition is added to the aqueous solution at a concentration of at least 0.2% by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, preferably between 0.3% and 25% by weight, more preferably between 0.5% and 5% by weight, even more preferably between 0.7% and 4% by weight, such as 0.75% by weight, 1.5% by weight and 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution. The use of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention in the decontamination of an aqueous solution such as water contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium also includes the step of adding the antimicrobial to the aqueous solution at a final concentration lower than 0.2% by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, such as 0.15%, 0.125%, 0.1%, 0.075%, 0.05% or less, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution , such as 0.025-0.2% by weight.

Preferably, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention has an antimicrobial activity at least against Legionella pneumophila when the antimicrobial composition is used according to the invention.

DEFINITIONS

The term "antimicrobial activity" has its normal scientific meaning throughout the text, and here it refers to the activity that kills or blocks the growth of microorganisms.

The term "vector" used in this document has its normal scientific meaning throughout the text and refers to anything in which or on which contaminants, such as microorganisms, i.e. microbes such as bacteria, may be present and / or grow . Generally, such a vector is an aqueous solution, a gas such as air, an object, or a surface such as the surface of an object such as the surface of a ceiling, wall, floor, table, kitchen worktop, machinery. , etc.

The term "surface" has its normal scientific meaning throughout the text, and here it refers to any part of an object that makes up its outer layer, including flat surfaces such as floors, ceilings, door panels, glass, I work in the kitchen, etc. but also other objects such as medical devices, plants, machinery, kitchen equipment, etc. Furthermore, the term "surface" refers to the surface of a body such as the human body, such as the skin of the hands of a human subject.

The term "contamination" used here refers to the unwanted presence of pathogens inside or on an object, in an aqueous solution or in a gas such as air.

The term "disinfectant" has its normal scientific meaning throughout the text, and here it refers to an antimicrobial agent or antimicrobial solution that is applied for example to a gas such as air, or to the surface of inanimate objects, for the purpose to destroy living microorganisms on such objects or to prevent contamination of such objects by microbes such as bacteria.

The term “disinfection byproduct” has its normal scientific meaning throughout the text, and here it refers to compounds resulting from (chemical) reactions between organic and inorganic matter in the water during the water disinfection process.

The term "ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride" or "ethyl lauroyl arginate" has its normal scientific meaning throughout the text, and here it refers to the substance with a wide range of antimicrobial activity and low toxicity formed by arginine and lauric acid, which are substances normally present for example in food. The IUPAC name for ethyl lauroyl arginate is “ethyl (2S) -5- (diaminomethylideneamino) -2- (dodecanoylamino) pentanoate”.

The term "monoester" has its normal scientific meaning throughout the text, and here it refers to an ester of a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol containing only one group of esters.

The term "monoglyceride" has its normal scientific meaning throughout the text, and here it refers to the class of glycerides which are composed of a glycerol molecule linked to a single fatty acid through a bond with an ester.

The term "quaternary ammonium compound" has its normal scientific meaning throughout the text, and here it refers to the compound formed by the alkylation of tertiary amines with a halocarbon.

The term "air purification in water tanks" as used here refers to the air purification process which consists of passing the incoming air through a tank filled with water containing a disinfectant and expelling the air that it went through the water and that it was purified in the water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first aspect of the invention relates to an antimicrobial composition which comprises at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid and ethyl lauryl arginate. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition is a liquid such as an aqueous solution, according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid is / are selected from a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, a monoester of glycerol and capric acid, a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid or a monoester of glycerol and lauric acid. Here, the 1-monoesters and 2-monoesters are in isomeric equilibrium, and at room temperature the equilibrium between the two esters is strongly in favor of the 1-monoglycerides, which therefore constitute the great majority of monoglycerol esters (about 95%). Preferably, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises two, three, four or five monoglycerol esters of a fatty acid, such as two or three or four of a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, a monoester of glycerol and capric acid, a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid or a monoester of glycerol and lauric acid. It is preferred that the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid comprises a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, a monoester of glycerol and capric acid, a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid and a monoester of glycerol and lauric acid, and typically the antimicrobial composition contains these four monoglycerides.

In one embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid comprises: a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid between 5% and 20% by weight, preferably between 5% and 15% by weight, more preferably between 7% and 12% by weight, even more preferably 10% by weight; and / or a monoester of glycerol and capric acid between 1% and 3% by weight, preferably between 1% and 2% by weight, more preferably between 1% and 1.5% by weight, even more preferably 1.4% by weight weight; and / or a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid between 0.5% and 2% by weight, preferably between 0.5% and 1.5% by weight, more preferably between 0.8% and 1.2% by weight, even more preferably 1% by weight; and / or a monoester of glycerol and lauric acid between 2.5% and 4% by weight, preferably between 3% and 4% by weight, more preferably between 3% and 3.5% by weight, even more preferably 3.2 % by weight, where the amount of monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

In particular, the ethyl lauroyl arginate included in the antimicrobial composition according to the invention is ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride, even if other salts of ethyl lauroyl arginate are part of the invention, since these salts of ethyl lauroyl arginate are non-dangerous salts and are acceptable for use in an antimicrobial composition suitable for use in cleaning, decontamination, prevention of microbial growth, etc., of a surface which, for example, comes into contact with human skin, food and food products, surface water, etc. when it is applied and used regularly. Typically, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride between 3% and 5% by weight, preferably between 3.5% and 4.5% by weight, more preferably between 4% and 4.5% by weight, even more preferably about 4% by weight, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

One embodiment is the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, wherein the antimicrobial composition also comprises one or more of: (a) glycerol, preferably between 40% and 60% by weight, more preferably between 50% and 60% by weight , even more preferably between 50% and 55% by weight, such as 52% by weight; (b) propylene glycol, preferably between 2% and 4% by weight, more preferably between 2.5% and 3.5% by weight, even more preferably between 3% and 3.5% by weight, for example as 3% by weight; c) acetic acid, preferably between 5% and 20% by weight, more preferably between 5% and 15% by weight, even more preferably between 7% and 12% by weight, such as 10% by weight; and d) water, preferably between 5% and 20% by weight, more preferably between 5% and 15% by weight, even more preferably between 7% and 12% by weight, such as 10% by weight, wherein each amount of glycerol, propylene glycol, acetic acid and water is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. The glycerol can be comprised from the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, due to its activity as a humectant and / or the glycerol is included in the antimicrobial composition as a solvent, for example, for the monoglycerides, fatty acids or their salts and / or ethyl lauroyl arginate such as ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition comprises glycerol according to the invention. Propylene glycol can be included in the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, due to its activity as a humectant and / or propylene glycol is included in the antimicrobial composition as a solvent, for example for monoglycerides, fatty acids or their salts and / or the ethyl lauroyl arginate such as ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition comprises propylene glycol according to the invention. The acetic acid can be comprised of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, to adjust or set the pH of the antimicrobial composition to a desired value, for example about 4-10, and / or the acetic acid is included in the antimicrobial composition as a solvent , for example for monoglycerides, fatty acids or their salts and / or ethyl lauroyl arginate such as ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition comprises acetic acid according to the invention. The water can be comprised of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, as a solvent, for example for the monoglycerides, fatty acids or their salts and / or ethyl lauroyl arginate such as ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride and water can be part of the antimicrobial composition as a diluent and / or carrier.

In some embodiments, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention also comprises a fatty acid and / or a salt thereof, preferably two or more different fatty acids or salts, such as three or four fatty acids and / or their salts. Typically, these fatty acids are saturated fatty acids with four to twelve carbon atoms (C4: 0 - C12: 0, such as C4: 0, C6: 0, C8: 0, C10: 0 and C12: 0). Preferably, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention also comprises a fatty acid and / or a salt thereof, in which the fatty acid consists of one or more of butyric acid (butanoic acid, C4: 0), capric acid (decanoic acid , C10: 0), caprylic acid (octanoic acid, C8: 0) and lauric acid (dodecanoic acid, C12: 0). Typically, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises two or three or four of butyric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid, lauric acid. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises one or more fatty acids and / or a salt thereof between: (a) butyric acid or a salt thereof between 2% and 5% by weight, preferably between 2% and 4% by weight, more preferably between 3% and 4% by weight, still more preferably 3.4% by weight; (b) capric acid or a salt thereof between 0.1% and 2% by weight, preferably between 0.1% and 1% by weight, more preferably between 0.1% and 0.5% by weight, even more preferably 0.3% by weight; (c) caprylic acid or a salt thereof between 0.1% and 2% by weight, preferably between 0.1% and 1% by weight, more preferably between 0.1% and 0.5% by weight, even more preferably 0.3% by weight; and d) lauric acid or a salt thereof between 1% and 3% by weight, preferably between 1% and 2% by weight, more preferably between 1% and 1.5% by weight, even more preferably 1.4% by weight, wherein the amount of fatty acid and / or its salt is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

A preferred embodiment is the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, comprising butyric acid and / or a salt thereof for about 3.4% by weight, capric acid and / or a salt thereof for about 0.3% by weight, acid caprylic and / or a salt thereof for about 0.3% by weight, lauric acid and / or a salt thereof for about 1.4% by weight, glycerol monoester and butyric acid for about 10% by weight, glycerol monoester and capric acid for about 1.4% by weight, monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid for about 1% by weight, monoester of glycerol and lauric acid for about 3.2% by weight, glycerol for about 52% by weight, propylene glycol for about 3 % by weight, lauroyl-ethyl-arginate-HCl (ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride) acid for about 4% by weight, acetic acid for about 10% by weight and water for about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition . An antimicrobial composition according to the invention contains 3.4% by weight of butyric acid and / or a salt thereof, 0.3% by weight of capric acid and / or a salt thereof, 0.3% by weight of caprylic acid and / or a salt thereof, 1.4% by weight of lauric acid and / or a salt thereof, 10% by weight of glycerol monoester and butyric acid, 1.4% by weight of glycerol monoester and capric acid, 1% by weight of glycerol monoester and caprylic acid, 3.2% by weight of glycerol monoester and lauric acid, 52% by weight of glycerol, 3% by weight of propylene glycol, 4% by weight of lauroyl ethyl arginate- HCl (ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride), 10% by weight of acetic acid and 10% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises nitrogen for less than 0.6% by weight based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition and / or is phosphorus-free and / or sulfur-free, preferably, the antimicrobial composition comprises nitrogen for less than 0.45% by weight based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition, it is free of phosphorus and sulfur. That is to say that, unlike the detergents commonly used in the art, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention is preferably phosphorus-free, preferably sulfur-free and preferably nitrogen-free or comprises an amount of nitrogen lower than 1% by weight based on to the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur are the main agents responsible for eutrophication. Eutrophication is the process in which a body of water becomes excessively rich in minerals and nutrients. This causes, among other things, the overgrowth of plants and algae and can lead to oxygen depletion in the water body. Therefore, if left untreated, eutrophication will cause overcrowding of plants and algae, which in turn leads to the death from lack of oxygen of all organisms living in the water body. In this way, by avoiding the application of phosphorus and sulfur in the antimicrobial composition, the risk of eutrophication of water bodies due to this composition is reduced. Furthermore, the application of nitrogen in the antimicrobial composition only at relatively low doses contributes to reducing the risk of eutrophication when water comes into contact with the composition object of the invention.

It is preferred that the antimicrobial composition according to the invention has a pH between 4 and 10, preferably between 4-8, more preferably between 4-6, even more preferably the pH is 4.55. Generally, the pH of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention is comprised between 4 and 5, such as for example about 4.55. In particular, the pH range 4-10 is preferred for the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, since with a pH lower than 4 and / or with a pH higher than 10, the components of this composition can decompose, such as de-esterification of monoglycerides. Furthermore, in the pH range 4-10, the salts of fatty acids applied in the antimicrobial composition according to the invention have a buffering capacity. Furthermore, within the preferred range of pH 4-10, such as 4.5-6, generally 4.55, the antimicrobial activity of the antimicrobial composition is optimal and the activity of its components is not compromised by too much pH. low and / or a pH that is too high.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a disinfectant, a sanitizing agent, a detergent, comprising the antimicrobial composition according to the invention and a diluent, preferably water. It is therefore preferred that the disinfectant, sanitizing agent and detergent according to the invention are a fluid such as an aqueous solution.

Generally, the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and the detergent according to the invention comprising the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprise at least said antimicrobial composition for 0.2% by weight based on the total weight of the disinfectant, preferably between 0.3% and 25% by weight, more preferably between 0.5% and 5% by weight, even more preferably between 0.7% and 4% by weight, such as 0.75% by weight, 1.5% by weight and 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent. It is preferred that the disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent of the invention comprises for example the antimicrobial composition of the invention for about 0.375% by weight, based on the total weight of the disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent, more preferably about 0.75% by weight or greater, such as about 0.75% by weight, about 1.5% by weight, about 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent. Furthermore, it is also part of the invention that the use of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention in the decontamination of an aqueous solution such as water contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium, comprises the step of adding the antimicrobial to the aqueous solution to a Final concentration less than 0.2% by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, such as 0.15%, 0.125%, 0.1%, 0.075%, 0.05% or less, based on weight total of the aqueous solution, such as 0.025-0.2% by weight.

An advantage of using the antimicrobial composition of the invention in water decontamination is that it does not contain elements known to be harmful to the environment and / or to human health. Other products known in the art and which are used for water decontamination, i.e. eliminating the microorganisms from the water by killing the microorganisms and / or preventing their growth in the water, contain QAC, or contain components that can form DBP, or both. Both of these categories of compounds are harmful to the environment and / or to human health. Furthermore, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention does not cause eutrophication in the contaminated water bodies treated with the antimicrobial composition, since the amount of nitrogen present in the antimicrobial composition is relatively low and / or because the antimicrobial composition of the invention is free of phosphorus and / or is sulfur-free. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition of the invention does not comprise phosphorus, does not contain sulfur and comprises nitrogen in minimal quantity, i.e. nitrogen at less than 0.6% by weight based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition, such as nitrogen at about 0, 44% by weight. In a preferred embodiment, the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent or the detergent of the invention perform antimicrobial activity against one or more of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Legionella pneumophila. It is preferable that the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and / or the detergent of the invention have antimicrobial activity towards at least two or more, such as two, three or four among Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Legionella pneumophila. Generally, the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and / or the detergent of the invention is able to kill all four pathogens Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Legionella pneumophila.

A third aspect of the invention relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the use of the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and / or the detergent of the invention, comprising said antimicrobial composition, in the purification of the air contaminated by a microbe as a bacterium, preferably in air purification by water tank.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the use of the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and / or the detergent of the invention, comprising said antimicrobial composition, in the decontamination of a surface contaminated by a microbe as a bacterium and / or in the prevention of contamination of a surface by a microbe such as a bacterium. An example is the use of disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent, in which the surface is a surface of a body like the human body, like the hand of a human being.

A fifth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the use of the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and / or the detergent of the invention, comprising said antimicrobial composition, in the decontamination of an aqueous solution such as water contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium, mold or yeast or in preventing an aqueous solution such as water from being contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium, mold or yeast, where the antimicrobial composition or disinfectant, l The sanitizing agent or detergent is added to the aqueous solution at a concentration of at least 0.2% by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, preferably between 0.3% and 25% by weight, more preferably between 0 , 5% and 5% by weight, even more preferably between 0.7% and 4% by weight, such as 0.75% by weight, 1.5% by weight and 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the solution watery. It is preferable that the antimicrobial composition is applied at a final concentration of about 0.375% by weight or about 0.75% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, when used for decontamination of such aqueous solution and / or when used to prevent the aqueous solution from being contaminated or even invaded by microbes such as bacteria, according to the invention. Alternatively, the use of the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the use of the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and / or the detergent of the invention, comprising said antimicrobial composition, in the decontamination of an aqueous solution such as water contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium, mold or yeast, or to prevent an aqueous solution such as water from being contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium, mold or yeast, in which the antimicrobial composition or disinfectant, sanitizing agent and / or the detergent is added to the aqueous solution at a concentration of 0.25% or less by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, preferably between 0.01% and 0.25% by weight, more preferably between 0.025% and 0.2% by weight, even more preferably between 0.05% and 0.15% by weight, such as 0.075% by weight, 0.1% by weight and 0.125% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution . Preferably, the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and / or the detergent of the invention, applied for this use according to the invention performs an antimicrobial activity at least against Legionella pneumophila. Of course, it is even more preferable that the antimicrobial composition or disinfectant, disinfectant, sanitizing agent and detergent comprising said antimicrobial composition perform antimicrobial activity against other microbes such as one or more of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica .

Legionella pneumophila is one of the greatest dangers in water systems. It can cause serious illness in humans, which in some cases can even be fatal. Eliminating this contaminant from a water system would greatly improve the safety of using that water in an environment where humans will come into contact with it.

An advantage of the disinfectant, sanitizing agent and detergent of the invention is that the composition according to the invention, as mentioned above, does not include compounds that can produce DBP, nor does it contain QAC, which means that there are no risks for the health and the environment associated with these compounds in the composition of the disinfectant, sanitizing agent and detergent of the invention. Therefore, the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and the detergent of the invention have the advantage, compared to the disinfectants, sanitizing agents and detergents available on the market, of not possessing these risks to health and the environment.

Another advantage of the use of the antimicrobial composition of the invention in the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and the detergent of the invention is that the composition of the invention uses monoglycerides instead of commonly used free fatty acids. The efficacy of fatty acids is partly based on an active antimicrobial action due to the breakdown of bacterial cells and partly on the acidification of the solution comprising said fatty acids. The efficacy of monoglycerides is completely based on their antimicrobial activity. It has been found that the use of monoglycerides therefore increases the effectiveness of the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and the detergent of the invention compared to disinfectants, sanitizing agents and detergents containing free fatty acids.

Commonly available disinfectants, sanitizing agents, and cleaners often include nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. These three elements represent the main causes of eutrophication, as explained above.

Surprisingly, the inventors found that not introducing phosphorus and sulfur into the composition and using only a relatively low concentration of nitrogen had no negative effects on the antimicrobial activity of the antimicrobial composition of the invention.

The inventors have surprisingly discovered that the use of the disinfectant of the invention in an air purification system in water tanks is advantageous for the quality of the purified air leaving the air purification system and entering a room where the air purification system operates. Accumulation of microbial contaminants can occur in the water tank of the air purification system through which air is conducted as part of the purification process. These contaminating microbes can in turn be transported into the environment, for example in a room, by this air coming out of the air purification system. The addition of the antimicrobial composition of the invention to the water tank of the air purifier significantly improved the quality of the purified air leaving the system, when compared with the microbial load of the purified air in a similar system using in the commercially available disinfectant water. The inventors have discovered that the use of the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and the detergent of the invention on contaminated surfaces can slow down the new contamination of said surface after the preliminary cleaning of the surface with the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent or the detergent. Furthermore, the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent or the detergent of the invention is also able to effectively eliminate any contamination from microorganisms by cleaning a surface contaminated with said disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent.

The observed decontamination activity and the prevention of the recontamination activity of the disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent of the invention comprising the antimicrobial composition of the invention is useful in applications where contaminated surfaces are considered hazardous, such as surfaces used in food processing and packaging, or surfaces exposed in a medical environment such as hospital floors, operating rooms, implant surfaces, etc. and the application of the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent or the detergent of the invention increases the period of time after which the cleaning of a previously cleaned surface becomes necessary again.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the disinfectant, the sanitizing agent and / or the detergent is active against one or more of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and / or Legionella pneumophila. All of these pathogens are capable of infecting humans and causing severe disease in a human host. Pathogens can be transmitted to humans through contaminated vectors such as the surface of an article, an object, such as a floor, desk, door handle, etc. and it is therefore of utmost importance to prevent or eliminate contamination with these pathogens in or on these vectors. The inventors now provide an efficient and effective disinfectant, sanitizing agent and cleaning agent that can prevent the growth of these pathogens to a large extent, or clean a surface of these pathogens, such as the hands of a human subject.

The disinfectant, sanitizing agent and / or detergent of the invention is microbically active against at least the four types of pathogens mentioned above and thereby the disinfectant, sanitizing agent and / or detergent helps in the prevention of proliferation of surfaces by these pathogens or the elimination of these pathogens that contaminate a certain surface.

While the invention has been described through various embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations and their equivalents will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the specifications. The invention is in no way limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. Changes can be made without departing from the scope which is defined by the attached claims.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are not to be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

Preparation of an exemplary antimicrobial composition: antimicrobial composition COMPOSITION A

An antimicrobial composition was created for use in the following examples, and is referred to as "COMPOSITION A". The antimicrobial composition COMPOSITION A includes the following components:

● butyric acid or its salts at 3.4% by weight

● capric acid or its salts at 0.3% by weight

● caprylic acid or its salts at 0.3% by weight

● lauric acid or its salts at 1.4% by weight

● monoester of glycerol and butyric acid at 10% by weight

● monoester of glycerol and capric acid at 1.4% by weight

● monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid at 1% by weight

● monoester of glycerol and lauric acid at 3.2% by weight

● glycerol at 52% by weight

● propylene glycol at 3% by weight

● ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride at 4% by weight (LAE®; Vedeqsa, Barcelona, Spain)

● acetic acid at 10% by weight

● water at 10% by weight,

all based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition COMPOSITION A.

LAE® is also marketed as MIRENAT® and is ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride.

Example 1

A series of experiments were conducted to compare the activity of an exemplary antimicrobial composition, named COMPOSITION A, when applied as a disinfectant or when applied in the preparation of a disinfectant.

For example, the antimicrobial activity of diluted COMPOSITION A was compared with the antimicrobial activity of quaternary ammonium salts, a compound commonly used in disinfectants as an active ingredient, in an air purifier. The disinfectant used containing quaternary ammonium salt was Aroquat (Firma S.r.l, Correggio, Italy), which contains quaternary ammonium salts at 10% by weight based on the total weight of this disinfectant, hereinafter referred to as "CONTROL QAS" .

An air purification system was used which purifies the air by passing it through a thin film of water. The water circulating in the system is stored in a tank which must contain disinfectant or detergent products to avoid an increasing contamination of the water during its reuse. Typically, the water in such a tank is at risk of contamination and even proliferation of microbes such as bacteria, for example Legionella pneumophila.

The air purification plant was placed in a room of 60 m <2>, the room has a volume of 200 m <3>, where the temperature was between 23-25 ° C with a relative humidity of 44.1%. First, the CONTROL QAS was prepared by dissolving it in the water present in the air purifier at a concentration of 2% by weight in water based on the total weight of the water in the air purifier. Under similar conditions, the composition was prepared by dissolving the antimicrobial composition COMPOSITION A in the water present in the air purifier at a concentration of 0.75% by weight in water based on the total weight of the water in the air purifier. For each experiment, four people took turns entering the room and leaving it at least ten times, for a total of at least 40 entrances, to favor the activity in the air purifier, where people remained in the room for a time between 30 minutes and 60 minutes each time after entering the venue.

The effectiveness of COMPOSITION A was compared with that of CONTROL QAS and the effectiveness with respect to the antimicrobial activity was evaluated by measuring the total microbial load of the water in the tank (example 1A), the total microbial load of the purified air in output from the machine (example 1B) and the total microbial load of the ambient air in the room where the air purifier is located (example 1C).

Sampling was done at different times during the time the air purifier was active. Samples of water, purified air and ambient air were taken at 1 minute after starting the purifier (T0), at 1 hour after starting (T1), at 3 hours after starting (T3), at 4 hours after starting (T4), 5 hours after starting (T5) and 24 hours after starting (T24).

Example 1A

The tank water was analyzed according to the ISO 6222: 1999 protocol. The water was inoculated on PCA medium No. 70152 (Biolife, Milan, Italy) in a Petri dish and incubated at 30 ° C for 24, 48 and 72 hours to ensure that late growth of microorganism species is not neglected. . Yeasts and especially molds are very important factors for air contamination. The prolongation of the incubation time is therefore oriented to allow a delayed growth of molds rather than bacteria, because molds have a slower growth rate. Table 1 shows the average measured results. Petri dishes are incubated for 72 hours to allow eukaryotic microbes to grow, if any.

The results of the measurements of the CONTROL QAS water sample and COMPOSITION A are shown below in Table 1. The values for the total microbial load are indicated in CFU / ml.

Table 1

The microbial loads of the water in the tank containing COMPOSITION A were significantly lower than those of the water in the tank containing the CONTROL QAS. This demonstrates that COMPOSITION A is much more effective in preventing and eliminating water contamination than commercially available disinfectant with regards to the presence and number of microorganisms in the water in the tank during the incubation period of 1/2 / 3/4/5/24 hours of incubation.

Example 1B

The air samples leaving the purifier were analyzed with a super IAQ SAS for Petri (VWR, Milan, Italy). Samples of 200 m <3> of air were collected and inoculated on PCA medium # 70152 in a Petri dish and incubated at 30 ° C for 24, 48 and 72 hours to ensure that late growth of species of microorganisms. Petri dishes are incubated for 72 hours to allow eukaryotic microbes to grow, if any.

The results of the measurements of the air purified by the Aroquat air purifier and the composition of the invention are shown below in Table 2.

The values for the total microbial loads are indicated in CFU / m <3>.

Table 2

The air leaving the air purifier containing the water comprising COMPOSITION A does not become more contaminated during the experiment than the microbial load at the beginning of the experiment (T0), while, on the contrary, a increasing contamination with microorganisms for the air exiting the air purifier containing the water comprising the CONTROL QAS. This shows that COMPOSITION A is able to fight contamination over a much longer period of time than the traditional CONTROL QAS disinfectant, and that COMPOSITION A is efficient and effective in preventing contamination of the air leaving the purifier in operation. with microbes such as bacteria, for at least 24 hours, while for the CONTROL QAS the air leaving the purifier becomes contaminated with microbes already four hours after the start of the experiment and the start of the purifier operation.

Example 1C

The results of the determination of the microbial load in the ambient air in the room where the air purifier has operated for the times indicated are shown in table 3 both for the air of the room where the air purifier was supplied with water comprising CONTROL QAS, which for the air of the room in which the air purifier was supplied with water comprising COMPOSITION A. The values of the total microbial loads are reported in CFU / m3. Petri dishes are incubated for 72 hours to allow eukaryotic microbes to grow, if any.

Table 3

Both the ambient air in the room surrounding the air purifier in operation and containing the water comprising the comparative disinfectant CONTROL QAS and the ambient air in the room surrounding the air purifier in operation containing the water comprising the antimicrobial composition COMPOSITION A include fewer microorganisms from time T0 onwards than the initial microbial load of the air in the room at time T0. However, only COMPOSITION A is efficient and effective in maintaining the low level of microbial load already reached at time T1 for the entire duration of the experiment up to at least time T24. Conversely, when the CONTROL QAS disinfectant is applied in the air purifier, the lowest level of microbial load in the air in the room where the air purifier is operating is obtained only at the time T3, and moreover, the amount of this lowest level of microbial load in the air in the room does not reach the low level reached with the air purifier fed with COMPOSITION A, already previously at time T1. In addition, the air in the room where the air purifier is running which includes the water with CONTROL QAS is again contaminated after the initial decrease of the microbial load in the air in the room.

Conclusions

The data in Tables 1, 2 and 3 demonstrate that COMPOSITION A is more efficient and effective in keeping the water in the air purifier tank free from contamination. The operation of the air purifier which was fed with water including CONTROL QAS as a disinfectant, showed a clear and greater increase in water contamination in the water tank, which ultimately also negatively affected the purified air at the outlet from the air purifier as the microbial load of the air is increased during the experimental operation of the air purifier. Furthermore, the air present in the room where the water-fed air purifier including CONTROL QAS was operating was increasingly re-contaminated with microorganisms, i.e. the microbial load in the room air increased after an initial partial decrease, with respect to the extent of the decrease and the extent of the re-contamination obtained with the water-fed air purifier comprising COMPOSITION A.

COMPOSITION A was able to keep the microbial load in the water tank of the air purifier low, which in turn led to a low microbial load of the purified air and ambient air. No clear increase in contamination was observed in either of the two air samples of the room where the air purification system containing COMPOSITION A was present, while a strong increase in the microbial load of both samples was observed. air after 5 hours when using CONTROL QAS.

This demonstrates that COMPOSITION A is more effective in preventing contamination, for a longer period of time, than the prior art product.

EXAMPLE 2

Varying concentrations of detergent in water are tested, including the negative control, as well as the performance of the detergent at varying incubation temperatures. In this example, the water tank had the top side open to allow for contamination from the environment, and the water tank was not connected to the air purifier, so there was no ambient air loop from the room that it passed into the water. In this way, it is expected that the microbial load will generally be lower after an indicated period of time, compared to the microbial load present in the water, as observed in the previous examples, when the air passed into the water in the water tank of the purifier. of air.

The results are shown in Table 4.

Detergent,% by weight of

Table 4: Microbial load in water without antimicrobial agents, or an antimicrobial agent, after incubation for 0, 24 and 48 hours at room temperature, in which the microbial load is expressed in CFU / mL.

All tested formulations drastically reduce the initial microbial load and keep it clean for up to 2 days. In water where an antimicrobial agent is not supplied, the microbial load increases over time. From the experimental data it is evident that COMPOSITION A is still fully active as regards the antimicrobial activity if diluted to 0.25% by weight based on the total weight of the detergent, indicating that COMPOSITION A is active even at further dilutions.

The same test was also performed at 4 ° C and 37 ° C, giving similar results: the 37 ° C incubator and the 4 ° C refrigerator are closed containers that include the water tank and the microbes were only present in the untreated water after 2 days (410 colonies in the refrigerator at 4 ° C, 200 colonies in the incubator at 37 ° C). Thus, CONTROL QAS and COMPOSITION A at the indicated dilutions in the water present in the water tank are equally effective in preventing microbial growth at all three temperatures tested.

Example 3

An antimicrobial activity of the composition was tested for antimicrobial activity against four different pathogenic bacteria: Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. At least Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium are linked to food poisoning. The Kirby-Bauer Diffusion Test was used to determine the sensitivity or resistance of pathogenic and facultative aerobic bacteria to diluted COMPOSITION A, ie a "DISINFECTANT A", or "DETERGENT A".

For this experiment, COMPOSITION A was diluted in water in order to obtain a DISINFECTANT A, at a final concentration of 0.75% by weight based on the total weight of the DISINFECTANT A. This DISINFECTANT A was then applied on a disc of 5 mm diameter paper, then the paper disc was placed in the center of a Petri dish containing Mueller-Hinton (Sigma Aldrich) agar medium. Subsequently, 100 microlitres of a physiological saline solution with a microbial load of one of these four pathogens Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium of 1x10 <7> CFU / ml was applied to the medium on the Petri dish. The Petri dish was then incubated at 30 ° C for 24 hours.

The presence or absence of growth of the individually tested pathogens around the paper disc will indicate whether the antimicrobial DISINFECTANT A solution, i.e. COMPOSITION A now diluted in water, has the ability to inhibit the growth of particular pathogens.

After incubation for 24 hours at 30 ° C, DISINFECTANT A has been shown to effectively inhibit the growth of all four pathogens. The inhibitory activity of DISINFECTANT A with respect to the growth of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was evident based on Petri dishes showing a zone of inhibition, which is an area devoid of pathogenic growth. , around at least the area immediately surrounding the paper disc. For Campylobacter jejuni, the halo around the paper disc extended from about 1.1mm to about 2mm from the edge of the paper disc, while the rest of the medium was almost completely covered with bacteria. For Escherichia coli, the halo around the paper disc extended from about 1mm to about 2.2mm from the edge of the paper disc, while the rest of the medium was completely covered with bacteria. For Listeria monocytogenes, the halo around the paper disc extended from about 2.5mm to about 7mm from the edge of the paper disc, while the rest of the medium was completely covered with bacteria. For Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, the halo around the paper disc extended evenly approximately 1mm from the edge of the paper disc with reduced growth in an additional halo around the paper disc that extended between 2mm and 10mm about, while the rest of the soil was completely covered with bacteria.

This observation confirms that DISINFECTANT A, i.e. the aqueous solution containing COMPOSITION A diluted to a concentration of 0.75% by weight based on the total weight of DISINFECTANT A, has antimicrobial activity against at least the four tested bacteria and at least for the duration of the test.

The maximum antimicrobial activity was observed in the Petri dish in which Listeria monocytogenes, the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes known as a food contaminant and known to transmit listeriosis, was inoculated.

Example 4

A Kirby-Bauer Diffusion Test was conducted with COMPOSITION A diluted in water, providing a "DISINFECTANT B1-4", or "DETERGENT B1-4", to test the activity of DISINFECTANT B1-4 as regards the capacity to inhibit the growth of Legionella pneumophila. COMPOSITION A was dissolved in water in four different concentrations, obtaining respectively DISINFECTANT B1, DISINFECTANT B2, DISINFECTANT B3 and DISINFECTANT B4: respectively 0.375% by weight of COMPOSITION A, 0.75% by weight of COMPOSITION A, 1.5% by weight of COMPOSITION A and 3% by weight of COMPOSITION A, based on the total weight of DISINFECTANT B1-4. Similarly to the experiment conducted in Example 2, the four solutions of DISINFECTANT B1-4 were each applied on a separate paper disk having a diameter of 5 mm. These four discs were then applied to a Petri dish containing BCYE Agar (VWR Chemical, Milan, Italy), i.e. the discs were placed on top of the agar surface in the Petri dish, the agar surface was then inoculated with 100 microliters of a physiological solution containing the bacterium Legionella pneumophila at a microbial load of 1x10 <7> CFU / ml. The Petri dishes were subsequently incubated for 72 hours at 35 ° C.

After this incubation, the Petri dishes were analyzed and the halo of inhibition around the paper discs was measured for each different concentration of diluted COMPOSITION A, ie DISINFECTANT B1-4. The results of these measurements are shown in table 5.

Table 5

All four tested dilutions of COMPOSITION A, i.e. of DISINFECTANT B1-4, had efficient and effective activity against Legionella pneumophila, when inhibition of bacterial growth is taken into consideration. Legionella pneumophila contamination, or even Legionella pneumophila proliferation, is one of the greatest dangers in (closed) water systems. The higher the concentration of COMPOSITION A in DISINFECTANT B, the greater the inhibitory activity of growth against the pathogen, and from the test it is evident that even at the lowest concentration of COMPOSITION A tested, a significant inhibitory activity of the growth against the pathogen, which demonstrates that DISINFECTANT B has antimicrobial activity even at low concentrations of COMPOSITION A.

Example 5

The level of re-contamination of a floor has been analyzed, i.e. the ability of an antimicrobial composition of the invention to prevent a surface of an article, for example, a worktop, from being contaminated by a pathogen or a proliferation of microbes. The microbial load of an uncleaned steel or ceramic worktop surface was compared with the microbial load of a worktop surface that was cleaned once with COMPOSITION A diluted in water to obtain the “DISINFECTANT C” or “DETERGENT C”. DISINFECTANT C was applied directly to the worktop surface and then removed. To prepare DISINFECTANT C, COMPOSITION A was dissolved in water to a final concentration of 0.75% by weight based on the total weight of DISINFECTANT C, and DISINFECTANT C was then applied to the surface of the worktop. The temperature was 25 ° C during the experiment. The microbial loads of the two work surfaces, i.e. the uncleaned surface of comparative example and the surface treated with DISINFECTANT C, are shown in table 6 where the measurements of the microorganism load are indicated. The measurements represent the average number of microbes counted in three separate areas that were sampled.

Table 6

The microbial counts shown in Table 6 show that at all times the countertop cleaned with DISINFECTANT C has a level of contamination from microorganisms (bacteria) lower than that of the countertop that was not cleaned prior to the start of the experiment. , the growth inhibitory activity of DISINFECTANT C lasts at least 24 hours after cleaning. After 24 hours from the start of the experiment, the number of microorganisms counted in CFU / m <2> is about 23 times lower for the surface of the countertop treated with DISINFECTANT C compared to the comparative example surface of the countertop. Six hours after the start of the experiment, DISINFECTANT C is also about 69 times more effective in preventing the proliferation of microorganisms on the countertop surface. At the beginning of the experiment, the floor surface treated with the DISINFECTANT C is also completely free of microorganisms, demonstrating the high efficiency and effectiveness of the DISINFECTANT C regarding the removal of microorganisms such as pathogenic bacteria from the surface of an article such as a work plan. This indicates that the composition of the invention has a lasting effect in preventing re-contamination of the surfaces on which it is used.

Example 6

In an experiment similar to example 5, the ability of DISINFECTANT C to eliminate microorganisms present on a surface of an object or article and to inhibit the regrowth of microorganisms on a previously cleaned surface by applying DISINFECTANT C, was tested using three different surfaces: one surface of a countertop and two surfaces of ceramic floor. 10 ml / m <2> of water was applied to portions of each of these surfaces as a reference for the cleaning control, and 10 ml / m <2> of DISINFECTANT C was applied to various portions of these surfaces. of the three surfaces, part of the surface was left untreated / uncleaned and part of the surface was then cleaned with DISINFECTANT C. Subsequently, the three surfaces were incubated for 48 hours at 30 ° C. After this incubation, the uncleaned and clean surfaces were analyzed in relation to the microorganism load, to determine the growth inhibitory activity of DISINFECTANT C, determined by the extent of the microbial load. The microbial loads for each surface after incubation for 48 hours are shown in Table 7.

Diluted COMPOSITION A, i.e. DISINFECTANT C, is highly effective in eliminating the contamination of the three tested surfaces compared to uncleaned surfaces, and is highly effective in preventing regrowth and new contamination by microorganisms for at least 48 hours of surfaces cleaned with the DISINFECTANT C. This demonstrates that DISINFECTANT C is suitable for use as a disinfectant in cleaning the surfaces of articles and objects, eliminating microbes such as bacteria from such surfaces, and preventing surfaces from being colonized by microbes.

Table 7

Example 7

To demonstrate the synergistic action, i.e. the antimicrobial activity, of the components of COMPOSITION A, an experiment similar to EXAMPLE 2, including the negative control, was performed comparing decreasing concentrations of 3 compositions: COMPOSITION A, a solution of LAE a 4% by weight in glycerol, and a mixture of monoglycerides and fatty acids with the same concentrations of monoglycerides and fatty acids of COMPOSITION A. The synergistic action of the different components is manifested at the concentration of the individual components as well as present in COMPOSITION A to 0 , 1%. In this concentration, corresponding to 0.004% of LAE and 0.04% of monoglycerides and fatty acids, the antimicrobial effect of diluted COMPOSITION A is greater than the corresponding concentrations of LAE and monoglycerides alone. That is, after the incubation of water in a tank for 6-24 h at 30 ° C, COMPOSITION A is able to maintain the microbial load at 0, while the incubation of the same volume of water containing LAE at 0.004 % by weight of the solution, or monoglycerides and fatty acids to 0.04% by weight of the solution, determines the presence of detectable microbes in the water containing the LAE or the monoglycerides and fatty acids.

The results are shown in table 8.

Table 8

Claims (20)

CLAIMS 1) An antimicrobial composition comprising: a) at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid; And b) ethyl lauroyl arginate. 2) The antimicrobial composition according to claim 1, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid is / are selected from a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid or lauric acid. 3) The antimicrobial composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid comprises a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, a monoester of glycerol and capric acid, a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid and a monoester of glycerol and lauric acid. 4) The antimicrobial composition according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid comprises: a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid between 5% and 20% by weight, preferably between 5% and 15% by weight, more preferably between 7% and 12% by weight, still more preferably 10% by weight; and / or a monoester of glycerol and capric acid between 1% and 3% by weight, preferably between 1% and 2% by weight, more preferably between 1% and 1.5% by weight, still more preferably 1.4% by weight; and / or a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid between 0.5% and 2% by weight, preferably between 0.5% and 1.5% by weight, more preferably between 0.8% and 1.2% by weight, even more preferably 1% by weight; and / or a monoester of glycerol and lauric acid between 2.5% and 4% by weight, preferably between 3% and 4% by weight, more preferably between 3% and 3.5% by weight, still more preferably between 3.2% by weight weight, wherein the amount of monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. 5) The antimicrobial composition according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the ethyl lauroyl arginate is ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride. 6) The antimicrobial composition according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride between 3% and 5% by weight, preferably between 3.5% and 4.5% by weight, more preferably between 4% and 4.5% by weight, even more preferably 4% by weight, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. The antimicrobial composition according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the antimicrobial composition also comprises one or more of the following: a) glycerol, preferably between 40% and 60% by weight, more preferably between 50% and 60% by weight, even more preferably between 50% and 55% by weight, such as 52% by weight; b) propylene glycol, preferably between 2% and 4% by weight, more preferably between 2.5% and 3.5% by weight, even more preferably between 3% and 3.5% by weight, such as 3% by weight; c) acetic acid, preferably between 5% and 20% by weight, more preferably between 5% and 15% by weight, even more preferably between 7% and 12% by weight, such as 10% by weight; And d) water, preferably between 5% and 20% by weight, more preferably between 5% and 15% by weight, even more preferably between 7% and 12% by weight, such as 10% by weight, in which the amount of glycerol, propylene glycol, acetic acid and water is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. The antimicrobial composition according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the antimicrobial composition also comprises a fatty acid and / or a salt thereof. 9) The antimicrobial composition according to claim 8, wherein the fatty acid consists of one or more of butyric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid and lauric acid. 10) The antimicrobial composition according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises one or more of a fatty acid and / or a salt thereof selected from the following: a) butyric acid or a salt thereof between 2% and 5% by weight, preferably between 2% and 4% by weight, more preferably between 3% and 4% by weight, still more preferably 3.4% by weight; b) capric acid or a salt thereof between 0.1% and 2% by weight, preferably between 0.1% and 1% by weight, more preferably between 0.1% and 0.5% by weight, even more preferably 0 3% by weight; c) caprylic acid or a salt thereof between 0.1% and 2% by weight, preferably between 0.1% and 1% by weight, more preferably between 0.1% and 0.5% by weight, even more preferably 0 3% by weight; And d) lauric acid or a salt thereof between 1% and 3% by weight, preferably between 1% and 2% by weight, more preferably between 1% and 1.5% by weight, still more preferably 1.4% by weight, wherein the amount of fatty acids and / or their salt is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. 11) The antimicrobial composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises nitrogen for less than 0.6% by weight based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition and / or is free of phosphorus and / or is free of sulfur preferably, the antimicrobial composition comprises nitrogen for less than 0.45% by weight based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition and is free of phosphorus and sulfur. 12) The antimicrobial composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the antimicrobial composition has a pH between 4 and 10, preferably between 4 and 8, more preferably between 4 and 6, even more preferably 4.55. 13) A disinfectant product, a sanitizing agent or a detergent comprising: a) the antimicrobial composition according to any one of the preceding claims; And b) a diluent, preferably water. 14) The disinfectant product, sanitizing agent or detergent according to claim 13, wherein the disinfectant product, sanitizing agent or detergent comprises the antimicrobial composition for at least 0.2% by weight based on the total weight of the disinfectant, sanitizing agent or detergent , preferably between 0.3% and 25% by weight, more preferably between 0.5% and 5% by weight, even more preferably between 0.7% and 4% by weight, such as 0.75% by weight, 1, 5% by weight and 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the disinfectant, sanitizing agent or cleaning agent. 15) The disinfectant product, sanitizing agent or detergent according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the disinfectant product, sanitizing agent or detergent has antimicrobial activity against one or more of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Legionella pneumophila. 16) Use of the disinfectant product according to any one of claims 13-15 in the purification of the air contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium, preferably in the purification of the air by purification of the air by means of a water tank. 17) Use of the disinfectant product, sanitizing agent or detergent according to any one of claims 13-15 in the decontamination of a surface contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium and / or in preventing the contamination of a surface by a microbe such as a bacterium. 18) Use of the disinfectant product, sanitizing agent or detergent according to claim 17, wherein the surface is a surface of a body such as the human body, such as a person's hand. 19) Use of the antimicrobial composition according to any one of claims 1-12 in the decontamination of an aqueous solution such as water contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium, wherein the antimicrobial composition is added to the aqueous solution in a concentration of at least 0.2% in weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, preferably between 0.3% and 25% by weight, more preferably between 0.5% and 5% by weight, even more preferably between 0.7% and 4% by weight weight, such as 0.75% by weight, 1.5% by weight and 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution. 20) Use according to claim 19, wherein the antimicrobial composition has antimicrobial activity against Legionella pneumophila.