Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
  • A01N33/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic nitrogen compounds
  • A01N33/02—Amines; Quaternary ammonium compounds
  • A01N33/12—Quaternary ammonium compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
  • A01N47/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic compounds containing a carbon atom not being member of a ring and having no bond to a carbon or hydrogen atom, e.g. derivatives of carbonic acid
  • A01N47/08—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic compounds containing a carbon atom not being member of a ring and having no bond to a carbon or hydrogen atom, e.g. derivatives of carbonic acid the carbon atom having one or more single bonds to nitrogen atoms
  • A01N47/28—Ureas or thioureas containing the groups >N—CO—N< or >N—CS—N<
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
  • C09K8/02—Well-drilling compositions
  • C09K8/03—Specific additives for general use in well-drilling compositions
  • C09K8/035—Organic additives

Definitions

• the present application relates generally to biocide compositions, and more particularly relates to biocide compositions including quaternary ammonium and urea.
• Biological contamination by pathogens such as bacteria, fungus, algae and viruses may cause significant problems in a variety of products and processes.
• the locations and conditions in which biological contamination occurs may create obstacles to treating the contamination. For example, contamination may occur (1) at temperatures at which traditional biocides are unstable; (2) in locations such as crevices, pockets, and pores that are too difficult to reach with traditional biocides; (3) in products such as a food that are not permitted to come in direct contact with traditional biocides; and (4) in the presence of organic matter that may destroy or breakdown the effectiveness of traditional biocides.
• compositions and methods of treating pathogens may be inexpensive, may require low levels of non-toxic biocide, may be stable and effective at high and low application temperatures, may have enhanced wetting properties, may provide effective treatment over a wide range of pH, and/or may provide effective treatment in a wide variety of products and processes.
• the present application thus provides improved methods for preparing biocide compositions and improved methods for treating and/or preventing biological contamination using a biocide composition comprising at least one quaternary ammonium compound and urea.
• a biocide composition comprising at least one quaternary ammonium compound and urea.
• drying urea, and thereafter combining at least one quaternary ammonium compound and urea may produce a potent biocide composition that is stable at high temperature and able to chemically treat biological contamination in a variety of difficult to reach locations.
• stable means the biocide remains effective as a biocide with substantially the same potency as when first made and the biocide components do not substantially separate from one another.
• biocide compositions described herein are useful in treating and/or preventing many types of biological contamination.
• contamination suitable for treating and/or treating include bacteria, fungus, algae and viruses.
• the biocide composition may comprise urea and a quaternary ammonium compound.
• the biocide composition may comprise urea and a plurality of quaternary ammonium compounds.
• Urea has a chemical formula of (NH 2 ) 2 CO.
• the biocide composition comprises urea that is substantially free of impurities.
• the biocide composition comprises urea that is pharmaceutical grade.
• Quaternary ammonium compounds are alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides. Quats have a structure in which a nitrogen atom (N) is covalently bonded to two methyl groups (CH 3 ), one benzyl group (CH 2 C 6 H 5 ), and one alkyl chain (R) to form a positively charged cation that may be stabilized by a negatively charged chlorine (Cl) ion.
• N nitrogen atom
• Cl chlorine
• the biocide composition in a dry form, the biocide composition may be stabilized and non-ionic or neutral due to the association of the quat cation with the chlorine ion.
• the chlorine molecule may detach from the anion.
• the quat has the following structure:
• the alkyl chain (R) may have a length in the range of about eight carbons (C 8 H 17 ) to about eighteen carbons (C 18 H 37 ).
• suitable alkyl chains include C 8 H 17 , C 9 H 19 , C 10 H 21 , C 11 H 23 , C 12 H 25 , C 13 H 27 , C 14 H 29 , C 15 H 31 , C 16 H 33 , C 17 H 35 , and C 18 H 37 .
• the biocide composition comprises a quaternary ammonium compound in which the alkyl chains have a chain length that is substantially identical in each of the quat molecules.
• the biocide composition comprises one or more quaternary ammonium compounds in which the length of the alkyl chain varies between the quat molecules.
• the quat/urea biocide composition comprises one or more quaternary ammonium compounds in which the alkyl chain has a length in the range of about 12 carbons to about 18 carbons.
• about 50 to about 100% by weight of the one or more quaternary ammonium compounds present in the quat/urea biocide composition have an alkyl chain has a length in the range of about 12 carbons to about 18 carbons.
• about 50 to about 100% by weight of the one or more quaternary ammonium compounds present in the quat/urea biocide composition have an alkyl chain has a length in the range of about 14 carbons to about 16 carbons.
• 60% by weight of the one or more quaternary ammonium compounds present in the quat/urea biocide composition have a C 16 H 33 alkyl chain
• 30% by weight of the one or more quaternary ammonium compounds present in the quat/urea biocide composition have a C 14 H 29 alkyl chain
• 5% by weight of the one or more quaternary ammonium compounds present in the quat/urea biocide composition have a C 12 H 25 alkyl chain
• 5% by weight of the one or more quaternary ammonium compounds present in the quat/urea biocide composition have a C 18 H 37 alkyl chain.
• the quat/urea biocide composition is substantially dry when made and while stored so that the quat/urea biocide composition remains stable and non-ionic or neutral due to the association of the quat cation with the chlorine ion.
• the quat/urea biocide composition comprises water in an amount no more than about 3% by weight of the quat/urea biocide composition, or no more than about 2% by weight of the quat/urea biocide composition, or no more than about 1% by weight of the quat/urea biocide composition.
• the one or more quats and urea are dried before they are mixed together and the one or more quats and urea are combined in a manner and in a weight ratio so that the urea and the one or more quats may bind into a single product, the urea may become chelated, and/or the one or more quats may become encapsulated in the urea, the biocide composition may be stabilized and non-ionic or neutral due to the association of the quat cation with the chlorine ion, and the orientation of the biocide at interfaces may be substantially perfect so the biocide composition may impart a substantially reduced surface tension to water when added to water to form an aqueous solution.
• the one or more quats and urea are present in the biocide composition in amounts based on a weight ratio of the one or more quats to urea from about 10:90 to about 90:10, or from about 20:80 to about 60:40, or from about 30:70 to about 50:50, or a weight ratio of about 40:60.
• a method of making the biocide composition may comprise the steps of drying the urea and then combining the one or more quats and the urea to form a biocide composition.
• a method of making the biocide composition may comprise the steps of drying the one or more quats and urea and then combining the one or more quats and the urea to form a biocide composition.
• the method also may include removing solvent from the combined quat and urea composition and/or granulating the composition.
• the step of drying the one or more quats and urea may include separately drying the one or more quats and urea.
• the urea is heated to a temperature in a range from about 80 to about 120° C., or about 90 to about 110° C., or to a temperature of about 100° C.
• the one or more quats are gradually heated to a temperature of up to about 50° C., or to a temperature from about 30 to about 40° C.
• the one or more quats may be heated over a period of about 30 to about 120 minutes while gradually increasing the temperature at a rate of about 0.2 to about 1.5° C. per minute.
• the one or more quats may be substantially dried without affected the stability of the quat molecules.
• the drying of quats may take place at a very low level of humidity.
• the drying treatment may take place after a step of adding organic solvent to the quats.
• an organic solvent may be added to the one or more quats before heating the one or more quats.
• the organic solvent may include an alcohol, glycol, ketone, or combinations thereof.
• the organic solvent comprises ethylene glycol, acetone, methanol, isopropanol, glycerines or combinations thereof.
• the ratio of the amount of organic solvent to the amount of quats may be in a range from about 1:2 to about 1:4 by weight or about 1:3 by weight.
• the one or more quats may be dried under a vacuum. Suitable sources of heat for heating the one or more quats may include a variety of sources known to those skilled in the art.
• the urea may be heated by light such as emitted by heating lamps.
• the step of drying the urea comprises drying the urea until the urea comprises water in an amount no more than 10% by weight of the urea, or no more than 5% by weight of the urea, or no more than 1% by weight of the urea.
• the step of drying the one or more quats comprises drying the one or more quats until the one or more quats comprises water in an amount no more than 3% by weight of the one or more quats, or no more than 0.5% by weight of the one or more quats, no more than 0.2% by weight of the one or more quats.
• the step of combining the one or more quats and urea may comprise essentially any method known in the art.
• the method comprises spraying the one or more quats onto or over the urea and then mixing the one or more quats into the urea.
• the quats may be quickly absorbed in the urea to create a paste.
• the one or more quats may be added to the urea gradually while mixing with the urea or by adding one portion of the one or more quats after another to the urea while mixing the quats into the urea after each portion of the one ore more quats is added to the urea.
• the composition may be further dried so as to remove any solvents present in the composition.
• the one or more quats and urea are mixed substantially homogeneously throughout the biocide composition.
• the method of obtaining the composition may further include granulating the composition.
• the step of granulating the quat and urea biocide composition may comprise essentially any method known in the art.
• the biocide composition is granulated by forcing the composition through a screen.
• the quat/urea biocide composition may be packaged in a substantially water vapor impermeable packaging so that the biocide composition stays dry and stable until used.
• suitable water vapor barrier packaging such as metal foils and polymer laminates are well known.
• One such embodiment for example comprises a co-extruded polyolefin and EVOH laminate.
• composition and/or method of obtaining the biocide may have a substantial effect on the properties of the resulting composition.
• the composition and/or method may cause the urea and the one or more quats to bind into a single product, the urea to become chelated, and/or the one or more quats to become encapsulated in the urea.
• the treatment may (1) increase the stability and shelf-life of the biocide; (2) increase the temperature stability of the biocide; (3) increase the pH range in which the biocide is stable; (4) increase the stability of the biocide in the presence of organic matter; (5) increase the ability of the biocide to reduce surface tension in aqueous environments; and/or (6) leave a film on a treated surface for residual biocidal effect.
• the biocide may be stored in stable condition for up to five years in a dry state or up to one year while dissolved in a liquid.
• the quat/urea biocide may be added to water to form an aqueous solution.
• the amount of the quat/urea biocide present in the aqueous solution may vary depending on the intended application, but generally is present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution or about 0.01 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.5 to about 1% by weight of the aqueous solution.
• an aqueous solution comprising the quat/urea biocide may have a surface tension which is less than about 90% of the surface tension of water, or less than about 75% that of water, or less than about 60% that of water or less than about 56% that of water.
• an aqueous solution comprising the quat/urea biocide may have a surface tension less than about 65 dynes/cm 2 , less than about 54 dynes/cm 2 , less than about 42 dynes/cm 2 , or less than about 40 dynes/cm 2 .
• an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide may have a surface tension from about 39 to about 64 dynes/cm 2 , or from about 39 to about 54 dynes/cm 2 , or from about 39 to about 42 dynes/cm 2 .
• Table 1 below presents a correlation between concentration of a quat/urea biocide in aqueous solution to surface tension of the solution and between concentration of quats in the aqueous solution to surface tension of the solution.
• the quat/urea biocide used to generate the data in Table 1 comprised 60% by weight urea and 40% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds in which 60% of the alkyl chains are C 14 H 29 , 30% of the alkyl chains are C 16 H 33 , 5% of the alkyl chains are C 12 H 25 , and 5% of the alkyl chains are C 18 H 37 .
• the proportions of the one or more quats and the urea in the biocide composition and the drying and mixing parameters of the quat/urea biocide and the amount of quat/urea biocide added to water to form an aqueous solution are balanced such that the surface tension of the aqueous biocide solution is sufficiently less than that of water so that the aqueous biocide solution is very dispersible on surfaces of articles to be treated with the aqueous biocide solution.
• These factors may vary within the ranges described herein to achieve the desirable balance when quats having different alkyl chain lengths are used.
• the quat/urea biocide may be stable at pH levels in the range from about 3 to 11 and at temperatures of from about ⁇ 3° C. to about 100° C., or from about 15° C. to about 100° C., or from about 15° C. to about 80° C., or from about 60° C. to about 80° C.
• quat/urea compositions may be used to disinfect a variety of articles or environments.
• concentration and frequency of application may vary from one application to another.
• a drawback of quats, however, is that they are not stable in the presence of heat, and even at temperatures below 50° C., tend to break down and lose their biocidal properties.
• a method for treating an area with a biocide comprises applying a quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to an article or environment.
• the method of applying the biocide may comprise applying the quat/urea biocide in an aqueous solution such as is described hereinabove.
• the quat/urea biocide is heat resistant and is stable at higher temperatures and, therefore, the method may include applying the quat/urea biocide at application temperatures up to about 100° C., or from about 15° C. to about 100° C., or from about 40° C. to about 100° C., or from about 60° C. to about 100° C., or from about 80° C.
• the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in a concentration in a range of about 0.3 ppm to about 20000 ppm, or about 1 ppm to about 10000 ppm, or about 4 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 40 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 400 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 2000 ppm to about 4000 ppm.
• methods of applying the biocide include but are not limited to immersion, spraying, fogging, drenching, or fumigation with an aqueous solution of the biocide or distributing the biocide in dry particulate form.
• chickens may be processed in an automated system while hanging from shackles on a conveyor.
• the shackled birds may be stunned, slaughtered, bled, scalded to loosen the feathers, plucked, eviscerated, chilled, and then removed from the conveyor for butchering and packaging.
• the hot scalding may open pores on the skin and loosen the flesh so as to allow pathogens to penetrate the carcass.
• the chilling may close the pores and tighten the flesh so as to trap the pathogens within the carcass. It therefore would be desirable to provide a method of treating pathogens in chicken carcasses at the high temperatures of the scalding and in the small crevices within the carcass.
• the methods may be inexpensive, may require low levels of non-toxic biocide, and/or may provide effective treatment of carcasses in the presence of high levels of organic material.
• the quat/urea biocide compositions of the present application may be used during the processing of chicken carcasses. Due to the method of obtaining the biocide, the biocide may effectively treat pathogens in the presence of high levels of organic contamination, at high temperatures, and/or in a variety of difficult to reach locations. Furthermore, the method of treating the carcasses may remove pathogens from the chickens, prevent spoilage of the chicken carcasses, and extend the shelf life of the processed chicken.
• the method may include the step of applying a hot aqueous biocide solution to a chicken carcass, the hot aqueous biocide solution comprising a quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove and scalding water.
• the biocide composition may comprise urea and quaternary ammonium as described above, and the biocide composition may be obtained using the methods described above.
• the scalding water may have a temperature from about 40 to about 80° C. Surprisingly, despite that fact that the biocide composition comprises quaternary ammonium, it may remain stable in the hot scalding water.
• the quat/urea biocide may reduce the surface tension of the hot scalding water as explained hereinabove so as to penetrate the pores and crevices of the chicken carcass.
• the quat/urea biocide composition is present in the hot aqueous biocide solution in an amount from about 0.0025 to about 0.3% by weight of the aqueous solution or about 0.01 to about 0.3% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.0625 to about 0.125% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.0125 to about 0.05% by weight of the aqueous solution or in an amount of about 0.025% by weight of the aqueous solution.
• the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in a concentration in a range of about 10 ppm to about 1200 ppm, or about 25 ppm to about 500 ppm, or about 50 ppm to about 200 ppm, or in an amount of about 100 ppm.
• the application of the hot aqueous biocide solution may clean the carcass and loosen the feathers, and the biocide in the hot biocide aqueous solution may destroy the pathogen on the carcass.
• the step of applying the hot aqueous biocide solution may comprise spraying or blasting the hot aqueous biocide solution onto the chicken carcass.
• the step of applying the hot aqueous biocide solution may comprise immersing the chicken carcass into the hot aqueous biocide solution.
• the step of applying the hot aqueous biocide solution comprises immersing the chicken carcass into the solution while suspended from a conveyor.
• the conveyor may move the carcass through the solution, and a pump may move the solution in a direction that is countercurrent to the movement of the carcass.
• the temperature of the hot aqueous biocide solution when applied to the chicken carcasses is in a range of about 40° C. to about 80° C., or about 50° C. to about 80° C., or about 60° C. to about 70° C., or is about 65° C.
• the pH of the mixture may be in a range of about 3 to about 11, and/or hardness of the water may be up to about 850 ppm CaCO 3 or up to about 550 ppm CaCO 3 .
• a method for disinfecting chicken carcasses comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of about 800 ppm to a poultry slaughter plant environment by fogging the environment once or twice per day, applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of about 200 ppm to food contact surfaces such as grinders, mixers, blenders, choppers, piping conveyers, tables, workstations, tanks, tubs, barrels, tote boxes, smoke sticks, hooks, and the like, by spraying or immersion, applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of about 400 ppm to non-food contact surfaces such as walls, columns, floors, ceiling light fixtures, ducts, sinks, trash barrels, drums, non-processing machinery, and the like, by spraying or immersion, applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of about
• Table 2 Methods of applying the quat/urea biocide to chicken carcasses in chicken slaughter plants according to certain embodiments of the present invention are set forth in Table 2.
• the application information in Table 2 is for a quat/urea biocide comprising 60% by weight urea and 40% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds in which 60% of the alkyl chains are C 14 H 29 , 30% of the alkyl chains are C 16 H 33 , 5% of the alkyl chains are C 12 H 25 , and 5% of the alkyl chains are C 18 H 37 .
• the quat/urea biocide is mixed with water and applied as an aqueous solution. Concentration means amount of quat/urea biocide in the aqueous solution in grams per liter.
• Newly hatched eggs may contain salmonella bacteria. Even those eggs that do not have bacteria inside when the shell is being formed can be exposed to the pathogen when the bird lays the egg.
• a method of treating poultry eggs comprises applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to an outer surface of the eggs.
• the aqueous quat/urea biocide kills microorganism pathogens on the outer surface of the eggs and inside the egg in some embodiments having lower surface tension.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 1200 ppm at a rate of about 1 to about 3 ml of solution per egg.
• the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 400 ppm to about 800 ppm at a rate of about 1 to about 3 ml of solution per egg or about 1.5 ml of solution per egg.
• the eggs may be advantageously treated immediately after collection.
• the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution may be applied to eggs in a variety of ways including but not limited to immersion, spraying, fogging, and fumigating.
• a method of treating a poultry farm comprises applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to a poultry breeding area.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 1200 ppm at a rate of about 1 liter of the aqueous biocide solution per about 4 to about 15 m 2 of breeding area.
• the quat/urea biocide is present in the aqueous solution wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 400 ppm to about 800 ppm at a rate of about 1 liter of aqueous biocide solution per about 4 to about 15 m 2 of breeding area.
• the quat/urea biocide is applied at a rate toward the lighter end of the range.
• the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution is applied at a rate from about 6 to about 10 cc per m3 of the closed breeding house or at a rate of about 8 cc per m 3 of the closed breeding house.
• the quat/urea biocide may be applied about once per day.
• the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution may be applied to the breeding area in a variety of ways including but not limited to spraying, fogging, and fumigating.
• the method comprises fogging the breeding area with an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide wherein the quat/urea biocide is present in the aqueous solution in an amount of about 800 ppm at a rate of about 1 liter of the aqueous biocide solution per about 4 to about 15 m 2 of breeding area for about 5 to about 10 minutes per day.
• a method of treating a poultry farm may comprise applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to a poultry breeding equipment.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide wherein the quat/urea biocide is present in the aqueous solution wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 1200 ppm at a rate of about 1 liter of the aqueous biocide solution per about 4 to about 15 m 2 of equipment surface area.
• the quat/urea biocide is present in the aqueous solution wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 200 ppm to about 800 ppm at a rate of about 1 liter of aqueous biocide solution per about 4 to about 15 m 2 of equipment surface area.
• the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution may be applied to the equipment in a variety of ways including but not limited to spraying, fogging, and fumigating.
• the method comprises spraying the equipment surface area with an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide wherein the quat/urea biocide is present in the aqueous solution wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount of about 400 ppm at a rate of about 1 liter of the aqueous biocide solution per about 4 to about 15 m 2 of equipment surface area.
• a method of treating a poultry farm may comprise feeding poultry drinking water comprising a quat/urea biocide such as described hereinabove.
• Such treatment when applied in appropriate concentrations and frequency is effective to prevent and/or eliminate pathogens without posing a material risk to animals or humans consuming such treated water.
• the amount of quat/urea biocide is present in the drinking water such that the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in a range from about 20 to about 75 ppm or about 25 to about 50 ppm.
• the poultry When poultry consumes the quat/urea biocide treated drinking water, the poultry may have less or substantially no presence of pathogens in their fecal matter thereby leading to less such contamination in the poultry environment and/or in food products, such as meat or eggs obtained from such poultry.
• such poultry are fed such quat/urea treated drinking water frequently and persistently such as on a substantially daily basis or even more frequently. Feeding poultry drinking water treated with the quat/urea biocide may decrease need for medicating poultry, reduce premature poultry mortality, increase poultry weight, increase poultry food conversion, and keep poultry farm pipes and other equipment clean without corrosion and free of biofilm.
• a method of producing meat from poultry comprises feeding poultry drinking water comprising quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove and then slaughtering the poultry.
• a method of breeding poultry comprises applying an aqueous solution of a quat/urea biocide as disclosed hereinabove to poultry eggs and then hatching the poultry eggs.
• the same methods of treatment including concentrations of the biocide apply to treating eggs for hatching as apply to treating eggs for human consumption described hereinabove.
• a method of treating a poultry farm comprises applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to a poultry breeding area and poultry breeding equipment, applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to poultry eggs and then hatching chicks from the treated eggs, and raising the hatched chicks to chickens while feeding them drinking water comprising an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove.
• the method may further comprise washing boots of poultry farm workers with an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove and/or slaughtering the chickens raised on the poultry farm while cleaning the chicken carcasses with the hot aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove.
• a method for disinfecting and controlling proliferation of pathogens in a chicken hatchery comprises immersing chicken egg trays in an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide composition comprising quats in an amount 400 ppm, spraying, fogging or immersing chicken eggs in an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of about 200-400 ppm, fogging chicken incubator and hatch rooms with an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of 400 ppm, spraying chicken trays with an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of 400 ppm, and spraying chicken transportation vehicles with the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of 400 ppm.
• Table 3 below provides information according to certain embodiments of the invention for treating chicken hatcheries.
• the information in Table 3 is for a quat/urea biocide comprising 60% by weight urea and 40% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds in which 60% of the alkyl chains are C 14 H 29 , 30% of the alkyl chains are C 16 H 33 , 5% of the alkyl chains are C 12 H 25 , and 5% of the alkyl chains are C 18 H 37 .
• the quat/urea biocide is mixed with water and applied as an aqueous solution.
• the dose provided describes the grams of quat/urea biocide per liter of aqueous solution.
• a method for breeding chicken comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide, comprising quats in an amount of 400 ppm to a chicken breeding area by fogging, spraying, or the like, twice per day, applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of 400 ppm to tables, tools, machines, feeding dishes, boots, gloves, and uniforms by spraying or immersing, feeding the chicken drinking water comprising the quat/urea biocide in an amount such that quats are present in the drinking water in an amount of about 25 ppm, and applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of about 400 ppm to chicken transportation vehicles by spraying or the like.
• the application information in Table 4 is for a quat/urea biocide comprising 60% by weight urea and 40% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds in which 60% of the alkyl chains are C 14 H 29 , 30% of the alkyl chains are C 16 H 33 , 5% of the alkyl chains are C 12 H 25 , and 5% of the alkyl chains are C 18 H 37 .
• the quat/urea biocide is mixed with water and applied as an aqueous solution. Concentration in grams per liter means the amount of quat/urea biocide added to water.
• Pathogens are often spread by human hands and this can cause the spread of illness and can cause contamination of articles and materials handled by human hands such as in food and beverage production and service industries. For example, clean hands are a necessity in restaurants and many restaurant employees and proprietors must frequently wash their hands on the job.
• a method for cleaning a human hand comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution according to embodiments described hereinabove to the human hand.
• the aqueous biocide solution may have a temperature from about 15° C. to about 40° C., or about 25° C. to about 40° C., or about 35° C. to about 40° C. during the step of applying the biocide solution to the human hand.
• the quat/urea biocide may be present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution or about 0.01 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.5 to about 1% by weight of the aqueous solution. Therefore, according to particular embodiments, the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in a concentration in a range of about 4 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 40 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 400 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 2000 ppm to about 4000 ppm.
• the step of applying the aqueous biocide may comprise immersion, spraying, rinsing, and the like.
• the urea present in the biocide may also reduce chapping of a users hands.
• the frequency of application to the hand may range from once every 15 minutes to once per hour, or once every 30 minutes, or once every 4 hours due to its residual action.
• Beverage dispensing machines generally comprise one or more sources of beverage or beverage components, one or more dispensing nozzles for dispensing the beverage or beverage components, and a system for delivering the beverage or beverage components from the one or more sources of beverage or sources of beverage components to the one or more nozzles.
• a system for delivering the beverage or beverage components may comprise one or more delivery lines or pumps or both.
• Pathogens such as bacteria may develop in such a dispensing system or nozzles, or both, and cleaning or replacement of such dispensing systems, or components thereof, and/or such nozzles may be required.
• biofilms develop in the dispensing system or nozzles, or both.
• a method for sanitizing a beverage dispensing machine comprises contacting at least a portion of the beverage dispensing machine with an aqueous quat/urea biocide composition such as embodiments described hereinabove.
• the method of sanitizing the beverage dispensing machine comprises flushing at least a portion of the dispensing machine with an aqueous quat/urea comprising water and a quat/urea biocide such as in embodiments described hereinabove.
• the quat/urea biocide may be present in the aqueous biocide in an amount from about from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution or about 0.01 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.5 to about 1% by weight of the aqueous solution. Therefore, according to particular embodiments, the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in a concentration in a range of about 4 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 40 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 400 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 2000 ppm to about 4000 ppm.
• the step of flushing the beverage dispensing machine may include flushing at least a portion of the dispensing machine with the aqueous quat/urea biocide at a temperature from about ⁇ 3 to about 100° C., or about 15 to about 100° C., or 55 to about 100° C., or 65 to about 100° C., or 80 to about 100° C., or about 80° C.
• the step of flushing at least a portion of the dispensing system may comprise flushing at least a portion of the delivery system or nozzles or both.
• Food such as grain, peanuts, and the like may become contaminated with biocontaminants such as bacteria, mold, fungus, yeast, and the like when stored in silos.
• Food stored in silos is sometimes exposed to relatively high temperatures which can further propagate the biocontamination and destabilize or render ineffective biocides that would otherwise reduce, eliminate or prevent the biocontamination.
• biocides that work at such high temperatures are often expensive or unacceptable for use with food.
• many biocides are liquid and this creates humidity problems in the silos causing mold and yeast growth and contamination.
• a method for storing food comprises storing food and a quat/urea biocide, as in embodiments described hereinabove, in a silo.
• the quat/urea is a dry particulate dispersed substantially throughout the food in the silo.
• the amount of quat/urea biocide is present in the silo in an amount from 150 to about 300 grams per metric ton the food in the silo or 200 to about 250 grams per metric ton the food in the silo.
• the step of storing the food comprises storing the food and quat/urea biocide at a temperature from about 15 to about 40° C., or about 20 to about 40° C., or about 30 to about 40° C.
• Agricultural products often suffer from infection from pathogens such as bacteria, mold, and yeast.
• Treatment of agricultural products with quat/urea may eliminate or prevent fungal or bacterial infection of such products.
• Concentration of quat/urea biocide, frequency of application to agricultural products, and coordination of biocide treatment and watering of agricultural products may vary depending on type of agricultural product, type and degree of infection, soil, and climate.
• a method of treating agricultural products comprises applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to an agricultural product.
• agricultural products include crops.
• such agricultural products include vegetables, including but not limited to rice, wheat, cotton, green peas, apples, peaches, citrus (including but no limited to oranges, grapefruits, and limes), onion, garlic, lettuce, tomatoes, melons (including but not limited to watermelons, cantaloupes, honey dew and the like), potatoes, tobacco, pineapples, strawberries, bananas, mangoes, coffee beans, peanuts, and the like, and ornamentals such as flowers, including but not limited to roses, tulips, and marigolds, turf such as grass and other ground cover vegetation.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide to crops in the field as the crops are growing.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide, wherein the one of more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 2000 ppm, at a rate of about 2 gallons of the aqueous biocide solution per about 1000 ft 2 of field in which the crops are growing.
• the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 400 ppm to about 1600 ppm and the aqueous biocide solution is applied at a rate of about 2 gallons of the aqueous biocide solution per about 1000 ft 2 of field in which the crops are growing. This may be repeated once every 7 to 14 days as needed.
• the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution may be applied to crops in a variety of ways including but not limited to spraying dripping and irrigating.
• the method further comprises wetting the crops before applying the aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide and, optionally, wetting the crops again after application of the biocide.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide to crops after they are harvested.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide wherein the one of more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 2000 ppm to the harvested crops.
• the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 200 to about 1600 ppm, from about 400 ppm to about 1600 ppm, or from about 200 ppm to about 400 ppm.
• the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution may be applied to harvested crops in a variety of ways including but not limited to immersion, spraying and rinsing. According to embodiments of this invention, the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution completely covers the exterior or skin of the crops for most effective results. According to embodiments of this invention, the quat/urea biocide may be contacted with the harvested crops for a period of at least about 1 minute, or at least about 2 minutes, or from about 1 to about 3 minutes. According to embodiments of this invention, the harvested crops may be rinsed with potable water after treatment with the quat/urea biocide.
• Treatment of harvested crops in accordance with embodiments of this invention may prevent, reduce, or eliminate bacteria and yeast that can lead to fruit ripening and thereby slow ripening to extend shelf life of the crops. While embodiments of this invention are applicable to many crops, certain embodiments are particularly suited to extending the shelf life of perishable crops including but not limited to bananas, watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, cantaloupes, mangoes, and the like.
• a method comprises feeding the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution to plants, crops, or cut flowers to provide systemic treatment of or protection from microorganisms such as, for example, bacteria, viruses, mold, fungus, and the like.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide to cut flowers after they are harvested.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide wherein the one of more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 2000 ppm to the cut flowers.
• the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 400 ppm to about 1600 ppm.
• the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution may be applied to harvested flowers in a variety of ways including but not limited to immersion, spraying and rinsing.
• a method for cutting flowers comprises treating a cutting instrument with the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution and thereafter cutting the flowers with the cutting instrument.
• a method of treating turf comprises applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to turf.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide wherein the one of more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 2000 ppm at a rate of about 2 gallons of the aqueous biocide solution per about 1000 ft 2 of turf.
• the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 400 ppm to about 1600 ppm at a rate of about 2 gallons of the aqueous biocide solution per about 1000 ft 2 of turf. This may be repeated once every 7 to 14 days as needed.
• the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution may be applied to turf in a variety of ways including but not limited to spraying and irrigating.
• the method further comprises wetting the turf before applying the aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide and, optionally, wetting the turf again after application of the biocide.
• Tables 5 and 6 Methods of application to some crops according to certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in Tables 5 and 6.
• the application information in Tables 5 and 6 is for a quat/urea biocide used comprising 60% by weight urea and 40% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds in which 60% of the alkyl chains are C 14 H 29 , 30% of the alkyl chains are C 16 H 33 , 5% of the alkyl chains are C 12 H 25 , and 5% of the alkyl chains are C 18 H 37 .
• the quat/urea biocide is mixed with water and applied as an aqueous solution. Concentration in ppm means amount of quat in the aqueous solution.
• Drench 800 Stacks Botrytis cinerea 8 days Spray 200-400 ( Mathiola sp.) Alternaria sp. 8 days Spray 800 Pythium sp. 15 days Drench 800 Rhizoctonia sp. 15 days Drench 800 Anthurium Xanthomonas campestris 15 days Spray 400-600 ( Anthurium sp.) Xanthomonas anthuriae 7 days Spray 400-600 Post-Harvest Bacteria, Fungi 1 time Immerse 200 Cut Flowers stems 1-2 hours Disinfestation Bacteria, Fungi 1 time Immerse in 400 (Floriculture solution 30 species including seconds those listed above)
• Citrus greening also known as huanglongbing (“HLB”) or Yellow Dragon Disease
• HLB has become one of the major threats against citrus worldwide.
• This bacterial disease has already reduced citrus production in Asia, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Brazil.
• This systemic bacteria belongs to the Rhizobia family, and it affects the tree at the time of blooming and creates a yellowing effect throughout the foliage.
• the bacteria also affects the fruit, giving it a bitter flavor, as well as turning the seeds black. Its effect is a fast pathogenic infestation that creates a very dangerous source of cross contamination for the other surrounding trees. This bacteria is responsible for the death of over 6 million trees worldwide over a span of 3 years.
• the vector of this bacterium is a fly insect no larger than 2 mm, which feeds on the juice from the crop's vascular system. Numerous trials involving various bactericides have been performed by various organizations, but these trials have so far yielded very poor results. As such, the currently preferred treatment involves the application of insecticides to control the insect or fly which is the carrier. Unfortunately, this increase in the application of insecticides negatively compromises the productivity of the plantations.
• a method for treating citrus greening comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution having a composition according to embodiments described hereinabove to the plant.
• the one or more quats and urea are dried before they are mixed together and the one or more quats and urea are combined in a manner and in a weight ratio so that the urea and the one or more quats may bind into a single product, the urea may become chelated, and/or the one or more quats may become encapsulated in the urea.
• the dried quat/urea product may then be combined with water and applied to the plant.
• the amount and concentration of quat/urea required to treat the plant depends on the citrus variety and severity of bacterial infestation.
• the quat/urea may be present in a range of about 2 grams to about 2.5 grams of quat/urea per liter of aqueous solution. Therefore, in certain embodiments the biocide may comprise about 800 to about 1000 ppm quat/urea in an aqueous solution.
• the quat/urea biocide solution may be applied by spraying the solution on the affected plant.
• treatment may be initiated at early stages of manifestation of the pathogen by applying the solution to the soil by drip irrigation.
• the treatment may be applied by drip irrigation of a solution comprising about 800 to about 1000 ppm quat/urea in an aqueous solution to a sandy soil.
• the treatment may be applied by drip irrigation of a solution comprising up to about 4 grams of quat/urea per liter of aqueous solution to a soil having a high anthracite and/or bentonite content.
• the biocide may comprise up to about 1600 ppm quat/urea in an aqueous solution.
• An electrical reaction test may be performed on the soil to detect the presence of anthracite and bentonite. If anthracite and bentonite are detected, drip irrigation may be used to apply quat/urea biocide solution to the soil at a concentration of about 4 grams of quat/urea per liter of aqueous solution.
• the solution is sprayed on the foliage of the plant, about 350-450 grams of quat/urea may be applied per Hector.
• the solution may be applied by hand, such as with a pump sprayer, or may be sprayed by an aircraft or other vehicle. If drip irrigation is used, about 450-650 grams of quat/urea may be applied to the soil every 100 meters.
• the foregoing method has proven effective at treating the bacteria responsible for citrus greening. Without intending to be bound by a theory, it is believed that the foregoing biocide solution reduces the surface tension of the water up to 56% creating very microscopic drops that are easily absorbed through the pores of the leaves and foliage. It is believed that the lipophilic quat further acts as a surfactant, allowing the biocide to easily penetrate the waxy cuticle of the plant foliage. The present biocide, therefore, rapidly reaches the vascular system. Once in contact with the bacteria, the biocide breaks the cytoplasmatic membrane by electrical shock due to its high cationic charge, which reacts with the anionic charge of the external surface of the membrane.
• the present biocide solution also contains urea which is essential to help the plant recuperate from the stress created by the pathogen, and neutralizes the negative effect that the bacteria has on the chlorophyll of the plant. Furthermore, by frequent applications of the biocide (for example, at intervals of 30 to 45 days) the biocide solution will make the plant more resistant and immune to the bacteria.
• Peanut processing facilities include but are not limited to peanut cleaning and shelling facilities, peanut roasting or boiling facilities, and peanut oil, butter, or meal manufacturing facilities and the like. Such peanut processing facilities may be subject to biological contamination that presents a human health concern.
• Salmonella contamination which can cause serious human illness.
• peanuts may be processed in facilities including but not limited to storage equipment such as: silos and the like; handling equipment such as conveyors and the like; washing equipment such as sprayers, baths and the like; cooking equipment such as roasters, boilers, and the like; and food processing equipment such as shellers, grinders, blenders, mixers and the like.
• storage equipment such as: silos and the like; handling equipment such as conveyors and the like; washing equipment such as sprayers, baths and the like; cooking equipment such as roasters, boilers, and the like; and food processing equipment such as shellers, grinders, blenders, mixers and the like.
• the quat/urea biocide compositions of the present application may be effective to reduce, prevent or eliminate bilogical contamination of peanut processing facilities and shelled and unshelled peanuts themselves.
• the biocide may effectively treat pathogens in the presence of high levels of organic contamination, at high temperatures, and/or in a variety of difficult to reach locations.
• the method of treating peanuts and peanut facilities may remove pathogens from peanuts, peanut hulls, and peanut processing equipment, and/or extend the shelf life of peanuts and peanut products.
• the method may include the step of applying a hot aqueous biocide solution to shelled peanuts, unshelled peanuts, peanut hulls, and/or peanut processing equipment, the hot aqueous biocide solution comprising a quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove and water.
• the biocide composition may comprise urea and quaternary ammonium as described above, and the biocide composition may be obtained using the methods described above.
• the water may have a temperature from about 15 to about 80° C. or from about 20 to about 40° C.
• the quat/urea biocide may reduce the surface tension of the water so as to penetrate the pores and crevices of the peanut hulls.
• the quat/urea biocide composition is present in the aqueous biocide solution in an amount from about 0.0025 to about 0.3% by weight of the aqueous solution or about 0.01 to about 0.3% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.0625 to about 0.125% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.0125 to about 0.05% by weight of the aqueous solution or in an amount of about 0.025% by weight of the aqueous solution.
• the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in a concentration in a range of about 10 ppm to about 1200 ppm, or about 25 ppm to about 500 ppm, or about 50 ppm to about 200 ppm, or in an amount of about 100 ppm.
• the pH of the mixture may be in a range of about 3 to about 11, and/or hardness of the water may be up to about 850 ppm CaCO 3 or up to about 550 ppm CaCO 3 .
• the step of applying the aqueous biocide solution to peanuts may be as described herein with regard to other harvested crops.
• the step of applying the aqueous biocide solution to peanut processing facilities may be as described herein with regard to chicken or egg handling facilities.
• a method for disinfecting peanut processing facilities comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of about 800 ppm to a peanut processing facility environment by fogging the environment once or twice per day, applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of about 200 ppm to food contact surfaces such as grinders, mixers, blenders, choppers, conveyers, tables, workstations, tanks, tubs, barrels, tote boxes, and the like, by spraying or immersion, applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of about 400 ppm to non-food contact surfaces such as walls, columns, floors, ceiling light fixtures, ducts, sinks, trash barrels, drums, non-processing machinery, and the like, by spraying or immersion, applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide comprising quats in an amount of
• Table 7 Methods of applying the quat/urea biocide to peanut processing facilities according to certain embodiments of the present invention are set forth in Table 7.
• the application information in Table 7 is for a quat/urea biocide comprising 60% by weight urea and 40% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds in which 60% of the alkyl chains are C 14 H 29 , 30% of the alkyl chains are C 16 H 33 , 5% of the alkyl chains are C 12 H 25 , and 5% of the alkyl chains are C 18 H 37 .
• the quat/urea biocide is mixed with water and applied as an aqueous solution. Concentration means amount of quat/urea biocide in the aqueous solution in grams per liter.
• drilling muds for lubricating drill bits. If drilling mud is not used, or if the mud breaks down over time, it must be replaced which causes significant delays in the drilling operations. In any event, as the drilling mud loses effectiveness, it can cause significant additional wear on the drill bit, drill shaft, and other components of the drill apparatus, and can result in the failure of any or all of these components.
• a common mud is synthetic glucose. Over time, however, synthetic glucose breaks down. Further, anaerobic bacteria can grow at the bottom of a deep well and has the dual effect of breaking down the glucose and producing carbon dioxide. When the glucose breaks down, stress and wear on the mechanical parts increase. Meanwhile, the production of carbon dioxide, an acid, results in acid corrosion. Therefore, there is a need in the oil industry for a bactericide that does not require oxygen to work and spreads substantially evenly over the drill bit and related components of the drilling apparatus.
• an oil well drilling mud comprises an oil well drilling lubricating material, water, and a quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove.
• the quat/urea biocide may reduce, eliminate, or prevent the presence of bacteria in the oil well drilling mud and prolong the useful life of the drilling mud.
• the quat/urea biocide of such embodiments may be particularly effective in oil wells because it functions as a biocide in an anaerobic environment.
• suitable well drilling lubricants include glucose, typically synthetic glucose.
• the well drilling lubricant is present in the well drilling mud in an amount from about 10 to about 25% by weight of the drilling mud.
• water is present in the well drilling mud in an amount from about 30 to about 50% by weight of the drilling mud.
• the quat/urea biocide is present in the well drilling mud in an amount from about 0.1 to about 0.5% by weight of the well drilling mud.
• a method for lubricating an oil well comprises feeding an oil well drilling mud, such as embodiments described hereinabove, into an oil well.
• the method may further comprise drilling the well while the oil well drilling mud comprising the quat/urea biocide is in the well.
• a petroleum deposit includes petroleum in liquid phase; a wide variety of various organic compounds that are the product of degradation and interaction of organic matter; and other hydrocarbon byproducts of such degradation.
• the foregoing components exist in solid, liquid and gas phase, and include various organic gases (methane, ethane, propane, etc.) which have the effect of pressurizing the well.
• Drilling a well involves determining the likely location of a petroleum deposit; drilling often great distances until the deposit is tapped; installing the equipment necessary to recover the deposit (pipes, valves, etc.) into the well to retrieve the components of the deposit.
• the petroleum deposit is under pressure such that the deposit can be readily retrieved.
• Secondary oil recovery involves recovering oil from formerly active wells that have “died,” that is, wells in which a portion of the crude oil, and the natural gas and other components that typically are found in petroleum wells, and that “pressurized” the well, have been removed.
• recovery fluid essentially water
• biocides to prevent growth and build up of microbes
• surfactants have been introduced into the well
• a method of secondary oil recovery comprises feeding a recovery fluid into an oil well and then removing a mixture of the recovery fluid and oil from the oil well.
• the recovery fluid comprises a quat/urea biocide such as embodiments described herein.
• the quat/urea biocide reduces, eliminates and/or prevents the presence of biocontaminants in the well.
• the recovery fluid comprises a carrier fluid and a quat/urea biocide.
• Suitable carrier fluid comprises a liquid such as water or the like.
• the quat/urea biocide is present in the recovery fluid in an amount such that the one or more quats are present in the recovery fluid in an amount from about 800 ppm to about 1600 ppm.
• the method of secondary oil recovery comprises feeding a recovery fluid comprising the quat/urea into an oil well wherein the oil recovery fluid reaches a temperature within the oil well is from about 5 to about 100° C., or from about 20 to about 80° C., or from about 30 to about 50° C.
• the relatively low surface tension of some embodiments of this invention may allow the quat/urea biocide to penetrate cracks and crevices in well drilling equipment and to penetrate through a thicker layer of biocontamination that may be present on surfaces of well drilling equipment and materials.
• such embodiments may provide more thorough decontamination than biocides having higher surface tension.
• the exact components of the recovery fluid may depend on the acidity of the surrounding soil. Because quat is cationic in aqueous solution, the amount of quat/urea biocide in the recovery fluid may need to be adjusted to compensate for any quat that reacts with the soil.
• Conduits such as pipes carry liquids such as water and the like may become contaminated with pathogens such as bacteria, virus, fungus, yeast, mold, algae, and the like.
• pathogens such as bacteria, virus, fungus, yeast, mold, algae, and the like.
• the micro organisms may then start producing thin fibers and extracellular glycocalyx that attract nutrients from the environment and any organic matter in fluid flowing through the conduit.
• Such microorganisms may multiply and form colonies on the interior surface of the conduit thereby forming what may be referred to as a biofilm.
• Biofilm may comprise mineral particles, a variety of microorganisms, and a network of slime or glycocalyx that binds the microorganisms and particles together. Portions of biofilm that sloth off at intervals can spread the microorganisms to distant locations within conduits or pipelines connected to the contaminated conduit.
• a method for controlling, eliminating, or preventing biofilm in a conduit comprising contacting at least a portion of an interior surface of a conduit with an aqueous quat/urea biocide composition such as embodiments described hereinabove.
• the method of controlling, preventing, or eliminating biofilm in a conduit comprises flushing at least a portion of the conduit with an aqueous quat/urea composition comprising water a quat/urea biocide such as embodiments described herein above.
• a quat/urea biocide may be present in the aqueous biocide solution in an amount from about 0.001 to about 2 percent by weight of the aqueous solution or about 0.01 to about 2 percent by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.1 to about 2 percent by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.5 to about 1 percent by weight of the aqueous solution.
• the one or more quats are present in the aqueous biocide solution in a concentration in a range of about 4 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 40 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 400 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 2000 ppm to about 4000 ppm.
• the step of flushing the conduit may include flushing at least a portion of an interior surface of the conduit with the aqueous quat/urea biocide at a temperature from about ⁇ 3 to about 100° C., about 15 to about 100° C., or 55 to about 100° C., or 65 to about 100° C., or 80 to about 100° C., about 80° C.
• the quat/urea biocide aqueous solution is able to penetrate biofilm due to the low surface tension of the aqueous solution and destroy contamination sources that are protected by components of the biofilm such as polymers or polysaccharides.
• Shrimp farms are also subject to infection such as virus, bacteria, fungus, and the like.
• viruses that infect shrimp farms include baculovirus, parvovirus, and nodavirus.
• Bacteria which tend to cause problems in shrimp farm include vibrio genus, gram negative bacillus, mobile, pseudomonas, filamentous bacteria of the leucotrix genus.
• Protozoa such as gregarinas and microsporidies also cause problems in shrimp farms.
• Rickettsia are inferior microorganisms that can infect shrimp.
• Fungi known to attack shrimp farms include atkinsiella, pythium, lagaridium, fusarium, and sircipidium. Such infections can diminish shrimp production in shrimp farms. Thus, there is a need for shrimp farm pathogen treatment that does not harm shrimp.
• a method of treating a shrimp farm comprises applying an aqueous solution quat/urea biocide solution as described herein above to a shrimp breeding area.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of a quat/urea biocide, wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 1200 ppm, at a rate of about 1 liter of the aqueous biocide solution per 4 to about 15 m 2 of breeding area or breeding equipment.
• the quat/urea biocide is present in the aqueous solution such that the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 400 ppm to about 800 ppm in the aqueous solution and the aqueous solution is applied at a rate of about 1 liter of aqueous biocide solution per about 4 to about 15 m 2 of breeding area or equipment area.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide to a soil basin of a shrimp hatchery such that the quat/urea biocide is applied at a rate of about 150 grams to about 300 grams per hectare, or about 232 grams per hectare.
• a method of creating a shrimp farm comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide to the soil basin before the area is seeded with shrimp larvae.
• a method of treating a shrimp farm comprises applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide that is described hereinabove to a basin liner, such as a polymer liner, the quat/urea biocide solution comprising one or more quats in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 1200 ppm, or from about 400 ppm to about 800 ppm, and applied at a rate of about 1 liter of aqueous biocide solution per 4 to about 15 m 2 .
• a method of treating a shrimp farm comprises applying an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to water in a shrimp hatchery at a rate of about 75 to about 200 grams per hectare, or about 100 to about 150 grams per hectare, or 118 to 145 grams per hectare.
• shrimp eggs or larvae are added to the shrimp hatchery at least 24 hours after treatment of the hatchery with the quat/urea biocide solution.
• treatment of shrimp farms may comprise application of the above described quat/urea biocide to discarded shrimp larvae, cool rooms, employee hands, worker foot baths, equipment such as containers, hoses, nets, tanks, pipes, filters, and the like, drains, feed preparation utensils such as knives, tables, mixers and pelletizers, and shrimp transport vehicles by applying to such areas an aqueous solution of quat/urea biocide comprising one or more quats in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 1200 ppm, or about 400 ppm to about 800 ppm, and applied at a rate of about 1 liter of aqueous biocide solution per 4 to 15 m 2 of area.
• such applications can be implemented by immersion, spraying, rinsing, fogging, and the like.
• Disinfection of tanks, piping systems, filters, and the like comprises contacting such items with the quat/urea biocide aqueous solution, without rinsing, and allowing the solution to contact the treated area for at least about 24 hours then allowing the treated area to dry for about five days.
• Table 8 Methods of application to shrimp farms according to certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in Table 8.
• the application information in Table 8 is for a quat/urea biocide used comprising 60% by weight urea and 40% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds in which 60% of the alkyl chains are C 14 H 29 , 30% of the alkyl chains are C 16 H 33 , 5% of the alkyl chains are C 12 H 25 , and 5% of the alkyl chains are C 18 H 37 .
• the quat/urea biocide is mixed with water and applied as an aqueous solution. Concentration in ppm means amount of quat in aqueous solution.
• a method of treating a fish tank comprises applying an aqueous solution quat/urea biocide solution as described herein above to the fish tank.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of a quat/urea biocide, wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 1200 ppm, or about 400 ppm, to the fish tank before fish are added and then rinsing the tank.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of a quat/urea biocide to live fish in a tank, wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 0.5 ppm to about 1 ppm.
• the live fish may be treated with the aqueous solution for about 1 hour on each of 3 consecutive days or on alternate days for 6 days.
• Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae are typical contaminants in fabrication of paper. When recycled paper is used to make paper, there may be even more contamination because some recycled paper material is further contaminated with microorganisms. Microorganisms may cause serious problems during pulp handling, paper making and converting operations. Thus, there is a need to control, reduce, or eliminate microorganisms from paper pulp and paper such that one may produce a better quality product, reduce the number of rejected number of products, reduce the number of loses, reduce loss time and/or save machinery costs.
• a method for making paper comprises adding to paper pulp a quat/urea biocide such as that described hereinabove.
• the method comprises applying the quat/urea biocide to paper pulp in an amount wherein the one or more quats are present in the paper pulp in an amount from about 1 ppm to about 100 ppm, or about 10 ppm to about 75 ppm, or about 15 ppm to about 50 ppm, or about 25 ppm.
• a method for making paper comprises adding to paper pulp a quat urea biocide, wherein the temperature of the paper pulp is from about 10 to about 60° C., or about 15 to about 45° C.
• a method of disinfecting paper manufacturing equipment comprises applying to the paper manufacturing equipment an aqueous solution of a quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of the quat/urea biocide wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 1200 ppm at a rate of about 1 liter of the aqueous biocide solution to about 4 to about 15 m 2 of equipment area.
• the step of applying the aqueous quat/urea biocide solution comprises applying solution to the paper making equipment.
• a method for controlling pathogens on an animal comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution having a composition according to embodiments described hereinabove to the skin or hair of the animal or both.
• the aqueous biocide solution may have a temperature from about 15° C. to about 40° C., or about 25° C. to about 40° C., or about 35° C. to about 40° C. during the step of applying the biocide solution to the animal.
• the quat/urea biocide may be present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution or about 0.01 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.5 to about 1% by weight of the aqueous solution. Therefore, according to particular embodiments, the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in a concentration in a range of about 4 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 40 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 400 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 2000 ppm to about 4000 ppm.
• the step of applying the aqueous biocide may comprise immersion, spraying, rinsing, drenching, and the like.
• the urea present in the biocide may also reduce chapping of the animal's skin.
• the frequency of application to the animal may range from once every week, or once every month, or once every 3 months due to its residual action.
• the method for a method for controlling pathogens on an animal comprises washing the animal with a cleanser, such as soap or shampoo or the like, and thereafter applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution having a composition according to embodiments described hereinabove to the skin or hair of the animal or both.
• the aqueous biocide solution may be effective to treat fungus and eczema of the skin and feathers and/or may make animal coats or feathers shiny and healthy. Furthermore, according to certain embodiments, the aqueous biocide solution may be effective to control sweat odor and reduce exposure to fleas, flies, and other insects.
• a method for sanitizing cow udders comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution having a composition according to embodiments described hereinabove to the cow udder.
• This treatment may be effective to prevent mastitis.
• the aqueous biocide solution may have a temperature from about 15° C. to about 40° C., or about 25° C. to about 40° C., or about 35° C. to about 40° C. during the step of applying the biocide solution to the animal.
• the quat/urea biocide may be present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution or about 0.01 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of the aqueous solution, or about 0.5 to about 1% by weight of the aqueous solution. Therefore, according to particular embodiments, the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in a concentration in a range of about 4 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 40 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 400 ppm to about 8000 ppm, or about 2000 ppm to about 4000 ppm.
• the step of applying the aqueous biocide may comprise immersion, spraying, rinsing, drenching, and the like.
• the urea present in the biocide may also reduce chapping of the udder.
• the frequency of application to the udder may range from once every day or once every week due to its residual action.
• a method for sanitizing cow milking equipment comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution having a composition according to embodiments described hereinabove to the cow milking equipment.
• the aqueous biocide solution may be applied to the cow milking equipment in the same manner as to the cow udder.
• Equipment to be treated may include, but is not limited to the rubber milking tips and the milking cans.
• a method for sanitizing a dairy plant comprises applying an aqueous quat/urea biocide solution having a composition according to embodiments described hereinabove to the diary handling equipment.
• the aqueous biocide solution may be applied to dairy equipment including but not limited to pipelines, tanks, valves, and the like to reduce, prevent, or eliminate bacteria, fungus, especially lactus bacillus, and other biological contamination. Some bacterial contamination, like lactus bacillus, is difficult to control due to formation of calcium stones, called milk stones, in diary processing equipment.
• the aqueous biocide solution may be applied to dairy equipment along with a non-ionic detergent for removing the calcium stones without damaging the equipments surfaces such as the pipe surfaces.
• swimming pools are also subject to infection such as virus, bacteria, fungus, algae, and the like. Thus, there is a need for swimming pool pathogen treatment that does not harm humans.
• a method of treating a swimming pool comprises applying an aqueous solution quat/urea biocide solution as described hereinabove to swimming pool surfaces, water in a swimming pool and/or equipment operatively associated with the swimming pool.
• the method comprises applying an aqueous solution of a quat/urea biocide to swimming pool surfaces or swimming pool equipment surfaces, at a rate of about 1 liter of the aqueous biocide solution per 4 to about 15 m 2 of swimming pool area or associated equipment area, wherein the one or more quats are present in the aqueous solution in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 1200 ppm, or from about 200 ppm to about 600 ppm, or at about 400 ppm.
• treatment of swimming pools may comprise application of the above described quat/urea biocide to equipment such as containers, hoses, nets, tanks, pipes, filters, drains and the like.
• such applications can be implemented by immersion, spraying, rinsing, fogging, and the like.
• Disinfection of tanks, piping systems, filters, and the like comprises contacting such items with the quat/urea biocide aqueous solution, without rinsing, and allowing the solution to contact the treated area for at least about 24 hours then allowing the treated area to dry for about five days.
• a method of treating a swimming pool comprises adding the quat/urea biocide as described hereinabove to water in a swimming pool such that the one or more quats are present in aqueous solution in the swimming pool water in an amount from about 1 ppm to about 3 ppm.
• the pH of the water may range from 3 to 11, but may be less cloudy at more neutral pH.
• the quat/urea biocide comprises 60% by weight urea and 40% by weight quaternary ammonium compounds in which 60% of the alkyl chains are C 14 H 29 , 30% of the alkyl chains are C 16 H 33 , 5% of the alkyl chains are C 12 H 25 , and 5% of the alkyl chains are C 18 H 37 .
• the quat/urea biocide is mixed with water and applied as an aqueous solution. Concentration in ppm means amount of quat in aqueous solution.
• the foregoing biocide solution is preferably applied without blending or mixing the biocide solution with other products.
• the biocide solution should not be mixed with anionic products, since the anions would react with cationic components of the solution.
• a biocide composition is prepared using a batch process. 400 lbs of alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides in which 60% of the alkyl chains are C 14 H 29 , 30% of the alkyl chains are C 16 H 33 , 5% of the alkyl chains are C 12 H 25 , and 5% of the alkyl chains are C 18 H 37 is combined with 100 lbs of ethylene glycol to create a quat mixture. The quat mixture is gradually heated to a temperature of about 50° C. until substantially all water is evaporated from the quat. Separately, 600 lbs of pharmaceutical grade urea is heated to about 100° C. until substantially all water is evaporated from the urea.
• the heated quat mixture is then sprayed over heated urea and mixed with the urea to form a quat/urea biocide mixture with a paste-like consistency.
• the quat/urea biocide mixture is dried to remove the solvent and create a biocide composition, and the biocide composition is forced through a screen to granulate the biocide.
• the quat/urea biocide is then packaged in drums to protect the granules from moisture.
• a quat/urea biocide composition prepared using the process described in Example 1 was mixed with water to prepare 9,954 liters of aqueous solution with 200 ppm quat/urea biocide.
• the quat/urea biocide solution was heated to about 60° C. and placed in a scalding tank, and 2000 chicken carcasses were treated in the tank over a 20 minute period, each carcass having a residence time of about 3 minutes in the tank. The process was then repeated with no biocide in the scalding tank.
• the chicken carcasses that had been scalded in the tank containing the quat/urea biocide had a normal odor and a pink color after 12 days of display.
• the chicken carcasses that had been scalded without biocide had a pale color and strong odor after 5 days of display, and a brown color and “stench” odor after 7 days of display.

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