Mixed fatty acid soap/fatty acid based insecticidal, cleaning, and antimicrobial compositions

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to compositions including a fatty acid soap/fatty acid mixture, and methods of use thereof. The compositions include a C5 to C12 fatty acid or mixtures thereof. The compositions show increased activity, e.g., insecticidal, soil removal, antimicrobial activity, at a controlled pH range of about 7.5 to about 9.0.

1 . An insecticidal composition comprising:
 (a) a fatty acid;   (b) a neutralizer;   (c) a buffer; and   (d) a carrier, wherein the composition has a pH of about 7.5 to about 9.0.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid comprises a branched or straight chain C5 to C12 fatty acid 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, lauric acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the neutralizer comprises an alkali metal hydroxide. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the neutralizer is selected from an amine, an alkanolamine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer is selected from a weak acid, a weak base, an ampholyte buffering agent, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer is selected from citrate, citric acid, a bicarbonate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises water. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises:
 (a) about 1.0 wt % to about 10 wt % of the fatty acid;   (b) about 1.0 wt % to about 10 wt % of the neutralizer;   (c) about 0.1 to about 1.0% of the buffer; and   (d) at least about 80 wt % of the carrier.   
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a thickening agent selected from xanthan gum, guar gum, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, clay thickener, betonite, carboxylmethyl ether cellulose, kaolin, soy protein and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional ingredient selected from an insecticide, an essential oil, 2-phenyl ethyl propionate, a residual insecticide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pH is about 8.0 to about 8.5. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid comprises decanoic acid, and the neutralizing agent comprises potassium hydroxide. 
     
     
         15 . A method for eliminating insects comprising applying to the insects or an area inhabited by the insects an insecticidal composition comprising:
 (a) a fatty acid;   (b) a neutralizer;   (c) a buffer; and   (d) a carrier, wherein the composition has a pH of about 7.5 to about 9.0.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fatty acid comprises a branched or straight chain C5 to C12 fatty acid 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, lauric acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the neutralizer comprises an alkali metal hydroxide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the neutralizer is selected from an amine, an alkanolamine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the buffer is selected from a weak acid, a weak base, an amphoteric buffering agent, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the buffer is selected from citrate, citric acid, a bicarbonate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the carrier comprises water. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the composition comprises:
 (a) about 1.0 wt % to about 10 wt % of the fatty acid;   (b) about 1.0 wt % to about 10 wt % of the neutralizer;   (c) about 0.1 to about 1.0% of the buffer; and   (d) at least about 80 wt % of the carrier.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising a thickening agent selected from xanthan gum, guar gum, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, clay thickener, betonite, carboxylmethyl ether cellulose, kaolin, soy protein and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising an additional ingredient selected from an insecticide, an essential oil, 2-phenyl ethyl propionate, a residual insecticide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pH is about 8.0 to about 8.5. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fatty acid comprises decanoic acid, and the neutralizing agent comprises potassium hydroxide 
     
     
         29 . A method of reducing a population of microorganism on an object, said method comprising applying a composition comprising (a) a fatty acid; (b) a neutralizer; (c) a buffer; and (d) a carrier, to the object, wherein the composition has a pH of about 7.5 to about 9.0. 
     
     
         30 . A method of removing a food soil from a surface, said method comprising applying a composition comprising (a) a fatty acid; (b) a neutralizer; (c) a buffer; and (d) a carrier, to the surface, wherein the composition has a pH of about 7.5 to about 9.0.