Antimicrobial compositions and methods of use thereof

Abstract

Aspects relate to an aqueous composition for use on produce. The aqueous composition includes an acid, an organic diol, and an oxidizing agent in the form of chlorine, wherein the aqueous composition has acidic pH and has antimicrobial activity.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An aqueous composition for use on produce, the aqueous composition comprising:
 an acid;   an organic diol; and   an oxidizing agent in the form of chlorine,   wherein the aqueous composition has acidic pH and has antimicrobial activity.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of said acid alone and said organic diol alone has lower antimicrobial activity compared to antimicrobial activity of a combination of said acid, said organic diol, and chlorine. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises from 0.001 wgt. % to 40 wgt. % of said acid. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises from 0.001 wgt. % to 5 wgt. % of said organic diol. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises from 0.001 wgt. % to 30 wgt. % of said oxidizing agent. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises from 0.001 wgt. % to 0.1 wgt. % of said surfactant. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is at a temperature from below said composition's freezing temperature to 120 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein antimicrobial activity of (a) said acid, (b) said organic diol, (c) said oxidizing agent, (d) a combination of said acid and of said organic diol, (e) a combination of said acid and of said oxidizing agent, and (f) a combination of said organic diol and of said oxidizing agent, is lower than antimicrobial activity of a combination of said acid, of said organic diol, and of said oxidizing agent. 
     
     
         10 . An agricultural product having a surface film that comprises:
 an acid that does not contain an —NH group and an —NH.sub.2 group;   an organic diol; and   an oxidizing agent in the form of chlorine.   
     
     
         11 . A method for making an aqueous antimicrobial composition, the method comprising:
 providing an acid that does not contain an —NH group and an —NH.sub.2 group;   providing an organic diol;   providing an oxidizing agent in the form of chlorine; and   mixing said acid, said diol, and said oxidizing agent in water to produce an aqueous antimicrobial composition.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 mixing a surfactant in said aqueous antimicrobial composition.   
     
     
         13 . A method for making an aqueous antimicrobial composition, the method comprising:
 providing an acid;   providing an organic diol;   providing an oxidizing agent in the form of chlorine;   mixing said acid and said diol in water to produce a first mixture; and   mixing said oxidizing agent with said first mixture to produce an aqueous antimicrobial composition.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 mixing a surfactant in said aqueous antimicrobial composition.   
     
     
         15 . A method for reducing the number of microbes on a surface, the method comprising:
 providing a first surface comprising a first number of microbes   providing an antimicrobially effective amount of an aqueous antimicrobial composition that includes an acid, an organic diol, and an oxidizing agent in the form of chlorine; and   contacting said first surface with said aqueous antimicrobial composition under conditions that produce a contacted surface comprising a reduced number of said microbes compared to said first number of said microbes on said first surface in the absence of said contacting.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said first surface comprises:
 a pathogenic microbe and a non-pathogenic microbe, and said reduced number of said microbes comprises a greater reduction in the number of said pathogenic microbe than in the number of said non-pathogenic microbe.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 drying said contacted surface to produce a dried surface comprising one or more of said acid, said organic diol, and said oxidizing agent.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 washing said contacted surface under conditions that reduce the amount of one or more of said acid, of said organic diol, and of said oxidizing agent on said contacted surface.   
     
     
         19 . A method for reducing discoloration of an agricultural product, comprising:
 providing an agricultural product having a first surface;   providing an anti-discoloration effective amount of an aqueous antimicrobial composition that includes an acid, an organic diol, and an oxidizing agent in the form of chlorine; and   contacting said agricultural product with said aqueous antimicrobial composition under conditions that produce a contacted surface having reduced discoloration compared to discoloration of said first surface in the absence of said contacting.