Peracetic acid composition

Abstract

The invention relates to anti-microbial compositons useful against a wide range of microoganisms undesirable on a wide variety of materials, including food, food contact and non-food contact surfaces, and surfaces in industrial, recreational, health care, and other institutional environments. More particularly, the anit-microbial compositions comprise peracetic acid in combination with a)citric acid or a salt and b) salicyclic acid or a slat in aqueous solution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising, in aqueous solution,
 a. an aqueous peracetic acid solution; and   b. an adjuvant comprising (i) salicylic acid or a salt thereof and (ii) citric acid or a salt thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the salicylic acid and citric acid or their respective salts are dissolved to their solubility limits and in proportionate weight ratios ranging from about 1:5 or 1:1 respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  further comprising one or more stabilizing agents, wetting agents, hydrotopes, thickeners, foaming agents, acidifiers, pigments, dyes, surfactants, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the surfactant consists of one or more anionic or nonionic surfactants in concentrations up to 2% selected from the group consisting of polyoxylene (C 20  to C 80 ) sorbitan monooleates, alklyl long chain fatty acid (C 5  to C 20 ) metallic esters and alcohols; and alkylbenzenesulfonic acids and alcohols and/or their metallic ester salts having alkyl groups ranging from C 2  to C 20 . 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the salicylate salt or salicylic acid and citric acid compounds are in proportionate weight ratios ranging from 1:5 to 1:1 respectively, in a solution matrix of glacial acetic acid (70-90%) and water (30-5%). 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the salicylic acid or salt thereof is sodium salicylate and the citric acid or salt thereof is citric acid. 
     
     
         7 . A kit comprising
 a. an aqueous peracetic acid solution; and   b. an adjuvant comprising (i) salicylic acid or a salt thereof and (ii) citric acid or a salt thereof.   
     
     
         8 . A method of reducing microbial contamination comprising applying the composition of  claim 1  to a surface in an amount and for a time sufficient to reduce the microbial contamination. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the surface is meat, poultry, seafood, or a portion thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the surface is a plant material (leaf, stalk, flower, fruit, vegetable, or portion thereof). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the surface is a non-food contact surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising recovering the applied composition and reprocessing the recovered composition to yield a recycled anti-microbial composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the peracetic acid is present at end use concentrations ranging to 1%. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the salicylic acid or salt thereof is present at up to 20000 ppm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the citric acid is present up to 20000 ppm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the end use concentrations of the composition have pH values between 1 and 4.5.