Anti-microbial compositions and related methods of treating foodstuffs and surfaces

Abstract

The present disclosure provides compositions for antimicrobial use comprising a mineral acid, an organic acid, or a combination thereof a copper(II) salt; and a buffering salt, a detergent, or a combination thereof. The present disclosure also provides methods for reducing the number of pathogens on a surface by applying compositions of the present disclosure to the surface.

1 . A composition comprising:
 a mineral acid and an organic acid;   a copper(II) salt; and   a buffering salt, a detergent, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the copper(II) salt is copper (II) sulfate. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the copper(II) salt concentration is between about 1 ppm and about 100 ppm, between about 1 ppm and about 80 ppm, or between about 1 ppm and about 60 ppm. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the copper(II) salt concentration is between about 10 ppm and about 50 ppm. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the copper(II) salt concentration is between about 20 ppm and about 45 ppm. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral acid is sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the organic acid is citric acid, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, peracetic acid, propionic acid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising a buffering salt wherein the buffering salt is ammonium sulfate, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, calcium sulfate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the buffering salt concentration is between 0.01 and 0.5 percent. 
     
     
         10 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising a detergent wherein the detergent comprises dodecyl sulfate, n-alkylbenzene dodecyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, a polysorbate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising a detergent wherein the detergent comprises an alkyl polyglycoside. 
     
     
         15 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the composition is between about 1 and about 7. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is between 1.6 and 6.5. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is between 2.1 and 6.5. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is between 1.6 and 3.5. 
     
     
         23 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of reducing the number of pathogens on a surface or in a volume of a liquid food product comprising applying the composition of  claim 1  to the surface or adding the composition to the volume of the liquid food product. 
     
     
         27 .- 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic acid is citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral acid is sulfuric acid. 
     
     
         57 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral acid is present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 1 wt. %. 
     
     
         58 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic acid is present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 3 wt. %.