Aluminum-compatible compositions for 2-part alkaline disinfectants and sanitizers

Abstract

Alkaline in-use solutions that may be used to disinfect and/or sanitize hard surfaces and which may act as anti-biofilm agents, comprise a disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution and an activator solution that are mixed together to form the alkaline in-use solutions. Disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution may comprise quaternary ammonium compound and hydrogen peroxide. Activator solution may comprise alkaline buffering agent, chelating agent and soluble silicon dioxide.

I claim/we claim: 
     
         1 . An alkaline in-use solution comprising:
 (a) a disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution comprising quaternary ammonium compound and hydrogen peroxide; and   (b) an activator solution comprising alkaline buffering agent, chelating agent and soluble silicon dioxide, wherein the soluble silicon dioxide is present in the activator solution at a weight percentage of the solution of from about 0.1% to about 1% and wherein the pH of the activator solution is from about 8 to about 14;   
       wherein the alkaline in-use solution comprises disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution and activator solution that are mixed together to form the alkaline in-use alkaline solution. 
     
     
         2 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline in-use solution acts a biofilm removal agent. 
     
     
         3 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 1 , wherein a source of the soluble silicon dioxide in the activator solution is selected from the group of: sodium silicate, potassium silicate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 3 , wherein the sodium silicate is selected from the group of: sodium metasilicate pentahydrate, anhydrous sodium metasilicate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 4 , wherein the sodium silicate is sodium metasilicate pentahydrate and is present in the activator solution at a weight percentage of the solution of from about 0.35% to about 3.5%. 
     
     
         6 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 4 , wherein the sodium silicate is anhydrous sodium metasilicate and is present in the activator solution at a weight percentage of the solution of from about 0.22% to about 2.2%. 
     
     
         7 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 3 , wherein the potassium silicate is selected from the group of: potassium metasilicate, anhydrous potassium metasilicate, potassium silicate solution, spray-dried hydrous potassium silicate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The alkaline in-use alkaline solution of  claim 1 , wherein the disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution and the activator solution are mixed together in a ratio of about 1:1 (v/v). 
     
     
         9 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline in-use solution further comprises water and the disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution, activator solution and water are mixed together at a ratio of from about 1:1:1 to about 1:1:20 (v/v/v), to form the alkaline in-use solution. 
     
     
         10 . The alkaline in-use alkaline solution of  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline in-use solution further comprises water and the disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution, activator solution and water are mixed together at a ratio of from about 1:1:64 to about 1:1:128 (v/v/v), to form the alkaline in-use alkaline solution. 
     
     
         11 . An in-use alkaline disinfectant and/or sanitizer solution prepared by mixing with water:
 (a) a disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution comprising quaternary ammonium compound and hydrogen peroxide; and   (b) an activator solution comprising alkaline buffering agent, chelating agent and soluble silicon dioxide, wherein the soluble silicon dioxide is present in the activator solution at a weight percentage of the solution of from about 0.1% to about 1% and wherein the pH of the activator solution is from about 8 to about 14;   
       wherein the in-use alkaline disinfectant and/or sanitizer solution has no loss of disinfectant efficacy and/or sanitizer efficacy when compared to an in-use solution comprising the same components minus soluble silicon dioxide. 
     
     
         12 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 11 , wherein a source of the soluble silicon dioxide in the activator solution is selected from the group of: sodium silicate, potassium silicate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 12 , wherein the sodium silicate is selected from the group of: sodium metasilicate pentahydrate, anhydrous sodium metasilicate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 13 , wherein the sodium silicate is sodium metasilicate pentahydrate and is present in the activator solution at a weight percentage of the solution of from about 0.35% to about 3.5%. 
     
     
         15 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 13 , wherein the sodium silicate is anhydrous sodium metasilicate and is present in the activator solution at a weight percentage of the solution of from about 0.22% to about 2.2%. 
     
     
         16 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 12 , wherein the potassium silicate is selected from the group of: potassium metasilicate, anhydrous potassium metasilicate, potassium silicate solution, spray-dried hydrous potassium silicate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The alkaline in-use alkaline solution of  claim 11 , wherein the disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution and the activator solution are mixed together in a ratio of about 1:1 (v/v). 
     
     
         18 . The alkaline in-use solution of  claim 11 , wherein the alkaline in-use solution further comprises water and the disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution, activator solution and water are mixed together at a ratio of from about 1:1:1 to about 1:1:20 (v/v/v), to form the alkaline in-use solution. 
     
     
         19 . The alkaline in-use alkaline solution of  claim 11 , wherein the alkaline in-use solution further comprises water and the disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution, activator solution and water are mixed together at a ratio of from about 1:1:64 to about 1:1:128 (v/v/v), to form the alkaline in-use alkaline solution. 
     
     
         20 . An alkaline in-use alkaline solution comprising:
 (a) a disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution comprising quaternary ammonium compound and hydrogen peroxide; and   (b) an activator solution consisting of by weight percentage of the activator solution:   1. from about 3% to about 8% sodium carbonate;   2. from about 3% to about 8% potassium carbonate;   3. from about 3% to about 8% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; and   4. from about 0.1% to about 1% SiO 2 ;   
       wherein the alkaline in-use solution comprises disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution and activator solution that are mixed together to form the alkaline in-use alkaline solution. 
     
     
         21 . The alkaline in-use alkaline solution of  claim 20 , wherein the alkaline in-use solution further comprises water and the disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution, activator solution and water are mixed together at a ratio of from about 1:1:1 to about 1:1:20 (v/v/v), to form the alkaline in-use alkaline solution. 
     
     
         22 . The alkaline in-use alkaline solution of  claim 21 , wherein the alkaline in-use solution further comprises water and the disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution, activator solution and water are mixed together at a ratio of from about 1:1:64 to about 1:1:128 (v/v/v), to form the alkaline in-use alkaline solution. 
     
     
         23 . A method of disinfecting and/or sanitizing a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming an alkaline in-use solution by combining:   1. a disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution comprising quaternary ammonium compound and hydrogen peroxide; and   2. an activator solution comprising alkaline buffering agent, chelating agent and soluble silicon dioxide, wherein the soluble silicon dioxide is present in the activator solution at a weight percentage of the solution of from about 0.1% to about 1% and wherein the pH of the activator solution is from about 8 to about 14;   (b) applying the in-use solution to the substrate.   
     
     
         24 . The method of disinfecting and/or sanitizing a substrate, the method comprising making the disinfectant/sanitizer cleaner solution by mixing a powder comprising quaternary ammonium compound and hydrogen peroxide source with water.