Sprayable, Aqueous Alcoholic Microbicidal Compositions Comprising Zinc Ions

Abstract

Disclosed are pressurized surface treatment compositions which impart a microbicidal benefit to treated surfaces which compositions comprise (or in certain preferred embodiments may consist essentially of, or may consist of): a zinc ion source material which releases zinc ions into the treatment composition, preferably a source of Zn++ ions, at least lower alkyl aliphatic monohydric alcohol which independently of other constituents present exhibits a microbicidal effect, a propellant; and, water. The compositions may further optionally include one or more further optional constituents such as a detersive surfactant and/or minor amounts of one or more constituents which impart one or more advantageous technical or aesthetic benefits to the compositions, including one or more detersive surfactants wherein the compositions have pH of at least 5. The compositions exhibit a microbicidal or germicidal or antimicrobial effect on treated inanimate surfaces and are characterized in exhibiting a microbicidal benefit when tested against one or more challenge microorganisms, preferably against poliovirus type 1 (Sabin) [“PV1”], according to one or more of the following standardized test protocols: ASTM E1052 Standard Test Method for Efficacy of Antimicrobial Agents against Viruses in Suspension, or ASTM E1053 Standard Test Method to Assess Virucidal Activity of Chemicals Intended for Disinfection of Inanimate, Nonporous Environmental Surfaces, or European Standard Surface Test, EN13697, or AOAC Germicidal Spray Products as Disinfectant Test Method, AOAC Index, 17th Ed. (2000).

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         12 . A method of producing an inanimate surface treatment composition which imparts a microbicidal benefit to treated surfaces, the method comprising:
 supplying room temperature water to a vessel equipped with a stirrer;   adding a zinc ion source material to the water and stirring until dissolved to produce a zinc ion solution;   adjusting the pH of the zinc solution to a pH ranging between about 8 and about 11 with a pH adjusting constituent and stirring until homogeneous to produce a pH solution;   adding a lower alkyl aliphatic monohydric alcohol to the pH solution in an amount not in excess of 40% wt of the inanimate surface treatment composition;   adding any auxiliary constituents and, if necessary, additional pH adjusting constituent to maintain the pH between about 8 and about 11;   adding water to bring a final weight of the inanimate surface treatment composition to 100% wt and stirring until homogeneous to produce the inanimate surface treatment composition.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the zinc ion source is zinc acetate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the zinc ion source is zinc sulfate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lower alkyl aliphatic monohydric alcohol is ethanol. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lower alkyl aliphatic monohydric alcohol is present in an amount in excess of 0% wt and up to but excluding 20% wt of the inanimate surface treatment composition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the lower alkyl aliphatic monohydric alcohol is ethanol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pH adjusting constituent is an alkanolamine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the alkanolamine is ethanolamine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary constituent comprises a detersive surfactant, other than a quaternary ammonium surfactant compound 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the detersive surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a quaternary ammonium surfactant compound is not present in the inanimate surface treatment composition. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising adding a quaternary ammonium surfactant compound to the zinc ion solution to produce a zinc ion/quat solution and adding the pH adjusting constituent to the zinc ion/quat solution. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the quaternary ammonium surfactant compound is an alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the quaternary ammonium surfactant compound is an alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 12 , further adding 80-99.5 parts by weight of the inanimate surface treatment composition and 0.5-20 parts by weight of a propellant to an aerosol container. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further adding 80-99.5 parts by weight of the inanimate surface treatment composition and 0.5-20 parts by weight of a propellant to an aerosol container.