Antimicrobial composition

Abstract

An antimicrobial composition is provided that comprises about 10.0 to about 40.0 wt. % of one or more C1-8 alcohols, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition; and two or more of a surfactant; an enhancer; and a buffer. The pH of the composition is less than or equal to about 6.0 and the composition achieves a microbial log reduction of greater than 4.0 log CFU/ml at a contact time of 1 minute, in accordance ASTM E2783.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antimicrobial composition comprising:
 from greater than 15 to less than 40 wt. % of one or more C 1-8  alcohols;   one or more surfactants;   one or more enhancers; and   one or more buffers,   wherein the total concentration of the enhancers and the buffers collectively is from greater than 0.75 to 3 wt. %,   wherein the pH of the antimicrobial composition is less than 5, and   wherein each wt. % is based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.   
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is devoid of auxiliary antimicrobial agents. 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pH of the antimicrobial composition from 3 to less than 5. 
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from greater than 20 to less than 35 wt. % of the one or more C 1-8  alcohols, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. 
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.05 to 15 wt. % of the one or more surfactants, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. 
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactants comprise one or more amphoteric surfactants. 
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 6 , wherein the surfactants comprise one or more amine oxide surfactants. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 7 , wherein the amine oxide surfactants comprise lauramine oxide. 
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 6 , wherein the surfactants comprise one or more betaine surfactants. 
     
     
         10 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 9 , wherein the betaine surfactants comprise cocamidopropyl betaine. 
     
     
         11 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more buffers comprise one or more organic acids, salts of organic acids, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more buffers comprise citric acid, lactic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, caproic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, benzoic acid, malic acid, valeric acid, carbonic acid, uric acid, the salts thereof, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.4 to 2.5 wt. % of the one or more buffers, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. 
     
     
         14 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein one or more enhancers comprise one or more of sorbic acid, sorbate compounds, benzoic acid, benzoate compounds, sulphur dioxide, sulphite compounds, natamycin, nitrate, nitrate compounds, salicylic acid, phenoxyethanol, thymol, cinnamaldehyde, methylparaben, propylparaben, sodium xylene sulfonate, 1,2 octane diol, 1,2 decane diol, the salts thereof, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.01 to 3 wt. % of the one or more enhancers, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. 
     
     
         16 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the total concentration of the buffer and the enhancer collectively is from 1 to 3 wt. %. 
     
     
         17 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises from 0.001 to 2.0 wt. % of one or more chelating agents, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. 
     
     
         18 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more buffers comprise one or more organic acids; and   the one or more enhancers comprise one or more salts of aromatic acids.   
     
     
         19 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is devoid of peroxide. 
     
     
         20 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial composition consists of:
 the one or more C 1-8  alcohols;   the one or more surfactants;   the one or more enhancers;   the one or more buffers; and   optionally water.   
     
     
         21 . An antimicrobial composition comprising:
 from greater than 20 to less than 40 wt. % of one or more C 1-8  alcohols;   one or more surfactants, wherein the one or more surfactants consist of amphoteric surfactants;   one or more enhancers; and   one or more buffers;   wherein the pH of the antimicrobial composition is less than 5, and   wherein each wt. % is based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.   
     
     
         22 . An antimicrobial composition comprising:
 from greater than 20 to less than 40 wt. % of one or more C 1-8  alcohols;   one or more surfactants;   one or more enhancers; and   from 0.1 to 3 wt. % of one or more buffers,   wherein the composition is devoid of auxiliary antimicrobial agents,   wherein the pH of the antimicrobial composition is less than 5, and   wherein each wt. % is based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.   
     
     
         23 . An antimicrobial composition comprising:
 from greater than 25 to less than 40 wt. % of one or more C 1-8  alcohols;   from 0.5 to 15 wt. % of two or more amphoteric surfactants;   one or more enhancers; and   one or more buffers,   wherein the total concentration of the enhancers and the buffers collectively is from greater than 0.75 to 3 wt. %,   wherein the pH of the antimicrobial composition is less than 5, and   wherein each wt. % is based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.   
     
     
         24 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 23 , wherein the surfactants comprise one or more amine oxide surfactants and one or more betaine surfactants. 
     
     
         25 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 24 , wherein the amine oxide surfactants comprise lauramine oxide. 
     
     
         26 . The antimicrobial composition of  claim 24 , wherein the betaine surfactants comprise cocamidopropyl betaine.