CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No.

62/589,775, filed on November 22, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a formulation capable of providing disinfectant, descaler, detergent, and deodorant properties. The present invention further relates to applying the formulation to an object to achieve such properties leaving substantially little residue after application.

BACKGROUND

Many conventional surface cleaners fail to effectively clean and disinfect surfaces simultaneously, especially well enough to meet the requirements of standard disinfection norms or standards. Few are actually capable of totally eliminating the source of all components on the surface that can cause infection. Conventional solutions that are capable of disinfecting a surface, fail to effectively clean the surface as well— i.e., essentially lacking any cleaning capability. Thus, few if any compositions have a combined surface cleaning and surface disinfecting capability. They have essentially no functionality beyond mediocre disinfectant control and an ability to clean the surface..

The lack of a single product that can both safely clean and disinfect surfaces has been largely due to the incompatibility or antagonistic characteristics of the active ingredients of the surface cleaners and surface disinfectants, or that the ingredients pose a negative effect with respect to safety of the environment. There remains a long-felt need in the art to provide such a solution.

The present invention overcomes the issues present in conventional solutions, and provides formulations that actually provide superior cleaning performance of surfaces as well as provide a broad spectrum of disinfecting of surfaces while, at the same time, being safe to use.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaner and disinfectant formulation capable of meeting the requirements of efficacy tests for disinfection norms or standards. The active ingredients in such a composition synergistically work to combat bacteria, yeast and fungi on an inanimate object such as a surface of the inanimate object.

An aspect of the invention provides a concentrated formulation having a short chain organic acid, an anionic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant. In an embodiment of the invention, the anionic surfactant may include an alkane sulfonic acid and an alkyl ether carboxylic acid. In still another embodiment of the invention, the formulation may additionally comprise at least one of a deodorant, a color agent, and a combination thereof. For example, a deodorant may be provided to impart the deodorizing effect to the

formulation. In certain embodiments of the invention, a concentration of the deodorizer is from about 1.2 wt% to about 4.0 wt%, and a concentration of the color agent is from about 0.004 wt% to about 0.012 wt%.

In an embodiment of the invention, the concentrated formulation may be diluted before being used as a cleaner and a disinfectant. In certain embodiments of the invention, a diluted solution may comprise from about 0.1 wt% up to about, but not quite 100 wt% of the concentrated formulation. In certain embodiments of the invention, the concentrated formulation may be combined with water, whereby the water has a concentration of from about 40 wt% to about 70 wt% to provide a four-in-one formulation having disinfectant, deodorizer, descaler and detergent properties.

In certain embodiments of the invention, alkane sulfonic acid comprises a methane sulfonic acid and a longer chain alkane sulfonic acid. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, a ratio by weight of the methane sulfonic acid to the longer chain alkane sulfonic acid ranges from about 1 :2 to about 3 :2. Still even further pursuant to this embodiment, the longer chain alkane sulfonic acid comprises an alkane having from about 13 to about 17 carbon atoms. In an embodiment of the invention, the nonionic surfactant may comprise an alkyl polyglucoside.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the alkyl polyglucoside comprises an alkyl group having on average about 8 carbon atoms. In an embodiment of the invention, the alkyl ether carboxylic acid comprises an alkyl group having on average about 8 carbon atoms and an average degree of ethoxylation of about 8 EO, and the short chain organic acid comprises lactic acid and formic acid. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, a concentration of the lactic acid ranges from about from about 22 to about 38 wt%, the formic acid ranges from about from about 21 to about 37 wt%, the methane sulfonic acid ranges from about 6 to about 12 wt%, the longer chain alkane sulfonic acid ranges from about 7 to about 18 wt%, alkyl ether carboxylic acid ranges from about 10 to about 20 wt%, and the alkyl polyglucoside ranges from about 4 to about 10 wt%.

In certain other embodiments of the invention, the alkyl ether carboxylic acid comprises an alkyl group having on average about 8 carbon atoms and an average degree of ethoxylation of about 5 EO, and the short chain organic acid comprises lactic acid. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, a concentration of the lactic acid ranges from about from about 6 to about 12 wt%, the methane sulfonic acid ranges from about 6.5 to about 10.5 wt%, the longer chain alkane sulfonic acid ranges from about 8 to about 13 wt%, alkyl ether carboxylic acid ranges from about 20 to about 40 wt%, and the alkyl

polyglucoside ranges from about 5 to about 10 wt%.

The concentrated formulation may additionally include a short chain alcohol, according to another embodiment of the invention. The short chain alcohol may comprises any one of ethanol and isopropanol or even both of these compounds.

Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, a ratio by weight of the alkane sulfonic acid to the alkyl ether carboxylic acid ranges from about 3:2 to about 5:2, and a ratio by weight of the anionic surfactant to the nonionic surfactant ranges from about 3:4 to about 3:2.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the alkane sulfonic acid comprises a methane sulfonic acid, the alkyl ether carboxylic acid comprises an alkyl group having on average about 8 carbon atoms and an average degree of ethoxylation of about 5 EO, and the nonionic surfactant comprises an alcohol ethoxylate, wherein the alcohol ethoxylate may comprise an alcohol having on average about 13 carbon atoms and may have an average degree of ethoxylation ranging from about 12 to about 13 EO. According to this embodiment of the invention, the short chain organic acid comprises salicylic acid.

Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, a concentration of the salicylic acid ranges from about 6 to about 12 wt%, the methane sulfonic acid ranges from about 20 to about 30 wt%, the alkyl ether carboxylic acid ranges from about 10 to about 20 wt%, the alcohol ethoxylate ranges from about 30 to about 40 wt%, and the short chain alcohol ranges from about 10 to about 20 wt%.

Another aspect of the formulation, provides a concentrated formulation comprising: a short chain organic acid, an anionic surfactant, and a nonionic surfactant. In an embodiment of the invention, the anionic surfactant includes an alkane sulfonic acid. The concentrated formulation may also include at least one of a deodorant, a color agent, and a combination thereof, for example, having a concentration of the deodorizer from about 1.2 wt% to about 4.0 wt%, and the color agent from about 0.004 wt% to about 0.012 wt%.

The concentrated formulation typically is combined with a solvent, such as water, the water having a concentration of from about 30 wt% to about 60 wt% to provide a four-in-one formulation having disinfectant, deodorizer, descaler and detergent properties.

The alkane sulfonic acid may comprise a methane sulfonic acid and a longer chain alkane sulfonic acid, in certain embodiments of the invention, wherein, further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, a ratio by weight of the methane sulfonic acid to the longer chain alkane sulfonic acid ranges from about 1 :2 to about 3 :2. In certain embodiments of the invention, the longer chain alkane sulfonic acid comprises an alkane having from about 13 to about 17 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments of the invention, the nonionic surfactant comprises an alkyl polyglucoside. In a more specific embodiment of the invention, the alcohol polyglucoside comprises an alkyl having on average about 8 carbon atoms.

The short chain organic acid of the concentrated formulation may comprise lactic acid and glycolic acid. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the concentrated formulation has a concentration characterized by the lactic acid ranging from about 28 to about 45 wt%, the glycolic acid ranging from about 25 to about 35 wt%, the methane sulfonic acid ranging from about 7 to about 15 wt%, the longer chain alkane sulfonic acid ranging from about 8 to about 18 wt%, and the alkyl polyglucoside ranging from about 5 to about 15 wt%.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the short chain organic acid may include lactic acid and caprylic acid. In certain embodiments of the invention, this formulation includes a short chain alcohol, such as ethanol or isopropanol. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the concentration of concentrated formulation includes the lactic acid ranging from about 18 to about 28 wt%, the caprylic acid ranging from about 20 to about 30 wt%, the methane sulfonic acid ranging from about 3 to about 10 wt%, the longer chain alkane sulfonic acid ranging from about 6 to about 15 wt%, the alkyl polyglucoside ranging from about 3 to about 10 wt%, and the short chain alcohol ranging from about 20 to about 40 wt%.

Yet another aspect of the invention provides a method for treating an inanimate object comprising the steps of applying a formulation comprising a short chain organic acid, an anionic surfactant, and a nonionic surfactant to the inanimate object; simultaneously disinfecting, descaling and cleaning the inanimate object; and meeting a European Union norm for disinfectant efficacy testing EN 1276. The method may additionally comprise the step of leaving the inanimate object substantially without residue after treating the inanimate object with the formulation. Indeed, any formulation and/or concentrated formulation as disclosed herein may be utilized in this method.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the formulation additionally comprises a deodorant, and the simultaneously disinfects, descales, cleans and deodorizes the inanimate object. Of course, when the formulation is a concentrated formulation, the formulation may additionally comprise a solvent, in an embodiment of the invention.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the formulation additionally comprises a short chain alcohol.

The meeting step may additionally comprises at least one of the European Union norms for disinfectant efficacy testing EN 1650 and EN 13697, in certain embodiments of the invention.

Other aspects and embodiments will become apparent upon review of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention, though, is pointed out with particularity by the included claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Preferred embodiments of the invention may be described, but this invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The embodiments of the invention are not to be interpreted in any way as limiting the invention.

As used in the specification and in the appended claims, the singular forms“a”,“an”, and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, reference to“an anionic surfactant” may include a plurality of such anionic surfactants.

It will be understood that relative terms, such as“preceding” or“followed by” or the like, may be used herein to describe one element’s relationship to another element as, for example, may be illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the elements in addition to the orientation of elements as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that such terms can be used to describe the relative positions of the element or elements of the invention and are not intended, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, to be limiting.

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to various perspectives, including, for example, perspective views that are representations of idealized embodiments of the present invention. As a person having ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, variations from or modifications to the shapes as illustrated in the Figures or the described perspectives are to be expected in practicing the invention. Such variations and/or modifications can be the result of manufacturing techniques, design considerations, and the like, and such variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention and as further set forth in the claims that follow. The articles of the present invention and their respective components described or illustrated in the Figures are not intended to reflect a precise description or shape of the component of an article and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. All terms, including technical and scientific terms, as used herein, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs unless a term has been otherwise defined. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning as commonly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure. Such commonly used terms will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless the disclosure herein expressly so defines otherwise.

Generally, the invention provides a formulation comprising either a single short chain organic acid or a combination of various short carbon chain organic acids, as further disclosed herein, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and methane sulfonic acid. In certain embodiments of the invention, the formulation may comprise any one or more of lactic acid, formic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and caprylic acid. Further pursuant to these embodiments, the formulation is provided with an acidic pH, preferably a buffered acidic pH in the range of about 0 to about 4, that enhances one or more of the functionalities of the formulation.

The invention described herein provides a four-in-one formulation having disinfectant, deodorizer, descaler and detergent properties. The inventive formulation is capable of meeting the requirements of standard disinfection norms, for example, the European norms for disinfection testing in either a concentrated or diluted form, wherein when in the diluted form, the inventive formulation has been diluted by at least a minimum of about 0.1 wt%-i.e., comprises up to about 99.9 wt% of the inventive formulation and at least about 0.1 wt% of the solvent used for dilution. The formulation generally comprises a combination of compounds, each having at least one or more than one of the following properties: a detergent, a disinfectant, a deodorizer, and a descaler. Preferably, one or more compounds will be included in the formulation that also acts as a stabilizer. More preferably, one or more compounds will be included in the formulation that act as a buffer. Optionally, one or more compounds may be included in the formulation to act as a color agent. A color agent is useful, for example, in the event a specific feature or functionality of the formulation is desired to be portrayed and perhaps to add an aesthetic quality to the formulation.

As used herein, the term“buffer” means a compound or combination of compounds that maintains the pH of the formulation within a narrow range of limits. In certain embodiments of the invention, a buffer is included in the formulation of the invention to maintain a pH in a desired acidity range.

As used herein, the term“descaler” means a compound or combination of compounds that serve the purpose of removing hard deposits from, for example, surfaces. For example, a descaler may be capable of removing calcium carbonate containing deposits, or magnesium carbonate containing deposits or other deposits containing other carbonate metal salts.

As used herein, the term“detergent” means a compound or combination of compounds that assists with the cleaning functionality of the formulation. For example, detergents may be used to assist with the removal of soils performing, for example as a hard surface cleaner or for some other cleaning purpose, for the care and cleaning of inanimate surfaces.

As used herein, the term“disinfectant” means a compound or combination of compounds or other solution intended to destroy, deter, render pests, bacterial species, fungi and viruses harmless, preventing the action or fight in any other manner by chemical or biological means. Disinfectants also include antimicrobial agents that are disinfectants or sanitizers.

As used herein, the term“hydrotrope” means a compound that helps other compounds become dissolved in a solvent. Due to this action, a hydrotrope may also be known as a solubilizer. Hydrotropy is a property that relates to the ability of a material to improve the solubility or miscibility of a substance in liquid phases where such substance tends to be only partly soluble or even insoluble altogether. Without being limited to a particular theory, a hydrotrope modifies a formulation to increase the solubility of an insoluble substance. Such combinations more favorably create micellar or mixed micellar formulations resulting in a stable emulsion or suspension of the partly soluble or insoluble substance. Certain hydrotropes may also have a surfactant type quality. Similar to surfactants, hydrotropes may be polar (hydrophilic) or non-polar (hydrophobic) in nature.

As used herein, the term“sequestrant” means a compound capable of isolating or inactivating a metal ion that may be present in the solution by developing a complex that prevents the metal ion from readily participating in or catalyzing chemical reactions. A sequestrant may also function as a threshold agent by delaying or even preventing crystal growth or crystallization. The terms“chelant” or“chelating agent” may also be used interchangeably with the term“sequestrant” in the disclosure provided herein. A sequestrant, chelant or chelating agent complex with certain metal ions that may otherwise serve to reduce the effectiveness of any surfactant included in the formulation. For example, water present in the equipment for cleaning purposes may include calcium cations (Ca ²⁺ ) and magnesium cations (Mg ²⁺ ) that determine the hardness of the water. A sequestrant may be included that complex with Ca ²⁺ and Mg ²⁺ metal ions to prevent their interference with the activity of a surfactant.

In addition to a sequestrant providing improved control of water hardness, a sequestrant will assist with the control of dissolve fats. In a non-limiting example, sodium stearate is soluble in water that will cause the stearate to remain in the solution. However, upon saponification, calcium stearate may instead be formed, which is largely insoluble in water and cannot be rinsed from the solution causing. Thus a sequestrant avoids such formation of calcium stearate.

As used herein, the term“solvent” is a solution included to one or both of act as a product stabilization solvent and act as a degreaser/emulsifier. Degreaser/emulsifier solvents, for example but without intending to be bound by the theory, may be included to dissolve ingredients that the product stabilization solvent cannot. It is preferred that a

degreaser/emulsifier solvent is miscible with an included product stabilization solvent. The combined action of both types of solvents leads to a more uniform composition with the formulations of the invention. Exemplary degreaser/emulsifier solvents include an alcohol and a glycol, separate or in combination. Specific exemplary degreaser/emulsifier solvents include, but are not limited to, one or more of an alcohol, a glycerin and an ether. More specific exemplary degreaser/emulsifier solvents include, but are not limited to a glycol ether, an oil, a fatty acid, an alkane, a terpene, a ketone, toluene or derivative thereof, a dipropylene glycol methyl ether, and any combination thereof. Water, as a solvent, in combination with a lower molecular weight alcohol or short chain alcohol such as ethanol, n-propyl alcohol or 1- propanol, isopropyl alcohol or 2-propanol, and the like may be included with water to, without intending to be bound by the theory, assist with the dispersion of other compounds in solution such as certain of the surfactants leading to higher localized concentrations at, for example, a partition between the water and short chain alcohol.

As used herein, the term“stabilizer” means a compound or combination of compounds that is capable of imparting a chemical stability to the formulation protecting the other compounds included in the formulation so that they can be allowed to perform their desired function.

As used herein, the term“surfactant” means an active cleaning agent of a formulation that may perform any combination of wetting and even penetrating the soil on a surface of the equipment to be cleaned, loosening deposited soils at the surface of the equipment, and emulsifying the soils to keep them suspended in solution for removal from the equipment. Surfactants tend to also reduce the surface tension in the formulation. Surfactants may be selected that are polar or hydrophilic in nature, such as negatively charged or anionic surfactants or positively charged or cationic surfactants, and become attracted to any water in solution. Surfactants may be selected that are non-polar or hydrophobic in nature, such as nonionic surfactants having no charge, that, while suspended in water, still are attracted to non-water based components that are present in solution. While surfactants may include a combination of polar and non-polar-based surfactants, in preferred embodiments of the invention the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. Without intending to be bound by the theory, nonionic surfactants provide improved cleaning performance at a temperature that is just below or approaching the cloud point temperature of the nonionic surfactant. In certain embodiments of the invention, without intending to be bound by the theory, the temperature is above the cloud point temperature of the surfactant to prevent foaming of the solution.

Surfactants may be chosen in cleaning formulations for a particular temperature of use and/or preferred cleaning mechanism. In certain embodiments of the invention, the surfactant of the formulation of the invention is chosen such that the cloud point temperature of the surfactant is below the desired reduced temperature of the cleaning operation. In certain embodiments of the invention, a plurality of surfactants are chosen such that the surfactants have staggered cloud point temperatures allowing the formulation to be effective over a broader temperature range. Indeed, the surfactant or combination of surfactants may be such that it is more favorable to conduct the cleaning operation at a reduced temperature because cleaning operations using the formulation of the invention at temperatures greater than this reduced temperature are not as effective.

As used herein,“vol%” refers to the percentage of a named compound based upon the volume of the compound relative to total volume of the solution the compound is embodied within unless expressly provided otherwise.

As used herein,“wt%” refers to the percentage of a named compound based upon the weight of the compound relative to total weight of the solution the compound is embodied within unless expressly provided otherwise. Any percentage otherwise specified herein without reference to its basis shall be constructed as % by weight or wt% unless the context of use clearly indicates otherwise.

In an embodiment of the invention, the formulation includes a detersive surfactant selected from anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, and any combination thereof. It is well understood in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, that a detersive surfactant includes any surfactant or mixture thereof that provides cleaning, stain removing, and/or a laundering benefit to soiled systems. In an embodiment of the invention, the formulation may comprise from about 20 to about 75% by weight surfactant based on the total weight of the formulation, preferably from about 25 to about 70% by weight, or, more preferably, from about 25 to about 50% by weight.

Anionic surfactants that may be included in the formulation of the invention comprise, in non-limiting examples, carboxylates such as an alkylcarboxylate (e.g., in a non limiting, example, a carboxylic acid salt) and a polyalkoxycarboxylate, an alcohol ethoxylate carboxylate, a nonylphenol ethoxylate carboxylate, an alkyl ether carboxylic acid such as an alkyl (C8) ether (5EO) carboxylic acid and an alkyl (C8) ether (8EO) carboxylic acid, and a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid; sulfonates such as an alkyl sulfonate, an alkylbenzenesulfonate, an alkylarylsulfonate, an alpha-olefmsulfonate, and a sulfonated fatty acid ester; sulfonic acids added using any sulfonic acid salt such as methane sulfonic acid, an alkane sulfonic acid whereby an alkane (03-17) sulfonic acid is preferred in certain embodiments of the invention; sulfates such as a sulfated alcohol, such as a fatty alcohol sulfate, a sulfated alcohol ethoxylate, a sulfated alkylphenol, an alkylsulfate, a sulfosuccinate, and an alkyl ether sulfate; and phosphate esters such as an alkylphosphate ester. Of course, any fatty acid and salts thereof may be included among the surfactants used in the

formulation. Without intending to be bound by the theory, nonionic surfactants are included in the formulation to both enhance the cleaning performance of the formulation, and to also enhance the microbiological efficacy of the short carbon chain organic acids included in the formulation by supporting the transport of the actives through the cell membrane. Nonionic surfactants that may be included in the formulation of the invention comprise, in non-limiting examples, those having a polyalkylene oxide polymer included in the surfactant molecule. Such nonionic surfactants include, for example, chlorine-, benzyl-, methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl- and other like alkyl-capped polyethylene glycol ethers of fatty alcohols; polyalkylene oxide free nonionics such as an alkyl polyglycoside and an alkyl polyglucoside (APGs), in a non-limiting example, an alkyl (C8) polyglucoside, derived from sugars, typically glucose derivatives, and fatty alcohols; sorbitan and sucrose esters and their ethoxylates; an alkoxylated ethylene diamine; an alcohol alkoxylate such as an alcohol ethoxylate (AE)— e.g., an alcohol (C13) ethoxylate (12-13 EO), an alcohol ethoxylate propoxylate, an alcohol propoxylate, an alcohol propoxylate ethoxylate propoxylate, an alcohol ethoxylate butoxylate, and similar alcohol alkoxylate compounds; a nonylphenol ethoxylate, a polyoxyethylene glycol ethers and the like; a carboxylic acid ester such as a glycerol ester, a polyoxyethylene ester, ethoxylated and glycol ester of fatty acids, and similar carboxylic acid ester compounds; carboxylic amides such as a diethanolamine condensate, a

monoalkanolamine condensate, a polyoxyethylene fatty acid amide, and similar carboxylic amide compounds; and polyalkylene oxide block copolymers including an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer, and other like nonionic compounds. Silicone or silicone-based surfactants may also be included in the formulation of the invention.

Zwitterionic surfactants that may be included in the formulation of the invention comprise, in non-limiting examples, a betaine, a sultaine, an imidazoline, and a propinate. Zwitterionic surfactants may include a positive charged quaternary ammonium or, in some cases, a sulfonium or phosphonium ion; a negative charged carboxyl group; and an alkyl group. In certain embodiments of the invention, zwitterionic surfactants may generally contain cationic and anionic groups that ionize to a nearly equal degree in the isoelectric region of the molecule that can then develop a strong“inner-salt” attraction between the positive-negative charge centers. Non-limiting examples of such zwitterionic synthetic surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and sulfonium compounds, in which the aliphatic radicals can be straight chain or branched, and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic water solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, or phosphonate.

In certain embodiments of the invention, formulations of the invention comprise a combination of surfactants comprising anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant in a ratio of from about 0.5: 1 to about 10: 1, from about 1 : 1 to about 9: 1, from about 2: 1 to about 8: 1, or from about 2.5: 1 to about 7.5: 1, from about 2.75: 1 to about 7.5: 1, or from about 5: 1 to about 7.5: 1. In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the formulation only comprises one or more anionic surfactants.

Surfactants in the formulations of the invention may be chosen to have different functions. For example, a surfactant may function as any one or more of a descaler, a detergent, a disinfectant, and a stabilizer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the formulation may comprise a short carbon chain organic acid. As a non-limiting example, in an embodiment of the invention, the short carbon chain organic acid may include any one or more of lactic acid, salicylic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, glycolic acid, ascorbic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, mandelic acid, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, propionic acid, gluconic acid, malic acid, benzoic acid, aspartic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, glutamic acid, adipic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, and undecanoic acid.

In certain embodiments of the invention, lactic acid is preferred as the short carbon chain organic acid of the formulation. In certain embodiments of the invention, lactic acid in combination another acid is more preferred as the short carbon chain organic acid of the formulation. Further pursuant to this more preferred embodiment, the another acid that lactic acid may be combined with includes any one or combination of formic acid, glycolic acid, and caprylic acid. In certain other embodiments of the invention, salicylic acid is particularly preferred as the short carbon chain organic acid of the formulation.

In another embodiment of the invention, an inorganic acid having a pKa ionization constant that approximates that of the organic acids that may be included. For example, sulfamic acid and phosphorous acid may be used as an acid in the formulation in certain embodiments of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the formulation comprises a short carbon chain organic acid mixed with an anionic surfactant. In yet other preferred embodiments of the invention, the formulation comprises a short carbon chain organic acid mixed, an anionic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant. General Formulation 1. In an aspect of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and a short carbon chain organic acid. Optionally, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation may additional comprise a deodorizer and/or a color agent. In certain embodiments of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises from about 10 to about 35 wt%, from about 15 to about 32.5 wt%, from about 17.5 to about 30 wt%, or from about 18 to about 27 wt% of an anionic surfactant. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the anionic surfactant may comprise an alkane sulfonic acid that includes any one or more of methane sulfonic acid, an alkane sulfonic acid having an alkane with a longer chain, and combinations thereof. In accordance with the embodiment of the invention having both a methane sulfonic acid and an alkane sulfonic acid having a longer chain alkane, a ratio by weight of the methane sulfonic acid to the alkane sulfonic acid having the longer chain alkane is from about 1 :2 to about 2: 1, from about 3 :4 to about 3 :2, and from about 4:5 to about 1 : 1. According to this embodiment of the invention, the alkane of the alkane sulfonic acid may comprise a carbon chain length of about 10 to about 14, or about 13 to about 17. In certain embodiments of the invention, the average number of carbons in the alkane of the alkane sulfonic acid is from about 12 to about 17, or from about 15 to about 16. In certain embodiments of the invention, the anionic surfactant may comprise an aryl sulfonic acid.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises from about 3 to about 15 wt%, from about 5 to about 14 wt%, from about 5 to about 12 wt%, or from about 6 to about 10 wt% of an nonionic surfactant. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the nonionic surfactant may comprise an alkyl polyglucoside. In an embodiment of the invention, the alkyl of the alkyl polyglucoside has from about 4 to about 22, from about 6 to about 14, from about 7 to about 10, or about 8 to about 9 carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the alkyl of the alkyl polyglucoside has on average about 7 to about 9 or about 8 carbon atoms.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises from about 50 to about 80 wt%, from about 55 to about 77.5 wt%, from about 60 to about 75 wt%, or from about 62 to about 74 wt% of a short carbon chain organic acid. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the short carbon chain organic acid comprises a lactic acid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the short carbon chain organic acid comprises another acid in addition to the lactic acid. Further pursuant to this preferred embodiment of the invention, the ratio by weight of the another acid to lactic acid in the short carbon chain organic acid is from about 1 :4 to about 5: 1, from about 1 :3 to about 3, or from about 1 :2 to about 2:3. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the another acid comprises formic acid.

A solvent is typically combined with the concentrated, solvent-free formulation to provide a formulation used in the four-in-one treatment. In an embodiment of the invention the formulation comprises water having a concentration of from about 10 to about 85 wt%, from about 25 to about 75 wt%, from about 30 to about 70 wt%, or from about 40 to about 60 wt% with the balance of the formulation including the concentrated, solvent-free formulation as disclosed herein.

In an exemplary formulation of this aspect of this invention, the concentrated, solvent- free formulation comprises from about 18.7 to about 22.4 wt% of an anionic surfactant having a combination of methane sulfonic acid and an alkane sulfonic acid (the alkane of the alkane sulfonic acid having a carbon chain length of about 13 to about 17) with a ratio by weight of the methane sulfonic acid and the alkane sulfonic acid of about 4:5 to about 9: 10, from about 6.6 to about 7.9 wt% of an alkyl polyglucoside (the alkane of the alkyl polyglucoside having a carbon chain length of about 8), from about 29.6 to about 35.5 wt% of lactic acid, and from about 33.4 to about 43.9 wt% of formic acid. The concentrated, solvent-free formulation may additionally comprise a deodorant having a concentration of from about 2.0 to about 2.5 wt% and a color agent having a concentration of from about 0.005 to about 0.008 wt%. The deodorant may comprise Robertet K/37252 Sea Breezes, while the color agent may comprise reactive red 24: 1. Using the EN1276 efficacy test as further described herein, this exemplary concentrated, solvent-free formulation in

combination with water as a solvent having a concentration of from about 40.5 to about 57.5 wt% provides a formulation giving a final concentration of from about 2.0 to about 2.5 wt % Enterococcus hirae and about 1.5 wt% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

General Formulation 2. In another aspect of the invention, the concentrated, solvent- free formulation having an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a short carbon chain organic acid, and, optionally, a deodorizer and/or a color agent comprises from about 20 to about 60 wt%, from about 25 to about 50 wt%, from about 30 to about 45 wt%, or from about 33 to about 43 wt% of an anionic surfactant. In certain embodiments of the invention, the anionic surfactant comprises methane sulfonic acid, an alkane sulfonic acid, an alkyl ether carboxylic acid, and, preferably, a combination thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises from about 5 to about 20 wt%, from about 6 to about 15 wt%, or from about 7 to about 10.5 wt% of the methane sulfonic acid, from about 5 to about 20 wt%, from about 7.5 to about 15 wt%, or from about 8.5 to about 12.5 wt% of the alkane sulfonic acid having the longer chain alkane, and from about 5 to about 35 wt%, from about 10 to about 30 wt%, or from about 14 to about 26 wt% of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid. According to this embodiment of the invention, the alkane of the alkane sulfonic acid may comprise a carbon chain length of about 10 to about 14, or about 13 to about 17. In certain embodiments of the invention, the average number of carbons in the alkane of the alkane sulfonic acid is from about 12 to about 17, or from about 15 to about 16. Further, according to this embodiment of the invention, the alkyl of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid has from about 4 to about 22, from about 6 to about 14, from about 7 to about 10, or about 8 to about 9 carbon atoms, and, preferably, the alkyl of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid has on average about 7 to about 9 or about 8 carbon atoms. Even further according to his embodiment, the degree of ethoxylation of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid ranges from about 2.5 to about 10, from about 3.5 to about 9, or from about 5 to about 8 EO.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation of this aspect of the invention comprises from about 2.5 to about 15 wt%, from about 5 to about 10 wt%, or from about 5.5 to about 8 wt% of an nonionic surfactant. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the nonionic surfactant may comprise an alkyl polyglucoside.

In an embodiment of the invention, the alkyl of the alkyl polyglucoside has from about 4 to about 22, from about 6 to about 14, from about 7 to about 10, or about 8 to about 9 carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the alkyl of the alkyl polyglucoside has on average about 7 to about 9 or about 8 carbon atoms.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation of this aspect of the invention comprises from about 40 to about 80 wt%, from about 45 to about 75 wt%, from about 47.5 to about 72.5 wt%, or from about 50 to about 70 wt% of a short carbon chain organic acid. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the short carbon chain organic acid comprises a lactic acid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the short carbon chain organic acid comprises another acid in addition to the lactic acid. Further pursuant to this preferred embodiment of the invention, the ratio by weight of the another acid to lactic acid in the short carbon chain organic acid is from about 1 :4 to about 5: 1, from about 1 :3 to about 3, or from about 1 :2 to about 2:3. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the another acid comprises formic acid. Even more preferably, the ratio by weight of formic acid to lactic acid is from about 1 :4 to about 2: 1, from about 1 :3 to about 3 :2, or from about 1 :2 to about 21 :20.

A solvent is typically combined with the concentrated, solvent-free formulation to provide a formulation used in the four-in-one treatment. In an embodiment of the invention the formulation comprises water having a concentration of from about 10 to about 75 wt%, from about 20 to about 60 wt%, from about 25 to about 55 wt%, or from about 30 to about 50 wt% with the balance of the formulation including the concentrated, solvent-free formulation as disclosed herein.

In an exemplary formulation of this another aspect of this invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises from about 33 to about 43 wt% of an anionic surfactant having a combination of from about 7.4 to about 8.8 wt% of methane sulfonic acid, from about 8.7 to about 10.3 wt% of an alkane sulfonic acid (the alkane of the alkane sulfonic acid having a carbon chain length of about 13 to about 17), and from about 14.7 to about 26.2 wt% of an alkyl ether carboxylic acid (the alkyl of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid having on average about 8 carbon atoms and a degree of ethoxylation of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid of about 8 EO), from about 5.7 to about 6.7 wt% of an alkyl polyglucoside, from about 25.5 to about 30.2 wt% of lactic acid, and from about 24.8 to about 29.1 wt% of formic acid. The concentrated, solvent-free formulation may additionally comprise a deodorant having a concentration of from about 1.8 to about 2.1 wt% and a color agent having a concentration of from about 0.005 to about 0.006 wt%. The deodorant may comprise Robertet K/37252 Sea Breezes, while the color agent may comprise reactive red 24: 1. Using the EN1276 efficacy test, as further described herein, this exemplary concentrated, solvent-free formulation in combination with water as a solvent having a concentration of from about 31.5 to about 44.4 wt% provides a formulation giving a final concentration of about 1.0 wt% after five minutes of Enterococcus hirae, Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using the EN1650 efficacy test, as further described herein, this exemplary formulation provides a final concentration of about 2.5 wt% after five minutes of Candida albicans. Using the EN13697 efficacy test, as further described herein, this exemplary formulation provides a final concentration of about 2.0 wt% after five minutes of

Enterococcus hirae and Staphylococcus aureus , about 1.5 wt% after five minutes of

Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and about 2.5 wt% after five minutes of Candida albicans.

General Formulation 3. In yet another aspect of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation having an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a short carbon chain organic acid, and, optionally, a deodorizer and/or a color agent comprises from about 10 to about 35 wt%, from about 14 to about 24 wt%, or from about 17 to about 22 wt% of an anionic surfactant. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the anionic surfactant may comprise an alkane sulfonic acid that includes any one or more of methane sulfonic acid, an alkane sulfonic acid having an alkane with a longer chain, and combinations thereof. In accordance with the embodiment of the invention having both a methane sulfonic acid and an alkane sulfonic acid having a longer chain alkane, a ratio by weight of the methane sulfonic acid to the alkane sulfonic acid having the longer chain alkane is from about 1 :2 to about 2: 1, from about 3 :4 to about 3 :2, and from about 4:5 to about 1 : 1.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the alkane sulfonic acid may comprise any alkane sulfonic acid further disclosed herein.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation having comprises from about 25 to about 75 wt%, from about 30 to about 70 wt%, from about 40 to about 60 wt%, or from about 43 to about 58 wt% of an anionic surfactant. In certain embodiments of the invention, the anionic surfactant comprises methane sulfonic acid, at least one other alkane sulfonic acid, an alkyl ether carboxylic acid, and, preferably, a combination thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises from about 5 to about 15 wt%, from about 6.5 to about 12 wt%, or from about 7.5 to about 11 wt% of the methane sulfonic acid, from about 5 to about 20 wt%, from about 7.5 to about 15 wt%, from about 8.5 to about 12.5 wt%, or from about 9 to about 12 wt% of the alkane sulfonic acid having the longer chain alkane, and from about 5 to about 50 wt%, from about 10 to about 45 wt%, from about 25 to about 40 wt%, or from about 27 to about 36 wt% of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid. According to this embodiment of the invention, the alkane sulfonic acid may comprise any alkane sulfonic acid further disclosed herein. Further according to this embodiment of the invention, the alkyl of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid has from about 4 to about 22, from about 6 to about 14, from about 7 to about 10, or about 8 to about 9 carbon atoms, and, preferably, the alkyl of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid has on average about 7 to about 9 or about 8 carbon atoms. Even further according to his embodiment, the degree of ethoxylation of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid ranges from about 2.5 to about 10, from about 3.5 to about 9, or from about 5 to about 8 EO. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the degree of ethoxylation of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid is about 8, and even more preferred, the degree of ethoxylation of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid is about 5.

The concentrated, solvent-free formulation of this yet another aspect of the invention may comprise from about 2.5 to about 15 wt%, from about 4 to about 12 wt%, from about 5 to about 9 wt%, or from about 6 to about 8 wt% of an nonionic surfactant. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the nonionic surfactant may comprise an alkyl polyglucoside. The alkyl polyglucoside of the nonionic surfactant may comprise any alkyl polyglucoside as disclosed herein.

In an embodiment of this yet another aspect of the invention, the short carbon chain organic acid of the concentrated, solvent-free formulation may comprise from about 20 to about 60 wt%, from about 22 to about 55 wt%, from about 23 to about 37 wt%, or from about 27 to about 35 wt% of lactic acid. In one embodiment of the invention, a glycolic acid having a concentration of from about 20 to about 40 wt%, from about 25 to about 35 wt%, or up to about 30 wt% or up to about 35 wt% is included with the lactic acid. In another embodiment of the invention, a caprylic acid having a concentration of from about 15 to 35 wt%, 20 to 30 wt%, or up to about 26.5 wt% or up to about 30 wt% is included with the lactic acid. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, it is preferred to also included a short chain alcohol in the concentrated, solvent-free formulation having a concentration of from about 20 to about 40 wt%, from about 25 to about 35 wt%, or up to about 30 wt% or up to about 35 wt%.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises lactic acid having a concentration of from about 25 to 45 wt%, from about 30 to 40 wt%, from about 32.5 to 37.5 wt%, or up to about 35 wt% or up to about 40 wt% and alkyl ether carboxylic acid having a concentration about equivalent to the concentration of lactic acid in one embodiment of the invention or from about 25 to about 37.5 wt% in another embodiment or about 32.5 to about 45 wt% in yet another embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention, the degree of ethoxylation of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid ranges 5 to about 8 EO, or preferably about 5 to 6 EO, or, more preferably, about 5 EO.

Further according to this embodiment of the invention, the alkyl of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid has from about 7 to about 9 or, preferably, about 8 carbon atoms.

In an exemplary formulation of this yet another aspect of this invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises from about 14.5 to about 24.0 wt% of an anionic surfactant having a combination of from about 6.6 to about 11.0 wt% of methane sulfonic acid and from about 8.7 to about 10.3 wt% of an alkane sulfonic acid (the alkane of the alkane sulfonic acid having a carbon chain length of about 13 to about 17), from about 5.0 to about 8.5 wt% of an alkyl polyglucoside, from about 23 to about 38 wt% of lactic acid, and from about 29 to about 30 wt% of glycolic acid in one exemplary formulation, and from about 26 to 27 wt% of caprylic acid in another exemplary formulation. The exemplary formulation comprising caprylic acid additionally comprises up to about 30 wt% or up to about 35 wt% of 2-propanol as the short chain alcohol. The concentrated, solvent-free formulation of these exemplary formulations may additionally comprise a deodorant having a concentration of from about 1.6 to about 2.6 wt% and a color agent having a concentration of from about 0.005 to about 0.008 wt%. The deodorant may comprise Robertet K/37252 Sea Breezes, while the color agent may comprise reactive red 24: 1. Using the EN1276 efficacy test, as further described herein, these exemplary concentrated, solvent-free formulations in combination with water as a solvent having a concentration of about 52.1 wt% and about 37.6 wt%, respectively, provides a formulation giving a final concentration after five minutes of about 1.0 wt% and 1.0 wt% or less, respectively, of Enterococcus hirae , about 2.5 wt% and 1.0 wt% or less, respectively, of Staphylococcus aureus , about 1.5 wt% and 1.0 wt% or less, respectively, of Escherichia coli , and about 1.0 wt% and 1.0 wt% or less, respectively, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using the EN1650 efficacy test, as further described herein, this exemplary formulation provides a final concentration after five minutes of about 2.5 wt% of Candida albicans.

Even better disinfectant performance, at least with respect to the EN1276 efficacy test, is realized from a concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprising from about 7.8 to about 8.0 wt% of methane sulfonic acid, from about 9.1 to about 9.4 wt% of alkane (03-17) sulfonic acid, from about 26.8 to about 27.5 wt% alkyl (C8) ether (8EO) carboxylic acid, from about 26.8 to about 27.5 wt% lactic acid, and from about 21.3 to about 21.8 wt% glycolic acid. However, an even better disinfectant performance is realized from a concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprising from about 9.8 to about 10.1 wt% of methane sulfonic acid, from about 11.5 to about 11.9 wt% of alkane (03-17) sulfonic acid, from about 34.7 to about 35.6 wt% alkyl (C8) ether (5EO) carboxylic acid, and from about 33.9 to about 34.8 wt% lactic acid. The concentrated, solvent-free formulation of these exemplary formulations may additionally comprise a deodorant having a concentration of from about 1.9 to about 2.4 wt% and a color agent having a concentration of from about 0.006 to about 0.007 wt%. The deodorant may comprise Robertet K/37252 Sea Breezes, while the color agent may comprise reactive red 24: 1. Using the EN1276 efficacy test, as further described herein, the exemplary concentrated, solvent-free formulation having the best performance (the latter concentrated, solvent-free formulation disclosed herein) in combination with water as a solvent having a concentration of about 48.1 wt% provides a formulation giving a final concentration after five minutes of about 0.75 wt% for

Enterococcus hirae , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using the EN1650 efficacy test, as further described herein, this exemplary formulation provides a final concentration after five minutes of about 1.0 wt% of Candida albicans. General Formulation 4. In still another aspect of the invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation having an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a short carbon chain organic acid, and, optionally, a deodorizer and/or a color agent comprises an anionic surfactant including from about 15 to about 35 wt%, from about 20 to about 30 wt%, from about 23 to about 28 wt%, or up to about 27 wt% or up to about 30 wt% of an alkane sulfonic acid comprising methane sulfonic acid and from about 5 to about 25 wt%, from about 10 to about 20 wt%, from about 12 to about 18 wt%, or up to about 15 wt% or up to about 18 wt% of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid. In an embodiment of the invention, a ratio by weight of the alkane sulfonic acid to the alkyl ether carboxylic acid ranges from about 1 : 1 to about 3: 1, from about 3 :2 to about 5:2, or from about 7:4 to about 2: 1. According to this embodiment of the invention, the alkyl ether carboxylic acid may comprise any of the alkyl ether carboxylic acids disclosed herein. In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the degree of ethoxylation of the alkyl ether carboxylic acid ranges from about 5 to about 8 EO, or, even more preferably, about 5 EO.

The concentrated, solvent-free formulation of this still yet another aspect of the invention may comprise from about 25 to about 45 wt%, from about 30 to about 40 wt%, or up to about 35 wt% or up to about 40 wt% of an nonionic surfactant. Further pursuant to this embodiment of the invention, the nonionic surfactant may comprise an alcohol ethoxylate. According to this embodiment of the invention, the alcohol of the alcohol ethoxylate has from about 5 to about 21, from about 8 to about 18, from about 10 to about 16, or about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms, and, preferably, the alcohol of the alcohol ethoxylate has on average about 11 to about 14 or, even more preferably, about 13 carbon atoms on average. Further according to this embodiment of the invention, the degree of ethoxylation of the alcohol ethoxylate ranges from about 7 to about 18, from about 10 to about 15, or from about 12 to about 13 EO.

Further pursuant to this still another aspect of the invention, a ratio of anionic to nonionic surfactants included in the concentrated solvent free formulation is from about 1 :2 to about 2: 1, from about 3:4 to about 3:2, from about 9: 10 to about 5:4 or from about 1 : 1 to about 6:5

In an embodiment of this still yet another aspect of the invention, the short carbon chain organic acid of the concentrated, solvent-free formulation may comprise from about 5 to about 20 wt%, from about 5 to about 15 wt%, from about 6 to about 12 wt%, or up to about 9 wt% or up to about 12 wt% of salicylic acid. In one embodiment of the invention, the short carbon chain organic acid comprises only salicylic acid, while in another embodiment of the invention, the short carbon chain organic acid comprises salicylic acid in combination with other acids as further disclosed herein.

Further pursuant to these embodiments of the invention, it is preferred to also included a short chain alcohol in the concentrated, solvent-free formulation having a concentration of from about 5 to about 25 wt%, from about 10 to about 20 wt%, from about 12 to about 18 wt%, or up to about 15 wt% or up to about 18 wt%. Without intending to be bound by theory, the short chain alcohol included in the concentrated, solvent free formulation has disinfectant properties. In a non-limiting, examples of a short chain alcohol that may be included in the concentrated, solvent free formulation include isopropanol, and, om a preferred embodiment of this still another aspect of the invention, ethanol.

In an exemplary formulation of this still another aspect of this invention, the concentrated, solvent-free formulation comprises from about 39.6 to about 41.2 wt% of an anionic surfactant having a combination of methane sulfonic acid and an alkyl (C8) ether (5EO) carboxylic acid with a ratio by weight of the methane sulfonic acid and the alkyl (C8) ether (5EO) carboxylic acid of about 9:5 to about 2: 1, from about 33.7 to about 35.2 wt% of an alcohol (C13) ethoxylate (12-13EO), from about 8.6 to about 9.0 wt% of salicylic acid, and from about 14.1 to about 14.7 wt% of ethanol. The concentrated, solvent-free formulation may additionally comprise a deodorant having a concentration of from about 3.8 to about 4.0 wt% and a color agent having a concentration of from about 0.010 to about 0.012 wt%. The deodorant may comprise Robertet K/37252 Sea Breezes, while the color agent may comprise reactive red 24: 1. ETsing the EN1276 efficacy test as further described herein, this exemplary concentrated, solvent-free formulation in combination with water as a solvent having a concentration of up to about 67.5 wt% provides a formulation giving a final concentration of from about 1.75 wt% bacteria after five minutes. ETsing the EN1650 efficacy test as further described herein, this exemplary concentrated, solvent-free

formulation in combination with water as a solvent having a concentration of up to about 67.5 wt% provides a formulation giving a final concentration of from about 3.0 wt% yeast after five minutes and about 2.0 wt% yeast and about 2.5 wt% fungi after fifteen minutes. ETsing the EN13697 efficacy test as further described herein, this exemplary concentrated, solvent- free formulation in combination with water as a solvent having a concentration of up to about 67.5 wt% provides a formulation giving a final concentration of from about 2.0 wt% bacteria and about l.75wt% yeast after five minutes and about 1.5 wt% yeast and about 2.0 wt% fungi after fifteen minutes. In still even yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for applying any of the formulations and/or concentrated, solvent free formulations disclosed herein to an inanimate object, and simultaneously disinfecting, descaling and cleaning the inanimate object, whereby the cleaning is accomplished with one or more detergents that have been included in the formulation.

The method of treating the inanimate object with a formulation of the invention that has been diluted preferably additionally comprises additionally leaving the inanimate object substantially without residue after treating the inanimate object with the formulation.

The formulation may additionally comprise a deodorant, and the method of treatment then simultaneously is disinfecting, descaling, cleaning and deodorizing the inanimate object. Typically, although not intending to be limiting, a surface of the inanimate object is subjected to treatment with the diluted form of the formulation of the invention.

In an embodiment of the invention, the treatment of the inanimate object meets a European Union norm for disinfectant testing EN 1276, EN 1650, and/or EN13697

European norms for disinfection testing have been established to assist with confirming disinfectant products conform to a standard of quality. Such European standards allow for a minimum disinfectant requirement to be established. The Comite Europeo de Normalizacion (CEN) is an association that brings together the national standardization bodies of the member countries in an effort to improve safety, quality and reliability of products, services, processes. CEN/TC 216, the Chemical Disinfectants and Antiseptics Committee of the CEN identifies test standards to measure the bactericidal activity of disinfectants for use in, for example, food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas. EN 1276:2009 is an efficacy test identifying the minimum requirements for bactericidal activity of chemical disinfectant and antiseptic products that form a homogeneous, physically stable preparation when diluted with hard water or, in the case of ready-to-use products, with water. Under EN 1276, products may only be tested at a concentration of 80 % or less since some dilution is always produced by adding the test organisms and interfering substance. EN 1276 applies to disinfectant products that are used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas excluding areas and situations where disinfection is medically indicated and excludes products used on living tissues except those for hand hygiene in the afore mentioned areas.

EN 1650 provide an efficacy test and the minimum requirements for fungicidal or yeasticidal activity of chemical disinfectant and antiseptic products that form a homogeneous, physically stable preparation when diluted with hard water or, in the case of ready-to-use- products, with water. As with EN 1276, products may only be tested at a concentration of 80% or less since some dilution is always produced by adding the test organisms and interfering substance. Also, similar to EN 1276, EN 1650 applies to products that are used in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas excluding areas and situations where disinfection is medically indicated and excluding products used on living tissues except those for hand hygiene in the above considered areas. Both EN 1276 and EN 1650 are consider phase 2/step 1 tests, which involve quantitative suspension testing.

EN 13697 is an efficacy test providing the minimum requirements for bactericidal and/or fungicidal or yeasticidal activity of chemical disinfectants that form a homogeneous physically stable preparation in hard water or, in the case of ready -to-use products, with water in food, industrial, domestic and institutional areas, excluding areas and situations where disinfection is medically indicated and excluding products used on living tissues. In contrast to EN 1276 and EN 1650, EN 13697 is a phase 2/step 2 efficacy test, which include surface and hand wash/rub method tests.

EN 1276, EN 1650 and EN 13697 are the defined test procedures that were used in the evaluation of the performance of the samples in the examples that follow.

EXAMPLES

Various examples of the inventive subject matter include the compositions as described herein. Table 1 shows the efficacy of samples including only lactic acid (Sample 1) and a combination of lactic acid and formic acid (Samples 2, 3 and 4). The values in the test results of Table 1 having em dashes " indicate the sample was not tested for the efficacy test, while those values in the test results having values indicate the sample pass/fail concentration. Sample results that have been cross-hatched indicates the sample did fail at the given concentration, while those results that have not been cross-hatched indicate a passing concentration.

The results in Table 1 shows lactic acid without formic acid fails to pass the efficacy test, while the combination of lactic acid and formic acid passes the efficacy test for bactericidal activity, but still fails to pass the efficacy test for fungicidal or yeasticidal activity.

TABLE 1

Table 2 shows the efficacy of samples including combinations of lactic acid and formic acid both without (Sample 5) and with an anionic surfactant (Samples 6 and 7). The anionic surfactant used in these samples was alkyl (C8) ether (8EO) carboxylic acid. The values in the test results of Table 2 having em dashes " indicate the sample was not tested for the efficacy test, while those values in the test results having values indicate the sample pass/fail concentration. Sample results that have been cross-hatched indicates the sample did fail at the given concentration, while those results that have not been cross-hatched indicate a passing concentration.

The results in Table 2 shows that that adding up to 8.8 wt% of the anionic surfactant alkyl (C8) ether (8EO) carboxylic acid improves the disinfectant properties of the formulation— i.e., the pass concentration in the suspension test decreases from 2.5 wt% to 1 wt% for the Enterococcus hirae, while the pass concentration for Pseudomonas aeruginosa decreases from 1.5 wt% to 1 wt%. For the Candida albicans , a passing concentration of 2.5 wt% was achieved with 5 minutes contact time. Further increasing the concentration of the anionic surfactant to 17.6 wt% in the formulation did not show any increased reduction in the pathogen/fungus/bacterium. This indicates there an optimum concentration of anionic surfactant that provides an improved synergistic effect.

TABLE 2

Compound

Table 3 shows the efficacy of samples including lactic acid and other types of acids other than formic acid. For example, Sample 8 includes only lactic acid, Sample 9 includes the same amount of lactic acid as Sample 8 in combination with glycolic acid, Sample 10 includes lactic acid in combination with caprylic acid and 2-propanol, Sample 11 includes the same amounts of lactic acid and glycolic acid as in Sample 10 but also in combination with the anionic surfactant alkyl (C8) ether (8EO) carboxylic acid, and Sample 11 includes the same amount of lactic acid found in sample 8 but also in combination with the anionic surfactant alkyl (C8) ether (5EO) carboxylic acid. TABLE 3

Again, the values in the test results of Table 3 having em dashes " indicate the sample was not tested for the efficacy test, while those values in the test results having values indicate the sample pass/fail concentration. Sample results that have been cross-hatched indicates the sample did fail at the given concentration, while those results that have not been 5 cross-hatched indicate a passing concentration. The results in Table 3 shows that adding 14 wt% glycolic acid reduces the pass concentration on Enterococcus hirae from 2.5 wt% to 1 wt% and on Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 1.5 wt% to 1 wt%— i.e., as shown in the efficacy test for Sample 8 versus Sample 9. The addition of alkyl (C8) ether (8EO) carboxylic acid as shown in Sample 11 resulted in even better efficacy data. The pass concentration on bacteria0 is reduced from 2.5 wt% to 1.5 wt%. The use of caprylic acid in combination with lactic acid resulted in a pass concentration of 1 wt% in the EN1276, which could even be lower since the lowest testing concentration was 1 wt% for this sample. The combination of lactic acid and alkyl (C8) ether (5EO) carboxylic acid in Sample 11. Both Sample 11 and Sample 12 have an anionic surfactant, but Sample 12 does not have the glycolic acid. Additionally, Sample 11 includes the anionic surfactant alkyl (C8) ether (8EO) carboxylic acid, while Sample 12 includes a relative comparable amount of the shorter chain anionic surfactant alkyl (C8) ether (5EO) carboxylic acid used in Sample 12 resulted in better results that Sample 10, which had both glycolic acid and similar surfactant having slightly longer chain. Sample 11 resulted in pass concentrations of 1.5 wt% for Enterococcus hirae while Sample 12 with the shorter chain anionic surfactant resulted in a lower pass concentration of 0.75 wt%. In contrast, Sample 11 resulted in pass concentrations of 0.5 wt% for Pseudomonas aeruginosa while Sample 12 resulted in a slightly increased pass concentration of 0.75 wt%. Sample 12 resulted in a lower pass concentration of Candida albicans in the 5 minute fungicidal or yeasticidal activity efficacy test.

TABLE 4

Table 4 shows the efficacy of samples including the combination of lactic acid and the shorter chain anionic surfactant alkyl (C8) ether (5EO) carboxylic acid for surface testing using the EN 13697 efficacy test.

Each of the values in the test results of Table 4 pass the efficacy test. The results in Table 4 shows Sample 12 as a preferred formulation. Sample 13 having a reduced amount of alkane (Cl 3-17) sulfonic acid and anionic surfactant alkyl (C8) ether (5EO) carboxylic acid over Sample 12 is another preferred option. The results from the surface test showed that reducing both anionic surfactants have little effect on the efficacy data in the surface test. So the results of a suspension test for Sample 13 is assumed to be the same as that for Sample 12.

Additionally, Sample 13 was tested for metal corrosion for transport according "UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, Section 37". The results from this test showed that Sample 13 is not corrosive to metals, which is a benefit over the conventional formulations. Furthermore, Sample 13 can be claimed to be "plant based" based upon the RCI calculations of the "US Bio-Preferred guidelines." According to this guideline, a minimum of 50 wt% of plant-based materials are needed. Sample 13 is about 63.95 wt% of plant based materials.

Sample 12 and Sample 13 of Table 4 are stable, and the compounds of these formulations function according to the descriptions provided in Table 5

TABLE 5

Clearly, the cleaning functionality provided by the formulations is four-fold and includes detergency, disinfection, deodorizing and descaling.

Table 6 shows the efficacy of samples having a salicylic acid instead of lactic acid. TABLE 6

Each of the values in the test results of Table 6 pass the efficacy test. Sample 14 in Table 6 shows that a salicylic acid formulation has a better disinfectant capability than those formulations that have only a lactic acid formulation, in particular, having lower active concentrations especially on the fungi. Due to its lower active content, this formulation will also be more cost effective compared to formulations where lactic acid was the main active in combination with its surfactants. However, the formulation is less preferred when there is a reluctance to adopt salicylic acid in formulations.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the descriptions herein and the associated drawings. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. Therefore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the included claims.