The invention relates to a composition having antimicrobial properties, in particular a composition comprising ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride and one or more fatty acid monoesters. The invention also relates to the use of said composition in the decontamination of a liquid such as water, in particular the removal of Legionella pneumophila from an aqueous liquid. Furthermore, the invention relates to a disinfectant product, a detergent and/or a sanitizer comprising said antimicrobial composition according to the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of said disinfectant product, sanitizer or detergent, e.g., for purifying air in water tanks and e.g., for cleaning contaminated surfaces and preventing (re)contamination of surfaces by microbes. Part of the invention is the fact that the antimicrobial composition according to the invention and the disinfectant product, sanitizer or detergent according to the invention have a growth inhibiting activity, particularly against one or more Campylobacter jejuni , Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and/or Legionella pneumophila.

Background Art

Surfaces of objects and articles ranging from floors, ceilings, door panels, glass windows to e.g. medical devices, plants, machinery, kitchen countertops, kitchen equipment, etc. can all be contaminated or colonized by microorganisms such as mold, fungi, bacteria, e.g. Gram positive bacteria and Gram negative bacteria, and in fact, if left uncleaned, are almost always contaminated with microbes to some degree. Protecting humans from health problems or even life-threatening diseases through contact with such contaminated surfaces is an unequal struggle, e.g., in the field of surgery, the home environment, food production, healthcare, child care, meat processing, schools, public transportation, restrooms, etc. Commercially available disinfectants, soaps, detergents, and sanitizers used to fight against contamination of solutions and surfaces with pathogens such as bacteria are only partially effective in reducing or preventing microbial contamination. Unfortunately, such disinfectants commonly cause environmental and human health problems associated with the use of disinfectants, soaps, detergents and disinfectants.

Common disinfectants and detergents contain compounds such as chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide, or chloramines which react with naturally occurring organic matter, anthropogenic contaminants, and other natural elements, which leads to the formation of DBPs (Disinfection Byproducts). These DBPs can have negative or uncertain effects on the environment and human health. Disinfection of water with common disinfectants can cause increased cancer risk and adverse reproductive and developmental effects on humans who come in contact with said disinfected water.

These are unacceptable risks associated with the use of these disinfectants and detergents, so research into alternative disinfectants and detergents is under development.

One possible alternative is disinfectants that contain quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs). QACs do not cause DBP formation and are therefore safer to use with regard to human health. However, QACs are highly toxic to numerous aquatic organisms, including fish, daphnids, algae, rotifers, and other microorganisms used, for example, in wastewater treatment systems. This means that frequent use of these compounds can lead to serious damage to the aquatic ecosystem. Furthermore, although QACs are considered biodegradable under aerobic conditions, QACs can accumulate in anaerobic environments. This would increase the toxicity of areas where QACs have accumulated significantly, such as wastewater sludge. Release of such sludge into the environment could pose serious risks to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Although QACs solve some of the health risk problems associated with DBPs, QACs produce other unacceptable consequences associated with their frequent use. As a result of the above shortcomings, research into improved or novel disinfectants, soaps, detergents, and sanitizers is the subject of ongoing effort; improved or novel disinfectants, soaps, detergents, and sanitizers are more efficient, more effective, and/or safer when considering the duration of prevention against contamination and/or when considering the degree of decontamination and/or when considering the risk to human health or the environment.

Additionally, other antimicrobial compositions are known from patent documents US No. 2012/225942, US No. 2018/310566, WO No. 2013/169231, CN No. 109125195, US No. 2018/243359.

Description of the Invention

A first object of the invention is to provide an antimicrobial composition having improved antimicrobial activity against microbes such as bacteria, an antimicrobial composition suitable for use in decontaminating an aqueous solution such as water, preferably without posing an unacceptable risk to the environment or human health.

A second object of the invention is to provide an improved disinfectant, soap, detergent and/or sanitizer with respect to killing microbes, preferably bacteria, and/or preventing microbial growth on a surface or in an aqueous solution, which, unlike disinfectants, soaps, detergents and sanitizers known in the state of the art, wherein the disinfectant, detergent, and/or sanitizer preferably does not contain compounds that may cause adverse environmental and human health consequences, the latter is still sufficiently effective at eliminating contamination.

Embodiments of the Invention

The present invention is described with respect to particular embodiments, but the invention is not limited thereto, but solely by the claims.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third, and the like in the description and in the claims are used to distinguish between similar elements or characteristics and not necessarily to describe a sequential or chronological order. The terms are interchangeable in appropriate circumstances, and the embodiments of the invention may operate in sequences other than those described or illustrated herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein may operate in combination and in cooperation, unless otherwise specified.

Furthermore, the various embodiments, even if referred to as “preferred” or “for example” or “for instance” or “in particular”, should be construed as illustrative ways in which the invention may be implemented rather than as limiting the scope of the invention.

The term “comprising”, as used in the claims, must not be construed as limited to the elements, characteristics, or phases listed below; other elements, characteristics, or steps cannot however be ruled out. It should be interpreted as specifying the presence of the characteristics, whole numbers/values, phases or components listed, but the presence or addition of one or more other characteristics, whole numbers/values, phases or components or groups thereof cannot be ruled out. Thus, the scope of the phrase “a method comprising the phase A and the phase B” should not be limited to the method consisting only of phase A and phase B, but rather, with respect to the present invention, the only enumerated phases of the method are A and B, and furthermore, the claim should be interpreted as comprising the equivalent elements of those phases. Furthermore, reference to an element or characteristic by the indefinite article “a” or “one” does not preclude the possibility that more than one element or characteristic is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements or of the characteristics. The indefinite article “a” or “one” thus usually means “at least one”.

A first aspect of the invention relates to an antimicrobial composition comprising: a) at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid; and b) ethyl lauroyl arginate;

The terms “monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid” and “monoglyceride” may be used interchangeably and both relate to glycerol mono-ester and a fatty acid. According to the invention, the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid is/are selected from a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, monoester of glycerol and capric acid, a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid, a monoester of glycerol and lauric acid and a monoester of glycerol and propionic acid.

In an embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises less than 0.6% by weight of nitrogen based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition and/or is phosphorus-free and/or is sulfur-free, preferably, the antimicrobial composition comprises less than 0.2% by weight of nitrogen based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition and is phosphorus-free and sulfur-free.

Generally, the pH of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention is between 4 and 10, preferably around 4.55.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent comprising the antimicrobial composition according to the invention and a diluent, preferably water.

Preferably, the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent according to the invention has at least one antimicrobial activity against one or more of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Legionella pneumophila.

A third aspect of the invention relates to the use of the disinfectant according to the invention in purifying air contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium, preferably in purifying air by means of purifying air in water tanks.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent according to the invention to decontaminate a surface contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium and/or to prevent contamination of a surface with a microbe such as a bacterium. One example is the use of the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent, wherein the surface is a surface of a body such as a human body, such as a human being’s hand.

A fifth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention in decontaminating an aqueous solution such as water contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium, wherein the antimicrobial composition is added to the aqueous solution at a concentration of at least 0.2% by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, preferably between 0.3% and 25% by weight, more preferably between 0.5% and 5% by weight, even more preferably between 0.7% and 4% by weight, such as 0.75% by weight, 1.5% by weight and 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution. Also within the scope of the invention is the use of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention in decontaminating an aqueous solution such as water contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium, comprising the phase of adding the antimicrobial to the aqueous solution at a final concentration of less than 0.2% by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, such as 0.15%, 0.125%, 0.1%, 0.075%, 0.05% or less, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, such as 0.025-0.2% by weight.

Preferably, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention has antimicrobial activity at least against Legionella pneumophila when the antimicrobial composition is used according to the invention.

It is specified that in the context of the present disclosure, the term “antimicrobial activity” has its standard scientific meaning throughout the text, and herein it relates to the activity that kills or blocks the growth of microorganisms.

Additionally, the term “vector” as used herein has its standard scientific meaning throughout the text and it relates to anything in which or on which contaminants, such as microorganisms, i.e. microbes such as bacteria, may be present and/or grow. Generally, such a vector is an aqueous solution, a gas such as air, an object, or a surface such as the surface of an object such as e.g. the surface of a ceiling, wall, floor, table, kitchen countertop, machinery, etc.

The term “surface” has its standard scientific meaning throughout the text, and here it relates to any part of an object that constitutes its outer layer, including flat surfaces such as floors, ceilings, door panels, glass panes, kitchen countertops, etc. but also other objects such as e.g. medical devices, fixtures, machinery, kitchen equipment, etc. In addition, the term “surface” relates to the surface of a body such as human body, like the skin of a human being’s hands. The term “contamination” as used herein relates to the undesirable presence of pathogens in or on an object, in an aqueous solution, or in a gas such as air.

The term “disinfectant” has its standard scientific meaning throughout the text, and herein it relates to an antimicrobial agent or solution that is, e.g., applied to a gas such as air, or to the surface of inanimate objects, for the purpose of destroying living microorganisms on such objects or preventing contamination of such objects by microbes such as bacteria.

The term “disinfection byproduct” has its standard scientific meaning throughout the text, and herein it relates to compounds resulting from (chemical) reactions between organic and inorganic matter in water during the water disinfection process.

The term “ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride” or “ethyl lauroyl arginate” has its standard scientific meaning throughout the text, and herein it relates to the substance with a wide range of antimicrobial activity and low toxicity formed from arginine and lauric acid, which are substances normally found in, e.g., food. The IUPAC name for ethyl lauroyl arginate is “ethyl (2S)-5- (diaminomethylideneamino)-2-(dodecanoylamino)pentanoate”.

The term “monoester” has its standard scientific meaning throughout the text, and herein it relates to an ester of a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol containing only one ester group.

The term “monoglyceride” has its standard scientific meaning throughout the text, and herein it relates to the class of glycerides that are composed of a glycerol molecule linked to an individual fatty acid through an ester bond.

The term “quaternary ammonium compound” has its standard scientific meaning throughout the text, and herein it relates to the compound formed by the alkylation of tertiary amines with a halocarbon.

The term “air purification in water tanks” as used herein relates to the air purification process consisting of letting the incoming air pass through a tank filled with water containing a disinfectant and expelling the air that has passed through the water and has been purified in the water.

In detail, the air stream to be purified is made to pass through a thin layer of water that cleanses it of particles and bacteria. This water is continuously re circulated in the air purification device provided with a collection tank. The microbial composition according to the present invention is used to treat the water in the tank and in piping, which would otherwise be loaded with bacteria and impurities, making the purification device itself a source of contamination. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first aspect of the invention relates to an antimicrobial composition comprising at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid and ethyl lauroyl arginate. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition is a liquid.

For example, the antimicrobial composition according to the present invention may be of the type of an aqueous solution.

In a preferred embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid has/have been selected out of a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, a monoester of glycerol and capric acid, a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid, a monoester of glycerol and lauric acid and a monoester of glycerol and propionic acid.

Herein, the 1 -monoesters and the 2-monoesters are in isomeric equilibrium, and at ambient temperature the equilibrium between the two esters is strongly in favor of the 1 -monoglycerides, which thus constitute the vast majority of the monoglycerol esters (about 95%). Preferably, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises two, three, four or five monoglycerol esters of a fatty acid, such as two or three or four out of a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, a monoester of glycerol and capric acid, a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid, a monoester of glycerol and lauric acid and a monoester of glycerol and propionic acid.

Preferably, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid comprises a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, a monoester of glycerol and capric acid, a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid, and a monoester of glycerol and propionic acid, and typically the antimicrobial composition contains these four monoglycerides.

In one embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid comprises: a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid present in a concentration by weight ranging from 5% to 25%, preferably from 5% to 20%, more preferably from 7% to 19%; and/or a monoester of glycerol and capric acid present in a concentration by weight ranging from 1% to 20%, preferably from 1% to 18%, more preferably from 5% to 15%; and/or a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid present in a concentration by weight ranging from 1% to 20%, preferably from 5% to 20%, more preferably from 5% to 17%; and/or a monoester of glycerol and propionic acid present in a concentration by weight ranging from 5% to 45%, preferably from 10% to 35%, more preferably from 15% to 30%; wherein the concentration by weight of monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

Even more preferably, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises at least one monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid, wherein the monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid comprises: a monoester of glycerol and butyric acid present in a concentration by weight ranging from 11% to 16%; and/or a monoester of glycerol and capric acid present in a concentration by weight ranging from 6% to 13%; and/or a monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid present in a concentration by weight ranging from 8% to 16%; and/or a monoester of glycerol and propionic acid present in a concentration by weight ranging from 17% to 27%; wherein the concentration by weight of a monoglycerol ester of a fatty acid is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

In particular, the ethyl lauroyl arginate included in the antimicrobial composition according to the invention is ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride, although other ethyl lauroyl arginate salts are also part of the invention, in that such ethyl lauroyl arginate salts are non-hazardous salts and are acceptable for use in an antimicrobial composition suitable for use in cleaning, decontamination, prevention of microbial growth, etc., of a surface that, for example, comes into contact with human skin, food and food products, surface water, etc. when applied and used regularly.

Typically, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride present in a concentration by weight ranging from 0.5% to 5%, preferably from 0.5% to 3.5%, more preferably from 0.5% to 1.5%, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

One embodiment is the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, wherein the antimicrobial composition also comprises at least one or more out of : a. glycerol, present in a concentration by weight preferably ranging from 20% to 60%, more preferably from 20% to 40%, even more preferably from 25% to 35%; b. one or more emulsifiers selected from the list comprising polysorbates, sucrose esters or monoglycerides of long chain fatty acids C14-C18, present in a concentration by weight preferably ranging from 1% to 30%, more preferably from 1% to 25%, even more preferably from 10% to 25%; c. lactic acid, present in a concentration by weight preferably ranging from 1% to 40%, more preferably from 10% to 30%, even more preferably from 15% to 28%; d. one or more oxidizing agents selected from the list comprising hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid and/or percarbonate present in a concentration by weight ranging from 10% to 30%, more preferably from 15% to 25%; wherein the amount of glycerol, one or more emulsifiers, lactic acid and one or more oxidizing agents is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

Preferably, the polysorbates are selected from the list comprising: polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60 and polysorbate 80.

Advantageously, the sucresters comprise glucose/fructose bound fatty acids comprising C12 to C16 chains.

Glycerol may be included by the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, for its activity as a humectant and/or the glycerol is included in the antimicrobial composition as a solvent, e.g., for monoglycerides, fatty acids or their salts and/or ethyl lauroyl arginate such as ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride.

Preferably, the antimicrobial composition comprises glycerol according to the invention.

Lactic acid may be included by the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, to adjust or set the pH of the antimicrobial composition to a desired value, e.g., about 4-10, and/or lactic acid is included in the antimicrobial composition as a solvent, for example for monoglycerides, fatty acids or their salts and/or ethyl lauroyl arginate such as ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition comprises lactic acid according to the invention.

In some embodiments, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention also comprises a fatty acid and/or a salt thereof, preferably two or more different fatty acids or salts thereof, such as three or four fatty acids and/or salts thereof. Typically, these fatty acids are saturated fatty acids having four to twelve carbon atoms (C4:0 - 02:0, such as C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, 00:0 and 02:0). Preferably, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention also comprises a fatty acid and/or a salt thereof, wherein the fatty acid is composed of one or more of butyric acid (butanoic acid, C4:0), capric acid (decanoic acid, 00:0), caprylic acid (octanoic acid, C8:0) and lauric acid (dodecanoic acid, 02:0). Typically, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises two or three or four out of butyric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid and lauric acid. In an embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises one or more fatty acids and/or a salt thereof out of: (a) butyric acid or a salt thereof ranging from 2% to 5% by weight, preferably ranging from 2% to 4% by weight, more preferably ranging from 3% to 4% by weight, even more preferably 3.4% by weight; (b) capric acid or a salt thereof ranging from 0.1% to 2% by weight, preferably ranging from 0.1% to 1% by weight, more preferably ranging from 0.1% to 0.5% by weight, even more preferably 0.3% by weight; (c) caprylic acid or a salt thereof ranging from 0.1% to 2% by weight, preferably ranging from 0.1% to 1% by weight, more preferably ranging from 0.1% to 0.5% by weight, even more preferably 0.3% by weight; and (d) lauric acid or a salt thereof ranging from 1% to 3% by weight, preferably ranging from 1% to 2% by weight, more preferably ranging from 1% to 1.5% by weight, even more preferably 1.4% by weight, wherein the amount of fatty acid and/or salt thereof is based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

A preferred embodiment is the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, comprising butyric acid and/or a salt thereof for about 3.4% by weight, capric acid and/or a salt thereof for about 0.3% by weight, caprylic acid and/or a salt thereof for about 0.3% by weight, lauric acid and/or a salt thereof for about 1.4% by weight, glycerol monoester and butyric acid for about 10% by weight, glycerol monoester and capric acid for about 1.4% by weight, monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid for about 1% by weight, monoester of glycerol and lauric acid for about 3.2% by weight, glycerol for about 52% by weight, propylene glycol for about 3% by weight, lauroyl-ethyl-arginate-HCl (ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride) acid for about 4% by weight, acetic acid for about 10% by weight, and water for about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition. An antimicrobial composition according to the invention contains 3.4% by weight of butyric acid and/or a salt thereof, 0.3% by weight of capric acid and/or a salt thereof, 0.3% by weight of caprylic acid and/or a salt thereof, 1.4% by weight of lauric acid and/or a salt thereof, 10% by weight of monoester of glycerol and butyric acid, 1.4% by weight of monoester of glycerol and capric acid, 1% by weight of monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid, 3.2% by weight of monoester of glycerol and lauric acid, 52% by weight of glycerol, 3% by weight of propylene glycol, 4% by weight of lauroyl-ethyl-arginate-HCl (ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride), 10% by weight of acetic acid and 10% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprises nitrogen for less than 0.6% by weight based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition and/or is phosphorus and/or sulfur free, preferably, the antimicrobial composition comprises nitrogen for less than 0.2% by weight based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition and is phosphorus and sulfur free. That is, unlike detergents commonly used in the prior art, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention is preferably phosphorus-free, preferably sulfur-free, and preferably nitrogen-free or comprises an amount of nitrogen less than 1% by weight based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition.

Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur are the main agents responsible for eutrophication. Eutrophication is the process in which a body of water becomes over-enriched in minerals and nutrients. This causes, among other things, the overgrowth of plants and algae and can lead to the depletion of oxygen in the body of water. Therefore, if left untreated, eutrophication will cause overgrowth of plants and algae, which in turn leads to the death from lack of oxygen of all organisms living in the body of water. Thus, by avoiding the application of phosphorus and sulfur in the antimicrobial composition, the risk of eutrophication of bodies of water due to this composition is reduced. In addition, the application of nitrogen in the antimicrobial composition only at relatively low doses helps to reduce the risk of eutrophication when water comes into contact with the composition to which the invention relates. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention has a pH ranging from 4 to 10, preferably from 4 to 8, more preferably from 4 to 6, even more preferably pH is 4.55. Generally, the pH of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention ranges from 4 to 5, such as e.g. about 4.55. In particular, the pH range of 4-10 is preferred for the antimicrobial composition according to the invention, since with pH below 4 and/or with pH above 10, the components of such a composition may decompose, such as de-esterification of monoglycerides. Furthermore, within the pH range of 4-10, the fatty acid salts applied to the antimicrobial composition according to the invention have a buffering property. Furthermore, within the preferred pH range of 4-10, such as 4.5-6, generally 4.55, the antimicrobial activity of the antimicrobial composition is optimal and the activity of its components is not impaired by too low a pH and/or too high a pH.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a disinfectant, sanitizer, detergent comprising the antimicrobial composition according to the invention and a diluent, preferably water. It is thus preferred that the disinfectant, sanitizer and detergent according to the invention be a fluid such as an aqueous solution. Generally, the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent according to the invention comprising the antimicrobial composition according to the invention comprise at least said antimicrobial composition for 0.2% by weight based on the total weight of the disinfectant, preferably from 0.3% to 25% by weight, more preferably from 0.5% to 5% by weight, even more preferably from 0.7% to 4% by weight, such as 0.75% by weight, 1.5% by weight and 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent. Preferably, the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent of the invention comprises for example the antimicrobial composition of the invention for about 0.375% by weight, based on the total weight of the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent, more preferably about 0.75% by weight or higher, such as about 0.75% by weight, about 1.5% by weight, about 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent.

In addition, the invention also relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention in decontaminating an aqueous solution such as water contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium, and comprises the phase of adding the antimicrobial to the aqueous solution at a final concentration of less than 0, 2% by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, such as 0.15%, 0.125%, 0.1%, 0.075%, 0.05% or less, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, such as 0.025-0.2% by weight.

An advantage of using the antimicrobial composition of the invention in water decontamination is that it does not contain elements known to be harmful to the environment and/or human health. Other products known to the art and which are used for water decontamination, i.e., for removing microorganisms from water by killing the microorganisms and/or preventing their growth in the water, contain QACs, or contain components that may form DBPs, or both. Both of these categories of compounds are harmful to the environment and/or human health. Furthermore, the antimicrobial composition according to the invention does not cause eutrophication in contaminated bodies of water treated with the antimicrobial composition, because the amount of nitrogen present in the antimicrobial composition is relatively low and/or because the antimicrobial composition of the invention is phosphorus-free and/or sulfur-free. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition of the invention does not comprise phosphorus, does not contain sulfur, and comprises nitrogen in a minimal amount, i.e., nitrogen for less than 0.6% by weight based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition, such as, e.g., nitrogen for about 0.2% by weight.

In a preferred embodiment, the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent of the invention have antimicrobial activity against one or more of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Legionella pneumophila. Preferably, the disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent of the invention do have antimicrobial activity towards at least two or more, such as two, three or four out of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Legionella pneumophila. Generally, the disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent of the invention is capable of killing all four of the pathogens Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Legionella pneumophila.

A third aspect of the invention relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the use of the disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent of the invention, comprising said antimicrobial composition in the purification of air contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium, preferably in the purification of air by means of a water tank.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the use of the disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent of the invention, comprising said antimicrobial composition, in decontaminating a surface contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium and/or preventing contamination of a surface by a microbe such as a bacterium. One example is the use of the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent, wherein the surface is a surface of a body such as a human body, such as a human hand.

A fifth aspect of the invention relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the use of the disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent of the invention, comprising the antimicrobial composition, in decontaminating an aqueous solution such as water contaminated with a microbe such as a bacterium, mold or yeast or preventing an aqueous solution such as water from being contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium, mold or yeast, wherein the antimicrobial composition or the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent is added to the aqueous solution at a concentration of at least 0.2% by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, preferably ranging from 0.3% to 25% by weight, more preferably from 0.5% to 5% by weight, even more preferably from 0.7% to 4% by weight, such as 0.75% by weight, 1.5% by weight and 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution.

Preferably, the antimicrobial composition is applied at a final concentration of about 0.375% by weight or about 0.75% by weight based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, when used for the decontamination of said aqueous solution and/or when used to prevent the aqueous solution from being contaminated or even invaded by microbes such as bacteria, according to the invention. Alternatively, the use of the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the use of the disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent of the invention, comprising said antimicrobial composition in decontaminating an aqueous solution such as water contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium, a mold or yeast, or to prevent an aqueous solution such as water from being contaminated by a microbe such as a bacterium, mold or yeast, wherein the antimicrobial composition or the disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent is added to the aqueous solution at a concentration of 0.25% or less by weight of the antimicrobial composition based on the total weight of the aqueous solution, preferably ranging from 0.01% to 0.25% by weight, more preferably ranging from 0.025% to 0.2% by weight, even more preferably ranging from 0.05% to 0.15% by weight, such as 0.075% by weight, 0.1% by weight and 0.125% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous solution. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition of the invention or the disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent of the invention, applied for this use according to the invention carries out antimicrobial activity at least against Legionella pneumophila.

Of course, it is even more preferable that the antimicrobial composition or the disinfectant, sanitizer and detergent comprising said antimicrobial composition carries out antimicrobial activity against other microbes such as one or more of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica.

Legionella pneumophila is one of the major hazards in water systems. It can cause serious illness in humans, which in some cases can even be fatal. Removing this contaminant from a water system would greatly improve the safety of using that water in an environment where humans will come into contact with it.

One advantage of the disinfectant, sanitizer and detergent of the invention is that the composition according to the invention, as mentioned above, does not comprise compounds that can produce DBPs, nor does it contain QACs, meaning that there are no health and environmental risks associated with these compounds in the composition of the disinfectant, sanitizer and detergent of the invention. Thus, the disinfectant, sanitizer and detergent of the invention have the advantage over commercially available disinfectants, sanitizers and detergents in that they do not pose these health and environmental hazards. Another advantage of using the antimicrobial composition of the invention in the disinfectant, sanitizer and detergent of the invention is that the composition of the invention uses monoglycerides instead of commonly used free fatty acids. The effectiveness of the monoglycerides is based entirely on their antimicrobial activity. It has been ascertained that the use of monoglycerides therefore increases the effectiveness of the disinfectant, sanitizer and detergent of the invention compared to disinfectants, sanitizers and detergents containing free fatty acids.

Commonly available disinfectants, sanitizers and detergents often include nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. These three elements represent the main causes of eutrophication, as explained above.

Surprisingly, the inventors found that not introducing phosphorus and sulfur into the composition and using only a relatively low concentration of nitrogen had no adverse effect on the antimicrobial activity of the antimicrobial composition of the invention.

The inventors surprisingly found that the use of the disinfectant of the invention in a purification system of air in water tanks is beneficial to the quality of the purified air leaving the air purification system and entering a room in which the air purification system operates. Accumulation of microbial contaminants can occur in the water tank of the air purification system through which the air is carried as part of the purification process. These contaminating microbes may in turn be carried into the environment, e.g., into a room, by this air exiting the air purification system. The addition of the antimicrobial composition of the invention to the water tank of the air purifier significantly improved the quality of the purified air exiting the system, when compared to the microbial load of the purified air in a similar system using commercially available disinfectants in the water. The inventors found that the use of the disinfectant, sanitizer and detergent of the invention on contaminated surfaces can slow down the new contamination of said surface after the preliminary cleaning of the surface with the disinfectant, sanitizer, or detergent. Furthermore, the disinfectant, sanitizer, or detergent of the invention is also capable of effectively eliminating all contamination by microorganisms by means of the cleaning of a contaminated surface with said disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent.

The observed decontamination activity and prevention of re-contamination activity of the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent of the invention comprising the antimicrobial composition of the invention is useful in applications where contaminated surfaces are considered hazardous, such as surfaces used in food processing and packaging, or exposed surfaces in a medical environment such as hospital floors, operating rooms, installation surfaces, etc. and the application of the disinfectant, sanitizer or detergent of the invention increases the period of time after which the cleaning of a previously cleaned surface becomes necessary again.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the disinfectant, the sanitizer and/or the detergent is active against one or more out of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and/or Legionella pneumophila. All of these pathogens are capable of infecting humans and causing serious illness in a human host. The pathogens can be transmitted to humans through contaminated vectors such as the surface of an item, an object, such as a floor, a desk, a door handle, etc., and it is therefore of the utmost importance to prevent or eliminate contamination with these pathogens in or on these vectors. The inventors now provide an efficient and effective disinfectant, sanitizer and detergent able to prevent the growth of these pathogens to a large extent, or clean a surface from these pathogens, such as e.g. the hands of a human being.

The disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent of the invention is microbiologically active against at least the above four types of pathogens, and thereby the disinfectant, sanitizer and/or detergent is an aid in the prevention of the proliferation of surfaces by these pathogens or the elimination of these pathogens contaminating a certain surface.

While the invention has been described by means of various embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations and their equivalents will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the specifications. The invention is in no way limited to the illustrated and described embodiments. Modifications may be made without departing from the scope which is defined by the attached claims.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

Preparation of an exemplary antimicrobial composition: antimicrobial composition (COMPOSITION A). An antimicrobial composition has been created for use in the following examples, and is referred to as “COMPOSITION A”. The antimicrobial composition COMPOSITION A comprises the following components:

• monoester of glycerol and butyric acid at 15% by weight

• monoester of glycerol and capric acid at 11.48% by weight · monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid at 14.02% by weight

• monoester of glycerol and propionic acid at 25.55% by weight

• glycerol at 32.95% by weight

• ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride at 1% by weight (LAE®; Vedeqsa, Barcelona, Spain) all based on the total weight of the antimicrobial composition COMPOSITION

A.

LAE® is also marketed as MIRENAT® or AMINAT® and is ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride.

Example 1 A series of experiments were conducted to compare the activity of an exemplary antimicrobial composition, referred to as COMPOSITION A, when applied as a disinfectant or when applied in the preparation of a disinfectant.

For example, the antimicrobial activity of diluted COMPOSITION A was compared to the antimicrobial activity of a control antimicrobial composition, hereinafter referred to as “CONTROL” and comprising:

• butyric acid or salts thereof at 3.4% by weight

• capric acid or salts thereof at 0.3% by weight

• caprylic acid or salts thereof at 0.3% by weight

• lauric acid or salts thereof at 1.4% by weight

• monoester of glycerol and butyric acid at 10% by weight

• monoester of glycerol and capric acid at 1.4% by weight

• monoester of glycerol and caprylic acid at 1 % by weight

• monoester of glycerol and lauric acid at 3.2% by weight

• glycerol at 52% by weight

• propylene glycol at 3% by weight

• ethyl lauroyl arginate hydrochloride at 4% by weight (LAE®; Vedeqsa, Barcelona, Spain)

• acetic acid at 10% by weight

• water at 10% by weight, all based on the total weight of the CONTROL antimicrobial composition.

In detail, the antimicrobial activity of COMPOSITION A was tested against four different pathogenic bacteria: Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. At least Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium which are linked to food poisoning. The Broth Dilution Test was used to determine the susceptibility or resistance of pathogenic aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria to diluted COMPOSITION A, i.e. a “DISINFECTANT A”, or “DETERGENT A” with respect to the CONTROL composition.

For this experiment, COMPOSITION A and the CONTROL composition were diluted in a Muller-Hilton Agar (Sigma Aldrich) medium so as to obtain an ENRICHED MEDIUM A and an ENRICHED MEDIUM CONTROL, respectively, at a final concentration ranging from 1.5% to 0.1875% by weight based on the total weight of each enriched medium. ENRICHED MEDIUM A and ENRICHED MEDIUM CONTROL were divided into tubes containing aliquots of 9 mL each and sterili ed.

Subsequently, 1 mL of a saline solution with a microbial load of lxlO ⁷ of one of these four pathogens Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica was inoculated into both the tubes containing ENRICHED MEDIUM A and the tubes containing ENRICHED MEDIUM CONTROL. The tubes were then incubated at 30°C for 24 hours.

The optical density of the ENRICHED MEDIUM A and of the ENRICHED MEDIUM CONTROL at 600 nm after incubation revealed whether the turbidity of the medium had increased and therefore whether the pathogenic strains were able to multiply.

The presence or absence of growth of the individually tested pathogens will indicate whether the antimicrobial compositions COMPOSITION A, now ENRICHED MEDIUM A, and CONTROL COMPOSITION, now ENRICHED MEDIUM CONTROL have the ability to inhibit the growth of particular pathogens and at what concentration.

The results of these measurements are shown in table 1. Table 1

After incubation for 24 hours at 30°C, it was observed that COMPOSITION A was surprisingly effective in inhibiting Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni compared to CONTROL COMPOSITION. In fact, the CONTROL COMPOSITION inhibited the proliferation of Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni from a concentration of 0.75%, while COMPOSITION A inhibited Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni from a concentration of 0.375%.