Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a cleaning composition. Particularly, the present invention relates to a cleaning composition for removing germs from a surface.

Background of the invention

There are several instances where consumers, in day-to-day activities, e.g. personal care, laundry and household care, make use of cleaning compositions. For example, with a desire of taking good care of themselves, consumers tend to make use of cleaning compositions e.g. skin cleansing compositions, oral care compositions and hair care compositions to clean surfaces like skin e.g. skin of hands and face, oral cavity and hairs. Likewise, with a desire of taking care of surfaces e.g. fabrics, household hard surfaces and surroundings, they often make use of cleaning compositions e.g. laundry compositions, fabric conditioning compositions and hard surface cleaning compositions. Household care typically includes cleaning of hard surfaces e.g. utensils, dishes, sinks, platforms, kitchen tops, tiles, floors, toilets, cupboards, doors, machines like dishwash machines, washing machines.

Typically, a surface is cleaned by applying a cleaning composition in neat or diluted form often followed by cleaning the surface with a suitable means like e.g. a brush, a scrub, a sponge, a paper, a cloth, wipes and simply by using hands. Optionally, the cleaning activity involves rinsing the surface with water. For example, surfaces like skin e.g. hands, are often cleaned by taking certain amount of a cleaning composition on pre-wetted hands, rubbing them together and rinsing with water. On the other hand, hard surfaces such as toilets and floors, are typically cleaned by applying on to them, a hard surface cleaning composition, in neat or diluted form followed by cleaning the hard surface with suitable means either immediately or after certain time and optionally, but typically, followed by rinsing the hard surface with water. At times, hard surfaces may also be cleaned just by applying a composition to the surface and leaving it there.

Typically, surfaces e.g. fabrics, are cleaned by contacting it with a laundry composition either in neat or diluted form, rinsing it with water one or more times e.g. thrice and drying it. After contacting with a cleaning composition, a fabric is cleaned by mechanically agitating it using hands and/or by using suitable cleaning means e.g. a brush, in so-called hand-wash method. Alternatively, in so-called machine-wash method, a fabric is cleaned by mechanically agitations carried out by a machine. In either case, a step of pre-soaking a fabric, in a neat or diluted detergent composition, may be carried out for a desired duration e.g. 30 to 60 minutes. The step of drying may also be carried out by using machines; or simply by exposing the fabric to air.

Particles that may be present in the air e.g. pollen grains, dust and dirt tend to settle on surfaces mentioned above. In addition, germs or microbes e.g. bacteria, fungi, spores and viruses, that are present in the air, also tend to settle on these surfaces. These microbes tend to thrive when they come in to contact with substances e.g. sweat. As a result, microbial growth and/or microbial secretions, lead to problems e.g. leaving behind stains or spots which tend to affect appearance of a fabric, creation of unhygienic conditions due to thriving germs; and at times, generation of malodour. It is for reasons like these, removing germs from a fabric surface becomes necessary. On the other hand, these microbes, settled on surfaces like skin, may enter the human body through cuts in the skin or during ingestion and may cause ill-effects. It is for such reasons, removal of germs from surfaces e.g. hands, becomes necessary.

Ingredient e.g. surfactants and organic acids like citric acid and lactic acid contained in cleaning compositions are primarily used for the cleaning function they offer. However, they are also able to remove germs to certain extent. But such cleaning compositions may not necessarily provide optimal germ removal. On the other hand, organic acids e.g. citric acid and lactic acid that may be present in a cleaning composition, show antibacterial action, but on their own may not display a broad-spectrum germ removal e.g. a broad-spectrum antibacterial action, i.e. act against both gram-negative bacteria (e.g. E. coli and P. aeruginosa) and gram-positive bacteria (e.g. S. aureus and E. hirae). Additionally, germ removal efficacy tends to reduce when cleaning compositions are used in diluted conditions e.g. whilst doing laundry where typically, 1 part of a cleaning composition is mixed with 200 parts of water. As a result, germs may remain adhered to a surface which may give rise to one or more problems such as those mentioned above.

Need therefore exists for providing a cleaning composition that provides improved germ removal from a surface. Need also exists for providing a cleaning composition that provides a broad-spectrum germ removal effect. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning composition that provides improved germ removal from a surface. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning composition that provides a broad-spectrum germ removal effect. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning composition that provides germ removal at higher dilutions e.g. 1 :200.

It has now been found that a cleaning composition comprising an ethoxylated amine of select type along with one or more co-surfactants selected from a select nonionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant and one or more organic acids in certain pKa range, provides improved germ removal from a surface. It has also been found that said cleaning composition provides a broad-spectrum germ removal effect. It has also been found that said cleaning composition provides optimal germ removal from a surface even at higher dilutions e.g. 1 :200.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a cleaning composition comprising: a. from 0.1 to 10 wt% surfactant of type ethoxylated amine with saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having carbon atoms in the range from 12 to 22; and 1 to 50 ethoxylate groups, b. from 0.25 to 20 wt% one or more co-surfactant selected from: i. a nonionic surfactant of type ethoxylated fatty alcohol with 1 to 10 ethoxylate groups, ii. an amphoteric surfactant; and c. from 0.1 to 20 wt% of one or more organic acid having pKa in the range from 2.5 to 5.5.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method of removing germs from a surface by a. contacting the surface with the composition of the first aspect for a duration from 15 seconds to 60 minutes, b. optionally rinsing it with water; and c. optionally drying the surface.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to use of the composition of the first aspect for removing germs from a surface. Detailed description of the invention

Any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilized in any other aspect of the invention. The word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of’ or “composed of.” In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about”. Numerical ranges expressed in the format "from x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. Unless specified otherwise, amounts as used herein are expressed in percentage by weight based on total weight of the composition and is abbreviated as “wt%”. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language e.g. “such as” provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not in any way limit the scope of the invention otherwise claimed.

For the purposes of the present invention, it will be understood that phrases such as ‘removal of germs from a surface’ ‘sanitizing a surface’ and ‘imparting hygiene to a surface’ may be used interchangeably and all these phrases denote the same meaning.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a cleaning composition comprising: a. from 0.1 to 10 wt% surfactant of type ethoxylated amine with saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having carbon atoms in the range from 12 to 22; and 1 to 50 ethoxylate groups, b. from 0.25 to 20 wt% one or more co-surfactant selected from: i. a nonionic surfactant of type ethoxylated fatty alcohol with 1 to 10 ethoxylate groups, ii. an amphoteric surfactant; and c. from 0.1 to 20 wt% of one or more organic acid having pKa in the range from 2.5 to 5.5.

A cleaning composition A cleaning composition according to the present invention (the composition) is preferably a laundry composition, a hard surface cleaning composition e.g. toilet cleaners, surface cleaners and multipurpose cleaners. Alternatively, the composition is preferably a skin cleansing composition e.g. hand wash composition and a face wash composition and a hair care composition.

Ethoxylated amine

The composition comprises ethoxylated amine with saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having carbon atoms in the range from 12 to 22; and 1 to 50 ethoxylate (EO) groups (ethoxylated amine).

A general structure of ethoxylated amine is as follows: where R is the alkyl chain, number of carbon atom and degree of unsaturation in alkyl chain vary depending on type of ethoxylated amine, m and n represent the number of ethoxylate present in ethoxylated amine.

By ‘saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having carbon atoms in the range from 12 to 22’, it will be understood that the alkyl chain attached to the ethoxylated amine may also contain a mixture of alkyl groups e.g. C12, C14, C16, C18, C20 and C22 in varying proportions; and they may be saturated or unsaturated.

The ethoxylated amine comprises from 1 to 50, preferably from 1 to 30, more preferably from 1 to 15, even more preferably from 1 to 10, further more preferably from 1 to 7, still more preferably 1 to 5 and most preferably 1 to 2 EO groups.

Suitable examples of ethoxylated amine include cocoamine ethoxylates, oleyl amine ethoxylates, tallow amine ethoxylates; and their blends too, are suitable to be used for this application.

Suitable ethoxylated amine may or may not be hydrogenated. Preferably, the ethoxylated amine is not hydrogenated. Preferably, the ethoxylated amine is selected from the group:

Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) coco alkylamine (commercially available as Ethomeen C/12; from Nouyron),

Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) oleyl amine (commercially available as Ethomeen 0/12 from Nouyron),

Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) tallow alkylamine (commercially available as Ethomeen T/12 from Nouyron),

Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) hydrogenated tallow alkylamine (commercially available as Ethomeen HT/12 from Nouyron), Bis(2-hydroxylethyl) soyaalkylamines (commercially available as Ethomeen S/12 from Nouyron),

Ethoxylated (7) Cocoalkylamine (commercially available as Ethomeen C/17 (from Nouryon),

Polyoxyethylene (15) tallowalkylamines (commercially available as Ethomeen T/25 (from Nouryon),

Hydrogenated Tallow Amine 50 EO (commercially available as Ethomeen HT/60 (from Nouryon) and combinations thereof.

More preferably, the ethoxylated amine that may be present in the composition is PEG- 2-oleyl amine commercially available as Ethomeen 0/12 (from Nouyron).

The composition comprises from 0.1 to 10 wt%, preferably from 0.25 to 8 wt%, more preferably from 0.5 to 6 wt%, even more preferably from 0.75 to 5 wt%, further more preferably from 0.75 to 3 wt%, still more preferably 0.75 to 1 .5 wt% and yet more preferably from 0.75 to 1 wt% ethoxylated amine.

Co-surfactants

The composition comprises one or more co-surfactant selected from a nonionic surfactant of type ethoxylated fatty alcohol with 1 to 10 ethoxylate groups and an amphoteric surfactant.

Nonionic surfactant

The fatty part of the nonionic surfactant is preferably made up of 8 to 18, more preferably of 10 to 18, even more preferably of 10 to 16 and further more preferably of 12 to 15 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration. The ethoxylate groups are in the range from 1 to 10, preferably from 2 to 9, more preferably from 3 to 8, even more preferably from 5 to 7 per mole of fatty alcohol.

Examples of suitable nonionic surfactant include lauryl or myristyl alcohol condensed with 7 moles of EO, tridecanol condensed with 6 moles of EO, myristyl alcohol condensed with 10 moles of EO per mole of myristyl alcohol, the condensation product of EO with a cut of coconut fatty alcohol containing a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying from 10 to 14 carbon atoms in length and wherein the condensate contains either 6 moles of EO per mole of alcohol or 9 moles of EO per mole of alcohol and tallow alcohol ethoxylates containing 6 to 10 EO per mole of alcohol.

The nonionic surfactant selected may be such that it comprises a mixture of fatty alcohols e.g. a mixture of C12, C13, C14 and C15 in varying proportions along with 1 to 10 ethoxylate groups. Such nonionic surfactants are commercially available under NEODOL™ series from Shell. For example, NEODOL™ 91-51 which is a mixture of C9, C10 and C11 with 5 EO; NEODOL™ 91 -61 which is a mixture of C9, C10 and C11 with

6 EO; NEODOL™ 91-8 which is a mixture of C9, C10, and C11 with 8 EO; NEODOL™ 23-2 which is a mixture of C12 and C13 with 2 EO; NEODOL™ 25-3 which is a mixture of C12, C13, C14 and C15 with 3 EO; NEODOL™ 25-7 which is a mixture of C12, C13, C14 and C15 with 7 EO; and NEODOL™ 45-7 which is a mixture of C14 and C15 with

7 EO. Particularly preferred nonionic surfactant is a mixture of C12, C13, C14 and C15 with 7 EO.

Amphoteric surfactant

Particular examples of amphoteric surfactants include cocodiethanol amide and cocomonoethanol amide, cocoamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and amine oxide surfactants having Suitable amine oxide surfactants include C8-C18 alkyl dimethyl amine oxide e.g. lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, coco amido propyl amine oxide. A preferred amphoteric surfactant that may be used in the composition is CAPB, lauryl dimethyl amine oxide and mixtures thereof.

The composition comprises a co-surfactant from 0.25 to 20 wt%, preferably from 0.5 to 15 wt%, more preferably from 1 to 10 wt%, even more preferably from 2 to 8 wt%, further more preferably from 2 to 6 wt%, still more preferably from 2 to 4 wt% cosurfactant. Preferably, the total active detergent present in the composition is maximum 30 wt%, more preferably maximum 25 wt%, further more preferably maximum 20 wt%.

Organic acids

The composition comprises one or more organic acid having pKa in the range from 1 to 5.5.

Preferably, one or more organic acids may be selected from citric acid (pKai = 3.1), lactic acid (pka = 3.86), acetic acid (pKa = 4.76), malonic acid (pKa = 2.85), adipic acid (pKa = 4.43), glutaric acid (pKa = 3.76), glycolic acid (pKa = 3.83) and maleic acid (pKa = 1 .9), succinic acid (pKa = 4.2), malic acid (pKa = 3.4), tartaric acid (for L+ pKa = 2.89; and for meso pKa = 3.22), hexanoic acid (pKa = 4.88), cyclohexanoic acid (pKa = 4.82), heptanoic acid (pKa = 4.8), octanoic acid (pKa = 4.89), 4-methyl octanoic acid (pKa = 5.23), nonanoic acid (pKa = 4.95), decanoic acid (pKa = 4.9), benzoic acid (pKa = 4.2) and 4-methoxy benzoic acid (pKa = 4.37).

More preferably, one or more organic acids are selected from citric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid and mixtures thereof. Even more preferably, an organic acid is selected from lactic acid, glycolic acid and mixtures thereof. Most preferably, the organic acid selected is glycolic acid.

The composition comprises from 0.1 to 20 wt%, preferably from 0.5 to 18 wt%, more preferably from 1 to 16 wt%, even more preferably from 3 to 16 wt%, further more preferably from 4 to 15 wt%, still more preferably from 7 to 12 wt% and yet more preferably from 8 to 10 wt% of one or more organic acid.

Preferably, the composition further comprises a chelating agent. A chelating agent may be selected from glutamic acid di-acetate tetra sodium salt (GLDA), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), carboxymethyl inulin (CMI), ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), phosphonic acid and mixtures thereof. Chelating agent are preferably used in the composition to restore possible loss of efficacy due to hard water. More preferably, a chelating agent is selected from MGDA and GLDA. Preferably, the composition comprises from 0.1 to 10 wt%, more preferably from 0.25 to 5 wt% and even more preferably 0.5 to 3 wt% chelating agents. pH of the composition

Preferably, the composition has pH in the range from 2.0 to 4.0, more preferably from 2.5 to 3.5, even more preferably from 3.0 to 3.5. The pH of the composition may be adjusted using suitable pH adjusting agents e.g. hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. It has been observed that the removal of germs at this pH range is vastly improved as compared to a composition at higher pH ranges. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the present inventors believe that using organic acids having a pKa in the range of 2.5 to 5.5 is most efficacious in germ removal at this low pH range. Further they have found that ethoxylated amine and the amphoteric surfactant when it is amine oxide are found to contribute more in germ removal at this pH range.

Water

Preferably, the composition comprises water in an amount ranging from 50 to 98 wt%, more preferably from 60 to 97 wt%, even more preferably from 70 to 96 wt%, further more preferably from 70 to 94 wt%, still more preferably from 74 to 93 wt%, yet more preferably from 75 to 92 wt%, still further more preferably from 75 to 91 and yet further more preferably 80 to 90 wt% water.

Solvent

Preferably the composition comprises from 0 to 0.1 wt% solvent having a flash point of up to 15 °C, more preferably up to 20 °C and even more preferably up to 30 °C. An example of such a solvent is isopropyl alcohol having a flash point of 11 .7 °C. More preferably the composition is free of solvent having a flash point of up to 15 °C, more preferably up to 20 °C and even more preferably up to 30 °C.

Alkylbenzene sulphonates (ABS)

Alkylbenzene sulphonates (ABS) and derivatives thereof include water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphonates having alkyl radicals typically containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms, still more preferably 12 to 15 carbon atoms and may be saturated or unsaturated. Examples include sodium salt of linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, alkyl toluene sulphonate, alkyl xylene sulphonate, alkyl phenol sulphonate, alkyl naphthalene-sulphonate, ammonium diamylnaphthalene- sulphonate and sodium dmonylnaphthalene-sulphonate and mixtures with olefin sulphonates. Preferably the composition is free of any sulphonated surfactant.

Benzalkonium chloride (BKC)

Preferably, the composition comprises benzalkonium chloride (BKC) in an amount less than 0.1 wt%. Preferably the composition comprises BKC from 0 to 0.1 wt%.

Accordingly, the composition is preferably an aqueous laundry composition comprising: a. from 0.1 to 10 wt% surfactant of type ethoxylated amine with saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having carbon atoms in the range from 12 to 22; and 1 to 50 ethoxylate groups, b. from 0.25 to 20 wt% one or more co-surfactant selected from: i. a nonionic surfactant of type ethoxylated fatty alcohol with 1 to 10 ethoxylate groups; and ii. an amphoteric surfactant, c. from 0.1 to 20 wt% of one or more organic acid having pKa in the range from 2.5 to 5.5.

Alternatively, the composition is preferably a hard surface cleaning composition comprising: a. from 0.1 to 10 wt% surfactant of type ethoxylated amine with saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having carbon atoms in the range from 12 to 22; and 1 to 50 ethoxylate groups, b. from 0.25 to 20 wt% one or more co-surfactant selected from: i. a nonionic surfactant of type ethoxylated fatty alcohol with 1 to 10 ethoxylate groups; and ii. an amphoteric surfactant, c. from 0.1 to 20 wt% of one or more organic acid having pKa in the range from 2.5 to 5.5.

Alternatively, the composition is preferably a skin cleansing composition e.g. a hand and a face wash composition, comprising: a. from 0.1 to 10 wt% surfactant of type ethoxylated amine with saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having carbon atoms in the range from 12 to 22; and 1 to 50 ethoxylate groups, b. from 0.25 to 20 wt% one or more co-surfactant selected from: i. a nonionic surfactant of type ethoxylated fatty alcohol with 1 to 10 ethoxylate groups; and ii. an amphoteric surfactant, c. from 0.1 to 20 wt% of one or more organic acid having pKa in the range from 2.5 to 5.5.

Product application

The composition may be used as is, i.e. neat, or the composition may be diluted with water before use depending on whether it is a laundry composition, a hard surface cleaning composition or a skin cleansing composition. For example, if the composition is a laundry composition or a skin cleansing composition, preferably it is used in its diluted form. If applied in a diluted form, the composition is preferably diluted with water to a ratio 1 :1000, more preferably to 1 :500, even more preferably 1 :300, further more preferably 1 :275, still more preferably 1 :200, yet more preferably 1 :100 and still further more preferably 1 :50. Alternatively, if the composition is a hard surface cleaning composition, then preferably, it is applied in either neat or diluted form, more preferably in neat form. For example, the composition in its neat form may be sprayed or applied on to a hard surface e.g. floor or a toilet, to be sanitized.

Optional ingredients

The composition may optionally comprise other ingredients, such as fragrance and a preservative.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method of removing germs from a surface by a. contacting the surface with the composition of the first aspect for a duration from 15 seconds to 60 minutes, b. optionally rinsing it with water; and c. optionally drying the surface.

Step a

In step a, a surface is contacted with the composition of the first aspect for a duration from 15 seconds to 60 minutes, preferably from 1 to 50 minutes, more preferably from 2 to 40 minutes, further more preferably from 5 to 30 minutes and still more preferably from 10 to 20 minutes.

Step b, the rinsing step, may optionally be carried out. If carried out, the rinsing step may be carried out preferably for once, more preferably twice or thrice, by rinsing a surface with water.

Step c:

Step c, the drying step, may be optionally carried out. If carried out, it may be carried out using a drying machine or simply exposing a surface to air until it is dry. Alternatively, a surface may be wiped off with a suitable mean e.g. a cloth and a wiper.

Preferably, the method of the second aspect is a method of removing gems from a fabric by a. contacting the fabric with the composition of the first aspect for a duration from 10 to 60 minutes, b. rinsing it with water; and c. drying the fabric.

In this case, step a may be caried out preferably for a duration from 10 to 60 minutes, more preferably from 15 to 40 minutes and even more preferably from 15 to 30 minutes. Step a may be carried out before or after the fabric is cleaned with laundry compositions commercially available. For example, a soiled fabric or a pre-cleaned fabric may be contacted with the composition where 50 mL of the composition is added to 5000 mL of water for 10 minutes before rinsing step (step b) is carried out. Preferably, in case of hand-wash method, step a is carried out at water temperature e. g. by using water which is at 25°C. Preferably, in case of machine-wash, the composition is added to a compartment of a washing machine e.g. a compartment of dispensing fabric conditioner, at the start of the washing machine cycle; and carrying out the wash cycle as usual. Preferably, in case of machine-wash step a may be carried out at a temperature e.g. 30°C or 40°C, that may be set in a machine. Alternatively, step a may be carried out during the main wash. In other words, the composition may be used during the main wash in addition to or instead of laundry composition available commercially. Step b:

In any case, step b, the rinsing step, is carried out preferably once, more preferably twice or thrice, by rinsing the fabric with water. Preferably, step b is carried out at water temperature or at a temperature that may be set in a machine (in case of a machinewash).

Step c:

Preferably, step c is carried out either using a machine drying or simply exposing the fabric to air, until it is dry. Preferably, step c, is carried out at an ambient temperature, alternatively; step c may be carried out at temperatures e.g. 40°C and 50°C, that may be set in a washing machine or a drying machine.

When a fabric is contacted with the composition according to the method of the second aspect, germs are removed from the fabric. For example, when contacted with the composition according the method of the second aspect, preferably more than 90%, more preferably more than 95% and even more preferably more than 99.9% germs e.g. bacteria, are removed from the fabric.

A fabric e.g. clothes, apparels, face masks, overcoats and gloves, may be contacted with the composition according to the method of second aspect.

Alternatively, but preferably, the method of the second aspect is a method of removing gems from a hard surface by a. contacting the hard surface with the composition of the first aspect for a duration from 15 seconds to 30 minutes, b. optionally rinsing it with water; and c. optionally drying the surface.

In this case, preferably, step a is carried out by contacting a hard surface e. g. utensils, dishes, sinks, platforms, kitchen tops, tiles, floors, toilets, cupboards, doors, machines like dishwash machines and washing machines, with the composition of the first aspect for a duration from 15 seconds to 30 min, more preferably from 30 seconds to 20 minutes, even more preferably from 1 to 15 minutes, further more preferably from 2 to 10 minutes and still more preferably from 5 to 10 minutes. Optionally but preferably, step b is carried out once or twice by rinsing the hard surface. Alternatively, if the composition is sprayed on a hard surface, it may be wiped with suitable means e.g. a cloth and a wiper instead of rinsing it with water. In either case, the surface is dried preferably by leaving it open to the air.

Alternatively, but preferably, the method of the second aspect is a method of removing germs from the human skin e.g. from hands and face, by a. contacting the skin with the composition of the first aspect for a duration from 15 seconds to 5 minutes, b. rinsing it with water; and c. optionally drying the skin.

In this case, preferably, step a is carried out by contacting the human skin e. g. hands and face, with the composition of the first aspect for a duration from 15 seconds to 5 min, more preferably from 30 seconds to 4 minutes, further more preferably from 1 to 3 minutes and yet more preferably from 1 to 2 minutes. For example, the method may be used for removing germs from hands by contacting the pre-wetted hands for 15 seconds with 1 to 5 mL of the composition followed by rubbing the hands together so as to spread the composition uniformly over the entire surface of hands and create foam at the same time. Thereafter, step b, the rinsing step, is preferably carried out by rinsing the hands with water until the composition and/or the foam created in step a is removed completely. Lastly, step c, the drying step, is preferably carried out by drying the skin with suitable means e.g. a towel or by leaving it open to the air.

When a surface is contacted with the composition of the first aspect for a duration from 15 seconds to 60 minutes, optionally followed by rinsing and optionally followed by drying, germs e.g. bacteria, are removed from the surface. Preferably, more than 99% germs are removed from the surface, more preferably more than 99.9% germs are removed from the surface.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to use of the composition according to the first aspect for removing germs from a surface.

When a surface is contacted with the composition according to the first aspect, either neat or in diluted form, for a duration from 15 seconds to 60 min, optionally followed by rinsing and optionally followed by drying, germs e.g. bacteria, are removed from the surface. Preferably, more than 99% germs are removed from the surface, more preferably more than 99.9% germs are removed from the surface.

Examples

Protocols:

Germ removal efficacy of the composition along with a control composition shown in table 1 below were carried out using EN 1276 protocol for estimating antimicrobial efficacy. Soil conditions clean were created with 0.03% Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA); and dirty conditions were created by using 0.3% BSA with a contact time of 10 min. The following organisms used were as test organisms:

- Gram positive bacteria:

• Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538); and

• Enterococcus hirae (AT CC 10541),

- Gram negative bacteria:

• Escherichia coll (ATCC 10536); and

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442).

Differential media was used for enumerating the test organisms (to eliminate the growth of Bacillus along with the test organism).

Preparation of test organism suspension:

From a 24 hours old plate culture (not more than 3 passages), a saline suspension of the above-mentioned test organisms was made. The optical density of the saline suspension was adjusted at 620 nm to obtain 10 ⁸ cells/ mL in tryptone sodium chloride solution. All glycerol stocks of bacteria were maintained at -80°C; and were revived just before the carrying out the experiments.

Preparation of test product dilution:

The compositions shown in Table 1 below were diluted as indicated therein.

Determination of antimicrobial efficacy:

1) 1 mL of sterile BSA (clean) was taken in a sterile 15 mL falcon tube and 1 mL of test culture suspension was added. 2) The above mixture was then added to 8 mL of test product at the required dilution.

3) At the end of the contact time, the dilution neutralization method as describe below was used to neutralize the samples.

4) Dilution neutralization method: a. At the end of contact time, 1 mL of test mixture was transferred to 9 mL of neutralizing broth (this is minus 1 (-1) dilution), b. Serial dilutions were prepared to determine the actual survivor counts; and c. Neutralization validation method was carried out as described below.

Neutralization validation method:

This was performed for all test organisms for all test products at the highest test concentration that was tested. Dilution neutralization method used was as follows: a. To 8 ml of highest test concentration of test product dilution, 1 ml of saline + 1 ml of BSA (clean or dirty) was added, b. After 5 minutes, 1 ml of above mixture was transferred to a tube containing 8 mL of neutralizing broth to be validated, c. 1 mL of 10 ^-5 dilution i. e 10 ³ cells of test organism suspension (diluted from 10 ⁸ cells/ ml test culture suspension in sterile saline) was added to the above tube for 30 minutes (this tube is considered as undiluted test system); and d. After 30 minutes, plating out was carried out for undiluted test system and -1 dilution. All plating was carried out on sterile tryptic soy agar (TAS) plates. The plates were incubated 37°C for 24 to 48 hours; and results were recorded.

Passing criteria a) N is between 1.5 x ⁸ and 5.0 x 1O ⁸ , (8,17 < Ig N < 8.70);

No is between 1.5 x W ⁷ and 5.0 x ⁷ , (7,17 < Ig No < 7.70); b) Nvo is between 30 and 160, (3.0 x 10 ¹ and 1.6 x 10 ² );

N _v is between 3.0 x 1 o ² and 1 .6 x 1 o ³ ); c) A, B, C are equal to or greater than 0.5 x N _v o _; where,

N is the culture control count,

No is the culture control count in final test system,

Nvo is the neutralization validation culture control count; and C is the neutralization validation count obtained for test sample.

Log reduction was calculated as difference of log of culture control in test mixture from log of count obtained in test mixture. Examples A to C (control; not according to the present invention) and examples 1 to 4 (the compositions according to the present invention):

Table 1 Example 4: Antiviral efficacy

To test antiviral efficacy, the composition as shown in table 2 below was used in a standard protocol EN 14476 under clean condition. The test results were found to be as shown in table 3 below.

Table 2

Table 3

(EN14476, clean condition)