Antiseptic composition incorporating essential oils

The present invention is in the field of disinfection by chemical means.

It relates to a process for obtaining a disinfectant product by mixing chemicals and essential oils, as well as the product obtained which has superior qualities to other products currently on the market and does not have the disadvantages. .

There are currently many products in this area which cannot respond to strict hygiene without having many drawbacks. Chlorine products have an unpleasant odor; they cause corrosion of disinfected equipment; they are irritating and toxic to the operator. Their action is ephemeral, they do not exhibit afterglow. We observe with them a resistance of certain microorganisms and in particular spores. Their antimicrobial action is hampered by the presence of organic matter deposited on the equipment to be disinfected.

Iodine-based products are toxic and irritating to the tissues, leading to hypersensitivity states; they are cytotoxic in deep tissues and mucous membranes.

Aldehyde-based products are irritating and toxic: allergy problems have been observed; they are expensive and their activity is too slow.

Products based on phenolic compounds are volatile and therefore their antimicrobial activity is ephemeral. They are made inactive by the presence of organic matter.

The quaternary ammonium products used alone have a less wide field of action: they do not reach resistant viruses.

The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the aforementioned products while achieving superior antimicrobial activity.

According to the present invention, a disinfecting (or antiseptic) composition consists of a mixture of quaternary ammonium salts added with an acid and essential oils.

The composition comprises, in order to act in synergy, at least the following components (at a concentration% relative to the other components, included in the range):<ul id="ul0001" list-style="dash"><li>mixture of quaternary ammonium, preferably mixture of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl ammonium chlorides (powder or liquid) (40-75%),</li><li>at least one compound from the group of compounds comprising organic acids, perborates, peracids and their salts (10-15%),</li><li>a natural product: essential oils (10-50%).</li></ul>

However, a patent GB-A-927 540 is known which describes a disinfectant composition based inter alia on benzalconium chloride, sodium perborate and containing perfumes; this composition does not include essential oils.

A patent FR-A-1 188 247 also describes a disinfectant formed inter alia by organic acids, (such as citric acid), essential oils and inter alia ammonia; this disinfectant does not include quaternary ammonium salts.

Patent CA-A-1 120 820 describes a product based inter alia on pine oil and quaternary ammonium salts (such as alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride), but this product does not contain peracetic acids no organic acids.

A patent FR-A-1 401 489 relates to an agent for the preservation of food products, sterilization etc ..., based on essential oils (for example thymol) and organic oils (such as acetic acid, benzoic , formic), but this agent does not include quaternary ammonium salts.

A patent FR-A-2,193,785 relates to a process for eliminating germs using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and a quaternary ammonium salt (such as n-alkyl-dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride), but the composition used by this process does not include essential oils.

It will be noted that, according to a particular formulation, the peracids can be replaced by starting materials such as sodium perborate and acetylated compound, in an alkaline medium, or alternatively acetic acid; this formulation consists in bringing into presence extemporaneously an oxidizing agent and an acid to obtain the corresponding peracid.

In addition, if necessary, add a dye, an anti-corrosion product, a preservative, a stabilizer (for example: dipicolinic acid, 8-hydroxyquinoline, etc.).

The conditioning of this composition can be done either:<ul id="ul0002" list-style="dash"><li>in bottles or cans of variable capacity,</li><li>in unit doses: sachets, ampoules with two compartments, cartons and all unit forms with two compartments to obtain the mixture of the two active ingredients at the time of use,</li><li>in a bottle with a sealed cap which releases one of the products by a screwing system,</li><li>by means of towels soaked in the composition.</li></ul>

According to another mode of packaging, the composition of the invention (quaternary ammonium, acid, essential oil) is mixed with an inert powder, such as corn starch preferably, to form a paste which can be packaged in a tube, which avoids the extemporaneous mixture of the three constituents; the dough is ready to be diluted in water. Instead of a powder, one could also consider mixing the three constituents with an inert liquid.

Laboratory tests have demonstrated the superior activity of this new composition compared to others currently on the market (based on chlorine, hypochlorite, formaldehyde, phenol, glutaraldehyde, etc.) vis-à-vis in particular bacteriophages-tests the most resistant, which is a criterion of choice for hygienists responsible for medical establishments and for industries where hygiene is controlled.

There is a strong synergy between the two chemical bases:<ul id="ul0003" list-style="dash"><li>quaternary ammonium used alone is not sufficiently active on resistant viruses; it brings into the mixture its detergent power and its residual power and promotes the activity of peracetic acid,</li><li>the peracetic acid used alone has an activity lower than that of the mixture; it brings its fast action and its antimicrobial activity because of its oxidizing power which is exalted by the presence of quaternary ammonium. Peracetic acid is not inactivated by organic materials and soaps.</li></ul>

Once diluted peracetic acid breaks down into physiological products, which removes any toxicity problem at the recommended doses.

Natural essential oil provides its antimicrobial action and neutralizes the smell of peracetic acid.

It should be noted that the composition of the invention requires only low concentrations of active principles to exert a strong antimicrobial activity: bactericide, virucide, fungicide, sporicide). Its action is rapid (less than 5 minutes), and persistent.

This strong synery of the two chemical substances used in the composition is very interesting for its application in hygiene; it allows effective disinfection of resistant germs by a cold chemical sterilization method.

Examples of formulations

Formula 1

<tables id="tabl0001" num="0001"><img file="EP0280697B1_D0001.tif" /></tables> solutions A and B mix extemporaneously in 100 ml of water.

Formula n ° 2

<tables id="tabl0002" num="0002"><img file="EP0280697B1_D0002.tif" /></tables>

Formula n ° 3

<tables id="tabl0003" num="0003"><img file="EP0280697B1_D0003.tif" /></tables>

Formula n ° 4

<tables id="tabl0004" num="0004"><img file="EP0280697B1_D0004.tif" /></tables>

Formula n ° 5

Solution A: 50%

<tables id="tabl0005" num="0005"><img file="EP0280697B1_D0005.tif" /></tables>

Solution B: 50%

<tables id="tabl0006" num="0006"><img file="EP0280697B1_D0006.tif" /></tables>