| abstract |
Use of 0.01-15 wt.% of an alkoxylated aliphatic amine with 8-20 carbon atoms and 1-8 units of alkoxylation improves the antimicrobial effectiveness of an acidic, antimicrobial composition comprising 0.01-15 wt.% of sulphamic acid. The invention also provides acidic, antimicrobial composition comprising: 0.01-15 wt.% of an alkoxylated aliphatic amine with 8-20 carbon atoms and 1-8 units of ethoxylation, 0.01-15 wt.% of a sulphamic acid, and a source of peroxygen species and a method of disinfecting surfaces which comprises the step of treating the surface with an acidic, antimicrobial composition of that type. Typically, the alkoxylated aliphatic amine is an ethoxylated tertiary amine of the general formula: H(A)x-N(R)-(A)yH wherein R is an alkyl or alkenyl group comprising 8-20 carbon atoms, A is an ethoxy group and x and y may be the same or different and are integers from 1-4. Preferably x and y are both 1 or 2. In preferred embodiments of the invention R is C14-C18 alkyl and is most preferably derived from oleic, palmitic or myristic acid. |