| abstract |
A method of destroying target microorganisms comprises the step of contacting at least one target microorganism with at least one low molecular weight silanol end group containing molecule. The silanol containing molecule is selected from silanols (R 1 R 2 R 3 SiOH), siloxanediols HO(R 1 R 2 SiO)nH or siloxanols HO(R 1 R 2 SiO)nSiR 1 R 2 R 3 , where R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are selected from 1 to 4 carbon alkyl or fluoroalkyl moieties, or vinyl, or aryl groups and n is <6 . The silanol end group containing molecule can be triethylsilanol, diphenylmethylsilanol, t-butyldimethylsilanol, n-butyldimethylsilanol, n-propyldimethylsilanol, ethyldimethylsilanol, vinylphenylmethylsilanol, phenyldimethylsilanol, 3,3,3 trifluoro propyldimethylsilanol, benzyldimethylsilanol and phenethyldimethylsilanol, or mixtures thereof. A composition of matter includes a silanol end group containing molecule according to the invention blended with a polymer or dissolved in aqueous solution along with an ether-based cosolvent. |