| abstract |
Compositions having antimicrobial activity against a variety of microorganisms, including vegetative bacteria, bacterial spores, fungi, and fungal spores are particularly useful for microbiocidal treatments of a variety of substances. More specifically, compositions have antibmicrobial activity against microorganisms of the Bacillus cereus group such as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus anthracis, and Bacillus thuringiensis are particularly useful. Compositions including hydrogen peroxide, a carboxylic acid, and a peroxycarboxylic acid in which the weight ratio of the preroxycarboxylic acid to the hydrogen peroxide is at least 4:1 are effective against microorganims, particularly bacterial spores. Such compositions include a reduced amount of hydrogen peroxide relative to the amount of peroxycarboxylic acid as compared to conventional compositions. Compositions can also inlclude a quaternary ammonium compound, a stabilizing agent, a surfactant, a hydrotrope, or other additives. Methods of using a composition including hydrogen peroxide, a carboxylic acid, and a peroxycarboxylic acid in which the ratio of the peroxycarboxylic acid to the hydrogen peroxide is at least 4:1 are useful for reducing the microbial numbers on a variety of substances contaminated by microorganisms, particularly of the Bacillus cereusgroup. Such substances include foodstuffs, water, general-premise surfaces, specific-equipment surfaces, animal carcasses, soil, and textiles. |