BIOCIDAL COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR TREATING RAW MATERIALS, PRODUCTS AND MEANS OF PRODUCTION

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for treating raw materials, products, water and/or production means in order to prevent pathogen formation, which composition is prepared from at least hydrogen peroxide, glycerol and glycol acid, a method for preparation thereof comprising of mixing a solution of glycerol and a solution of glycol acid, and adding the obtained mixture drop by drop to a solution of hydrogen peroxide under conditions such that the solution of hydrogen peroxide retains a temperature of 7 DEG C and preferably below 4 DEG C. The invention moreover relates to a method for treating objects.

Description: BIOCIDAL COMPOSITION ANO METHOD FOR TREATING RAW MATERIALS, PRODUCTS AND MEANS OF PRODUCTION The invention relates to a composition for treating raw materials, products, water or production means, particularly in the food processing industry, which composition is prepared from hydrogen peroxide and glyc- 5 erol . In addition, the invention relates to a method for preparing this composition and a method for treating raw materials, products, water and/or production means, wherein use is made of said composition. Such a composition and such a method are described 10 in the European patent application 0 603 329. Described herein is a composition having hydrogen peroxide and glycerol therein, which composition can be used for treating all kinds of substances. This European patent application moreover describes devices for per- 15 forming this method, which devices can otherwise also be used for the present invention. The contamination of raw materials and processed products with harmful biological material is seen in¬ creasingly as detrimental to public health and the envi- 20 ronraent . Increasingly stricter requirements are being made particularly of materials and machines applied in the food processing industry in respect of bacteriologi¬ cal condition. The problem is particularly urgent in for instance processes in the food processing industry, 25 wherein operations take place with conveyor belts and the like and at room temperature, because controlling and combatting pathogens and other harmful constituents is difficult herein. It is known to improve the shelf-life of foodstuffs 30 by adding chemicals. It is thus possible according to the American patent specification 2.053.740 to add hydrogen peroxide to milk and cream, or to add substances to foodstuffs which develop hydrogen peroxide with the activity of enzymes (German patent specification 2.420.- 135) . Single and multiple alcohols are also used for treating foods (EP-A-169 927, DE-A-2 119 351, GB-A-1 273 938 and GB-A-1 375 704) . In the European patent application EP-A 0 460 962 is described a method wherein vegetable foodstuffs are sprayed with an aqueous solution which can contain up to 0.025% of an organic peracid. A treatment with aqueous thiosulphate then follows. The object of this European patent application is to perform a decontamination an<4 to improve the product appearance. DE-A-3 806 953 describes a solution for cleaning contact lenses. A disinfectant is herein present in the form of hydrogen peroxide. This disinfectant can be combined with a borate, glycerol, amino acetic acid or an acetate or phosphate in order to obtain an isotonic solution. Also generally known is the addition of sulphite to keep contamination of foodstuffs at an acceptable level . For cleaning and decontaminating of production machines use is often made of chlorine. The use of chemicals otherwise entails the danger of too high a dosage whereby carcinogenic or allergenic effects can sometimes occur. The use of chlorine can also result in corrosion of metal-containing machines, which in turn can itself form a source of contamination with bacteria. A further draw¬ back of the chemical agents used heretofore is that the excess thereof is discharged together with cleaning water and can thus have an environmental impact . A solution to such problems has been sought in working in a sterile area or in the use of waste-water purification. Such waste-water purification installations are usually designed on the basis of the average water quality, the bacteriological impact and effluent norms. Disruptions in production then often result in overload- ing of the installation, whereby it becomes necessary to resort once again to chemicals to comply with production standards. This results in an occasionally unacceptable increase in costs and environmental impact . There therefore remains a great need for an inexpen- sive and simple method for treating raw materials, prod- invention conditions the water for a long period. A reduction of as much as 70% of the required quantity of water can hereby be realized. It is however advisable when using these products to mount a filter in the circulation system to separate solid contaminants which have entered the water. The composition according to the invention can be brought without problem into contact with untreated foodstuffs. Possible degradation products of the composition according to the invention are not substances which are foreign to the body or toxic. For cleaning and preserving hatching eggs and eggs for consumption the composition according to the inven- tion will also have a more rapid activity without being aggressive. The product herein has a long-lasting main¬ taining and protective activity on the shell of the egg. This is attributed to the activating effect deriving from the glycol acid in the solution which thereby has a potentiating effect on organic and bacteriological con¬ taminations. The product is highly suitable for preserving citrus fruits, flower bulbs, potatoes and other agricultural products, which must be stored for a longer period and protected against fungoid growth and/or bacterial post- contamination/recontamination during storage and trans¬ port. The objects or materials are preferably treated by spraying the above stated solution under overpressure into the space in which they are situated. This method of treatment/conservation is very efficient with a very low consumption of the invented product, since it is used in the gas phase. The foodstuff hereby suffers no damage by the ' agent. A quantity of the solution is preferably used in the treatment of food products such that 0.1 - 1 g hydrogen peroxide is applied per kg of food product. Treatment in the above stated manner takes place in particular at a temperature between 5 and 7°C for about 1 minute to about 0.5 hour, depending on the treatment temperature and the concentration of the solution in the space. For instance and in preference the composition can be prepared from: Hydrogen peroxide 50% stab: Glycerol (1,26) clinically pure Glycol acid 57% AgCl If the application requires. These compounds are applied in an aqueous solu¬ tion. Demineralized water is preferably used as solvent system. Glycol acid is mixed with the glycerol before being added to hydrogen peroxide mixed with the glycerol . This is necessary to arrive at a composition with a good activity. This preferably takes place in the following manner. The glycol acid is added to the glycerol, this in order to prevent explosive reactions which would result with the addition of glycol acid to a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and glycerol . The maximum percentage by weight of glycol acid is 25 gram per kg of final composi¬ tion. In a preferred embodiment the weight ratio hydrogen peroxide:glycerol lies between 4:1 and 10:1, preferably between 2:1 and 5:1. The ratio glycerol:glycol acid preferably lies between 5:1 and 25:1. In these embodiments the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the solution amounts to 10-50%, preferably 25-35%. All per¬ centages given in this description are related to the weight of the final composition unless otherwise stated. The solution of glycerol (1,26) and the glycol acid 57% can now be added in doses to the hydrogen perox- ide via an inline-mixer, this for early quenching of a reaction so that a maximum of active substance remains in the solution, where active substance would otherwise be lost with a reaction in the mixing pan. The storage area for hydrogen peroxide, the conduits and the inline-mixer and mixing pan are cooled by means of a water cooling system. During this combining of the components it is very important that the solution is immediately re-cooled to 4°C or lower. The reaction may never have a tempera¬ ture increase of more than 0.5°C (in the mixing tank) . The whole must remain in the mixing pan for at least 20 minutes to be certain of a homogenous mixture, wherein a temperature of less than 4°C is maintained preferably for a minimum of 10 minutes. In a preferred embodiment various operations take place in an inline-mixer. During storage and transport the thus obtained solution remains stable for a longer period, for instance three weeks to six months. Storage must take place in non- ransparent and approved packagings, in a cool place and separated from oxidizing products and organic material such as wood, textile, paper and alkaline agents. The storage space must be sufficiently cool and ventilated. The solution will not decompose to any signifi¬ cant extent in brine or seawater owing to the silver chloride present therein. This may even have a catalyzing effect on the solution. It is therefore not inconceiv¬ able, if required, for a dose of AgCl to be added to the solution in order to obtain a more intensive activity of the product in some cases, and this only for non-food. This is important because some applications for which the composition according to the invention can be used involve contact with brine/seawater of 20 degrees Brix or higher. The concentration of glycol acid in the composi¬ tion according to the invention depends on the quantity of glycerol and hydrogen peroxide. Preferably however, no more than 25 grams of glycol acid is applied per kilogram of composition. In a preferred composition 125 grams of glycerol is applied per kilogram of composition and 5 to 25 grams of glycol acid will be present per kilogram of composi- tion. This may depend on the application and the standard activity on a contamination. Quality indication: 100, 125, 150, 175 grams of glycerol, of which 125 grams of glycerol per kilogram of product is the most usual. The specific gravity of the components is not applicable herein. However, in the case of glycerol the 5 grams of glycol acid is reckoned per kilogram glycerol. Detailed ratios of the components can be as follows. Glycerol with glycol acid dissolved therein is in the following ratios: Concentration 100 125 150 175 glycerol 1 H 2 0 2 (g/kg) glycol acid 5 g 1:20 1:25 1:30 1:35 10 g 1:10 1:15.5 1:15 1:17.5 15 g 1:6.6 1:8.5 1:10 1:11.6 20 g 1:5 1:6.25 1:7.5 1:81 25 g 1:4 1:5 1:6 1:7 The ratio of hydrogen peroxide to these mixtures is (hydrogen peroxide 10%, 20%, 25% and 50% solution in water) 9:1, 7:1, 6.7:1, 5.7:1. Subject to the application, the above-mentioned ratios can be dissolved in water, preferably demineral- ized water. Meaning of the letters: A = Hydrogen peroxide B = Water C = Glycerol D = Glycol acid 5% solution for the purpose of spraying 1: A:B as 5:95 A:C as 9:1 C:D as 20:1 A:B as 5:95 A:C as 8:1 C:D as 25:1 A:B as 5:95 A:C as 6.7:1 C:D as 30:1 A:B as 5:95 A:C as 5.7:1 C:D as 35:1 The table shows more combinations of different concentrations as stated above. 5 grams of glycol acid are reckoned hereinbelow as rule of thumb but in the first line other quantities are also mentioned which can be used depending on the appli¬ cation. 1: C:D as 20:1 and 25, 30 and 35:1 C:D as 25:1 C:D as 30:1 C:D as 35:1 C:D as 20:1 and 25, 30 and 35:1 C:D as 25:1 C:D as 30:1 C:D as 35:1 3: A:B as 1:4 A:C as 9.1 C:D as 20:1 and 25, 30 and 35:1 A:B as 1:4 A:C as 8:1 C:D as 25:1 ,, ,, A:B as 1:4 A:C as 6.7:1 C:D as 30:1 ,, ,, A:B as 1.4 A:C as 5.7:1 C:D as 35:1 ,, 4: A:B as 1 :2 A:C as 9.1 C:D as 20:1 and 25, 30 and ' " 35:1 A:B as 1:2 A:C as 8:1 C:D as 25:1 A:B as 1:2 A:C as 6.7:1 C:D as 30:1 , , A:B as 1.2 A:C as 5.7:1 C:D as 35:1 ,, Addition of glycol acid dissolved in the glyc- erol and hydrogen peroxide is surprisingly found to have

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Composition for treating raw materials, products, water and/or production means, which composition is prepared from at least hydrogen peroxide, glycerol and glycol acid. 2. Composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein th<^ weight ratio hydrogen peroxide:glycerol- lies between 4:1 and 10:1, and preferably between 2:1 and 5:1. 3. Composition as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ratio glycerol :glycol acid lies between 5:1 and 25:1. 4. Composition as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, wherein the solution contains 10-50%, and preferably 25- 35%, hydrogen peroxide. 5. Method for preparing the composition as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, comprising of mixing a solution of glycerol and a solution of glycol acid, and adding the obtained mixture drop by drop to a solution of hydrogen peroxide under conditions such that the solution of hydrogen peroxide retains a temperature below 7°C and preferably below 4°C. 6. Method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the condi¬ tions are adjusted such that the temperatures before and after addition of a portion of hydrogen peroxide solution differ mutually by no more than 1°C and preferably by less than 0.5°C. 7. Method as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein mixing of the solutions takes place in an inline-mixer. 8. Method as claimed in any of the claims 5-7, wherein the whole is further mixed for so long that the final " composition is homogeneous. 9. Method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first stage of the further mixing takes place at a temperature below 7°C, preferably below 4°C. 10. Method for treating raw materials, products, water and/or production means, comprising of bringing into contact with the objects for treating the composi- tion as claimed in any of the claims 1-4 or obtained according to the method as claimed in any of the claims 5-9.

Inventors: VAN OS JAN, VAN OS, JAN
Applicants: OS JAN VAN, SCHAEFERS BEHEER B V, SCHAEFERS BEHEER B.V., VAN OS, JAN
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A01N59
IPC codes: A01N31, A01N37, A01N59, A23B5, A23L3, A61L2, C02F1