Patent ID: 8920823

Claim:
An anti-microbial paper towel comprising: a) a cellulosic web; b) a waterless micro-emulsion which is substantially liquid at room temperature immobilized on the web in a semi-solid or solid state and selected and applied in amounts such that it imparts a water absorption rate delay of at least about 25% to the cellulosic web; c) wherein the waterless micro-emulsion comprises an anti-microbial agent, a polar emollient, a non-polar emollient and a surfactant composition including a nonionic surfactant; and wherein further the waterless micro-emulsion is capable of forming an aqueous micro-emulsion upon contact with water; d) a water soluble pH balancing agent disposed on the web at a plurality of discrete pH balancing agent locations; and e) a pH-sensitive transfer indicator disposed on the web at a plurality of discrete indicator locations which are apart from the pH balancing agent locations, wherein the pH-sensitive transfer indicator is chromatically responsive to the pH balancing agent in aqueous form; and wherein further the pH balancing agent and the pH-sensitive transfer indicator are selected and applied to the web such that the pH-sensitive transfer indicator undergoes a gradual color change upon contact of the paper towel with water to indicate effective transfer of the waterless micro-emulsion, wherein the initiation of said color change is determined by the wicking time of the pH balancing agent.