Patent ID: 7767010

Claim:
A composition for application to a material comprising: (a) at least one alkaline metal inorganic salt, wherein the alkaline metal inorganic salt is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 5% to about 45% by weight; (b) at least one potassium salt of an organic acid, wherein the potassium salt of an organic acid is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 1% to about 72% by weight; (c) optionally, at least one boron-containing compound, wherein the boron-containing compound is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 0% to about 10% by weight; (d) optionally, at least one surfactant, wherein the surfactant is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 0% to about 5% by weight; (e) at least one microbe-inhibiting compound, wherein the microbe-inhibiting compound is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 6% by weight; (f) at least one detection component, wherein the detection component is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 0.01% to about 3% by weight such that it permits a determination of whether or not the composition has been applied to the material; and (g) an aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous liquid is present in the composition in an amount that brings the percent weight of the composition to 100%; wherein the composition has a pH ranging from about 7.1 to about 14, and wherein the composition, when applied to the material, reduces the amount of burning that occurs to the material, or the amount or density of smoke produced by the material, when the material is subsequently exposed to fire, and when the composition is applied to a material prior to, during or after the material being exposed to conditions favorable to the growth of microbes, reduces, inhibits or prevents the growth of microbes on the material when the material is exposed to conditions favorable to the growth of microbes.