MXPA99004414A - Disinfecting microemulsions - Google Patents

Abstract

In its broadest embodiment the present invention relates to the use of a microemulsion comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase and droplets dispersed in said aqueous phase, said droplets comprising an essential oil or an active thereof, and said droplets having a particle size of less than 100 nanometers, for disinfecting a surface. The present invention further encompasses a microemulsion suitable for disinfecting a surface, comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase comprising a bleach, and droplets dispersed in said aqueous phase, said droplets comprising an essential oil or an active thereof, and said droplets having a particle size of less than 100 nanometers.

Description

DISINFECTANT MICROMULSIONS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to compositions that can be used to disinfect various surfaces and including animated surfaces (e.g., human skin, mouth and the like) and inanimate surfaces including, but not limited to, hard surfaces such as walls, tiles, floors , glass, bathroom surfaces, kitchen surfaces, dishes, as well as fabrics, fabrics, carpets and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The antimicrobial / antibacterial compositions include materials that have the ability to disinfect. It is generally recognized that a disinfectant material greatly reduces or even eliminates microorganisms, e.g., bacteria, that exist on a surface. For example, compositions based on quaternary ammonium compounds have been extensively described in the art for disinfection purposes. Although such disinfectant compositions provide acceptable disinfection properties, they do not find good acceptance among consumers who are looking for disinfectant compositions based on less harmful and less harsh chemicals.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide compositions that have been disinfected by selective individual surfaces and that have been innocuous to the surface treated environment. It has now been found that these can be achieved by formulating an essential oil or an active ingredient thereof in the form of the microemulsion having small droplets dispersed in aqueous phase, said small droplets comprising said essential oil or an active ingredient thereof and having said droplets small a particle size of less than 100 nm. Indeed, it has surprisingly been found that improved disinfectant performance is provided with a microemulsion of the present invention, as compared to a similar composition that is not in the form of a microemulsion as defined in the present invention. Thus, the broadest embodiment of the present invention encompasses the use of a microemulsion comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase and small droplets dispersed in said aqueous phase, said small droplets comprising an essential oil or an active ingredient thereof and having in said small droplets a particle size of at least 100 nanometers, to disinfect a surface. The present invention also encompasses a microemulsion suitable for disinfecting a surface, comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase comprising a bleach, preferably peroxygen bleach and small drops dewatered in said aqueous phase, said small drops comprising an essential oil or an active ingredient thereof and said small droplets having a particle size of less than 100 nanometers. An advantage of the present invention is that the effective disinfecting performance is delivered over a wide range of bacterial strains including gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains, but also non-resistant microorganisms as both, even high levels of dilution, for example up to of dilution from 1: 100 (microemulsion: water). Another advantage of the present invention is that in addition to the disinfection properties applied, good cleaning is also provided, since the microemulsions of the present invention comprise at least one surfactant and optionally a solvent. Also, the microemulsions according to the present invention are suitable for disinfecting various surfaces including animated surfaces (for example skin and / or human mouth) as well as inanimate surfaces. Indeed, this technology is particularly suitable in applications to hard surfaces, applications to laundry, for example, in a so-called "soaking mode", "through washing mode" and / or "pre-treatment mode", as well as the application to carpets and the like.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND WO 96/26262 discloses liquid cleaning compositions for light work comprising from 1% to 26% by weight of at least one anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulphonate surfactants, alkyl sulfate surfactants and surfactants. ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate, and mixtures thereof, from 0% to 25% by weight of a zwitterionic surfactant, from 0.5% to 29% by weight of a biodegradable compound selected from the group consisting of a mixture of a non-polyhydric alcohol ethoxylated esterified, a completely esterified ethoxylated polyhydric alcohol and a partially esterified ethoxylated polyhydric alcohol, 0.4% to 10% of a hydrocarbon soluble in water, essential oil or a perfume, from 1% to 20% of a surfactant coagent and the remainder being water . No bleaches are exposed. No disinfection application is exposed. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5 468 725 discloses a transparent, alcohol-free perfume consisting essentially of an alcohol-free perfume base, water and a stable transparent fragrance concentrate in oil-in-water microemulsion consisting of water, at least one hydrophobic perfume oil ( for example, lavender oil, geraniol), at least one cationic surfactant and at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein the transparent perfume in microemulsion has a refractive index in the range of 1.4 to 1.6 and a temperature of interval from 20 ° C to 30 ° C. No bleaches are exposed. Nor is any disinfection application exposed. WO 96/01305 discloses an aqueous cleaning composition which with aqueous dilution by a factor of at least two produces a stable microemulsion, said emulsion having a particle size measured in dispersed phase of 10-100 nanometers, including such composition water, surfactant (15% -40%), solvent (5% -30%), oil insoluble in water (5% -20%), said composition having a particle size measured in dispersed phase of more than 100 nm before of the dilution. No bleaches are exposed. No disinfection application is exposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention encompasses a microemulsion suitable for disinfecting a surface, comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase comprising a bleach and small drops dispersed in said aqueous phase, said small drops comprising an essential oil or an active ingredient thereof and having said drops small a particle size of less than 100 nanometers. In its broadest embodiment, the present invention encompasses the use of a microemulsion comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase and small droplets dispersed in said aqueous phase, said small droplets comprising an essential oil and an active ingredient thereof, said droplets having small a particle size of less than 100 nanometers, to disinfect a surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Microemulsions of the present invention The present invention encompasses a microemulsion suitable for disinfecting a surface, comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase comprising a bleach and small drops dispersed in said aqueous phase, said small drops comprising an essential oil or an active ingredient of the same and said small droplets having a particle size of less than 100 nanometers. The microemulsions of the present invention, which may also be called "enhanced micellar solutions" or "solubilized micellar solutions", have a transparent or translucent appearance, as opposed to the opaque or milky appearance typically associated with the emulsions. The microemulsions of the present are also physically stable. By "physically stable" it is hereby meant that microemulsions do not exhibit phase separation with prolonged storage, ie, the small drops comprising essential oils / active ingredients remain dispersed in the aqueous phase.

The present invention is based on the finding that improved disinfectant performance is provided when a disinfectant composition, comprising a surfactant, a bleach preferably a peroxygen bleach, an essential oil to an active ingredient thereof and an aqueous phase, is formulated in the form of microemulsion comprising small droplets dispersed in said aqueous phase, said small droplets comprising said essential oil and an active ingredient thereof and having a particle size of less than 100 nanometers, as compared to a similar composition that is not in the form of microemulsion according to the present invention. Indeed, the effective disinfecting performance is provided with the microemulsions according to the present invention with a low total level of disinfecting active ingredients. By "effective disinfecting performance" is meant herein that the microemulsions of the present invention allow to significantly reduce the amount of bacteria on an infected surface. In effect, effective disinfection is achieved on several microorganisms including Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomas, as well as on fungi such as Candida albicans present on infected surfaces. The disinfecting performance of a composition can be measured by the bactericidal activity of said composition. A suitable test method for evaluating the bactericidal activity of a composition on a surface is described in the European Standard, prEN 1040, CEN / TC 216 N 78, dated November 1995, issued by the European Committee for Standardization, Brussels. The European Standard, prEN 1040, CEN / TC 216 N 78, specifies a test method and the requirements for the minimum bactericidal activity of a disinfectant composition. The test is passed if the units that form bacterial colonies (cfu) are reduced from 107 cfu (initial level) to 102 cfu (final level after contact with the disinfectant product), that is, a reduction of 105 viability is necessary . The microemulsions according to the present invention pass this test, even if they are used under highly diluted conditions, for example up to a dilution level of 100: 1 (water: microemulsion). Preferably in the microemulsions according to the present invention, such as they are, said small droplets having said essential oil or active ingredient thereof, have a particle size of less than 90 nm, preferably less than 80 nm. Dilution with the use of the microemulsions of the present invention does not affect the particle size of said small droplets, since the particle size of said small droplets is less than 100 nm, preferably less than 90 nm with the dilution. A suitable test method for evaluating the size of the small droplets comprising said essential oil or an active ingredient thereof in the microemulsions according to the present invention is cryomicroscopy electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM). The Cryo-TEM samples are prepared in a controlled environment vitrification system (CEV) which is described in detail in Bellare, J. R .; Davis, H. T .; Scriven, L. E .; Talmon, Y., Controlled environment citrification system (CEVS): An improved sample preparation technique, J. Electron Microsc.Tech., 1998, 10, 87-111. A drop of 5 μl of the sample microemulsion is placed on a carbon coated and coated polymer support film, mounted on the surface of a normal 200 mesh TEM grid (Ted Pella, Inc., Catalog # 01883). The drop is dried with filter paper until it is reduced to a thin film (10-200 nm) of the sample extending between the holes (2-8 μm) of the support film. The sample is then vitrified by immersing it rapidly through a synchronous closer at the bottom of the CEVS towards a liquid at its freezing point. The vitreous specimen is transferred under liquid nitrogen to a Philips CM 12® microscope to analyze its image. The sample temperature is maintained below -170 ° C during the entire examination. An essential element of the present invention is an essential oil or an active ingredient thereof or mixture thereof. The essential oils or active ingredients thereof suitable for use in the microemulsions herein are those essential oils that exhibit antimicrobial activity and more particularly antibacterial activity. By "active ingredients of essential oils" is meant herein any essential oil ingredient exhibiting antimicrobial / antibacterial activity. It is speculated that said essential oils and active ingredients thereof act as protein denaturing agents. An additional advantage of said essential oils and active ingredients thereof is that they impart pleasant odor to the microemulsions according to the present invention without the need to add a perfume. Indeed, the microemulsions according to the present invention provide not only excellent disinfecting performance on infected areas, but also good aroma. Such essential oils include, but are not limited to, those obtained from thyme, lemon grass, citron, lemons, oranges, anise, cloves, anise seed, cinnamon, geranium, roses, mint, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, camphor, sandalwood and cedar, and mixtures thereof. The active ingredients of the essential oils to be used herein include, but are not limited to, thymol (present for example in thyme), eugenol (present for example in cinnamon and cloves), menthol ( present for example in mint), geraniol (present for example in geranium and rose), verbenone (present for example in verbena), eucalyptol and pyrocarbonate (present in eucalyptus), cedrol (present for example in cedar) , anethole (present for example in anise), carvacrol, hinoquitiol, berberine, terpinol, limonene and mixtures thereof. The preferred active ingredients of the essential oils to be used herein are thymol, eugenol, verbenone, eucalyptol, limonene and / or geraniol. Thymol can be commercially available for example from Aldrich, eugenol can be commercially available for example from Sigma, Systems Bioindustries (SBI) - Manheimer Inc. Typically, the microemulsions according to the present invention comprise from 0.005% to 5% by weight of the total microemulsion of said essential oil or active ingredient thereof or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.006% to 3%, more preferably from 0.05% to 1%. Another essential element of the present invention is a surfactant or a mixture thereof. A surfactant is needed in order to form the microemulsions according to the present invention because it makes it possible to disperse the oily phase, ie the small droplets comprising the essential oil or an active ingredient thereof, in the aqueous phase of the oil microemulsions. in water of the present invention. In other words, in the absence of any surfactant the present microemulsions would not form because the dispersed oily phase, i.e. the small droplets comprising the essential oil or an active ingredient thereof, would tend to grow rapidly and separate from the aqueous phase. Thus, the presence of a surfactant or mixture thereof allows to control the size of the small drops comprising said essential oil or active ingredient thereof according to the present invention. It is understood herein that the surfactant to be used herein or mixtures thereof as well as the levels thereof are chosen depending on the nature and level of the essential oil or the active ingredient thereof, in order of forming the microemulsions according to the present invention. Typically, the microemulsions according to the present invention comprise from 0.01% to 40% by weight of the total microemulsion of a surfactant or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.05% to 15% and more preferably from 0.1% to 12%. Suitable surfactants to be used in the present invention include any surfactant known to those skilled in the art which is capable of forming a microemulsion as defined herein, comprising small drops comprising essential oil or an active ingredient of the invention. same, when added to an aqueous composition comprising said essential oil or an active ingredient thereof. Suitable surfactants include nonionic, anionic, cationic, amphoteric and / or zwitterionic surfactants. Such surfactants are also desirable herein since they contribute to the cleaning performance of the present microemulsions. Preferred surfactants to be used herein are zwitterionic and / or amphoteric surfactants.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants that are to be used herein include amine oxides having the following formula R? R2R3NO, wherein each of Ri, R2 and R3 is independently a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated hydrocarbon chain of 1 to 30 carbon atoms. Preferred amine oxide surfactants to be used according to the present invention are amine oxides having the following formula R1R2R3NO, wherein Ri is a hydrocarbon chain comprising from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably from 6 to 20, more preferably from 8 to 16, more preferably even from 8 to 12, wherein R 2 and R 3 are independently linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chains, comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and more preferably are methyl groups. R1 can be a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated hydrocarbon chain. Amine oxides suitable for use herein are for example the natural mixture of C8-C10 amine oxides as well as C12-C16 amine oxides commercially obtained from Hoechst. Amine oxides are preferred herein as their effective cleaning feed administration and further contribute to the disinfecting properties of the microemulsions herein. Suitable zwitterionic surfactants to be used herein contain both cationic and anionic hydrophilic groups in the same molecule over a relatively wide range of pHs. The typical cationic group is a quaternary ammonium group, although other positively charged groups such as phosphonium, imidazolium and sulfonium may be used. Typical anionic hydrophilic groups are carboxylates and sulfonates, although other groups such as sulfates, phosphonates and the like can be used. A generic formula for some zwitterionic surfactants to be used herein is wherein Ri is a hydrophobic group; each of R2 and R3 is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or other substituted C1-C4 alkyl group which may also be linked to form ring structures with the N; R4 is a moiety joining the cationic nitrogen atom to the hydrophilic group and is typically an alkylene, hydroxyalkylene or polyalkoxy group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and X is the hydrophilic group which is preferably a carboxylate or sulfonate group. The hydrophobic groups R1 are alkyl groups containing from 1 to 24, preferably less than 18, more preferably less than 16 carbon atoms. The hydrophobic group may contain unsaturation groups and / or substituents and / or linkers such as aryl groups, amido groups, ester groups and the like. In general, simple alkyl groups are preferred for reasons of cost and stability.

Highly preferred zwitterionic surfactants include betaine and sulfobetaine surfactants, derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof. Presently preferred are betaine or sulphobetaine surfactants, since they aid disinfection by increasing the permeability of the bacterial cell wall, thus preventing other active ingredients from entering the cell. In addition, due to the benign action profile of said betaine or sulfobetaine surfactants, they are particularly suitable for cleaning delicate surfaces, for example, laundry or delicate surfaces in contact with food and / or babies. The betaine and sulfobetaine surfactants are also extremely benign to the skin and / or the surfaces to be treated. Suitable betaine and sulfobetaine surfactants to be used herein are betaine / sulfobetaine and betaine-like detergents in which the molecule contains both basic acid groups which form an internal room which give the molecule groups both cationic and anionic hydrophilic over a wide range of pH values. Some common examples of these detergents are described in the U.S.A. 2,082,275, Y, 702,279 and 2,255,082, incorporated herein by reference. Preferred betaine and sulfobetaine surfactants herein are according to the formula wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon chain containing from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 18, more preferably from 12 to 14, wherein R2 and R3 are hydrocarbon chains containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably 1 carbon atom, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6, more preferably is 1, and is selected from the group consisting of carboxyl and sulfonyl radicals and where the hydrocarbon chains R 1 are added , R2 and R3 is from fourteen to 24 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof. Some examples of particularly suitable betaine surfactants include C12-C18 dimethylbetaine such as C10-C16 alkyldimethylbetaine coco-betaine such as laurylbetaine. Cocobetaine is commercially available from Seppic under the factory name Amonyl 265®. Laurylbetaine is commercially available from Albright & Wilson with the Empigen BB / L® factory name. Other specific zwitterionic surfactants have the generic formulas: RrC (O) -N (R2) - (C (R3) 2) nN (R2) 2 ((C (R3) 2) p-SO30 R? -C (O) -N (R2) - (C (R3) ) 2) nN (R2) 2 (+) - (C (R3) 2) n-COO (-) wherein each Ri is a hydrocarbon, for example an alkyl group containing from 8 to 10, preferably up to 18, more preferably up to 16 carbon atoms, each R2 is either a hydrogen (when attached to the amidonitrogen), alkyl or substituted short chain alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably groups selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, ethyl or hydroxy-substituted propyl and mixtures thereof, preferably methyl, each R 3 consisting of hydrogen and hydroxy groups being selected and each n is a number from 1 to 4, preferably from 2 to 3, more preferably 3, with no More than one hydroxy group in any portion (C (R3) 2) Ri groups can be branched and / or unsaturated The R2 groups can also be connected to form ring structures A surfactant of this type is an acyl idopropylene (hydroxypropylene) sulfobetaine C10-C14 fat which is obtainable from the Sherex Company under the factory name "Varion CAS Sulfobetaine®). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the microemulsions of the present invention are particularly suitable for the disinfection of a hard surface, the surfactant is typically a system of surfactants comprising an amine oxide and a betaine surfactant. or sulfobetaine, preferably with a weight ratio of amine oxide to betaine or sulfobetaine from 1: 1 to 100: 1, more preferably from 6: 1 to 100: 1 and more preferably still from 10: 1 to 50: 1. The use of such a surfactant system in microemulsions of the present particularly suitable for disinfecting a hard surface, provides effective cleaning performance and provides gloss on the cleaned surfaces, i.e., the amount of film / streak formation remaining on the surface. Cleaned surface that has been treated with such microemulsions is minimal. Suitable nonionic surfactants to be used herein are fatty alcohol ethoxylates and / or propoxylates which are commercially available with a variety of fatty alcohol chain lengths and a variety of degrees of ethoxylation. Indeed, the HLB values of such alkoxylated nonionic surfactants depend essentially on the long chain of the fatty alcohol, the alkoxylation nature of the degree of alkoxylation. There are catalogs of surfactants available that list a quantity of surfactants, including nonionics, with their respective HLB values. Particularly suitable for use herein as nonionic surfactants are non-ionic hydrophobic surfactants having an HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) of less than 16 and more preferably less than 15. It has been found that those non-ionic hydrophobic surfactants provide good fat cutting properties. The preferred nonionic surfactants to be used in the microemulsions according to the present invention are surfactants according to the formula RO- (C2H4?) N (C3H6?) MH, wherein R is an alkyl chain of Cß to C22 to an alkylbenzene chain of Ce to C28, and wherein n + m is from 0 to 20 and n is from 0 to 15 and m is from 0 to 20, preferably n + m is from 1 to 15, and n and m are from 0.5 to 15, more preferably nm is from 1 to 10, and n and m are from 0 to 10. Preferred R chains for use herein are C8 to C22 alkyl chains Accordingly, the hydrophobic nonionic surfactants suitable for use herein are Dobanol R91-2.5 (HLB = 8.1; R is a mixture of C9 alkyl chains to Cu, n is 2.5 and m is 0), or Lutensol RTO3 (HLB = 8, R is an alkyl chain of C-? 3, n is 3 and m is 0), or Lutensol RA03 (HLB = 8; R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C-? 3 and C? 5, n is 3 and m is 0), or Tergitol R25L3 (HLB = 7.7; R is in the chain length range of alkyl of C12 to C15, n is 3 and m is m is 0), or Dobanol R23-3 (HLB = 8.1, R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C12 and C13, n is 3 and m is 0), or Dobanol R23-2 (HLB = 6.2, R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C-? 2 and C-? 3, n is 2 and m is 0), or Dobanol R45-7 (HLB = 11.6; R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C and C15, n is 7 and m is 0), or Dobanol R23.6.5 (HLB = 11.9, R is a mixture of C ?2 and C13 alkyl chains, n is 6.5 and m is 0) , or Dobanol R25-7 (HLB = 12, R is a mixture of C-? 2 and C15 alkyl chains, n is 7 and m is 0), or Dobanol R91.5 (HLB = 11.6; R is a mixture of alkyl chains of C9 and Cu, n is 5 and m is 0), or Dobanol R91-6 (HLB = 12.5; R is an of alkyl chains of Cg and Cu n is 6 and m is 0), or Dobanol R91-8 (HLB = 13.7; R is a mixture of C9 and Cu alkyl chains, n is 8 and m is 0), or Dobanol R91-10 (HLB = 14.2, R is a mixture of Cg to Cu alkyl chains, n is 10 and m is 0), or mixtures thereof. Preferred herein is Dobanol® 91-2.5, or Lutensol® TO3, or Lutensol® AO3, or Tergitol® 25L3, or Dobanol® 23-3. or Dobanol® 23-2, or Dobanol® 23-10, or mixtures thereof. These Dubanol.RTM. Surfactants are commercially available from SHELL. These Lutensol.RTM. Surfactants are commercially available from BASF and these Tergitol.RTM. Surfactants are commercially available from UNION CARBIDE. Suitable anionic surfactants which are used herein to be used include salts or water soluble acids of the formula ROSO3M, wherein R is preferably a C6-24 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having an alkyl C component. < 3-28, more preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C12-18, and M is H or a cation, for example, an alkyl metal cation (eg, sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g. , methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethylammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethylammonium and dimethylpiperidinium cations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines, such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof and the like). Other suitable anionic surfactants which are used herein include alkyldiphenylether sulfonates and alkylcarboxylates. Other anionic surfactants may include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of soap, Cg-20 linear alkylbenzenesulfonates, primary or secondary alkanesulfonates of Cs-22, Cs-24 olefinsulfonate, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of toric alkali metal citrates, for example, as described in British Patent Specification No. 1, 082,179, C8-24 alkyl polyglycol ether sulphates (containing up to 10 moles of ethylene oxide); alkyl ether sulfonates such as C14-16 methyl ester sulfonates; acylglycerolsulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulphates, alkylphenolletylene oxide ester sulfates, paraffinsulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isotionates such as acyl isothionates, N-acyltauthrimes, alkylsuccinamates and sulfosuccinates, sulfosuccinate monoesters (especially saturated and unsaturated C12-18 monoesters), sulfosuccinate diesters (especially sodium diesters), Ce saturated and unsaturated), acyl sarcosinates, alkylpolysaccharide sulfates such as the alkyl polyglycoside sulphates (the non-sulphonated non-ionic compounds are described below), branched primary alkyl sulphates, alkyl polyethoxy carboxylates such as those of the formula RO (CH2CH2O) kCH2COO "M +, wherein R is a C 8-22 alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10 and M is a cation formed from soluble salt. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as turpentine resin, hydrogenated turpentine resin, and hydrogenated resin acids and resin acids present or wood oil derivatives. Other examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also generally disclosed in the US patent. 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975 to Laughlin et al., In column 23, line 58 to column 29, line 23 (incorporated herein by reference). Preferred anionic surfactants for use in the microemulsions herein are alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkylsulfates, alkoxylated alkylsulfates, paraffinsulfonates and mixtures thereof. The aqueous phase of the microemulsions in the present invention comprises at least water and a bleach. Said aqueous phase may further comprise any other desired water miscible ingredient of the microemulsions herein having a higher affinity towards said aqueous phase than to the small drops containing essential oil / active ingredient dispersed therein. Typically, the microemulsions according to the present invention comprise from 60% to 99.5% by weight of the total microemulsion of water, preferably from 80% to 99% and more preferably from 85% to 98%. The aqueous phase of the microemulsions of the present invention comprises a bleach or a mixture thereof, as an essential ingredient. Any bleach known to the person skilled in the art may be suitable for use herein including any chlorine bleach as well as any peroxygen bleach. Suitable chlorine bleaches that are to be used herein include any compound capable of releasing chlorine when such a compound is in contact with water. Suitable chlorine bleaches include alkali metal dichloroisocyanurates as well as alkali metal hypohalogenites such as hypochlorite and / or hypobromite. Preferred chlorine bleaches are the alkali metal hypochlorites. Various forms of the alkali metal hypochlorite are commercially available as for example sodium hypochlorite. Preferred bleaches for use herein are peroxygen bleaches, more particularly hydrogen peroxide or a water soluble source thereof or mixtures thereof. It is especially preferred that hydrogen peroxide be used in the microemulsions according to the present invention. Peroxygen bleaches are preferred herein as hydrogen peroxide, since they are generally perceived to be environmentally acceptable. For example, the decomposition products of hydrogen peroxide are oxygen and water. Also, it is believed that the presence of said peroxygen bleach, especially hydrogen peroxide, in the microemulsions of the present invention contribute to the disinfecting properties of said microemulsions. As used herein, a source of hydrogen peroxide refers to any compound that produces perhydroxyl ions when such a compound is in contact with water. Suitable water soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use herein include percarbonates, persilicate, persulfate such as monopersulfate, perborates, peroxyacids such as diperoxydecandioic acid (DPDA), magnesium terephthalic acid, dialkyl peroxides, diacylperoxides, preformed percarboxylic acids, organic and inorganic peroxides and / or hydroperoxides, and mixtures thereof. Typically, the microemulsions of the present invention comprise 0. 001% to 15% by weight of the total microemulsion of said bleach or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 10% and more preferably from 0.2% to 5%. The aqueous microemulsions according to the present invention have a pH such as from 1 to 12, preferably from 3 to 10 and more preferably from 3 to 9. The pH of the microemulsions can be adjusted using alkalizing agents or acidifying agents. Some examples of aralizing agents are alkali metal hydroxides, such as potassium and / or sodium hydroxide, or alkali metal oxides such as sodium and / or potassium oxide. Some examples of acidifying agents are organic or inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid. The microemulsions of the present invention may comprise a preferred optional ingredient, a hydroxylated solvent or a mixture thereof. Such hydroxylated solvents are suitable herein for aiding / promoting the formation of the microemulsions of the present invention in addition to the surfactants herein and further contribute to controlling the size of the small droplets comprising an essential oil or an ingredient. active thereof and which are dispersed in the aqueous phase of the microemulsions of the present invention. Such hydroxylated solvents will be present at least partially in the oily phase of the oil-in-water microeusses of the present invention, ie, in the small drops comprising essential oils / active ingredients. By "hydroxylated solvents" is meant herein any hydrocarbon including hydrocarbons or aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising at least one hydroxyl group (OH). Suitable hydroxylated solvents include glycol ethers and / or derivatives thereof, polyols, aliphatic or alkoxylated aromatic alcohols, aliphatic or aromatic alcohols, glycols or mixtures thereof. Suitable glycol ethers and / or derivatives thereof to be used herein include ethers of monoglycol and / or derivatives thereof, di-tri-and polyglycol ethers and / or derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof. the same. Suitable monoglycol ethers and derivatives thereof which have been used herein include propylene glycol butyl ether and CELLOSOLVE® solvents soluble in water or mixtures thereof. Preferred Cellosolve® solvents include 2- (Hexyloxy) ethanol (i.e., 2-hexyl-Cellosolve®), ethyl glycol ethyl ether (ie, 2-ethyl-Cellosolve®), ethylene glycol butyl ether (i.e. , 2-butyl-Cellosolve®) or mixtures thereof. Suitable polyglycol ethers and derivatives thereof to be used herein include (n-BPP), butyltriglycol ether (BTGE), butyl diglycol ether (BDGE), diethylene glycol butyl ether, water soluble CARBITOL® solvents and mixtures thereof. The preferred water-soluble CARBITOL® solvents are compounds of the class 2- (2-alkoxyethoxy) ethanol, the class 2 - (- 2-alkoxyethoxy) propanol and / or the 2- (2-alkoxyethoxy) butanol class. Wherein the alkoxy group is derived from ethyl, propyl, butyl and tertbutyl. A preferred water soluble carbitol is 2- (2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol also known as butyl-Carbitol®. Suitable polyols to be used herein are saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched, aliphatic hydrocarbons, having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 10, and comprising at least two hydroxyl groups, preferably from 2 to 4. The polyols suitable herein are diols such as 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 1-6. hexanediol or mixtures thereof. Suitable aliphatic or alkoxylated aromatic alcohols to be used herein are according to the formula R (A) n-OH, wherein R is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain, having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 15 and more preferably from 2 to 10, to an aryl group any substituted or non-alkyl-substituted non-alkyl of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 15 and more preferably 2 to 10, wherein A is an alkoxy group preferably butoxy, propoxy and / or ethoxy, and n is an integer from 1 to 5, preferably 1 to 2. Suitable alkoxylated alcohols to be used herein are 1-methoxy-11-dodecanol, methoxypropanol, Ethylpropanol and / or propoxypropanol. Suitable aromatic aliphatic alcohols to be used herein are according to the formula R-OH, wherein R is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain, having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 15 and more preferably from 2 to 10, to an alkyl-substituted or non-alkyl-substituted aryl group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 2 to 15 and more preferably from 2 to 10. Suitable aliphatic alcohols which they are to be used herein include linear alcohols such as decanol, ethanol, and / or propanol. The suitable aromatic alcohol to be used herein is benzyl alcohol. Suitable glycols to be used herein are according to the formula HO- (CH2) n-OH, where n is an integer from 2 to 12. Suitable glycols to be used herein are dodecane glycol , 1,2-hexanediol and / or propanediol. Preferred hydroxylated solvents for use herein are ethylene glycol butyl ether, prolyl glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, benzyl alcohol, 2-propanol, ethylene glycol ethyl ether or mixtures thereof. Hydroxylated solvents may typically be present in the microemulsions of the present invention to a level of 15% by weight, preferably from 0.2% to 12% by weight and more preferably from 0.5% to 10% by weight of the total microemulsion. The microeusses of the present invention may comprise an optional ingredient, other solvents including terpene or mixtures thereof. Suitable terpenes to be used herein are mono-bicyclic terpenes especially those of the hydrocarbon class, which include the terpinenes, terpinolens and pinenes and mixtures thereof. The highly preferred materials of this type are dipentene, alpha-pinene and / or beta-pinene. For example, pinene is commercially available from SCM Glidco (Jacksonville) under the name Alpha Pinene P & amp;; F®. Terpene solvents are suitable herein since they contribute to the cleaning performance of the disinfecting microemulsions of the present invention. Typically, other than the hydroxylated solvents as defined hereinabove may be present in the microemulsions of the present invention up to a level of 5% by weight of the total microemulsion, preferably from 0.02% to 3% by weight and more preferably from 0.05% to 1.5%. The microemulsions of the present invention may further comprise a variety of their optional ingredients such as other antimicrobial / antibacterial compounds, chelating agents, radical scavengers, thickeners, depletion enhancers, Ph-buffers, stabilizers, bleach activators, soil suspending agents, dye transfer agents, brighteners, anti-dusting agents, enzymes, dispersants, and dye transfer inhibitors, pigments, perfumes and dyes. Depending on their respective hydrophilic / hydrophobic character, those optional ingredients are present in the aqueous phase and / or in the small droplets as defined herein of the microemulsions of the present invention. The microemulsions of the present invention may comprise as an optional ingredient another antimicrobial / antibacterial compound or a mixture thereof. Antimicrobial / antibacterial compounds suitable for use herein include paraben, glutaraldeido or mixtures thereof. Typically, the microemulsions of the present invention constitute up to 5% by weight of the total microemulsion of another antibacterial / antimicrobial compound or mixtures thereof, preferably up to 1%.

Suitable radical scavengers for use herein include the well-known substituted mono-hydroxybenzenes and derivatives thereof, alkyl- and arylcarboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Preferred radical scavengers for use herein include di-tert-butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), p-hydroxy-toluene, hydroquinone (HQ), di-tert-butyl-hydroquinone (DTBHQ), mono-tert-butylhydroquinone (MTBHQ ), tert-butyl-hydroxyanisole, p-hydroxy-anisole, acid, benzoic 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,5-dihydroxyterephalic acid, toluic acid, catechol, t-butyl-catechoi, 4-allii-catechol, 4-acetyl -catechol, 2-methoxy-phenol, 2-ethoxy-phenol, 2-methoxy-4 - (- 2-propenyl) phenol, 3,4-dihydroxy benzaldeido, 2,3-dihydroxy benzaldeido, benzylamine, 1, 1 3-tris (2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane, tert-butyl-hydroxyaniline, p-hydroxyaniline as well as n-propyl-gallate. Highly preferred for use herein is di-tert-butyl-hydroxytoluene, which is commercially available for example from SHELL under the trade name IONOL CP®. These radical scavengers contribute to the stability of the microemulsions that contain peroxygen bleach in the present. Typically, the radical scavenger, or a mixture thereof, is present in the microemulsions of the present invention to a level of 5% by weight of the total microemulsion, preferably from 0.002% to 3% by weight and more preferably 0.002% by weight. % to 1.5%. Suitable chelating agents to be used herein may be any chelating agent known to those skilled in the art such as those selected from the group comprising phosphonate chelating agents, amino carboxylate chelating agents or other carboxylate chelating agents, or agents polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelators or mixtures thereof. It has now been found that the addition of a chelating agent, in combination with a surfactant agent in addition to an essential oil and / or an active ingredient thereof in the microemulsions of the present invention, further better the disinfecting properties of said microemulsion. Such phosphonate chelating agents may include etidronic acid (hydroxyethylidene-bisphosphonic acid or HEDP) as well as aminophosphonate compounds, including amino-alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonate), alkali metal ethane-1-hydroxy phosphonates, nitrile trimethylene phosphonates, ethylene-nale tetramethylene phosphonates; and diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonates. The phosphonate compounds may be present either in their acid form or as salts of different cations in some or all of their acid functionalities. Preferred phosphonate chelating agents that have been used herein are diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonates. Such phosphonate chelating agents are commercially available from Monsanto under the factory name DEQUESTR. Polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating agents may also be useful in the compositions herein. See the patent of E: U: A 3,812,044, issued May 21, 1974 to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzene such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene. A preferred biodegradable chelating agent for use herein is ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid or salts thereof of toric alkali or alkaline metals, substituted ammonium ammonium, or mixtures thereof. Ethylenediamine N, N'-disuccinic acids, especially the (S, S) isomer, have been extensively written in the patent of E: U: A 4,704, 233, November 3, 1987, Hartman and Perkins. Ethylene diamine N, N'-disuccinic acid, for example, is commercially available under the ssEDDSR factory name from Palmer Research Laboratories. Suitable amino carboxylate chelating agents useful herein include ethylenediamine tetra acetate, diethylenetriamine pentaacetate, diethylene triamine pentacetate (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylethylenediamine triacetate, nitrilotriacetate, ethylenediamine, tetrapopionate, triethylenetetraaminehexaacetate, ethanoldiglicine, propylene diamine tetraacetic acid (PDTA) and methylglycine di-acetic acid (MGDA), both in its acid form and in its forms of alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium. Particularly suitable for use herein are ethylenediaminetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTA) which is commercially available, for example, from BASF under the trade name Trilon FSR, and methylglycine di-acetic acid (MGDA). ). Other carboxylate chelating agents to be used herein include manolic acid, salicylic acid, glycine, aspartic acid, glutaric acid, dipicolinic acid and derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof. Typically, the chelating agent, or a mixture thereof, is present in the microemulsions of the present invention at a level from 0.001% to 5% by weight of the total microemulsion, preferably from 0.002% to 3% by weight and more preferably from 0.002% to 1.5%. The microemulsions according to the present invention formulated in their liquid form may further comprise, as an optional ingredient, a polymeric thickener attenuating the cutting effect or a mixture thereof. Such polymeric thickeners cutting the cutting effect are suitable in the present, since they play a double function when disintegrating in the microemulsion according to the present invention, said function being not only to prevent or reduce the inhalation by the user of the mist / Bleach mist when spraying the microemulsion of the present invention on the surface to be disinfected, but also to provide increased contact time of the microemulsion on vertical surfaces, thus reducing the risk of runoff of the microemulsion. Suitable polymeric thickeners for cutting effect, which are to be used herein, include polymers that exist synthetically and naturally. Suitable polymer cutting agent thickeners for use herein include polyurethane polymers, polyacrylamide polymers, polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylic acids and sodium salts thereof, such as xanthan or derivatives thereof, alginate or a derivative thereof, polysaccharide polymers such as substituted cellulose materials such as ethoxylated cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose and mixtures thereof. The attenuating poimeric waiters of the cutting effect, preferred for use in the microemulsions of the invention are xanthan gums or derivatives thereof sold by the Kelco division of Merck under the factory names KELTROLR, KELZAN ARR, KELZAN D35R, KELZAN SR, KELZAN XZR and similar. Xanthan gum is an extracellular polysaccharide from rural xanthomonas. Xanthan gum is made by corn sugar fermentation useful secondary products of corn ducado. The xanthan gum comprises a base structure chain of poly-beta- (1- »4) -D-Glucopyranosyl, similar to that found in cellulose. The aqueous expressions of xanthan gum and their derivatives exhibit remarkable rheological properties. Xanthan gum exhibits high pseudoplasticity, that is, throughout the wide range of concentrations, rapid attenuation of the cutting effect occurs which is generally understood to be instantaneously reversible. Preferred xanthan materials include interlaced xanthan materials. The xanthan polymers can be entangled with a variety of covalently reacting crosslinking agents, reactive with the hydroxyl functionality of large polysaccharide molecules and can also be linked using divalent, trivalent or polyvalent metal ions. Such entangled xanthan gels are disclosed in the US patent. No. 4, 782,901, patent incorporated by reference herein. Suitable crosslinking agents for the xanthan materials include metal cations such as AI + 3, Fe + 3, Sb + 3, Zr + 4 and other transition metals, etc. It is also possible to use known organic crosslinking agents. The preferred interlaced xanthan agent of the invention is KELZAN ARR, product of Kelco division of Merck incorporated. The polycarboxylate polymers for use herein preferably have a molecular weight of from 500,000 to 4,500,000, preferably from 1,000,000 to 4,000,000. The most preferred polymers for use herein contain from 0.5% to 4% by weight of an entanglement agent, in that of the entanglement agent tends to interconnect with the linear chains of the polymers to form the resulting entangled products. Suitable entanglement agents include polyalkenyl polyethers. Polycarboxylate polymers include polyacrylate polymers. Other monomers in addition to acrylic acid can be used to form these polymers including monomers such as maleic anhydride which acts as a source of additional carboxylic groups. The molecular weight of the carboxylate group of the monomers containing a carboxylate group typically ranges from 25 to 200, preferably from 50 to 150, more preferably from 75 to 125. Still other monomers may be present in the monomer mixture, if desired, such such as ethylene and propylene which act as diluents. The preferred percarboxylate polymers for use herein are polyacrylate polymers. Commercially available polymers of the polyacrylate type include those sold under the names of Carbopol®, Acrisol® ICS-1 Poligel®, and Sokalan® factories. The most preferred polyacrylate polymers are the copolymer of acrylic acid and C5-C10 alkyl acrylate, commercially available under the trade name Carbopol® 1623, Carbopol® 695 from BF Goodrich, and the copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic anhydride, commercially available from the factory name. PoligelR DB of 3V Chemical company. Mixtures of any of the polycarboxylate polymers, described hereinabove can also be used. The microemulsions according to the present invention can comprise up to 10% by weight of the total mucroemulsion of a polymer thickener attenuating the cutting effect, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.005% to 5% by weight, more preferably from 0.01% to 2% and more preferably to 0.01% to 1%. No particular mixing order is required to form the oil-in-water microemulsions of the present invention. The microemulsions of the present invention are easily prepared by simply combining all the ingredients of a suitable vessel or vessel. The order of mixing the ingredients is not particularly important and the various ingredients can be added generally sequentially or all at once. It is not necessary to use elevated temperatures in the formation step and at room temperature it is sufficient. In a preferred process for making microemulsions of the present invention, an aqueous phase and an oily phase are prepared independently before they are mixed together. For example, an aqueous phase mixed with at least water, a bleach, a surfactant and optional hydrophilic ingredients such as chelating agents, pH regulators and the like are prepared, adjusted in said phase to the desired pH. An oily phase comprising at least one essential oil / active ingredient thereof and optional ingredients such as hydroxylated solvents is prepared. These two phases are then mixed together to form the microemulsions of the present invention.

The use of a microfunction comprising small drops of essential oil / active ingredients to disinfect a surface In its broadest form, the present invention encompasses the use of a microemulsion comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase and a microemulsion comprising an agent surfactant, an aqueous phase and small droplets dispersed in said aqueous phase, said small droplets comprising an essential oil or an active ingredient thereof, said small droplets having a particle size of less than 100 nanometers to disinfect a surface. The aqueous phase of the microemulsions used according to the present invention comprises at least water. All the ingredients of said micoremulsions used for disinfecting according to the present invention, ie, essential oils or active ingredients thereof, surfactants and optional ingredients as well as the levels thereof are as defined hereinbefore. By "surfaces" is meant herein any animal surface, for example, skin, mouth, human teeth, as well as any inanimate surface. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surfaces that are to be disinfected, with a microemulsion as defined herein, are inanimate surfaces. These inanimate surfaces include, but are not limited to, hard surfaces typically found in homes, such as kitchens, bathrooms, or car interiors, for example, tiles, walls, floors, chrome, glass, smooth vinyl , any plastic, laminated wood, table cover, sinks, burner covers, dishes, sanitary fittings such as sinks, showers, shower curtains, sinks, toilets and the like, as well as fabrics including clothes, curtains, draperies, bedding , swimwear, tablecloths, sleeping bags, tents, upholstered furniture and the like and rugs. The inanimate surfaces also include household appliances including, but not limited to, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, automatic dryers, stoves, microwave ovens, dishwashers, etc. Thus, the present invention also encompasses a method for disinfecting a fabric, such as the inanimate surface. In such a process, a microemulsion, as defined herein, is contacted with the fabrics to be disinfected. This can be done either in so-called "pretreatment mode", in which the microemulsion, as defined herein, is applied pure on said fabric before the fabrics are rinsed, or washed and then rinsed, or in a "soaking mode" wherein a microemuision is first diluted, as defined herein, in an aqueous bath and the fabrics are soaked and soaked in the bath, before they are rinsed, or in a through washing ", in which it indicates a microemulsion, as defined herein, in addition to a liquor of a wash formed by dissolving or dispersing a typical detergent for washing clothes. Pretreatment washing, it has been found that it is highly preferred that the fabrics are rinsed after they have been contacted with a microemulsion, as defined herein, before said microemulsion has completely vanished by drying, especially in the embodiment of the present in which the microemulsion used comprises a bleach as a peroxygen bleach. In fact, it has been found that the evaporation of water contributes to increasing the concentration of free radicals on the surface of the fabrics and, consequently, the speed of the chain reaction. In effect, free radicals typically result from the decomposition of the bleach that can be channeled due to the presence of metal ions on the surface of a fabric and / or to the exposure of the fabrics to the ultraviolet radiation of sunlight. It is also speculated that a self-oxidation reaction occurs with the evaporation of water when such microemulsions containing a bleach are allowed to dry., on the fabrics. For example, such autoxidation reaction generates peroxy radicals which can contribute to the degradation of cellulose. This being so, not allowing such microemulsions containing bleach to dry on the fabric, in a fabric pretreatment process, contributes to reducing the loss of tensile strength when the fabrics are pretreated with said products. In a pretreatment mode, the method comprises the steps to apply a microemulsion, as defined herein, pure on said fabrics, or at least infected portions thereof (i.e., directly applying said liquid microemulsion, as defined in the present, on said fabrics without undergoing any dilution) and subsequently rinsing or washing, then rinsing said fabrics. In this mode, it may optionally be left to the pure microemulsion to act on said fabrics for a period ranging from 1 minute to 1 hour, preferably 1 minute to 30 minutes, before the fabrics are rinsed, or washed and then rinse, provided that the embodiment of the present invention in which said microemulsion comprises a peroxygen bleach is not allowed to dry on said fabrics. For particularly difficult stains, it may be appropriate to further rub or brush said fabrics by means of a sponge or brush, or by rubbing two pieces of the fabrics against each other. In another way, which is generally referred to, as "soaking", the method comprises the steps of diluting a microemulsion, as defined herein, in an aqueous bath to form a dilute composition. The level of dilution of said microemulsion, in an aqueous bath, is typically up to 1: 85, preferably up to 1: 50 and more preferably about 1: 25 (microemulsion: water). The fabrics are then contacted with the aqueous bath that constitutes the microemulsion and the fabrics are finally rinsed, or washed and then rinsed. Preferably in that embodiment the fabrics are immersed in the aqueous bath constituting the microemulsion and, also preferably, the fabrics are allowed to soak therein for a period ranging from 1 minute to 48 hours and preferably from 3 minutes to 24 hours. . In yet another mode that can be considered as a "soaking" submodality, which is generally referred to as "through the washing mode", the microemulsion, as defined herein, is used as a so-called additive for the laundry. And in this embodiment, the aqueous bath is formed by dissolving or dispersing a conventional laundry detergent in water. The microemulsion is contacted with the aqueous bath and the fabrics are then contacted with the aqueous bath containing the microemulsion. Finally, the fabrics are rinsed. In another embodiment, the present invention also encompasses a method for disinfecting a hard surface, such as the inanimate surface. In such a process, a microemulsion, as defined herein, is contacted with the hard surfaces to be disinfected. Thus, the present invention also encompasses a method for disinfecting a hard surface with a microemulsion, as defined herein, wherein said method comprises the step of applying said microemulsion to said hard surface, preferably only affected portions thereof, and optionally rinsing said hard surface. In the process of disinfecting hard surfaces according to the present invention, the microemulsion, as defined herein, can be applied to the surface being disinfected, in its pure form or in its diluted form typically up to 200 times its weight of water, preferably 80 to 2 times its weight of water and more preferably 60 to 2 times. In the preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention, wherein said liquid microemulsion is applied to a hard surface to be disinfected in its diluted form, it is not necessary to rinse the surface after the microemulsion has been applied, in effect not Visible residues are left on the surface.

Form of packaging of the microemulsions The microemulsions of the present can be packaged in a variety of packaging suitable for detergents known to those skilled in the art. The microemulsions of the present can be desirably packaged in manually operated spray jets, which are usually made of synthetic organic polymer plastic materials. According to the foregoing, the present invention also encompasses microemulsions as described herein before being packaged in a spray jet, preferably in a spray jet with trigger or a spray jet pump. For example, such sprayer-type jets allow uniformly applying to a relatively large area of a surface to be disinfected the microemulsions of the present invention, thus contributing to disinfecting properties of said microemulsions. Such sprayer-type jets are particularly suitable for treating vertical surfaces. Suitable dispensers of the type of atomizers to be used in accordance with the present invention include hand operated foam trigger type dispensers, sold for example by Specialty Packaging Products, Inc. Or Continental Sprayers, Inc. These types of dispensers are disclosed, for example in the U.S. patent. No US-4,701, 311 Dunnining et al. And US patents. US-4,646,973 and US-4,538,745 of Focarracci. Particularly preferred to be used herein are sprayer type dispensers such as T8500R commercially available from Continental Sprayers International, T8900R commercially available from Continental Sprayers Int. O T 8100R commercially available from Canyon, Northern Ireland. In such a spout, the microemulsion is divided into fine liquid droplets that result in an atomizer that is directed onto the surface to be treated. In fact, in such sprayer of the atomizer type, the microemulsion contained in the body of said spout is directed through the sprayer head of the atomizer type behind the energy communicated to the pumping mechanism by the user, according to said active user. said pumping mechanism. More particularly, in said atomizer-type dispenser head, the microemulsion is forced against an obstacle, for example a grid or a cone or the like, thus providing shocks to help atomize the microemulsion, i.e. assisting the formation of the shape of the microemulsion. atomizer of the microemulsion. The microemulsions of the present invention can also be run in the form of cleaning cloths. By "wiping cloths" is meant in the present disposable wipes that incorporate a microemulsion according to the present invention. Preferably, said cleaning cloths are packed in a plastic box. According to the above, the present invention also encompasses cleaning cloths, for example, disposable paper cloths impregnated / moistened with a microemulsion as described hereinabove. The advantage of this embodiment is a faster use of a disinfectant microemulsion for the user, it is printed outside the home, ie there is no need to pour the liquid microemulsions according to the present invention on the surfaces to be disinfected and to dry them with a cloth. In other words, the cleaning cloths allow to disinfect the surfaces in one step. The present invention will be illustrated more fully with the following examples.

EXAMPLES The following microemulsions were made by mixing the ingredients listed in the listed proportions (% by weight unless otherwise specified).

Microemulsions I II III IV V VI (% by weight) Hydrogen peroxide 3.0 3.0 6.8 3.0 1.0 3.0 Betaine * 0.1 0.1 1.5 0.1 0.05 0.2 Amine oxide of C10 1.8 1.8 3.0 1.8 0.9 3.0 Geraniol 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 - 0.2 Timol - ~ - - 0.05 0.1 Eugenol - - 0.1 - - - Eucalyptol 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 - Butyl-carbitol® 2.0 2.0 - 2.0 1.5 1.0 Dobanol 91-10® 0.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 - 1.2 Dobanol 23-3® - 0.6 1.1 0.6 Benzyl alcohol 2.0 2.0 - 2.0 0.1 Limonene 0.2 0.2 - 0.2 0.1 Isopropanol - - - - 1.0 1.0 Water and secondary ingredients up to 100% H2SO4 up to a pH of 4 Betaine * is either commercially available co-betaine Seppic with the factory name Amonyl 265® or laurylbetaine commercially available from Albright & Wilson with the name of Wmpigen BB / L® or mixtures thereof. Butyl carbitol® is diethylene glycol butyl ether. Dobanol 91-10® is a nonionic surfactant having an aliphatic C9-C11 chain and an ethoxylation of 10 available from Shell. Dobanol 23-3® is a nonionic surfactant having an aliphatic C12-C13 chain and an ethoxylation of 3 available from Shell.

Microemulsions Vil VIII IX X XI XII (% by weight) Hydrogen peroxide 2.0 2.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 Betaine * 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 Lauryl amine oxide 1.0 1.0 3.0 3.0 Tilmol - 0.1 - - Geranil __ .... 0.05 0.1 Eucalyptol 0.05 Ethylparaben - - 0.4 0.4 Eugenol - - 0.2 Dobanol 91-10® 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.1 HEDP 0.1 - 0.1 0.05 0.2 0.3 ATMP 0.1 - - BHT M 0.1 0.05 0.05 0.08 0.08 Tetraborate 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.7 1.0 1.0 Water and secondary ingredients up to 100% HaOH up to a pH of 8.5 HEDP is etidronic acid ATMP is nitrilotris (methylene) triphosphonic acid BHT is ter-butyl-hydroxy-toluene. Tetraborate is sodium tetraborate decahydrate.

These microemulsions are according to the present invention, ie they comprise small drops comprising essential oils / active ingredients, said small drops having a particle size of less than 100 nm, when the microemulsions are either in pure form or in diluted These microemulsions passed the prEN 1040 test of the European standardization committee. Indeed, these microemulsions provide excellent disinfection when used pure or diluted, for example at the dilution levels of 1: 100, 1: 25, 1: 50.

Claims (25)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A microemulsion suitable for disinfecting a surface, comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase comprising a bleach and small drops dispersed in said aqueous phase, said small drops comprising an essential oil or an active ingredient thereof and said small drops having an particle size less than 100 nanometers.

2. A microemulsion according to claim 1, further characterized in that said bleach is a peroxygen bleach.

3. A microemulsion according to claim 2, further characterized in that said peroxygen bleach is a hydrogen peroxide and / or a water soluble source thereof selected from the group consisting of percarbonates, persilicates, persulfates, perborates, peroxyacids, dialkylperoxides, diacylperoxides, preformed percarboxylic acids, organic and inorganic peroxides, organic and inorganic hydroperoxides, and mixtures thereof.

4. A microemulsion according to claim 1, which comprises from about 0.01% to about 15% by weight of the total microemulsion of said bleach or mixtures thereof.

5. - A microemulsion according to claim 4, which comprises from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the total microemulsion of said bleach or mixtures thereof.

6. A microemulsion according to claim 4, which comprises from about 0.2% to about 5% by weight of the total microemulsion of said bleach or mixtures thereof.

7. A microemulsion according to claim 1, further characterized in that said essential oil is selected from the group consisting of thyme oil comprising lemon grass oil, citron oil, lemon oil, orange oil, anise oil , clove oil, anise seed oil, cinnamon oil, geranium oil, rose oil, lavender oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, alcamfor oil, sandalwood oil, cedar oil and mixtures thereof, and / or said active ingredient of essential oil is selected from the group consisting of thymol, eugenol, menthol, carvacrol, verbenone, eucalyptus, cedrol, anethole, pinocarvone, geranium, hinochitiol, berberine, terpinol, limonene, and mixtures thereof.

8. A microemulsion according to claim 1, which comprises from about 0.005% to about 5% by weight of the total microemulsion of said essential oil or active ingredients thereof, or mixtures thereof.

9. - A microemulsion according to claim 8, which comprises from about 0.006% to about 3% by weight of the total microemulsion of said essential oil or active ingredients thereof, or mixtures thereof.

10. A microemulsion according to claim 8, which comprises from about 0.05% to about 1% by weight of the total microemulsion of said essential oil or active ingredients thereof, or mixtures thereof.

11. A microemulsion according to claim 8, which comprises from about 0.01% to about 40% by weight of the total microemulsion of said surfactant or active ingredients thereof, or mixtures thereof.

12. A microemulsion according to claim 11, which comprises from about 0.05% to about 15% by weight of the total microemulsion of said essential oil or active ingredients thereof, or mixtures thereof.

13. A microemulsion according to claim 11, which comprises from about 0.01% to about 12% by weight of the total microemulsion of said essential oil or active ingredients thereof, or mixtures thereof.

14. A microemulsion according to claim 1, further characterized in that said surfactant is: A zwitterionic surfactant or mixtures thereof, preferably a betaine or sulphobetaine surfactant, or derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof , in accordance with the following formula wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon chain containing from about 1 to about 24 carbon atoms, wherein R2 and R3 are hydrocarbon chains comprising from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, wherein n is an integer of about 1 to about 10, Y is selected from the group consisting of carboxyl and sulfonyl radicals, and wherein the sum of the hydrocarbon chains R1, R2 and R3 is from about 14 to about 24 carbon atoms; and / or an amphoteric surfactant or mixtures thereof, preferably an amine oxide having the following formula R1R2R3NO wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chain, saturated, comprising from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably R1 is a straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chain, saturated, of about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, r2 and R3 are independently linear or branched hydrocarbon chains , substituted or unsubstituted, from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof.

15. A microemulsion according to claim 1, which further comprises a hydroxylated solvent or mixtures thereof, up to a level of about 15% by weight of the total microemulsion.

16. A microemulsion according to claim 15, which further comprises a hydroxylated solvent or mixtures thereof, up to a level of from about 0.2% to about 12% by weight of the total microemulsion.

17. A microemulsion according to claim 15, which further comprises a hydroxylated solvent or mixtures thereof, up to a level of about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the total microemulsion.

18. A microemulsion according to claim 15, further characterized in that said hydroxylated solvent is a glycol ether or a derivative thereof, a polyol, an alkoxylated aliphatic alcohol, an aliphatic or aromatic alcohol, a glycol or mixtures thereof. same.

19. A microemulsion according to claim 15, further characterized in that said hydroxylated solvent is ethylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, 2- (hexyl) ethanol, 1,6-hexanediol, n-butoxypropoxypropanol, ether of butriglicol, diethylene glycol butyl ether, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol, methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1-methoxy-11 -dodecanol-methoxy-propanol, alkoxyethoxy) propanol and / or 2- (2-alkoxyethoxy) butanol wherein the alkoxy group is ethyl, prolyl, butyl and / or tert-butyl.

20. A microemulsion according to claim 15, further characterized in that said hydroxylated solvent is ethylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, benzyl alcohol, 2-propanol, ethylene glycol ethyl ether or mixtures thereof.

21. A microemulsion according to claim 1, further characterized in that said microemulsion also comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of chelating agents, radical scavengers, thickeners, other solvents, other antimicrobial / antibacterial compounds, enhancers of detergency, stabilizers, bleach activators, soil suspending agents, decolorizing transfer agents, brighteners, anti-dusting agents, enzymes, dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors, pigments, perfumes, dyes and mixtures thereof.

22. A microemulsion according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15, 18, or 21, packaged in an atomizer spout.

23. A cleaning cloth incorporates a micro-emulsion according to claims 1 to 4, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15, 18 or 21. 24.- The use of a micro-emulsion comprising a surfactant, an aqueous phase and small drops packed in said aqueous phase, said small drops comprising an essential oil or an active ingredient thereof and said small drops having a particle size of less than 100 nanometers, to disinfect a surface. 25. The use according to claim 24, further characterized in that said aqueous phase also comprises a bleach, preferably a peroxygen bleach.