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Studies in the development of antibacterial surfactants. I. institutional use of antibacterial fabric softeners
Author(s) -
Linfield W. M.,
Sherrill J. C.,
Casely R. E.,
Noel D. R.,
Davis G. A.
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02632072
Subject(s) - laundry , antibacterial activity , chemistry , ammonium , chaetomium globosum , aqueous solution , food science , pulp and paper industry , organic chemistry , bacteria , waste management , biology , genetics , engineering , botany
Summary It has been determined that the incorporation of a highly active antibacterial agent, phenylmercuric propionate, into an aqueous solution of a fabric softener of the quaternary ammonium type results in a most effective antibacterial laundry rinse additive. The presence of the quaternary ammonium compound appears to enhance the antibacterial activity of the mercurial. When applied at a level of 63 parts of available mercurial to one million parts of fabric, the treated cloth is rendered bacteriostatic to several strains of S. aureus and to ammonia‐producing organisms of the Proteus group, also mildewstatic to Chaetomium globosum . The formulated antibacterial softener as well as the treated linens appear to be entirely safe to humans. In longer‐term application tests in a hospital laundry the total bacterial load carried by the soiled treated linens is practically zero. There is no excessive build‐up of antibacterial agent on fabric upon repeated applications, and it is readily washed out of the fabric by conventional laundering.