Abstract A dry two-part composition or substantially anhydrous one-part composition produces a clear, aqueous, storage stable, germicidal, sporicidal and detergent composition which prevents coagulated blood from adhering to instruments during sterilization, etc., and is used to decontaminate surgical items, such as needles and sponges. One part of the composition is paraformaldehyde having an average molecular weight of about 360 free from polymer chains over a molecular weight of 3,000. The melting point in a sealed tube does not exceed 172* C. The remainder of the composition contains an alkali metal tripolyphosphate and a water soluble buffer, such as sodium carbonate, to give a final aqueous solution having a pH between about 10 and 11. If the materials are substantially anhydrous, that is to say, free from chemically unbound water, all of the constituents can be mixed together in a powder and stored in a container hermetically sealed against the entrance of moisture. If the constituents or any of them are not substantially anhydrous, the composition must be in a two-part package separately sealed in waterproof pouches, one containing the paraformaldehyde and the other the polyphosphate and buffer.
The composition according to claim 1 in which the tripolyphosphate is sodium tripolyphosphate and the buffer is sodium carbonate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
The composition according to claim 2 in which the composition also contains corrosion inhibiting compounds in anhydrous form which are soluble in water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
165 words
A package having therein a two-part dry composition in two separate closed compartments, which composition is suitable for preparing a clear and stable germicidal solution, the improvement comprising in combination, a. a first closed compartment containing paraformaldehyde powder said paraformaldehyde having a molecular weight of about 360 and being substantially free from polymeric chains with a molecular weight of 3,000 or more and having a melting point in a sealed tube of not more than 172* C., and b. a second closed compartment containing an alkali metal tripolyphosphate powder in an amount from 4 to 100 percent of the weight of the paraformaldehyde and a water soluble buffer capable of maintaining a pH of from about 10 to 11 in water solution when the contents of the two containers are dissolved together in water, the amount of the soluble buffer being at least 6 percent of the paraformaldehyde by weight and less than an amount which results in salting out paraformaldehyde when dissolved in water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A package according to claim 4 in which the tripolyphosphate is sodium tripolyphosphate and the buffer is sodium carbonate in amounts from at least 6 percent by weight of the paraformaldehyde and less than that which results in salting out paraformaldehyde on solution of the composition in water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A package according to claim 5 in which the compartment having the tripolyphosphate also contains corrosion inhibiting compounds soluble in water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A package according to claim 4 in which the compartments are integral plastic pouches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A package according to claim 5 in which the compartments are integral plastic pouches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A package according to claim 7 in which the pouches are of laminated polyolefine.