Iodophors and a process for their preparation

Claim 1

A process for the production of an iodophor, said process comprising mixing while heating a mixture of: I. about 10-30 weight percent of elementary iodine; and Ii. about 90-70 weight percent of an aqueous solution consisting essentially of: a. about 7-30 weight percent of at least one polycarboxylate having an average degree of polymerization (numerical average value) between about 10 and 500, said polycarboxylate consisting essentially of: Y + w/2 basic mole % units of the formula ##EQU1## U - W basic mole % units of the formula ##EQU2## Z basic mole % units of the formula ##EQU3## W/2 basic mole % units of the formula ##EQU4## V basic mole % units of the formula ##EQU5## wherein U equals about 5-30; V equals about 1-25; W equals 0 to U; Y equals 100 - (U + V + Z); and Z equals 0 to 20; A represents an alkali metal or hydrogen ion; R 1 signifies hydrogen, methyl, hydroxy methyl, ethyl, chlorine or bromine; R 2 and R 4 are the same or different and signify hydrogen or hydroxymethyl; R 3 and R 5 are the same or different and signify hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; and whereby the expression Y+(W/2)+2Z is larger than or equal to about 65; b. about 0-20 weight percent of at least one alkali metal iodide, ammonium iodide, mixtures of said iodides or at least one lower, monovalent, aliphatic alcohol; c. about 0-20 weight percent of at least one acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, malic acid and tartaric acid; and d. water in an amount sufficient so that said aqueous solution comprises 100 weight percent; wherein said heating is conducted at between about 50° and 120°C for a period of time sufficient to form said iodophor.