CA2329296A1 - Method for immobilizing allergens - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a method for the immobilizing of particulate allergens by contacting them with an aqueous liquid allergen immobilizing composition, the composition containing about 0.1-3% water soluble/dispersible polymer, 1-15% water soluble/dispersible volatile solvent, at least 75% water. In alternative embodiments, various aesthetic and functional additives may be added in low levels, such as surfactants/emulsifiers, buffers, fragrances, preservatives.

Description

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
Title: METHOD FOR IMMOBILIZING ALLERGENS
Inventors: Boli Zhou, David Peterson, Leslie E. Finn and Gregory van Buskirk BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method for immobilizing allergens, said allergens having a particle size of less than 100. The method provides for the controlling of particulate allergens by contacting them with an aqueous liquid allergen immobilizing composition, the composition containing about 0.1-3% water soluble/dispersible polymer, 1-15% water soluble/dispersible volatile solvent, at least 75% water and various aesthetic and functional additives. Although the aqueous liquid allergen immobilizing composition is a high water formulation, the presence of the volatile solvent results in a rapidly drying formulation, which, upon volatilization, leaves behind a transparent film which immobilizes ~e particulate allergens.

2. Brief Statement of the Related Art Because homes, offices and other gathering places: are often tightly sealed from the external environment, frequently use central heating/air conditioning/environmental systems and are furnished with carpeting, rugs, furniture with fabric surfaces; are populated by cats, dogs and other forbearing domestic animals in such enclosed living, working and amusement spaces, and are also occupied for prolonged periods of time by humans;
propagation of loose hair, skin, dander, dust and other airborne allergens is enhanced.
Moreover, it is well known that certain microscopic arachnids commonly known as dust mites (Dermatophygoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, for example) thrive in fabric surfaces and interstices, and in the dust itself, where they will consume loose skin flakes and other sources of nutrition and in which a certain moisture level essential for their survival prevails.
These conditions in modern households, workplaces and other gathering places have led to an increase in the problems of allergic reactions to dust and of asthma, especially in children who may spend large amounts of time indoors.

Certain treatments have been attempted to overcome this increasingly prevalent problem.
For example, Bischoff et al., U.S. Patent 4.666,940, advocates the use of benzyl benzoate, combined with a polymeric carrier, as a miticidal treatment. Green et al., U.S.
Patents 4,806,526, and 4,977,142, on the other hand, focus on the waste products of mites and urges the treatment of such waste products with tannic acid, combined with various carriers, to denature such waste products.
Johnson, U.S. Patent 4,048,369, describes a miticidal treatment in which solutions containing relatively large amounts of acrylic polymers, such that the solutions will deposit 1 ~3 relatively thick films at least 0.01 p in thickness, are applied to fabrics. The solutions are cast (by dipping or other saturation techniques) onto the surfaces of fabrics, or other similar types of surfaces, such as mattresses and bedding, to form a barrier on the fabric or other surface, sealing off mites which live within such fabrics, bedding and mattresses. In this manner, Johnson intends to "wall off' the mites from their nutrition and essentially starve them.
1;~ Besides presenting a rather cumbersome method of mite control, it is further questionable how effective this technique is, both from a cost and efficacy standpoint.
GB 2,327,882 describes yet another treatment for controlling dust mites. It uses very high amounts of C,.~ alcohol solvents (30-90%), water/alcohol soluble polymer and a minor amount of water to provide yet another example of a barrier film.
However, it is well 2p known that high levels of volatile solvents present flammability and environmental issues, especially in the United States, where it is both legislatively and safety prescribed to reduce product volatile organic content (" VOC") levels.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method for the immobilizing of particulate allergens by 2<; contacting them with an aqueous liquid allergen immobilizing composition, the composition containing about 0.1-3% water soluble/dispersible polymer, 1-15% water soluble/dispersible volatile solvent, at least 75% water. In alternative embodiments, various aesthetic and functional additives may be added in low levels, such as surfactants/emulsifiers, buffers, fragrances, preservatives.
30 It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method for the immobilizing of particulate allergens by contacting them with an aqueous liquid allergen immobilizing composition _;_ It is another object of this invention to provide a surface safe, nonhazardous, low-or nonflammable method of controlling particulate allergens.
It is a further object of this invention to avoid saturation treatment of fabrics, mattresses and bedding, which results in thick, unaesthetic, impractical and potentially expensive films.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for immobilizing particulate allergens in which other functional or aesthetic benefits are delivered.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method for the immobilizing of particulate allergens by contacting them with an aqueous liquid allergen immobilizing composition, the composition containing about 0.1-3% water soluble/dispersible polymer, 1-15% water soluble/dispersible volatile solvent, at least 75% water. In alternative embodiments, various aesthetic and functional additives may be added in low levels, such as surfactants/emulsifiers, buffers, fragrances, preservatives.
15 In the application, effective amounts are generally those amounts listed as the ranges or levels of ingredients in the descriptions which follow here to.
Unless otherwise stated, amounts listed in percentage ("%'s") are in weight percent of the composition, unless otherwise noted.
It is to be noted that the inventive method provides for immobilization, not 20 necessarily encapsulation or complete coating of particulate allergens, which seems to be the intent of prior techniques. The liquid allergen immobilizing composition is delivered by a pump or trigger sprayer to a localized surface where the particulate allergens reside. It may be possible to deliver the composition by means of an aerosol system. In that case, the propellant should be judiciously selected so as to take into account any contribution it may 25 make towards the total solvent content (since many propellants are volatile organic solvents, e.g., isopropane). Further, while fabric surfaces. mattresses and bedding would typically be implicated as such mite- or other allergen-harboring environment, in fact, hard and other surfaces may also retain particulate allergens, such as in what appears to the human eye to be a layer of dust or other particulate matter. The dust, allergens, and other particulate matter 30 will generally have an individual particle size of less than about 100, more likely, less than 50~., in size. Moreover, while the householder intends to do a thorough job of dusting the home, there remain problematic areas in which there is extreme difficulty of removing all dust/allergens through cleaning, especially from soft surfaces, because of the tendency for dust/allergens to cling thereto, as well as the fact that dust/allergens may be less visible thereon, blending into the fabric. The liquid allergen immobilizing composition is sprayed in a fine mist onto such particulate allergens and merely allowed to dry. In drying, the volatile solvent and the water are volatilized, leaving behind a residue of the polymer, which has been found to immobilize the allergens, rather than encapsulate or completely coat them.
The ingredients constituting the novel liquid allergen immobilizing composition are described hereinbelow.
1. The Polymer(s) The polymer is a key component of the inventive aqueous liquid allergen immobilizing composition. It is necessary to provide the transparent to slightly visible residue or film which results after application of the inventive liquid composition to a surface.
The polymer is generally speaking a water soluble to dispersible polymer having a molecular weight of generally below 2,000,000 daltons. The polymers will also be not damaging to fabrics, carpets, and other soft surfaces. They should have enough tack or stickiness, when applied and dried, to provide microadhesion of allergens and other small size particles, but not so much that to the human touch the film or residue feels or imparts an obvious sticky feel. Preferably, the polymer will also not have an obvious or offensive odor, although that attribute can be mitigated by judicious selection of fragrance.
Examples of suitable classes of polymers include:
a. Polysaccharides Suitable polymers may comprise polysaccharide polymers, which include substituted cellulose materials like carboxymethylcellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, succinoglycan and naturally occurring polysaccharide polymers like xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, tragacanth gum or derivatives thereof. Particularly useful polysaccharides are xanthan gum and derivatives thereof. Some of these are thickeners which may have too much tack, from a performance and aesthetic standpoint. Additional suitable polysaccharide polymers may include sodium caseinate and gelatin. Other suitable polysaccharide polymers may include cationic derivatives, such as the cationic cellulose ether, Polymer JR.

b. Polycarboxvlates Polycarboxylates can also be used which contain amounts of nonionizable monomers, such as ethylene and other simple olefins, styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, methyl, ethyl and C3 to C8 alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, isobornyl methacrylate, acrylamide, S hydroxyethyl acrylate and methacrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate and methacrylate, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, butadiene, isoprene, vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride and vinylidine chloride, alkyl maleates, alkyl fumarates. Other suitable polymers include other polycarboxylates, such as homopolymers and copolymers of~ monomeric units selected FROM the group consisting of unsaturated carboxylic acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, polycarboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, phosphonic acids and mixtures thereof. Copolymerization of the above monomeric units among them or with other co-monomers such as malefic anhydride, ethylene or propylene are also suitable.
c. Polystyrenesulfonates Other suitable polymers are polystyrenesulfonates such as Flexan 130.and Versa TL501 from ALCO Corporation. Polystyrenesulfonates are also useful as copolymers, for example Versa TL-4 also from ALCO Corporation.
d. Acrylate Polymers Other suitable polymers are acrylic emulsion polymers used as floor polish coatings. These are generally copolymers of one or more acidic monomers, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or malefic anhydride, with at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from a group consisting of ethylene and other simple olefins, styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, methyl, ethyl and C3 to Cg alkyl acrylates and methacrylates, isobornyl methacrylate, acrylamide, hydroxyethyl acrylate and methacrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate and methacrylate, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, butadiene, isoprene, vinyl halides such as vinyl chloride and vinylidine chloride, alkyl maleates, alkyl fumarates, fumaric acid, malefic acid, itaconic acid, and the like. It is also frequently desirable to include minor amounts of other functional monomers, such as acetoacetoxy methacrylate or other acetoacetate monomers and divinyl or polyvinyl monomers, such as glycol polyacrylates, allyl methacrylate, divinyl benzene and the like. The preferred polymers have an acid number from about 75 to about 30. 500 and a number average molecular weight of about 500 to about 20,000.
These polymers may also be crosslinked with metal ions or modified for crosslinking with silane functionality as described, for example, in U.S. Patent 5,428,107. Examples of such acrylic emulsion polymers include those available under the Rhoplex tradename from Rohm & Haas, such as Rhoplex AC-33, Rhoplex B-924. and Rhoplex MC-76. There are also polymers from Alco, such as Balance CR, Balance 47 and Balance 055. Other suitable polymers are copolymers of acrylic and/or methacrylic acid with acrylate and methacrylate esters. For example, a copolymer of 51 % methyl methacrylate, 31 % butyl acrylate, and 18% acrylic acid is available from Rohm & Haas as Emulsion Polymer E-1250.
Other suitable polymers may include cationic acrylic water soluble polymers that are copolymers of cationic quaternized acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides, and methacrylamides, for example trimethylammoniumpropylmethacrylate, and acrylamide or 1 p acrylonitrile.
e. Polyethyleneimines Other suitable polymers are polyethyleneimines and copolymers with other polyalkyleneimines. These amino-functional polymers can also be modified by ethoxylation and propoxylation. These amino-functional polymers can also be quanternized with methyl groups or oxidized to amine oxides.
f. Polyvin~pyrrolidones Other suitable polymers include vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers and copoymers.
Suitable vinylpyrrolidone homopolymers have an average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 100,000,000, preferably from 2,000 to 10,000,000, more preferably from 5,000 to 1,000,000, ~d most preferably from 30,000 to 700,000. Suitable vinyl pyrrolidone homopolymers are commercially available from ISP Corporation, Wayne, New Jersey under the product names PVP K-15 (average molecular weight of 8,000), PVP K30 (average molecular weight of 38,000), PVP K-60 (average molecular weight of 216,000), PVP K-90 (average molecular weight of 630,000), and PVP K-120 (average molecular weight of 2,900,000).
Suitable copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone include copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with one or more alkylenically unsaturated monomers. Suitable alkylenically unsaturated monomers include unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as malefic acid, chloromaleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, phenylmaleic acid, aconitic acid, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, N-vinylimidazole, vinylcaprolactam, butene, hexadecene, and vinyl acetate. Any of the esters ~d ~'nides of the unsaturated acids may be employed, for example, methyl acrylate, ethylacrylate, acrylamide, methacryamide, dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate, dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide, trimethylammoniumethylmethacrylate, and trimethylammoniumpropylmethacz-ylamide. Other suitable alkylenically unsaturated monomers include aromatic monomers such as styrene, sulphonated styrene, alpha-methylstyrene, vinyltoluene, t-butylstyrene and others. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with vinyl acetate are commercially available under the trade name PVP/VA
from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with alpha-olefins are available, for example, as P-904 from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate are available, for example, as Copolymer 958 from ISP
Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with trimethylammoniumethylmethacrylate are available, for example, as Gafquat 734 from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with trimethylammoniumpropylmethacrylamide are available, for example, as Gafquat HS-100 from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with styrene are available, for example, as Polectron 430 from ISP Corporation. Copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with acrylic acid are available, for example, as Polymer ACP
1005 (25%
vinylpyrrolidone/75% acrylic acid) from ISP Corporation.
g,. Methylvinyl ether Other suitable polymers include methylvinylether homopolymers and copoymers.
Preferred copolymers are those with malefic anhydride. These copolymers can be hydrolyzed to the diacid or derivatized as the monoalkyl ester. For example, the n-butyl ester is available as Gantrez ES-425 from ISP Corporation.
h. Pol vinyl alcohols Other suitable polymers include polyvinyl alcohols. Preferably, polyvinyl alcohols which are at least 80.0%, preferably 88-99.9%, and most preferably 99.0-99.8%
hydrolyzed are used. For example, the polyvinyl alcohol, Elvanol 71-30 is available from E.
I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.
2 5 Mixtures of any of the foregoing polymers may be possible or desirable.
2. The Volatile Organic Solvents) The solvents useful in this invention are organic solvents with a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25°C and soluble to the extent of at least lg/100m1 water. The upper limit of vapor pressure appears to be about 100 mm Hg at 25°C. Vapor pressure is a useful ;SO measure for determining the applicability of the given solvent, since one would select a solvent which will volatilize sufficiently so as to leave no visible residue.
The organic solvent of the invention is preferably selected from C,.~ alkanol, C3_za alkylene glycol ether, _g_ and mixtures thereof. The C,.6 alkanol solvents are preferred for use. The alkanol can be selected from methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, their various positional isomers, and mixtures of the foregoing. In the invention, it has been found most preferable to use ethanol, which has particularly good volatilization and solubilization characteristics. It may also be possible to utilize in addition to, or in place of, said alkanols, the diols such as methylene, ethylene, propylene and butylene glycols, and mixtures thereof.
Other solvents, such as amines, ketones, ethers, hydrocarbons and halides may be useful.
Other examples of solvents can be found in Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology 3rd, Vol. 2I, pp. 377-4U1 (1983), incorporated by reference herein.
1 p The alkylene glycol ether solvents can include ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, and mixtures thereof. It is preferred to limit the total amount of solvent to no more than 15%, more preferably no more than 10%, and most preferably, no more than 7.5%, of the cleaner. Moreover, in some of the compositions of this invention, no solvent 1 ~~ may be present. A preferred range is about 1-15%.

3. Water The third principal ingredient is water, which should be present at a level of at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, and most preferably, at least about 85%.
Deionized water is most preferred. Water forms the predominant, continuous phase in which 2p the ingredients are solubilized or dispersed.

4. Aesthetic/Functional Additives Various desirable Actives include:
a. The Nonionic surfactants The nonionic surfactants used in the invention may be one or more nonionic 2~~ surfactants which have a HLB of about 3-16. For a further discussion of HLB measurements, one should consult Popiel, Introduction to Colloid Science (1978), pp. 43-44 and Gerhartz, Ullmann's Enc~pedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th Ed., Vol. A9 (1985), pp. 322-23, both of which are incorporated by reference thereto.
Surfactants may be selected from linear and branched alkoxylated alcohols and 3p alkoxylated alkylphenols. The alkoxylated alcohols include ethoxylated, propoxylated, and ethoxylated and propoxylated CS.ZU alcohols, with about 1-5 moles of ethylene oxide, or about 1-5 moles of propylene oxide, or I-5 and I-5 moles of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, respectively, per mole of alcohol. There are a wide variety of products from numerous manufacturers, such as the Neodol series from Texaco Chemical Co., to wit, Neodol 25-3, a linear C,2_,5 alcohol ethoxylate with 3 moles of ethylene oxide ("EO") per mole of alcohol, HLB of 7.8, and Neodol 91-2.5,a linear C9_" alcohol ethoxylate with 2.5 moles of EO;
Alfonic 1412-40, a C,2_,4 ethoxylated alcohol with 3 moles of EO from Conoco;
Surfonic L12-2.6, a C,o_,Z ethoxylated alcohol with 3 moles of EO, and Surfonic L24-3, a C,Z_,4 ethoxylated alcohol with 3 moles of EO from Huntsman Chemical; and Tergitol 25-L-3, a C,2_,5 ethoxylated alcohol with 3 moles of EO, from Union Carbide. The secondary ethoxylated alcohols include Tergitol 15-S-3, a C"_,5 secondary ethoxylated alcohol, with 3 moles of EO, from Union Carbide.
The branched surfactants, especially preferred of which are tridecyl ethers, include Trycol TDA-3, a tridecyl ether with 3 moles of EO, from Henkel KGaA
(formerly, Emery), and Macol TD 3, a tridecyl ether with 3 moles of EO, from PPG
Industries. See, also, McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents, 1987. The sparingly soluble nonionic surfactant can also be selected from alkoxylated alkylphenols, such as: Macol NP-4, an ethoxylated nonylphenol with 4 moles of EO, and an HLB of 8.8, from PPG;
Triton N-57, an ethoxylated nonylphenol with an HLB of 10.0, Triton N-42, an ethoxylated nonylphenol with an HLB of 9.1, both from Rohm & Haas Co.; and Igepal CO-520, with an HLB of 10.0, an ethoxylated nonylphenol from GAF Chemicals Corp.; Alkasurf NP-5, with an HLB
of 10.0, and Alkasurf NP-4, with an HLB of 9.0, both of which are ethoxylated nonylphenols from Alkaril Chemicals; Surfonic N-40, with an HLB of 8.9, an ethoxylated nonylphenol from Huntsman. See, McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents (1987), especially page 282, incorporated herein by reference thereto. The nonionic surfactant can be chosen fram, among others: Alfonic surfactants, sold by Conoco, such as Alfonic 1412-60, a C,Z_,4 ethoxylated alcohol with 7 moles of EO; Neodol surfactants, sold by Shell Chemical Company, such as Neodol 25-7, a C,z_,5 ethoxylated alcohol with 7 moles of EO, Neodol 45-7, a C,4_,s ethoxylated alcohol with 7 moles of EO, Neodol 23-5, a linear C,2_,3 alcohol ethoxylate with 5 moles of EO, HLB of 10.7; Surfonic surfactants, also sold by Huntsman Chemical Company, such as Surfonic L12-6, a C,o_,~ ethoxylated alcohol with 6 moles of EO and L24-7, a C,2_"
3y ethoxylated alcohol with 7 moles of EO; and Tergitol surfactants, both sold by Union Carbide, such as Tergitol 25-L-7, a C,Z_,5 ethoxylated alcohol with 7 moles of EO, and Tergitol S-15-7, a C"_,5 ethoxylated alcohol with 7 moles of EO. Macol NP-6, an ethoxylated nonylphenol with 6 moles of EO, and an HLB of 10.8, Macol NP-9.5, an ethoxylated nonylphenol with about 11 moles EO and an HLB of 14.2, Macol NP-9.5, an ethoxylated nonylphenol with about 9.5 moles EO and an HLB of 13.0, both from Mazer Chemicals, Inc.; Triton N-1 O1, an ethoxylated nonylphenol with 9-10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol ("EO") having a hydrophile-lipophile balance ("HLB") of 13.4, Triton N-111, an ethoxylated nonylphenol with an HLB of 13.8, both from Rohm & Haas Co.;
Igepal CO-530, with an HLB of 10.8, Igepal CO-730, with an HLB of 15.0, Igepal CO-720, with an HLB of 14.2, Igepal CO-710, with an HLB of 13.6, Igepal CO-660, with an HLB of 13.2, Igepal CO-620, with an HLB of 12.6, and Igepal CO-610 with an HLB of 12.2, all polyethoxylated nonylphenols from GAF Chemicals Corp.; Alkasurf NP-6, with an HLB of 11.0, Alkasurf NP-15, with an HLB of 15, Alkasurf NP-12, with an HLB of 13.9, Alkasurf NP-11, with an HLB of 13.8, Alkasurf NP-10, with an HLB of 13.5, Alkasurf NP-.9, with an HLB of 13.4, and Alkasurf NP-8, with an HLB of 12.0, all polyethoxylated nonylphenols from Alkaril Chemicals; and Surfonic N-60, with an HLB of 10.9, and Surfonic N-120, with an HLB of 14.1, Surfonic N-102, with an HLB of 13.5, Surfonic N-100, with an HLB of 13.3, Surfonic N-95, with an HLB of 12.9, and Surfonic N-85, with an HLB of 12.4, all polyethoxylated nonylphenols from Huntsman.
The amount of the nonionic surfactants is generally between about 0.1 to about 5%, of the aqueous composition.
b. Fra,, rances Fragrances, which are usually lipophilic oils, such as, without limitation, materials which can also function as solvents, such as terpenes and their derivatives, Representative examples for each of the above classes of terpenes with functional groups include but are not limited to the following: Terpene alcohols, including, for example, cis-2-pinanol, pinanol, thymol, 1,8-tenpin, dihydro-terpineol, tetrahydromyrcenol, tetrahydrolinalool, and tetrahydro-alloocimenol; and terpene ethers, including, for example, benzyl isoamyl ether, 1,8-cineole, 1,4-cineole, isobomyl methylether, methyl hexylether. Further, other tertiary alcohols are useful herein. Additional useful solvents include alicyclic hydrocarbons, such as methylcyclohexane. Terpene hydrocarbons with functional groups which appear suitable for 3y use in the present invention are discussed in substantially greater detail by Simonsen and Ross, The Terpenes, Volumes I-V, Cambridge University Press, 2nd Ed., 1947 (incorporated herein by reference thereto). See also, co-pending and commonly assigned U.S.
Patent Application Serial No. 07/780,360, filed October 22, 1991, of Choy, incorporated herein by reference thereto. Other fragrances are found amongst combinations of aldehydes, esters, essential oils, and the like. See, Bertrand et al., U.S. Patent 4,938,416, and Swatting et al, U.S. Patent 5,227,366, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Fragrances are available from such vendors as Givaudan-Rohre, International Flavors and Fragrances, Firmenich, Norda, Bush Boake and Allen, Quest and others.
c. Dyes and Colorants Dyes and colorants which can be solubilized or suspended in the formulation. A
wide variety of dyes or colorants can be used to impart an aesthetically and commercially pleasing appearance. The amounts of these aesthetic adjuncts should be in the range of 0-2%, more preferably 0-1%
d. Antimicrobials Additionally, because the surfactants in liquid systems are sometimes subject to attack from microorganisms, it is advantageous to add a preservative, i.e., mildewstat or ~, 5 bacteristat. Exemplary mildewstats (including non-isothiazolone compounds) include Kathon GC, a 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, Kathon ICP, a 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, and a blend thereof, and Kathon 886, a S-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, all available from Rohm and Haas Company;
Bronopol, a 2-bromo-2-nitropropane 1,3-diol, from Boots Company Ltd.; Proxel CRL, a propyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, from ICI PLC; Nipasol M, an o-phenyl-phenol, Na+
salt, from Nipa Laboratories Ltd.; Integra from ISP; Dowicide A, a 1,2-benzoisothiazolin-3-one, from Dow Chemical Co.; and Irgasan DP 200, a 2,4,4'-trichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether, from Ciba-Geigy A.G. See also, Lewis et al., U.S. 4,252,694 and U.S. 4,105,431, incorporated herein by reference. Other actives include, without limitation, quaternary ammonium 2 5 compounds, "polyquats," which are reaction products/mixtures of anionic polymer or prepolymers with quaternary ammonium compounds, phenols, 3-isothiazolones, methyl and propyl parabens, and the like. These antimicrobial materials may be desirable to be delivered to a particular surface, such as fabrics, or hard surfaces, so as to deliver residual antimicrobial activity. Especially preferred are the polyquats which are referred to in Zhou, U.S. Patent ?.p Application Serial No. 08/833,276. filed April 4, 1997, and Zhou et al., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/116,190, filed July 15, 1998, both of common assignment, and incorporated herein by reference thereto.

]~-e. Miscellaneous Adjuncts Small amounts of adjuncts can be added for improving aesthetic qualities of the invention. Other desirable additives may include chelating agents (without limitation, such as alkali metal salts of EDTA, preferably tetrapotassium EDTA; See Robbins et al., U.S. Patent c Application Serial No. 08/731,6.'i3, filed October 17, 1996, incorporated herein by reference;
or tetraammonium EDTA ; see Mills et al., U.S. Patent 5,814,591, incorporated herein by reference) salts, pigments, colorants and the like. Additional surfactants (anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric, 2witterionic and mixtures), hydrotropes, solvents, and other dispersing aids may also be added in discrete amounts, taking into account their individual performance 1 G a~butes and whether their addition may affect the product stability.
Buffering agents, such as alkali metal tetraborates ~n-hydrate, e.g., borax penta- or decahydrate.
Preferred such buffering agents are sodium borax and potassium borax.
In the following Experimental section, examples of the inventive composition are provided.
1 ~ EXPERIMENTAL
In the following section, examples of various embodiments of the invention are depicted. Where ingredients are repeated in some of the Examples, and have been previously identified in footnotes in prior Examples, those footnotes are not repeated.

EXAMPLE I
Aqueous Liquid Allergen Immobilizing Composition In redient Wei hg t%

Deionized Water' 90.70 (q.s. to 100%) Acrylic Polymer Emulsion' 1.08 Ethanol3 $ .00 Polyether modified Polydimethylsiloxane"0.03 Preservatives 0.10 Nonionic Surfactantb 0.50 Fragrance' 0.20 I

Buffer8 0.70 Total: 100.00%

' May not necessarily need to be deionized 2 Carboset polymer, BF Goodrich $ 3Solvent, Midwest Grain 4BYK Chemie SIntegra 6Union Carbide.
'Bush Boake and Allen.
BU.S. Borax These ingredients are merely admixed together, with gentle stirring. The preferred order of addition is to disperse the fragrance via the surfactant and to neutralize the polymer (although one can purchase versions that are already neutralized. So, to disperse the fragrance adequately, a preblend of water, surfactant and fragrance, and then this preblend is added to the bulk of the product. 'fhe finished liquid allergen immobilizing composition can then be loaded into trigger or pump sprayers. It may also be possible to load them into cans for aerosol delivery. However, cost and the presence of an additional solvent (the propellant) are considerations in aerosol delivery. If aerosol delivery is practiced, there are preferred systems described in co-pending patent application Serial No. 09/116,190, of Boli ,~hou et al, filed July 15, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference. Preferably, but by no means limiting to the invention, the cornpasition is delivered in a trigger sprayer made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene, although it may also be desirable to use transparent polyethylene terphthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and other transparent or translucent thermopolymers. Examples of such sprayers are depicted in Hefter _j4_ et al., U.S. D-404,650, Bolliger et al., U.S. D-401,504, and Malmquist, U.S. D-372,428, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In application, a fine spray or mist is applied to a surface having particulate allergens. It has been determined that after the particulate allergens have been wetted, and then allowed to dry, the allergens are thus immobilized in the minute, transparent residue or film. This prevents the particulate allergens from becoming airborne. Because the quantity of product used is very sparing, the invention presents an extremely cost-effective solution to the prevention or mitigation of allergen dispersion in enclosed living, working and gathering spaces.
The invention is further defined without limitation of scope by the claims which follow hereto.

Claims (4)

1. A method for the immobilizing of particulate allergens comprising contacting said allergens with an aqueous liquid allergen immobilizing composition, the composition containing about 0.1-3% water soluble/dispersible polymer, 1-15%
water soluble/dispersible volatile solvent, and at least 75% water.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said composition further comprises at least one aesthetic and/or functional additive.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of water soluble to dispersible polymers having a molecular weight of below about 2,000,000 daltons.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is selected from C1-6 alkanols and C3-24 glycol ethers.