| abstract |
There is disclosed, in one aspect, chlorous acid generating compositions useful for disinfecting substrates. The compositions comprise aqueous solutions containing a suitable amount of a protic acid, such as citric or malic acid, and a suitable amount of a metal chlorite, such as sodium chlorite. The chlorite ion concentration which is in the form of chlorous acid in the composition is no more than about 15 percent by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration. In a preferred embodiment, the composition also contains a vicinal dihydroxy or polyhydroxy compound. In another preferred embodiment, the composition contains at least a 10-fold molar excess of a water soluble chloride ion compared to the total concentration of chlorite ion. In another aspect, there is disclosed a process for disinfecting substrates. This process comprises applying the compositions described above to a substrate. In yet another aspect, there is disclosed a process for preparing the compositions described above. This process comprises contacting the protic acid with the metal chlorite to form the disinfecting composition. |