The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 09, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 27, 1995
Daniel E Glover, Brighton, TN (US);
Joe C Steelhammer, West Point, MS (US);
Stephen D Bryant, Bartlett, TN (US);
Buckman Laboratories International Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method to inhibit bacteria from adhering to a submergible surface. The method contacts the submergible surface with an effective amount of at least one fluorosurfactant to inhibit bacterial adhesion to the submergible surface. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling biofouling of an aqueous system. This method adds an effective amount of at least one fluorosurfactant to inhibit bacteria from adhering to a submerged surface within the aqueous system. This method effectively controls biofouling without substantially killing the bacteria fouling organisms. The fluorosurfactant used in the method of the invention is an anionic or nonionic fluorosurfactant selected from: R.sub.f CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 Li, (R.sub.f CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O)P(O) (ONH.sub.4).sub.2, (R.sub.f CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.2 P(O) (ONH.sub.4), (R.sub.f CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O)P(O) (OH).sub.2, (R.sub.f CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.2 P(O) (OH), R.sub.f CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.x H, R.sub.f CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.y H, R.sub.f CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 H, or mixtures thereof. The group R.sub.f is F(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.3-8, x varies from 2-20, and y varies from 2-20. The present invention also relates to a compositions containing a fluorosurfactant and useable in the above methods. The compositions comprise at least one fluorosurfactant in an amount effective to inhibit bacteria from adhering to submergible or submerged surfaces.