Abstract: A process for the use of .omega.-Aminocarboxylic acid amides of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon residue having 10 to 14 carbon atoms, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 --CHOH--CH.sub.3 and --CH.sub.2 --CHOH--CH.sub.2 OH, and m and n are integers from 1 to 10, to prevent the growth of microorganisms including compositions of phosphonate sequestering agents and .omega.-aminocarboxylic acid amides for use in industrial water treatment.

Abstract: Antimicrobial and algicidal compositions active against bacteria, fungi and algae containing from 0.1% to 10% by weight of reaction products of .epsilon.-caprolactam with N-alkylalkylene diamines of the formula ##EQU1## wherein R denotes a straight- or branch-chained, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon substituent with 10 to 18 carbon atoms, R.sub.1 denotes hydrogen or an aliphatic hydrocarbon substituent with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, where n is an integer of from 2 to 6, preferably 3, and where the molar ratio of the reaction partners N-alkylalkylene diamine: .epsilon.-caprolactam is 1:1 to 1:10, and the reaction is carried out for 3 to 20 hours in the liquid phase at temperatures above 180.degree.C, preferably at about 250.degree.C. These reaction products are useful in compositions to prevent the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and algae.

Abstract: A process for the prevention of the growth of microorganisms, especially in industrial water, comprises contacting these microorganisms with an effective antimicrobial amount of a reaction product of .epsilon.-caprolactam and an N-alkylalkylene diamine with the reaction being carried out in the liquid phase for 3 to 20 hours at a temperature about 180.degree.C. The process further comprises incorporating into said industrial water an effective amount of a sequestering agent comprising a water-soluble phosphonic acid which forms a complex with a divalent metal, a water-soluble salt of the acid and the mixtures thereof, with the weight ratio of sequestering agent to reaction product being 1:10 to 10:1.