Abstract: A method of preparing a disinfecting composition comprising charged polyethylenimine (PEI), the method comprising adding a base to an aqueous solution comprising a linear PEI hydrochloride solution to provide a linear PEI salt solution with a pH between 9-11, adding a first organic acid to reduce the pH to less than 7, removing about 20% to 100% of the salt from the solution, and optionally adding water and/or a second organic acid to obtain the disinfecting composition with a pH of 2-7. The method can further comprise adding at least one metal salt to the disinfecting composition. The resulting disinfecting solution can be used to provide antimicrobial products with enhanced antimicrobial performance, reduced toxicity, and/or able to leave a persistent “kill-later” film.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer-based antimicrobial composition that is non-toxic, water soluble, and that mitigates the transmission of infectious diseases from surfaces. The composition comprises a cationic polymer, at least one adhesion promoter, optionally organic and/or inorganic particles that are photocatalytically active in visible light, and a carrier, in which the components of the composition are not covalently bound to one another. Also provided is an antimicrobial composition that comprises at least (i) a polyethylenimine-based polymer and a carrier or (ii) an organic and/or inorganic particle that is photocatalytically active in visible light, an adhesion promoter, and a carrier. The antimicrobial compositions can be applied to disinfect a surface and to form residual self-sanitizing films on the surface that are removable.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer-based antimicrobial composition that is non-toxic, water soluble, and that mitigates the transmission of infectious diseases from surfaces. The composition comprises a cationic polymer, at least one adhesion promoter, optionally organic and/or inorganic particles that are photocatalytically active in visible light, and a carrier, in which the components of the composition are not covalently bound to one another. Also provided is an antimicrobial composition that comprises at least (i) a polyethylenimine-based polymer and a carrier or (ii) an organic and/or inorganic particle that is photocatalytically active in visible light, an adhesion promoter, and a carrier. The antimicrobial compositions can be applied to disinfect a surface and to form residual self-sanitizing films on the surface that are removable.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer-based antimicrobial composition that is non-toxic, water soluble, and that mitigates the transmission of infectious diseases from surfaces. The composition comprises a cationic polymer, at least one adhesion promoter, optionally organic and/or inorganic particles that are photocatalytically active in visible light, and a carrier, in which the components of the composition are not covalently bound to one another. Also provided is an antimicrobial composition that comprises at least (i) a polyethylenimine-based polymer and a carrier or (ii) an organic and/or inorganic particle that is photocatalytically active in visible light, an adhesion promoter, and a carrier. The antimicrobial compositions can be applied to disinfect a surface and to form residual self-sanitizing films on the surface that are removable.

Abstract: A method for making a solid carbon material comprises: delivering a liquid comprising at least one liquid organic compound into a reaction region of a reactor; delivering a gas comprising at least one gaseous organic compound into the reaction region of the reactor; and inducing a chemical reaction between the at least one liquid organic compound and the at least one gaseous organic compound, wherein: the chemical reaction occurs in the reaction region of the reactor; the solid carbon material is made via the reaction; the solid carbon material is made during the reaction in the form of a dispersion comprising the solid carbon material dispersed in the liquid; and the chemical reaction is a homogeneous reaction comprising homogeneous nucleation of the solid carbon material in the reaction region of the reactor.

Abstract: A method for making a solid carbon material comprises: delivering a liquid comprising at least one liquid organic compound into a reaction region of a reactor; delivering a gas comprising at least one gaseous organic compound into the reaction region of the reactor; and inducing a chemical reaction between the at least one liquid organic compound and the at least one gaseous organic compound, wherein: the chemical reaction occurs in the reaction region of the reactor; the solid carbon material is made via the reaction; the solid carbon material is made during the reaction in the form of a dispersion comprising the solid carbon material dispersed in the liquid; and the chemical reaction is a homogeneous reaction comprising homogeneous nucleation of the solid carbon material in the reaction region of the reactor.

Abstract: A method of preparing a disinfecting composition comprising charged polyethylenimine (PEI), the method comprising adding a base to an aqueous solution comprising a linear PEI hydrochloride solution to provide a linear PEI salt solution with a pH between 9-11, adding a first organic acid to reduce the pH to less than 7, removing about 20% to 100% of the salt from the solution, and optionally adding water and/or a second organic acid to obtain the disinfecting composition with a pH of 2-7. The method can further comprise adding at least one metal salt to the disinfecting composition. The resulting disinfecting solution can be used to provide antimicrobial products with enhanced antimicrobial performance, reduced toxicity, and/or able to leave a persistent “kill-later” film.

Abstract: Provided is an antimicrobial photoreactive composition comprising a photocatalytic multijunction composite that is photoreactive in ordinary room lighting and comprises at least one photocatalytic heterojunction that is primarily carbon based. The composition further comprises at least one surface-coupling material, optionally at least one additive selected from a charge-transfer augmenting material, a light-capturing augmenting material, an antimicrobial augmenting material(s), or a combination thereof, and a carrier. The composition can be coupled to a surface or embedded in a cationic polymer matrix to form an antimicrobial film that is removable. Further provided is a method of disinfecting a surface comprising applying the antimicrobial photoreactive composition to a surface.

Abstract: A lid for use with a container including stacked articles configured to facilitate the removal of an uppermost article from the stacked articles. The lid includes a grabbing apparatus configured to adhere to the uppermost article of the stacked articles and a grabbing apparatus platform configured to support the grabbing apparatus that is extendible allowing extension of the grabbing apparatus from the lid.

Abstract: A lid for use with a container including stacked articles configured to facilitate the removal of an uppermost article from the stacked articles. The lid includes a grabbing apparatus configured to adhere to the uppermost article of the stacked articles and a grabbing apparatus platform configured to support the grabbing apparatus that is extendible allowing extension of the grabbing apparatus from the lid.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer-based antimicrobial composition that is non-toxic, water soluble, and that mitigates the transmission of infectious diseases from surfaces. The composition comprises a cationic polymer, at least one adhesion promoter, optionally organic and/or inorganic particles that are photocatalytically active in visible light, and a carrier, in which the components of the composition are not covalently bound to one another. Also provided is an antimicrobial composition that comprises at least (i) a polyethylenimine-based polymer and a carrier or (ii) an organic and/or inorganic particle that is photocatalytically active in visible light, an adhesion promoter, and a carrier. The antimicrobial compositions can be applied to disinfect a surface and to form residual self-sanitizing films on the surface that are removable.

Abstract: Provided is an antimicrobial substrate comprising a substrate to which is covalently bonded an antimicrobial polymer, in which the antimicrobial polymer comprises an alkylene oxide backbone to which are attached one of more alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary and/or secondary branches, at least one of the alkyl or alkylene oxide primary and/or secondary branches is functionalized with a quarternary ammonium of a flourinated group, or at least two of the alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary and/or secondary branches are functionalized with a quarternary ammonium and a fixed group. The antimicrobial substrate can be used, for example, in a method for protecting an object against microbial infection, microbial colorization, or microbial transinfection comprising providing to the object an antimicrobial substrate.

Abstract: Provided is an antimicrobial photoreactive composition comprising a photocatalytic multijunction composite that is photoreactive in ordinary room lighting and comprises at least one photocatalytic heterojunction that is primarily carbon based. The composition further comprises at least one surface-coupling material, optionally at least one additive selected from a charge-transfer augmenting material, a light-capturing augmenting material, an antimicrobial augmenting material(s), or a combination thereof, and a carrier. The composition can be coupled to a surface or embedded in a cationic polymer matrix to form an antimicrobial film that is removable. Further provided is a method of disinfecting a surface comprising applying the antimicrobial photoreactive composition to a surface.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer-based antimicrobial composition that is non-toxic, water soluble, and that mitigates the transmission of infectious diseases from surfaces. The composition comprises a cationic polymer, at least one adhesion promoter, optionally organic and/or inorganic particles that are photocatalytically active in visible light, and a carrier, in which the components of the composition are not covalently bound to one another. Also provided is an antimicrobial composition that comprises at least (i) a polyethylenimine-based polymer and a carrier or (ii) an organic and/or inorganic particle that is photocatalytically active in visible light, an adhesion promoter, and a carrier. The antimicrobial compositions can be applied to disinfect a surface and to form residual self-sanitizing films on the surface that are removable.

Abstract: Provided is an antimicrobial substrate comprising a substrate to which is covalently bonded an antimicrobial polymer, in which the antimicrobial polymer comprises an alkylene oxide backbone to which are attached one or more alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary and/or secondary branches, at least one of the alkyl or alkylene oxide primary and/or secondary branches is functionalized with a quaternary ammonium or a fluorinated group, or at least two of the alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary and/or secondary branches are functionalized with a quaternary ammonium and a fluorinated group. The antimicrobial substrate can be used, for example, in a method for protecting an object against microbial infection, microbial colonization, or microbial transinfection comprising providing to the object an antimicrobial substrate.

Abstract: Provided herewith are microbicidal polymers comprising an alkylene oxide backbone comprising one or more alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary branches, in which at least one of the alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary branches is functionalized with a quaternary ammonium or fluorinated group, or at least two of the alkyl and/or alkylene oxide primary branches are functionalized with a quaternary ammonium and fluorinated group, the primary branches optionally contain one or more alkyl and/or alkylene oxide secondary branches that are functionalized with a quaternary ammonium or fluorinated group, compositions comprising the polymer and a carrier, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: An applicator apparatus for supporting a pad to be applied to a body is described. The apparatus includes a handle, an apparatus head attached to an end of the handle, the apparatus head including a front face and a rear face, the front face being configured to receive a disposable pad for application to the body, the disposable pad extending over substantially all of the front face and the rear face including at least one mounting hook configured to receive a portion of the disposable pad extending from the portion proximate to the front face to the rear face. The apparatus further includes the disposable pad configured for use with the apparatus head having at least one mounting hook receiving opening for receiving the at least one mounting hook on the rear face of the apparatus head.

Abstract: A closure mechanism for a wipe dispenser including a generally circular body having a plurality of tabs located on an exterior diameter of the body and configured to be removably coupled to a wipe dispenser. The body also has at least one opening located on an interior portion of the body. The at least one opening is configured to receive a wipe. A lid is hingedly coupled to the body. Wherein the closure mechanism is configured to be easily removed from the wipe dispenser to provide access to the wipe.

Abstract: A method of refinancing a mortgage loan is provided. The method of refinancing a mortgage loan comprises pre-approving a customer for refinancing of a mortgage loan. This customer is sent a pre-screened offer. The offer comprises materials setting forth the terms of the refinanced mortgage loan, materials providing all required pre-acceptance disclosures, and instructions describing how the customer may accept the offer. Upon receiving an indication of acceptance of the offer from the customer, a closing package is sent to the customer to be executed by the customer. The execution of the closing package by the customer creates a refinancing loan agreement. Also provided is a closing package for a mortgage loan comprising closing documents and a format and instructions providing specific guidance to the customer for completion and execution of the closing documents.