DE1087765B - Germicide - Google Patents

Description

Germicidal Agent The invention relates to germicidal agents, in which iodine as an active germicidal component in such a way to certain surface-active Agents or carriers of the quaternary ammonium type, which have characteristic polyethoxy and fatty alkyl substituents, is bonded or forms complexes with these, that the iodine is both stabilized and made soluble in aqueous media.

There are already known germicides consisting of complex compounds of iodine with nonionic, anionic or cationic surfactants exist as so-called iodine carriers. Iodine carriers have proven to be particularly effective nonionic carriers of the type of alkylphenoxypolyglycol ethers have been shown to be such can be obtained, for example, by condensation of ethylene oxide with nonylphenols.

However, these known germicides are not entirely satisfactory, because the disinfecting effectiveness of iodine is due to its partly chemical nature Binding in these complex compounds cannot be fully exploited. In particular they have no substantive properties, so it is not possible to use with their help to produce germicidal paper or tissue (see the following Example 3).

Complex compounds represent a step forward in this area of iodine with quaternary ammonium compounds, as described in the USA patent 2,679,533. According to this patent, long-chain are called iodine carriers Alkylbenzyltrimethylammonium halides, such as dodecylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride, used.

It has now been found quaternary ammonium compounds with iodine Form new complex compounds of even better germicidal effectiveness. These quaternary ammonium compounds only have low germicidal properties on their own Effect, but have the ability to bind elemental iodine in such a way that the germicidal Activity is prolonged.

The germicidal agent according to the invention containing a complex of iodine and a quaternary ammonium compound is characterized in that the quaternary ammonium compound is the composition where at least one of the substituents R1 and R3 is an unbranched, saturated alkyl group having 12 to 1.8 carbon atoms, at least one of the substituents R2 and R3 is a (C H2 C H2 O) y - H group, the total value y of the substituents R2 and R3 is an integer from 2 to 200, R3 is optionally a lower alkyl, phenyl or benzyl radical, R4 is a lower alkyl, benzyl or substituted benzyl radical and X is a salt-forming anionic radical. The substituted benzyl radicals R4 also include lower alkylbenzyl, lower alkoxybenzyl, nitrobenzyl and halobenzyl radicals.

A number of the compounds of the above composition are quaternary Compounds based on commercially available tertiary amines, which are easily identified by Reaction with a compound of the composition R4 X, wherein R4 and X have the above Have meaning, can be brought into quaternary form.

The testing of such iodine complexes can be carried out in the following way: a) test of stability against loss of iodine due to vapor pressure; b) examination the stability against iodine loss by treating aqueous solutions of the agent with Activated carbon; c) Testing of the germicidal ability according to C a n t o r and S h e 1 ä n s k i (described in "A Capacity Test for Germicidal Action", Soap and Sanitary Chemicals, Vol. 27, p. 133, 1951), see also “Antiseptics, Disinfectants, Fungicides and Sterilizatipn «, by C. F. R e d i s h (Lee & Febiger, 1954), pp. 125 ff.

d) Pretreatment of the solution with activated carbon according to b) and subsequent Test for germicidal ability according to c).

Although the iodine in the agents according to the invention is much more solid than in other previously available complexes of surfactant and iodine is, it remains available as an active ingredient against microorganisms. As a result of the, more solid The agents according to the invention show binding of iodine even under difficult conditions, z. B. if they are exposed to the effects of the atmosphere over large areas, a much longer lasting germicidal and fungicidal effect.

Typical uses of these new agents are, for example Preparations for the sanitary treatment of the environment with the means alone as in combination with synthetic detergents, for the long term Disinfection of enclosed spaces, special facilities, e.g. B. for food handling and hospital facilities and the like. Another use is treatment of paper, fabrics, etc. B. a paper towel treated in this way when drying sterilizing and disinfecting. For these purposes, the invention Means the further benefit, due to the noun nature of the quaternary ammonium component to adhere firmly to the treated object as opposed to paper and many fabrics. In a corresponding manner, this substantive nature makes the means for application in Germicidal and fungicidal preparations suitable for application to humans and Animal hair is intended.

In the agents according to the invention, the ratio of the iodine to the quaternary ammonium compound can be varied within wide limits, which in part depends on the intended use of the agent. Very good results are obtained when the complex contains the iodine in an amount of 5 to 800%, based on the weight of the quaternary ammonium compound. In some cases, however, an amount of iodine * slightly below 50 / a can give the agent the desired germicidal effect.

It should be emphasized that in the entire range from 5 to 800%, the invention Quaternary ammonium compounds result in a lowering of the iodine vapor pressure, and with Some quaternary ammonium compounds can also have this effect in preparations achieve very high amounts of iodine, such as 1000% (or .0 '% quaternary ammonium compound, based on 4 @ a_ total iodine weight). If the amount of iodine is more than about 50 per cent on the weight of the quaternary anifonium compound, the presence of one is a change j.odophors or a simple solubilizer for the iodine required to to obtain physically stable preparations. With an iodine content of 5 to 50% of the weight of the quaternary amirmnium compound, however, can be easily stable Preparations are made which are used as the sole iodopkor - the quaternary ammonium compound contain. The last-mentioned type of "preparation" is first described below. For: Production of the complexes according to the invention is elemental iodine in the quaternary Axmonium compound dissolved by simple mechanical mixing or grinding. Man can also use the iodine in a volatile solvent such as ethanal or isopropyl alcohol, dissolve and then mix the solution with the quaternary ammonium compound. The solvent can remain in the product or, if appropriate, removed, for example by distillation will.

The iodine can also be in the form of a halide, such as iodine chloride or bromide, namely mono- to trihalide, can be used. In this case, the for To achieve a certain degree of efficiency, the amount of iodine required must be lower, as apparently a regeneration effect a part of the consumed iodine again for killing germs available. Chlorine or bromine reinforce even a small amount Quantities than are necessary for the formation of the monohalide are germicidal Effect and facilitate the preparation of complexes. The complexes of the invention therefore also include those that contain iodine in combination with chlorine or bromine.

The agents according to the invention can be in the form of the pure complex compounds, of a solid or liquid concentrate that is mixed with water to form a ready-to-use solution can be diluted or made into a ready-to-use preparation, which contains significant amounts of liquid or solid diluent. Such Diluents should generally contain a component that is aqueous Media reacts like acidic or phosphoric acid.

In liquid concentrates and ready-to-use solutions, this is the diluent preferably water, but can also be an organic solvent, e.g. B. methanol, Ethanol, n- or isopropanol, or a mixture of water and organic solvent be.

As solid diluents are used in the manufacture of concentrates and ready-to-use preparations both synthetic detergents in solid Shape (especially to achieve a combined cleaning and disinfecting effect) as well as substances such as urea, which act as diluents, have been used.

To investigate their properties, complexes according to the invention of iodine and quaternary ammonium compounds of the following formula are used produced, whereby the variables of the formula in the individual experiments have the following meanings: - Table I. Quartars "-_ - -" - total Ammo - - nium- R2. R R4 X worth connect- '' - - from y in dung -R2 -I- R3 a I Stearyl (C.ea.CH 90) 1 _ H (C H2 C H2 O) Y. HC H3 J 15 b stearyl- - - = .. the same. the same. CHZ J 2 c stearyl like like CH3 J 50 _ d- stearyl - like - like - C H3 - - Cl 15 e stearyl _desg1. also benzyl, J 15 f Lauryl_. the same - _ the same C H3 J 15 Table I (continued) Quartare total Ammo value nium- Ri R2 RS R-4 X of y in connect- R2 + Rs manure g lauryl like the same C H3 J 2 h Lauryl like the like Benzyl Cl 2 i stearyl like like pX: ylyl Br 15 j stearyl, the same, p-nitrobenzyl Cl 15 k stearyl like like p-methoxybenzyl Cl 50 1 stearyl like like C2 H5 Br 15 m Lauryl desgl. Lauryl C H3 J 15 n Lauryl 'also Lauryl C H3 J 30 o Lauryl like (C H2 C H2 O) Y HC H3 J 50 p stearyl like like CH3 J 93 q Lauryl like the like C H3 C H3 OS 02O - 15 1. Testing the stability against loss of iodine when aqueous solutions are treated with activated charcoal. 5 parts by weight of quaternary ammonium compound are mixed with 1 part by weight of iodine until all of the iodine has been absorbed or dissolved.

An aqueous solution containing 100 parts is made of each complex per million of titratable iodine (when using 0.01 n-sodium thiosulphate as Titrant). In addition, the iodine carrier preparation is used for comparison according to U.S. Patent 2,679,533, Example 2, a dodecylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride - Iodine complex, one containing 100 parts per million (hereinafter abbreviated to T / M) iodine Solution made. You now put 200 cm3 of the 100 T / M in 250 cms beakers Solutions containing iodine and add 0.1 g of activated carbon to each beaker. The coal suspensions are agitated evenly for 60 minutes and then allowed to settle. The by adsorption loss of iodine from coal and, in certain cases, the ability to kill germs are determined on the supernatant liquid.

To determine the loss of iodine due to adsorption on the charcoal, a portion of the supernatant liquid is titrated with sodium thiosulphate. The following results are obtained: Table II Amount of iodine used for complex formation according to the quaternary ammonium compound activated carbon treatment according to Table I T / M a 42 b 54 d 24 g 10 h 22 i 36 j 34 k 26 Agent according to USA patent Font 2 679 533, example 2 5 Lugol's solution <2 This adsorption test provides information about the behavior of the agent in the presence of adsorbing substances such as those that may be present in the various types of dirt and soil in the environment to be treated. For applications in which substantial amounts of dirt or soil have to be treated, it is preferred to use complexes which result in a low loss of iodine in the activated carbon test (e.g. the complexes with compounds a, b and i). 2. Testing of the germicidal effect If the germicidal power is determined by the usual method of Canto r and S Helanski, the activity of the iodine contained in an amount of 100 T / M in the solution of the complex proves to be so lasting that the test is too laborious and time consuming. For this reason - and since the activated carbon treatment is comparable to the effect of the dirt that occurs in many sanitary applications - the germicidal effect of a number of the complexes was tested after the carbon treatment.

This exam, which is a slight modification of the method used by C a n t o r and S h e 1 a n s k i is carried out as follows: In separate, 1-1 flasks equipped with magnetic stirrers are added to 450 cm3 of sterile hard material (10 ° Hardness) water that is buffered to p $ 4.2 with 5% Na H2 P 04. Every piston 50 cm3 of the complex compound solution obtained in the activated carbon treatment are added to. The pistons are 24 hours old to hold certain amounts Prepared cultures of S. typhosa grown on A O A C nutrient broth. 1.0 em3 of the culture containing 6-108 organisms is added to each flask. so that 1 cm3 of the 500 cm3 test solution accounts for 1.2 # 106 microorganisms. at Each time a test culture portion is added, the contents of the flask are continuously stirred and exactly 1 minute after the respective addition of the test culture, 1 cm3 samples are taken removed aseptically and in 100 cms of an aqueous solution of 0.0425 g of monopotassium phosphate, 0.16 g of sodium thiosulphate, 5.0 g of an arylsulphonate complex compound and 0.08 g of sodium hydroxide 1 introduced each. The solutions obtained in this way are then placed on nutrient agar in 1 cm3 and 0.1 cms fractions applied. 10 minutes after adding the first test culture portion a second 1 cc portion is added to each flask and the procedure described above repeated. For comparison, parallel tests are carried out, for which iodine is used alone in the form of Lugol's solution (5% iodine and 10% potassium iodide in water) and the corresponding quaternary compounds are used. The solutions of the quaternary ammonium compounds are produced in the same concentration, which they had in the corresponding complex solutions containing 100 T / M iodine. 200 cm3 of each solution are treated with 0.1 g of activated charcoal for 1 minute as above. the Lugol's solution is diluted to 100 T / M titratable iodine and in the appropriate Way treated with the activated carbon.

The results of these germicidal ability tests are alongside other values in the following table for the first and second addition of the test culture proportions specified. The percentage given further, based on a synergistic effect Kill is obtained by counting the percentage kill given by the complex is obtained from quaternary ammonium compound and iodine, the total kill (in%) subtracts that (after coal treatment) with the quaternary ammonium compound alone and is obtained with iodine (Lugol's solution) alone. It should be noted that by the carbon treatment of a solution containing 100 T / M iodine according to the USA patent 2 679 533 the amount of iodine is reduced to 5 T / M, while the coal treatment is the titriable iodine content of the 100 T / M iodine-containing Lugol's solution to less than 2 T / M lowers.

In the following table, the sum of the percentage deaths obtained with the two additions of test culture portions due to a synergistic effect is given as "total synergistic death, -1 / a". This value shows the extent to which the germicidal activity is prolonged by the firm binding of the iodine to the quaternary ammonium compound. Table III Testing of the germicidal effect in% of killed microorganisms in 1 minute Addition I Addition II Synergy Quaternary ammonium compound quaternary quaternary Lugol's synergistic - quaternary q gistic uartar Lugolsche syner- total according to Table I Connect- Connect- Connect- Connect- Connect- kill off dung solution killing young dung solution killing g J2 + C + C + C o / 'J2 + C + C + C oio Rio a 99.8 46 43 10.8 83 0 6 77 87.8 b 69 18 43 8 43 7 6 30 38 c 98 42 43 13 42 0 6 36 49 d 92 27 43 22 37 0 6 31 53 e 99.1 67 43 - *) 70 14 6 50 50 f 92 33 43 16 42 0 6 36 52 9 98 19 43 36 33 18 6 9 45 i 86 24 43 19 29 0 6 23 42 j 99.9 38 43 18.9 71 0 6 65 83.9 k 99.9 10 43 46.9 97 0 6 91 135.9 Agent according to USA patent Font 2 679 533, example 2 95.7 73 43 - *) 73 77 6 - *) - *) *) Due to the strong germicidal effect of the quaternary compound as such, there is no synergistic effect here obtain. At e, however, the germicidal effect of iodine is transferred to additive II, while in the preparation according to Example 2 the U.S. Pat. No. 2,679,533 the continued activity in Additive II is due to the quaternary compound itself, as is the case with im show essentially equivalent values of 73 and 77 and how the absence of titratable iodine after the addition of the second Cultural share confirmed. 3. Testing the stability against loss of iodine through evaporation It is also important to determine the stability against loss of iodine through evaporation. For this purpose, solutions of the various complexes of iodine and quaternary ammonium compound are prepared, which contain about 1000 T / M iodine (titrable with a 0.01N sodium thiosulphate solution). 30 cm3 each of the test solutions are placed in 250 cm3 beakers and 10 cm3 each for control purposes in flasks fitted with a glass stopper. The beakers are then weighed and placed in a water bath at 40.degree. C. (with the water in the bath reaching 1.3 cm above the liquid level in the beakers); the control flasks are placed in the water bath in the same way. After every 2 hours, weigh the beakers and replace the evaporated water. After 10 hours, 2 cm3 samples @ are taken from the beakers (after replenishing the evaporated water) and from the control flasks and titrated for their iodine content.

The iodine loss of the control samples (in T / M) not due to evaporation is subtracted from the iodine content of the starting solution (in T / M). With that value obtained as the denominator and that still contained in the beakers after 10 hours Amount of iodine (in T / M) as a numerator, the percentage of iodine remaining is calculated.

The experiments were carried out with iodine complexes each containing 1 part of iodine to 10 parts of the quaternary ammonium compounds listed in Table I (10-1 / o by weight of the latter). Table IV Resistance to iodine loss through evaporation initial residual iodine content used for complex formation quaternary compound according to iodine content, according to Table IT / 1VI 10 hours Solution % a 840 98 b 1025 99 c 865 73 * @) d 1020 95 e 1050 97 f 880 76 g 925 98 h 1110 98 i 875 73 j 1005 95 k 975 75 *) 1,875 98 m 840 97 n 870 98 0 970 72 *) p 1270 39 *) q 940 94 Agent according to USA patent font 2 679 533, example 2 1138 30 *) A comparison of the values in this table with those of Table I shows that increasing the total number of (CH2CH20) groups on 50 and 93 under the test conditions suffered a progressively increasing iodine loss Evaporation. Even a reduction in iodine levels during the 10-hour exam to 3911 / o (as in the case of Complex p) provides stability against evaporation losses represents which those with anionic and nonionic carriers achievable far exceeds. As the number of (C H2 C H2 O) groups increases, the toxicity, especially the oral toxicity of the complex, becomes progressively lower. The benefits of reduced toxicity for many uses can outweigh and outweigh any possible disadvantages that result from reduced stability to evaporation. In this connection it should also be mentioned that in some applications too tight binding of the iodine in the complex, ie too high iodine retention in the 10-hour test of Table IV, interferes and a lower iodine retention in these cases actually an advantageous property of the complex can represent.

The following examples illustrate the preparation of germicides with the complexes according to the invention and certain characteristic properties same described. Example 1 10 parts by weight of iodine are in 50 parts by weight the quaternary ammonium compound (a) of Table I dissolved. The complex then becomes dissolved in 30 parts by weight of water containing 10 parts by weight of phosphoric acid. A liquid germicidal concentrate is obtained which is ready for use in the manufacture Solutions can be diluted with water. One, such a dilute solution that roughly Contains 1000 T / M of titratable iodine, holds more than 90 per cent of its titratable iodine back when subjected to the 10 hour evaporation test described above will.

Example 2 15 g of iodine are dissolved in 150 g of the quaternary ammonium compound Jung (c) from Table 1 by stirring for 15 minutes at 45 ° C. 155 g of the complex obtained are mixed with 465 g of powdered urea and thoroughly ground to a homogeneous powder. The powder easily dissolves in water to form germicidal solutions containing 100 to 1000 T / M or other desired amounts of titratable iodine. A sample of the powdery preparation shows no loss of titratable iodine after one year of storage in a closed container. Example 3 A complex is prepared from 0.1 g of elemental iodine and 1.0 g of the quaternary ammonium compound (c) from Table I by stirring the constituents at 50 ° C. for 1 hour. The complex obtained is dissolved in 1000 cm3 of distilled water; the solution contains 98.4 T / M of titratable iodine. 1.8519 a-cellulose material is then stirred into 250 cm3 of this solution at room temperature for 20 minutes, the suspension is filtered through a fritted glass pan and washed with 50 cm3 of distilled water. The remaining α-cellulose mass (paper pulp) is deep yellow in color and contains 10.5 mg of titratable iodine.

For comparison, this experiment is repeated using the iodine carrier instead of the quaternary ammonium compound 1.0 g of the condensation product mentioned at the outset of nonylphenol and ethylene oxide used, the 9 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonylphenol contains. After complex formation with 0.1 g iodine, dilution with water and application on the α-cellulose material is neither titrimetric nor in terms of coloration of the α-cellulose material to detect an indication of iodine retention.

The property of substantive attachment to fibers thus demonstrated is characteristic of the complexes according to the invention when they are applied to different cellulose fibers, keratinous fabrics including human and animal hair and other fibers more natural Origin are applied. Example 4 1.065 g of iodine monochloride are in 6.120 g the quaternary ammonium compound (d) of Table I dissolved to form a complex which in the case of titration with 0.1 n sodium thiosulphate, an effective iodine content of 18.9% / a (compared to a theoretical value of 23.2%). After 6 months of storage an iodine equivalent of 13.3% is obtained by titration at room temperature. example 5 1.411g iodine monobromide are mixed with 11.321g of the quaternary ammonite compound (a) from Table I mixed. The resulting complex gives n-sodium thiosulphate on titration with 0.01 an effective iodine content of 11.711 / o (theory 13.60 / 0).

The iodine chloride and iodobromide complexes described in Examples 4 and 5 can be easily immersed in water to make germicidal concentrates or ready-to-use Dissolve solutions. .

Except for preparations of the type described above, in which the Quaternary ammonium compounds according to the invention the only solubilizer for iodine, the advantages of the vapor pressure lowering effect apply the. Quaternary ammonium compounds according to the invention also for agents that also yet another solubilizer for the iodine and in which the total amount of titratable iodine is the amount of the quaternary ammonium compound exceeds. For example, in the case of a preparation that is a nonionic or containing anionic surfactant as iodophor, by adding more than 120% of a quaternary ammonium compound according to the invention, based on the total amount of iodine, the rate of evaporation of iodine is significantly reduced. With some quaternary ammonium compounds, this effect is already achieved at Quantities of about 10% of the total iodine content of the preparation.

This advantage of lowering the iodine vapor pressure by adding the substances according to the invention Quaternary compounds also applies to the usual iodine tinctures with or without sodium or potassium iodide as a solubilizer. Here, too, the iodine vapor pressure increases as it rises Quantity ratio of quaternary ammonium compound to the total amount of iodine. Therefore are allowed to such tinctures if a rapid germicidal effect rather than a long duration of action it is desired not to contain an excessive amount of the quaternary ammonium compound.

While means are described in the above examples in which the amount of iodine is about 5 to 50% of the weight of the quaternary ammonium compound, This amount can be in the range of 5 to 800% or even up to 1000%, if that Agent also contains other iodine complexing agents.

For the preparation of such means one can either use the complex of iodine and quaternary ammonium compound the other complexing agent or the free quaternary Add ammonium compound to an iodine-containing preparation of the other complexing agent, wherein the amount of quaternary ammonium compound is greater than about 12% of the total weight of iodine should be.

The following examples explain typical iodine preparations in which the iodine vapor pressure is controlled as a function of complex formation by adding small amounts of quaternary ammonium compound. Example 6 A germicidal agent of the following composition is prepared which contains iodine in the form of a complex with nonionic surface-active agents: Parts Nonionic surfactant the composition ................ 63.55 HO - (C2 H4 O) x (C3 H6 O) y (C.H40) x, -H, where the molecular weight of (C3 H6 0) s, equal to 1501 to 1800 and which have the indices x and x` pointing remnants together 50 to 60 percent by weight of the compound turn off (Type designation Pluronic L-65) Nonylphenol-ethylene oxide condensate with a content of 10 to 11 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonylphenol ............ 10.0 Iodine ................................ 13.41 H Cl (28%) ........................... 1.87 Isopropyl alcohol ....................... 11.17 First, the iodine is dissolved in the combined surface-active agents at 50 ° C. and the solution is then mixed with the remaining components to form a dark-colored, clear liquid preparation A in which the iodine is present in complex form with the two non-ionic surface-active agents. This preparation contains about 10% titratable iodine.

A second formulation, B, is made by adding 97.5 parts by weight of preparation A 2.5 parts by weight of the quaternary ammonium compound (h) from table I solves. The iodine content of this preparation is 4000% of the weight of those present quaternary ammonium compound (h).

A third formulation, C, is made by adding 95 parts by weight of preparation A 5 parts by weight of the quaternary ammonium compound (h) from table I solves. The iodine content of this preparation is 2000 / a of the weight of those present quaternary ammonium compound (h).

Test solutions are made from preparations A, B and C, by mixing them with distilled water to a titratable iodine content of 100 UM diluted; a fourth test solution, D, is distilled by dissolving iodine in Water produced to a concentration of 100 T / M.

25 cm3 portions of test solutions A, B, C and D (100 T / M iodine) are placed in separate 250 cm3 beakers and the iodine is allowed to evaporate by keeping the beakers uncovered at 40 ° C. for 5 hours. The solutions are then titrated with 0.01 n sodium thiosulphate for their residual iodine content. Results: Sample residual amount of iodine, T / M solution A 2 B 7 C 11 D 0 These values show that although the nonionic iodine complexes of preparation A provide a certain stabilization of the iodine against evaporation, the small amounts of the quaternary ammonium compound that are complexly bound to iodine in preparations B and C significantly reduce evaporation, this effect becomes stronger as the amount of the quaternary ammonium compound increases. Example 7 An iodine preparation is made by dissolving 2.1 g of Naj and 1.8 g of iodine in a total of 10 cm3 of water. By dissolving 0.3 g of the quaternary ammonium compound (a) from Table I in ethanol, 90 cms of an alcoholic solution is prepared, which is combined with the aqueous iodine solution. This gives a ratio of iodine to quaternary ammonium compound of 6: 1 (6000 / a iodine, based on the weight of the quaternary ammonium compound), and this small amount of quaternary ammonium compound lowers the iodine loss due to evaporation in the concentrate as in aqueous dilutions of the same .

Claims (4)

PATENT CLAIMS: 1. Germicidal agent containing a complex of iodine and a quaternary ammonium compound, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium compound is the composition where at least one of the substituents R1 and R3 is an unbranched, saturated alkyl group having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, at least one of the substituents R2 and R3 is a (C H2 C H2 O) y - H group, the total value y of the substituents P. 2 and R3 is an integer from 2 to 200, R3 is optionally a lower alkyl, phenyl or benzyl radical, R4 is a lower alkyl, benzyl or substituted benzyl radical and X is a salt-forming anionic radical. 2. Means according to claim 1, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium compound of the composition corresponds to where y and y 'are an integer from 2 to 200, R is a lower alkyl, benzyl or substituted benzyl radical and X is a salt-forming anionic radical. 3. Agent according to claim 1, characterized in that the quaternary ammonium compound of the composition corresponds to where y is an integer from 2 to 200, R is a lower alkyl, benzyl or substituted benzyl radical and X is a salt-forming anionic radical. 4. Composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the amount of iodine contained in the complex is 5 to 50% of the weight of the quaternary ammonium compound. 5. Agent according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally contains known iodine complexes of anionic or nonionic surface-active agents or iodine which has been brought into solution in another known manner. 6. Agent according to claim 5, characterized in that it contains a quaternary ammonium compound according to claim 1 in amounts of more than 12 ° /, the total amount of iodine. 7. Composition according to claim 1 to 6, characterized in that it contains solid or liquid diluents which react acidic in aqueous media. Considered publications: "Modern Sanitation", Vol. 4, January 1952, pp. 61 to 65, and February 1952, pp. 61 to 63.