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[0072] (1) Action due to lowering of the pH through dissociation of the organic acid. R-COOH+ H$_{2}$O----;,R-COO-+H$_{3}$O+. 

[0073] Reason: Each microorganism has its cardinal conditions; if there is a change to these-for example the pH-the growth rate decreases (up to inhibition). 

[0074] (2) Action due to attachment of the acid anion to the cell membrane of the microorganism. R----Coo› ----;,cell wall/phospholipid membrane. 

[0075] Reason: Disruption of cell proliferation and equilibrium concentration between intracellular and extracellular space. According to one assumption, the long-chain fatty-acid anions are positioned between the phospholipid molecules and are, from a certain concentration, statistically sufficiently close to one another for them, owing to their coo› groups, to push apart the membrane molecules and to thus effectively contribute to the perforation of the cell membrane. 

[0076] (3) Intracellular action: The undissociated acid (R-COOH) can, owing to an absent hydration shell, pass through the cell wall of a microorganism more easily than the corresponding anion. In the interior of the organism, a relatively high pH prevails, resulting in the acid activity being released-comparable to (1)› and this leads to the denaturation of important proteins and further unspecific reactions within the organism. 

[0077] (4) Some aromatic carboxylic acids can act as depolarizers via their redox potential, by, for example, being able to inhibit ion channels of the cells and to thus lead to a charge reversal. 

[0078] During the preparation of the concentrates accord› ing to the invention, a further unexpected effect was found. In the presence of a relatively strong acid, sodium benzoate does not exhibit any solubility in an aqueous, glycol-con› taining solution. It is found that, surprisingly, sodium ben› zoate in the presence of relatively weak acids can, even in the presence of a relatively strong acid and low pH values, be dissolved without any problems to form a colorless and clear composition. This is surprising, since the presence of a relatively strong acid leads to a protonation of the benzo› ate, resulting in the presence of the poorly water-soluble benzoic acid. The presence of at least one relatively weak acid is sufficient for bringing sodium benzoate into a stable, aqueous, colorless solution. 

[0079] In a preferred embodiment, the application solution consists of 

[0080] a) 0.45-10% by weight of at least one organic acid selected from acetic acid, propionic acid or a combination of these, 

[0081] b) 0.1-1% by weight selected from sodium ben› zoate or sodium acetate or a combination of these, 

[0082] c) 0-2% by weight of solubilizer selected from hexyl carbitol and propylene glycol or a combination of these and 

[0083] d) water, 

[0084] wherein at least 3 acids and/or the salts thereof (a) and (b) are present. 

[0085] In a further preferred embodiment, the application solution consists of 

[0086] a) 0.45-10% by weight of at least one organic acid selected from acetic acid, propionic acid or a combination of these, 

[0087] b) 0.1-1% by weight selected from sodium ben› zoate or sodium acetate or a combination of these, 

[0088] c) 0.1-1% by weight of lactic acid, 

[0089] d) 0-2% by weight of solubilizer selected from hexyl carbitol and propylene glycol or a combination of these and 

[0090] e) water, 

wherein the sum of 

[0091] In a preferred embodiment, the application solution consists of 

[0092] a) 0.45-10% by weight of at least one organic acid selected from acetic acid, propionic acid or a combination of these, 

[0093] b) 0.1-1% by weight selected from sodium ben› zoate or sodium acetate or a combination of these, 

[0094] c) 0.1-1% by weight of tartaric acid, 

[0095] d) 0-2% by weight of solubilizer selected from hexyl carbitol and propylene glycol or a combination of these and 

[0096] e) water, 

wherein the sum of (a)+(c) is <10.0. 

[0097] In a preferred embodiment, the application solution consists of 

[0098] a) 0.45-10% by weight of at least one organic acid selected from acetic acid, propionic acid or a combination of these, 

[0099] b) 0.1-1% by weight selected from sodium ben- zoate or sodium acetate or a combination of these, 

[0100] c) optionally 0.1-1% by weight of lactic acid, 

[0101] d) optionally 0.1-1% by weight of tartaric acid, 

[0102] e) 0-2% by weight of solubilizer selected from hexyl carbitol and propylene glycol or a combination of these and 

[0103] f) water, 

wherein the sum of 

[0104] Preferably, the application solution of the disinfec› tant according to the invention contains organic acids in a concentration of 0.1-10% by weight, particularly preferably 0.3-5.0% by weight. 

[0105] More particularly, the sum of propionic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid and tartaric acid in the application solution is below 10% by weight. 

[0106] Particularly preferably, the organic acids in the application solution mathematically meet the following con› ditions (data in% by weight): 

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