A non-foaming iodophor having a high content of active iodine comprises the product formed by mixing while heating at about 50.degree.-120.degree.C for about 0.75-15 hours a reaction mixture of:I. about 10-30 weight percent of elementary iodine; andIi. about 90-70 weight percent of an aqueous solution consisting essentially of:A. about 7-30 weight percent of at least one polycarboxylic acid, at least one polycarboxylate or mixtures of said polycarboxylic acids and polycarboxylates, having at least 65 carboxyl or carboxylate groups per 100 monomer units in the polymer chain and an average degree of polymerization (numerical average value) between about 10 and 500;B. about 0-20 weight percent of at least one alkali metal iodide, ammonium iodide, mixtures of said iodides or at least one lower, monovalent, aliphatic alcohol;C. about 0-20 weight percent of at least one non-volatile multibasic mineral acid, at least one multibasic oxycarboxylic acid, or mixtures of said acids, wherein said acids do not substantially reduce elementary iodine; andD. water in an amount sufficient so that said aqueous solution comprises 100 weight-percent. The iodophor exhibits biocidal activity.