Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
15150~
This invention relates to a novel cleaning and/or sanitizing
composition for industrial and/or agrîcultural use and to a method of
cleaning and/or sanitizing industrial and/or agricultural machinery with
such composition.
There are many patents directed to cleaning compositions in solid
form, in liquid form or in the form of gels. Some of these patents include
the following Canadian Patents:
Canadian Patent No. 499,018 issued January 5, 1954 to Imperial
Chemical Industries which is directed to a thickened, viscous aqueous
solution of a soapless detergent which is either a synthetic organic
anionic or a non-ionic soapless detergent.
Canadian Patent No. 521,936 issued February 21, 1951, to H.J.
Schneider which is directed to water insoluble salts of alkaline earth
metals colloidally dispersed in an aqueous medium. Such gels are thixo- -
tropic, that is, they have a rigid consistency when at rest and after brief
shaking or stirring become fluid and pourable in the form of a liquid,
stable, homogeneous dispersion or suspension.
Canadian Patent No. 642,350 issued June 5, 1962 to FMC Cor-
poration, which is d~rected to a stable creamy liquid low foam built deter-
gent.
Canadian Patent No. 644,738 issued July 10, 1962 to Colgate-
Palmolive Company, which is directed to a substantially homogeneous,
stable, viscous, pourable, heavy-duty aqueous liquid detergent compositlon.
Canadian Patent ~o. 675,839 issued December 10, 1963 to R.L.
Daires which is directed ~o~a hair cleaning composition which utilizes the
oil-solvent property of organic liquids and is in a form very convenient
~ ~ foruse through having the organic liquid converted into a gel. In the
; hair cleaning composition, a gel is provided whose dispersion medium con-
:
tains an organic liquid which is a solvent for the natural oil of the hair.
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` Canadian Patent No. 738,875 îssued June 219 1966 to W.H.
Lehmacher which provides a stable alcohol gel composition, which can be
employed in making a wide variety of products, e.g., solidified fuels,
cosmetic preparations, hair conditioners and the like. The patentee pro-
vided alcohol gel compositions, wherein a small proportion of gelling
agent was employed to form a stable composition of desired vîscosity.
Canadian Patent ~o. 775,~76 issued January 2, 1968 to The Dow
Chemical Company which relates to a cleansing agent containing function-
ally effective amounts of either a water-soluble alkaline saponification
adjuvant or an inhibitor of the corrosion of metal, along with a major
proportion of a chelating agent, and a minor proportion of a wetting agent.
Canadian Patent No. 775,497 issued January 9, 1968 to ~.F.
Audrieth which provides gelled mixtures produced by proper admisture of
one or more organic solvents, a relatively small amount of cellulose ester
and a gelling agent. Solvents which are highly volatile, combustible and
; free-flowing may be converted into non-volatile, non-flowing solid gels
possessing desirable and useful properties as solid propellant fuels or
as adhesive mixtures.
Canadian Patent ~o. 812,195 issued May 6, 1969 to FMC Corpora-
tion, which is directed to a strong, heavy-duty cleaning tablet having a
fast dissolving rate.
Canadian Patent No. 828,120 issued November 25, 1969 to FMC
Corporation, which is directed to a uniform dry-mixed built detergent
composition free of objectionable amounts of fines.
:
Canadian Patent `.lo. 828,121 issued November 29, 1969 to Monsanto
Company, which is directed to a washing composition which includes a
synthetic organic detergent l~hich is either a non-soap anionic, non-ionic
; or amphoteric surface active compound.
Canadlan Patent `~o. 858,508 issued Derember 15, 1970 to I.R.
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115150~
Smolka which provides a series of noveI aqueous gels and compositions
containing the gels in the form of pharmaceutical, cleansing and/or cos-
metic ingredients. Those gels may be used in shampoos, in lanolin and
oxyethylated lanolin-rich skin creams, and with mineral oil for skin and
hair products.
Canadian Patent No. 912,396 :issued October 17, 1972 to Witco
Chemical Corporation, which is directed to an improved built dry powder
laundry detergent composition. -
Canadian Patent No. 930,304 issued July 17, 1973 to I. R.
Schmolkin which provides aqueous gel compositions containing polyether
polyol gelling agents for use in pharnaceutical and cosmetic applications.
.
Canadian Patent No. 941,705 issued February 12, 1974 to Diversey
(Canada) Limited, which is directed to a cleaning composition comprising .
an alkaline reacting material together with a sequestrant.
Cànadian Patént No. 953,604 issued August Z7, 1974 to De Soto
Inc., which is directed to a detergent, in the form of dry particles and
which is free of phosphates, sequestering agents and anionic surface
active agents.
Canadian Patent No. 973,051 issued August l9, 1975 to Unilever I
Limited, which is directed to a liquid detergent composition.
Canadian Patent~ No. 1,070,210 issued January 2Z, 1980 to Church
& Dwight Co., which is directed to a dry blended, concentrated detergent
composition for heavy duty washing having a high bulk density.
~` : :: : ` :
The gels of the above-described prior art patents have a wide`~
field of application~ They are useful in a number of industrial arts,
I ~ ~ e.g., in colours, and pigments and paints, paper and paper coating,
~ leather finishing, and in the pharmaceutical industry in compcunding
: :
various types of pharmaceutical and therapeutic preparations. They may
also be used to provide fuels in gel form. Certain gels are compatible
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with most of the known ingredients used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and
detergent formulations. For example, the gels may be compounded with
deodorants and anti-perspirants. Simple deodorants, e.g., oxyquinoline
salts and zinc oxide; astringents, e.g., aluminum chlorohydrate; anti-
septics~, e.g., diisobutylphenoxyethoxyethyldimethyl benzyl ammonium chlor-
ide and hexachlorodihydroxydiphenylmethane; and pesticides, e.g., boric
acid, hexachlorophene and N,N-diethyltoluamide. They may furthermore be
compounded in ointments, creams, foams, lotions, and salves. Perfumes,
preservatives, and colour additives may be included in the formulated
product.
It is also known in industrial washing processes to use a
variety of detergent solutions, but these in general suffer from one dis-
advantage or another. One may use detergent solutions contain;ng avail-
able chlorine derived from hypochlorites or chlorinated organic materials.
However, such available chlorine containing solutions have undesirable
side effects by virtue of the oxidizing capacity of the chlorine, causing
roughening, crazing and embrittlement of plastics and causing corrosion
of metal components in the washing machines. It is also known to use a
reducing system, for example, one containing sulphites, but again the
degree of cleaning achieved is not entirely satisfactory.
Systems of high alkalinity containing appreciable quantities of
caustic material, e.g., sodlum hydroxide, may also be used.
A more difficult problem exists in the cleaning of food proces-
:
sing plants. In such instances, it is generally necessary to wash the ~1
components of food processing plants with large volumes of various deter-
gent solutions. Alternatively, it was necessary to fill a tank to be
cleaned with a large volume of a suitable detergent.
Not only was this exceedingly wasteful of detergents, but it
also was time consuming and was not always entirely success~ul.
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Consequently, in spite of these various detergents in gel, solid,
or liquid form provided by the prior art, the art is still faced with the
problem of improving the efficiency of cleaners and sanitizers and of
greatly reducing the amounts required to fulfill satisfactory results.
Accordingly, it is an object of an aspect of this invention to
provide a novel industrial and/or agricultural cleaning and/or sanitizing
composition.
An object of another aspect of this invention is the provision
of a novel cleaning and/or sanitizing technique for industrial and/or
agricultural machinery.
By a broad aspect of this invention, a cleaning and/or sanitizing
composition is provided comprising: a solution of a cleaning and/or
sanitizing agent; and a sufficient amount of a gelling agent to provide
a thixotropic composition which can be sprayed at a minimum pressure of
15 p.s.i. to deposit a film of at least 5 mils thickness on a~vertical
surface and to remain thereon with no substantial slump for at least one-
half hour. ,
By another aspect of this invention, a method is provided for
cleaning a surface comprising: applying a thin film of a thixotropic gel
cleaning and/or sanitizing composition to the surface to be cleaned by
spraying at a pressure of at least 15 p.s.i.; allowing the composition
to remain on the surface a predetermined length of time; and rinsing
the composition off the surface with a high pressure water stream.
sy one variant thereof, the method comprises spraying a
thixotropic composition comprising a gelling agent and an aqueous solution
of a soap.
sy another variant, the method comprises spraying a thixo-
tropic composition comprising a gelling agent and an aqueous solution of
,
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~5150~
an anionic detergent.
By a variation, the method comprises spraying a thixotropic com-
position comprising a gelling agent and a water-soluble salt of an organic
sulfonate or an organic sulfate,
sy a further variation, the method comprises spraying a thixo-
tropic composition comprising a gelling agent and an alkylaryl sulfonate.
By yet another variationj the method comprises spraying a thixo-
tropic composition comprising a gelling agent and an alkali metal salt of
a long chain alkyl sulfate, an alkali metal salt of alkyl naphthalene sul-
fonic acids, alkali metal salts of alkyl benzene sulfonic acids, alkalimetal salts of sulfonated mineral acids, alkali metal salts of sulfosuccin-
ic acid esters.
By another variant, the method comprises spraying a thixotropic
composition comprising a gelling agent and an aqueous solution of a cationic
detergent.
sy yet a further variant, the method comprises spraying a thlxo-
tropic compo,sition compriFing a gelling agent and an aqueous solution of a
non-ionic surface active compound.
Ry a still further variant, the method comprises spraying a thixo-
tropic composition comprising a gelling agent and an aqueous solution of apolyalkylene oxide detergent.
By another variant, the method comprises spraying a thixotropic
composition comprlsing a gelling agent and an aqueous solution of the
condensation product of a lower alkyl alcohol amine with a fatty acid.
By a further variant,~the method comprises spraying a thixotropic
composition comprising a gelling agent and a,n aqueous solution of the
polyalkylene oxide condensate of an alkyl phenol.
By a still further variant, the method comprises-spraying a
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~15150~L
By a still further variant, the method comprises spraying a
thixotropic composition comprising a gelling agent and an aqueous solution
of an-ampholytic synthetic detergent.
~ By yet another variant, the method comprises spraying a thixo-
tropic composition comprising a gelling agent and an aqueous solution of a
zitterionic synthetic detergent.
By a further variant, the method comprises spraying a thixotropic
composition comprising a gelling agent and an aqueous solution of an am-
photeric surface active compound.
By still another variant, the method comprises spraying a thixo-
tropic composition comprising a gelling agent and an aqueous solution of a
strong acid.
By a still further variant, the method comprises spraying a thixo-
;~ tropic composition comprising a gelling agent and an aqueous solution of a
strong base.
By yet another variant, the gelling agent comprises an
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hydroxyethyl cellulose, an hydroxypropyl cellulose, a carboxymethyl cellu-
lose, an alginate, a gelatin, a bentonite, a polyoxyethylene resin, poly-
vinylpyrrolidone, a polyamide, a silica, à naturally-occurring gum, a
metallic soap, nitrocellulose, the hydrolyzable copolymer of a low mole-
cular weight olefin and maleic anhydride, and a carboxy-substituted vinyl
polymer.
The present invention therefore provides and industrial and/or
.
agricultural cleaning and/or brightening and/or sanitizing co~position com-
prising a cleaning and/or brightening and/or sanitizing composition and a
sufficient amount of a gelling agent to provide a thixotropic gel which,
when applied to a vertical surface, remains there without slump for at
least ten minùt~s.
Until the present invention, no means has been available whereby,
a cleaning, and/or brightening and/or sanltizing agent could remain on the
surface for a sufficient time to effect a satisfactory freeing of the adh
adherent material to be removed from the surface, so thàt the application
of a high pressure water flush alone would cleanse the surface. It is
widely believed that a wet surface is covered with a layer of water mole-
cules that remain, unmoving, independent of the velocity or turbulence of
movement of water adjacent. Thus, until the present invention, it has
been necessary to provide mechanical disturbance of the sort indicated to
wash such deposits from surfaces.
According to one aspect of the present invention, it is now
possible to apply the cleansing agent in the form of a thixotropic gel,
to permit that agent to stand undisturbed for a predetermined interval of
time, and thereafter with no action other than the flushing movement of
high pressure water to remove the deposits together with the cleansing
agent. The cleansing action thus effected is typically almost complete;
that i5 to say, by visual inspection the surface usually is clean. However,
-- 7 --
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1ilS150~ ,
wXen the cleansing thus effected i5 incomplete, the same process can be
repeated and a second cleansing will give improved results.
Any conventional cleaning, brightening or sanitizing agent may
be used and various examples will be given hereinafter. I
The cleaning composition may be a soap, a synthetic detergent,
an alkaline agent or an acidic agent. The only criterion is that the
cleaning agent be selected to clean the particular surface to be cleaned.
If detergent solutions are used, the detergents are synthetic
detergents, which are surface active agents a~d have structurally unsym-
metrical molecules containing both hydrophilic, or water-soluble, groups
ànd hy~rophoblc, or oil-soluble hydrocarbon chains. There are three types,
as follows:
(1) Anionic decergents which form negatively chàrged ions con-
taining the oil-soluble portion of the molecule. The ionizable group is
the hydrophilic portion. Soap is an example of this class and the
synthetic members are sodium salts of organic sulfonates or sulfates.
; - Examples of synthetic detergents include alkylaryl sulfonates (e.g., sul-
; ~ fonates of dodecylbenzene); and sulfates of straight cXain primary
alcohols, either fatty alcohols or products of the Oxo ?rocess (e.g., ;~ ¦
sodium lauryl sulfate). Another group comprises the lignin sulfonate
derivatives.
1 Anionic surface active compounds include the sulfates or sulfon
ated alkyl, aryl and alkylaryl hydrocarbons and alkali metal salts thereof,~
for example, sodiom salts~lof long chain alkyl sulfates, sodium salts oE
alkyl naphthaleni sulfonic acids, sodium salts of sulfonates abietenes, ~
; ~ sodium salts of alkyl benzene sulfonic acids particulary those in which ~ ¦
,
the alkyl group contains from 8 - 24 carbon atoms; sodium salts of sul-
fonated mineral oils and sodium salts of sulfosuccinic acid esters, e.g.,~
sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate. ~ ~ ¦
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~ Advantageous anionic surfactants include the higher alkyl aryl
sulfonic acids and their alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts, e.g.,
sodium dodecyl benæene sulfonate, sodium tridecyl sulfonate, magnesium
dodecyl benzene sulfonate, potassium tetradecyl benzene sulfonate, ammonium
dodecyl toluene sulfonate, lithium pentadecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium
dioctyl benzene sulfonate, disodium dodecyl benzene disulfonate, disodium
di-isopropyl naphthalene disulfonate and the like as well as the alkali
metal salts of fatty alcohol esters of sulfuric and sulfonic acids, the
alkali metal thiosulfuric acid, etc. Preferred anionic organic surface
active agents are, as noted hereinbefore, sodium salts of alkyl benzene
sulfonic acids and particularly preferred sodium salts of alkyl benzene
sulfonic acids are those in which the alkyl group or radical contains 10
ta 18 carbon atoms in a straight (i.e., unbranched) chain.
Suitable anionic detergents generally comprise the water-soluble, I'-
particularly the alkali metal, sulfates and sulfonates containing an alkyl
radical having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms. Exemplary are the sodium and
potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating a C8 to
C18 aliphatic alcohol; sodium and potassium alcohol ether sulfates which
are derived from the reaction product of 1 mol of a higher C12 to C18
fa-t~y alcholo with 1 to 6 mols of ethylene oxide; ~he sodium and potas-
sium salts of sulfonated C10 to C24 alpha-olefins; the alkyl glyceryl
ether sulfonates, particularly ethers of tallow and coconut oil alcohols;
the sodium and potassium salts of alkyl benzene sulfonic acids whereln the
alkyl group is a linear~alkyl having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and most
suitably from 10 to 16 carbon atoms, the latter alkyl benzene sulfonates
being the particularly preferred synthetic detergent for use in the com-
I
position of the present invention, especially in proportions of 17 to 18%.
(2) Cationic detergents, or invert soaps, which ianize so thatthe oil-soluble portion is positively charged. A principal example is the
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quaternary ammonium halides, e.g., benzethonium chloride and cetalkonium
chloride. These detergents have outstanding germicidal activity.
Non-ionic surface active compounds can be broadly described
as compounds ~hich do not ioniæe but usually acquire hydrophilic charac-
teristics from an oxygenated side chain, such as polyoxyethylene, while
the lyophilic part of the molecule may come from fatty acids, phenols,
alcohols, amides or amines. Examples of non-ionic surfactants include
products formed by condensing one or more alkylene oxides of 2 to 4 carbon
atoms, e.g., ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, preferably ethylene oxide
alone or with other alkylene oxides, with a relatively hydrophobic com-
pound, e.g., a fatty alcohol, fatty acid, sterol, a fatty glyceride, a
;~ fatty amine, an aryl amine, a fatty mercaptan, tall oil, etc. Non-ionic
surface active agents also include those products produced by condensing
one or more relatively lower alkyl alcohol amines ~e.g., methanolamine,
ethanolamine, propanolamine, etc.~ with a fatty acid, e.g., lauric acid,
cetyl acid, tall oil fatty acid, abietic acid, etc., to produce the
corresponding amide.
Examples of suitable non-ionic detergents are the water-soluble
~;~ non-ionic polyalkylene oxide detergents. They contain a hydrophobic
; 20 organic group having usually at least 8 carbons, and preferably up to 30
,
carbons, condensed with at least 5 and usually up to 50 alkylene oxide
.. . : .
groups. It is preferred to use the polyoxyethylene condensates derived~
; from ethylene oxide. Other lower alkylene oxides, e.g., propylene oxide
and butylene oxide, may be substituted therefor.
The polyalkylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenol may also be
used, e.g., the polyoxyethylene ethers of alkyl phenols having an alkyl
:
group of at least 6, and usually 8 to 12 carbons, and an ethylene oxide
ratio (number of moles per phenol) of 7.5, 8.5, 11.5 and 20. The number
of ethylene oxide groups will be usually from 8 to 18. Examples of the
.
-- 10 --
- ~15~50:~;
a~kyl substituent are di-isobutylene, diamyl, polymerized propylene,
dimerized C6-C7 olefin, and the like.
Other suitable non-ionic detergents are the polyoxyalkylene
esters of organic acids, e~g., higher fatty acids, rosin acids, tall oil
acids, or acids from the oxidation of petroleum; the polyalkylene oxide
condensates with higher fatty acid am;des, e.g., the higher fatty acid
primary amides, mono- and di-ethanolamides condensed with ethylene oxide,
and the corresponding sulfonamides; the polyalkylene oxide ethers of higher
fatty alcohols, e.g., lauryl, cetyl or oleyl alcohols condensed with 6 - 30
moles of ethylene oxide; the higher alkyl mercaptans or thioalcohols con-
densed with ethylene oxide; and the water-soluble polyoxyethylene conden-
sates with hydrophobic polyoxypropylene glycols.
Still other non-ionic surface active compounds include the amine
oxides and phosphine oxides and preferably the unsymmetrical trialkyl amine
oxides and phosphine oxides wherein two of the alkyl groups are lower
alkyl groups ~1 to 4 carbon atoms) and the other alkyl group is a higher
alkyl group (8 to 18 carbon atoms). Examples include dimethyldodecylamine
oxide, dimethyl dodecylphosphine oxide, dimethyl tetradecyl amine oxide,
dimethyltetradecyl phosphine oxide, diethylhexadecylamine oxide, diethyl-
hexadecylphosphine oxide and the like.
Particularly advantageou~ non-ionic surface active agents are
condensation products of a hydrophobic compound having at least one active
hydrogen atom and a lower alkylene oxide (for example, the condensation
product of an aliphatic alcohol containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms) and
from 3 to 30 mols of ethylene oxide per mol of the alcohol, or the conden-
sation product of an alkyl phenol containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms in
the alkyl group and from 3 to 30 mols of ethylene oxide per mol of alkyl
phenol. Other advantageous non-ionic detergents include condensation
products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic compound formed by condensing
~; .
-- 11 --
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~51501
propylene oxide with propylene glycol.
Ampholytic synthetic detergents may also be used in aspects of
this invention and can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic
secondary and tertiary a~ines, in which the aliphatic radical may be
. .
straight chain or branched chain and wherein one of the aliphatic substi-
tuents contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic
water stabilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfo or sulfato. Examples of
compounds falling within this definition are sodium-3-dodecylaminopropion- -
ate and sodium-3-dodecylaminopropane sulfonate.
Zwitterionic synthetic detergents which may ~also be used in
;~ aspects of this invention can be broadly described as derivatives of
aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium and sulfonium compounds, in
which the aliphatic radical may be straight chain or branched, and wherein
one of the aliphatic substituents contains from 8 to 24 carbon atoms and
one contains an ion1c water soiubil1z1ng group, e.g., carboxy, sulfo, or
sulfato. Examples of compounds falling within this definition are
- 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)-2-hydroxy propane-1-sulfonate which
are preferred for their cool water detergency characteristics.
Amphoteric surface active compounds are also useful in aspects
of this invention. They can be broadly described as compounds which have~
- ~ both anionic and cationic groups in the same molecule. Such compounds
may be grouped into cIasses corresponding to the nature of the anionic-
forming group, which is usually carboxy,-sulfo or sulfato. Examples of
- such compounds include sodium N-coco beta amino propionate, sodium N-tallow
beta amino dipropionate, sodium N-lauryl beta imidipropionate and the like.
; , : ~ ~ : -
Other typical examples of these categories of the anionic, non-
:
ionic andfor amphoteric surface active agents are described in Schwart=
and Perry "Surface Active Agents", Interscience Publishers, New York (1949)
~;~ and The Journal of American Oil Chemists Society, Volume 34, No!4, pa es
~ ' :
~ - 12 -
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115I501
1`70-216 (April, 1957~.
Various types of gelling agents heretofore used in the prior
art discussed above may be used, including the following: hydroxyethyl
cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, alginates,
gelatins, bentonites, polyoxyethylene resins, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly-
amides, and silica.
In addition, other gelling agents taught by the prior art, e.g.,
gums, metallic soaps, and nitrocellulose may be used. Specifically, one
may use as the gelling agent a hydrolyzed copolymer of a low molecular
weight olefin and maleic anhydride. In addition, one may use a synthetic
polymeric material which, by virtue of a high content of hydrophilic
functional groups, e.g., carboxy groups in salt form, and a high molecular
weight, is a hydrophilic colloid. Very suitable materials of this kind
are carboxy-substituted vinyl polymers, e.g., those commercially available
under the Trade Mark CARBOPOL.
;~ ~The principle of the invention is to modify the rheology of
solutions of the cleaners and sanitizers by the means of one or several
thickening (gelling) agen~s. The gelling agent is already blended in the
total composition and no separate dissolving is required. Regular agita-
tion at room temperature should suffice to achieve quick dissolving. The
products may be initally formulated either in liquid of paste or powder
form.
The following are several typical Examples of compositions of ~
aspects of this invention: ;
Example
Beerstone remover:
4Na-ethylene diaminetetracetic acid 80%
Sodium gluconate 10%
~ ~ - 13 -
~151501
Anionic surfactant 5%5~
Hydroxyethyl cellulose of high viscogity 5%
Example II
Medium alkaline cleaner:
Sodium phosphates blend 14 parts
Sodium metasilicate 16
4-Sodium ethylene diaminetetracetic acid or ) "
sodium gluconate ) 1.5
Anionic surfactant 3.0 "
Hydroxyethyl cellulose 6.0 "
Carboxymethyl cellulose 2.0 "
Sodium sulfate `- 21.5 "
Example III
Aluminum brightener: Kno~n by the Trade Mark
GELAC of Ecochimie Ltee, Longueuil, Quebec.
Water 690 parts
Hydroxyethyl cellulose 7 "
Anionic surfactant 3 "
Hydroxyacetic acid 20
Hydrofluoric acid 50 " ~;
Orthophosphoric acid (75% strength~ 230 "
Example IV ~:
- ~ ~
Milkstone remover: Known by the Trade Mark
- ~CIGEL of Ecochimie Ltee, Longueuil, Quebec
: Hydroxyacetic acid 20 parts ::
; ~ater : 670
Hydroxyethyl cellulose or polyoxyethylene 7 "
Anionic surfactant ~ 3 "
~:
Orthophosphoric acid (75~ strength) : 300 "
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-- ~15~501
Example V
Smoke house cleaner:
Caustic flakes - 20%
Sodium phosphates 13%
4-Sodium ethylene diaminetetracetic acid) 2%
or sodium gluconate
Anionic surfactant (phosphate ester type) 3%
Hydroxyethyl cellulose . 6%
Carboxyethyl cellulose 2%
(or polyoxyethylene - 8% used)
Sodium carbonate 25%
Sodium sulfate 12%
Example VI
Acidic sanitizer:
Orthophosphoric acid (75% strength~210 parts
Alkyl aryl sulphonic acid 30
Water ~ 755
~ Hydroxyethyl cellulose ) 5 "
: ~ or carboxymethyl cellulose )
Thus, as exemplified above, some non-Iimiting eYamples include:
~ : (1) Strong Alkaline Gel
:~ Thi:, consists of water, ECOGEL 2 and CAUSTER 50. ECOGEL 2 is the ;
Trade Mark of Ecochimie, Longueuil, Quebec, for a class of industrial:
:: :
cleaning a~d sani~izing compounds. Its composition is as follows:
Sodium phosphates
Sodium carbonate
Sodium silicate
:: : Surface active agent
: Sequestrant
CAUSTEK 50 is the Trade Mark of Ecochimie, Longueuil, Quetec, for a 50%
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aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. The ECOGEL 2 is dissolved in hot
water and mixed for 5 mînutes. The CAUSTEK 50 is then added carefully.
The solution can be used for degreasing stainless steel, iron, glass or
plastic.
(2) Normal Alkaline Gel
This merely consists of ECOGEL 2 dissolved in hot water and
mixed for 5 minutes. This solution can be used for all surfaces including
paint and aluminum.
The cleaning of equipment is always a delicate operation, parti-
cularly when cleaning complex machinery. The use of gels permits cleaningby, in effect, "reverse soaking". The gel detergent is applied to the
surface of the equipment to be cleaned and because of its thixotropic
gel-like high viscosity, it sticks to the surface. If the time of con-
tact is at least 15 minutes, the detergent has time to loosen the dirt
and reduce adherence of the dirt to the surface. It is then only necessary
to rinse with high pressure hot or cold water to eliminate all the dirt.
The advantage of this procedure is that it does not consume as large a
quantity of water as the prior art high pressure washing techniques. In
addition, it uses a minimum amount of detergent. In effect, one uses just
enough detergent gel to cover and adhere to the surface to be cleaned.
ECOGEL contains strong alkaline products normally used in the
degreasing of surfaces, as well as an agent that allows the product~to
adhere to the surfaces. ECOGEL 2 contains no solvents and can be used on
- equilment which is damaged by the presence of CELLOSOLVE.
In the concentration used in aspects of this invention, the pro-
duct has such rheology as to be easily sprayed with a minimum pressure of
15 p.s.i. A warm solution may help achieve this characteristic.
When sprayed onto cold surfaces, the product leaves a film of
at le~.st 5 mils in thickness without excessive dripping. One of the
- 16 -
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important features of the gelling agent used is to retard evaporation
so as to allow a contact time of at least 10 minutes without drying under
normal conditions.
After this soaking, a high pressure gun of appropriate water
flow and pressure is used to remove the loosened dirt or eliminate the
sanitizer completely.
The following is an example of one procedure for the use of an
ECOGEL 2 gel by the method of an aspect of this invention.
A solution of 1 - 3% ECOGEL in hot water (75C.~ ~s prepared as
described above and is mixed for 5 minutes before use to allow complete
dissolution of product.
The surfaces to be cleaned are first rinsed with a high pressure
jet of water, under the following conditions: hot water at 80C., 500
p.s.i. pressure, jet at 25, flow of 2.5 to 4 gallons/minute maximum.
The rinsed surfaces are then coated with the gel of aspects of
this invention by means of a jet applied with a low pressure gun: 60-80
p.s.i., at an angle of 80, and a flow of 1.5 gallon/minute maximum. The
surfaces to be cleaned are soaked for 15 minutes or more if possible. The
surfaces to be cleaned should not be allowed to become dry. The surfaces
to be cleaned should preferably be cold or lukewarm. The gel is then
rinsed off thoroughly with a high pressure gun and hot water.
Generally, the following technique should be applied în the use
of gels of aspects of this invention:
(a) First rinse thoroughly with hot water at 75C., preferably
;: :
~ with a high pressure jet.
- ~b) Apply thl~ gel with a low pressure gun.
(c) Let stand (soak) for at least 15 minutes, more if possible
I without letting the surfaces dry.
(d) Rinse with hot water (75C.~ at high pressure.
17
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~ The following equipment has been found to be sl~itable in carry-
ing out the method of an aspect of this inven.ion:
The high pressure rinsing should be at 35-40 bars (500-600 p.s.i.)
Nozzle: that known by the Trade Mark UNIJET 2510 type 16 l/mn (3.5 gpm);
angle of nozzle = 25; temperature 75C.
The gel should be applied at 1.5-4 bars (20-60 p.s.i.~.
Nozzle: UNIJET 6504 type; 2 l/mn (0.4 gpm); angle of nozzle = 25;
temperature: 60-70C. (140-160F.).
With respect to the spraying equipment used in the method of
~; 10 aspects of this invention, it has been found that~centrifugal sprayers
give much better results than hydraulic or vaporization systems.
Thè following table provides a summary of the use of thc- gels
of aspects of this invention in the methods of other aspects of this
invention.
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to
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