Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Cteaning compositions
- 5
Technical field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cleaning composition which provides an
effective cleaning and shine performance on surfaces, especially hard
surfaces.
Bsckaround of the invention
The formulation of compositions which provide cleaned shiny surfaces is a
problem known in the art to the formulator of a cleaning composition. More
25 particularly, the problem of providina shiny surfaces is often compromised
by residues of the compositions which are left on said surfaces and which
appear as streaks as water evaporation is completed. The problem of the
residuality is even more noticeabl~ where the composition is used to clean
surfaces made of glossy materials, such as alossy ceramic tiles, windows
30 and mirrors, or such materials as polyurethane-coated PVC which is widely
used in Northern America. Furthermore, nowadays, many products are
formulated or can be used as no-rinse products. In such conditions or with
such products, the problem of residuality has become more acute.
.
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Accordingly, there is a need for a composition which provides errec~ e
cleaning performance but also provides the cleaned surfaces with a shiny
effect without any residues.
5 Numerous solutions have been proposed in the art to solve this need,
including the use of an acid, ma~nesium ions, or the use of certain solvents
as described in WO 95/21229, EP 0 639 833 or US 3,839,234.
10 The applicant has now surprisin~ly found that this need could also be met
by formulating a composition which comprises a surfa~-art system
comprising an alkyl sulphate surfactant and a betaine or a culphobetaine
surfa; tant in specific ratios and wherein the pH of the comr tion is .,.
Ieast 4.
This finding is especially surprisin~ as the use of alkyt sulphate surfactants,
which provide effective cleaning, has been found to form crystals upon
drying, which resulted in spotting residues on the cleaned surface; while on
20 the other hand the use of betaine or sulphobetaine surfactants, also
effective cleaning component, left amorphous residues resulting in a greasy
film on the surface. Surprisin~ly, the use of a mixture of an alkyl sulphate
and a betaine or a sulphobetaine surfactant in specific ratios not only
provides an effective cleaning of the surfaces but also causes said residues
25 to appear less, or even not to appear anymore.
The applicant has further found that the addition of solvents to this
surfactant system provides an enhanced cleaning and shine benefit.
It is therefore an advantage of the inventlon to provide a composition which
provides effective cleaning and shine performance on surfaces.
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It is another advantage of the invention to provide a composition with
effective disinfection performance.
5 It is another advantage of the invention to provide a composition which is
mild to the skin.
Summary of the Invention
10 The present invention relates to a cleaning composition comprising a
surfactant system comprising an alkyl sulphate and a betaine or a
sulphobetaine surfactant in a weight ratio of alkyl sulphate to betaine or
sulphobetaine of 5.5:1 to 100:1, and wherein the pH of the composition is
of at least 4.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises a
solvent for enhanced cleaning and shine performance of the composition.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition further
20 comprises a peroxygen bleach for providing the composition with effective
disinfecting performance.
Detailed descriDtion of the invention
An essential feature of the invention is a surfactant system, said system
comprising an alkyl sulphate and a betaine or a sulphobetaine surfactant in
specific weight ratios of alkyl sulphate to betaine or a sulphobetaine
30 surfactant.
Alkvl sulDhate surfactant
Alkyl sulphate surfactants to be used herein are those of formula ROSO3-
35 M+, wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 6 to 24 carbonatoms, more preferably 6 to 16 and most preferably 8 to 14 carbon atoms.
. . ~
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M represents a water-solubilising cation. The alkyl group can be in straight
or branched configuration, and preferably in straight configuration.
5 Alkyl sulphate is commercially available from Rhone Poulenc under the
tradename Rhodapon~9 or from Albright & Wilson under the tradename
EMPlCOLt~h A preferred commercial alkyl sulphate for use herein is EMPICOL
@) 0137/A.
10 Betaine or a sulDhobetaine surfactant
The composition according to the present invention comprises a betaine or a
sulphobetaine surfactant, or derivativss thereof, or mixtures thereof. A
further advantage of the invention is the mild action profile of said betaine
15 and/or sulphobetaine surfactants. Accordingly, the compositions herein may
be particularly suitable for the cleaning of delicate surfaces, e.g. delicate
laundry or surfaces in contact with food and/or babies. Furthermore, betaine
and/or sulphobetaine surfactants are also extremely mild to the skin, and
thus contribute to the convenience of use of the compositions of the present
20 invention by the user.
Suitable betaine/sulphobetaine surfactants to be used in the compositions of
the present invention are the betaine/sulphobetaine wherein the molecule
contains both basic and acidic groups which form an inner salt giving the
25 molecule both cationic and anionic hydrophilic groups over a broad range of
pH values. Some common examples of these detergents are described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,082,275, 2,702,279 and 2,255,082, incorporated herein
by reference. Preferred betaine or sulphobetaine surfactants have the
formula
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R2
I
R1 ~ N+ ---- (CH2~n ----
y_
I
R3
wherein R1 is an alkyl radical containing from about 1 to about 24 carbon
atoms, preferably from 8 to 18, and more preferably from 12 to 14, wherein
R2 and R3 contain from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and preferably 1 carbon atom,
wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6 and more
preferably is 1, Y is selEcled from the group consisting of carboxyl and
sulfonyl radicals and wherein the sum of R1, R2 and R3 radicals is from
about 14 to about 24 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof.
Examples of particularly suitable betaine surfactants include C12-C18 alkyl
dimethyl betaine such as the coconut betaine and C10-C16 alkyl dimethyl
betaine such as the lauryl betaine.
Coconut betaine and Lauryl betaine are commercially available from Seppic
and Albright & Wilson respectively, under the trade name of Amonyl 265
and Empigen BB/L~ respectively.
Typically, the compositions herein comprise at least 0.005% by weight of the
total composition of said betaine or sulphobetaine surfactant, or derivatives
thereof, or mixtures thereof, preferabty from 0.01% to 10%, and more
preferably from 0.1% to 5%.
The weight ratios of alkyl sulphate to betaine or sulphobetaine are an
important feature of the invention. Hence, ratios outside the range below,
such as those where the betaine or sulphobetaine surfactant is in a higher
proportion than the alkyl sulphate, would not provide the cleaning and shine
benefit but only the cleaning benefit while still leaving greasy residues. On
the other hand, a ratio above 100:1 of alkyl sulphate to betaine or
sulphobetaine surfactant would result in a surface showing spotty residues
.
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of the crystalline type. Thus, it is an important feature that the alkyt sulphate
and betaine or sulphobetaine surfactant be present within the composition in
a weight ratio of alkyl sulphate to betaine of 5.5:1 to 100:1, preferably from
10:1 to 50:1. For more optimum cleanin~ and shine performance, a welght
5 ratio of alkyl sulphate to betaine of 15:1 to 30:1 is most preferred.
Another important feature of the invention is the pH of the composition.
10 Hence compositions comprising the specific surfactant svstem mentioned
above and having a pH below 4 have been found to produce a precipitate in
the solution. The pH of the composition is measured at 20~C in the neat
composition where the composition is an aqueous composition or measured
as a 1% solution in distilled water at 20~C where the composition is a solid
15 composition. Accordingly, it is an essential feature of the invention that the
ptl of the composition is of at least 4. Preferably, the compositions
according to the present invention are aqueous li~uid cleaning compositions.
Said aqueous compositions preferably have a pH as is of not more than
12.0, more preferably from 4 to 10. The pH of the compositions can be
20 adjusted by using organic or inor~anic acids, or alkalinising agents.
Additional comDonents
25 The composition of the invention may, optionally, contain additional
components such as solvents, peroxy~en bleach, chelants and mixtures
thereof.
30 Solvents
When used, solvents will, advanta~eously, give an enhanced cleaning and
shine performance to the composition. Suitable solvents for incorporation in
the compositions according to the present invention include propylene glycol
35 derivatives such as n-butoxypropanol or n-butoxypropoxypropanol, water-
soluble CARBITOL@) solvents or water-soluble CELLOSOLVE~) solvents.
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Water-soluble CARBITOL(~) solvents are compounds of the 2-(2-
alkoxyethoxy)ethanol class wherein the alkoxy group is derived from ethyl,
propyl or butyl. A preferred water-soluble carbitol is 2-(2-
butoxyethoxy)ethanol also known as butyl carbytol. Water-soluble
5 CELLOSOLVE~ solvents are compounds of the 2-alkoxyethoxyethanol class,
with 2-butoxyethoxyethanol being preferred. Other suitable solvents are
benzyl alcohol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and diols such as 2-ethyl-1,3-
hexanediol and 2,2,~trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol and mixture thereof.
Preferred solvents for use herein are n-butoxypropoxypropanol, butyl carbitol
10 t~) and mixtures thereof. A most preferred solvent for use herein is butyl
carbitol(~).
The solvents will typically be present within the undiluted composition of the
invention at a level of 0.01% to 10% by weight, preferably 3% to 7% by
15 weight of the composition.
Peroxvgen bleach
Another suitable additional component for use herein is a peroxygen bleach.
20 Peroxygen bleach, especially hydrogen peroxide, persulfate and the like, in
the compositions of the present invention advantageously contribute to the
disinfection properties of said compositions. Hence, not to be bound by
theory, it is bclievcd that said peroxygen bleach may attack the vital
function of the micro-organism cells, for example, it may inhibit the
25 assembling of ribosomes units within the cytoplasm of the micro-organism
cells. Also, said peroxygen bleach like hydrogen peroxide, is a strong
oxidizer that generates hydroxyl free radicals which attack proteins and
nucleic acids. Furthermore, the presence of said peroxygen bleach,
especially hydrogen peroxide, provides strong stain removal benefits which
30 are particularly noticeable for example in laundry and hard surfaces
applications.
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As used herein a hydrogen peroxide source refers to any compound which
produces hydrogen peroxide when said compound is in contact with water.
Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use herein include
percarbonates, persilicate, persulphate such as monopersulfate, perborates
and peroxyacids such as diperoxydodecandioic acid (DPDA), magnesium
perphthalic acid and mixtures thereof.
A preferred peroxygen bleach is hydro~en peroxide, or a water soluble
source thereof, or mixtures thereof. A most preferred peroxygen bleach is
hydrogen peroxide.
10 In addition to the peroxygen bleach, other classes of peroxides can be used
as an alternative to hydrogen peroxide and sources thereof or in combination
with hydrogen peroxide and sources thereof. Suitable classes include
dialkylperoxides, diacylperoxides, preformed percarboxylic acids, organic
and inorganic peroxides.
Typically, the compositions herein comprise at least 0.01% by weight of the
total composition of said peroxygen bleach or mixtures thereof, preferably
from 0.1% to 15%, and more preferably from 1% to 10%.
20 The following disinfecting test method may be applied to measure the
disinfection property of the composition:
Disinfecting test method
25 Disinfection properties of a composition may be measured by the
bactericidal activity of said composition. A test method to evaluate the
bactericidal activity of a composition is described in European Standard,
prEN 1276, CEN/TC 216 N 59, dated November 1995 issued by the
European Committee for Standardisation, Brussels. European Standard, prEN
30 1276, CEN/TC 216 N 59, specifies a test method and requirements for the
minimum bactericidal activity of a disinfecting composition. The test is
passed if the bacterial colonies forming units ~cfu) are reduced from a 107
cfu ~initial level) to a 102 cfu (final level after contact with the disinfecting
product), i.e. a 105 reduction of the viability is necessary.
.
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Chelatina agents
Chelating agents are also additional components which may be suitable for
use herein. Preferred chelating agents are those selected from the group of
aminophosphonates. Suitable amino phosphonate compounds for use herein
include amino alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonate), alkali metal ethane 1-
hydroxy diphosphonates, nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates, ethylene
diamine tetra methylene phosphonates, and diethylene triamine penta
methylene phosphonates. The phosphonate compounds may be present
either in their acid form or as salts of different cations on some or all of their
acid functionalities. Preferred amino phosphonate chelants to be used herein
is diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonate. Such phosphonate
chelant is commercially available from Monsanto under the trade name
DEQUEST~.
Said chelating agents, especially phosphonate chelating agents like diethylene
triamine penta methylene phosphonates, are particularly preferred in the
compositions according to the present invention as they have been found to
further contribute to the disinfecting properties of hydrogen peroxide.
Typically, the compositions according to the present invention comprise up to
5% by weight of the total composition of a chelating agent, or mixtures
thereof, preferably from 0.002% to 3% by weight and more preferably from
0.002% to 1.5% by weight of the composition.
ODtional comDounds
The compositions herein may further comprise a variety of other optional
compounds including antimicrobial compounds such as Eugenol
commercially available for example from Sigma, Systems - Bioindustries
(SBI) - Manheimer Inc, builders, buffers, bactericides, enzymes, hydrotropes,
colorants, stabilizers, bleach activators, soil suspenders, dye transfer agents,brighteners, perfumes, anti dusting agents, dispersant, dye transfer
inhibitors, pigments, perfumes and dyes.
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Formulation form of the comDositions
The compositions according to the present invention may be formulated
either as solids or liquids. In the case where the compositions are formulated
as solids, they will be mixed with an appropriate solvent, typically water,
before use. In liquid form, the compositions are preferably but not
necessarily formulated as aqueous compositions. Liquid compositions are
preferred herein for convenience of use.
Packaging form of the comDositions
The compositions herein may be packaged in a variety of suitable detergsnt
packaging known to those skilled in the art. The liquid compositions herein
15 may desirably be packaqed in manually operated spray dispensing
containers, which are usually made of synthetic or~anic polymeric plastic
materials. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses liquid
cleaning compositions of the invention packaged in a spray dispenser,
preferably in a trigger spray dispenser. Indeed, said spray-type dispensers
20 allow to uniformly apply to a relatively lar~e area of a surface to be cleaned
the liquid cleaning compositions suitable for use according to the present
invention; thereby contributin~ to the cleanin~ properties of said
compositions. Such spray-type dispensers are particularly suitable to clean
vertlcal surfaces.
Suitable spray-type dispensers to be used according to the present invention
include manually operated foam trigger-type dispensers sold for example by
Specialty Packaging Products, Inc. or Continental Sprayers, Inc. These
types of dispensers are disclosed, for instance, in US-4,701,311 to
30 Dunnining e '. and US-4,646,973 and ;-4,538,745 both to Focarracci.
Particularly p. ~erred to be used herein are spray-type dispensers such as T
8500~ commercially available from Continental Spray International or T
8100~ commerciaily available from Canyon, Northern Ireland. In such a
dispenser the liquid composition is divided in fine liquid droplets resulting in35 a spray that is directed onto the surface to be treated. Indeed, in such a
spray-type dispenser the composition contained in the body of said
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dispenser is directed through the spray-type dispenser head via energy
communicated to a pumping mechanism by the user as said user activates
said pumping mechanism. More particularly, in said spray-type dispenser
head the composition is forced against an obstacle, e.g. a grid or a cone or
5 the like, thereby providing shocks to help atomise the liquid composition, i.e.
to help the formation of liquid droplets.
The compositions of the present invention may also be executed in the form
of wipes. By "wipes~ it is meant herein dispos~hle paper towels
10 incorporating a liquid composition according to the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention also encompAsses wipes, e.g. disposable
paper towels, incorporating a liquid composition according to the present
invention. In the preferred execution said wipes are impregnated, more
preferably wetted with said liquid compositions. Preferably said wipes are
15 packa~ed in a plastic box. The advantage of this execution is a faster usage
of a cleaning composition by the user, this even outside the house, i.e. there
is no need to pour the liquid compositions according to the present invention
on the surfaces to be treated and to dry it out with a cloth. In other words,
wipes allow cleaning of surfaces in one step.
The present invention encomp~sses a process for cleaning surfaces wherein
a composition according to the present invention is applied onto said
surfaces.
By "surface" it is meant herein any surface including hard-surfaces like
25 bathroom, kitchen, floors, table tops, refrigerators, walls, tiles, wash
surfaces and the like.
In the process of cleaning surfaces according to the present invention said
compositions may be applied to the surface to be disinfected in its neat form
or in its diluted form.
30 By "diluted form" it is meant herein that the compositions to be used in the
cleaning process herein being either in a liquid or solid form may be diluted
by the user typically up to 1000 times their weight of water, preferably up
to 300 times, more preferably into 80 to 30 times their weight of water, and
most preferably 60 to 40 times.
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12
In a preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention wherein
said composition is applied to a surface to be cleaned, such as a hard-
surface, in its diluted form, it is not necessary to rinse the surface after the5 composition has been applied; indeed, no visible residues are left onto the
surface.
The invention is illustrated in the following non limiting examples, in which
all percentages are on a weight basis unless otherwise stated.
The following test methods applied to measure the cleaning and shine
benefit are as follows:
Cleaning test method
Standard enamel plates were soiled by applying on them a grease/particulate
matter and then baking them. The tested compositions were then applied on
a sponge and then placed onto a Gardner Machine. The Gardner machine
measured the number of strokes needed to reach 95-99% clean plates. The
20 performance was measured as such (i.e undiluted) and upon dilution at
1.5% in water.
Shine test method
25 Five n,illi".elers of test product are applied to one face of a wetted sponge.
The wetted sponge is applied in one motion with even pressure from top to
bottom of a previously cleaned, with isopropyl alcohol, black tile. The tile
with the applied product~s) is allowed to dry for ten minutes before grading
by expert judges. The control reference is made by repeating the above test
30 with a wetted sponge but without the tested product.
Expert judges are employed to evaluate the specific area of product
application for amount of filming/streaking. A numerical value describing the
amount of filming/streaking is assigned to each product. For the test results,
35 a 0-4 scale is used
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13
O = There is no difference between the tested product and the control
reference, i.e. poor filming/streaking performance of the tested product.
4 = There is a clear difference betwsen the product and the control
reference, i.e. no filmin~/streaking with the tested product.
In the examples, the abbreviated component identifications have the
following meanings:
alkyl sulphate : Empicol 01 37/A
betaine : Coco alkyldimethyl betaine available from Albright
& Wilson under the trade name of Empigen BB/L~
butyl carbitol: 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol
10 ExamDle 1
The following composition, according to the present invention, was made
bV mixing the listed ingredients in the listed proportions:
A B C E
Alkyl sulphate
betaine 0.05 O.OS 0.05 0.05
butyl carbitoKE9 - 5 5
hydrogen peroxide - - 2 2
Water and minors up to 100
H2504 up to pH 4
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EXamDIe 2
The following compositions are in accordance with the invention:
F G H
Alkyl sulphate 1 2 8 5
betaine 0.05 0.1 0.5 0.2
butyl carbitol~ - 5 5
hydrogen peroxide - - 1 2
Water and minors up to 100
H~7S04 up to pH 5
J K L M
Alkyl sulphate 1 2 8 5
betaine 0.05 0.1 0.5 0.2
butyl carbitol~) - 5 5
hydrogen peroxide - - 1 2
Water and minors up to 100
H~S04 up to pH 9
