Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02865327 2014-09-26
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
HARD SURFACE CLEANING COMPOSITION FOR PERSONAL CONTACT AREAS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an improved cleaner for hard
surface
cleaning applications, including kitchens, bathrooms, tubs and tiles, amongst
others,
and more particularly to a hard surface cleaning composition for such personal
contact
areas, having improved cleaning and descaling properties.
ir) 2. Background of the Technology
Hard surface cleaning compositions have been known and used in a variety of
applications, including bathrooms, kitchens and other areas, particularly for
toilets,
showers, bathtubs, sinks, tiles, countertops, walls, floors and the like.
Often times, hard
surfaces accumulate both soap scum stains, which are typically residues of
various
is types of soaps used in a household, as well as hard water stains, which
are typically the
result of the deposition of calcium, lime or various salts on hard surfaces
over the
course of time and use of various household surfaces.
Cleaning solutions for these household surfaces have been formulated to
address both the removal of soap scum stains, as well as the descaling of hard
water
20 stains. In particular, many of these cleaning solutions have employed a
combination of
components, in a number of instances including strong inorganic acids, organic
acids or
a combination of both, a surfactant or wetting agent, a solvent and a diluent
to address
one or both of these types of stains and/or build-ups. The acid component is
typically
selected to address descaling of hard water stains, while the surfactant
component is
25 typically a detergent selected to attack soap scum. Further, other
additives have also
been used in combination with cleaning formulations to either enhance
performance or
make a particular formulation more desirable from a visual or odor
perspective, such as
pH adjusters, stabilizing agents, colorants and fragrances, amongst others.
It has also become important for cleaning solutions to be formulated in such a
30 way as to have less impact on the environment (to be "green"). One way
in which this is
CA 02865327 2014-09-26
encouraged is through a program of the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, known as the Design for the Environment Program ("DfE"). DfE certifies
"green" cleaning products through the Safer Product Labeling Program. One
aspect for
obtaining certification is to have a cleaning solution which is less acidic,
specifically, to
have a pH greater than 2, for household cleaning products. Furthermore, the
standards
adopted by governmental agencies, or sought by consumers, have been evolving.
In
the future, governmental standards may require, and/or consumers may demand,
even
stricter standards regarding the environmental compatibility of effective hard
surface
cleaning solutions. While it is unknown exactly how or when changes to these
io standards will occur, it is believed that any such change would adhere
to stricter
environmental standards, requiring ever "greener" cleaning products. One such
change
could be the pH level of the cleaning solution, requiring the pH level to be
substantially
higher than the current minimum requirement of 2Ø
Accordingly, It is desirable to provide a cleaning solution which minimizes
and/or
eliminates the more corrosive inorganic acids, as well as the more corrosive
organic
acids, and instead uses less corrosive, but equally effective organic acids to
achieve the
desired cleaning results.
It is yet further desirable to find a cleaning solution with a specific
combination of
organic acids, surfactants and solvents which act in a synergistic manner to
improve
cleaning performance on hard surfaces.
It is also desirable to provide a cleaning solution which is more
environmentally
compatible, such as by having a higher pH than in existing cleaning solutions
configured
for comparable uses.
It is further desirable to provide a cleaning solution which uses
quantitatively less
of the active ingredients, as compared to known cleaning solutions, but having
comparable performance, so as to be more economically desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a hard surface cleaning solution which
comprises an organic acid; a surfactant; a solvent; and a diluent; wherein the
solution
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CA 02865327 2014-09-26
has a pH level ranging from about 2.0 to about 3.37; and wherein the
surfactant does
not contain salt in an amount sufficient to materially affect the pH level of
the solution.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the organic acid comprises a
carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, formic
acid, citric acid
and acetic acid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carboxylic
acid is lactic
acid.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the surfactant comprises an
amine oxide. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the amine oxide is
lauramine
oxide.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the solvent is a propylene
glycol ether, preferably propylene glycol (mono) butyl ether.
In these embodiments of the invention, the diluent is water.
In such a preferred embodiment of the invention, the acid comprises about 6.93
wt.% to about 7.52 wt.% of the active cleaning composition; the surfactant
comprises
about 2.25 wt.% to about 2.5 wt.% of the active cleaning composition; the
solvent
comprises about 1.40 wt.% of the active cleaning composition; and the diluent
comprises substantially the remainder of the cleaning composition.
The solution of the present invention may have a pH level of about 2.0 to
about
3.37. In one embodiment, the solution may have a pH level ranging from greater
than
2.5 to about 3.37. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the
solution has a
pH level of about 2.2 to about 3.37, after the cleaning solution has been aged
a
minimum of six months. The solution may have a pH level of about 2.07 to about
3.17,
as measured before aging.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the solution descales marble
test tiles about 1.586% to about 2.918%.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the solution does not
contain
bleach in an amount to materially affect the descaling ability of the
solution, or cause the
formation of noxious gases.
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g
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms,
there
is described a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present
disclosure is
to be considered as an exemplification of the principals of the invention and
is not
intended to limit the invention to the embodiments so described.
The present invention is directed to a liquid cleaning solution which is
particularly
suited for removing soap scum, hard water stains, lime scale and the like from
various
hard surfaces such as tubs, tiles, showers, sinks and other areas which are
exposed to
water and soap. The invention includes different embodiments, including a
cleaning
io solution which is a more vigorous solution more suitable for removing
hard water stains,
lime scale and rust, as well as another cleaning solution which is more
suitable as an
every day cleaner for removing soap scum, hard water spots and associated
calcium
deposits as well as lime scale.
A cleaning solution that has been commercially sold, in the past, by Jelmar,
Inc.
Is under the brand name CLR Bathroom and Kitchen Cleaner, has the following
constituents: water, L (+)-Lactic Acid (at 9.24 wt.% of the active
composition), Lauryl
Hydroxysultaine (at 3.0 wt.% of the active composition), Propylene Glycol
(Mono) Butyl
Ether, and Fragrance. The pH is approximately 1.85.
In a preferred embodiment of one embodiment of the present invention, the
20 cleaning solution comprises a chelating agent, a surfactant, a solvent
and a diluent. A
second chelating agent is not necessary or desired, as this cleaning solution
is primarily
contemplated as serving as a daily cleaner for sinks, tiles and tubs, towards
the removal
of calcium and lime stains, amongst others, rather than a more acidic,
stronger cleaner
for removal of tougher calcium, lime and rust stains.
25 The chelating agent is an organic acid, and preferably a carboxylic
acid present
in an amount of about 5.0 wt.% to about 10.0 wt.% of the active formula. More
preferably, the first organic acid comprises lactic acid in an amount of 6.93
wt.% of the
solution, which is sold under the brand name Sanilac 88 and can be purchased
from
Purac America, headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Sanilac 88 is FIFRA
(Federal
30 Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) approved as an
antimicrobial agent. An
4
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_
,
alternative lactic acid, also from Purac, which may be employed in the
cleaning
composition of the present invention is Purac 88-T, though that is not FIFRA
approved
at the time of this application.
Other carboxylic acids which are contemplated for use with the cleaning
solution
of the present invention include glycolic acid, formic acid, citric acid and
acetic acid. Of
course, one of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before
them will readily
appreciate that other carboxylic acids may also be used within the scope of
the present
invention.
A surfactant is provided, preferably an amine oxide, present in the cleaning
lo solution in an amount of about 1.50 wt.% to about 4.0 wt.%. Preferably,
the surfactant is
lauramine oxide (also alternatively known as lauryldimethylamine oxide,
dodecyldimethylamine oxide, or dimethyldodecylannine-N-oxide) present in about
2.25
wt.% of the active formula. Lauramine oxide can be purchased under the trade
name
Mackamine LO from Rhodia, located in Cranbury, New Jersey. Other alternative
sources of lauramine oxide are Macat AO -12 (from Mason Chemicals) and Ammonyx
LO (from Stepan Chemical). Commercially available LO is notable because it
does not
contain any salt (NaCI) as a result of the production process nor does the
chemical itself
contain a sodium component. It is believed that surfactants that contain salt
(NaCI), or
sodium (Na), either as an element of the fundamental surfactant molecules, or
as a
production byproduct, can have a tendency to suppress the pH of the resulting
cleaning
solution, even when the pH of the surfactant constituent itself is fairly high
(>9 or 10).
However, it has also been noted that even using surfactants that clearly
lacked a
sodium component, either as an element in the fundamental surfactant molecule,
or as
part of a production byproduct, such as glycosides, which also had a high
initial pH,
likewise failed to elevate the pH of the final cleaning solution, when the
other
constituents were as set forth in Table 1 hereinbelow. Only amine oxides,
particularly
lauramine oxide, were found to elevate the pH to DfE certification levels (a
pH of 2.0 or
higher), while at the same time providing comparable cleaning performance as
the
reference prior art cleaning solution mentioned above.
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i
The solvent is an ether alcohol based solvent, and preferably an alkoxylated
glycol. More preferably, the solvent is selected from a group of propylene
glycol ethers,
such as dipropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether,
dipropylene
glycol normal butyl ether and propylene glycol normal butyl ether. A preferred
solvent is
a propylene glycol (mono) butyl ether, sold under the trade name Dowanol PnB
manufactured by Dow Chemical Company, headquartered in Midland, Michigan. The
solvent is preferably present in the cleaning solution in the range of about
0.50 wt.% to
about 3.0 wt.% of the active formula, and most preferably in an amount of
about 1.4
wt.% of the active formula.
io
The diluent is preferably deionized water, which is present in a range of
about
82.85 wt.% to about 92.93 wt.% active in the cleaning solution formula. More
preferably,
the diluent comprises about 89.32 wt.% of the active cleaning formulation.
The surfactant in a cleaning solution performs a very important function,
which is
acting to physically separate a contaminating substance, from the surface to
which the
is
contaminating substance is adhered. Then, in such a cleaner, the acids
function to
attack and dissolve calcium and lime (which refers generally to calcium oxide
and
calcium hydroxide) deposits as well as rust (iron oxide) deposits. The
solvents (e.g., an
ether alcohol) can dissolve other contaminants, such as oils and greases.
The hard surface cleaning solution according to the present invention may
further
20
include an additive selected from the group consisting of colorants, fragrance
enhancers, nonionic surfactants, corrosion inhibiting agents, defoamers, pH
stabilizers
and stabilizing agents. A colorant is particularly preferred in one embodiment
of the
present invention.
For example, the cleaning solution may also include a fragrance enhancing
25
component, which may comprise any one of a wide variety of known fragrance
additives, to impart a desired fragrance to the cleaning solution. One
preferred example
is Lavender Fragrance No. 313-046 purchased from Alpine Aeromatics in
Piscataway,
New Jersey. This provides the cleaning solution with a pleasant, fragrant
odor, which
can overcome the less desirable odors of the acid and/or other components of
the
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,
i
formulation. The fragrance is preferably added in an amount of approximately
0.07 wt.%
to about 0.15 wt.%.
The cleaning solution according to the present invention is less acidic than
comparable existing cleaning solutions. In particular, cleaning solutions
according to the
present invention have been shown to have a pH, across the ranges of
surfactant
previously described, of 2.20 ¨ 2.50, which enables it to obtain US DIE
certification as
an environmentally friendly or "green" cleaning solution product. This has
been attained
without significantly adversely affecting the descaling or rust removal
capacity of the
cleaning solution.
The cleaning solutions according to the present invention are typically
bottled in
plastic containers, and used by spraying or wiping the cleaning composition
onto the
surface of a tub, tile, sink or shower to be cleaned.
The following example below illustrates an exemplary formulation of the
cleaning
composition according to the present invention. It is to be understood that
the example
is presented by means of illustration only and that further use of
formulations that fall
within the scope of the present invention and the claims herewith may be
readily
produced by one skilled in the art with the present disclosure before them.
An embodiment of the present invention comprises a cleaning solution having
the
components listed below in the indicated proportions.
TABLE 1
Ingredient Name % Active % in % Active in Chemical
Class/Function
in Raw Formula Formula
Material
Deionized Water 83.12 Diluent
Sanilac 88 88 7.88 6.93 Organic Acid;
Chelating
Lactic Acid Agent
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Mackamine LO 30 7.50 2.25 Surfactant; Wetting
Agent
Lauramine Oxide
(aka lauryldimethylamine
oxide,
dodecyldimethylamine
oxide, DDAO or
dimethyldodecylamine-N-
oxide)
Dowanol PnB 100 1.40000 1.40 Solvent
Propylene Glycol (Mono)
Butyl Ether
Lavender Fragrance 100 0.10 0.10 Gives a pleasant odor
#313-046
An example of a process for making the cleaning solution of the present
invention incorporates the following steps, with the quantities of the several
constituents
being sufficient (and readily ascertainable by one of ordinary skill in the
art) to achieve
the percentages provided in the table above. The process begins with charging
deionized water into a stainless steel tank equipped with a mixer. Lactic
acid, in the
form of Sanilac 88, is then added to the deionized water in the stainless
steel tank.
Next, lauramine oxide, in the form of Mackamine LO, will be added to the
stainless steel
io tank from below the surface of the liquid in the tank to minimize
foaming. It is preferred
to pump the lauramine oxide surfactant in through the bottom of the tank.
After the
contents of the tank are mixed thoroughly, the propylene glycol (mono) butyl
ether
solvent is added into the stainless steel tank in the form of Dowanol PnB.
Finally,
Lavender #313-046 fragrance enhancer may be added to the mixture to achieve
the
desired odor, and the mixture is mixed until it is homogeneous. Notably, the
sequence
of addition of the components of the cleaning formulations is believed to be
important,
as a hazy product may result if the sequence is broken.
TESTING OF EXAMPLE CLEANING SOLUTION FORMULATION
The hard surface cleaning solution of the present invention was evaluated for
scum removal efficacy, as well as for descaling efficacy. The cleaning
formulations was
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a
each subjected to testing by an independent laboratory to measure the
formulation's
ability to remove soap scum and to remove hard water scale.
The Cleaning Solution of the present invention and prepared as described
hereinabove, and with the composition detailed in the Table 1 above, and in
accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, was subjected to a
standard
CSPA DCC-16 Part 2 Scrubber Test for the Measuring the Removal of Lime Soap.
The
Cleaning Solution Formulation was compared against a leading commercial
calcium,
lime and rust hard surface cleaning solution sold by Jelmar Corporation of
Skokie,
Illinois under the brand name CLR Bathroom and Kitchen Cleaner.
The CSPA (Consumer Specialty Products Association) DCC-16 Part 2 Scrubber
Test for the Measuring the Removal of Lime Soap is a visual test based upon a
cleaner's ability to remove soap scum from plate tiles. Generally, tiles are
plated with
material which causes the formation of soap scum and baked. The tiles are then
scrubbed pursuant to standard procedures with each of Jelmar's CLR Bathroom
and
is Kitchen Cleaner commercial formulation and the Cleaning Solution 1
of the present
invention. The ability of each cleaner to remove soap scum is then graded both
visually
as well as by instrumentation, such as a colorimeter, and graded as an average
% of
the scum removed from the tiles.
The instrumentation results of the CSPA DCC-16 Part 2 Scrubber Test for the
Measuring the Removal of Lime Soap for the Cleaning Solution of the present
invention
are shown below in the following Table 2:
TABLE 2
Commercial CLR Bathroom 64.7% removal
and Kitchen Cleaner
Cleaning Solution 1 62.8% removal
The Purac 1998-10-04 Descaling Test is a weight-based test which measures
the amount of calcium carbonate a cleaner removes from a hard surface.
Generally,
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4
cubes of marble are scaled with calcium carbonate and weighed. The cubes are
placed
into solutions of the cleaning formulations being tested for a set time
interval. The cubes
are then removed from the respective cleaning solutions, allowed to dry and
then
weighed. Any weight loss indicates removal of calcium carbonate from the
marble
cubes, and thus descaling capability, measured in a percentage.
The results of the descaling testing on the Cleaning Solution of the present
invention are show below in Table 3. The descaling percentages for the
Cleaning
Solution are computed as the average performance of 1 cube at each of 45 and
120
seconds.
TABLE 3
45 Secs 120 Secs
Commercial CLR 0.1322% 0.2441%
Bathroom and Kitchen
Cleaner
Cleaning Solution 0.1616% 0.2549%
The above test results by independent laboratories demonstrate that the
cleaning
solution that is the subject of the present invention exhibits improved soap
scum and
scale removal properties over a leading commercial hard surface cleaning
formulation.
The Cleaning Solution Formula performed comparably at removing soap scum
stains in
the standard CSPA DCC-16 Part 2 Scrubber Test than one of the leading
commercial
calcium, lime and rust bathroom and kitchen surface cleaners. Likewise, the
Cleaning
Solution of the present invention exhibited significantly increased calcium
carbonate
removal during the Purac 1988-10-04 Descaling Test, than one of the leading
commercial bathroom and kitchen cleaners, indicating improved performance in
addressing hard water stains.
In addition to having an elevated pH relative to the existing CLR Bathroom &
Kitchen cleaning product, the cleaning solution of the present invention is
also less
CA 02865327 2014-09-26
expensive to make, inasmuch as 25% less acid and 25% less surfactant (in terms
of
wt.% of the active solution) are required to obtain comparable, and even
improved
performance. It is believed that the cost of making the cleaning solution of
the present
invention may be as much as 19% less than the existing CLR Bathroom & Kitchen
cleaning product.
Corrosion testing ¨ unlike lauryl hydroxysultaine, lauramine oxide contains no
sodium. LHS contains typically about 7% salt, as a production byproduct.
Accordingly,
the cleaning solution of the present invention is believed to be less
corrosive than the
existing CLR Bathroom & Kitchen cleaning product, as well.
1
RANGE OF pH LEVELS AND DESCALING ABILITY
The maximum pH level of the solution of Table 1 above, is about 2.5. However,
upon varying the relative concentrations of each ingredient in the formula,
the hard
surface cleaning solution of the present invention may have an even greater pH
level,
while still effectively removing soap scum together with calcium and lime from
hard
surfaces. A hard surface cleaning solution having a higher pH level may be
required by
future regulations or environmental standards, or may be preferred by
consumers who
prefer a less acidic compound with which to effectively remove calcium and
lime. Table
4 sets forth further compositions of the present invention, their pH levels,
and their
respective results from descaling testing, using a descaling testing method
that is
described below. Each formula below was created using lactic acid (Purac 88)
as the
organic acid, and the surfactant lauramine oxide (Mackamine LO), which were
added in
the concentrations given below. Each solution further contains the same amount
of
solvent Dowanol PnB, 1.4%, with the remainder of each solution made up of the
diluent,
deionized water.
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TABLE 4
Formula No. Organic Acid, Lauramine pH Descale, %
Oxide, %
JEL-1797 7.52 0.50 2.07 2.918
JEL-1789 7.52 1.00 2.16 2.885
JEL-1590 7.52 2.50 2.42 2.681
JEL-1793 7.52 3.50 2.59 2.468
JEL-1798 7.52 5.00 2.79 2.194
JEL-1816 7.52 6.25 2.96 1.850
JEL-1814 7.52 7.50 3.17 1.586
Each of the solutions above were tested for both their pH level, and descaling
ability. The pH level was determined by a pH meter (Corning pH Meter 440 with
Corning Pinnacle 3 in 1 Premium Gel Combo Electrode, Corning Inc., Corning,
New
York) on formulations tested shortly after creation ¨ that is formulations
that were not
aged. The descaling tests in Table 4 were performed according to a different
method
from the STR test method described above, the results for which are shown in
Table 3.
For Table 4, the descaling tests were performed upon marble test blocks,
namely
Crema Tumbled Marble Tiles, 9/16" x 9/16" x 3/8". Marble was chosen because it
contains calcium carbonate, or limestone. Thus, solutions that descale calcium
and
lime, must also react with marble and dissolve a portion of it into solution.
Before
testing, the blocks were prepared by washing them in distilled water, and
drying them in
an oven at 120 C (248 F). The blocks were then stored in a closed jar to
prevent the
absorption of moisture before testing. When ready for testing, the blocks were
weighed,
and placed in a beaker with 15 g of identified cleaning solution being tested.
After 5
minutes, the blocks were removed from the cleaning solution being tested,
patted dry,
and washed several times with distilled water to remove any remaining cleaning
solution. Then, the blocks were dried in an oven at 105 C (221 F) for an hour
to
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4
remove moisture, and allowed to cool for another hour before weighing. The
percentage of descaling was calculated through the difference in weight of the
marble
block, before and after testing, as follows:
Descale, % = (Initial Weight ¨ Final Weight) x 100 / Initial Weight
Each of the cleaning solutions of Table 4 were also evaluated for soap scum
removal, in a qualitative test described below. Lightly colored (off white),
low gloss, 2" x
2" ceramic tiles were coated with a heavy solution of 50% Oil of Olay Anti-
Aging Body
Wash (Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio) and 50% tap water, and then set
aside
for two weeks to dry, to simulate the deposit of a layer of soap scum. A paper
towel
was then soaked in the tested cleaning solution for 3 seconds, and then
immediately
applied to the soiled tile, and scrubbed for 10 seconds. The tile was then
wiped by a
dry paper towel for another 10 seconds, and set aside to dry for 12 hours
before
inspection under good light. Each of the cleaning solutions of Table 4 were
found to
completely remove the soap scum from the tiles, under these parameters.
As noted above in Table 4, the cleaning solutions each descaled the marble
blocks, to varying degrees. The formula used in the third solution, JEL-1590,
while not
exactly the same, closely matches that of Table 1, the commercially available
CLR
Bathroom and Kitchen Cleaner by Jelrnar, Inc., which is well known to
effectively
descale calcium and lime. In comparison to this formula, descaling ability
decreased
when tested against solutions of higher pH levels, and, conversely, increased
when
tested against solutions of lower pH levels. While a higher descaling
performance is
preferable, there may be other considerations in choosing the appropriate
ingredient
concentrations of the cleaning solution, including the relative cost of each
ingredient, the
level of descaling that is necessary, and the pH level of the cleaning
solution. Notably,
if the standards for pH levels were to increase, or if consumers' preferences
should
change towards using a less acidic hard surface cleaning solution, the
concentrations of
the ingredients of the present invention cleaning solution may be altered to
still provide
an effective hard surface cleaning solution, one that is effective at both
removing soap
scum as well as descaling calcium and lime.
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pH LEVELS DRIFT HIGHER OVER TIME
The pH levels of the cleaning solutions of the present invention have been
observed to change over time. Namely, the pH levels have been observed to
drift
higher, with aging of the cleaning solution itself. In accord with convention,
the pH
levels disclosed in Table 4 in the present application and the claims hereto
(unless
otherwise distinguished), as well as those disclosed in Table 1, all refer to
the pH levels
of the solutions as measured when each solution was first created. However,
solutions
that are stored six months or longer, and have been measured at that time,
have been
observed to have a higher pH level, than the pH level, as measured when the
solution
was first created. To quantify the unexpected shift in pH level, different
solutions of the
present invention have been oven-aged to simulate the effects of storage for a
longer
period of time at room temperature, as shown in Table 5 below.
TABLE 5
Formula No. Initial pH Oven-Aged pH
Cleaning Solution Formulation 2 2.4 2.7
JEL-1814 3.17 3.37
Cleaning Solution Formulation 2 is a version of cleaning solution that has
been
sold commercially as CLR Bathroom and Kitchen Cleaner by Jelmar, Inc. The
composition of JEL-1814, also of the present invention, has a composition that
is
described above in association with Table 4. As noted above, both solutions
are
capable of removing calcium and lime, at different degrees, as well as soap
scum, to
the same degree. To simulate aging, each of the solutions was placed in an
oven for 19
days at 50 C. Oven-aging at 40 C has been used to simulate the aging of
cosmetic
products at a rate of eight times the actual time at room temperature. Oven-
aging at
50 C has been used to simulate aging at a rate that is 50% higher than aging
at 40 C,
or twelve times the actual time at room temperature. Therefore, 19 days at 50
C
simulates the aging of the solutions, for approximately 7 1/2 months. This
simulated
result was confirmed by testing CLR Bathroom and Kitchen Cleaner solutions
that had
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a
actually been aged more than six months, at room temperature, whose pH levels
were
similarly found to rise by about 0.2 ¨ 0.3 units of pH.
TESTING OF ADDITIONAL CONSTITUENTS
Additional constituents were added to the hard surface cleaning solution of
the
present invention to determine their effect on the solution. Hydrogen peroxide
bleach
was added to the JEL-1590 formula disclosed above, in a concentration of 2.00%
H202.
Following the addition of peroxide, the solution suddenly appeared cloudy, or
hazy.
This is believed to be the result of a reaction between the hydrogen peroxide,
a
to
powerful oxidizing agent, and one or more of the constituents of the hard
surface
cleaning solution. After adding the peroxide, the pH of the resulting solution
hardly
changed, from 2.42 to 2.43. More notably, the descaling ability of the
solution
decreased, from 2.681% to 2.432% in marble block testing, for a decrease of
9.3%. It is
believed that this occurs because the hydrogen peroxide reacted with the
surfactant
lauramine oxide to form lauric acid or a derivative thereof. The reduction of
descaling
ability is attributed to the loss of surfactant lauramine oxide, which appears
to play a
significant role in descaling at this pH level. Thus, the addition of hydrogen
peroxide
bleach is also not recommended.
Further, sodium hypochlorite bleach was added to the JEL-1590 formula
disclosed above. Two ml of Clorox bleach (The Clorox Company, Oakland,
California)
containing 8.25% sodium hypochlorite were added to 60 ml of the JEL-1590
formula, in
a well-ventilated area. A reaction was witnessed upon the addition of the
bleach, which
resulted in what was believed to be the production of chlorine gas. A noxious
gas
emitted from the solution, that, despite all of the precautions taken, was
still pungent
and irritating to the upper respiratory tract and eyes. Such an experiment
should not be
repeated outside of a highly ventilated hood. Thus, one should avoid adding
any
chlorine bleach, such as sodium hypochlorite, to the hard surface cleaning
solution of
the present invention.
CA 02865327 2014-09-26
The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention, and
the
invention is not limited thereto, except as those skilled in the art who have
the present
disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations
therein without
departing from the scope of the invention.
16
