Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-16
2003-09-30
Ogden, Necholus (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S235000, C510S426000, C510S428000, C510S432000, C510S488000, C510S506000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06627590
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to liquid detergent compositions for use in cleaning hard surfaces, particularly bathroom surfaces. Such compositions typically contain detergent surfactants, solvents, builders, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of acidic detergent compositions comprising organic water-soluble synthetic detergent surfactants and cleaning solvents for cleaning hard surfaces in, e.g., bathrooms is well established. Known liquid detergent compositions for this purpose comprise organic cleaning solvents, detergent surfactants, and optional detergent builders and/or abrasives.
Liquid cleaning compositions are usually preferred, since they have the advantage that they can be applied to hard surfaces in neat or concentrated form so that a relatively high level of, e.g., surfactant material and/or organic solvent is delivered directly to the soil. However, solid compositions can also be used to form a cleaning solution when diluted with water. Concentrated liquid cleaning compositions have the potential to provide superior soap scum, grease, and oily soil removal as compared to dilute wash solutions, e.g., those typically prepared from powdered cleaning compositions.
The present invention provides preferred acidic hard surface cleaning compositions, preferably liquid, suitable for removal of soils commonly encountered in the bathroom, said compositions having specific surfactants, optional solvents, and, optionally, but preferably, organic acids. These acidic hard surface cleaning compositions remove soap scum and hard water marks. The compositions can have disinfectant properties achieved through the choice of antibacterial actives, including citric acid, and can be used with, or without, additives such as hydrogen peroxide for additional mold/mildew prevention benefits. Further, the compositions can advantageously incorporate one or more hydrophilic polymers for viscosity and/or improved surface wetting and/or filming/streaking properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The hard surface acidic detergent cleaning compositions herein comprise:
a. from about 0.1% to about 10% alkyl sulfate detergent surfactant, the alkyl group containing about 10 carbon atoms on the average, with substantially all of the alkyl groups having within two carbon atoms of the 10 average carbon atoms, and, preferably, the majority of the alkyl groups containing 10 carbon atoms;
b. optionally, an effective amount, e.g., from about 1% to about 8% of one, or more, organic cleaning solvents, preferably selected from the group consisting of: mono-propylene glycol mono-propyl ether, mono-propylene glycol mono-butyl ether; di-propylene glycol mono-propyl ether, di-propylene glycol mono-butyl ether; tn-propylene glycol mono-butyl ether; ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether; diethylene glycol mono-butyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-hexyl ether and diethylene glycol mono-hexyl ether, and mixtures thereof;
c. optionally, a minor amount that is preferably less than the amount of the said alkyl sulfate detergent surfactant, e.g., from about 0.25% to about 4%, of cosurfactant, preferably anionic and/or nonionic detergent surfactant, e.g., selected from the group consisting of: C
8
-C
18
linear or branched alkylbenzene sulfonates; C
8
-C
18
alkyl ethoxy sulfates; and mixtures thereof;
d. optionally, an effective amount, e.g., from about 1% to about 8% of water soluble mono- or polycarboxylic acid;
e. optionally, an effective amount, up to about 5%, of hydrogen peroxide;
f. optionally, an effective amount, up to about 1% of one, or more, quaternary ammonium surfactants;
g. optionally, from about 0.1% to about 1% of a thickening polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, gums and mixtures thereof, e.g., xanthan gum;
h. optionally, an effective amount, up to about 0.5%, of hydrophilic polymer other than said thickening polymer g., e.g., polymer selected from the group consisting of:; polystyrene sulfonate; polyvinyl pyrrolidone; polyvinyl pyrrolidone acrylic acid copolymer; polyvinyl pyridine; polyvinyl pyridine n-oxide; and mixtures thereof;
i. optionally, an effective amount of perfume and additional adjuvants; and
j. optionally, but preferably, the balance being an aqueous solvent system, and
wherein the cleaning compositions have a pH under usage conditions of from about 2 to about 5.
The improved cleaning is a direct result of the selection of the specific C
10
alkyl sulfate surfactant.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The compositions of the invention are especially useful for cleaning the hard-to-remove soils that are commonly encountered in the bathroom. These include hard water stains, fatty acids, triglycerides, lipids, insoluble fatty acid soaps, and the like. The detergent compositions can be used on many different surface types, such as ceramic, fiber glass, polyurethane, and plastic surfaces.
a. The C
10
Alkyl Sulfate
The C
10
alkyl sulfate is an essential component of the invention. Such surfactants provide considerable performance and/or cost advantages versus other anionic surfactants. Suitable alkyl sulfates can be neutralized with an alkali metal base, preferably lithium, sodium, and/or potassium hydroxides, or can alternatively be neutralized with an ammonium or C
1
-C
9
ammonium salt derivative such as mono-, di-, and/or tri-ethanol amine, diethylamine, tri-isopropanol amine, etc. wherein the nitrogen atom has from one to three substituents selected from alkyl and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from one to about four carbon atoms. The alkyl sulfates can be produced via any suitable process. Such surfactants are commercially available from several suppliers globally, including Witco Corporation (One American Lane, Greenwich, Conn. 06831), Stepan Company (Edens & Witnetka Rd, Northfield, Ill. 60093) and Imperial Chemical Industries (Concord Plaza, 3411 Silverside Rd PO Box 15391, Wilmington, Del. 19850-5391).
The usage detergent compositions according to the present invention are prepared with relatively low levels of active. Typically, compositions will comprise sufficient surfactant and optional solvent, as discussed hereinafter, to be effective as hard surface cleaners yet remain economical; accordingly they typically contain from about 0.5% to about 5% C
10
alkyl sulfate surfactant, more preferably from about 1% to about 4% C
10
alkyl sulfate surfactant, and even more preferably from about 1.2% to about 3% C
10
alkyl sulfate surfactant. It has been found that low levels of C
10
alkyl sulfate surfactant can be advantageous to overall cleaning performance. In the context of thickened compositions the alkyl sulfate surfactant also helps provide improved phase stability.
The alkyl sulfates of the invention have a chain length average of about 10 carbon atoms. The chain length distribution can vary from about 8 carbon atoms to about 12 carbons. However, the preferred alkyl sulfates are those that contain mostly C
10
alkyl sulfates.
Ammonium and sodium salts of C
10
alkyl sulfates are most preferred in the context of the present invention. Examples of particularly preferred, commercially available sodium C
10
alkyl sulfates include Polystep B25 from Stepan and Empicol 0137 from ICI. Alternatively, the desired C
10
alkyl sulfate surfactant can be produced in-situ by neutralization of the corresponding C
10
alkyl sulfuric acid.
b. The Optional Organic Cleaning Solvent
The compositions, optionally, can also contain one, or more, organic cleaning solvents at effective levels, typically no less than about 0.5%, and, at least about, in increasing order of preference, about 1% and about 2%, and no more than about, in increasing order of preference, about 8% and about 6% by weight of the composition.
The essential C
10
alkyl sulfate surfactant provides exceptional cleaning even when there is no hydrophobic cleaning solvent present. However, the good cleaning can normally be further improved by the use of the right organic cleaning solvent. By organic cleaning solvent, it is meant an agent which assists the surfactant to remove soils such as those commo
Knight Jason Michael
Policicchio Nicola John
Sherry Alan Edward
Camp Jason J.
Ogden Necholus
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Waugh Kevin L.
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