Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – With oxygen or halogen containing chemical bleach or oxidant...
Patent
1999-09-21
2000-10-31
Gupta, Yogendra
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
With oxygen or halogen containing chemical bleach or oxidant...
510367, 510372, 510374, 510375, 510446, C11D 300, C11D 1700
Patent
active
061402990
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a new cleaning agent with improved attributes. In particular, the invention concerns a new cleaning agent that is free from detergents, yet that nevertheless has eminently suitable cleaning qualities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many different types of cleaning agent are known for use within different areas. Examples of such agents include dishwasher powders, washing machine powders, washing-up liquids, agents for washing by hand, general all-purpose cleaners and degreasing agents. Such agents can be made up in a variety of different ways, for example, as powders, liquids or in dosed units such as tablets. A large number of cleaning agents of different types is known from publications.
A common factor of practically all previously known cleaning agents is that they contain tensides (surfactants) of anionic, cationic and/or non-ionic types as active washing and cleaning substances. Tensides constitute a significant component of known cleaning agents and are responsible for the overwhelming part of the cleaning effect. Their amphiphilic molecules with a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic part bind to the particles of dirt and cause them to be suspended in the aqueous phase. This is well known to a skilled person in this area.
The use of tensides is, however, not without objections. From an environmental standpoint especially, it can be objected that the overwhelming proportion of tensides pass out in the waste water once washing has been completed and thereafter increase the load on waste water purification plants or on the watercourse. Many tensides are also difficult to break down by biological means and cause a significant increase in the oxygen consumption in purification plants or the watercourse. Such reasons have led to a greater desire to minimise the use of tensides in washing and cleaning agents, and the increased environmental awareness has made such aspirations even more noticeable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By means of the present invention, the drawbacks mentioned above are to a large extent removed and users are provided with a washing or cleaning agent that is free from tensides and that has good washing and cleaning qualities. According to the invention, the washing and cleaning agents include active washing and cleaning components composed of one or more alkali or alkali earth metal percarbonates, and are essentially free from tensides. Preferably, the main component of the cleaning agent should consist of one or more of the said percarbonates, and principally of sodium percarbonate.
In one suitable embodiment, the cleaning agent is composed of an aqueous solution that can include currently available auxiliary agents that contribute to the cleaning effect, such as active washing enzymes, complex-formers and/or alkali. Such a ready-to-use aqueous solution can suitably contain about 1 g of percarbonate per liter of water.
In another suitable embodiment, the cleaning agent is composed in tablet form, which can preferably contain 1-2 g percarbonate. The tablet can also include auxiliary agents of a type currently available for tablets, such as binding agents, lubricants and/or disintegration agents.
It has been shown that the use of cleaning agents according to the invention containing only percarbonate, particularly sodium percarbonate, as the active agent can easily dissolve grease and dirt and suspend this in solution without the need for the presence of tensides. It has also been shown that in the absence of tensides, the amount of chemicals required to achieve a good cleaning effect can be reduced dramatically. The otherwise normal dosage has been able to be reduced by up to 80%. This gives the agent according to the invention a significant advantage.
It is known that percarbonate gives rise to hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solutions and that this then breaks down to water and oxygen in an active oxidising form. Without being bound by any special theory, one can assume that the hydrogen peroxide splits and oxidises the double bonds in t
REFERENCES:
patent: 2738293 (1956-03-01), Spence
patent: 4060494 (1977-11-01), Schoenholz et al.
Gupta Yogendra
Petruncio John M
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