Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Cleaning or laundering
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-19
2002-09-17
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Cleaning or laundering
C134S025200, C134S025300, C134S039000, C134S040000, C134S042000, C510S303000, C510S309000, C510S340000, C510S342000, C510S343000, C510S353000, C510S356000, C510S360000, C510S361000, C510S372000, C510S413000, C510S422000, C510S437000, C510S425000, C510S481000, C510S506000, C510S535000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06451064
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the cleaning of different surfaces such as hard-surfaces, fabrics, clothes and the like. More particularly, the present invention refers to liquid multipurpose cleaning compositions suitable for use in various laundry and household bleaching applications both in their neat and diluted form while having easy rinsing properties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bleaching components especially peroxygen bleaches are known in the art to serve as a strong oxidiser which assists in the chemical degradation, break-up and removal of stains and soils and also as an effective disinfectant. This dual role of peroxygen bleaches has contributed to the increased use of these components in the formulation of cleaning compositions.
Peroxygen bleaches compatible surfactants, such as nonionic surfactants and/or zwitterionic surfactants, are also known to contribute to the cleaning performance of such peroxygen bleach-containing compositions. Indeed, European co-pending application number 97870013.6 discloses such liquid peroxygen bleach-containing compositions comprising an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant and a zwifterionic betaine surfactant that deliver effective stain removal performance and bleaching performance on various surfaces.
However, a problem encountered with the use of such surfactants in peroxygen bleach-containing compositions is the foaming property of the surfactants which renders the rinsing step more difficult.
Accordingly, the formulator of cleaning compositions is faced with the challenge of formulating a cleaning composition which exhibits low-foaming properties. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose liquid composition providing effective bleaching performance and effective stain removal performance when used in any laundry and/or any household applications while exhibiting low-foaming properties.
It has now been found that these objects can be efficiently met by formulating a liquid composition having a pH below 7 and comprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant and a foam reducing system comprising a fatty acid together with a capped nonionic alkoxylated surfactant and/or a silicone. Such foam reducing system provides a reduction of the foaming due to the surfactants present in the compositions of the present invention. The use of this foam reducing system in the compositions of the present invention reduces the foaming of these compositions both in the strength and the consistency of the suds. Actually, it has surprisingly been found that there is a synergistic effect associated to the use of a fatty acid together with a capped alkoxylated nonionic surfactant and/or a silicone in terms of foam reduction across various usage conditions including both neat and diluted conditions.
An advantage of the compositions of the present invention is that they exhibit a great flexibility in the soils they may clean. Indeed, the compositions of the present invention provide excellent stain removal performance on a broad range of stains and soils and excellent bleaching performance when used in any laundry application, e.g., as a laundry detergent or a laundry additive, and especially when used as a laundry pretreater, or even in other household applications like in hard surface cleaning applications.
Advantageously, the compositions of the present invention exhibit effective stain removal performance on stains like kitchen soils comprising mainly edible oils, bathroom soils comprising mainly sebum and/or soap scum, floor soils comprising mainly particulate soils and more generally on any greasy stain (e.g., olive oil, mayonnaise, vegetal oil, make up), enzymatic stains (grass, blood) as well as bleachable stains (e.g., tea, coffee).
A further advantage is that the compositions herein are physically and chemically stable upon prolonged periods of storage. Also they are clear compositions in a broad range of temperatures, e.g. up to 45° C.
Yet another advantage of the compositions according to the present invention is that they are able to perform in a variety of conditions, i.e., in hard and soft water as well as when used neat or diluted. Advantageously, they also provide satisfactory shine performance and surface safety when used as hard surface cleaners and satisfactory fabric and color safety when used as laundry cleaners.
BACKGROUND ART
EP-A-709 450 discloses compositions with branched alkyl capped nonionic surfactants with low sudsing properties. Fatty acids are also disclosed at levels of 3% to 50% and bleaching agents like peroxygen bleaches at levels of 1% to 30%. The pH of the compositions exemplified is 7.8.
EP-A-621456 discloses detergent compositions consisting essentially of nonionic surfactants and suds depressing capped nonionic surfactants. Optional ingredients may be added like fatty acids or bleaches. When the compositions are liquids, the pH is raised to a value of at least 7.
EP-A-724 011 discloses aqueous cleaning compositions comprising a bleach (e.g. peroxygen bleach), a surfactant and an alkylene glycol diether. The pH of the composition is preferably above 7. Fatty acids are mentioned as optional ingredients.
None of these above prior art documents recognises the synergistic effect associated to the combination of fatty acid together with a capped alkoxylated nonionic surfactant and/or silicone, in a peroxygen bleach-containing composition comprising a surfactant, in term of foam reduction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention encompasses a liquid composition having a pH below 7, and comprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant and a foam reducing system comprising a fatty acid together with a capped alkoxylated nonionic surfactant according to the formula:
R
1
(O—CH
2
—CH
2
)
n
—(OR
2
)
m
—O—R
3
wherein R
1
is a C
8
-C
24
linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, aryl group, alkaryl group, R
2
is a C
1
-C
10
linear or branched alkyl group, R
3
is a C
1
-C
10
alkyl or alkenyl group and n and m are integers independently ranging in the range of from 1 to 20 and/or a silicone.
The present invention further encompasses processes of cleaning a surface, e.g. a fabric or a hard-surface, starting from a liquid composition as defined herein. For example, the processes of cleaning fabrics include the steps of contacting said fabrics with the liquid compositions herein neat or diluted, and subsequently rinsing said fabrics. The processes of treating a hard-surface herein include the steps of applying the composition herein to the hard-surface and optionally rinsing the hard-surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The Liquid Cleaning Composition
The compositions according to the present invention are liquid compositions as opposed to a solid or a gas. As used herein “liquid” includes “pasty” compositions. The liquid compositions herein are preferably aqueous compositions. The liquid compositions according to the present invention have a pH below 7, preferably from 1 to 6.5, more preferably from 2 to 6 and most preferably from 2.5 to 5.5. Formulating the compositions according to the present invention in the acidic pH range contributes to the chemical stability of the compositions and to the stain removal performance of the compositions. The pH of the compositions may be adjusted by any acidifying agent known to those skilled in the art. Examples of acidifying agents are organic acids such as citric acid and inorganic acids such as sulphuric acid.
The Peroxygen Bleach
As a first essential element, the compositions according to the present invention comprise a peroxygen bleach or a mixture thereof. Indeed, the presence of peroxygen bleach contributes to the excellent bleaching benefits of said compositions. Suitable peroxygen bleaches for use herein are hydrogen peroxide, water soluble sources thereof, or mixtures thereof. As used herein, a hydrogen peroxide source refers to any compound which produces perhydroxyl ions when said compound is in contact with water.
Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use herein include percarbonates, persi
Del Duca Valerio
Ricci Carlo
Scorsini Carla
Cook C. Brant
Gupta Yogendra N.
Mruk Brian P.
Procter & Gamble
Taffy Frank
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