WO2002097018A1

WO2002097018A1 - Foam alkaline hard surface cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2002097018A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/001436
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tak Wai Cheung; Benjamin Costa
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser UK Ltd; Reckitt Benckiser LLC
Current assignee: Reckitt Benckiser UK Ltd; Reckitt Benckiser LLC
Priority date: 2001-05-30
Filing date: 2002-03-25
Publication date: 2002-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2003-11-30
Also published as: GB0113052D0; GB0206911D0; WO2002097018A8; GB2376023A

Abstract

An alkaline aerosol cleaning composition for hard surfaces, such as lavatories, comprises: (a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof; (b) a propellant; and (c) water, the composition excluding cationic surfactants.

Description

Foam Alkaline Hard Surface Cleaner

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to foam alkaline compositions that can be used daily on hard surfaces, particularly lavatory surfaces. The composition cleans, and can also disinfect, the surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the cleaning of hard surfaces, particularly lavatory surfaces, with a foam alkaline lavatory cleaner. In particular, the lavatory surfaces are toilet bowls, but can also include urinals and bidets. The hard surfaces can also include shower stalls, bathtubs and bathing appliances, wall and flooring surfaces especially those which include refractory materials and the like. Further hard surfaces which are particularly denoted are those associated with kitchen environments and other environments associated with food preparation. Hard surfaces which are those associated with hospital environments, medical laboratories and medical treatment environments. Such hard surfaces described above are to be understood as being recited by way of illustration and not be way of limitation.

The composition of the present invention allows for these surfaces to be cleaned by applying the composition onto the hard surface, allowing the composition to remain on the surface for a particular period of time (usually about five minutes), scrubbing the surface, and then wiping the surface or in some cases, flushing the lavatory. The composition can also be applied to the hard surface and allowing it to remain on the surface for a particular period of time (usually about five minutes) and then wiping the surface or in some cases, flushing the lavatory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present application is directed to an alkaline foam hard surface cleaning composition comprising (and in some instances consisting essentially of):

(a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof; (b) a propellant; and

(c) water; the composition excluding cationic surfactants and optionally contains one or more corrosion inhibitors, perfumes, perfume carriers, coloring agents, non-aqueous solvents excluding glycol ethers, viscosity modifying agents, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers, antioxidants, non-cationic antimicrobials, non-cationic germicidals, non-cationic fungicidals, and preservatives.

Preferably, the (a) surfactant is a mixture of anionic and non-ionic surfactants. More preferably, the anionic surfactant is a mixture of sacrosinate and sulfate anionic surfactants and the non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate. Additionally, the pH of the composition is preferably between 10 and* 14, more preferably between 11 and 13.

The present application is also directed to an alkaline foam hard surface cleaning composition comprising (and in some instances consisting essentially of): (a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of sacrosinate anionic surfactants, sulfate anionic surfactants, alcohol ethoxylate non-ionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof (or in some instances, a surfactant mixture of sacrosinate anionic surfactants, sulfate anionic surfactants, and alcohol ethoxylate non-ionic surfactants); (b) a propellant; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present application is directed to an alkaline foam hard surface cleaning composition comprising (and in some instances consisting essentially of):

Preferably, the (a) surfactant is a mixture of anionic and non-ionic surfactants. More preferably, the anionic surfactant is a mixture of sacrosinate and sulfate anionic surfactants and the non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate. Additionally, the pH of the composition is preferably between 10 and 14, more preferably between 11 and 13.

Suitable anionic surfactants include, for example, alcohol sulfates (e.g. alkali metal or ammonium salts of alcohol sulfates) and sulfonates, alcohol phosphates and phosphonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, sulfate esters of an alkylphenoxy polyoxyethylene ethanol, alkyl monoglyceride sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, beta-alkoxy alkane sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfonates, ethoxylated alkyl sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl monoglyceride sulfonates, alkyl carboxylates, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkyl alkoxy carboxylates having 1 to 5 moles of ethylene oxide, sulfosuccinates, octoxynol or nonoxynol phosphates, taurates, fatty taurides, fatty acid amide polyoxyethylene sulfates, isethionates, and sarcosinates or mixtures thereof. Preferred anionics include sarcosinates and sulfates.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include, inter alia, condensation products of alkylene oxide groups with an organic hydrophobic compound, such as an aliphatic compound or with an alkyl aromatic compound. The nonionic synthetic organic detergents generally are the condensation products of an organic aliphatic or alkyl aromatic hydrophobic compound and hydrophilic ethylene oxide groups. Practically any hydrophobic compound having a carboxy, hydroxy, amido, or amino group with a free hydrogen attached to the nitrogen can be condensed with ethylene oxide or with the polyhydration product thereof, polyethylene glycol, to form a water soluble nonionic detergent. Further, the length of the polyethylenoxy hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements may be varied to adjust these properties.

One example of such a nonionic surfactant is the condensation product of one mole of an alkyl phenol having an alkyl group containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms with from about 5 to 25 moles of an alkylene oxide. Another example of such a nonionic surfactant is the condensation product of one mole of an aliphatic alcohol which may be a primary, secondary or tertiary alcohol having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms with from 1 to about 10 moles of alkylene oxide. Alkylene oxides are ethylene oxides or propylene oxides which may be present singly, or may be both present.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include primary and secondary linear and branched alcohol ethoxylates, such as those based on C₆-Cι₈ alcohols. These surfactants are available under the commercial names Neodol (from Shell Chemical Company, Houston, TX), Genapol (from Clariant Corp., Charlotte, NC), Tergitol (Union Carbide Corp., a division of The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Ml), and Empilan (from Albright & Wilson, United Kingdom). Alcohol ethoxylates having twelve to fourteen carbon atoms and about 10 to 14 moles of ethylene oxide are preferred.

A further class of nonionic surfactants which may find use in the present inventive compositions include ethoxylated octyl and nonyl phenols include those having one of the following general structural formulas:

or,

C₉H^ <ζ > (OCH₂CH₂)χ— OH

in which the C₉H₁₉ group in the latter formula is a mixture of branched chained isomers, and x indicates an average number of ethoxy units in the side chain. Particularly suitable non-ionic ethoxylated octyl and nonyl phenols include those having from about 7 to about 13 ethoxy groups. Such compounds are commercially available under the trade name Triton (Union Carbide Corp., a division of The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Ml), as well as under the tradename Igepal (Rhodia, Princeton, NJ).

A detailed listing of suitable anionic and non-ionic surfactants, of the above types, can be found in, for example, in McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers, North American Edition, 2001; Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4th Ed., Vol. 23, pp. 478-541 , the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Additional examples of anionic surfactants can be found in "CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Handbook," J. M. Nikitakis, ed., The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Inc., Washington, D.C. (1988) (hereafter CTFA Handbook), pages 10-13, 42-46, and 87-94, incorporated herein by reference. Additional examples of non-ionic surfactants can be found in the CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, Fourth Ed., Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Washington, D.C. (1991) at pages 1-651; and in the CTFA Handbook, at pages 86-94, each incorporated herein by reference. Because of the use of anionic surfactants in the present composition, cationic surfactants are excluded from the compositions of the present invention. The compositions of the present invention also contain propellants such as pressurized gases, including carbon dioxide, air, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, as well as others, for example, propane, butane, pentane, isobutane, isopentane, mixtures of hydrocarbon gases (such as, for example, A-46 and A-70 available from Phillips Petroleum), dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof. The amount of propellant used is generally between 4 and 10% of the entire composition. Typically, six percent propellant is used.

The compositions are largely aqueous in nature, and comprise water. Water is added to order to provide to 100% by weight of the compositions of the invention. The water may be tap water, but is preferably distilled and is most preferably deionized water. If the water is tap water, it is preferably substantially free of any undesirable impurities such as organics or inorganics, especially mineral salts which are present in hard water which may thus undesirably interfere with the operation of the constituents present in the aqueous compositions according to the invention.

As discussed previously, the inventive compositions may comprise one or more conventional optional additives. By way of non-limiting example, these include: pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts; non-aqueous solvents excluding glycol ethers, perfumes, perfume carriers, coloring agents such as dyes and pigments, viscosity modifying agents such as thickeners, non-cationic antimicrobials, non-cationic germicidals, non-cationic fungicidals antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors as well as others not specifically elucidated here. These ingredients may be present in any combinations and in any suitable amount that is sufficient for imparting the desired properties to the compositions. These one or more conventional additives, when present, should be present in minor amounts, preferably in total comprise less than about 5% by weight (on an active weight basis) of the compositions, and desirably less than about 3%wt.

The aqueous compositions according to the invention are desirably provided as a ready to use product which may be directly applied to a hard surface such as toilets and bidets. The composition provided according to the invention is provided as a ready to use product as an aerosolized product wherein it is discharged from a pressurized aerosol container. In such an application, the cleaning composition is dispensed by activating the release nozzle of said aerosol type container onto the hard surface to be cleaned. The applied composition can be allowed to remain on the hard surface and then either washed away by flushing the toilet or bidet or scrubbed using any variety of scrubbing implement and then flushing away the remaining composition by flushing the toilet or bidet.

The following examples below illustrate exemplary and preferred formulations of the concentrate composition according to the instant invention. It is to be understood that these examples are presented by means of illustration only and that further useful formulations fall within the scope of this invention and the claims may be readily produced by one skilled in the art and not deviate from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Throughout this specification and in the accompanying claims, weight percents of any constituent are to be understood as the weight percent of the active portion of the referenced constituent, unless otherwise indicated.

The following examples illustrate the formulation and performance of various compositions of the invention, as well as certain particularly preferred embodiments of the invention.

Exemplary formulations illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the inventive compositions and described in more detail in Table 1 below were formulated generally in accordance with the following protocol. The weight percentages indicated the "as supplied" weights of the named constituent.

Into a suitably sized vessel, a measured amount of water was provided after which the constituents were added in no specific or uniform sequence, which indicated that the order of addition of the constituents was not critical. All of the constituents were supplied at room temperature, and any remaining amount of water was added thereafter. Certain of the nonionic surfactants if gels at room temperature were first preheated to render them pourable liquids prior to addition and mixing. Mixing of the constituents was achieved by the use of a mechanical stirrer with a small diameter propeller at the end of its rotating shaft. Mixing, which generally lasted from 5 minutes to 120 minutes was maintained until the particular exemplary formulation appeared to be homogeneous. The exemplary compositions were readily pourable, and retained well mixed characteristics (i.e., stable mixtures) upon standing for extended periods. The compositions of the example formulations are listed on Table 1.

The ingredients used to make the above examples are described in Table 2 below.

Representative examples of the present invention were tested for antimicrobial efficacy using the European Use-dilution test method EN1276. Ex. 1 was found to pass EN 1276 against Psuedomonas aeruginosa. Ex. 2 and Ex. 3 were found to pass Psuedomonas aeruginosa, Esche chia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis. Ex. 2 was found to pass Staphylococcus aureus and Ex. 3 was found to be boardline against

Staphylococcus aureus (2 replicates pass, 2 replicates fail). Ex. 2 was found not to pass

Enterococcus hirae.

Ex. 2 and 3 were tested against Rotovirus using a dry carrier virus test and were found to pass.

Ex. 1 , 2, and 3 were also tested for cleaning of ceramic surfaces to reduce build up of mineral deposits. Ex. 1 , 2, and 3 were gassed with 6% propellant. The resulting mixtures were then sprayed onto the inside of a toilet bowl, including under the rim. The toilets were then flushed at specified intervals and visually ranked versus a control (nothing sprayed on surface). The examples of the present invention were found to have good cleaning of ceramic surfaces to reduce the build up of mineral deposits.

The composition of the present invention is used to clean toilet bowl surfaces by applying the composition onto the toilet bowl surface, allowing the composition to remain on the surface for a particular period of time (usually about five minutes), scrubbing the surface, and then flushing the toilet. The composition can also be applied to the toilet bowl surface and allowing it to remain on the surface for a particular period of time (usually about five minutes) and then flushing the toilet.

Claims

We claim:

1. An alkaline foam hard surface cleaning composition comprising: (a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof;

(b) a propellant; and

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the surfactant (a) is selected from mixture of anionic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the anionic surfactants are selected from alkali metal alkyl sulfates and alkali metal sarcosinates.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate.

5. An alkaline foam hard surface cleaning composition comprising: (a) a surfactant mixture consisting of a mixture of one or more anionic surfactants and one or more non-ionic surfactants;

(b) a propellant; and

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the anionic surfactants are selected from alkali metal alkyl sulfates and alkali metal sarcosinates.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate.

8. An alkaline foam hard surface cleaning composition consisting essentially of: (a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof; (b) a propellant; and

9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the surfactant (a) is selected from mixture of anionic surfactants and non-ionic surfactants.

10. The composition of claim 9 wherein the anionic surfactants are selected from alkali metal alkyl sulfates and alkali metal sarcosinates.

11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate.

12. An alkaline foam hard surface cleaning composition comprising:

(a) a surfactant mixture consisting of a mixture of one or more anionic surfactants and one or more non-ionic surfactants; (b) a propellant; and

13. The composition of claim 12 wherein the anionic surfactants are selected from alkali metal alkyl sulfates and alkali metal sarcosinates.

14. The composition of claim 13 wherein the non-ionic surfactant is an alcohol ethoxylate.

15. An alkaline foam hard surface cleaning composition comprising:

(a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of sacrosinate anionic surfactants, sulfate anionic surfactants, alcohol ethoxylate non-ionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof;

(b) a propellant; and (c) water; the composition excluding cationic surfactants and optionally contains one or more corrosion inhibitors, perfumes, perfume carriers, coloring agents, non-aqueous solvents excluding glycol ethers, viscosity modifying agents, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers, antioxidants, non-cationic antimicrobials, non-cationic germicidals, non-cationic fungicidals, and preservatives.

16. An alkaline foam hard surface cleaning composition consisting essentially of: (a) a surfactant mixture of sacrosinate anionic surfactants, sulfate anionic surfactants, and alcohol ethoxylate non-ionic surfactants; (b) a propellant; and

17. A process for cleaning a hard surface which comprises the step of providing a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 16, and applying an effective amount of said composition to a hard surface requiring such treatment.

18. Alkaline hard surface compositions as exemplified in the Examples.