Concentrated liquid cleaning composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a concentrated liquid cleaning composition that is to be diluted in water and be used for cleaning both animate and inanimate surfaces. There is need for an improved concentrated liquid composition which forms a cleaning liquor on dilution in water while providing a visual cue to consumers. It has been found that select alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymer along with pine oil and a non-ionic surfactant provide a stable homogenous liquid composition, that forms a cleaning liquor on dilution in water. The composition generates clouding while dilution thereby providing a visual cue to consumers.

Description

[0001] CONCENTRATED LIQUID CLEANING COMPOSITION

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention is in the field of cleaning compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to a concentrated liquid cleaning composition that is to be diluted in water and be used for cleaning both animate and inanimate surfaces.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] Consumers generally involve in various cleaning activities as part of their house-hold chores. They often use cleaning products for cleaning, as well disinfecting various surfaces. Such surfaces include inanimate hard surfaces, like floors, walls, windows, doors, furniture, tabletops; and soft surface, like fabric, towels and bed sheet, pillow covers. Further, toilets and bathrooms are few more examples, where germs tend to proliferate, thus requires frequent cleaning and disinfection.

[0006] Such compositions may also be used for sanitizing topical surfaces of the human or animal body. For example, it may be used as bath water, as water used for shaving, for sanitizing hands at homes, hospitals and in medical clinics, among a host of other personal sanitizing applications.

[0007] Such compositions are often sold as a concentrate in a bottle. Consumers dilute one of such compositions in water forming a cleaning liquor and use it on surfaces to be cleaned. Typically, these concentrates are homogenous liquid, provide a transparent liquor on dilution. Often consumers find difficulty to judge on the readiness of the cleaning liquor on dilution. They look for a cue about the presence of cleaning actives in the liquor. Therefore, consumers prefer to have a visual cue which indicates that the liquor is ready for use. Visual cues are certain change in the appearance of the liquid. Generation of cloudiness or clouding on dilution is one of such cues.

[0008] In this regard, US 6075002 A (Reckitt & Colman Inc., 2000) discloses an aqueous concentrated liquid disinfectant compositions which include: a pine oil constituent; germicidal cationic surfactant, preferably a quaternary ammonium compound having germicidal properties; organic solvent constituent; binary co-solvent system comprising alkyl diphenyl solvent and a cosolvent; optionally but desirably at least one optional constituent. The liquid disinfectant compositions feature excellent initial blooming characteristics, as well as good long term blooming retention. US 2002 / 0123451 A1 (Clariant Finance, 2002) discloses a liquid pine oil cleaning composition containing: A) water; B) about 5-20% by weight of pine oil; C) about 2-10% by weight of an organic solubilizer distinct from said pine oil; D) about 0.1-5% by weight of an alkalinity agent; E) about 0.1-15% by weight of an anionic surfactant; F) about 0.01 to about 2% by weight by weight of a cationic surfactant comprising a quaternary ammonium salt represented by the formula wherein R1 and R2 are independently a hydrogen or a C1-3 alkyl group; R3 is a C8- C18 alkyl group; and R4 is a C1-3 alkyl group or an ethoxylate group represented by the formula-(CH2CH2O)yH, wherein y is a number from 1 to 3; and X- is a halide ion or a methosulfate, and G) about 0.1 to 10% by weight of a non-ionic surfactant comprising an alcohol alkoxylate.

[0009] US 6030936 A(Reckitt & Colman Inc., 2000) discloses a blooming type, germicidal hard surface cleaning and disinfecting concentrate compositions according to the invention comprise the following constituents: 0.1-10% wt. of a terpene containing solvent which desirably includes both pine oil and d-limonene; 0.1-12% wt. of at least one organic solvent; 0.1-20% wt. at least one non-ionic surfactant constituent which desirably includes at least one non-ionic surfactant having an HLB of greater than or equal to 10, and at least one non-ionic surfactant having an HLB value of less than or equal to 8; a bloom enhancing effective amount at least one amphoteric surfactant selected from alkyl-ampho (mono)- and (di)-acetates, alkyl-ampho (mono)- and (di)-propionates, and amino propionates; optionally a further non-ionic surfactant based on a C8-C18 primary alcohol ethoxylate which exhibits a cloud point of 20 DEG C. in water; a germicidally effective amount of at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties; and, the balance, to 100% wt. of water. The concentrate compositions may comprise from 0-20% of further optional additives.

[0010] WO 99 / 49008 A1 discloses blooming type, hard surface cleaning concentrated compositions having: 0.1-10 wt.% of a terpene containing solvent which desirably includes both pine oil and d-limonene; 0.1-12 wt.% of at least one organic solvent other than a terpene containing solvent constituent; 0.1-20 wt.% of a non-ionic surfactant system which includes both at least one non- ionic surfactant constituent having an HLB of greater than or equal to 10, and at least one non- ionic surfactant based on a C8-C18 primary alcohol ethoxylate which exhibits a cloud point of about 20°C or less in water; a bloom enhancing effective amount at least one amphoteric surfactant selected from alkyl ampho (mono)- and (di)-acetates, as well as alkyl ampho (mono)- and (di)- propionates, and amino propionates; and the balance, to 100 wt.% of water. Although various cleaning compositions are disclosed, still there is a need for an improved concentrated liquid composition which forms a cleaning liquor on dilution in water while providing a visual cue to consumers. It is further desired that the composition shall be stable on various storage conditions.

[0011] The present inventors have surprisingly found that select alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymer along with pine oil and a non-ionic surfactant provide a stable liquid composition, that forms a cleaning liquor on dilution in water. Further, the composition generates clouding while dilution thereby providing a visual cue to consumers.

[0012] Summary of the invention

[0013] According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a concentrated liquid cleaning composition comprising:

[0014] (a) 0.1 to 10% by weight of pine oil;

[0015] (b) 0.1 to 20% by weight of a non-ionic surfactant;

[0016] (c) 0.01 to 10% by weight of an alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymer; and

[0017] (d) water.

[0018] According to a second aspect there is provided a liquid cleaning product obtained by diluting a composition according to the first aspect in water, wherein the ratio of the composition to water is in the range 1 : 10 to 1 : 100 by weight. wherein the polymer comprises one or more monomer selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, crotonic acid, maleic anhydride and citraconic anhydride, wherein the polymer is without an associative hydrophobic monomer.

[0019] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of cleaning a surface comprising the steps of: a) providing a cleaning liquor by diluting a composition according to the first aspect, thereby providing a clouding effect in the liquor; b) applying the cleaning liquor on to the desired surface; and c) optionally rinsing the surface with water, wherein the ratio of the composition to water is in range 1 :30 to 1 : 1000 by weight. Detailed description of the invention

[0020] Any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilized in any other aspect of the invention. The word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of” or “composed of.” In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and / or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about”. Numerical ranges expressed in the format " x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. Unless specified otherwise, amounts as used herein are expressed in percentage by weight based on total weight of the composition and is abbreviated as “wt%”. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language e.g., “such as” provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not in any way limit the scope of the invention otherwise claimed.

[0021] “Clouding” or “clouding effect” as used herein, preferably means a milky white appearance of a solution when a transparent or visually clear liquid composition is added to water for forming a diluted solution. Preferably it provides a visual cue to consumers. Similarly, “clouding agent” as used herein preferably means a compound that helps in generating the clouding effect in water.

[0022] “Transparent” or “visually clear” used herein, may refer to a turbidity value of less than 40 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit), more preferably less than 30 NTU even more preferably less than 20 NTU, most preferably less than 10 NTU. Preferably, in the present context, “Transparent” or “visually clear” refers to a turbidity values in the range 0.5 to 40 NTU, more preferably 0.5 to 30 NTU, even more preferably 0.5 to 20 NTU and most preferably 0.5 to 10 NTU.

[0023] According to the present invention, there is provided a concentrated liquid cleaning composition comprising pine oil, a non-ionic surfactant, an alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymer and water.

[0024] Pine oil

[0025] The composition comprises 0.1 to 10% by weight pine oil. Preferably the composition comprises 0.1 to 8% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 6% by weight and most preferably 0.1 to 5% by weight of pine oil. Pine oil is often commercially available from various supplier, such as, Wuzhou Oasis Chemicals Co. Ltd, China. Typically pine oil contains significant amount of terpineol and other terpene containing constituents such as, terpinenes, terpinolene, limonene and pinenes.

[0026] Non-ionic surfactant

[0027] The composition comprises 0.1 to 20% by weight of a non-ionic surfactant. Preferably the nonionic surfactant is selected based on HLB (Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance) values.

[0028] Preferably the non-ionic surfactant has an HLB value above 10. HLB is calculated using the Griffin method wherein HLB = 20 x Mh / M wherein Mh is the molecular mass of the hydrophilic portion of the molecule and M is the molecular mass of the whole molecule, giving a result on an arbitrary scale of 0 to 20. A value of HLB less than 10 is usually a lipid soluble surfactant while one having a value higher than 10 is usually water soluble.

[0029] The non-ionic surfactants suitable for the present invention include those selected from alkyl polyglycoside, alcohol ethoxylates poly-oxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters, alkyl phenol ethoxylates.

[0030] The non-ionic surfactant in the composition may be an alkyl plolyglycoside. As used herein alkyl polyglycosides are compounds having formula RiO(R2O)b(Z)a, wherein Ri is a alkyl radical, having from about 8 to about 10 carbon atoms; R2is an alkylene radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; Z is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; b is a number having a value from 0 to about 12; and a is a number having a value from 1 to about 6 (the degree of polymerization). Due to the method by which they are synthesized, alkyl polyglycosides are generally present as mixtures of alkyl polyglycosides having varying amounts of carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and varying degrees of polymerization. Thus, when referring to alkyl polyglycosides, the alkyl radical is generally referred to as having a range of carbon atoms (e.g., C8 / 10 referring to a range of alkyl radicals having from 8 to 10 carbon atoms) and the degree of polymerization is generally referred to as the average degree of polymerization of the mixture.

[0031] Preferably the alkyl polyglycoside is an alkyl polyglucoside surfactant. Preferred alkyl polyglycosides suitable for the invention include those having the above formula wherein Z is a glucose residue, b is zero, Ri is an alkyl group that contains 8 to 10 carbon atoms, and the average value of a is about 1 to 2. Such alkyl polyglucosides are commercially available, for example, as Glucopon® branded alkyl polyglucoside compositions from BASF (formerly Cognis Corporation), including Glucopon® 215CS UP and 225 DK.

[0032] The non-ionic surfactant in the composition may be an alcohol ethoxylate. Preferably the nonionic surfactant is selected from the class of the fatty alcohol ethoxylate and are sold under the trade names of Brij 35, Brij 97, Brij700, Brij 99, Brij 56, Brij 76, C12EO7, and Brij S10. Preferred non-ionic surfactants of the fatty acid ethoxylate class are sold under the brand names of Myrj S20, Myrj S40, Myrj S40, Myrj S50, and PEG-100 stearate.

[0033] Preferred non-ionic surfactants of the polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters class are sold under the brand names of Tween 21 , Tween20, Tween40, Tween 60, Tween 65 tristearate, Tween 85 trioleate, and Tween 80. Preferred non-ionic surfactants of the alkyl phenol ethoxylate class are sold under the brand names of Triton X114, Triton X100, Triton X102, TritonX165, Triton X305, TritonX405 or Triton X705. It is observed that the above-mentioned non-ionic surfactants all have an HLB value higher than 10.

[0034] Preferably the non-ionic surfactant is selected from the class of poly-oxyethylene sorbitan alkyl ester. These surfactants are available under the trade name Tween or Triton, for example, Tween 20 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, HLB=16.7), Tween 40(polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, HLB=15.6),Tween60 (Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, HLB=14.9), Tween65 (Polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate, HLB=10.5), Tween80 (Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, HLB=15.0), Tween85 (Polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, HLB=11.0),Triton(Octylphenol Ethoxylates), e.g., HLB=12.3), TritonX114 (HLB =12.3), Triton ( HLB=13.4), Triton X102(HLB=14.4), Triton X305(HLB=17.3), TritonX405( HLB=17.3), Triton X705 ( HLB=18.4) etc.

[0035] Preferred non-ionic surfactant is alkyl polyglucoside and / or alcohol ethoxylate.

[0036] Preferably the composition comprises from 0.05 to 18% by weight, more preferably 0.08 to 16% by weight, even more preferably 0.1 to 14% by weight and most preferably 0.2 to 12% by weight of the non-ionic surfactant.

[0037] Alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymer

[0038] The composition comprises an alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymer. It is observed that such polymer helps in forming a stable liquid composition and helps in enhancing the clouding effect on dilution in water. Alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymers here in refers to a group of polymers that are typically available as stable emulsion at low pH (pH less than 4.5), whereas shows increase in viscosity on swelling or dissolution at a higher pH (pH more than 5.5, preferably in the range 5.5 to 7.5). Alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymers often abbreviated as ‘ASE’ or ‘AST’ (alkali swellable or soluble thickeners). These polymers mostly comprise at least one monomer being carboxyl functional group. The polymers can be homopolymer or copolymer of one or more monomers. The alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymers may be broadly classified into two classes, namely, non-associative / conventional and associative polymers.

[0039] The polymers suitable for the present invention are non-associative or conventional polymers. The polymer comprises one or more monomers selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, crotonic acid, maleic anhydride and citraconic anhydride. Preferably the maleic anhydride and citraconic anhydride is present in hydrolysed or partially esterified form. The polymer may be a homopolymer or copolymer having said monomer blocks. Preferably the composition comprises acrylic acid and / or methacrylic acid monomer. Most preferably the polymer comprises acrylic acid monomer.

[0040] Most preferably the polymer according to the present invention is a copolymer and / or a homopolymer of acrylic acid monomer. The Examples of suitable polymers include 2 propenoic acid, 2 methyl polymer with ethyl 2 propenoate; 2 propenoic acid homopolymer sodium salt; methacrylic ethyl acrylate copolymer; acrylamide copolymer; ethanaminium N, N, N trimethyl 2 ((2 methyl 1 oxo 2 propenyl) oxy) oxy) chloride copolymer and acrylate copolymer.

[0041] On the other hand, typically associative alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymers further comprises at least one hydrophobic monomer, preferably capped to one end of the polymer chain and shows associative property. Such polymers are often termed as hydrophobically modified alkali swellable or soluble polymer or abbreviated as ‘HASE’ polymers. However, such polymers are not suitable for the present invention, and the composition free of such polymers. The term ‘free’ herein implies that the composition does not include an associative ‘ASE’ or HASE polymers as raw material or ingredient, however, it may possible that traces such polymer may present as impurity in some of the raw materials. Preferably the amount of such polymers is less than 10% by weight, more preferably less than 7% by weight and most preferably less than 5% by weight of the total weight of the polymer. Most preferably the composition does not contain a hydrophobically modified alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymers (HASE).

[0042] The polymer according to the present invention is without an associative hydrophobic monomer, such as a hydrophobic alkyl or fatty chain, preferably end-capped to a polymer backbone.

[0043] Alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymers are known in the arts and part of the common general knowledge. Detail on this topic may be found in the textbooks, such as, “Alkali- swellable and alkali-soluble thickener technology- A review”, by Gregory D. Shay, chapter 25, Polymer in Aqueous Media, Glass, J., Advance in Chemistry; American Chemical Society; Washington DC, 1989, or in patent publications, such as WO 03 / 062288 A1.

[0044] Preferably the amount of the polymer is in the range 0.01 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.05 to 9% by weight, even more preferably 0.1 to 8% by weight and most preferably 0.1 to 7% by weight of the composition.

[0045] The composition may also comprise polymers that are not alkali swellable or soluble emulsion, however, helps in boosting the performance further. Example of such polymer includes homopolymer of acrylic acid, available as Acusol™ 445N from Dow chemicals. Such polymer may present in an amount 0.01 to 5% by weight of the composition.

[0046] Quaternary ammonium compound

[0047] The composition may comprise a quaternary ammonium compound. The quaternary ammonium compound is preferably selected from cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), benzalkonium chloride (BKC), benzethonium chloride (BZC), cetrimide and combinations thereof.

[0048] The preferred quaternary ammonium compound suitable for the present invention are cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), benzalkonium chloride (BKC), benzethonium chloride, benzethonium chloride (BZC) and combinations thereof. Most preferred quaternary ammonium compound is benzalkonium chloride (BKC). The composition may comprise 0.01 to 15% by weight of the antimicrobial agent. Preferably the composition comprises 0.05 to 12% by weight, more preferably 1 to 10% by weight, most preferably 1.5 to 8% by weight of the antimicrobial agent.

[0049] Water soluble inorganic salt

[0050] The composition may further comprise a water-soluble inorganic salt. It is observed that such salt helps in providing a stable liquid composition.

[0051] The term “water-soluble” herein refers to the fact that the compound solubilizes in water without leaving any residue. Preferably such compound has a solubility at least 0.5 g / 100 mL at 25 °C, preferably at least 1 g / 100 mL, more preferably at least 5 g / 100 mL, and most preferably at least 10 g / 100 mL at 25 °C.

[0052] The composition preferably comprises a water-soluble inorganic salt that is selected from anhydrous forms or hydrates of salts of mono or divalent alkali metals, preferably anhydrous forms or hydrates of salts of mono alkali metals, more preferably wherein the mono alkali metals is sodium or potassium. Examples of salts include sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium sulphate, potassium hydrogen carbonate and mixtures thereof.

[0053] Preferably the wate-soluble inorganic salt is a chloride and / or a sulphate salt. Examples of such salts include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium sulphate and potassium sulphate.

[0054] Most preferred water-soluble inorganic salt is sodium chloride or calcium chloride or its combinations.

[0055] The composition preferably comprises 0.1 to 5% by weight of the water-soluble inorganic salt. More preferably the composition comprises 0.1 to 4% by weight and most preferably 0.1 to 3% by weight of the composition.

[0056] Solvents

[0057] The composition may further comprise one or more solvents, which may further enhance clouding on dilution. Examples of such solvents include fatty alcohol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, fatty acid and diethyl hexyl malate. Examples of suitable fatty acids acre iso-stearic acid, oleic acid, and a combination thereof. Fatty alcohol having long chain saturated or unsaturated alcohol having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms, like, octanol, dodecanol, iso-stearyl may be considered. A suitable solvent may be polypropylene glycol butyl ether having 5 to 25, more preferably 7 to 22, and most preferably 10 to 20 ethoxy units per molecule. One of the preferred polypropylene glycol butyl ether is poly-propylene glycol butyl ether having 14 ethoxy units per molecule.

[0058] Other polar oils which may also be considered in the present invention include octanoic acid, iso-decanol, diethyl malonate, oleyl alcohol, iso-cetyl alcohol, di-isobutyl adipate, di-caprylyl maleate, diethyl hexyl succinate, di-isopropyl sebacate, di-propylene glycol di-benzoate, PPG- 15 Stearyl ether, diethyl hexyl phthalate etc.

[0059] The amount of said solvent, when present, preferably in the range 0.1 to 10% by weight, more preferably, 0.1 to 8% by weight and most preferably 0.1 to 6% by weight of the composition.

[0060] The composition may further comprise various additional ingredients known to a person skilled in the art. Such additional ingredients include but are not limited to perfumes, pigments, preservatives, emollients, sunscreens, emulsifiers, gelling agents, or thickening agents. pH

[0061] Preferably the composition has a pH in the range 5.5 to 9.0. More preferably the composition has a pH in the range 6.0 to 8.5 and most preferably in the range 6.5 to 8.0.

[0062] Water

[0063] The composition is an aqueous composition; it comprises water. Preferably the composition comprises up to 100% by weight of water, i.e., water acts as a balance in the composition. The composition may comprise 10 to 98% by weight of water, more preferably 20 to 95% by weight, and most preferably 40 to 95% by weight of water.

[0064] The composition according to the present invention may include additional ingredients to improve or enhance the in-use performance. Such ingredients include colour, fragrance, soil suspending agents, detersive enzymes, performance boosting polymers, compatible bleaching agents, freeze-thaw stabilisers, bactericides, preservatives, hydrotrope, and perfumes.

[0065] Application The composition is a liquid concentrate for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. The composition is considered as a concentrate since it is usually to be used after diluting with water after which it is applied on the desired surfaces for disinfection.

[0066] There is provided a liquid cleaning product obtained by diluting the composition in water, wherein the ratio of the composition to water is in the ratio is in the range1:10 to 1 :100 by weight. Preferably the ratio of the composition to water is in the range 1:10 to 1 : 80, more preferably 1 :10 to 1: 60 and most preferably 1:10 to 1 :50 by weight. The liquid product may be stored in a secondary container and used later. Preferably the liquid product further diluted in water providing a cleaning liquor that is used for cleaning a surface.

[0067] There is provided a method for cleaning a surface comprising the steps of providing a cleaning liquor by diluting the composition thereby providing a clouding effect in the liquor, applying the cleaning liquor on to the surface, and optionally rinsing the surface with water, wherein the ratio of the composition to water is in range 1 :30 to 1 :1000 by weight.

[0068] Preferably the ratio of the composition to water is in the range 1:50 to 1:800, more preferably 1:80 to 1:700 and most preferably 1:100 to 1:600 applying the diluted composition on to the desired surface, and optionally rinsing the surface with water.

[0069] Preferably the diluted composition is in contact with the surface for 10 seconds to 5 minutes.

[0070] The composition may be applied on an inanimate surface, such as, table-top, floor, cupboard, tiles and kitchen top. Preferably consumers dose an aliquot of the composition in a tub or bucket of water and used for cleaning surfaces. The applied composition may be cleaned using a cleaning implement such as a scrub, sponge, paper, cloth, mop or wipes with or without water, or rinsed off with water, optionally running water.

[0071] The composition may be used on animated surface like, human skin for cleaning or disinfecting purpose, e.g., handwashing, use handwashing. For example, it may be used as bath water, as water used for shaving, for sanitizing hands at homes, hospitals and in medical clinics, among a host of other personal sanitizing applications.

[0072] The invention will now be illustrated with the help of the following non-limiting examples. Examples

[0073] Ex- A to E were prepared according to recipe provided in table 1 .

[0074] 1Procured from Wuzhou Oasis Chemicals Co. Ltd, China.2Carbopol Aqua SF-1 ;3Acusol™ 805S;4Acusol™ 445N.

[0075] Ex-B, D and E were found to be homogenous stable liquids, whereas Ex-A, C were unstable. The term unstable herein implies that the compositions did not form a homogenous composition, rather result in two-phases. Ex- D was homogenous liquid, however, did not show clouding on dilution. Ex-E showed significantly less clouding compared others. To evaluate the clouding effect on dilution, 2 gm of each composition (Ex-1 and Ex- C) was added to 1000 ml of water in a glass beaker. Typically, ‘clouding’ refers to milky white appearance of the solution during dilution. The clouding effect was evaluated by measuring turbidity of the solution within 30 seconds of dilution at room temperature (23±2 °C). Turbidity is expressed in Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU), higher the value in NTU implies higher turbidity. In the present context higher NTU value signifies better clouding. Measured turbidity values of each composition is reported in table 1.

Claims

Claims:

1. A concentrated liquid cleaning composition comprising:(a) 0.1 to 10% by weight of pine oil;(b) 0.1 to 20% by weight of a non-ionic surfactant;(c) 0.01 to 10% by weight of an alkali swellable or soluble emulsion polymer; and(d) water. wherein the polymer comprises one or more monomer selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, crotonic acid, maleic anhydride and citraconic anhydride, wherein the polymer is without an associative hydrophobic monomer.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the composition comprises 0.1 to 8% by weight of pine oil.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the non-ionic surfactant is selected from alcohol ethoxylate, alkyl polyglycoside, and combinations thereof.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the composition comprises 0.05 to 9% by weight of the polymer.

5. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the polymer comprises acrylic acid and / or methacrylic acid monomer.

6. A composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein the polymer is a copolymer and / or a homopolymer of acrylic acid monomer.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the composition further comprises 0.01 to 15% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound.

8. A composition as claimed in claim 7 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is selected from cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), benzalkonium chloride (BKC), benzethonium chloride (BZC), cetrimide and combinations thereof.

9. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the composition further comprises 0.01 to 5% by weight of a water-soluble inorganic salt.

10. A composition as claimed in claim 9 wherein the water-soluble inorganic salt is a chloride salt and / or a sulphate salt.

11. A composition as claimed in claim 10 where in the water -soluble inorganic salt is selected form sodium chloride, calcium chloride and its combination.

12. A liquid cleaning product obtained by diluting a composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 in water, wherein the ratio of the composition to water is in the range 1: 10 to 1 : 100 by weight.

13. A method of cleaning a surface comprising the steps of: a) providing a cleaning liquor by diluting a composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, thereby providing a clouding effect in the liquor; b) applying the cleaning liquor on to the surface; and c) optionally rinsing the surface with water, wherein the ratio of the composition to water is in range 1:30 to 1:1000 by weight.

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