Surfactant package for high foaming detergents with low level of medium to long chain linear alcohols

Abstract

To provide a surfactant booster for use in high foaming cleaning compositions.SOLUTION: In an aspect of the invention, a C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11 or C12 linear alcohol in very low amounts is added to increase surface activity, foam and wetting properties of the composition. The alcohol is added in an amount of alcohol to surfactant of about 1:100 to 1:200 and must be linear. In another aspect, the invention relates to novel cleaning compositions such as pot and pan soaking compositions, dishwashing compositions, food and beverage foaming cleaners, and vehicle cleaning suitable for use in hard water, which can be solid or liquid. The invention further relates to methods of making these compositions, and to methods of employing these compositions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Cross-reference of related applications This application claims priority under Section 119 of the United States Patent Act to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 850,183, filed on 20 May 2019, which includes, without limitation, this specification, the claims, and the abstract, as well as any figures, tables, or examples thereof, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This disclosure relates to novel highly foaming cleaning compositions having stable foam and high surface activity. These compositions include surfactant systems employing medium- to long-chain linear alcohols in combination with conventional highly foaming anionic surfactants. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to novel cleaning compositions, which may be in solid or liquid form, such as pot and pan immersion compositions, detergents, dishwashing compositions, food and beverage foaming cleaners, vehicle cleaners, and the like. The present invention further relates to methods for preparing these compositions and methods for employing these compositions. [Background technology]

[0003] For heavily soiled dishes, multiple washing steps may be required to remove the grime from the surface. In full-service restaurants, pots and pans used for preparation, cooking, and baking can be particularly difficult to clean in a dishwasher due to caramelized grime baked onto the surface of the dishes. Some full-service restaurants have attempted to overcome this problem by using a three-compartment sink for soaking pots and pans as a preliminary step before washing them in the dishwasher. Exemplary soaking solutions include water, a pot and pan detergent solution, or a pre-soak for silverware. Components of these compositions typically include metal protectants, surfactants, and alkali sources. Surfactants are the single most important cleaning component in cleaning products. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of water by adsorbing at the liquid-gas interface. Surfactants also reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water by adsorbing at the liquid-liquid interface. When dissolved in water, surfactants impart the ability to remove dirt from surfaces to the product. Each surfactant molecule contains a hydrophilic head that is attracted to water molecules and a hydrophobic tail that repels water while simultaneously attracting itself to the oil and grease in the dirt. These opposing forces dissolve the dirt and suspend it in water.

[0004] Surfactants perform the basic function of detergents and cleaning compositions by breaking down stains and retaining them in aqueous solutions to prevent re-adhesion of dirt onto surfaces from which the stains have just been removed. Surfactants disperse dirt that is normally insoluble in water. Environmental regulations, consumer trends, and consumer practices have driven new developments in the surfactant industry to produce low-cost, high-performance, and environmentally friendly products.

[0005] One such development involves the use of foaming agents to increase the contact time on the surface being cleaned. Such compositions are currently used in many applications such as retail, industrial, and institutional, including oil degreasers, adhesive scale removers, shower wall cleaners, bathtub cleaners, finger disinfectant gels, disinfectant gels, hand soaps, nipple soaks, coatings, stabilized enzymes, structured liquids, etc. The most widely used foaming agent is diethanolamide made by reacting a mixture of fatty acids (cocamide) from coconut oil with diethanolamine. This agent is also known as lauramide diethanolamine, coco diethanolamide, coconut oil amide of diethanolamine, lauramide DEA, lauric acid diethanolamide, lauroyl diethanolamide, and lauryl diethanolamide. Since these compounds are under regulatory pressure, it is desirable to have foaming without these compounds and instead obtain this property with a combination of a surfactant and a foaming booster.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide enhanced dirt removal by enhancing the surface activity, foaming property, and wetting characteristics of the detergent. In each aspect of the present disclosure, suitable foam stabilization is desired while providing a safe, environmentally friendly, and economically feasible composition for various applications to be used.

[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide a synergistic composition of a foaming surfactant booster and a surfactant package containing an anionic surfactant, to provide such improvements while maintaining the desired foam stabilization and foam retention, and to enhance the surface activity.

[0008] Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The applicants have surprisingly discovered that incorporating very low levels of medium-chain linear alcohols into detergents can significantly enhance the surface activity, foam properties, and wetting properties of the detergents. The ratio of medium-chain linear alcohols to total anionic surfactants can be as low as 1:100. This is a cost-effective strategy for improving the cleaning of detergents.

[0010] The cleaning composition includes a surfactant system comprising linear alcohols from medium-chain to long-chain (C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, or C12) combined with a high-foaming anionic surfactant. The surfactant system typically includes a ratio of alcohol to anionic surfactant of from about 1:100 to about 2:100. In certain embodiments, the composition also includes hexylene glycol as a hydrotrope / humectant. In some embodiments, the composition is essentially free of branched alcohols, and in certain embodiments, the composition is essentially free of propylene glycol. If these compounds are present, for example, through contamination, their level must be less than 0.5% by weight, can be less than 0.1% by weight, and in many cases less than 0.01% by weight.

[0011] A novel cleaning method is also contemplated, which involves applying the cleaning composition to the surface to be cleaned, leaving the composition for a sufficient time for cleaning (typically until any foam present dissipates), and then rinsing the surface until the cleaning composition is removed along with dirt and debris.

[0012] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description that illustrates and describes exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and the embodiments for carrying out the invention should be considered to be essentially exemplary and not restrictive.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where similar reference numerals in some figures represent similar parts. References to various embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. The figures shown herein are not limited to various embodiments. [Figure 1] A semi-logarithmic plot of static surface tension versus concentration is shown for a conventional detergent that does not contain linear alcohols, has 0.138% linear C10 alcohol, and has propylene glycol as the hydrotrope, compared to a detergent containing 0.5 PEI of ethoxylate and to Dawn's commercial detergent. From Figure 1, the critical micelle concentration (cmc) can be determined as the intercept of the two straight lines drawn on each curve. [Figure 2] Graphs showing surface tension and bubble lifetime for various combinations of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain straight-chain alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols). [Figure 3] Graphs showing surface tension and bubble lifetime for various combinations of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain straight-chain alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols). [Figure 4] Graphs showing surface tension and bubble lifetime for various combinations of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain straight-chain alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols). [Figure 5] Graphs showing surface tension and bubble lifetime for various combinations of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain straight-chain alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols). [Figure 6] Graphs showing surface tension and bubble lifetime for various combinations of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain straight-chain alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols). [Figure 7] Graphs showing surface tension and bubble lifetime for various combinations of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain straight-chain alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols). [Figure 8]Graphs showing surface tension and bubble lifetime for various combinations of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain straight-chain alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols). [Figure 9] Graphs showing surface tension and bubble lifetime for various combinations of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain straight-chain alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols). [Figure 10] Graphs showing surface tension and bubble lifetime for various combinations of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain straight-chain alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols). [Figure 11] This graph shows the effect of adding a low level of C10 alcohol to a mixture of anionic surfactants and possibly nonionic surfactants such as amine oxides. As mentioned earlier, this effect is more pronounced in cmc than in dynamic surface tension. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention can be modified and are not limited to specific cleaning applications as understood by those skilled in the art. It should be further understood that all technical terms used herein are solely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to be limiting in any way or scope. For example, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" may include plural referents unless otherwise clearly indicated. Furthermore, all units, prefixes, and symbols may be represented in their SI certified form.

[0015] Numerical ranges described herein include the digit defining the range and each integer within the defined range. Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention are presented in range form. It should be understood that descriptions in range form are merely for convenience and brevity and should not be interpreted as a rigid limitation to the scope of the invention. Therefore, a description of a range should be considered to specifically disclose all possible subranges and individual digits within that range. For example, a description of a range such as 1 to 6 should be considered to specifically disclose subranges within that range such as 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 6, 3 to 6, and individual digits, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the width of the range.

[0016] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, certain terms are defined first. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to whom embodiments of the present invention relate. Many methods and materials similar, modified, or equivalent to those described herein can be used in carrying out embodiments of the present invention without excessive experimentation, and preferred materials and methods are described herein. In describing embodiments of the present invention and in claiming them, the following technical terms are used according to the definitions set forth below.

[0017] When used herein, the term "approximately" refers to variations in quantity that may arise, for example, from typical measurement and liquid handling procedures used in the real world for the preparation of concentrates or solutions, unforeseen errors in those procedures, or differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of components used in the preparation of a composition or the execution of a method. The term "approximately" also encompasses different amounts resulting from different equilibrium conditions for compositions arising from a particular initial mixture. Whether modified by the term "approximately" or not, the claims include equivalents of those amounts.

[0018] The terms “active substance,” “percent active substance,” “weight percent active substance,” or “active substance concentration” are used interchangeably herein and refer to the concentration of a cleaning component expressed as a percentage after subtracting an inert component such as water or salt.

[0019] As used herein, the terms "alkyl" or "alkyl group" refer to saturated hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms, and include linear alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, etc.), cyclic alkyl groups (or "cycloalkyl," "alicyclic," or "carbocyclic" groups) (e.g., cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, etc.), branched alkyl groups (e.g., isopropyl, tert-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, etc.), and alkyl-substituted alkyl groups (e.g., alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl groups and cycloalkyl-substituted alkyl groups).

[0020] Unless otherwise specified, the term “alkyl” includes both “unsubstituted alkyl” and “substituted alkyl.” As used herein, the term “substituted alkyl” refers to an alkyl group having substituents that substitute one or more hydrogens on one or more carbons of a hydrocarbon skeleton. Such substituents include, for example, alkenyl, alkynyl, halogeno, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonate, phosphinato, shea Possible examples include amino (including alkylamino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl, and ureido), imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfate, alkylsulfinyl, sulfonate, sulfamoyl, sulfonamide, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azide, heterocyclic, alkylaryl, or aromatic (including heteroaromatic) groups.

[0021] In some embodiments, the substituted alkyl group may include a heterocyclic group. As used herein, the term “heterocyclic group” includes a ring-closed structure similar to a carbocyclic group, in which one or more of the carbon atoms in the ring are elements other than carbon, such as nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen. The heterocyclic group may be saturated or unsaturated. Examples of heterocyclic groups, but not limited to these, include aziridine, ethylene oxide (epoxide, oxirane), thiirane (episulfide), dioxirane, azetidine, oxetane, thiethane, dioxetane, dithiethane, dithiethone, azolidine, pyrrolidine, pyrroline, oxolane, dihydrofuran, and furan.

[0022] A "re-adhesion inhibitor" refers to a compound that helps remain suspended in water instead of re-adhering to the object being cleaned. Re-adhesion inhibitors are useful in this invention to help reduce the re-adhesion of removed dirt onto the surface being cleaned.

[0023] As used herein, the term “cleaning” refers to methods used to promote or assist in the removal of dirt, bleaching, reduction of microbial populations, and any combination thereof.

[0024] As used herein, the term “not containing” in reference to a compound means a composition, mixture, or component that does not contain the compound or to which the compound has not been added. If the compound is present through contamination, the amount of the compound must be less than 0.5% by weight. More preferably, the amount is less than 0.1% by weight, and most preferably, the amount is less than 0.01% by weight.

[0025] As used herein, the term “flash foam” refers to the foam that is generated when water and a cleaning composition are first combined and agitated before cleaning a surface such as a dish.

[0026] As used herein, the term “foam stability” refers to the relative ability of foam to withstand gradual loss through exposure to fouling.

[0027] The term “generally recognized as safe” or “GRAS” as used herein means a component that is safe for direct human food consumption or is classified by the Food and Drug Administration as a component under the conditions of the current good manufacturing practices for use, as defined, for example, in 21 CFRC Chapter 1, §170.38 and / or 570.38.

[0028] As used herein, the term “hard water” refers to water containing a hardness of at least 15 grains (255 ppm), at least 17 grains (289 ppm), or at least 20 grains (340 ppm). One grain of hardness is approximately equal to 17 ppm.

[0029] As used herein, the term “polymer” generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers (e.g., block, graft, random, and alternating copolymers), terpolymers, and higher “x”mers, as well as their derivatives, combinations, and blends. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term “polymer” shall include, but is not limited to, all possible isomeric configurations of a molecule, including isotactic, syndiotactic, and random symmetry, and combinations thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term “polymer” shall include all possible geometric arrangements of a molecule.

[0030] As used herein, the terms “dirt” or “stain” refer to nonpolar oily substances which may or may not contain particulate matter such as mineral clay, sand, natural minerals, carbon black, graphite, kaolin, and environmental dust.

[0031] As used herein, the term “substantially absent” means a composition that either completely lacks the component or contains such a small amount of the component that it does not affect the performance of the composition. The component may be present as an impurity or contaminant and must be less than 0.5% by weight. In another embodiment, the amount of the component is less than 0.1% by weight, and in yet another embodiment, the amount of the component is less than 0.01% by weight.

[0032] The term "threshold agent" refers to a compound that inhibits the crystallization of hard water ions originating from a solution, but does not require the formation of a specific complex with those hard water ions. Examples of threshold agents, though not limited to them, include polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, and olefin / maleic acid copolymers.

[0033] As used herein, the term “dishware” refers to eating and cooking utensils, tableware, and other hard surfaces such as showers, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, countertops, windows, mirrors, transport vehicles, and floors. As used herein, the term “dishwashing” refers to washing, purifying, or rinsing dishes. Ware also refers to plastic items. Types of plastics that can be purified with the compositions according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, polycarbonate polymers (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers (ABS), and polysulfone polymers (PS). Another exemplary plastic that can be purified using the compounds and compositions of the present invention is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0034] As used herein, the terms “weight percent,” “wt.%,” “percent by weight,” and “% by weight,” and their variations, refer to the concentration of a substance obtained by dividing its weight by the total weight of the composition and multiplying by 100. As used herein, “percent,” “%,” etc., are intended to be synonymous with “weight percent,” “wt%,” etc.

[0035] The methods, systems, apparatus, and compositions of the present invention include, are essentially derived from, or consist of the components and ingredients of the present invention, as well as other components described herein. As used herein, “essentially derived from” means that the methods, systems, apparatus, and compositions may include additional steps, components, or ingredients only if the additional steps, components, or ingredients do not materially alter the basic and novel features of the claimed methods, systems, apparatus, and compositions.

[0036] As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “configured” should be noted to describe a system, apparatus, or other structure that is built or configured to perform a particular task or to conform to a particular form. The term “configured” may be used interchangeably with other similar phrases such as arranged and configured, constructed and arranged, adapted and configured, and adapted, constructed, manufactured and arranged.

[0037] composition This invention relates to concentrated liquid and solid compositions, diluted ready-to-use compositions, solutions for use, and methods for using compositions to remove dirt from surfaces. In one aspect of the invention, the compositions can be prepared in the form of immersion compositions. In addition to loosening greasy, baked-on grime, the compositions can also protect the surface of dishes while they are immersed in the composition and while they are passing through a dishwasher. The compositions can be applied by immersing dishes in a solution made from the composition, which is used to loosen grease and food stains on dishes such as pots and pans before they are put through a dishwasher. The immersion step reduces the number of washes that dirty dishes must undergo to remove the dirt compared to immersing with water or manual detergent without using the immersion composition. The immersion compositions can be used on dishes made of a variety of materials, including, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic. Particularly suitable applications for the immersion compositions are the removal of grease and organic stains from pots and pans.

[0038] The immersion composition loosens grease and grime from the surface, ensuring that the grime is substantially removed from the surface as the dish goes through a single cycle in the dishwasher. Furthermore, personal protective equipment is not required when using the immersion composition at the recommended concentration and in the recommended procedure.

[0039] The immersion composition provides metal protection for metal dishes and prevents discoloration when immersed in the immersion composition at the recommended detergent concentration for extended immersion times. Dishes immersed in the immersion composition can be immersed overnight with minimal or no discoloration. For example, aluminum 3003 and 6061 can be immersed in the immersion solution at the recommended detergent concentration for extended immersion times without causing noticeable blackening or discoloration.

[0040] Typically, when dishes are immersed in the solution and then removed and placed in the dishwasher, a small amount of the immersion solution is carried along with the dishes. Because the immersion composition is used before placing dishes in the dishwasher for washing, the components in the immersion composition may produce foam. The immersion composition is formulated to produce less foam than typical pot and pan detergents when agitated. This lower foaming characteristic allows the immersion composition to be used in combination with dishwashers without excessive carryover.

[0041] The cleaning composition can be dispensed from a liquid dispenser, for example, including the dispenser described in U.S. Patent No. 5,816,446 to Steindorf et al., which is assigned to Ecolab Inc. of Saint Paul, Minn, the assignee of this application, and incorporated as fully described herein.

[0042] Preferably, the cleaning composition provides good flash foam properties. In certain embodiments, the flash foam properties are improved compared to those of existing cleaning compositions and cleaning methods. Furthermore, preferred embodiments of the cleaning composition provide good foam stability. In certain embodiments, the foam stability is improved compared to those of existing cleaning compositions and cleaning methods.

[0043] In some embodiments, the cleaning composition is GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe). In some embodiments, the cleaning composition is substantially phosphorus-free.

[0044] Surfactant-based The cleaning composition of the present invention comprises a highly foaming detergent surfactant system combined with an alcohol booster. The surfactant and booster can be used as a pre-soak or as components in conventional highly foaming detergents. The surfactant system comprises one or more surfactants, one of which is a highly foaming anionic surfactant such as sultaine, and a linear medium-chain (C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, and / or C12) alcohol booster. The ratio of the medium-chain linear alcohol to the total anionic surfactant may be as low as 1:100 and may be up to 2:100.

[0045] Additional surfactants may be present in the surfactant system and / or in the cleaning composition. Other surfactants suitable for use in surfactant systems include nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, and / or amphoteric / zwitter surfactants.

[0046] In some embodiments, the concentrated cleaning composition of the present invention comprises about 30% to about 65% by weight of a surfactant system, preferably about 40% to about 55% by weight of a surfactant system, and more preferably 45% to about 50% by weight of a surfactant system.

[0047] In some embodiments, the ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition of the present invention comprises about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of a surfactant system, preferably about 0.7% to about 4% by weight of a surfactant system, and more preferably about 0.9% to about 3% by weight of a surfactant system.

[0048] Anionic surfactants The surfactant system comprises one or more highly foaming anionic surfactants. Anionic surfactants are surface-active molecules that contain a charge on a hydrophobic substance that is negative, or surfactants in which the hydrophobic portion of the molecule does not carry a charge unless the pH rises above neutral (e.g., carboxylic acids). Carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates, and phosphates are polar (hydrophilic) solubilizing groups found in anionic surfactants. Of the cations (counterions) associated with these polar groups, sodium, lithium, and potassium confer water solubility, ammonium and substituted ammonium ions provide both water and oil solubility, and calcium, barium, and magnesium promote oil solubility.

[0049] Suitable anionic sulfate surfactants for use in this composition include alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, alkyl ethoxy sulfates, fatty oleylglycerol sulfates, alkylphenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, C5-C17 acyl-N-(C1-C4 alkyl) and -N-(C1-C2 hydroxyalkyl) glucamine sulfates, and alkyl polysaccharide sulfates such as alkyl polyglucoside sulfates. Also included are alkyl sulfates, alkyl poly(ethylene oxy) ether sulfates, and aromatic poly(ethylene oxy) sulfates, such as ethylene oxide and nonylphenol sulfates or concentrated products (usually having 1-6 oxyethylene groups per molecule).

[0050] Suitable anionic sulfonate surfactants for use in this composition include alkyl sulfonates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfonates, and aromatic sulfonates with or without substituents. Preferred alkyl sulfonates include, but are not limited to, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates. A suitable linear alkylbenzene sulfonate is linear dodecylbenzylsulfonate, which can be provided as an acid that is neutralized to form a sulfonate. Additional suitable alkylaryl sulfonates include xylene sulfonate, cumene sulfonate, and sodium toluenesulfonate.

[0051] Suitable anionic carboxylate surfactants for use in this composition include carboxylic acids (and salts), e.g., alkanic acids (and alkanoates), ester carboxylic acids (e.g., alkyl succinates), ether carboxylic acids, sulfonated fatty acids, e.g., sulfonated oleic acid. Such carboxylates include alkylethoxycarboxylates, alkylarylethoxycarboxylates, alkylpolyethoxypolycarboxylate surfactants, and soaps (e.g., alkylcarboxyls). Useful secondary carboxylates in this composition include those containing carboxyl units attached to a secondary carbon. The secondary carbon may be in a cyclic structure, for example, as in p-octylbenzoic acid or alkyl-substituted cyclohexylcarboxylate. Secondary carboxylate surfactants generally do not contain ether bonds, ester bonds, or hydroxyl groups. Furthermore, they generally lack a nitrogen atom in the head group (amphiphilic moiety). Suitable secondary soap surfactants generally contain 11 to 13 total carbon atoms, but more carbon atoms (e.g., up to 16) may be present. Other suitable carboxylates include, for example, acyl glutamates, acyl peptides, sarcosinates (e.g., N-acyl sarcosinates), and acyl amino acids (and salts) such as taurates (e.g., fatty acid amides of N-acyl taurates and methyl taurides).

[0052] Suitable anionic surfactants include alkyl or alkylarylethoxycarboxylates of the following formulas: RO (CH2CH2O)n(CH2)m CO2X (3) In the formula, R is a C8-C22 alkyl group, or R1 is a C4-C16 alkyl group, n is an integer from 1 to 20, m is an integer from 1 to 3, and X is a counterion such as hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lithium, or ammonium, or an amine salt such as monoethanolamine or triethanolamine. In some embodiments, n is an integer from 4 to 10 and m is 1. In some embodiments, R is a C8-C16 alkyl group. In some embodiments, R is a C12-C14 alkyl group, n is 4 and m is 1.

[0053] In other embodiments, R is a C6-C12 alkyl group, n is 10, and m is 1.

[0054] Such alkyl and alkylarylethoxycarboxylates are commercially available. These ethoxycarboxylates are typically available in acid form, and they can be readily converted to anionic or salt form. Commercially available carboxylates include Neodox 23-4, C12-13 alkyl polyethoxy(4)carboxylic acid (Shell Chemical), and Emcol CNP-110, C9 alkylaryl polyethoxy(10)carboxylic acid (Witco Chemical). Carboxylates are also available from Clariant, for example, product Sandopan® DTC, C13 alkyl polyethoxy(7)carboxylic acid.

[0055] The concentrated cleaning composition contains about 20% to about 50% by weight of anionic surfactant, preferably about 25% to about 45% by weight of anionic surfactant, and more preferably about 30% to 40% by weight of anionic surfactant.

[0056] The ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition contains about 0.5% to about 4% by weight of anionic surfactant, preferably about 1% to about 3.5% by weight of anionic surfactant, and more preferably about 2% to about 3% by weight of anionic surfactant.

[0057] Medium-chain alcohol booster The booster contains a very small amount of a medium- to long-chain (C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, or C12) linear alcohol in combination with a highly foaming anionic surfactant. The booster typically contains an alcohol-to-anionic surfactant ratio of about 1:100 to about 2:100 in the detergent composition. In some embodiments, the composition is essentially free of non-linear alcohols, or longer-chain or shorter-chain alcohols. If these compounds are present, for example through contamination, their levels must be less than 0.5% by weight, less than 0.1% by weight, and often less than 0.01% by weight.

[0058] Detergents containing surfactants and boosters divalent ion The compositions of the present invention may contain divalent ions. Preferred divalent ions are calcium ions and magnesium ions. The divalent ions may be in salt form. Preferred divalent ion salts include, for example, chlorides, hydroxides, oxides, formates, acetates, and / or nitrates.

[0059] In the concentrated cleaning composition, divalent ions are present in an amount of about 0% to about 8% by weight, preferably 0% to about 5% by weight, and more preferably about 0% to about 2% by weight.

[0060] In the ready-to-use cleaning composition, divalent ions are present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 0.8% by weight, preferably 0.05% to about 0.5% by weight, and more preferably about 0.08% to about 0.2% by weight.

[0061] Moisturizer / Hydrotrope The cleaning composition comprises one or more humectants. Suitable humectants include, but are not limited to, glycerol, hexylene glycol, propylene glycol, and dipropylene glycol. In certain embodiments, the composition also comprises hexylene glycol as a hydrotrope, and in certain embodiments, the composition is essentially free of propylene glycol.

[0062] The humectant is present in the concentrated cleansing composition in an amount of about 4% to about 30% by weight, preferably about 8% to about 25% by weight, and most preferably about 12% to about 20% by weight.

[0063] The humectant is present in the ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition in an amount of about 0.4% to about 3% by weight, preferably about 0.8% to about 2.5% by weight, and more preferably 1% to about 2% by weight.

[0064] Coupling agent The cleaning composition comprises one or more coupling agents. Suitable coupling agents include aromatic sulfonates. Aromatic sulfonates such as alkylbenzene sulfonates (e.g., xylene sulfonate, toluene sulfonate, or cumene sulfonate), naphthalene sulfonates, aryl or alkali phosphate esters, or their alkoxylated analogs having 1 to about 40 ethylene, propylene, or butylene oxide units, or mixtures thereof are also examples of useful aromatic sulfonates. Preferred aromatic sulfonates include sodium xylene sulfonate, sodium toluene sulfonate, and cumene sulfonate, with sodium xylene sulfonate being the most preferred.

[0065] In the concentrated cleaning composition, the coupling agent is present in an amount of about 0.05% to about 5% by weight, preferably about 0.1% to about 3% by weight, and more preferably about 0.2% to about 1% by weight.

[0066] In the ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition, the coupling agent is present in an amount of about 0.005% to about 0.5% by weight, preferably about 0.01% to about 0.3% by weight, and more preferably about 0.02% to about 0.1% by weight.

[0067] Preservatives Detergent compositions may optionally contain preservatives. Suitable preservatives include, but are not limited to, antimicrobial classes such as phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds, metal derivatives, amines, alkanolamines, nitro derivatives, analides, organosulfur compounds, and sulfur-nitrogen compounds, as well as various other compounds. Exemplary phenolic agents include pentachlorophenol and orthophenylphenol. Exemplary quaternary antimicrobial agents include amine and nitro-containing antimicrobial compositions such as benzalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, and hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine, dithiocarbamates such as sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate, and various other materials known in the art for their microbial properties. Other exemplary preservatives include gluteraldehyde, bronopol, silver, and isothiazolones such as methylisothiazolinone. A preferred preservative is one sold under the trade name Neolone®.

[0068] If a preservative is included in the composition, it is preferably in an amount of about 0.01% to about 10% by weight.

[0069] Additional surfactants Surfactant systems often include additional surfactants in combination with highly anionic surfactants. These may include one or more of the following:

[0070] Semipolar nonionic surfactant The surfactant system may also include semipolar nonionic surfactants. Generally, semipolar nonionic substances are foaming agents and foam stabilizers, which can limit their application in CIP systems. However, within the compositional embodiments of the present invention designed for high-foaming cleaning methodologies, semipolar nonionic substances will have immediate utility. Semipolar nonionic surfactants include amine oxides, phosphine oxides, sulfoxides, and their alkoxylated derivatives. A preferred semipolar surfactant is amine oxide.

[0071] Amine oxides are tertiary amine oxides corresponding to the following general formula: [ka] In the formula, the arrows are conventional representations of semipolar bonds, and R1, R2, and R3 can be aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, alicyclic, or a combination thereof. Generally, for detergent-related amine oxides, R1 is an alkyl radical with 8 to 24 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 are alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups with 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof, and R2 and R3 can be bonded to each other, for example, through an oxygen or nitrogen atom, to form a ring structure, and R4 is an alkali or a hydroxyalkylene group containing 2 to 3 carbon atoms, with n ranging from 0 to 20.

[0072] Useful water-soluble amine oxide surfactants are selected from coconut or tallow alkyl di-(lower alkyl)amine oxides, and specific examples of these include dodecyldimethylamine oxide, tridecyldimethylamine oxide, tetradecyldimethylamine oxide, pentadecyldimethylamine oxide, hexadecyldimethylamine oxide, heptadecyldimethylamine oxide, octadecyldimethylamine oxide, dodecyldipropylamine oxide, tetradecyldipropylamine oxide, hexadecyldipropylamine oxide, tetradecyldibutylamine oxide, octadecyldibutylamine oxide, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecylamine oxide, and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-dodecoxy-1-h-hydroxypropylamine oxide. These include oxide, dimethyl-(2-hydroxydodecyl)amine oxide, 3,6,9-trioctadecyldimethylamine oxide, and 3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyldi-(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide.

[0073] Useful semipolar nonionic surfactants also include water-soluble phosphine oxides having the following structure: [ka] In the formula, the arrows represent the conventional representation of a semipolar bond, R1 is an alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxyalkyl moiety with a chain length range of 10 to 24 carbon atoms, and R2 and R3 are alkyl moieties each separately selected from alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

[0074] Examples of useful phosphine oxides include dimethyldecylphosphine oxide, dimethyltetradecylphosphine oxide, methylethyltetradecylphosphine oxide, dimethylhexadecylphosphine oxide, diethyl-2-hydroxyoctyldecylphosphine oxide, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecylphosphine oxide, and bis(hydroxymethyl)tetradecylphosphine oxide.

[0075] The useful semipolar nonionic surfactants described herein also include water-soluble sulfoxide compounds having the following structure: [ka] In the formula, the arrows represent the conventional representation of a semipolar bond, where R1 is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl moiety with 8 to 28 carbon atoms, 0 to 5 ether linkages, and 0 to 2 hydroxyl substituents, and R2 is an alkyl moiety consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

[0076] Useful examples of these sulfoxides include dodecyl methyl sulfoxide, 3-hydroxytridecyl methyl sulfoxide, 3-methoxytridecyl methyl sulfoxide, and 3-hydroxy-4-dodecoxybutyl methyl sulfoxide.

[0077] While we do not wish to be bound by theory, the use of semipolar nonionic surfactants in compositions is thought to provide clarity to liquid compositions, including ready-to-use compositions. Without the use of semipolar nonionic surfactants, the ready-to-use compositions were cloudy. Surprisingly, when semipolar nonionic surfactants were added to the compositions, the liquid compositions maintained their clarity.

[0078] The concentrated cleaning composition contains about 1% to about 40% by weight of a semipolar nonionic surfactant, preferably about 5% to about 35% by weight of a semipolar nonionic surfactant, and more preferably about 10% to about 30% by weight of a semipolar nonionic surfactant.

[0079] The ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition contains about 0.05% to about 2.5% by weight of a semipolar nonionic surfactant, preferably about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of a semipolar nonionic surfactant, and more preferably about 0.4% to about 1.5% by weight of a semipolar nonionic surfactant.

[0080] Furthermore, without being limited by the present invention, all enumerated ranges include a number defining the range, and each integer within the defined range. In further embodiments, the cleaning composition is specifically suitable for use in hard water (e.g., water hardness of 17 or 20 grains) when providing good foaming.

[0081] Nonionic surfactants Useful nonionic surfactants are generally characterized by the presence of organic hydrophobic and organic hydrophilic groups, and are typically produced by the condensation of organic aliphatic, alkyl aromatic, or polyoxyalkylene hydrophobic compounds with a hydrophilic alkaline oxide moiety, such as ethylene oxide or its polyhydration product, or polyethylene glycol. Specifically, any hydrophobic compound having a hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, or amide group with a reactive hydrogen atom can be condensed with ethylene oxide, or a mixture thereof with an alkoxylene such as propylene oxide to form a nonionic surfactant. The length of the hydrophilic polyoxyalkylene moiety condensed with any particular hydrophobic compound can be easily adjusted to produce a water-dispersible or water-soluble compound with a desired balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. Useful nonionic surfactants include: 1. Block polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene polymer compounds based on propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, and ethylenediamine as initiator-reactive hydrogen compounds. Examples of polymer compounds produced from the sequential propoxylation and ethoxylation of initiators are commercially available from BASF Corp. under the trade names Pluronic® and Tetronic®. Pluronic® compounds are bifunctional (two reactive hydrogen) compounds formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the addition of propylene oxide to the two hydroxyl groups of propylene glycol. This hydrophobic portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of approximately 1,000 to approximately 4,000. Then, ethylene oxide is added so as to sandwich this hydrophobic substance between hydrophilic groups, and its length is controlled to constitute approximately 10% to approximately 80% by weight of the final molecule. Tetronic® compounds are tetrafunctional block copolymers obtained from the sequential addition of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide to ethylenediamine. The molecular weight of the propylene oxide hydrotype ranges from approximately 500 to 7,000, and the hydrophilic ethylene oxide is added to constitute approximately 10% to 80% by weight of the molecule. 2. Condensation products of 1 mole of alkylphenol, having a linear or branched chain configuration, or a single or double alkyl component, containing about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, with about 3 to about 50 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl groups may be represented, for example, by diisobutylene, diamyl, polymerized propylene, iso-octyl, nonyl, and di-nonyl. These surfactants may be polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene oxide condensates of alkylphenols. Examples of commercial compounds of this chemistry are available on the market under the trade names Igepal®, manufactured by Solvay, and Triton®, manufactured by Dow Chemical. 3. A condensation product of 1 mole of saturated or unsaturated linear or branched alcohol having approximately 6 to 24 carbon atoms with approximately 3 to 50 moles of ethylene oxide. The alcohol portion may consist of a mixture of alcohols within the carbon range described above, or of alcohols having a specific number of carbon atoms within this range. Examples of equivalent commercially available surfactants are available under the trade names Neodol®, manufactured by Shell Chemical Co., and Alfonic®, manufactured by Sasol. 4. A condensation product of 1 mole of a saturated or unsaturated linear or branched carboxylic acid having approximately 8 to 18 carbon atoms, with approximately 6 to 50 moles of ethylene oxide. The acidic portion may consist of a mixture of acids within the above defined range of carbon atoms, or of acids having a specific number of carbon atoms within that range. Examples of commercially available compounds of this chemical structure are available on the market under the trade names Nopalcol®, manufactured by Henkel Corporation, and Lipopeg®, manufactured by Lipo Chemicals, Inc. In addition to ethoxylated carboxylic acids, commonly known as polyethylene glycol esters, other alkanate esters formed by reactions with glycerides, glycerol, and polyhydric (saccharide or sorbitan / sorbitol) alcohols have applications for the specialized embodiments of the present invention, particularly in the form of indirect food additives. All of these ester moieties have one or more reactive hydrogen sites on their molecules that can be subjected to further acylation or ethylene oxide (alkoxide) addition to control the hydrophilicity of these substances. When adding these fatty esters or acylated carbohydrates to compositions of the present invention containing amylase and / or lipase enzymes, caution should be exercised due to the possibility of incompatibility. Examples of nonionic low-foaming surfactants include the following: 5. A compound from (1) that is essentially inverted by modifying it by adding ethylene oxide to ethylene glycol to provide a hydrophilic substance of a specified molecular weight; and then adding propylene oxide to obtain a hydrophobic block on the outside (end) of the molecule. The hydrophobic portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 3,100, and the central hydrophilic substance comprises 10% to about 80% by weight of the final molecule. These inverted Pluronics® are manufactured by BASF Corporation under the trademark Pluronic®® surfactants. Similarly, Tetronic®® surfactants are manufactured by BASF Corporation by the sequential addition of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to ethylenediamine. The hydrophobic portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of about 2,100 to about 6,700, and the central hydrophilic substance comprises 10% to about 80% by weight of the final molecule. 6. Compounds from groups (1), (2), (3), and (4) that are modified by “capping” or “end blocking” of terminal hydroxyl groups (groups) or groups (groups) (of the polyfunctional moiety) in order to reduce foaming when reacted with hydrophobic small molecules such as propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and benzyl chloride; and short-chain fatty acids, alcohols, or alkyl halides containing 1 to about 5 carbon atoms; and mixtures thereof. Also included are reactants such as thionyl chloride that convert terminal hydroxyl groups to chloride groups. Such modifications to terminal hydroxyl groups may result in all-blocked, block-heteric, heteric-blocked, or all-heteric nonionic substances. Additional examples of effective low-foaming nonionic substances include: 7. U.S. Patent No. 2,903,486 issued to Brown et al. on September 8, 1959, Formula: [ka] Alkylphenoxypolyethoxyalkanols are represented by the formula, where R is an alkyl group of 8 to 9 carbon atoms, A is an alkylene chain of 3 to 4 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 7 to 16, and m is an integer from 1 to 10. A polyalkylene glycol condensate having alternating hydrophilic oxyethylene chains and hydrophobic oxypropylene chains, as specified in U.S. Patent No. 3,048,548 issued to Martin et al. on August 7, 1962, wherein the weight of the terminal hydrophobic chains, the weight of the intermediate hydrophobic units, and the weight of the linking hydrophilic units each represent approximately one-third of the condensate. General formula Z[(OR) n OH] z An antifoaming nonionic surfactant disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,382,178 issued to Lissant et al. on May 7, 1968, wherein Z is an alkoxylated material, R is a radical derived from an alkali oxide which may be ethylene and propylene, n is an integer such as 10 to 2,000 or more, and z is an integer determined by the number of reactive oxyalkylated groups. Formula Y(C3H6O) n (C2H4O) m A conjugated polyoxyalkylene compound, corresponding to H, as described in U.S. Patent No. 2,677,700, issued to Jackson et al. on May 4, 1954, wherein Y is a residue of an organic compound having about 1 to 6 carbon atoms and 1 reactive hydrogen atom, n has an average value of at least about 6.4 determined by the hydroxyl value, and m has a value such that the oxyethylene moiety constitutes about 10% to about 90% by weight of the molecule. Formula Y[(C3H6O n (C2H4O) m H] xA conjugated polyoxyalkylene compound described in U.S. Patent No. 2,674,619 issued to Lundsted et al. on April 6, 1954, having, wherein Y is a residue of an organic compound having from about 2 to 6 carbon atoms and containing x reactive hydrogen atoms (x has a value of at least about 2), n has a value such that the molecular weight of the polyoxypropylene hydrophobic base is at least about 900, and m has a value such that the oxyethylene content of the molecule is from about 10 wt% to about 90 wt%. Compounds falling within the definition range of Y include, for example, propylene glycol, glycerin, pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane, ethylenediamine, etc. The oxypropylene chain is optional but advantageously contains a small amount of ethylene oxide, and the oxyethylene chain is also optional but advantageously contains a small amount of propylene oxide. An additional conjugated polyoxyalkylene surfactant advantageously used in the compositions of the present invention has the formula: P[(C3H6O) n (C2H4O) m H] x corresponding to, wherein P is a residue of an organic compound having from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and containing x reactive hydrogen atoms, x has a value of 1 or 2, n has a value such that the molecular weight of the polyoxyethylene moiety is at least about 44, and m has a value such that the oxypropylene content of the molecule is from about 10 wt% to about 90 wt%. In any case, the oxypropylene chain is optional but advantageously may contain a small amount of ethylene oxide, and the oxyethylene chain is also optional but advantageously may contain a small amount of propylene oxide. 8. A polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant suitable for use in the present composition has the structural formula R2CON R1 Z (wherein R1 is H, C1 - C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, ethoxy, propoxy groups, or mixtures thereof; R2 may be linear C5 - C 31The hydrocarbil is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbil having a hydrocarbil linear chain having at least three hydroxyls directly linked to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated). Z may also be obtained from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; for example, a glycityl moiety. 9. Alkyl ethoxylate condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with approximately 0 to approximately 25 moles of ethylene oxide are suitable for use in this composition. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol may be linear or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains 6 to 22 carbon atoms. 10. Ethoxylation C6~C 18 Fatty alcohols and C6-C 18 Mixed ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty alcohols, especially those that are water-soluble, are suitable surfactants for use in this composition. Suitable ethoxylated fatty alcohols are C6-C6 alcohols with an ethoxylation degree of 3-50. 18 Contains ethoxylated fatty alcohols. 11. Nonionic alkyl polysaccharide surfactants particularly suitable for use in the present composition include those disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,565,647, Llenado, issued on January 21, 1986. These surfactants contain a hydrophobic group containing about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g., a polyglycoside, a hydrophilic group containing about 1.3 to about 10 saccharide units. Any reduced saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms may be used, e.g., glucose, galactose, and the galactosyl moiety may be substituted for the glucosyl moiety. (Optionally, the hydrophobic group may be bonded at positions 2, 3, 4, etc., thus resulting in glucose or galactose as opposed to glucosides or galactosides.) Saccharid-saccharid bonds may be, for example, between one position of a further saccharide unit and positions 2, 3, 4, and / or 6 on the preceding saccharide unit. 12. Fatty acid amide surfactants suitable for use in this composition are those with the formula: R6CON(R7)2 (wherein R6 is an alkyl group containing 7 to 21 carbon atoms, and each R7 is independently hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, or --(C2H4O) X Includes those with H (where x is in the range of 1 to 3). 13. Useful classes of nonionic surfactants include alkoxylated amines, or, most specifically, classes defined as alcohol alkoxylated / amination / alkoxylated surfactants. These nonionic surfactants are at least in part, of the general formula: R 20 --(PO) S N--(EO) t H, R 20 --(PO) S N--(EO) t H(EO) t H and R 20 --N(EO) t H (wherein, R 20 (where is an alkyl, alkenyl or other aliphatic group, or an alkyl-aryl group of 8 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 14 carbon atoms, EO is oxyethylene, PO is oxypropylene, s is 1 to 20, preferably 2 to 5, t is 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 5, and u is 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 5). Other variations within the range of these compounds can be represented by alternative formulas: R 20 --(PO) V --N[(EO) w H][(EO) z It can be expressed by H], where R 20As defined above, v is 1 to 20 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4 (preferably 2)), and w and z are independently 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 5. These compounds are commercially represented by a product line marketed by Huntsman Chemicals as nonionic surfactants. Preferred chemicals in this class include Surfonic® PEA25 amine alkoxylates. Preferred nonionic surfactants for the compositions of the present invention include alcohol alkoxylates, EO / PO block copolymers, alkylphenol alkoxylates, and the like. The paper "Nonionic Surfactants," edited by MJ Schick, in Volume 1 of the Surfactant Science Series, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1983, is an excellent reference for a wide range of nonionic compounds commonly used in the practice of the present invention. A typical list of the nonionic class and species of these surfactants is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975, to Laughlin and Heuring. Further examples are described in "Surface Active Agents and detergents" (Volumes I and II, Schwartz, Perry, and Berch). In preferred embodiments, the composition comprises a nonionic surfactant, such as a linear alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactant. As used herein, the linear alcohol ethoxylate is preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate. Ethoxylated C6-C18 fatty alcohols and mixed C6-C18 ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty alcohols are suitable surfactants for use in this composition. Suitable ethoxylated fatty alcohols include C6-C18 ethoxylated fatty alcohols having an ethoxylation degree of at least about 3 to 50. Particularly suitable ethoxylated fatty alcohols include C6-C18, preferably C10-C18, and preferably C12-C14, which may vary depending on whether the ethoxylated fatty alcohol is an organic or synthetic source. A suitable ethoxylated fatty alcohol further comprises a degree of ethoxylation from at least about 3, preferably at least about 4. Preferably, the degree of ethoxylation of the ethoxylated fatty alcohol according to the present invention is 3 to 20, more preferably about 5 to 12, and most preferably about 9. In addition, although not limited to the present invention, all listed ranges of ethoxylation degrees include a number defining the range and each integer within the defined range. For example, commercially available ethoxylated C13-C15 fatty alcohols have a degree of ethoxylation of 7 (e.g., 7 moles of EO) and mainly consist of unbranched C13-C15 oxo alcohols having about 67% C13 and about 33% C15. As those skilled in the art will understand, additional synthetic and organic ethoxylated fatty alcohols are available and fall within the scope of the present invention. Particularly suitable linear alcohol ethoxylates include those sold by Huntsman Chemicals under the trade name Surfonic L® series. 14. Extended surfactants are a useful class of surfactants, and the general formula for nonionic extended surfactants is R-[L] x -[O-CH2--CH2] y The formula is such that R is a lipophilic moiety, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, L is a linking group, or a hydrophobic substance such as a block of polypropylene oxide, a block of polyethylene oxide, a block of polybutylene oxide, or a mixture thereof, x is the chain length of the linking group in the range of 1 to 25, and y is the average degree of ethoxylation in the range of 1 to 20.

[0082] Anionic extended surfactants are generally defined by the formula: R-[L] x -[O-CH2--CH2] y -M has In the formula, R is a lipophilic moiety, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, L is a linking group, or a hydrophobic substance such as a block of polypropylene oxide, a block of polyethylene oxide, a block of polybutylene oxide, or a mixture thereof, x is the chain length of the linking group in the range of 1 to 25, and y is the average degree of ethoxylation in the range of 0 to 20. In the formula, M is any ionic species such as carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates, and phosphates. Cationic species are generally present for charge neutrality, such as hydrogen, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, ammonium, and ammonium ions, which may be substituted with one or more organic groups.

[0083] The concentrated cleaning composition contains about 0.01% to about 30% by weight of a nonionic surfactant, preferably about 0.05% to about 25% by weight of a nonionic surfactant, and more preferably about 0.01% to about 20% by weight of a nonionic surfactant.

[0084] The ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition contains about 0.01% to about 1.5% by weight of a nonionic surfactant, preferably about 0.05% to about 1% by weight of a nonionic surfactant, and more preferably about 0.1% to about 0.7% by weight of a nonionic surfactant.

[0085] Zwitterionic surfactant Zwitterionic surfactants can be considered a subset of amphoteric surfactants and may contain anionic charges. Broadly speaking, zwitterionic surfactants can be described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium, or tertiary sulfonium compounds. Typically, zwitterionic surfactants contain positively charged quaternary ammonium, or optionally sulfonium or phosphonium ions, charged carboxyl groups, and alkyl groups. Zwitterions generally contain cationic and anionic groups that ionize to roughly the same degree in the isoelectric region of the molecule, potentially leading to a strong "internal salt" attraction between positive and negative charge centers. Examples of such zwitterionic synthetic surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and sulfonium compounds in which the aliphatic radical can be linear or branched, and one of the aliphatic substituents contains 8 to 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic water-soluble group, such as a carboxyl, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, or phosphonate.

[0086] Betaine and sultaine surfactants are exemplary zwitterionic surfactants for use herein. The general formulas of these compounds are as follows: [ka] In the formula, R1 contains an alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxyalkyl radical of 8 to 18 carbon atoms having 0 to 10 ethylene oxide moieties and 0 to 1 glyceryl moiety, Y is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur atoms, R2 is an alkyl or monohydroxyalkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, x is 1 when Y is a sulfur atom and 2 when Y is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, R3 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene or hydroxyalkylene of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and Z is a radical selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphonate, and phosphate groups.

[0087] Examples of zwitterionic surfactants having the structures listed above include 4-[N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-octadecylammonio]-butane-1-carboxylate, 5-[S-3-hydroxypropyl-S-hexadecylsulfonio]-3-hydroxypentane-1-sulfate, 3-[P,P-diethyl-P-3,6,9-trioxatetracosanphosphonio]-2-hydroxypropane-1-phosphate, 3-[N,N-dipropyl-N-3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyl-ammonio]-propane-1-phosphonate, 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)-propane-1-sulfonate, and 3-(N,N-dimethyl Examples include -N-hexadecylammonio)-2-hydroxy-propane-1-sulfonate, 4-[N,N-di(2(2-hydroxyethyl)-N(2-hydroxydodecyl)ammonio]-butane-1-carboxylate, 3-[S-ethyl-S-(3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyl)sulfonio]-propane-1-phosphate, 3-[P,P-dimethyl-P-dodecylphosphonio]-propane-1-phosphonate, and S[N,N-di(3-hydroxypropyl)-N-hexadecylammonio]-2-hydroxy-pentane-1-sulfate. The alkyl groups contained in these detergent surfactants may be linear or branched, and saturated or unsaturated.

[0088] Suitable zwitterionic surfactants for use in this composition include betaines having the following general structure. [ka]

[0089] These surfactant betaines typically do not exhibit strong cationic or anionic characteristics at extreme pH levels, nor do they show a decrease in water solubility within these isoelectric ranges. Unlike "external" quaternary ammonium salts, betaines are compatible with anions. Examples of suitable betaines include coconut acylamidopropyldimethylbetaine, hexadecyldimethylbetaine, C12-14 acylamidopropylbetaine, C8-14 acylamidohexyldiethylbetaine, 4-C14-16 acylmethylamidodiethylammonio-1-carboxybutane, C16-18 acylamidodimethylbetaine, C12-16 acylamidopentanediethylbetaine, and C12-16 acylmethylamidodimethylbetaine.

[0090] The sultaines useful in the present invention include these compounds having the formula (R(R1)2N+R2SO3-), where R is a C6-C18 hydrocarbyl group, each R1 is typically independently a C1-C3 alkyl group, such as methyl, and R2 is a C1-C6 hydrocarbyl group, such as a C1-C3 alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group.

[0091] A typical list of zwitterionic classes and species of these surfactants is provided in U.S. Patent No. 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975, by Laughlin and Heuring. Further examples are provided in “Surface Active Agents and Detergents” (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry, and Berch). Each of these references is incorporated herein in its entirety.

[0092] The concentrated cleaning composition contains about 0.5% to about 25% by weight of sultaine, preferably about 1% to about 18% by weight of a zwitter surfactant, and more preferably about 4.5% to about 11% by weight of a zwitter surfactant.

[0093] The ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition contains about 0.05% to about 2.5% by weight of a zwitter surfactant, preferably about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of a zwitter surfactant, and more preferably about 0.5% to about 1% by weight of a zwitter surfactant.

[0094] Cationic surfactants Surface-active substances are classified as cationic if the charge on the hydrophilic portion of the molecule is positive, and these can also find use in several embodiments. Surfactants that are cationic (e.g., alkylamines) in the case of hydrophilic substances, unless the pH is lowered to near neutral or below, are also included in this group. Theoretically, cationic surfactants can be synthesized from any combination of elements containing the "onium" structure RnX+Y-- and can include compounds other than nitrogen (ammonium), such as phosphorus (phosphonium) and sulfur (sulfonium). In practice, the field of cationic surfactants is perhaps dominated by nitrogen-containing compounds because the synthetic pathways to nitrogen-containing cationic substances are simple and easy, yielding high-yield products, which can make them less expensive.

[0095] Cationic surfactants preferably comprise, and more preferably refer to, compounds containing at least one long-carbon hydrophobic group and at least one positively charged nitrogen. The long-carbon group may be directly bonded to the nitrogen atom by simple substitution, or more preferably indirectly bonded by a crosslinking functional group in so-called interrupted alkylamines and amidoamines. Such functional groups can make the molecule more hydrophilic and / or more water-dispersible, more readily soluble in water by co-surfactant mixtures, and / or water-soluble. For increased water solubility, additional primary, secondary, or tertiary amino groups may be introduced, or the amino nitrogen may be quaternized using a low molecular weight alkyl group. Furthermore, the nitrogen may be part of a branched or linear portion with varying degrees of unsaturation, or part of a saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring. In addition, cationic surfactants may contain complex bonds having two or more cationic nitrogen atoms.

[0096] Surfactant compounds classified as amine oxides, amphoteric substances, and zwitterionic compounds are generally cationic in solutions with near-neutral to acidic pH, overlapping with the classification of surfactants. Polyoxyethylated cationic surfactants generally behave like nonionic surfactants in alkaline solutions and like cationic surfactants in acidic solutions.

[0097] The simplest cationic amines, namely amine salts and quaternary ammonium compounds, can be schematically represented as follows: [ka] In the formula, R represents an alkyl chain, R', R'', and R'''' may be either an alkyl chain or an aryl group or a hydrogen atom, and X represents an anion. Amine salts and quaternary ammonium compounds are preferred for practical use in the present invention due to their high degree of water solubility.

[0098] The majority of commercially available cationic surfactants can be subdivided into four main classes and further subgroups known to those skilled in the art, as described in "Surfactant Encyclopedia," Cosmetics & Toiletries, Vol. 104(2) 86-96 (1989). The first class includes alkylamines and their salts. The second class includes alkylimidazolines. The third class includes ethoxylated amines. The fourth class includes quaternary products such as alkylbenzyldimethylammonium salts, alkylbenzene salts, heterocyclic ammonium salts, and tetraalkylammonium salts. Cationic surfactants are known to possess a variety of properties that can be beneficial in this composition. These desirable properties include cleaning power in compositions at or below neutral pH, and thickening or gelling in conjunction with other agents.

[0099] A cationic surfactant useful in the composition of the present invention is formula R 1m R 2 x Y L Examples include those having Z, where each R 1 It contains a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group, optionally substituted with up to three phenyl or hydroxyl groups, and has up to four of the following structures: [ka] Alternatively, it is an organic group optionally interrupted by isomers or mixtures of these structures, containing approximately 8 to 22 carbon atoms. 1 The group may further contain up to 12 ethoxy groups. m is a number from 1 to 3. Preferably, there is one or fewer R groups in the molecule. 1 The group has 16 or more carbon atoms when m is 2, or more than 12 carbon atoms when m is 3. Each R 2 It is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group, and has 1 or fewer R groups in the molecule. 2 is benzyl, and x is a number from 0 to 11, preferably from 0 to 6. The remaining carbon atoms at any position on the Y group are filled with hydrogen. Y is [ka] The group may also include, but is not limited to, a mixture thereof. Preferably, L is 1 or 2, and the Y group, when L is 2, has 1 to about 22 carbon atoms and 2 free carbon single bonds. 1 and R 2 It is separated by a portion selected from analogs (preferably alkylene or alkenylene). Z is a water-soluble anion such as a halide anion, sulfate anion, methyl sulfate anion, hydroxide anion, or nitrate anion, with chloride anions, bromide anions, iodide anions, sulfate anions, or methyl sulfate anions being particularly preferred among many for imparting electrical neutrality to the cationic components.

[0100] Suitable cationic surfactants also include surfactants derived from quaternary saccharides. Surfactants derived from quaternary saccharides may be preferred in certain embodiments because they are considered to be less irritating and suitable for skin contact.

[0101] Surfactants derived from quaternary sugars include quaternary alkyl polyglucosides or polyquaternary alkyl polyglucosides. Polyquaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucosides are cationic surfactants naturally derived from alkyl polyglucosides and possess a sugar backbone. Polyquaternary alkyl polyglucosides have the following representative formula: [ka]

[0102] In the formula, R is an alkyl group having about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, and n is an integer in the range of 4 to 6. Examples of suitable polyquaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucoside components that can be used in the purification composition according to the present invention include those in which the alkyl portion of R contains about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms. In preferred embodiments, the quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucoside mainly contains about 10 to 12 carbon atoms. Examples of commercially suitable polyquaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucosides useful in the purification composition of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the Poly Suga® Quat series of quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucosides available from Colonial Chemical, Inc. located in South Pittsburg, TN.

[0103] In another embodiment, the present invention may also include quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucosides. Quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucosides are cationic surfactants naturally derived from alkyl polyglucosides and have a sugar backbone. Quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucosides have the following typical formulas: [ka]

[0104] In the formula, R1 is an alkyl group having about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, R2 is CH3(CH2)n', and n' is an integer in the range of 0 to 21. Examples of suitable quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucoside components that can be used in the purification composition according to the present invention include those in which the alkyl portion of R1 mainly contains about 10 to 12 carbon atoms, the group of R2 is CH3, and n has a degree of polymerization of 1 to 2. Examples of commercially suitable quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucosides useful in the purification compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, Suga® Quat TM1212 (primarily a C12 quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucoside), Suga® Quat L1210 (primarily a C12 quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucoside), and Suga® Quat S1218 (primarily a C12 quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucoside), all available from Colonial Chemical, Inc. located in South Pittsburg, TN.

[0105] Amphoteric surfactants Amphoteric surfactants contain both basic and acidic hydrophilic groups, as well as organic hydrophobic groups, and can be used according to certain embodiments. These ionic entities may be either anionic or cationic groups, as described herein for other types of surfactants. Basic nitrogen and acidic carboxylate groups are typical functional groups employed as basic and acidic hydrophilic groups. In some surfactants, sulfonates, sulfates, phosphonates, or phosphates provide a negative charge.

[0106] Amphoteric surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic secondary and tertiary amines, in which the aliphatic radical may be linear or branched, and one of the aliphatic substituents contains about 8 to 18 carbon atoms, one of which contains an anionic water-soluble group, such as carboxy, sulfo, sulfato, phosphat, or phosphono.

[0107] Amphoteric surfactants can be synthesized by methods known to those skilled in the art. For example, 2-alkylhydroxyethylimidazoline is synthesized by condensation and ring closure of a long-chain carboxylic acid (or derivative) with a dialkylethylenediamine. Commercially available amphoteric surfactants are derivatized using, for example, chloroacetic acid or ethyl acetate by subsequent hydrolysis and ring opening of the imidazoline ring through alkylation. During alkylation, one or two carboxyalkyl groups react to form a tertiary amine and an ether linkage, and different alkylating agents yield different tertiary amines.

[0108] The long-chain imidazole derivatives that have applications in the present invention generally have the following general formula: [ka] The formula has the following characteristics, where R is an acyclic hydrophobic group containing about 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and M is a cation, generally sodium, for neutralizing the charge of the anion. Commercially well-known amphoteric compounds derived from imidazolines that can be used in this composition include, for example, cocoamphopropionate, cocoamphocarboxy-propionate, cocoamphoglycinate, cocoamphocarboxy-glycinate, cocoamphopropyl-sulfonate, and cocoamphocarboxy-propionic acid. Amphocarboxylic acids can be produced from aliphatic imidazolines, where the dicarboxylic acid functional group of the amphodicarboxylic acid is diacetic acid and / or dipropionic acid.

[0109] In this specification, the carboxymethylated compounds (glycinates) described above are often referred to as betaines. Betaines are a special class of amphoteric compounds discussed below in the following section entitled "Zwitterionic surfactants."

[0110] Long-chain N-alkyl amino acids are readily prepared by the reaction RNH2, where R = C8~C 18These are aliphatic amines having linear or branched alkyl, halogenated carboxylic acids. Alkylation of the primary amino group of an amino acid results in secondary and tertiary amines. The alkyl substituent may have additional amino groups that provide multiple reactive nitrogen centers. The most commercially available N-alkylamine acids are alkyl derivatives of beta-alanine or beta-N(2-carboxyethyl)alanine. Examples of commercially available N-alkylamino acid amphoteric electrolytes that have applications in the present invention include alkylbeta-aminodipropionates, RN(C2H4COOM)2 and RNHC2H4COOM. In one embodiment, R may be an acyclic hydrophobic group containing about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and M may be a cation for neutralizing the charge of the anion.

[0111] Suitable amphoteric surfactants include those derived from coconut products such as coconut oil or coconut fatty acids. Additional suitable coconut-derived surfactants include, as part of their structure, ethylenediamine moieties, alkanolamide moieties, amino acid moieties, e.g., glycine, or combinations thereof, and aliphatic substituents of about 8 to 18 (e.g., 12) carbon atoms. Such surfactants may also be considered alkylamphodicarboxylic acids. These amphoteric surfactants are C 12 -alkyl-C(O)-NH-CH2-CH2-N + (CH2-CH2-CO2Na)2-CH2-CH2-OH or C 12 -alkyl-C(O)-N(H)-CH2-CH2-N + It may include a chemical structure represented as (CH2-CO2Na)2-CH2-CH2-OH. Disodium cocoamphodipropionate is one preferred amphoteric surfactant, marketed by Solvay (Cranbury, NJ) under the trade name Miranol® FBS. Another preferred coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant having the chemical name disodium cocoamphodiacetate is also marketed by Rhodia Inc. (Cranbury, NJ) under the trade name Mirataine® JCHA.

[0112] Preferred amphoteric surfactants include alkylamide alkylamines of the structure RCONHCH2CH2NYCH2CH2OX, where R is an alkyl group with about 10 to 18 carbon atoms, Y is CH2COOM, CH2CH2COOM, CH2CHOHCH2SO3M, or CH2CHOHCH2OPO3M, X is hydrogen or CH2COOM, where M is a water-soluble cation, most preferably Na + , K + NH4 + , TEA, and structural RN + The betaine has the formula (C3)2CHCOO- (wherein R is an alkyl group of about 10 to 18 carbon atoms, or an amidopropyl alkyl group of about 10 to 18 carbon atoms). A preferred alkylamide alkylamine is disodium cocopamphodipropianate, which is sold by Solvay as Miranol® C2M SF.

[0113] A typical list of amphoteric classes and species of these surfactants is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,929,678, published December 30, 1975, to Laughlin and Heuring. Further examples are described in “Surface Active Agents and Detergents” (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry, and Berch). Each of these references is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0114] Additional ingredients The components of the cleaning composition can be further combined with various functional components suitable for use in dishwashing applications. In some embodiments, a cleaning composition comprising one or more coupling agents, divalent ions, humectants, and surfactant systems constitutes the majority, or even substantially all, of the total weight of the concentrated cleaning composition. For example, in some embodiments, few or no additional functional components are present.

[0115] In other embodiments, further components may be included in the composition. These additional components provide the composition with desired properties and functionality. Some examples of additional components are discussed in more detail below, but the specific materials discussed are merely examples, and a wide variety of other additional components may be used. For example, many of the additional components discussed below relate to materials used in cleaning, specifically dishwashing applications. However, other embodiments may include additional components for use in other applications.

[0116] In preferred embodiments, the composition does not contain DEA. In preferred embodiments, the composition does not contain phosphorus.

[0117] In other embodiments, the composition may include an alkali source, an anti-redeposition agent, a bleaching agent, a chelating agent / metal ion sequestering agent, a corrosion inhibitor, a detergent builder or filler, a dye and / or deodorant, an enzyme, an enzyme stabilizer, a neutralizing agent, a pH adjuster, a salt, a silicate, an additional surfactant, and / or a thickener.

[0118] Alkaline source The cleaning composition may optionally contain one or more alkali sources in small but effective amounts to neutralize the anionic surfactant and improve the composition's stain-removing performance. As a result, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxides or other hydrateable alkali sources are preferably included in the cleaning composition in an amount effective for neutralizing the anionic surfactant. However, alkali metal hydroxides or other alkali sources may, to a limited extent, contribute to the solidification of the composition. As described above, the amount of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides required is sufficient to neutralize the anionic surfactant, but additional alkali sources may be present up to a pH of 9 in the aqueous solution.

[0119] Suitable alkali metal hydroxides include, for example, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. Suitable alkaline earth metal hydroxides include, for example, magnesium hydroxide. Alkaline or alkaline earth metal hydroxides can be added to the composition in the form of a solution in an aqueous solution, or in combination thereof. Alkaline and alkaline earth metal hydroxides are commercially available as solids in the form of sphered beads having a mixture of particle sizes ranging from about 12 to 100 US mesh, or as aqueous solutions, for example, 50% and 73% by weight solutions. Alkaline or alkaline earth metal hydroxides are preferably added in the form of an aqueous solution, preferably a 50% by weight hydroxide solution, in order to reduce the amount of heat generated in the composition due to the hydration of the solid alkaline material.

[0120] The cleaning composition may contain a second alkali source in addition to the alkali metal hydroxide. Examples of the second alkali source include metal silicates such as silicic acid or sodium or potassium metasilicate, metal carbonates such as carbonic acid, bicarbonate or sodium or potassium sesquicarbonate, metal borates such as sodium or potassium borate, ethanolamine and amines, and other similar alkali sources. The second alkali agent is generally available in either aqueous or powder form, both of which are useful when formulating the cleaning composition.

[0121] Anti-re-adhesion agent The cleaning composition may optionally include an anti-redeposition agent that promotes the sustained suspension of dirt in the cleaning solution and prevents the removed dirt from re-adhering to the substrate being cleaned. Examples of suitable anti-redeposition agents include fatty acid amides, fluorocarbon surfactants, complex phosphate esters, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers, and cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethylcellulose and hydroxypropylcellulose.

[0122] Optionally, the concentrated cleaning composition may contain about 0.5% to about 10% by weight, preferably about 1% to about 5% by weight, of an anti-redeposition agent. Optionally, the ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition may contain about 0.05% to about 1% by weight, preferably about 0.1% to about 0.5% by weight, of an anti-redeposition agent.

[0123] bleach Bleaching agents may be optionally included in some embodiments of the present invention. Suitable bleaching agents include hydrogen peroxide, perborate, sodium carbonate hydride, phosphate hydride, potassium monopersulfate, and sodium perborate monohydrate and sodium perborate tetrahydrate, with or without activating agents such as tetraacetylethylenediamine.

[0124] Optionally, the cleaning composition may contain a small but effective amount of bleach. The concentrated cleaning composition may contain about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, preferably about 1% to about 6% by weight. The ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition may contain about 0.01% to about 1% by weight, preferably about 0.1% to about 0.6% by weight.

[0125] Chelating agents / metal ion sequestering agents The cleaning composition may optionally contain chelating agents / metal ion sequestering agents such as aminocarboxylic acids, condensed phosphates, phosphonates, and polyacrylates. Generally, chelating agents are molecules that can coordinate (i.e., bind) to metal ions commonly found in natural water so as to prevent the metal ions from interfering with the action of other cleaning components of the cleaning composition. Chelating agents / metal ion sequestering agents can also function as thresholding agents when included in effective amounts. Iminodisuccinate (commercially available from Bayer as IDS®) can be used as a chelating agent.

[0126] Examples of useful aminocarboxylic acids include N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA).

[0127] Examples of condensed phosphates useful in this composition include sodium orthophosphate and potassium orthophosphate, sodium pyrophosphate and potassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, and sodium hexametaphosphate.

[0128] The composition may contain a phosphonate such as 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid.

[0129] Polymeric polycarboxylates may also be included in the composition. Those suitable for use as detergents have pendant carboxylate groups and include, for example, polyacrylic acid, maleic acid / olefin copolymer, acrylic / maleic acid copolymer, polymethacrylic acid, acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, hydrolyzed polymethacrylamide, hydrolyzed polyamide-methacrylamide copolymer, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed polymethacrylonitrile, and hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-methacrylonitrile copolymer. For further consideration of chelating / sequestering agents, see Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd edition, Vol. 5, pp. 339-366 and Vol. 23, pp. 319-320, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

[0130] Optionally, the concentrated cleaning composition may contain about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, preferably about 0.5% to about 3% by weight, of a chelating agent / metal ion sequestering agent. Optionally, the ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition may contain about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight, preferably about 0.05% to about 0.3% by weight.

[0131] Corrosion inhibitor A corrosion inhibitor may be optionally included in the liquid cleaning composition in an amount sufficient to provide a solution exhibiting a slower rate of glass corrosion and / or etching than that of a solution otherwise identical except in the absence of the corrosion inhibitor. The solution is expected to contain at least about 6 million parts (ppm) of the corrosion inhibitor to provide the desired corrosion inhibition properties. It is expected that a larger amount of corrosion inhibitor can be used in the solution without adverse effects. The solution may contain about 6 ppm to about 300 ppm of the corrosion inhibitor, and about 20 ppm to about 200 ppm of the corrosion inhibitor. Examples of suitable corrosion inhibitors include, but are not limited to, combinations of aluminum ion sources and zinc ion sources, and their alkali metal silicates or hydrates.

[0132] A corrosion inhibitor can refer to a combination of an aluminum ion source and a zinc ion source. When a solid detergent composition is provided in the form of a working solution, the aluminum ion source and the zinc ion source provide aluminum ions and zinc ions, respectively. The amount of corrosion inhibitor is calculated based on the total amount of the aluminum ion source and the zinc ion source. Anything that provides aluminum ions in a working solution can be called an aluminum ion source, and anything that provides zinc ions when provided in a working solution can be called a zinc ion source. It is not necessarily the case that the aluminum ion source and / or the zinc ion source react to form aluminum ions and / or zinc ions. Aluminum ions can be considered an aluminum ion source, and zinc ions can be considered a zinc ion source. The aluminum ion source and the zinc ion source can be provided as organic salts, inorganic salts, and mixtures thereof.

[0133] Examples of aluminum ion sources include, but are not limited to, aluminum salts such as sodium aluminate, aluminum bromide, aluminum chlorate, aluminum chloride, aluminum iodide, aluminum nitrate, aluminum sulfate, aluminum acetate, aluminum formate, aluminum tartrate, aluminum lactate, aluminum oleate, aluminum bromate, aluminum borate, potassium aluminum sulfate, and zinc aluminum sulfate. Examples of zinc ion sources include, but are not limited to, zinc salts such as zinc chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc nitrate, zinc iodide, zinc thiocyanate, zinc fluorosilicate, zinc dichromate, zinc chlorate, sodium zincate, zinc gluconate, zinc acetate, zinc benzoate, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc formate, zinc bromate, zinc bromide, zinc fluoride, zinc fluorosilicate, and zinc salicylate.

[0134] Optionally, the concentrated cleaning composition may contain a metal corrosion inhibitor in an amount of about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, preferably about 0.5% to about 3% by weight, of the corrosion inhibitor. Optionally, the ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition may contain about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight, preferably about 0.05% to about 0.3% by weight, of the corrosion inhibitor.

[0135] Detergent builder or filler The cleaning composition may optionally contain one or more small but effective amounts of detergent fillers, which do not perform as cleaning agents on their own but work in conjunction with the cleaning agent to enhance the overall cleaning ability of the composition. Examples of cleaning fillers suitable for use in the cleaning composition of the present invention include C1-C2 compounds such as sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, starch, sugar, and propylene glycol. 10 Alkylene glycols are an example. Inorganic detergent builders or phosphate-containing detergent builders may contain alkali metal, ammonium, and alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates (e.g., tripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates, and glassy polymer metaphosphates). Non-phosphate builders can also be used.

[0136] Optionally, the concentrated cleaning composition may contain detergent fillers in an amount of about 1% to about 20% by weight, preferably about 3% to about 15% by weight. Optionally, the ready-to-use cleaning composition may contain detergent fillers in an amount of about 0.1% to about 2% by weight, preferably about 0.3% to about 1.5% by weight.

[0137] Dyes / Deodorizers Optionally, various dyes, fragrances, odorants, and other cosmetic enhancers may also be included in the cleaning composition. Dyes may be included to alter the appearance of the composition, such as Direct Blue 86 (Miles), Fastusol Blue (Mobay Chemical Corp.), Acid Orange 7 (American Cyanamid), Basic Violet 10 (Sandoz), Acid Yellow 23 (GAF), Acid Yellow 17 (Sigma Chemical), Sap Green (Milliken & Company), Metalil Yellow (Keystone Analine and Chemical), Acid Blue 9 (Hilton Davis), Sandolan Blue / Acid Blue 182 (Sandoz), Hisol Fast Red (Capitol Color and Chemical), Fluorescein (Capitol Color and Chemical), Acid Green 25 (Ciba-Geigy), etc.

[0138] The fragrances or scents that may be included in the composition include, for example, terpenoids such as citronellol, aldehydes such as amyl cinnamaldehyde, jasmine such as ClS-jasmine or jasmal, vanillin, and the like.

[0139] enzyme Optionally, the cleaning composition may contain one or more enzymes that can provide the desired activity for purposes such as: removing protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or triglyceride-based stains from a substrate; pre-soaking of plates, cups and bowls, as well as pots and pans; pre-soaking of medical and dental instruments; or pre-soaking of meat cutting equipment; for machine dishwashing; for washing and stain-removing laundry and textiles; for washing and stain-removing carpets; for in-situ washing and in-situ stain removal; for washing and stain-removing food processing surfaces and equipment; for drain cleaning; pre-soaking for washing, etc. The enzymes act by breaking down or altering one or more types of dirt residues encountered on a surface or textile, and thus the surfactant or other components of the cleaning composition can remove the dirt or make the dirt more easily removed. Both the breakdown and alteration of dirt residues can improve cleaning power by reducing the physicochemical forces that bind the dirt to the surface or textile being cleaned, i.e., by making the dirt more water-soluble. For example, one or more proteases can cleave complex high-molecular-weight protein structures present in dirt residues into simpler, shorter-chain molecules that can be more easily desorbed, solubilized, or otherwise removed from the surface by a washing solution containing the protease.

[0140] Suitable enzymes may include proteases, amylases, lipases, gluconases, cellulases, peroxidases, or mixtures thereof from any suitable source, such as plant, animal, bacterial, fungal, or yeast. The selection is influenced by factors such as pH activity and / or stability optimization, thermal stability, and stability against active detergents, builders, etc. In this regard, bacterial or fungal enzymes such as bacterial amylases and proteases, and fungal cellulases may be preferred. Preferably, the enzyme may be a protease, lipase, amylase, or a combination thereof.

[0141] Optionally, the concentrated cleaning composition may contain about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of enzyme, preferably about 0.5% to about 3% by weight. Optionally, the ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition may contain about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight of enzyme, preferably about 0.05% to about 0.3% by weight.

[0142] Enzyme stabilization system The cleaning composition may optionally include an enzyme stabilization system. The enzyme stabilization system may include an alkali metal borate or amine (e.g., alkanolamine) borate, or a borate such as an alkali metal borate or potassium borate. The enzyme stabilization system may also include other components to stabilize a particular enzyme or to enhance or maintain the effect of the borate.

[0143] For example, the cleaning compositions of the present invention may contain a water-soluble source of calcium ions and / or magnesium ions. Calcium ions are generally more effective than magnesium ions and are preferred herein when only one type of cation is used. Cleaning enzyme and / or stabilizing enzyme cleaning compositions, particularly liquids, may contain 1 to 30, 2 to 20, or 8 to 12 mmol of calcium ions per liter of the finished composition, but this may vary depending on factors such as the diversity, type, and level of the enzymes incorporated. For example, water-soluble calcium or magnesium salts including calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, calcium formate, calcium malate, calcium maleate, calcium hydroxide, and calcium acetate can be employed, and more generally, calcium sulfate or magnesium salts corresponding to the listed calcium salts can be used. Further increasing the levels of calcium and / or magnesium may, for example, be useful to enhance the oil-degrading action of certain types of surfactants.

[0144] A stabilization system for a particular cleaning composition, such as a dishwashing-stabilized enzyme cleaning composition, may further contain 0-10% by weight, or 0.01%-6% by weight, of a chlorine bleach scavenger added to prevent chlorine bleach species present in many water sources from attacking or inactivating the enzyme, especially under alkaline conditions. Even when the chlorine level in the water is low, typically in the range of about 0.5 ppm to about 1.75 ppm, the available chlorine in the total amount of water that comes into contact with the enzyme, for example during dishwashing, can be relatively large, and therefore, the enzyme stability to chlorine during use can become an issue.

[0145] Suitable chlorine scavenger anions are known and readily available, and when used, may be salts containing ammonium cations, such as sulfites, bisulfites, thiosulfites, thiosulfates, and iodides. Antioxidants such as carbamates and ascorbates, organic amines such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or their alkali metal salts, monoethanolamine (MEA), and mixtures thereof can also be used.

[0146] Neutralizing agent The cleaning composition may optionally contain a neutralizing agent. In one embodiment of the present invention employing an anionic surfactant, the anionic surfactant can be neutralized by adding a neutralizing agent. Suitable neutralizing agents include, but are not limited to, amino alcohols such as amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) and triethanolamine (TEA). In one embodiment, amino-2-methyl-1-propanol is a preferred neutralizing agent (available as AMP95).

[0147] Optionally, the concentrated cleaning composition may contain a neutralizing agent in an amount of about 0.5% to about 15% by weight, preferably about 1% to about 12% by weight, and more preferably about 5% to about 10% by weight. Optionally, the ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition may contain a neutralizing agent in an amount of about 0.05% to about 1.5% by weight, preferably about 0.1% to about 1.2% by weight, and more preferably 0.5% to about 1% by weight.

[0148] silicate Optionally, silicates may be included in cleaning compositions to provide metal protection, but are also known to provide alkalinity and further function as anti-redeposition agents. Exemplary silicates include, but are not limited to, sodium silicate and potassium silicate. Cleaning compositions may be provided without silicates, but when silicates are included, they may be included in an amount that provides the desired metal protection.

[0149] Optionally, the concentrated cleaning composition may contain about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, preferably about 0.5% to about 3% by weight, of silicate. Optionally, the ready-to-use liquid cleaning composition may contain about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight, preferably about 0.05% to about 0.3% by weight, of silicate.

[0150] Thickening agent Optionally, the cleaning composition may contain a thickener. Some examples of additional thickeners include soluble organic or inorganic thickener materials. Some examples of inorganic thickeners include clay, silicates, and other well-known inorganic thickeners. Some examples of organic thickeners include thixotropic and non-thixotropic thickeners. In some embodiments, the thickener has a somewhat substantial proportion of water solubility to facilitate easy removal. Examples of soluble organic thickeners useful in the compositions of the present invention include carboxylated vinyl polymers such as polyacrylic acid and its sodium salts, ethoxylated cellulose, polyacrylamide thickeners, xanthan gum thickeners, guar gum, sodium alginate and algin by-products, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and other similar aqueous thickeners having some substantial proportion of water solubility. Thickeners can be added to provide the desired viscosity.

[0151] Embodiment A cleaning composition may be a liquid or solid concentrate, a ready-to-use composition, or a solution for use. Generally, a concentrate refers to a composition intended to be diluted with water to provide a solution for use that, when in contact with an object, provides the desired cleaning, rinsing, etc. Concentrates may be in liquid or solid form. Furthermore, concentrates can be diluted to form ready-to-use compositions. A ready-to-use composition can be brought into contact with an object to be cleaned or with water to form a solution for use. If the object comes into contact with the ready-to-use composition, water is then added to form a solution for use. It should be understood that the coupling agents, divalent ions, humectants, surfactant systems, and optionally functional components in a cleaning composition will differ depending on whether the cleaning composition is provided as a concentrate or as a solution for use.

[0152] The exemplary range of cleaning compositions in concentrated form is shown in Table 1 as weight percentages of the composition. [Table 1]

[0153] In one aspect of the present invention, the concentrated liquid cleaning composition has a viscosity of more than about 200 cps and less than about 400 cps, preferably more than about 220 cps and less than about 350 cps, more preferably more than about 250 cps and less than or equal to about 300 cps, and even more preferably less than or equal to about 280 cps. In a further aspect of the present invention, the ready-to-use / diluted liquid cleaning composition has a viscosity of about 30 cps to 125 cps, more preferably 50 cps to 100 cps.

[0154] In another aspect of the present invention, the liquid cleaning composition has a pH of about 4 to about 11, more preferably about 6 to 10, or even more preferably about 7 to about 9. However, it should be understood that depending on the desired application and properties, a more alkaline or more acidic pH may be desirable. In such cases, a pH adjuster can be used to adjust the pH to the desired level.

[0155] In a further aspect of the present invention, the liquid cleaning composition provides a volume of flash foam exceeding about 100 mL, preferably about 120 mL or more, or even more preferably about 130 mL or more. The liquid cleaning composition provides a volume of stable foam exceeding about 700 mL, preferably about 800 mL or more, more preferably about 900 mL or more, and even more preferably about 1000 mL or more, at ambient temperature.

[0156] The concentrate can be diluted by about 10% to form a ready-to-use solution. The solution to be used can be prepared from the concentrate by diluting it with water at a dilution ratio that provides a solution to be used with the desired cleaning properties. Either the concentrate or the ready-to-use solution can be diluted to form a solution to be used containing about 100 ppm to about 2500 ppm, preferably about 200 ppm to about 1500 ppm, and most preferably about 300 ppm to about 1000 ppm. In the most preferred embodiment, the solution to be used is about 500 ppm of the cleaning composition. The water used to dilute the concentrate to form the composition to be used may be called diluent water or diluent and may vary depending on the context.

[0157] Dispensing / Use of Cleaning Composition The cleaning composition may be dispensed as a concentrate, a ready-to-use composition, or a working solution. The composition can be applied directly to the article to be cleaned, in a sink, or in water to form a working solution. The working solution can be applied to the surface of the article during pre-soaking, immediately before manual cleaning, or during manual cleaning.

[0158] In one aspect of the present invention, the composition forms flash foam. The flash foam can be stable for at least 30 seconds, preferably at least 45 seconds, and more preferably at least about 1 minute. In addition, the foam is stable in the presence of oil. Figure 2 demonstrates the stability in the presence of corn oil.

[0159] The above description provides a foundation for understanding the broad intersection and boundaries of the present invention. The following examples and test data provide an understanding of specific embodiments of the present invention. These examples are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Unless otherwise stated, all parts, percentages, and ratios reported in the following examples are by weight, and all reagents used in the examples are obtained from or available from the chemical suppliers listed below.

[0160] All publications and patent applications herein represent the ordinary level of art in the art to which the present invention relates. All publications and patent applications are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as each individual publication or patent application is incorporated by reference specifically and individually. [Examples]

[0161] Embodiments of the present invention are further defined in the following non-limiting examples. These examples illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention, but should be understood as being given only as examples. From the above considerations and these examples, those skilled in the art will be able to identify the essential features of the present invention and make various changes and modifications to the embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention to suit various uses and conditions. Therefore, various modifications to the embodiments of the present invention, in addition to those shown and described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. [Table 2] [Table 3] [Table 4]

[0162] The data in Table 2 demonstrates that the advantage of adding one or more medium- to long-chain linear alcohols to anionic surfactant-based compositions lies in micelle synergy, resulting in better surface activity. The complexity of the composition influences the level of synergy achieved.

[0163] The addition of C10 linear alcohols to the concentrated pot and pan platform was also investigated. Tables 3 and 4 summarize the compositions investigated. [Table 5] [Table 6]

[0164] Quantification of synergistic effects between a single pair of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain alcohols: The synergistic effects between each combination of anionic surfactants and medium- to long-chain linear alcohols (C6-C12 alcohols) were also quantified. These results are summarized and compared in Tables 5-17 and Figures 2-10. [Table 7] [Table 8] [Table 9] [Table 10] [Table 11] [Table 12] [Table 13] [Table 14] [Table 15] [Table 16] [Table 17] [Table 18] [Table 19]

[0165] The results suggest that the best synergy is found between SLS and linear alcohols, with the synergy increasing from C6 to C10 and then leveling off. The next best synergy is found between AOS and linear alcohols, again with the synergy increasing from C8 to C10 and then slightly decreasing at C12.

[0166] SLES suggests that C8 alcohols have a slightly adverse effect, as they are neutral, while C10 and C12 alcohols show increased synergistic effects. The hydrophobic interaction / harmony between the carbon chain lengths of the anionic surfactant and the alcohol appears to be the main factor. C10 linear alcohols are liquid, while C12 linear alcohols are solid. C8 and C6 alcohols have a continuously decreasing molecular weight, resulting in a continuously increasing vapor pressure and thus increased odor. Considering both treatment and odor, C10 linear alcohols are the best choice.

[0167] Table 10 and Figure 11 below summarize the effects of adding low levels of C10 alcohol to a mixture of anionic surfactants and possibly nonionic surfactants such as amine oxides. As mentioned above, the effect is more pronounced in cmc than in dynamic surface tension. [Table 20]

[0168] solid composition Dissolving medium- to long-chain linear alcohols in surfactant solutions requires time-consuming stirring and frequent heating. Therefore, special care must be taken in handling solid compositions. If medium- to long-chain linear alcohols are not properly incorporated, the partition system may be unable to incorporate them into the mixed micelle structure.

[0169] One preferred processing method is to coat a medium-chain to long-chain alcohol onto a solid anionic surfactant. SLS needles coated with C12 alcohol stained with Sudan Red were completed. C12 alcohol is melted, stained, and used to coat SLS needles.

[0170] Surprisingly, medium-chain alcohols were readily solubilized (a homogeneous pink solution) when a 1% SLS solution was prepared with this material. Further examples with LAS and AOS solids followed the same trend.

[0171] Another preferred method is for a “polymer melt” solid product, where all surfactant components and medium-chain and long-chain linear alcohols are melted, thoroughly mixed, and poured into a capsule or container.

[0172] As the present invention is described in this manner, it will be apparent that the present invention can be modified in many ways. Such modifications should not be considered departures from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

[0173] The above specification provides a description of the manufacture and use of the disclosed compositions and methods. Since many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the present invention falls within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A surfactant system comprising an anionic surfactant, A coupling agent containing aromatic sulfonates, A divalent ion, selected from calcium ions or magnesium ions, in the form of a chloride, hydroxide, oxide, formate, acetate, or nitrate, A humectant selected from glycerol, hexylene glycol, propylene glycol, or dipropylene glycol, Medium-chain straight-chain alcohols and A dishwashing cleaning composition comprising, The aforementioned anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), The aforementioned straight-chain alcohol in the middle chain is a C10 straight-chain alcohol. A cleaning composition in which the weight ratio of the medium-chain linear alcohol to the anionic surfactant is 1:100 to 2:

100.

2. The cleaning composition according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant system further comprises a semipolar nonionic surfactant containing an amine oxide surfactant.

3. The cleaning composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling agent is 0.05% to 5% by weight of the composition, and the humectant is 4% to 30% by weight of the composition.

4. The cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coupling agent is sodium xylene sulfonate.

5. The cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the humectant is hexylene glycol.

6. The cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the anionic surfactant is 24% to 45% by weight of the composition, the coupling agent is 0.1% to 3% by weight of the composition, and the humectant is 8% to 25% by weight of the composition.

7. A method for cleaning the surface of tableware, wherein the method is: The concentrated cleaning composition is diluted with water in a weight ratio of 1:2 to 1:250 to form the solution for use. Bringing the surface into contact with the aforementioned solution, The aforementioned surface is rinsed, and contains sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), A method for cleaning the surface of tableware, wherein the concentrated cleaning composition comprises a surfactant consisting of a highly foaming anionic surfactant, a coupling agent containing an aromatic sulfonate, a divalent ion, a humectant, and a C10 linear alcohol, wherein the highly foaming anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), the weight ratio of the linear alcohol to the highly foaming anionic surfactant is 1:100 to 2:100, the divalent ion is selected from calcium ions or magnesium ions and is in the form of chloride, hydroxide, oxide, formate, acetate, or nitrate, and the humectant is selected from glycerol, hexylene glycol, propylene glycol, or dipropylene glycol.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a semipolar nonionic surfactant containing an amine oxide surfactant.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the highly foaming anionic surfactant is 30% to 40% by weight of the concentrated cleaning composition, the coupling agent is 0.2% to 1% by weight of the concentrated cleaning composition, the semipolar nonionic surfactant is 10% to 30% by weight of the concentrated cleaning composition, and the humectant is 12% to 20% by weight of the concentrated cleaning composition.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a linear alcohol ethoxylate of a fatty alcohol having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the linear alcohol ethoxylate is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% by weight of the composition.

11. Use of a C10 linear alcohol in a dishwashing detergent composition comprising an anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and the linear alcohol is present in a weight ratio of 1:100 to 2:100 for the linear alcohol and the anionic surfactant.

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