Composition and method of use for degreasing of devices

Abstract

A solid cleaning and degreasing composition, and a method of using the same for degreasing various hard surfaces and devices are provided. **Solution**: The solid cleaning and degreasing composition includes at least two alkaline sources, a chelating agent, and a surfactant that provides a degreasing effect that penetrates dirt and efficient handling of solids. The composition is particularly well-suited for cleaning and degreasing effects for removing baked-on oil and grease stains, including those found in ovens.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to compositions for degreasing devices and methods of using the same. The present disclosure provides a composition having at least two alkaline sources, a chelating agent, and a surfactant, which composition provides a degreasing effect that penetrates dirt and efficient processing of solids including compressed tablets, and can be used to clean and degrease various types of devices, namely devices in food cooking and / or processing. The composition is particularly well-suited for cleaning and degreasing effects for removing baked-on oil and grease stains, including those found in ovens.

Background Art

[0002] Aqueous cleaning compositions are commonly used in most cleaning applications. Even many liquid materials in concentrated form contain a significant amount of water, which can make manufacturing, transportation, and sales difficult. Although many liquid formulations have achieved commercial success, there remains a need to produce solid compositions that provide excellent dirt, e.g., oil and grease removal characteristics. Solid formulations have unique advantages over conventional liquid, granular, or pellet forms of cleaning compositions, including improved handling, enhanced safety, elimination of component separation during transportation and storage, and increased concentration of active components within the composition. Because of these advantages, solids are desirable for use in for-profit enterprises and corporations that routinely use large amounts of cleaning materials, as well as for consumer use applications.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Although various compositions and methods for manufacturing solid cleaning compositions are known, there remains a need to provide highly concentrated alkaline solids that provide at least equivalent cleaning efficacy to liquid products. There further remains a need to formulate solid cleaning compositions that do not produce residues on the treated surface and / or the equipment used to manufacture the solid cleaning composition and do not leave a film.

[0004] Another need in the formulation of solid cleaning compositions is to provide phosphate-free compositions. Phosphates typically serve multiple purposes, such as control of the setting rate, removal and suspension of dirt, and as effective hardness sequestering agents. However, due to ecological and other concerns, replacement of phosphorus-containing compounds with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-containing components is also being prioritized. Accordingly, another focus of the present disclosure is to develop solid cleaning compositions that do not contain phosphonates and / or NTA.

[0005] A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a solid cleaning composition having a highly alkaline formulation for use in cleaning systems, devices, etc. including automatic cleaning systems.

[0006] A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a solid cleaning composition for efficiently cleaning and degreasing surfaces exposed to baked-on oil and grease stains.

[0007] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a solid cleaning composition for efficiently cleaning and degreasing surfaces without producing residues and / or without leaving a film.

[0008] Other objects, embodiments, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following disclosure, drawings, and appended claims.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The following objects, features, advantages, aspects, and / or embodiments are not exhaustive and do not limit the entire disclosure. A single embodiment does not necessarily provide every object, feature, or advantage. Any of the objects, features, advantages, aspects, and / or embodiments disclosed herein can be fully or partially integrated with each other. The main objects, features, and / or advantages of the present disclosure are to improve or overcome the deficiencies in the art in providing an efficient cleaning and degreasing composition for use in cleaning systems, devices, etc. including automatic cleaning systems.

[0010] According to some aspects of the present disclosure, a solid cleaning composition comprises at least two alkali metal alkaline sources including an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal metasilicate, or a combination thereof, a chelating agent including an aminocarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, and a surfactant including a salt of a fatty acid, an alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ether sulfonate, an alkylaryl sulfonate, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, an alkyl polyglucoside, a fatty alcohol polyether, or a combination thereof. In embodiments, the at least two alkali metal alkaline sources constitute about 50 to 90% by weight of the composition, the at least one chelating agent constitutes about 1 to 10% by weight of the composition, and the surfactant constitutes about 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition.

[0011] According to some additional aspects of the present disclosure, a method of cleaning a hard surface comprises providing the solid cleaning composition described herein to a hard surface or object in need of cleaning, and generating a use solution of the solid cleaning composition by contacting it on the hard surface or with the object in need of cleaning, and cleaning dirt from the hard surface or object.

[0012] These and / or other objects, features, advantages, aspects, and / or embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following brief description of the drawings and the detailed description. Further, the present disclosure includes aspects and / or embodiments that are not explicitly disclosed but can be understood by reading the present disclosure, including at least (a) combinations of the disclosed aspects and / or embodiments, and / or (b) reasonable modifications that are not shown or described.

[0013] Although multiple embodiments are disclosed, further other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description that illustrates and describes exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the drawings and the detailed description should be considered to be essentially exemplary and not restrictive.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

[0015]

Figure 2

[0016] Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, and like reference numerals represent like components throughout several figures. References to various embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The figures presented herein are presented for illustrative explanation of the invention, not as limitations to various embodiments according to the present disclosure. For ease of understanding of the invention, those skilled in the art do not need to consider almost countless different permutations of the features described in the following detailed description within the detached drawings.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] The present disclosure should not be limited to what is described herein and can be modified and understood by those skilled in the art. Unless otherwise specified, the features shown or described are not essential to enable the basic operation of the present disclosure. Furthermore, it should be understood that all technical terms used herein are for the sole purpose of describing a particular embodiment and are not intended to limit in any manner or scope. For example, when used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" may include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, all units, prefixes, and symbols may be shown in their SI-approved form.

[0018] The numerical ranges recited within this specification include the numbers defining the range and include each integer within the defined range. Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the disclosure are presented in range format. The description in range format should be understood as being for convenience and brevity only and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, a recitation of a range should be considered to specifically disclose all possible sub-ranges, fractions, and individual numerical values within that range. For example, a range recitation such as 1 to 6 should be considered to specifically disclose not only sub-ranges such as 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 6, 3 to 6, etc., but also the individual numbers within that range, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, as well as decimals and fractions, such as 1.2, 3.8, 1 and 1 / 2, and 4 and 3 / 4. This applies regardless of the width of the range.

[0019] As used herein, the term "and / or", e.g., "X and / or Y", should be understood to mean either "X and Y" or "X or Y", and should be construed as providing explicit support for both meanings or either meaning, e.g., A and / or B includes the options i) A, ii) B, or iii) A and B.

[0020] It should be understood that, for clarity, certain features described herein in the context of separate embodiments may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, for brevity, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may be provided separately or in any sub-combination.

[0021] The methods and compositions of the present disclosure may include, consist essentially of, or consist of the components and ingredients of the present disclosure and other ingredients described herein. As used herein, "consisting essentially of" means that a method, system, apparatus, and composition may include additional steps, components, or ingredients, but only if the additional steps, components, or ingredients do not substantially change the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed method, system, apparatus, and composition.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used above have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art related to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] The term "invention" is not intended to refer to a single embodiment of a particular invention, but rather to encompass all possible embodiments described in the specification and claims.

[0024] As used herein, the term "about" refers to a variation in a quantifiable variable, including but not limited to mass, volume, time, temperature, pH, etc., that can be made through typical measurement techniques and equipment. Further, considering the handling procedures of solids and liquids used in the real world, there are likely to be certain inadvertent errors and variations through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients used to make a composition or execute a method, etc. The term "about" also encompasses these variations. Whether or not modified by the term "about", the claims include equivalents to that quantity.

[0025] The terms "actives" or "percent actives" or "percent by weight actives" or "actives concentration" are used interchangeably herein and refer to the concentration expressed as a percentage of those components involved in the wash minus inert components such as water or salts. For example, it may be indicated by a percentage within parentheses, such as "chemical (10%)".

[0026] As used herein, the term "alkyl" or "alkyl group" refers to a saturated hydrocarbon having one or more carbon atoms, including straight-chain alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, etc.), cyclic alkyl groups (or "cycloalkyl" or "alicyclic" or "carbocyclic" groups) (e.g., cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, etc.), branched-chain 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).

[0027] Unless otherwise defined, 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 replace one or more hydrogens on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone. Such substituents include, for example, alkenyl, alkynyl, halogeno, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, 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.

[0028] In some embodiments, substituted alkyl can include a heterocyclic group. As used herein, the term "heterocyclic group" includes a closed-ring 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 can be saturated or unsaturated. Exemplary heterocyclic groups include, but are not limited to, aziridine, ethylene oxide (epoxide, oxirane), thiirane (episulfide), dioxolane, azetidine, oxetane, thietane, dioxetane, dithietane, dithieto, azolidine, pyrrolidine, pyrroline, oxolane, dihydrofuran, and furan.

[0029] As used herein, the term "cleaning" refers to methods used to facilitate or assist in the removal of dirt, bleaching, reduction of microbial populations, and any combination thereof.

[0030] As used herein, the terms "dimensionally stable" and "dimensionally stability" refer to solid products having a growth index of less than about 3%. When a solid product swells after solidification, various problems can occur, including but not limited to a decrease in density, integrity, and appearance, and the inability to dispense or package the solid product. Generally, when a solid product has a growth index of less than about 3%, the solid product is considered to have dimensional stability. The growth index refers to the growth or swelling rate of the product over a certain period after solidification under normal transportation / storage conditions. Under normal transportation / storage conditions for detergent products, since the detergent composition is often exposed to high temperatures, the growth index of a solid detergent product can be determined by measuring one or more dimensions of the product before and after heating at about 100°F to 122°F at 75% relative humidity. The measured dimension(s) depend on the shape and manner of swelling of the solid product. In the case of tablets, generally, changes in both the diameter and height are measured and summed to determine the growth index. In the case of capsules, usually only the diameter is measured.

[0031] As used herein, the term "exemplary" refers to an example, instance, or illustration and does not indicate the most preferred embodiment unless otherwise specified.

[0032] As used herein, the term "food processing surface" refers to the surfaces of utensils, machines, equipment, structures, buildings, etc. that are used as part of food processing, cooking, or storage activities. Examples of food processing surfaces include the surfaces of food processing or cooking equipment (e.g., slicing equipment, canning equipment, or conveying equipment including waterways), food processing supplies (e.g., utensils, tableware, wash ware, and the surfaces of bar glasses), and the floors, walls, or fixtures of structures where food processing is performed. Food processing surfaces are found in and used in food spoilage prevention air circulation systems, aseptic packaging disinfection, food refrigeration and cooler cleaning agents and disinfectants, ware washing disinfection, bleach washing and disinfection, food packaging materials, cutting board additives, third-sink disinfection, beverage coolers and warmers, water for meat cooling or hot water treatment, automatic tableware disinfectants, disinfectant gels, cooling towers, antimicrobial clothing sprays for food processing, and non-aqueous to low-aqueous food cooking lubricants, oils, and rinse additives.

[0033] As used herein, the term "free of" refers to a composition that completely lacks a constituent or has a minor amount of a constituent such that the constituent does not affect the performance of the composition. The constituent may be present as an impurity or as a contaminant and is less than about 0.1% by weight, less than about 0.01% by weight, or is considered to be free of the constituent.

[0034] The term "generally" encompasses both "about" and "substantially".

[0035] The term "hard surface" refers to a solid and substantially non-flexible surface of an appliance, machine, etc. The hard surface is not limited by material and may be, for example, glass, metal, tile, vinyl, linoleum, composite materials, wood, plastic, etc., but many hard surfaces that are cleaned and degreased according to the methods described herein are primarily metal. The hard surface may include, for example, food processing surfaces.

[0036] As used herein, the term "polymer" refers to a molecular complex composed of 10 or more monomer units, and generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers such as block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, and higher order "x"-mers, and further includes their analogs, derivatives, combinations and blends thereof. Further, unless specifically limited otherwise, the term "polymer" is intended to include all possible isomeric structures of the molecules, including, but not limited to, isotactic, syndiotactic, and random symmetries, and combinations thereof. Further, unless specifically limited otherwise, the term "polymer" is intended to include all possible geometric structures of the molecules.

[0037] The "scope" of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims, together with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The scope of the present disclosure further includes any possible modifications to any of the aspects and / or embodiments disclosed herein that result in other embodiments, combinations, sub-combinations, etc. that would be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0038] As used herein, the term "stain" or "spot" refers to any stain, including but not limited to non-polar oily and / or hydrophobic substances, which may or may not include particulate matter such as industrial stains, inorganic clays, sands, natural mineral substances, carbon black, graphite, kaolin, environmental dust, and / or food-based stains such as blood, protein stains, starch stains, fatty stains, and cellulosic stains. The compositions and methods described herein are particularly well-suited for the cleaning of oil and grease stains.

[0039] It should be understood that the term "solid" refers to the state of the composition under the assumed storage and use conditions of the solid composition. Generally, a solid composition is expected to remain solid while maintaining dimensional stability at temperatures up to about 120°F.

[0040] The term "substantially" refers to a large or significant degree. Thus, "substantially" can refer to a plurality, majority, and / or overwhelming majority of quantifiable variables, assuming an appropriate context.

[0041] As used herein, the term "substantially free of" refers to a composition that either completely lacks a component or has 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 about 0.5 weight percent. In another embodiment, the amount of the component is less than about 0.1 weight percent, and in yet another embodiment, the amount of the component is less than about 0.01 weight percent.

[0042] The term "surfactant" or "surface active agent" refers to an organic chemical substance that, when added to a liquid, changes the properties of that liquid at the surface.

[0043] The terms "weight percent", "wt-%", "percent by weight", "% by weight", and variations thereof, as used herein, refer to the concentration of a substance obtained by dividing the weight of the substance by the total weight of the composition and multiplying by 100. It is understood that when used herein, terms such as "percent", "%", etc. are intended to be synonymous with "weight percent", "wt-%", etc.

[0044] Solid cleaning and degreasing compositions

[0045] According to an embodiment, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition comprises at least two alkali metal alkaline sources, a chelating agent, and a surfactant. According to a further embodiment, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition comprises at least two alkali metal alkaline sources including an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal metasilicate, or a combination thereof, a chelating agent including an aminocarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, and a surfactant including a salt of a fatty acid, an alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ether sulfonate, an alkylaryl sulfonate, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, an alkyl polyglucoside, a fatty alcohol polyether, or a combination thereof. The solid cleaning and degreasing composition can include additional functional ingredients and is provided as a concentrated solid composition.

[0046] Exemplary solid cleaning and degreasing compositions are shown in Table 1 in weight percent. The components may have 100% percent actives, but note that Table 1 does not list the percent actives of the components; rather, it lists the total weight percentage of the raw materials, i.e., the active substance concentration + the inactive components.

[0047]

Table 1

[0048] The solid cleaning and degreasing composition is a solid composition, preferably a solid tablet or block. In some embodiments, the solid is a pressed, cast, or extruded solid. The solid can include solid tablets, blocks, shaped or formed solid pellets, blocks, tablets, powders, granules, or flakes. In a preferred embodiment, the solid is a compressed tablet or block.

[0049] Various embodiments of the solid cleaning and degreasing composition provide a homogeneous mixture of the components of the composition. The composition does not require or include a multiphase or multilayer solid, and thus provides ease of formulation and consistent disintegration and formulation of a homogeneous use solution.

[0050] The solid cleaning and degreasing composition is substantially homogeneous with respect to the distribution of components throughout its mass and has dimensional stability. The solid cleaning and degreasing composition is a cured composition that will not flow under moderate stress or pressure or simply gravity and will substantially retain its shape. The degree of hardness of the solid cleaning and degreasing composition can range from the hardness of a relatively dense and hard molten solid block, such as concrete, to a softness characterized as a cured paste.

[0051] In addition, the term "solid" refers to the state of the solid hard surface cleaning composition under the predicted storage and use conditions. Generally, the solid hard surface cleaning composition is expected to remain in solid form when exposed to a temperature of up to about 40 °C / 100 °F at about 75% relative humidity. The solid has dimensional stability, which means that the solid does not swell (or there is no dimensional change due to swelling), which is measured according to the dimensional integrity and maintained hardness of the solid (e.g., breakage, cracking, swelling). One way to evaluate this is to measure swelling of less than about 5%, or less than about 4%, at a temperature of up to 40 °C (or 100 °F) for at least 8 weeks. Such a solid is said to have dimensional stability.

[0052] In various embodiments, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition does not contain a solid gel.

[0053] The solid cleaning and degreasing composition is preferably provided as a compressed solid tablet or block. The solid block can be provided in the form of a unit dose or a multi-purpose solid. A unit dose refers to a solid composition unit sized such that the entire unit is used in a single cleaning cycle. When the solid composition is provided as a unit dose, it can have a size of from about 1 gram to about 1,000 grams. Alternatively, the solid tablet can have a size of from about 1 gram to about 250 grams, i.e., from about 30 grams to about 100 grams. Further, in some embodiments, the solid tablets are individually packaged.

[0054] Solid cleaning and degreasing compositions are particularly useful in cleaning applications where it is desirable to use environmentally friendly solid alkaline compositions that preferably substantially do not contain or contain no phosphorus and / or NTA. Not containing phosphorus means a solid composition having less than about 0.5 wt%, less than about 0.1 wt%, or less than about 0.01 wt% of phosphorus. Not containing NTA means a solid composition having less than about 0.5 wt%, less than about 0.1 wt%, or less than about 0.01 wt% of NTA.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition does not contain specially manufactured nanoparticles.

[0056] Alkaline source The solid cleaning and degreasing composition contains at least two alkali metal alkaline sources. The solid cleaning and degreasing composition contains at least two alkali metal alkaline sources including an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal metasilicate, or a combination thereof. Generally, an effective amount of the alkaline source should be considered as the amount that provides a use solution having a pH of at least about 10, or preferably about 10 to about 13.5. Generally, it is desirable to provide the use solution as a highly alkaline cleaning composition having a pH greater than 10, greater than 11, greater than 12, or preferably about 10 to about 13.5.

[0057] Exemplary alkaline sources include alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal silicates or metasilicates, and combinations thereof. Suitable alkali metal hydroxides that can be used include, for example, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, or potassium hydroxide. Suitable alkali metal carbonates that can be used include, for example, sodium or potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, which are hydratable salts, or mixtures thereof. Suitable alkali metal silicates or metasilicates that can be used include, for example, sodium or potassium silicate or metasilicate, which are hydratable salts.

[0058] In some embodiments, at least two alkaline sources, including an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal carbonate, and / or an alkali metal silicate or metasilicate, are included in the solid cleaning and degreasing composition. In further embodiments, at least three alkaline sources, including an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal carbonate, and an alkali metal silicate or metasilicate, are included in the solid cleaning and degreasing composition.

[0059] In some embodiments, at least two alkaline sources, including sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and / or silicic acid or sodium metasilicate, are included in the solid cleaning and degreasing composition. In further embodiments, at least three alkaline sources, including sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and silicic acid or sodium metasilicate, preferably sodium metasilicate, are included in the solid cleaning and degreasing composition. In embodiments, the alkaline source is provided as a solid.

[0060] In some embodiments, the alkaline source is included in the solid cleaning and degreasing composition in an amount of at least about 40 wt% to about 90 wt%, about 50 wt% to about 90 wt%, about 60 wt% to about 90 wt%, about 70 wt% to about 90 wt%, about 75 wt% to about 90 wt%, or about 80 wt% to about 90 wt%. Additionally, without limitation according to the present disclosure, all recited ranges include the numbers defining the range and each integer within the defined range.

[0061] In some embodiments, the alkaline source is included in the solid cleaning and degreasing composition in the following amounts of alkaline sources: (A) at least about 40 wt% to about 80 wt%, about 50 wt% to about 80 wt%, about 50 wt% to about 75 wt%, or about 55 wt% to about 70 wt% of an alkali metal hydroxide, (B) at least about 5 wt% to about 20 wt%, about 5 wt% to about 15 wt%, about 7.5 wt% to about 15 wt%, or about 10 wt% to about 15 wt% of an alkali metal carbonate, and (C) at least about 5 wt% to about 20 wt%, about 5 wt% to about 15 wt%, about 5 wt% to about 12 wt%, or about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% of an alkali metal silicate or metasilicate. Additionally, without limitation according to the present disclosure, all recited ranges include the numbers defining the range and each integer within the defined range.

[0062] Chelating agent The solid cleaning and degreasing composition includes a chelating agent. In embodiments, the chelating agent includes an aminocarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, i.e., an aminocarboxylate.

[0063] As used herein, when referring to a chelating agent, the aminocarboxylic acid or its salt may be referred to as an aminocarboxylate and may include materials that contain little or no NTA. Exemplary aminocarboxylates include, for example, N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid or its salt, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or its salt (EDTA), methylglycinediacetic acid or its salt (MGDA), hydroxyethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or its salt, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid or its salt, N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid or its salt (HEDTA), glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid or its salt (GLDA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid or its salt (DTPA), iminodisuccinic acid or its salt (IDS), ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid or its salt (EDDS), 3-hydroxy-2,2-iminodisuccinic acid or its salt (HIDS), hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid or its salt (HEIDA), and other similar acids (or their salts) having an amino group with carboxylic acid (or its salt) substitution. In certain embodiments, the aminocarboxylate is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or its salt (EDTA).

[0064] In some embodiments, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition does not contain polyepoxysuccinic acid or its salt.

[0065] In some embodiments, the chelating agent is included in the solid cleaning and degreasing composition in an amount of at least about 1 wt% to about 20 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 10 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 8 wt%, or about 1 wt% to about 6 wt%. Additionally, without limitation according to the present disclosure, all recited ranges include the numbers defining the range and each integer within the defined range.

[0066] Surfactant

[0067] The solid cleaning and degreasing composition includes a surfactant. In some embodiments, the surfactant is an anionic and / or nonionic surfactant.

[0068] In some embodiments, the surfactant is a salt of a fatty acid, an alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ether sulfonate, an alkylaryl sulfonate, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, an alkyl polyglucoside, a fatty alcohol polyether, or a combination thereof.

[0069] In some embodiments, the surfactant has a C9-C20 carbon chain, which can be straight-chain or branched-chain, and the fatty alcohol polyether surfactant has 3-8 moles of ethylene oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the surfactant is sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium myristate sulfate, sodium α-olefin sulfonate, sodium palmitate, sodium palmitoleate, sodium myristate, sodium laurate, sodium linoleate, sodium tetradecenoate, sodium lauroleate, sodium oleate, C8-C10 polyglucoside, C12-C14 polyglucoside, fatty alcohol polyether, or a combination thereof.

[0070] Without being bound by beneficial and specific mechanisms of action, including anionic surfactants, i.e., alkali metal fatty acid salts, provides the benefits of processing aids along with a soil removal effect.

[0071] In some embodiments, the surfactant is included in the solid cleaning and degreasing composition in an amount of at least about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt%, about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 10 wt%, or about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%. Additionally, without limitation according to the present disclosure, all recited ranges include the numbers defining the range and each integer within the defined range.

[0072] In some embodiments, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition does not include additional surfactants. In some embodiments, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition does not include alkyl glucoside and / or sodium lauryl sulfate.

[0073] Additional functional ingredients The components of the solid cleaning and degreasing composition can be further combined with various functional ingredients suitable for the uses disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a solid cleaning and degreasing composition comprising at least two alkali metal alkaline sources, a chelating agent, a surfactant, and any additional functional ingredients constitutes a majority, or even substantially all, of the total weight of the composition. For example, in some embodiments, there are few or no additional functional ingredients incorporated therein.

[0074] In various embodiments, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition does not contain sodium phosphate and / or sodium tripolyphosphate.

[0075] In other embodiments, additional functional ingredients may be included in the composition. The functional ingredients provide the desired properties and functionality to the composition. For the purposes of this application, the term "functional ingredient" includes materials that, when dispersed or dissolved in a use solution and / or a concentrate solution such as an aqueous solution, provide beneficial properties in a particular use. Some specific examples of functional materials are considered in more detail below, but the specific materials considered are given merely by way of example and a wide variety of other functional ingredients may be used. For example, many of the functional materials considered below relate to materials used in cleaning. However, other embodiments may include functional ingredients for use in other applications.

[0076] In some embodiments, the composition can include processing aids, additional chelating agents and / or surfactants, optical brighteners, defoamers, anti-redeposition agents, bleaching agents, solubility regulators, dispersants, metal protectants, stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, fillers, aesthetic enhancers such as fragrances and / or dyes, additional rheology and / or solubility regulators or thickeners, hydrotropes or couplers, buffers, solvents, additional detergents, and the like.

[0077] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, various additional functional ingredients may be provided in the composition in an amount of from about 0 wt% to about 40 wt%, from about 0 wt% to about 30 wt%, from about 0 wt% to about 20 wt%, from about 0 wt% to 15 wt%, from about 0.01 wt% to about 15 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 15 wt%, or from about 1 wt% to about 15 wt%. Additionally, without limitation according to the present disclosure, all recited ranges include the numbers defining the range and each integer within the defined range.

[0078] Corrosion inhibitor The solid cleaning and degreasing composition can include an effective amount of a corrosion inhibitor. Exemplary corrosion inhibitors include alkali metal silicates or hydrates thereof, alkali metal metasilicates or hydrates thereof, alkali metal gluconates, succinates, phosphinobutyrates, or combinations thereof. Exemplary alkali metal silicates include powdered, particulate, or granular silicates that are either anhydrous or preferably contain water of hydration. These silicates include sodium silicate and have an Na2O:SiO2 ratio of from about 1:1 to about 1:5, respectively.

[0079] Additional exemplary corrosion inhibitors include, for example, imidazoline compounds, quaternary ammonium compounds, pyridinium compounds, or combinations thereof. Further exemplary corrosion inhibitors include, for example, phosphate esters, monomeric or oligomeric fatty acids, alkoxylated amines, or mixtures thereof. The disclosure of such exemplary corrosion inhibitors is described in U.S. Patent No. 11,155,481, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0080] In some embodiments, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition has a corrosion inhibitor present in an amount of from about 0.01 wt% to about 20 wt%, from about 0.1 wt% to about 20 wt%, or from about 1 wt% to about 20 wt%. Additionally, without limitation according to the present disclosure, all recited ranges include the numbers defining the range and each integer within the defined range.

[0081] Processing aids and / or fillers Solid cleaning and degreasing compositions can include an effective amount of processing aids and / or fillers. Examples of processing aids can include polyols, polyalkylene glycols including polyethylene glycol, stearates (e.g., Mg or Na stearate), sorbitan esters, and / or hydroxy-containing compounds such as binders / disintegrants.

[0082] Polyethylene glycol (also referred to as PEG) refers to a polymer containing ethylene glycol monomer units of the formula -O-CH2-CH2-. Examples of polyethylene glycol can include, for example, PEG1000, PEG1500, PEG2000, PEG2500, PEG3000, PEG3350, PEG3500, PEG4000, PEG5000, PEG6000, PEG8000, etc.

[0083] In some embodiments, the binder / disintegrant includes a polycarboxylic acid polymer or a salt or derivative thereof, or a polycarboxylate polymer, which can also provide chelating benefits. As used herein, any reference to a polycarboxylic acid polymer is intended to further include its salts or derivatives as being polymers suitable for use in solid cleaning compositions. Examples of particularly suitable polycarboxylic acid polymers include, but are not limited to, polyacrylic acid polymers, polyacrylic acid polymers modified by fatty acid end groups (“modified polyacrylic acid polymers”), polymaleic acid polymers, and combinations of these polymer materials. Each salt of the polycarboxylic acid polymer may be further used in solid alkaline detergent compositions.

[0084] As used herein, a polycarboxylic acid polymer or a salt or derivative thereof is not a surfactant for the solid composition. In certain embodiments, the solid composition does not include a surfactant, but provides effective solid stability and effective detergency to the composition.

[0085] Non-limiting examples of polycarboxylic acid polymer salts include polyacrylates and derivatives such as water-soluble acrylic polymers. Such polymers include, but are not limited to, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, acrylic acid, acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer, polymaleic acid, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, hydrolyzed methacrylamide, hydrolyzed acrylamide-methacrylamide copolymer, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed polymethacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile methacrylonitrile copolymer, etc., or combinations thereof, or copolymers thereof. Water-soluble salts or partial salts of these polymers, for example, their respective alkali metals (e.g., sodium, potassium, or combinations thereof), or ammonium salts can also be used.

[0086] Examples of particularly preferred commercially available polyacrylic acid polymers and their salts and derivatives include, but are not limited to, Acusol 445ND available from Rohm & Haas LLC (Philadelphia, Pa). Examples of particularly preferred commercially available modified polyacrylic acid polymers include, but are not limited to, Alcosperse 325 available from Alco Chemical (Chattanooga, Tenn). Examples of particularly preferred commercially available polymaleic acid polymers include, but are not limited to, Belclene 200 available from Houghton Chemical Corporation (Boston, Mass.), and Aquatreat AR-801 available from Alco Chemical (Chattanooga, Tenn).

[0087] Examples of particularly preferred polyacrylic acid polymers and modified polyacrylic acid polymers, and their salts and derivatives include those having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 100,000 g / mol, preferably about 1,000 to about 25,000 g / mol. In an alternative embodiment, the solid composition can include at least two polyacrylic acid polymers having different molecular weights.

[0088] Phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymers having the following structure are also suitable polycarboxylic acid polymers, [Chemical formula] wherein R1 is a phosphino (-PH(=O)(OH)) or phosphono (-P(=O)(OH)2) end group. The molecular weight is from about 1,000 to about 50,000 g / mol, and the ratio of m:n is from about 1:50 to about 2:5. In one embodiment, the phosphino or phosphono end group comprises from about 0.1 wt% to about 12 wt% of the polycarboxylic acid copolymer. In certain embodiments, R1 is PO2H2 or PO3H2. In additional embodiments, m is an integer greater than or equal to 0 and n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The value of the maleic acid group (m) of the phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer can be zero for the homopolymer. The value of the acrylic group (n) of the phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer can be at least 2. For the copolymer, in one aspect of the invention, the sum of m + n is from about 5 to 180 and the molecular weight range of the polymer is from about 1,000 to 50,000.

[0089] As used herein, the term "phosphono end group" refers to a phosphono functional group according to the following formula, [Chemical formula] wherein each M is independently H or a cation, preferably both M are H.

[0090] Any reference to a phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or a phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer is to be understood as equally incorporating and including the phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer represented by the above formula. In some embodiments, the polyacrylic phosphono-terminated polymer or the acrylic-maleic acid phosphono-terminated copolymer has the following general formula: H2P03-(CH2-CHCOOH)n(CHCOOH-CHCOOH)m (as shown above). In some aspects, n is an integer greater than 0, and m is 0 (in the case of the polyacrylic polymer) or an integer greater than it (in the case of the acrylic-maleic acid copolymer). In the case of polyacrylate, m is zero. In some aspects, n and m are integers independently selected to give a polymer molecular weight of about 500 to 200,000 g / mol, preferably 500 to 100,000 g / mol, more preferably 1,000 to 25,000 g / mol. In some embodiments, suitable polycarboxylates having phosphono end groups are copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid having phosphono end groups, and homopolymers of acrylic acid having phosphono end groups. An example of a preferred modified polycarboxylate is a copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic acid having phosphonic acid / phosphono end groups, according to the following general formula, [Chemical formula]

[0091] having a variable molecular weight, wherein n is from about 10 mol% to 90 mol%, preferably from about 80 mol%, and m is from about 10 mol% to 90 mol%, preferably from about 20 mol%.

[0092] Phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymers are low-phosphorus, non-nitrogenous, and environmentally friendly agents, and can be synthesized as combinations of phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymers with various chain lengths. Phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymers can have polymers with various chain lengths and thus can have various molecular weights. Examples of suitable commercially available phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers include Acusol 425N available from Rohm & Haas. Acusol 425N is a low molecular weight (1900 MW) acrylic / maleic acid (80 / 20) copolymer, has phosphono end groups (about 1.6 - 1.7 wt% phosphorus), and has 50% activity. In some embodiments, low molecular weight phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers such as polymers having a molecular weight of less than about 2000 grams / mole are preferred.

[0093] Polymers containing phosphorus end groups can be present in a fully or partially neutralized form. In some aspects, the phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer is neutralized.

[0094] However, as disclosed herein, in various embodiments, the additional functional ingredients do not include phosphonates, and in some embodiments, the composition does not include phosphonates.

[0095] In some embodiments, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition has processing aids and / or fillers present in an amount of about 0.1 wt% to about 10 wt%, about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, or about 2 wt% to about 10 wt%. Additionally, without limitation according to the present disclosure, all recited ranges include the numbers defining the range and include each integer within the defined range.

[0096] Method of Use

[0097] Solid cleaning and degreasing compositions are provided for use applications such as ovens or other hard surfaces and are used to produce an aqueous cleaning composition, e.g., a use solution. Typically, the solid compositions disclosed herein dissolve quickly and completely upon contact with an aqueous solution to form a stable use solution. The stable use solution contains no solids by visual inspection.

[0098] In various embodiments, the solid composition is introduced into a cleaning cycle or into a system that requires a long processing time, such as an oven or other heavily soiled surface that requires a long contact time with the cleaning and degreasing composition. The solid composition is provided at a desired "dispensing rate", which refers to the amount of solid mass that is provided via a dispensing unit or preferably directly into the system and subjected to water contact via a metering mechanism over a period of time. The solid contacts water at a specific temperature and pressure and dissolves into a use solution for cleaning applications.

[0099] Various metering devices are suitable for metering the solid cleaning and degreasing compositions disclosed herein. The metering device can use blocks of specific dimensions and shapes and can be configured to supply water at specific temperatures and pressures. In a preferred embodiment, a metering device is not required for use of the solid cleaning and degreasing composition. In certain embodiments, the user directly introduces (or provides the solid) into the system requiring cleaning and applies water at the desired temperature and pressure to the solid within the system. For example, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition can be inserted directly into the oven chamber or other member within the oven, e.g., through a funnel, and then a water pump and spray arm distribute the use solution of the cleaning composition over all surfaces of the oven requiring cleaning.

[0100] In other aspects, the solid composition can first be used to produce an aqueous solution or suspension for delivery to a hard surface, such as an oven, for cleaning. The use solution is then applied to the inner surface of the device, e.g., through use of a spray nozzle and / or spray jet.

[0101] In any of the embodiments, using a dispensing device or a solid cleaning and degreasing composition placed directly on a system that requires cleaning, the user controls the dispensing rate of a solid, such as a tablet, via a water source and how it is applied at a particular temperature and pressure (such as through nozzles and dispensing plates). When water contacts the solid composition, the components dissolve into the use solution. In exemplary uses, the solid composition can be contacted with water at a temperature of at least about 90°F, at least about 115°F, or at least about 140°F. Pressures of at least 20 psi, 35 psi, or 50 psi can also be used for the water respectively.

[0102] In a preferred embodiment, the water temperature range is typically from about 50°F to about 160°F, the water pressure range is from about 20 psi to about 100 psi, preferably the temperature is from about 90°F to about 140°F, and the water pressure is from about 20 psi to about 60 psi. Various types of water can be used. In some aspects, tap water or municipal water having 0, 5, 17, or more grains per gallon (gpg) is used.

[0103] In the cleaning method, it is preferred to use a concentrated use solution. In one aspect, the use solution of the solid cleaning and degreasing composition provides a use concentration of at least about 0.1% to about 10%, or preferably about 0.1% to about 5% on the surface requiring cleaning.

[0104] In some embodiments, the concentrated use solution has a hydroxide alkalinity of about 500 ppm to about 50,000 ppm. In other embodiments, the concentrated use solution is about 1,000 ppm to about 100,000 ppm of total active substances, or about 1,000 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of total active substances.

[0105] In some embodiments, the solid tablet has a size of about 1 gram to about 250 grams, that is, about 30 grams to about 100 grams. In various embodiments, 1 to 2 tablets are introduced onto the surface or device requiring cleaning to generate the use solution.

[0106] The use solution generated from the solid composition provides efficient removal of dirt from surfaces, such as hard surfaces. In some embodiments, the method includes contacting the use solution of the solid composition with the surface and removing the composition from the surface after a time sufficient to facilitate dirt removal. The contacting step can continue for any suitable time. In some embodiments, the contacting step continues for at least 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, or more, and in some embodiments, the contacting step continues for about 30 minutes to about 3 hours.

[0107] The cleaning and degreasing composition can be contacted with the surface (i.e., the target for dirt removal) in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the cleaning and degreasing composition is applied by means such as spraying, foaming, dipping, etc. In preferred embodiments, the cleaning and degreasing composition does not use a dispenser. In preferred embodiments, the solid cleaning and degreasing composition can be placed directly on or in the hard surface. Thereafter, a water source such as a warm water source is applied to dissolve the solid cleaning and degreasing composition and produce a concentrated use solution. Advantageously, the use solution provides a high-concentration alkaline source for hydrolyzing dirt, i.e., fatty dirt and / or greasy dirt, and the chelating agent and surfactant further assist in dirt removal.

[0108] The method can be used to achieve any suitable dirt removal (e.g., cleaning) and / or reduction of the microbial population in and / or on the surface or target. Advantageously, the method is effective in removing fatty dirt and / or greasy dirt found in ovens. Particularly advantageously, the method is effective in removing chicken and other animal fat dirt found in ovens.

[0109] In some embodiments, the cleaning method further includes discharging the use solution containing hydrolyzed fatty and greasy dirt from the hard surface (e.g., the oven). The cleaning method may further include rinsing the surface.

[0110] In some embodiments, the method further includes the mechanical application of force, agitation, and / or pressure to assist in removing dirt from the surface and / or ensuring complete contact between the surface and the use solution of the solid cleaning composition.

[0111] In some embodiments, only a rinsing step follows the method. In other embodiments, a conventional CIP method suitable for the surface to be cleaned follows the method. In still other embodiments, a CIP method such as those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,398,781 and 8,114,222, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and are titled "Methods for Cleaning Industrial Equipment with Pre-treatment", follows the method.

[0112] The method can be used to remove various dirt from various surfaces. For example, suitable surfaces for cleaning using the method include, but are not limited to, hard surfaces including ovens. The ovens can include self-cleaning ovens (e.g., rotary ovens) or combination ovens such as those used in various food service industries. Various ovens are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,368,008, 5,640,946, and 6,410,890, European Patent No. 0652405, and German Patent No. 2842771, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0113] Further surfaces that can be treated according to the described method include fryers, smokehouses, sewer pipes, walls, floors, tableware, dishes, cutlery, stockpots and pans, heat exchange coils, and the like. Applications that require pre-soaking or extended soaking for dirt removal are particularly well-suited for the use of the solid cleaning composition. In a preferred embodiment, the surface to be treated is built to hold a certain volume of the use solution, allowing the use solution of the solid cleaning composition to be immersed for an extended period of time.

[0114] In certain embodiments, the solid cleaning and degreasing compositions provide complete soil removal from hard surfaces. In some aspects, at least about 70% soil removal, at least about 80% soil removal, at least about 85% soil removal, or at least about 90% soil removal is achieved by the methods using the solid compositions.

Examples

[0115] Examples

[0116] Embodiments of the present disclosure are further defined in the following non-limiting examples. While these examples illustrate certain specific embodiments of the disclosure, it should be understood that they are provided by way of illustration only. From the foregoing discussion and these examples, one of ordinary skill in the art can identify the essential characteristics of the disclosure and make various changes and modifications to the embodiments of the disclosure to adapt it to various usage scenarios and conditions without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, various modifications to the embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description in addition to those shown and described herein. Such modifications are also intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.

[0117] Example 1 The cleaning performance of the solid cleaning and degreasing compositions was evaluated to assess effectiveness based on variations in the alkaline source used in the compositions. For each test, a 3% solution was prepared from the formulations shown in Table 2.

[0118]

Table 2

[0119] Metal test pieces soiled with oil, starch, protein, and grease were heated at 200 °C for 15 minutes to make the soil difficult to remove. These were evaluated using the formulations of Tests 1 and 2 described in Example 1. The test pieces were immersed in the composition at 60 °C for 30 minutes according to the oven cleaning process.

[0120] When the image was taken by a photograph, as shown in Figure 1, it was shown that when evaluated by visual measurement, the increase in alkalinity in Test 2 improved the stain removal.

[0121] Example 2 As shown in Table 3, further formulation changes were made to compare embodiments of the solid cleaning and degreasing compositions with competing commercial products. The same test method as described in Example 1 was used.

[0122]

Table 3

[0123] The results are shown in Figure 2, and the images taken by the photograph show that the increase in alkalinity and the inclusion of alkali metal unsaturated fatty acid salts provide improved cleaning. While the three test pieces on the right have only an 82% stain removal rate, the three test pieces on the left show an 89% stain removal rate. The results were quantified by weighing the stain test pieces before and after cleaning (compared to the weight of a non-stained test piece), and then the stain removal rate was calculated according to the formula: (weight of the cleaned test piece - weight of the non-stained test piece) / (weight of the stained test piece - weight of the non-stained test piece).

[0124] Example 3 A commercially available oven cleaning product was evaluated in an immersion test in a 1000 mL beaker. The oven cleaning product contains sodium hydroxide and silicate. When dissolved and immersed to evaluate the cleaning effect, a significant amount of undissolved lubricant, such as silica or talc, remains from the composition that forms a precipitate at the bottom of the beaker. As a result, an unwanted film remains on the treated surface. It is highly undesirable for a film and precipitate to remain after the surface is cleaned.

[0125] The comparative formulations shown in Table 4 did not produce any film and / or undissolved solid precipitate in the beaker immersion test.

[0126]

Table 4

[0127] The present invention has been described in conjunction with its detailed description, but it should be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not to limit the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims. All publications discussed and / or referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0128] In a particular form, or from the perspective of means for performing the disclosed functions, or methods or processes for achieving the disclosed results, the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the features disclosed in the accompanying drawings, may be used, as appropriate, separately or in any combination of such features, to implement the present invention in its various forms.

Claims

**Claim 1** A solid washing composition, wherein the composition comprises: (a) at least two alkali metal alkaline sources including an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal metasilicate, or a combination thereof; (b) a chelating agent including an aminocarboxylic acid or a salt thereof; (c) a surfactant including a salt of a fatty acid, an alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ether sulfonate, an alkylaryl sulfonate, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, an alkyl polyglucoside, a fatty alcohol polyether, or a combination thereof. **Claim 2** The composition according to claim 1, comprising about 50 to 90% by weight of the at least two alkali metal alkaline sources, about 1 to 10% by weight of the at least one chelating agent, and about 0.5 to 5% by weight of the surfactant. **Claim 3** The at least two alkali metal alkaline sources are an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkali metal carbonate, and an alkali metal metasilicate, the alkali metal hydroxide constitutes about 40 to 80% by weight of the composition, the alkali metal carbonate constitutes about 5 to 20% by weight of the composition, and the alkali metal metasilicate constitutes about 5 to 20% by weight of the composition. The composition according to claim 1 or 2. **Claim 4** The chelating agent is an aminocarboxylate including methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA), N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), salts of ethylenediaminetetrapropionic acid triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid, or a combination thereof. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3. **Claim 5** The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the surfactant is an alkali metal unsaturated fatty acid salt. **Claim 6** The surfactant has a C9-C20 carbon chain which may be linear or branched, and the fatty alcohol polyether surfactant has 3 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4. **Claim 7** The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the surfactant is sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium myristate sulfate, sodium α-olefin sulfonate, sodium palmitate, sodium palmitoleate, sodium myristate, sodium laurate, sodium linoleate, sodium tetradecenoate, sodium lauroleate, sodium oleate, C8-C10 polyglucoside, C12-C14 polyglucoside, fatty alcohol polyether, or a combination thereof.

8. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising about 0.01 to 10% by weight of a corrosion inhibitor.

9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the corrosion inhibitor is an alkali metal silicate, an alkali metal metasilicate, an alkali metal gluconate, or a combination thereof.

10. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising about 0.5 to 20% by weight of a processing aid and / or a filler.

11. The composition according to claim 10, wherein the processing aid comprises polyethylene glycol, Mg stearate or Na stearate, and / or a binder / disintegrant comprising a polycarboxylic acid polymer or a salt thereof or a polycarboxylate polymer.

12. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the polycarboxylic acid polymer or a salt thereof or a polycarboxylate polymer has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 25,000 g / mol, or the composition comprises a combination of polyacrylic acid polymers or salts thereof or polycarboxylate polymers having different molecular weights of about 1,000 to about 25,000 g / mol.

13. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the composition does not contain a phosphate and / or an additional surfactant.

14. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the solid is a compressed solid.

15. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the solid is a tablet composition having a weight of about 1 gram to about 100 grams.

16. A method for cleaning a hard surface, the method comprising: generating a use solution of the solid cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 15; A method comprising providing the use solution to a hard surface or object in need of cleaning and cleaning dirt from the hard surface or object.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising rinsing the hard surface or object after cleaning the dirt with the use solution of the solid cleaning composition.

18. The composition according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the pH of the use solution is from about 10 to about 13.

5.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the hard surface is metal.

20. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the dirt to be removed comprises carbonized, oily and / or fatty dirt.

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