Detergents and cleaning compositions having improved degreasing power

Abstract

The present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions comprising a degreasing agent, an effective amount of a specific type of degreasing enhancer, such as an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, and a surfactant, as well as the use of the aforementioned detergents and cleaning compositions for preparing detergents and cleaning products for household, institutional and industrial applications. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for treating stained and / or soiled substrates using the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of specific enhancing substances, as defined herein, for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions and for improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions and improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions by adding an effective amount of a specific degreasing enhancer, for example, an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, to the aforementioned detergents and cleaning compositions. Finally, the present invention relates to the use of at least one degreasing enhancer, for example, an alkanediol as defined herein, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers as defined herein, as a substitute for a degreasing agent and / or a solubilizer.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of detergents and cleaning compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions comprising specific hydroxyl compounds and having improved degreasing power and improved cleaning performance.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions comprising a degreasing agent, an effective amount of a particular type of degreasing enhancer, such as an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, and a surfactant, as well as the use of the aforementioned detergents and cleaning compositions for preparing detergents and cleaning products for household, institutional and industrial applications. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for treating stained and / or soiled substrates using the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of certain substances, as defined herein, for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and / or cleaning compositions and for improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions and / or improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions by adding an effective amount of a specific degreasing enhancer, for example, an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, to the aforementioned detergents and cleaning compositions. Finally, the present invention relates to the use of at least one degreasing enhancer, for example, an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing agents, as a degreasing agent and / or a substitute for a solubilizer. [Background technology]

[0003] Detergents and cleaning compositions, particularly those for laundry and textile cleaning, dishwashing, etc., are mainly composed of surfactants or mixtures of surfactants, whose primary role is to remove dirt and water-insoluble substances such as grease from surfaces such as fabrics, clothing, dishes, and garments, as well as hard surfaces such as metals, plastics, glass, and ceramics. In addition to surfactants, modern detergents and cleaning formulations consist of builders, chelating agents, co-builders, and other polymer additives used for specific washing or cleaning effects such as stain release, wrinkle prevention, color transfer prevention, and rheological modification. In addition to the aforementioned components, one or more enzymes and enzyme stabilizers are added to detergents and cleaning compositions as further active substances having a cleaning action.

[0004] Degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions are solvent-based or solvent-containing detergents and cleaning compositions. They are chemical products primarily used for removing water-insoluble substances such as greases, paints, oils, and lubricants. Degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions are manufactured in particular for the removal of greases or grease-type dyes and / or stains, such as greasey or oily dyes, greasey or oily stains, mayonnaise, frying oil, beef tallow, lard, dirty motor oil, lanolin, lipstick, and mineral oil. One of the more demanding applications is the cleaning of cooked greases and oils. Deep fryers accumulate large amounts of solidified or cooked greases, which must be removed regularly.

[0005] For this purpose, degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions contain a degreaser or degreasing agent.

[0006] While many different degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions exist that can remove such deposits, they have many negative side effects. Many of these degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions are highly alkaline or acidic. Therefore, they corrode metals and are undesirable as general-purpose cleaners.

[0007] Furthermore, degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions used to remove grease or oil also often use highly volatile solvents. These are undesirable because they have high VOCs. Degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions should preferably have low VOCs and, more preferably, a relatively high flash point to avoid the risk of fire.

[0008] The detergent and cleaning industry has a persistent need for detergents and cleaning compositions that can overcome these negative aspects.

[0009] In addition, there is a need for degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions that are not overly complex, are highly effective, and avoid the use of ingredients that are undesirable from an environmental and health perspective.

[0010] For the time being, degreasing detergents and cleaning products must meet the heightened consumer expectations regarding improved cleaning performance.

[0011] Therefore, there is still a need for detergents and cleaning compositions with improved degreasing performance, as well as substances that have the ability to improve the degreasing power of detergents and cleaning compositions, and thus improve the removal of oils and greases.

[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a multipurpose detergent and cleaning composition having excellent degreasing power and improved cleaning performance.

[0013] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for treating stained and / or soiled substrates that provides enhanced and improved degreasing and cleaning performance.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a substance that can enhance the degreasing power of detergents and cleaning compositions and improve the cleaning performance of detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for increasing the degreasing power of detergents and cleaning compositions and improving the overall cleaning performance of detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0016] Finally, another object of the present invention is to provide a novel degreasing material.

[0017] Surprisingly, it has been found that adding an effective amount of a specific type of degreasing enhancer, such as an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, to degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions containing a degreasing agent or a mixture of degreasing agents has a positive effect in that it improves the degreasing power of the degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Detergents and cleaning compositions containing a combination of a degreasing agent, a degreasing enhancer, and a surfactant exhibit superior degreasing power compared to degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions that do not contain such degreasing enhancers.

[0018] Surprisingly, it has been found that by adding an effective amount of a specific type of degreasing enhancer, such as an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, to a degreasing detergent and cleaning composition containing a degreasing agent or a mixture of degreasing agents, the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or stains is improved compared to detergents and cleaning compositions that do not contain such enhancers.

[0019] Therefore, degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions containing a degreasing agent and a surfactant in combination with certain types of degreasing enhancers, such as alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylates, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or mixtures of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, exhibit improved overall cleaning performance compared to detergents and cleaning compositions that do not contain such degreasing enhancers.

[0020] Conversely, for the sake of enhancing the cleaning effect, the amount of degreasing agents and other components used to increase the cleaning effect in these detergents and cleaning compositions can be reduced without losing cleaning performance. Detergents and cleaning compositions exhibit improved stain removal, and therefore improved cleaning performance, even at low concentrations of degreasing enhancers. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0021] The present invention has been made in view of the above aspects. To solve the above requirements, the present invention provides detergents and cleaning compositions having both improved degreasing power and improved cleaning performance with respect to the improved removal of oily or greasey stains and / or stains, in particular degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0022] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention, in a first aspect, provides a detergent and a cleaning composition, (a1) At least one degreasing agent selected from the group consisting of solvents and solubilizers; (b1) 1,2-heptanediol; (c1) at least one surfactant; and (d1) An enzyme preparation comprising at least one enzyme or at least one enzyme of any choice; or (a2) At least one degreasing agent selected from the group consisting of solvents and solubilizers; (b2) 2,3-heptanediol; (c2) at least one surfactant; and (d2) An enzyme preparation comprising at least one enzyme or at least one enzyme, of the choice of any one of the two; or (a3) At least one degreasing agent selected from the group consisting of solvents and solubilizers; (b3) A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol; (c3) at least one surfactant; and (d3) optionally comprising or consisting of at least one enzyme or an enzyme preparation containing at least one enzyme; At least one degreasing agent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of n-propanol or isopropanol, butanol, glycol, propanediol or butanediol, glycerol, diglycol, propyl diglycol, butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether or propylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether or dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, methoxytriglycol, ethoxytriglycol, butoxytriglycol, 1-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol-t-butyl ether, and any mixture thereof; and / or The present invention provides detergents and cleaning compositions in which at least one degreasing agent is a solubilizer selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants having an HLB value of 13 to 20, selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35), potassium oleate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and any mixture thereof.

[0023] Alternatively, in another embodiment, the present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions, (a) At least one degreasing agent selected from the group consisting of solvents and solubilizers; (b) (b I) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV Ethylhexylglycerin; (b V ) Tropolone; and At least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof; (c) at least one surfactant; and (d) comprising or consisting of at least one enzyme or an enzyme preparation comprising at least one enzyme; At least one degreasing agent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of n-propanol or isopropanol, butanol, glycol, propanediol or butanediol, glycerol, diglycol, propyl diglycol, butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether or propylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether or dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, methoxytriglycol, ethoxytriglycol, butoxytriglycol, 1-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol-t-butyl ether, and any mixture thereof; and / or Provided are detergents and cleaning compositions in which at least one degreasing agent is a solubilizer selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants having an HLB value of 13 to 20, selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35), potassium oleate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and any mixtures thereof.

[0024] In a further aspect, the present invention provides the use of the detergent and cleaning composition as a detergent and cleaning product or for the preparation of a detergent and cleaning product.

[0025] In a further aspect, the present invention provides a detergent and cleaning product.

[0026] In still a further aspect, the present invention is a method for treating a dyed and / or soiled substrate, comprising: - treating the substrate with the detergent and cleaning composition or product according to the present invention; and - rinsing the substrate in water to remove the composition or product described above.

[0027] [[ID=?]] In another aspect, the present invention is 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or (b I ) at least one straight-chain alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or at least one first straight-chain alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second straight-chain alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first straight-chain alkanediol; (b II ) glyceryl caprylate; (b III ) 4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV ) ethylhexylglycerin; (b V ) Tropolone; and At least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof; This invention provides a use for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, and / or for improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions containing degreasing agents and surfactants.

[0028] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, and / or improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, (i) A step of providing a detergent and cleaning composition containing a degreasing agent and a surfactant; (ii) an effective amount of 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV Ethylhexylglycerin; (b V ) Tropolone; and The present invention provides a method comprising the step of adding an effective amount of at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixtures thereof.

[0029] In the last aspect, the present invention relates to 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or a mixture comprising 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, as a degreasing agent and / or a substitute for a solubilizing agent, or (b I) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV Ethylhexylglycerin; (b V ) Tropolone; and The present invention provides the use of at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof.

[0030] The present invention is defined in the appended claims. However, the invention itself, preferred variations thereof, other purposes and advantages are also evident from the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended examples and drawings.

[0031] All percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.

[0032] Numerical ranges listed herein and given in the form "x~y" include the value that defines the range and each integer within the defined range. If multiple preferred numerical ranges are specified in this form, all ranges created by combining various endpoints are also included.

[0033] In the context of this invention, the term "comprising" means that the specified components are essential, but other components may be added and still be included in this invention.

[0034] The term "consisting of" as used in accordance with the present invention means that the total amount of components (a) to (d) in the composition totals 100% by weight based on the total weight of the detergent and cleaning composition, and that the subject matter is closed-ended and may only include the explicitly listed limitations.

[0035] Whenever the word "comprising" is used, it is intended to encompass both meanings as alternatives; that is, unless the context otherwise indicates, the meaning can be either "comprising" or "consisting of."

[0036] In the context of the present invention, the term "at least one" means that the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention may contain one or a mixture of two, three, four, five, six or more different components from those following the aforementioned terms.

[0037] The terms "and / or" indicate that a combination exists or that an alternative is provided.

[0038] The term "optional" means that the following components may, but are not required to, be present in the detergent and cleaning composition, and that the description includes variants containing the compound or variants in which the compound is not present.

[0039] In the context of the present invention, the term “boosting” means “improvement,” “enhancement,” or “increase.” Correspondingly, “boosting agent” is either a single agent or a mixture of substances that can “improve,” “enhance,” or “increase” a particular feature or property as defined herein. In particular, the boosting agents according to the present invention improve, enhance, or increase the degreasing performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, and thus result in improved cleaning performance of detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0040] In the context of the present invention, the term "substrate" means fabrics, textiles, laundry, dishes, clothing, carpets, medical or dental instruments, hard surfaces, etc., that can be treated by a washing or cleaning process.

[0041] As used herein, the term "alkyl" refers to saturated hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms, including linear alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, 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., cycloalkyl-substituted alkyl groups).

[0042] Unless otherwise specified, the term "alkyl" includes both unsubstituted alkyls and substituted alkyls. 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. Examples of such substituents include alkenyls, alkynyls, halogens, hydroxyls, alkylcarbonyloxys, arylcarbonyloxys, alkoxycarbonyloxys, aryloxycarbonyloxys, carboxylates, alkylcarbonyls, arylcarbonyls, alkoxycarbonyls, aminocarbonyls, alkylaminocarbonyls, dialkylaminocarbonyls, alkylthiocarbonyls, alkoxyls, phosphates, phosphonates, cyanos, aminos, iminos, sulfhydryls, alkylthios, arylthiols, thiocarboxylates, sulfates, alkylsulfinyls, sulfonates, and nitros. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0043] [Figure 1] This figure shows the degreasing power of different degreasing enhancers in degreasing cleaners according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a photograph showing a dirty sample carrier that has not been cleaned. [Figure 3] This photograph shows the cleaning performance of a degreasing cleaner (comparative example) that does not use a degreasing enhancer on a soiled sample carrier after the cleaning process. [Figure 4] This photograph shows the cleaning performance of a degreasing cleaner containing 1,2-pentanediol on a soiled sample carrier after the cleaning process. [Figure 5] This photograph shows the cleaning performance of a degreasing cleaner containing 1,2-hexanediol on a soiled sample carrier after the cleaning process. [Figure 6] This photograph shows the cleaning performance of a degreasing cleaner containing 1,2-heptanediol on a soiled sample carrier after the cleaning process. [Figure 7] This photograph shows the cleaning performance of a degreasing cleaner containing 1,2-octanediol on a soiled sample carrier after the cleaning process. [Figure 8] This figure shows the degreasing power of a degreasing cleaner containing a degreasing enhancer according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0044] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions, and more particularly to degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, (a1) At least one degreasing agent selected from the group consisting of solvents and solubilizers; (b1) 1,2-heptanediol; (c1) at least one surfactant; and (d1) optionally comprising or comprising at least one enzyme or an enzyme preparation comprising at least one enzyme; the degreasing agent is selected from the group of solvents and solubilizers as defined herein.

[0045] Alternatively, in a first aspect of the present invention, the present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions, and in particular to degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, (a2) At least one degreasing agent selected from the group consisting of solvents and solubilizers; (b2) 2,3-heptanediol; (c2) at least one surfactant; and (d2) Optionally comprising or consisting of at least one enzyme or an enzyme preparation comprising at least one enzyme; the degreasing agent is selected from the group of solvents and solubilizers as defined herein.

[0046] In a further alternative, the present invention relates in a first aspect to detergents and cleaning compositions, and in particular to degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, (a3) At least one degreasing agent selected from the group consisting of solvents and solubilizers; (b3) A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol; (c3) at least one surfactant; and (d3) Optionally comprising or consisting of at least one enzyme or an enzyme preparation comprising at least one enzyme; the degreasing agent is selected from the group of solvents and solubilizers as defined herein.

[0047] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions, and in particular to degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, (a) At least one degreasing agent selected from the group consisting of solvents and solubilizers; (b) (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (bIV Ethylhexylglycerin; (b V ) Tropolone; and At least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof; (c) at least one surfactant; and (d) comprising or consisting of at least one enzyme or an enzyme preparation comprising at least one enzyme; At least one degreasing agent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of n-propanol or isopropanol, butanol, glycol, propanediol or butanediol, glycerol, diglycol, propyl diglycol, butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether or propylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether or dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, methoxytriglycol, ethoxytriglycol, butoxytriglycol, 1-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol-t-butyl ether, and any mixture thereof; and / or At least one degreasing agent is a solubilizer selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants having an HLB value of 13 to 20, selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35), potassium oleate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and any mixture thereof.

[0048] In a more preferred variation, the present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions in which at least one linear alkanediol has a carbon chain length of 5 to 10 carbon atoms, and more preferably at least one linear alkanediol has a carbon chain length of 5 to 9 carbon atoms.

[0049] The term “detergents and cleaning compositions” as intended herein is understood to mean all products that are suitable for washing or cleaning and are commonly used. Detergents and cleaning compositions consist primarily of surfactants or mixtures of surfactants. In addition to surfactants, detergents and cleaning compositions typically consist of builders and chelating agents, cobuilders, and other polymer additives used for specific effects such as wrinkle prevention, color transfer prevention, and rheological modification. Detergents and cleaning compositions refer to compositions used to remove undesirable compounds from items to be cleaned, such as textiles (e.g., fabrics, clothing), dishes, floors, and hard surfaces (e.g., metals, plastics, and ceramics). These deposits can be caused by dirt or stains, bacteria, and other contaminants. Detergents are the most commonly used cleaning compositions for textiles. Detergents and cleaning compositions may be used for both household cleaning, facility cleaning, and industrial cleaning. Detergents and cleaning compositions also contain disinfectants that kill all vegetative cells, including recognized pathogenic microorganisms. Detergents and cleaning compositions may be used by the detergent composition itself, by detergent products, or by their solutions.

[0050] The detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention are preferably used to remove stains and / or stain deposits from textiles, fabrics, laundry, dishes, clothing, medical and dental instruments, hard surfaces, and the like.

[0051] These deposits can be formed by stains caused by tea, chocolate, coffee, grass, red wine, grass / mud, fruit juice, blood, tomato puree, unused motor oil, balsamic salad dressing, cooked beef tallow, French squeeze mustard, makeup, etc., or by stains caused by grease, starch-based stains such as rice, pasta, protein-based stains such as egg yolk, chocolate, mayonnaise, lipstick starch-based stains, etc., and other stains remaining on the surface. Thus, deposits are any form of undesirable residue such as dirt, filth, food, grease, etc.

[0052] In particular, the cleaning agent and cleaning composition of the present invention are degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions mainly used for removing water-insoluble substances such as oils, greases, paints, oils, and lubricants.

[0053] Degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions are manufactured, in particular, for the removal of oils and greases or oily dyes and / or stains, such as oily or greasy dyes, oily or greasy stains, mayonnaise, frying oil, beef tallow, lard, dirty motor oil, lanolin, lipstick, mineral oil, and the like.

[0054] The terms “detergents and cleaning compositions” and “degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions” are used interchangeably herein, and the term “detergents and cleaning compositions” also includes degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions when used in isolation.

[0055] Within the scope of the present invention, the terms “cleaning” and “washing” are used synonymously and refer to the reduction and / or removal of deposits, i.e., the removal of undesirable compounds from items being washed, such as tableware / dishes and other kitchenware, e.g., cutlery / silverware, pots, pans, bakeware, etc.

[0056] In the context of the present invention, the term “substrate” includes fabrics, textiles, laundry, dishes, clothing, carpets, any hard surface, medical and dental instruments, etc., which may be contaminated with dyes and / or stains and may be treated by washing or a washing process.

[0057] As used herein, the term “fabric cleaning” includes detergents and cleaning compositions or products designed for cleaning dyed and / or soiled materials. Such compositions or products include, but are not limited to, laundry detergent compositions, fabric softening compositions, fabric strengthening compositions, fabric freshening compositions, pre-washes, pre-wash treatments, laundry additives, spray products, dry cleaning agents or compositions, wash rinse additives, cleaning additives, post-rinse fabric treatments, ironing aids, unit-dose formulations, delayed-delivery formulations, detergents contained on or in porous substrates or nonwoven sheets, fibrous substrates, preferably the aforementioned fibers containing activators, and other suitable forms that may be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0058] As used herein, the term “fabric care” refers to a variety of fabric benefits, including smoothness, shape retention, elasticity, color preservation, and pilling control.

[0059] As used herein, the terms “dishware” or “ware” refer to solid surfaces such as countertops, tiles, floors, walls, panels, windows, plumbing, kitchen and bathroom furniture, appliances, engines, circuit boards, and tableware. Examples of hard surfaces include healthcare surfaces such as medical or dental instruments, medical or dental devices, electronic devices used to monitor patient health, and the surfaces of floors, walls, or fixtures in structures where healthcare is performed, as well as food processing surfaces such as the surfaces of tools, machines, equipment, and structures used as part of food processing, preparation, or storage activities. In the context of the present invention, the term “ware” refers to items such as eating and cooking utensils, tableware, and other hard surfaces such as showers, sinks, toilet bathtubs, countertops, windows, mirrors, and floors.

[0060] As used herein, the term “surface” refers to solid surfaces such as countertops, tiles, floors, walls, panels, windows, plumbing, kitchen and bathroom furniture, appliances, engines, circuit boards, and tableware. Examples of hard surfaces include healthcare surfaces such as medical or dental instruments, medical or dental devices, electronic devices used to monitor patient health, and the surfaces of floors, walls, or fixtures in structures where healthcare is performed, as well as food processing surfaces such as the surfaces of tools, machinery, equipment, and structures used as part of food processing, preparation, or storage activities.

[0061] Surprisingly, it has been found that the addition of the degreasing enhancers specified herein or mixtures of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers to detergents and cleaning compositions enhances, i.e., improves or enhances, the degreasing performance of such detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0062] Based on these advantageous effects, the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention provide both improved degreasing activity, improved removal of oily or greasey stains and / or dirt, and thus improved overall cleaning performance.

[0063] Degreasing agent / ingredients (a1, a2, a3, a)

[0064] The detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises at least one degreasing agent or degreasing agent as component (a1, a2, a3, b).

[0065] Degreasing agents are chemicals that dissolve water-insoluble substances from textiles (e.g., fabrics, clothing), tableware, apparel, floors, medical and dental instruments, and hard surfaces (e.g., metals, plastics, and ceramics). They are used to remove grease, dirt, oil, and other oil-based contaminants from various substrates, including automotive parts and various metal parts.

[0066] At least one degreasing agent according to the present invention is either a solvent and / or a solubilizer.

[0067] In the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, one or more solvents are used in combination with one or more solubilizing agents in order to improve the degreasing effect and the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or dirt.

[0068] According to the present invention, at least one solvent is selected from the group consisting of n-propanol, isopropanol, butanol, glycol, propanediol, butanediol, glycerol, diglycol, propyl diglycol, butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether or propylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, methoxytriglycol, ethoxytriglycol, butoxytriglycol, 1-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol-t-butyl ether, and any mixture thereof.

[0069] According to the present invention, at least one solubilizer is selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants having an HLB value of 13 to 20, selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35), potassium oleate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and any mixture thereof.

[0070] Nonionic surfactants having an HLB value of 13 to 20 are different from the nonionic surfactants of components (c1, c2, c3, c) of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention.

[0071] In a more preferred variation, the solvent is selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, propanediol, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol t-butyl ether, and any mixture thereof.

[0072] In a more preferred modification, the solubilizer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35), potassium oleate, and any mixture thereof.

[0073] The aforementioned degreasing agents are commonly used in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions and are known in the art.

[0074] The specific degreasing agents described above may be used in the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention, either alone or in the form of a mixture of two, three, or more degreasing agents.

[0075] Degreasing enhancer / ingredients (b1, b2, b3, b)

[0076] The detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention further comprises at least one degreasing enhancer as component (b1, b2, b3, b).

[0077] In a preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises a mixture of degreasing enhancers.

[0078] Degreasing enhancers within the scope of the present invention include (b1) 1,2-heptanediol; (b2) 2,3-heptanediol; (b3) a mixture of 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol; (b I (b) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b) II) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV ) Ethylhexylglycerin; (b V ) Tropolone; and any mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers.

[0079] The components identified above (b1, b2, b3, b) were found to efficiently improve the performance of degreasing agents or mixtures of degreasing agents in detergents and cleaning compositions. In addition, the components identified above (b1, b2, b3, b) were found to significantly enhance the degreasing performance of detergents and cleaning compositions by improving the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or stains from substrates such as laundry, fabrics, textiles, dishes, clothing, surfaces, and medical and dental instruments. Due to these effects, the components identified above (b1, b2, b3, b) were found to efficiently improve the overall cleaning performance of detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention.

[0080] Alkanediol (b1, b2, b3, b I )

[0081] Component (b) in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the first aspect of the present invention is (b1) 1,2-heptanediol or (b2) 2,3-heptanediol, or (b3) both heptanediols, i.e., a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol + 2,3-heptanediol.

[0082] 1,2-Heptanediol belongs to the category of alkanediols and is a linear alkanediol with the general formula: [ka] It has a carbon chain with seven carbon atoms, and the two functional OH groups of the alkanediol are located at the alpha and beta positions, chemically bonded to the C1 and C2 carbon atoms in the alkanediol chain.

[0083] 2,3-Heptanediol belongs to the category of alkanediols and is a linear alkanediol with the general formula: [ka] It has a carbon chain with seven carbon atoms, and the two functional OH groups of the alkanediol are located in the beta and gamma positions, chemically bonded to the C2 and C3 carbon atoms in the alkanediol chain.

[0084] Alternatively, the degreasing enhancer (b) in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention is (b I ) Selected from the group consisting of at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or a mixture comprising at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol.

[0085] Alkanediols are a class of organic compounds belonging to the glycol family, i.e., the alcohol family, in which two hydroxyl (-OH) groups are bonded to different carbon atoms in the carbon chain of a glycol molecule.

[0086] Straight-chain 1,2-alkanediols have been used as multifunctional surfactants for over 15 years. Short-chain 1,2-alkanediols are amphiphilic compounds and are therefore soluble in both water and oil, as are 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, and 1,2-heptanediol. In contrast, 1,2-octanediol is a solid and tends to precipitate or recrystallize in oily solutions and water at ≥0.5% concentrations. On the other hand, 1,2-decanediol is a solid and soluble only in oil. Apart from moisturizing, some 1,2-alkanediols are used as viscosity modifiers.

[0087] Degreasing enhancer for detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention (b IIn the first alternative, ) is at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms.

[0088] Furthermore, in this alternative embodiment, a second alternative is used, which includes a degreasing enhancer (b I The invention may include a first linear alkanediol combined with a second linear alkanediol, preferably having at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms (preferably 5 to 10 carbon atoms) and at least one second linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms (preferably 5 to 10 carbon atoms). Thus, the invention also includes mixtures comprising the first and second alkanediols described herein.

[0089] Since the first linear alkanediol of the present invention can be selected from the same list and type of compounds as the first alternative linear alkanediol in other embodiments, the following refers to linear alkanediols in general, which may also be the first linear alkanediol. In mixtures of the first and second linear alkanediols, where they are specifically different, the terms "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the two alkanediol components.

[0090] As used herein, the phrases “at least one linear alkanediol” or “at least one first linear alkanediol” mean that the composition may contain one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or two or more linear alkanediols, or two or more linear alkanediols or two or more first linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, i.e., two, three, four or more different linear alkanediols or first linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms.

[0091] The present invention provides for at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol, which consists of a chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms (preferably a carbon chain of 5 to 10 carbon atoms) linked to one another by monocovalent bonds with two OH functional groups bonded to two different carbon atoms in the chain.

[0092] The detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention contains at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, which is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, decanediol, undecanediol, dodecanediol, tridecanediol, and tetradecanediol.

[0093] In a preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol has a carbon chain of 5 to 13 carbon atoms and is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, decanediol, undecanediol, dodecanediol, and tridecanediol.

[0094] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol has a carbon chain of 5 to 12 carbon atoms and is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, decanediol, undecanediol, and dodecanediol.

[0095] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol has a carbon chain of 5 to 10 carbon atoms and is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, and decanediol.

[0096] In a preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol has a carbon chain of 5 to 9 carbon atoms in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention and is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, octanediol, and nonanediol.

[0097] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of alkanediols having 5 to 8 fewer carbon atoms, i.e., pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of alkanediols having 6 to 8 carbon atoms, i.e., hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of alkanediols having 7 and 8 carbon atoms, i.e., heptanediol, octanediol, and any mixtures thereof.

[0098] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of alkanediols having 9 to 14 higher carbon atoms, i.e., nonanediols, decanediols, undecanediols, dodecanediols, tridecanediols, tetradecanediols and any mixtures thereof, or alkanediols having 9 to 13 carbon atoms, i.e., nonanediols, decanediols, undecanediols, dodecanediols, tridecanediols and any mixtures thereof. Selected from the group consisting of, or selected from the group consisting of alkanediols having 9 to 12 carbon atoms, i.e., nonanediols, decanediols, undecanediols, dodecanediols and any mixtures thereof, or selected from the group consisting of alkanediols having 9 to 11 carbon atoms, i.e., nonanediols, decanediols, undecanediols and any mixtures thereof, or selected from the group consisting of alkanediols having 9 and 10 carbon atoms, i.e., nonanediols, decanediols and any mixtures thereof.

[0099] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is one of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, or octanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0100] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is one of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0101] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is any nonanediol, decanediol, undecanediol, or dodecanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0102] In the most preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least the first linear alkanediol is a heptanediol.

[0103] In a second alternative, detergents and cleaning compositions according to other embodiments of the present invention include, as a degreasing enhancer (b), a mixture comprising at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms (preferably 5 to 10 carbon atoms) and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms (preferably 5 to 10 carbon atoms) different from the first linear alkanediol.

[0104] This means that the degreasing enhancer (b) is an alkanediol mixture comprising at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more, i.e., two, three, four or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms. In this alternative, the first linear alkanediol may be any of the alkanediols described herein, in general for linear alkanediols, and in particular for the first alternative of other embodiments.

[0105] For example, a mixture may contain one first linear alkanediol and one, two, three, or more second linear alkanediols; or a mixture may contain two first linear alkanediols and one, two, three, or more second linear alkanediols, provided that in each mixture, the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol are different from one another.

[0106] The second linear alkanediol preferably consists of a chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms linked to each other by single covalent bonds, each having two OH functional groups bonded to two different carbon atoms in the chain.

[0107] The detergent and cleaning composition according to another aspect of the present invention includes at least one second linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, which is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, decanediol, undecanediol, dodecanediol, tridecanediol, and tetradecanediol.

[0108] In a preferred variation, at least one second linear alkanediol has a carbon chain of 5 to 13 carbon atoms and is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, decanediol, undecanediol, dodecanediol, and tridecanediol.

[0109] In a more preferred variation, at least one second linear alkanediol has a carbon chain of 5 to 10 carbon atoms and is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, and decanediol.

[0110] In a more preferred variation, at least one second linear alkanediol has a carbon chain of 5 to 10 carbon atoms and is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, and decanediol, most preferably heptanediol, octanediol, and nonanediol.

[0111] The phrase "different from each other" means that the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol in the mixture differ in terms of the length of their carbon chains, i.e., the number of carbon atoms, or in terms of their structural isomers.

[0112] Similarly, the number of carbon atoms in the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol in the mixture may be the same. For example, the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol may have a carbon chain of seven carbon atoms, but they may differ with respect to their structural isomers or their stereoisomers.

[0113] If both the first and second alkanediols are, for example, heptanediols, then, according to the second alternative of another embodiment, the second linear alkanediol, heptanediol, is a different structural isomer or stereoisomer from the first linear alkanediol.

[0114] In a preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises a mixture of at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, wherein the number of carbon atoms in the first and second alkanediols is the same or different.

[0115] When both the first and second alkanediols have the same number of carbon atoms, such a combination of alkanediols is also referred to herein as a “homoalkanediol mixture” or “homocombination.” For example, the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol have carbon chains of seven carbon atoms, but they differ with respect to their structural isomers or their stereoisomers.

[0116] When the first and second alkanediols have different numbers of carbon atoms, such a combination of alkanediols is also referred to herein as a “heteroalkanediol mixture” or “heterocombination.” For example, the first linear alkanediol has a carbon chain of seven carbon atoms, and the second linear alkanediol has a carbon chain of eight carbon atoms. However, beyond this, the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol may differ with respect to their structural isomers or their stereoisomers.

[0117] In a preferred variation, the present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions in which at least one linear alkanediol or a first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, decanediol, undecanediol, dodecanediol, tridecanediol and tetradecanediol, and / or one or more second linear alkanediols are selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, nonanediol, decanediol, undecanediol, dodecanediol, tridecanediol and tetradecanediol.

[0118] Particularly preferred is a degreasing enhancer mixture in which at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from alkanediols having a lower number of carbon atoms (5 to 8), and one or more second alkanediols are selected from alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms (9 to 14).

[0119] Most preferably, the degreasing enhancer mixture comprises at least a first linear alkanediol selected from the group consisting of pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, octanediol, and any mixtures thereof, and one or more second alkanediols selected from the group consisting of nonanediol, decanediol, undecanediol, dodecanediol, tridecanediol, and any mixtures thereof.

[0120] In the context of this invention, the term "alkanediol" also includes its structural isomers or positional isomers. Structural isomers are compounds having the same molecular formula and different bonding identities. Positional isomers, a specific form of structural isomerism, are structural isomers that can be considered to differ only in the position of a functional group on the parent structure, in this case in particular, in the position of two alcohol functional groups.

[0121] Depending on the number of carbon atoms in the carbon chain of the alkanediol, various positional isomers of the alkanediol exist: (x,x+1) structural isomer; (x,x+2) structural isomer; (x,x+3) structural isomer, etc.; and alpha and omega structural isomers when the alcohol functional group is at the end of the carbon chain, where x represents the number of carbon atoms in the alkanediol chain to which the OH group of the alkanediol is chemically bonded. For example, if x is 1, the two OH groups of the alkanediol are chemically bonded to carbon atoms C1 and C2 in the alkanediol chain; if x is 2, the two OH groups of the alkanediol are chemically bonded to carbon atoms C2 and C3 in the alkanediol chain, and so on.

[0122] In the (x,x+1) structural isomer, the two OH functional groups are vicinal, bonded to two different adjacent carbon atoms in the chain. In the (x,x+2) structural isomer, the two OH functional groups are bonded to two different carbon atoms in the chain, separated by one carbon atom. In the (x,x+3) structural isomer, the two OH functional groups are bonded to two different carbon atoms in the chain, separated by two carbon atoms. In the alpha and omega structural isomers, the two functional groups are bonded to the first carbon atom and the terminal carbon atom.

[0123] In other preferred modifications of detergents and cleaning compositions according to other embodiments of the present invention, the linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms is preferably a vicinal (x,x+1)diol selected from the group consisting of 1,2-diols, 2,3-diols, 3,4-diols, 4,5-diols, further (x,x+1)diols, and mixtures thereof, preferably an alpha,beta-1,2-structural isomer.

[0124] In a more preferred variation of detergents and cleaning compositions according to another aspect of the present invention, the first linear alkanediol and / or second linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms is a vicinal (x,x+1)diol selected from the group consisting of 1,2-diols, 2,3-diols, 3,4-diols, 4,5-diols, further (x,x+1)diols, and mixtures thereof, preferably an alpha, beta-1,2-structural isomer.

[0125] Preferably, the first linear alkanediol and / or second linear alkanediol having a linear alkanediol or a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms is selected from 1,2-diols and / or 2,3-diols.

[0126] Therefore, according to preferred modifications of detergents and cleaning compositions according to other embodiments of the present invention, at least one linear alkanediol, a first linear alkanediol and / or a second linear alkanediol is an (x,x+1) structural isomer, where x represents the number of carbon atoms in the alkanediol chain to which the OH group of the alkanediol is chemically bonded, and is in particular a 1,2-alkanediol, a 2,3-alkanediol, a 3,4-alkanediol, or a mixture thereof, preferably a 1,2-alkanediol or a 2,3-alkanediol.

[0127] In further preferred variations of detergents and cleaning compositions according to other embodiments of the present invention, the linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms is preferably a non-vicinal (x,x+2)diol selected from the group consisting of 1,3-diols, 2,4-diols, 3,5-diols, further (x,x+2)diols, and mixtures thereof, preferably an alpha, gamma-1,3-structural isomer.

[0128] According to the present invention, vicinal (x,x+1) diols such as alpha, beta, or beta, gamma, or gamma, delta are most preferred.

[0129] In a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the linear alkanediol, particularly the first linear alkanediol and / or the second linear alkanediol, is a 1,2-alkanediol, a 2,3-alkanediol, a 3,4-alkanediol, or a mixture thereof, more preferably a 2,3-alkanediol.

[0130] 1,2-alkanediols of linear alkanediols, particularly a first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and / or a second linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, may preferably be represented by the following formula: 1,2-pentanediol [ka] 1,2-Hexanediol [ka] 1,2-Heptanediol [ka] 1,2-Octanediol [ka] 1,2-nonanediol [ka] 1,2-Decanediol [ka] 1,2-Undecanediol [ka] 1,2-Dodecanediol [ka] 1,2-Tridecanediol [ka] 1,2-Tetradecanediol [ka]

[0131] The linear alkanediols of the present invention, particularly the 2,3-alkanediols, and especially the first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and / or the second linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, may preferably be represented by the following formula: 2,3-pentanediol [ka] 2,3-Hexanediol [ka] 2,3-Heptanediol [ka] 2,3-Octanediol [ka] 2,3-nonanediol [ka] 2,3-Decanediol [ka] 2,3-Undecanediol [ka] 2,3-Dodecanediol [ka] 2,3-Tridecanediol [ka] 2,3-Tetradecanediol [ka]

[0132] A linear alkanediol, specifically a 3,4-alkanediol, preferably a first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and / or a second linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, may preferably be represented by the following formula: 3,4-Hexanediol [ka] 3,4-Heptanediol [ka] 3,4-Octanediol [ka] 3,4-nonanediol [ka] 3,4-decanediol [ka] 3,4-Undecanediol [ka] 3,4-Dodecanediol [ka] 3,4-Tridecanediol [ka] 3,4-Tetradecanediol [ka]

[0133] In preferred variations of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 3,4-pentanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, 2,3-Hexanediol, 3,4-Hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 3,4-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 3,4-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 3,4-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 3,4-decanediol, 1,2-Undecanediol, 2,3-Undecanediol, 3,4-Undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 3,4-dodecanediol, 1,2-Tridecanediol, 2,3-Tridecanediol, 3,4-Tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, 3,4-tetradecanediol, Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0134] In a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 3,4-pentanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, 2,3-Hexanediol, 3,4-Hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 3,4-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 3,4-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 3,4-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 3,4-decanediol, Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0135] According to a preferred modification, in the detergent and cleaning composition of the present invention, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0136] In a more preferred modification, in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0137] Of the aforementioned linear alkanediols or the first linear alkanediol, the following (x,x+1) structural isomers are preferred: 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or mixtures thereof. The aforementioned alkanediols are liquid with a purity of 90-99%.

[0138] Among the aforementioned liquid alkanediols, 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, or a mixture of the aforementioned liquid alkanediols is particularly preferred.

[0139] In a further preferred variant of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the invention, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, and is selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof.

[0140] More preferably, in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the invention, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, and any mixture thereof, or is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, and any mixture thereof. However, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol can preferably also be selected from the group consisting of 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0141] More preferably, in the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is an alpha, beta, or beta-gammadiol as one of 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol or a mixture thereof. However, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol may preferably be an alpha, beta, or beta-gammadiol as one of 1,2-octanediol or 2,3-octanediol or a mixture thereof. A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-octanediol, or a mixture containing 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, is also possible.

[0142] Most preferably, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is 1,2-pentanediol or 2,3-pentanediol or 1,2-hexanediol or 2,3-hexanediol or 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol or 1,2-octanediol or 2,3-octanediol or 1,2-nonanediol or 2,3-nonanediol.

[0143] Similarly, in a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0144] More preferably, in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, and mixtures thereof, or preferably from the group consisting of 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, and mixtures thereof, or preferably from the group consisting of 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, and mixtures thereof.

[0145] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 5 to 8 fewer carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 6 to 8 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 7 and 8 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof.

[0146] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is any of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, or 1,2-octanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0147] In the most preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least the first linear alkanediol is 1,2-heptanediol.

[0148] These alkanediols were found to exhibit particularly remarkable degreasing properties. In addition, these alkanediols were found to significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt. Therefore, 1,2-alkanediols with fewer carbon atoms are efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasy stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0149] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, namely 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0150] The aforementioned alkanediols were found to exhibit particularly remarkable degreasing-enhancing properties. These alkanediols significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt, and are therefore efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasy stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both the improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0151] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 9 to 14 higher carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol and any mixture thereof, or 1,2-alkanediols having 9 to 13 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol and any mixture thereof. Selected from the group consisting of substances, or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 9 to 12 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol and any mixture thereof, or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 9 to 11 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol and any mixture thereof, or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 9 and 10 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol and any mixture thereof.

[0152] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is any of 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, or 1,2-dodecanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0153] According to a preferred modification, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms, more specifically more than 10 carbon atoms, namely 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol.

[0154] These alkanediols were found to exhibit significant degreasing properties. In addition, these alkanediols were found to significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt. Therefore, 1,2-alkanediols with a higher number of carbon atoms, more specifically more than 10 carbon atoms, are efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasy stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasy stains and dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0155] In a more preferred variation, the linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 5 to 8 fewer carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 6 to 8 carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 7 and 8 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof.

[0156] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is any of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, or 2,3-octanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0157] In the most preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least the first linear alkanediol is 2,3-heptanediol.

[0158] These alkanediols have been found to exhibit particularly remarkable degreasing power improvement characteristics. In addition, these alkanediols have been found to significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt. Therefore, 2,3-alkanediols having fewer carbon atoms are efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and as enhancers for the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both the improved degreasing power and the improved removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt result in better cleaning performance in the washing or cleaning process.

[0159] In a more preferred variant, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, namely 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0160] The aforementioned alkanediols have been found to exhibit particularly remarkable degreasing enhancement characteristics. The aforementioned alkanediols significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt, and are therefore efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and as enhancers for the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both the improved degreasing power and the improved removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt result in better cleaning performance in the washing or cleaning process.

[0161] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 9 to 14 higher carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol and any mixture thereof, or 2,3-alkanediols having 9 to 13 carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol and any mixture thereof Selected from the group consisting of compounds, or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 9 to 12 carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol and any mixture thereof, or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 9 to 11 carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol and any mixture thereof, or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 9 and 10 carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol and any mixture thereof.

[0162] In a more preferred variation, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is any of 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, or 2,3-dodecanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0163] According to a preferred modification, at least one linear alkanediol or at least one first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms, more specifically more than 10 carbon atoms, namely 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol.

[0164] These alkanediols were found to exhibit significant degreasing properties. In addition, these alkanediols were found to significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt. Therefore, 2,3-alkanediols with a higher number of carbon atoms, more specifically more than 10 carbon atoms, are efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasy stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasy stains and dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0165] In a preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the second linear alkanediol is 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 3,4-pentanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, 2,3-Hexanediol, 3,4-Hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 3,4-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 3,4-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 3,4-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 3,4-decanediol, 1,2-Undecanediol, 2,3-Undecanediol, 3,4-Undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 3,4-dodecanediol, 1,2-Tridecanediol, 2,3-Tridecanediol, 3,4-Tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, 3,4-tetradecanediol, Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0166] In a preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the second linear alkanediol is 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 3,4-pentanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, 2,3-Hexanediol, 3,4-Hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 3,4-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 3,4-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 3,4-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 3,4-decanediol, Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0167] According to a preferred modification, in the detergent and cleaning composition of the present invention, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0168] According to a preferred modification, in the detergent and cleaning composition of the present invention, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0169] Of the aforementioned second linear alkanediols, the following (x,x+1) structural isomers are preferred: 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, or 2,3-tridecanediol. The aforementioned alkanediols are liquid with a purity of 90-99%.

[0170] Of the aforementioned liquid alkanediols, 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, or mixtures of the aforementioned liquid alkanediols are particularly preferred.

[0171] In a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the second linear alkanediol is 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, 2,3-Hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, Selected from the group consisting of 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0172] More preferably, in the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, and mixtures thereof, or from the group consisting of 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, and mixtures thereof. However, the second linear alkanediol may also preferably be selected from the group consisting of 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, and mixtures thereof.

[0173] More preferably, in the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention, the second linear alkanediol is an alpha, beta, or beta-gammadiol as either 1,2-pentanediol or 2,3-pentanediol or a mixture thereof. However, the second linear alkanediol may also preferably be an alpha, beta, or beta-gammadiol as either 1,2-hexanediol or 2,3-hexanediol or a mixture thereof. A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-hexanediol, or a mixture containing 2,3-pentanediol and 1,2-hexanediol is also possible.

[0174] Most preferably, the second linear alkanediol is 1,2-pentanediol or 2,3-pentanediol or 1,2-hexanediol or 2,3-hexanediol or 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol or 2,3-octanediol or 2,3-nonanediol.

[0175] Similarly, in a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0176] More preferably, in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, and mixtures thereof, or preferably from the group consisting of 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, and mixtures thereof, or preferably from the group consisting of 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, and any mixtures thereof.

[0177] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having fewer than 5 to 8 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 6 to 8 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 7 and 8 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof.

[0178] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is any of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, or 1,2-octanediol, or any mixture thereof. In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is any of 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0179] In the most preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is 1,2-heptanediol.

[0180] These alkanediols were found to exhibit particularly remarkable degreasing properties. In addition, these alkanediols were found to significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt. Therefore, 1,2-alkanediols with fewer carbon atoms are efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasy stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0181] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, namely 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0182] The aforementioned alkanediols were found to exhibit particularly remarkable degreasing-enhancing properties. These alkanediols significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt, and are therefore efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasy stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both the improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0183] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms (9 to 14), namely 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol and any mixture thereof, or from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms (9 to 13), namely 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol and any mixture thereof. or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 9 to 12 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol and any mixture thereof, or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 9 to 11 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol and any mixture thereof, or selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having 9 and 10 carbon atoms, i.e., 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol and any mixture thereof.

[0184] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is one of 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, or 1,2-dodecanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0185] According to a preferred modification, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms, more specifically more than 10 carbon atoms, namely 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol.

[0186] These alkanediols were found to exhibit significant degreasing properties. In addition, these alkanediols were found to significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt. Therefore, 1,2-alkanediols with a higher number of carbon atoms, more specifically more than 10 carbon atoms, are efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasy stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasy stains and dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0187] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having fewer than 5 to 8 carbon atoms, namely 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 6 to 8 carbon atoms, namely 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof; or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 7 and 8 carbon atoms, namely 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof.

[0188] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is any of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, or 2,3-octanediol, or any mixture thereof. In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is any of 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0189] In the most preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is 2,3-heptanediol.

[0190] These alkanediols were found to exhibit particularly remarkable degreasing properties. In addition, these alkanediols were found to significantly improve the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or dirt. Therefore, 2,3-alkanediols with fewer carbon atoms are efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasey stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasey stains and / or dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0191] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, namely 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0192] The aforementioned alkanediols were found to exhibit particularly remarkable degreasing-enhancing properties. These alkanediols significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt, and are therefore efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasy stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both the improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0193] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms (9 to 14), namely 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol and any mixture thereof, or from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms (9 to 13), namely 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol and any mixture thereof. or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 9 to 12 carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol and any mixture thereof, or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 9 to 11 carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol and any mixture thereof, or selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having 9 and 10 carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol and any mixture thereof.

[0194] In a more preferred variation, the second linear alkanediol is one of 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, or 2,3-dodecanediol, or any mixture thereof.

[0195] According to a preferred modification, the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms, more specifically more than 10 carbon atoms, i.e., 11, 12, 13 or 14 carbon atoms, i.e., 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol.

[0196] These alkanediols were found to exhibit significant degreasing properties. In addition, these alkanediols were found to significantly improve the removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt. Therefore, 2,3-alkanediols with a higher number of carbon atoms, more specifically more than 10 carbon atoms, are efficient for use as degreasing enhancers and oily or greasy stain removal enhancers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Both improved degreasing power and improved removal of oily or greasy stains and dirt result in better cleaning performance in washing or cleaning processes.

[0197] In a more preferred variation, in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, at least one linear alkanediol or a first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof, and / or The second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0198] Therefore, in a more preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, comprising a mixture or combination containing at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols, comprises any one of the following mixtures / combinations: • A combination of 1,2-pentanediol and one of 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-hexanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-heptanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-octanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-nonanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-decanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-undecanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-dodecanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-tridecanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-tetradecanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, or 1,2-tridecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-pentanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-hexanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-heptanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-octanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-nonanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-decanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-undecanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-dodecanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-tridecanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-tetradecanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-pentanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-hexanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-heptanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-octanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-nonanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-decanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-undecanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-dodecanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • Combinations of 2,3-tridecanediol with one of the following: 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; • A combination of 2,3-tetradecanediol and one of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, or 1,2-tridecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-pentanediol and one of 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-hexanediol and one of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-heptanediol and one of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-octanediol and one of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-nonanediol and one of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-decanediol and one of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-undecanediol and one of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-dodecanediol and one of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-tridecanediol and one of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 2,3-tetradecanediol and one of the following: 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, or 2,3-tridecanediol.

[0199] In a particularly preferred modification, in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof.

[0200] In a more particularly preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises a mixture or combination containing at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols, comprising any one of the following mixtures / combinations: • A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-pentanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol and 2,3-hexanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-octanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-nonanediol and 2,3-nonanediol, or • A mixture containing 1,2-decanediol and 2,3-decanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-undecanediol and 2,3-undecanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-dodecanediol and 2,3-dodecanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-tridecanediol and 2,3-tridecanediol; or A mixture containing 1,2-tetradecanediol and 2,3-tetradecanediol.

[0201] In the aforementioned homoalkanediol mixture, the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol have the same number of carbon atoms.

[0202] Particularly preferred are mixtures containing 1,2-pentanediol in combination with 2,3-pentanediol, or mixtures containing 1,2-heptanediol in combination with 2,3-heptanediol, or mixtures containing 1,2-octanediol in combination with 2,3-octanediol and / or 3,4-octanediol.

[0203] Due to their remarkable degreasing-enhancing effect and improved oily or grease-based stain removal efficacy, homoalkanediol mixtures containing 1,2-nonanediol and 2,3-nonanediol, or homoalkanediol mixtures containing 1,2-decanediol and 2,3-decanediol, or homoalkanediol mixtures containing 1,2-undecanediol and 2,3-undecanediol are most preferred.

[0204] The specific homoalkanediol mixtures according to the present invention, comprising 1,2-alkanediols and 2,3-alkanediols, are characterized by a synergistically enhanced effect, namely, the alkanediol mixture synergistically enhances the degreasing power of detergents and cleaning compositions compared to their respective single 1,2-alkanediol or 2,3-alkanediol substances.

[0205] The aforementioned synergistic effect or action in enhancing degreasing power was observed in homomixtures containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-pentanediol.

[0206] The aforementioned synergistic effect in enhancing degreasing performance is also observed in homomixtures containing 1,2-hexanediol and 2,3-hexanediol.

[0207] Homo-mixtures containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol are particularly beneficial because they exhibit a particularly remarkable synergistic enhancement effect on the degreasing activity of detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0208] Alkanediol mixtures containing 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-octanediol, or alkanediol mixtures containing 1,2-nonanediol and 2,3-nonanediol, are particularly advantageous because they are effective in synergistically enhancing the degreasing power of detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0209] Furthermore, an alkanediol mixture containing 1,2-decanediol and 2,3-decanediol, or an alkanediol mixture containing 1,2-undecanediol and 2,3-undecanediol, synergistically improves the degreasing performance of detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0210] The degreasing-enhancing effect also applies to alkanediol mixtures containing 1,2-dodecanediol and 2,3-dodecanediol, or alkanediol mixtures containing 1,2-tridecanediol and 2,3-tridecanediol.

[0211] The aforementioned synergistic degreasing improvement effect is particularly pronounced in homomixtures containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or homomixtures containing 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-octanediol, or homomixtures containing 1,2-nonanediol and 2,3-nonanediol.

[0212] The aforementioned specific homoalkanediol mixtures, comprising 1,2-alkanediols and their corresponding 2,3-alkanediols, exhibit remarkable synergistic degreasing-enhancing efficacy, clearly superior to the individual corresponding 1,2-alkanediols or 2,3-alkanediols, even at the same concentration.

[0213] Therefore, in a particularly preferred modification, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, which comprises a mixture or combination containing at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols, may include any of the following mixtures / combinations: • A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol and 1,2-octanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol and 2,3-octanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-hexanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-heptanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-hexanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-heptanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-octanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 1,2-nonanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-nonanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-pentanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-hexanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-octanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-octanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-nonanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-nonanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-decanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-undecanediol; or • A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-dodecanediol; or A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-tridecanediol.

[0214] The aforementioned specific alkanediol mixture according to the present invention, comprising a first linear alkanediol and a second linear alkanediol, is characterized by a synergistically enhanced effect, namely, the alkanediol mixture synergistically improves the degreasing activity of detergents and cleaning compositions compared to the corresponding individual 1,2-alkanediol or 2,3-alkanediol substances.

[0215] Therefore, in a particularly preferred modification, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, which comprises a mixture or combination containing at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols, may include the following mixtures / combinations: A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol and 1,2-octanediol.

[0216] Surprisingly, the aforementioned alkanediol mixture exhibits a particularly remarkable degreasing performance-enhancing effect.

[0217] In addition to the degreasing-enhancing effect described above, the aforementioned specific mixtures or combinations comprising at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols simultaneously possess a synergistic enhanced efficacy in removing oily or greasy stains and / or dirt, compared to the corresponding individual 1,2-alkanediol and / or 2,3-alkanediol substances.

[0218] More preferably, the degreasing enhancer mixture comprises at least a first linear alkanediol selected from 1,2-alkanediols having 5 to 8 fewer carbon atoms, and one or more second alkanediols selected from 1,2-alkanediols having 9 to 14 more carbon atoms.

[0219] Most preferably, the degreasing enhancer mixture comprises at least a first linear alkanediol selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof, and one or more second alkanediols selected from the group consisting of 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, and any mixtures thereof.

[0220] Most preferably, the degreasing enhancer blend comprises at least one first linear alkanediol selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having a lower number of carbon atoms (5 to 8), i.e., 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and any mixtures thereof, and one or more second alkanediols selected from the group consisting of 1,2-alkanediols having a higher number of carbon atoms (9 to 13), i.e., 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, and any mixtures thereof.

[0221] Surprisingly, such alkanediol mixtures of short-chain and long-chain alkanediols exhibit a particularly remarkable degreasing-enhancing effect. In addition, such alkanediol mixtures are also characterized by significantly improved removal or degreasing efficacy for oily or greasey stains and / or stains.

[0222] More preferably are alkanediol mixtures in which the difference between the number of carbon atoms of at least one first straight-chain alkanediol and the number of carbon atoms of one or more second alkanediols is at least two carbon atoms. In these alkanediol mixtures, short-chain and long-chain alkanediols combine with each other, resulting in improved degreasing performance.

[0223] More preferably, the degreasing enhancer mixture is such that the difference between the number of carbon atoms of at least one first linear alkanediol and the number of carbon atoms of one or more second alkanediols is at least three carbon atoms. In such an alkanediol mixture, the degreasing enhancer effect is particularly pronounced.

[0224] Such combinations may include any of the following mixtures / combinations: • A combination of 1,2-pentanediol and one of 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • A combination of 1,2-hexanediol and one of 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol; or • Combinations of 1,2-heptanediol with one of 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, and 1,2-tetradecanediol; and A combination of 1,2-octanediol and one of the following: 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol.

[0225] In a more preferred variation of the present invention, in detergents and cleaning compositions, the linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, and mixtures thereof.

[0226] In a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, and mixtures thereof.

[0227] Surprisingly, the addition of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, and other 2,3-alkanediols, such as 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, and 2,3-tetradecanediol, to detergents and cleaning compositions results in a significant enhancement of degreasing power compared to compositions without the addition of 2,3-alkanediols.

[0228] In a particularly preferred modification, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of at least one linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 8 carbon atoms, or a mixture comprising at least one first linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 8 carbon atoms and one or more second linear 1,2-alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 8 carbon atoms different from the first linear 1,2-alkanediol.

[0229] In a more preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of at least one linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 6 to 7 carbon atoms, or a mixture comprising at least one first linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 6 to 7 carbon atoms and one or more second linear 1,2-alkanediols having a carbon chain of 6 to 7 carbon atoms different from the first linear 1,2-alkanediol.

[0230] Surprisingly, these short-chain 1,2-alkanediols were found to be particularly effective degreasing enhancers and could be efficiently incorporated into a wide range of detergent and cleaning compositions. In addition, these alkanediols were found to exhibit significantly improved oily or grease-removing and / or stain-removing properties in detergents and cleaning compositions. Therefore, such detergents and cleaning compositions exhibit improved cleaning properties compared to detergents and cleaning compositions without such substances.

[0231] In a particularly preferred modification, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of a mixture comprising at least one linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 10 carbon atoms, or at least one first linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 9 carbon atoms, and one or more second linear 1,2-alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 9 carbon atoms different from the first linear 1,2-alkanediol.

[0232] Surprisingly, these 1,2-alkanediols, which have carbon chains of 5 to 9 carbon atoms, were found to be particularly suitable degreasing enhancers and could be efficiently incorporated into a wide range of detergent and cleaning compositions. In addition, these alkanediols were found to exhibit significantly improved oily or grease-removing and / or stain-removing properties in detergent and cleaning compositions. Therefore, such detergents and cleaning compositions exhibit improved cleaning properties compared to detergents and cleaning compositions without such substances.

[0233] In a particularly preferred modification, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of at least one linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 9 to 14 carbon atoms, or a mixture comprising at least one first linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 9 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear 1,2-alkanediols having a carbon chain of 9 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear 1,2-alkanediol.

[0234] In a more preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of at least one linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 10 to 13 carbon atoms, or a mixture comprising at least one first linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 10 to 13 carbon atoms and one or more second linear 1,2-alkanediols having a carbon chain of 10 to 13 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol.

[0235] In a more preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of at least one linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 11 to 12 carbon atoms, or a mixture comprising at least one first linear 1,2-alkanediol having a carbon chain of 11 to 12 carbon atoms and one or more second linear 1,2-alkanediols having a carbon chain of 11 to 12 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol.

[0236] Surprisingly, these long-chain 1,2-alkanediols were found to be particularly suitable degreasing enhancers and could be efficiently incorporated into a wide range of detergent and cleaning compositions. In addition, these alkanediols were found to exhibit significantly improved oily or grease-removing and / or stain-removing properties in detergent and cleaning compositions. Therefore, such detergents and cleaning compositions exhibit improved cleaning properties compared to detergents and cleaning compositions without such substances.

[0237] In the most preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of at least one linear 1,2-alkanediol having a log Pow value of ≤1, or a mixture comprising at least one first linear 1,2-alkanediol having a log Pow value of ≤1 and one or more second linear 1,2-alkanediols having a log Pow value of ≤1 that are different from the first linear 1,2-alkanediol.

[0238] 1,2-alkanediols having a log Pow value of ≤1 are selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol (0.06), 1,2-hexanediol (0.58), 1,2-heptanediol (0.9), and any mixture thereof. The aforementioned 1,2-alkanediols are soluble in water.

[0239] The Pow value is the partition coefficient of a compound in a two-phase system consisting of two immiscible solvents, n-octanol and water, in equilibrium. Therefore, this value represents a comparison of the solubility of the solute in these two liquids. Thus, the partition coefficient measures the degree to which a chemical substance is hydrophilic or hydrophobic.

[0240] The log Pow value is a constant defined as follows: Log Pow = log10 (distribution coefficient) Partition coefficient, P = [n-octanol] / [water] In the formula, [] indicates the concentration of the solute in the organic and / or aqueous partition.

[0241] The log Pow value is determined at a standard temperature of 25°C.

[0242] A log Pow value of ≤ 1 means that the compound has a higher affinity for the aqueous phase (is more hydrophilic) and is therefore more soluble in water, while a log Pow value ≥ 1 indicates a higher concentration in the lipid phase (i.e., the compound is more lipophilic) and therefore more soluble in fatty solvents.

[0243] Surprisingly, 1,2-alkanediols having a log Pow value of ≤1 were found to be suitable degreasing enhancers and can be efficiently incorporated into a wide range of detergents and cleaning compositions. In addition, the aforementioned 1,2-alkanediols were found to exhibit significantly improved stain removal and stain removal properties in detergents and cleaning compositions. Therefore, detergents and cleaning compositions containing 1,2-alkanediols having a log Pow value of ≤1 exhibit improved cleaning properties compared to detergents and cleaning compositions without such 1,2-alkanediols.

[0244] In a more preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention includes at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of at least one linear 1,2-alkanediol having a log Pow value of ≥1, or a mixture of at least one first linear 1,2-alkanediol having a log Pow value of ≥1 and one or more second linear 1,2-alkanediols having a log Pow value of ≥1 that are different from the first linear 1,2-alkanediol.

[0245] 1,2-alkanediols having a log Pow value of ≥1 are selected from the group consisting of 1,2-octanediol (log Pow = 2.1), 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof. The aforementioned 1,2-alkanediols are soluble in fatty solvents, such as n-octanol.

[0246] Surprisingly, 1,2-alkanediols having a log Pow value of ≥1 were found to be particularly suitable degreasing enhancers and can be efficiently incorporated into a wide range of detergent and cleaning compositions. In addition, the aforementioned 1,2-alkanediols were found to exhibit significantly improved stain removal and / or dirt removal properties in detergent and cleaning compositions. Therefore, detergents and cleaning compositions containing 1,2-alkanediols having a log Pow value of ≥1 exhibit improved cleaning properties compared to detergents and cleaning compositions without such 1,2-alkanediols.

[0247] In the context of this invention, the term "alkanediol" also includes its stereoisomers. Stereoisomers are molecules that have the same molecular formula but differ only in how their atoms are arranged in three-dimensional space. According to the definition above, the linear alkanediols of this invention, or the first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or the second linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, encompass the following stereoisomers, as described in detail above: 1,2-Alkanediol stereoisomers: (2S)-pentane-1,2-diol, (2R)-pentane-1,2-diol, (2S)-hexane-1,2-diol, (2R)-hexane-1,2-diol, (2S)-heptane-1,2-diol, (2R)-heptane-1,2-diol, (2S)-Octane-1,2-diol, (2R)-Octane-1,2-diol, (2S)-Nonane-1,2-Diol, (2R)-Nonane-1,2-Diol, (2S)-decane-1,2-diol, (2R)-decane-1,2-diol, (2S)-Undecane-1,2-Diol, (2R)-Undecane-1,2-Diol, (2S)-Dodecane-1,2-diol, (2R)-Dodecane-1,2-diol, (2S)-Tridecane-1,2-diol, (2R)-Tridecane-1,2-diol, (2S)-tetradecane-1,2-diol, (2R)-tetradecane-1,2-diol,

[0248] 2,3-Alkanediol stereoisomers: (2S,3S)-pentane-2,3-diol, (2R,3R)-pentane-2,3-diol, (2S,3S)-hexane-2,3-diol, (2R,3R)-hexane-2,3-diol, (2S,3S)-heptane-2,3-diol, (2R,3R)-heptane-2,3-diol, (2S,3S)-octane-2,3-diol, (2R,3R)-octane-2,3-diol, (2S,3S)-Nonane-2,3-Diol, (2R,3R)-Nonane-2,3-Diol, (2S,3S)-decane-2,3-diol, (2R,3R)-decane-2,3-diol, (2S,3S)-Undecane-2,3-Diol, (2R,3R)-Undecane-2,3-Diol, (2S,3S)-dodecane-2,3-diol, (2R,3R)-dodecane-2,3-diol, (2S,3S)-Tridecane-2,3-diol, (2R,3R)-Tridecane-2,3-diol, (2S,3S)-tetradecane-2,3-diol, (2R,3R)-tetradecane-2,3-diol, (2S,3R)-pentane-2,3-diol, (2R,3S)-pentane-2,3-diol, (2S,3R)-hexane-2,3-diol, (2R,3S)-hexane-2,3-diol, (2S,3R)-heptane-2,3-diol, (2R,3S)-heptane-2,3-diol, (2S,3R)-octane-2,3-diol, (2R,3S)-octane-2,3-diol, (2S,3R)-nonane-2,3-diol, (2R,3S)-nonane-2,3-diol, (2S,3R)-decane-2,3-diol, (2R,3S)-decane-2,3-diol, (2S,3R)-Undecane-2,3-Diol, (2R,3S)-Undecane-2,3-Diol, (2S,3R)-dodecane-2,3-diol, (2R,3S)-dodecane-2,3-diol, (2S,3R)-tridecane-2,3-diol, (2R,3S)-tridecane-2,3-diol, (2S,3R)-tetradecane-2,3-diol, (2R,3S)-tetradecane-2,3-diol.

[0249] 3,4-Alkanediol stereoisomers: (3R,4R)-pentane-3,4-diol, (3S,4S)-pentane-3,4-diol, (3R,4R)-hexane-3,4-diol, (3S,4S)-hexane-3,4-diol, (3R,4R)-heptane-3,4-diol, (3S,4S)-heptane-3,4-diol, (3R,4R)-Octane-3,4-diol, (3S,4S)-Octane-3,4-diol, (3R,4R)-Nonane-3,4-Diol, (3S,4S)-Nonane-3,4-Diol, (3R,4R)-Decane-3,4-Diol, (3S,4S)-Decane-3,4-Diol, (3R,4R)-Undecane-3,4-Diol, (3S,4S)-Undecane-3,4-Diol, (3R,4R)-Dodecane-3,4-Diol, (3S,4S)-Dodecane-3,4-Diol, (3R,4R)-Tridecane-3,4-diol, (3S,4S)-Tridecane-3,4-diol, (3R,4R)-tetradecane-3,4-diol, (3S,4S)-tetradecane-3,4-diol, (3R,4S)-pentane-3,4-diol, (3S,4R)-pentane-3,4-diol, (3R,4S)-hexane-3,4-diol, (3S,4R)-hexane-3,4-diol, (3R,4S)-heptane-3,4-diol, (3S,4R)-heptane-3,4-diol, (3R,4S)-octane-3,4-diol, (3S,4R)-octane-3,4-diol, (3R,4S)-Nonane-3,4-Diol, (3S,4R)-Nonane-3,4-Diol, (3R,4S)-decane-3,4-diol, (3S,4R)-decane-3,4-diol, (3R,4S)-Undecane-3,4-Diol, (3S,4R)-Undecane-3,4-Diol, (3R,4S)-dodecane-3,4-diol, (3S,4R)-dodecane-3,4-diol, (3R,4S)-tridecane-3,4-diol, (3S,4R)-tridecane-3,4-diol, (3R,4S)-tetradecane-3,4-diol, (3S,4R)-tetradecane-3,4-diol.

[0250] In the context of this specification, the terms “1,2-diol,” “2,3-diol,” or “3,4-diol” include both the corresponding S-configuration enantiomer and R-enantiomer, as well as any mixture of these S and R-configuration enantiomers, i.e., a mixture of racemic mixtures of each diol.

[0251] The alkanediol mixture of detergents and cleaning compositions according to the first aspect of the present invention contains 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, or even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:5.

[0252] In the detergent and cleaning composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol are contained in the mixture in a ratio preferably in the range of 98:2 to 99.9:0.1.

[0253] In the detergent and cleaning composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol are included in the alkanediol mixture in a ratio preferably in the range of 95:5 to 99.9:0.1.

[0254] Preferably, 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol are included in the mixture of detergents and cleaning compositions according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a ratio of ≥95:≤5, more preferably ≥96:≤4, even more preferably ≥97:≤3, and most preferably ≥98:≤2.

[0255] The majority of the mixture of detergents and cleaning compositions according to the first aspect of the present invention contains 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol in a ratio of ≥95:≤5, including ratios of ≥95.5:≤4.5; ≥96:≤4; ≥96.5:≤3.5; ≥97:≤3; ≥97.5:2.5 and ≥98.0:≤2.0.

[0256] More preferably, the alkanediol mixture of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the first aspect of the present invention has 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol in a ratio of ≥98:≤2, such that ≥98.1:≤1.9; ≥98.2:≤1.8; ≥98.3:≤1.7; ≥98.4:≤1.6; ≥98.5:≤1.5; ≥98.6:≤1.4; The ratios include those of ≥98.7:≦1.3; ≥98.8:≦1.2; ≥98.9:≦1.1; ≥99:≦1.0; ≥99.1:≦0.9; ≥99.2:≦0.8, ≥99.3:≦0.7; ≥99.4:≦0.6; ≥99.5:≦0.5; ≥99.6:≦0.4; ≥99.7:≦0.3; ≥99.8:≦0.2 and ≥99.9:≦0.1.

[0257] The first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol, as defined in detail above, are present in the alkanediol mixture according to the present invention in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, and even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:5.

[0258] In the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol are preferably contained in the mixture in a ratio of 98:2 to 99.9:0.1.

[0259] In the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the first linear alkanediol and the second alkanediol are preferably included in the alkanediol mixture in a ratio in the range of 95:5 to 99.9:0.1.

[0260] Preferably, the first linear alkanediol and the second alkanediol are included in the mixture of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention in a ratio of ≥95:≤5, more preferably ≥96:≤4, even more preferably ≥97:≤3, and most preferably ≥98:≤2.

[0261] The majority of the mixture of detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention contains a first linear alkanediol and a second linear alkanediol in a ratio of ≥95:≤5, including ratios such as ≥95.5:≤4.5; ≥96:≤4; ≥96.5:≤3.5; ≥97:≤3; ≥97.5:2.5 and ≥98.0:≤2.0.

[0262] More preferably, the majority of the alkanediol mixture of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention has a ratio of ≥98:≤2 between the first linear alkanediol and the second alkanediol, such that ≥98.1:≤1.9; ≥98.2:≤1.8; ≥98.3:≤1.7; ≥98.4:≤1.6; ≥98.5:≤1.5; ≥98.6:≤1.4; ≥ The ratios include those of 98.7:≦1.3;≧98.8:≦1.2;≧98.9:≦1.1;≧99:≦1.0;≧99.1:≦0.9;≧99.2:≦0.8, ≧99.3:≦0.7;≧99.4:≦0.6;≧99.5:≦0.5;≧99.6:≦0.4;≧99.7:≦0.3;≧99.8:≦0.2 and ≧99.9:≦0.1.

[0263] Alternatively, the aforementioned range of ratios of the first and second alkanediols can be switched so that the second alkanediol is the main component and the first alkanediol is the minor component.

[0264] In an advantageous modification according to the present invention, the alkanediol mixture includes a 1,2-alkanediol as the first linear alkanediol, such as 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol, and a corresponding 2,3-alkanediol as the second linear alkanediol, e.g. For example, it contains 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, and even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:5.

[0265] In a more advantageous variation of the present invention, the alkanediol mixture comprises a 1,2-alkanediol, such as 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, or 1,2-decanediol as a first linear alkanediol, and a corresponding 2,3-alkanediol, such as 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, or 2,3-decanediol as a second linear alkanediol, in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, and even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:5.

[0266] Similarly, for the aforementioned alkanediol mixture, the ratio of the first linear alkanediol to the second alkanediol, or the range of such ratios, is also applicable.

[0267] In a more advantageous variation, according to the present invention, the alkanediol mixture is a 2,3-alkanediol, such as 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, or 2,3-tetradecanediol, as the first linear alkanediol, and the corresponding 1,2-alkanediol as the second linear alkanediol. For example, it contains 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, and even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:5.

[0268] In a more advantageous variation, according to the present invention, the alkanediol mixture comprises a 2,3-alkanediol, such as 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, or 2,3-decanediol as a first linear alkanediol, and a corresponding 1,2-alkanediol, such as 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, or 1,2-decanediol as a second linear alkanediol, in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, and even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:5.

[0269] Similarly, for the aforementioned alkanediol mixture, the ratio of the first linear alkanediol to the second alkanediol, or the range of such ratios, is also applicable.

[0270] A more advantageous modification according to the present invention involves a combination of a 1,2-alkanediol as the first linear alkanediol and a corresponding 2,3-alkanediol as the second linear alkanediol, for example. 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-pentanediol, or 1,2-Hexanediol and 2,3-Hexanediol, or 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-octanediol, or 1,2-nonanediol and 2,3-nonanediol, or 1,2-decanediol and 2,3-decanediol, or 1,2-Undecanediol and 2,3-Undecanediol, or 1,2-dodecanediol and 2,3-dodecanediol, or 1,2-Tridecanediol and 2,3-Tridecanediol, or 1,2-tetradecanediol and 2,3-tetradecanediol, In an alkanediol mixture containing, The first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol exist in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:90:2, and even more preferably in the range of 10 to 95:5.

[0271] Similarly, for the aforementioned alkanediol mixture, the ratio of the first linear alkanediol to the second alkanediol, or the range of such ratios, is also applicable.

[0272] Preferred variations according to the present invention also include mixtures comprising 1,2-hexanediol as the first linear alkanediol and 1,2-octanediol as the second linear alkanediol in any ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, or even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:5.

[0273] Therefore, according to another preferred modification, the present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions, (i) A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol contains 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, and even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:5; or (ii) The present invention relates to detergents and cleaning compositions comprising a mixture containing at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols, wherein the first linear alkanediol and the second alkanediol are in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, and even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:5.

[0274] These mixing ratios result in the aforementioned alkanediol mixture exhibiting synergistically enhanced degreasing and oily or grease-based stain removal effects compared to the corresponding individual alkanediols.

[0275] Alkanediols are obtained by synthesis from petrochemical or other fossil fuel sources by known methods such as olefin bishydroxylation, hydrolysis from epoxides, or various chemical transformations, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0241491 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0189995, or from bio-derived raw materials by fermentation, or from bio-based natural and renewable raw materials such as biomass by catalytic synthesis. The alkanediols used in accordance with the present invention include either petrochemically derived alkanediols or alkanediols derived from bio-based natural and renewable raw materials. Preferably, the alkanediols are from bio-based sources and are therefore bioalkanediols.

[0276] In addition to the specific alkanediols mentioned above, the degreasing enhancers of the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention include (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate, or (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone, or (b IV ) Ethylhexylglycerin, or (b V ) Tropolone, or any mixture of the aforementioned drugs.

[0277] Glyceryl caprylate (b II ) [ka] It is a natural emollient derived from glycerin and plant fatty acids, and usually appears as a white, waxy solid. This ingredient is used in many skincare products due to its emollient and moisturizing properties to help maintain the moisture balance in the skin. In addition, glyceryl caprylate (b II) is used as an antimicrobial active ingredient in cosmetic preparations.

[0278] Surprisingly, glyceryl caprylate, an oily surfactant coemulsifier, was found to be another suitable degreasing enhancer within the scope of the present invention.

[0279] 4-Hydroxyacetophenone (4-HAP)(b III ) [ka] It possesses antioxidant, fungicidal, and bacterial growth inhibitory properties, and is therefore used to stabilize cosmetic preparations.

[0280] Surprisingly, 4-HAP was found to be another suitable degreasing enhancer within the scope of the present invention.

[0281] Ethylhexylglycerin (EHG) (b IV ) [ka] Ethylhexylglycerin (EHG or octoxyglycerin) is a relatively new cosmetic ingredient used for its surfactant, dispersion, skin softening, skin conditioning, and antimicrobial properties. Ethylhexylglycerin is a glyceryl ether and vicinal diol.

[0282] Surprisingly, EHG was found to be suitable for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions within the scope of the present invention.

[0283] Tropolone (b V ) [ka] It is known for its antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chelating properties, and is therefore used in cosmetic formulations.

[0284] Surprisingly, troporon was found to act as a degreasing enhancer in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions within the scope of the present invention.

[0285] The above-mentioned specific degreasing enhancers (b II )(b III ), (b IV ) and (b V These may be used in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions either individually or in the form of a mixture of two or more degreasing enhancers.

[0286] In a particularly preferred modification, at least one degreasing enhancer (b) in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises one of the following mixtures / combinations: (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate and (b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone; ·(b II ) Glyceryl caprylate and (b IV A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin; ·(b II ) Glyceryl caprylate and (b V ) A mixture containing tropolone; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone and (b IV A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin; ·(b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone and (b V ) A mixture containing tropolone; and ·-(b IV ) Ethylhexylglycerin and (b V A mixture containing tropolone.

[0287] Regarding the aforementioned enhancing agent mixture, even a synergistic degreasing-enhancing effect may be observed.

[0288] Similarly, and more preferably, the specific single degreasing enhancer (b II )(bIII ), (b IV ) and (b V ) or two or three degreasing enhancers (b II )(b III ), (b IV ) and (b V ) also includes one or two alkanediol degreasing enhancers as defined herein (b I A mixture of ) can be used in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions. Preferably, such a mixture contains two or more degreasing enhancers as defined herein.

[0289] In a particularly preferred modification, the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention include at least one degreasing enhancer (b) comprising one of the following mixtures / combinations: ·(b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol, and (b II ) A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate; ·(b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol, and (b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone; ·(b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol, and (bIV A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin; ·(b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol, and (b V A mixture containing tropolone.

[0290] In a preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises one of the following enhancer mixtures / combinations selected from the group consisting of: ·(b II A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-pentanediol; ·(b II A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-hexanediol; ·(b II A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-heptanediol; ·(b II A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-octanediol; ·(b II A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-nonanediol; ·(b II ) A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-decanediol; ·(b II A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-undecanediol; ·(b II A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-dodecanediol; ·(b II A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-tridecanediol; ·(b II A mixture containing glyceryl caprylate and 1,2-tetradecanediol; ·(b III)A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-pentanediol; ·(b III )A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-hexanediol; ·(b III )A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-heptanediol; ·(b III )A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-octanediol; ·(b III )A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-nonanediol; ·(b III )A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-decanediol; ·(b III )A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-undecanediol; ·(b III )A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-dodecanediol; ·(b III )A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-tridecanediol; ·(b III )A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-tetradecanediol; [[ID=3৮]]·(b IV )A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-pentanediol; ·(b IV )A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-hexanediol; ·(b IV )A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-heptanediol; ·(b IV )A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-octanediol; ·(b IV )A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-nonanediol; ·(b IV )A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-decanediol; ·(b IV A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-undecanediol; ·(b IV A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-dodecanediol; ·(b IV A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-tridecanediol; ·(b IV A mixture containing ethylhexylglycerin and 1,2-tetradecanediol; ·(b V A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-pentanediol; ·(b V A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-hexanediol; ·(b V A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-heptanediol; ·(b V A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-octanediol; ·(b V ) A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-nonanediol; ·(b V ) A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-decanediol; ·(b V A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-undecanediol; ·(b V A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-dodecanediol; ·(b V A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-tridecanediol; ·(b V A mixture containing tropolone and 1,2-tetradecanediol.

[0291] Surprisingly, the specific combinations described above were found to be particularly efficient degreasing enhancer mixtures that can be efficiently incorporated into a wide range of detergent and cleaning compositions. In addition, these mixtures / combinations were found to exhibit significant stain and / or stain removal enhancement properties in detergent and cleaning compositions. Therefore, such detergents and cleaning compositions exhibit improved cleaning properties compared to detergents and cleaning compositions without such degreasing enhancer combinations.

[0292] Surprisingly, a synergistic degreasing-enhancing effect can even be observed with the aforementioned enhancer mixture.

[0293] Most preferably, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises a mixture of degreasing enhancers containing a 1,2-alkanediol combined with 4-hydroxyacetophenone selected from the group consisting of: ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-pentanediol; ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-hexanediol; ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-heptanediol; ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-octanediol; ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-nonanediol; ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-decanediol; ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-undecanediol; ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-dodecanediol; ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-tridecanediol; ·(b III A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-tetradecanediol;

[0294] These degreasing-enhancing mixtures were found to exhibit a significant synergistic enhancement effect on the stain removal and / or stain removal properties of detergents and cleaning compositions. Therefore, such detergents and cleaning compositions exhibit improved cleaning properties compared to detergents and cleaning compositions without such degreasing-enhancing combinations.

[0295] However, particularly significant degreasing-enhancing effects can be observed with the following degreasing enhancers: • 1,2-pentanediol; • 1,2-Hexanediol; • 1,2-heptanediol; • 1,2-octanediol; • 1,2-nonanediol; • 1,2-decanediol; • 1,2-Undecanediol; • 1,2-dodecanediol; • 1,2-Tridecanediol; • 1,2-tetradecanediol; Glyceryl caprylate; ·4-hydroxyacetophenone; Ethylhexylglycerin; • Tropolone; • A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol and 1,2-octanediol; • A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and tropolone; and A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-octanediol.

[0296] With respect to the degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention, the list of degreasing enhancers (b1, b2, b3, b) specified herein may be optionally combined with the list of degreasing agents specified herein.

[0297] In a particularly advantageous modification, the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention comprises one of the following combinations of components (a) and (b): • Isopropanol + one or more of the following degreasing enhancers: (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV ) Ethylhexylglycerin; or (b V ) Tropolon; or • Propanediol + one or more of the following degreasing enhancers: (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV ) Ethylhexylglycerin; or (b V ) Tropolon; or • Dipropylene glycol methyl ether + one or more of the following degreasing enhancers: (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV) Ethylhexylglycerin; or (b V ) Tropolon; or • Propylene glycol t-butyl ether + one or more of the following degreasing enhancers: (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV ) Ethylhexylglycerin; or (b V ) Tropolon; or • Polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate + one or more of the following degreasing enhancers: (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV ) Ethylhexylglycerin; or (b V ) Tropolon; or • Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) + one or more of the following degreasing enhancers: (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (bIV ) Ethylhexylglycerin; or (b V ) Tropolon; or • Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) + one or more of the following degreasing enhancers: (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV ) Ethylhexylglycerin; or (b V ) Tropolon; or • Potassium oleate + one or more of the following degreasing enhancers: (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined above, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV ) Ethylhexylglycerin; or (b V ) Tropolon.

[0298] Surprisingly, the above-mentioned specific combinations of reducing agent (a) and one degreasing enhancer (b) or a mixture of degreasing enhancers (b) result in a significant degreasing power enhancement effect in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions compared to degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions that do not contain degreasing enhancers.

[0299] In addition to improved degreasing performance, this combination also shows significant improvement in the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or dirt when used in detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0300] In a more preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition of the present invention comprises one of the following combinations of components (a) and (b): Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-pentanediol; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-hexanediol; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-heptanediol; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-octanediol; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + glyceryl caprylate; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 4-hydroxyacetophenone; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + ethylhexylglycerin; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + tropolone; or • A mixture containing isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-hexanediol and 1,2-octanediol; or • A mixture containing isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-hexanediol and 1,2-octanediol and tropolone; or A mixture containing isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-octanediol.

[0301] In a more preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition of the present invention comprises one of the following combinations of components (a) and (b): Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-nonanediol; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-decanediol; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-undecanediol; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-dodecanediol; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-tridecanediol; or Isopropanol and / or propanediol and / or dipropylene glycol methyl ether and / or propylene glycol t-butyl ether and / or polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate and / or polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) and / or polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) and / or potassium oleate + 1,2-tetradecanediol.

[0302] The aforementioned combination was found to provide excellent degreasing enhancement performance in detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0303] Therefore, the aforementioned combinations containing degreasing agents and degreasing enhancers not only have a remarkable degreasing-enhancing effect, but are also beneficial in laundry detergents, manual and automatic dishwashing detergents, hard surface cleaners, medical and dental instrument cleaners, stain removers, etc., because they exhibit improved oily or greasey stain and / or stain removal activity compared to detergents and cleaning compositions without the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, resulting in improved cleaning performance when applied.

[0304] Surfactants / ingredients (c1, c2, c3, c)

[0305] The detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention contain at least one surfactant (c1, c2, c3, c).

[0306] Surfactants are added for many reasons, primarily for their cleaning and surfactant properties. They remove dirt from clothing and surfaces during the washing and cleaning process, keeping it suspended in the cleaning solution. Some surfactants also perform other functions, such as anti-foaming.

[0307] The detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention may comprise any type of surfactant, namely anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactants, and any mixture thereof.

[0308] Suitable surfactants that can be incorporated into the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention are as follows:

[0309] Anionic surfactants Suitable anionic surfactants for detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention may include any conventional anionic surfactant. Typical examples of anionic surfactants include: C10-C18 alkylbenzene sulfonates; C10-C18 alkyl sulfates; C10-C18 alkyl sulfates ethoxylated with 1-3 moles of ethylene oxide; C10-C18 alpha-olefin sulfonates; C8-C18 alkyl carboxylates ethoxylated with 1-10 moles of ethylene oxide; and any mixture thereof.

[0310] In preferred variations of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the anionic surfactant is, C10-C13 alkylbenzene sulfonates; C12-C15 alkyl sulfates; • C12-C14 alkyl sulfates ethoxylated with 1-3 moles of ethylene oxide; C12-C16 alpha-olefin sulfonates; C8-C18 alkyl carboxylates ethoxylated with 3-10 moles of ethylene oxide; Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0311] In a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the anionic surfactant is, Dodecylbenzenesulfonate; Dodecyl sulfate; • Dodecyl sulfate ethoxylated with 2 moles of ethylene oxide; C12-C14 alpha-olefin sulfonates; • C18 alkyl carboxylate ethoxylated with 9-10 moles of ethylene oxide; Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0312] In the case of laundry detergents, the anionic surfactant is most preferably selected from the group consisting of dodecylbenzenesulfonate, dodecyl sulfate, dodecyl sulfate ethoxylated with 2 moles of ethylene oxide, and any mixture thereof.

[0313] For dishwashing detergents, the anionic surfactant is most preferably selected from the group consisting of dodecyl sulfate, dodecyl sulfate ethoxylated with 2 moles of ethylene oxide, and any mixture thereof.

[0314] For hard surface cleaning detergents, the anionic surfactant is most preferably selected from the group consisting of dodecyl sulfate, dodecyl sulfate ethoxylated with 2 moles of ethylene oxide, and any mixture thereof.

[0315] Cationic surfactants Suitable cationic surfactants for detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention may include any conventional cationic surfactant. Typical examples of cationic surfactants include: • Quaternary C8-C18 alkylethanolamines; • Quaternary C8-C18 alkylammonium compounds; C8-C18 alkylammonium methosulfate; and any mixture thereof.

[0316] In preferred variations of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the cationic surfactant is • Quaternary C12-C18 alkylethanolamines; • Quaternary C12-C18 alkylammonium compounds; C12-C18 alkylammonium methosulfate; Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0317] In a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the cationic surfactant is • Quaternary C16-C18 alkylethanolamines; • Quaternary C16-C18 alkylammonium compounds; C14-C18 alkylammonium methosulfate; Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0318] In the case of hard surface cleaning detergents, the cationic surfactant is most preferably selected from the group consisting of quaternary C16-C18 alkylammonium compounds and any mixture thereof.

[0319] In the case of fabric softeners, the cationic surfactant is most preferably selected from the group consisting of C14-C18 alkylammonium methosulfates and any mixture thereof.

[0320] Nonionic surfactants Suitable nonionic surfactants for detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention may include any conventional nonionic surfactant. Typical examples of nonionic surfactants include: C6-C18 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 1-12 moles of ethylene oxide; • Alkoxylated C6-C18 fatty alcohols, for example C6-C18 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 1-25 moles of ethylene oxide, C6-C18 fatty alcohols propoxylated with 1-15 moles of propylene oxide, C6-C18 fatty alcohols butoxylated with 1-10 moles of butylene oxide, and their combinations; • C6-C18 sophorolipids; • C6-C18 rhamnolipids; C5-C18 alkyl polyglycosides; C6-C18 alkanolamides; • C6-C18 fatty acid ester alkoxylates; and any mixture thereof.

[0321] In preferred variations of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the nonionic surfactant is: C8-C15 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 3-8 moles of ethylene oxide; • Alkoxylated C8-C15 fatty alcohols, for example C8-C15 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 1-25 moles of ethylene oxide; C8-C15 fatty alcohols propoxylated with 1-15 moles of propylene oxide, C8-C15 fatty alcohols butoxylated with 1-10 moles of butylene oxide, and their combinations; • C8-C18 sophorolipids; • C8-C18 rhamnolipids; C7-C15 alkyl polyglycosides; C8-C15 alkanolamides; • C8-C15 fatty acid ester alkoxylates; Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0322] In a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the nonionic surfactant is: • C10-C18 sophorolipids; • C10-C18 rhamnolipids; C8-C14 alkyl polyglycosides; Cocamide DEA / MEA; • C10-C14 fatty acid ester alkoxylates; Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0323] In a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the nonionic surfactant is: • C10-C18 sophorolipids; • C10-C18 rhamnolipids; C8-C14 alkyl polyglycosides; Selected from the group consisting of and any mixture thereof.

[0324] The nonionic surfactants in the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention are different from degreasing agents as defined herein.

[0325] The aforementioned nonionic detergents are particularly useful for preparing "green" detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0326] In the case of laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents, and hard surface cleaning detergents, the nonionic surfactant is most preferably selected from the group consisting of C10-C18 sophorolipids, C10-C18 rhamnolipids, C8-C14 alkyl polyglycosides, and any mixture thereof.

[0327] In a more preferred variation, for laundry detergents, the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of C12-C14 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 7 moles of ethylene oxide, C13-C15 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 7 moles of ethylene oxide, and any mixture thereof.

[0328] In a more preferred modification, for hard surface cleaning such as degreasing agents, the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of C9-C11 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 3-8 moles of ethylene oxide, C10 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 3-8 moles of ethylene oxide, and any mixture thereof.

[0329] In a more preferred variation, for automatic dishwashing, the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of C12-C14 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 5 moles of ethylene oxide and / or propoxylated with 4 moles of propylene oxide.

[0330] Amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactants Suitable amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactants for detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention may include any conventional amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactant. Typical examples of amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactants include: C10-C18 N-(alkyl)-N,N-dimethylamine oxide; C10-C18 N-(alkyl)-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide; C10-C18 alkylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide; C10-C18 alkylbetaines; C10-C18 alkylamidobetaine; C10-C18 sulfobetaine; and any mixture of the above surfactants.

[0331] In preferred variations of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactant is C10-C15 N-(alkyl)-N,N-dimethylamine oxide; C10-C15 N-(alkyl)-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide; C10-C15 alkylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide; C10-C15 alkyl betaines; C10-C15 alkylamidobetaine; C10-C15 sulfobetaine; The group consists of the above surfactants and any mixture thereof.

[0332] In a more preferred variation of the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, the amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactant is, C12-C14 N-(alkyl)-N,N-dimethylamine oxide; C12-C14 N-(alkyl)-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide; C12-C14 alkylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide; C12-C14 alkyl betaines; C12-C14 alkylamidobetaine; C12-C14 sulfobetaine; The group consists of the above surfactants and any mixture thereof.

[0333] For dishwashing detergents, the amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactant is most preferably selected from the group consisting of C12-C14 alkyl betaines and any mixture thereof.

[0334] The specific surfactants described above may be used either as a single surfactant from the same surfactant category (anionic, cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric / zwitterionic), or as a mixture of two, three, or more surfactants, or as a mixture of surfactants from different surfactant categories.

[0335] In a preferred modification, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention are C10-C18 alkylbenzene sulfonates; C10-C18 alkyl sulfates; C10-C18 alkyl sulfates ethoxylated with 1-3 moles of ethylene oxide; C10-C18 alpha-olefin sulfonates; • C8-C18 alkyl carboxylates ethoxylated with 1-10 moles of ethylene oxide; and • The mixture comprises an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of preferred variations thereof identified earlier, or a mixture of two or more anionic surfactants.

[0336] In a more preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention are C8-C15 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 3-8 moles of ethylene oxide; • Alkoxylated C8-C15 fatty alcohols, for example C8-C15 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 1-25 moles of ethylene oxide, C8-C15 fatty alcohols propoxylated with 1-15 moles of propylene oxide, C8-C15 fatty alcohols butoxylated with 1-10 moles of butylene oxide, and their combinations; • C8-C18 sophorolipids; • C8-C18 rhamnolipids; C7-C15 alkyl polyglycosides; C8-C15 alkanolamides; • C8-C15 fatty acid ester alkoxylates; and • A nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of preferred variations thereof identified above, or a mixture of two or more nonionic surfactants.

[0337] In the most preferred variation, the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention include a combination mixture of one or more anionic and one or more nonionic surfactants as specified herein, i.e., a combination of one or more anionic surfactants and one or more nonionic surfactants.

[0338] The above numerical ranges, given in the form "Cx~Cy" and enumerated with respect to the number of carbon atoms in a surfactant, include the value defining the range and each integer within the defined range, such that the range C10~C18 includes C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, and C18. For example, the term "C10~C18 alkyl" includes decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, and octadecyl. Similarly, the term "C12~C14 alkyl" includes dodecyl, tridecyl, and tetradecyl. For example, the term "C6~C18 fatty alcohol" includes fatty alcohols having carbon chains with 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 carbon atoms. Similarly, the term "C6-C18 rhamnolipid" includes structures that contain rhamnolipids and carbon chains having 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 carbon atoms.

[0339] Enzymes or enzyme preparations / components (d1, d2, d3, d)

[0340] The detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention optionally include, as components (d1, d2, d3, d), at least one enzyme or an enzyme preparation comprising at least one enzyme. The enzyme or enzyme mixture provides cleaning performance by removing dyes and / or stains, and / or fabric care benefits.

[0341] Enzymes are known as chemicals that are effective in breaking down dirt when used with detergents and other cleaning agents. Enzymes improve the cleaning of substrates by breaking down dirt, making them more soluble, and allowing surfactants to remove them from surfaces. Specifically, enzymes can provide desirable activity for removing, for example, protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or triglyceride-based stains from substrates. In addition, enzymes also help improve cleaning results at lower temperatures. As a result, enzymes have been used in a variety of cleaning applications to digest or break down dirt such as greases, oils (e.g., vegetable oils or animal fats), proteins, and carbohydrates. For example, enzymes can be added as components to compositions for laundry, textiles, dishwashing, stationary cleaning, drain cleaning, floors, carpets, medical or dental instruments, meat cutting tools, hard surfaces, and personal care.

[0342] Enzymes suitable for detergents and cleaning compositions may act by breaking down or altering one or more types of dirt residue encountered on an instrument or device, thereby removing the dirt, or by making the dirt more easily removed by the surfactant or other components of the cleaning composition. Both the breakdown and alteration of dirt residue can improve cleaning power by reducing the physicochemical forces binding the dirt to the instrument or device being cleaned, for example, making the dirt more water-soluble. For example, one or more proteases can cleave complex high-molecular-weight protein structures present in the dirt residue into simpler short-chain molecules, which in turn are more easily desorbed or solubilized from the surface, or otherwise more easily removed by a cleaning solution containing the aforementioned proteases.

[0343] The cleaning enzyme according to the present invention, as a component of detergents and cleaning compositions, has cleaning, decolorizing, stain removal, or other beneficial effects, and is for instruments, devices, or apparatus, such as medical or dental instruments or apparatus; or for laundry, textiles, clothing cleaning, stationary cleaning, drain pipes, carpets, meat cutting tools, hard surfaces, personal care, etc.

[0344] Enzymes that can be used in detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention include enzymes that provide desirable activity for removing protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or lipid-based (fat or oil-based) stains and / or stains from substrates; for washing, decolorizing, and disinfection soaking, such as for soaking medical and dental instruments, devices, and apparatus; for soaking flatware, cookware, and tableware; or for soaking meat cutting apparatus; for washing machineware; for washing and washing and decolorizing laundry and textiles; for washing and decolorizing carpets; for cleaning in-place (CIP) and in-place decolorizing; for washing and decolorizing food processing surfaces and equipment; for drain cleaning; and for soaking for washing.

[0345] Suitable enzymes to be used in accordance with the present invention are selected from the group consisting of proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, cutinases, gluconases, peroxidases, pectinases, mannanases, esterases, hemicellulases, xylanases, phospholipases, pectinate lyases, keratinases, reductases, nucleases (including DNase and / or Rnase), phenol oxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, maranases, β-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases, oxidoreductases, and any mixtures thereof.

[0346] More preferably, the enzyme in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention is selected from the group consisting of protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, mannanase, pectinate lyase, and any mixture thereof.

[0347] The enzymes used in accordance with the present invention may be of any suitable origin, such as from plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, or yeast.

[0348] Proteases: Any protease or protease mixture from any source can be used in detergents and cleaning compositions, provided that the selected enzyme is stable within the desired pH range (approximately 6 to 9). For example, protease enzymes may be derived from plants, animals, or microorganisms such as yeast, mold, or bacteria. Preferred protease enzymes include, but are not limited to, those derived from Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Streptomyces griseus. Protease enzymes derived from Bacillus subtilis are most preferred. Proteases can be purified or be components of microbial extracts, and may be either wild-type or mutant (either chemically or recombinantly). Exemplary proteases are available from Novozymes under the trade names Alcalase®, Blaze®, Savinase®, Esperase®, Progress UNO®, Liquanase®, and Pristine®, respectively; and are also commercially available from DuPont / IFF under the trade names Preferred® P and Excellent® P.

[0349] Amylase: Any amylase or amylase mixture from any source can be used in detergents and cleaning compositions, provided that the selected enzyme is stable within the desired pH range (approximately 6 to 9). For example, the amylase enzyme may be derived from plants, animals, or microorganisms such as yeast, mold, or bacteria. Preferred amylase enzymes include, but are not limited to, Bacillus, e.g., Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus stearothermophilus. The amylase enzyme derived from Bacillus subtilis is most preferred. The amylase may be purified or be a component of a microbial extract, and may be either wild-type or mutant (either chemical or recombinant). Preferred amylases are commercially available under the trade names Stainzyme® and Amplify® from Novozymes, and Preferredz® S from DuPont / IFF.

[0350] Lipase: Any lipase or lipase mixture from any source can be used in detergents and cleaning compositions, provided that the selected enzyme is stable within the desired pH range (approximately 6 to 9). For example, lipase enzymes may be derived from plants, animals, or microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria. Preferred protease enzymes include, but are not limited to, those derived from Pseudomonas, e.g., Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC 19.154, or Humicola, e.g., Humicola lanuginosa (typically produced recombinantly in Aspergillus oryzae). Lipase can be purified or be a component of a microbial extract, and may be either wild-type or mutant (either chemically or recombinantly). Preferred lipases are available from Novozymes under the trade names Lipex® and Preferenz® L from DuPont / IFF.

[0351] Cellulase: Any cellulase or cellulase mixture from any source can be used in detergents and cleaning compositions, provided that the selected enzyme is stable within the desired pH range (approximately 6 to 9). For example, the cellulase enzyme may be derived from plants, animals, or microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria. Preferred cellulase enzymes include, but are not limited to, those derived from Humicola insolens, Humicola strain DSM1800, or cellulase 212-producing fungi belonging to the genus Aeromonas, and those extracted from the hepatopancreas of the marine mollusk Dolabella Auricula Solander. The cellulase may be purified or be a component of a microbial extract, and may be either wild-type or mutant (either chemically or recombinant). Preferred cellulases are commercially available under the trade names Celluclean® and Carezyme® from Novozymes, and Revitalez® from DuPont / IFF, respectively.

[0352] The choice of enzyme depends on the end-use conditions, including the physical product form, pH of use, temperature of use, and the type of dirt to be decomposed or modified, and is influenced by factors such as pH activity and / or optimal stability, thermal stability, and stability against active detergents, builders, etc. Enzymes may be selected to provide optimal activity and stability for any given set of practical conditions. In this regard, bacterial or fungal enzymes are preferred.

[0353] Protease enzymes, amylase enzymes, and lipase enzymes are the most commonly used enzymes in detergents and cleaning compositions. Protease enzymes are particularly advantageous for cleaning stains containing proteins, such as egg, milk, and meat residues. Amylase enzymes are particularly advantageous for removing starch-based stains such as pasta and rice. Lipase enzymes are particularly advantageous for cleaning stains containing fats / oils.

[0354] As those skilled in the art will understand, enzymes are designed to act on specific types of stains. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a protease enzyme may be used for dishwashing applications because it is effective at the high temperatures of a dishwasher and is effective in reducing protein-based stains. Protease enzymes are particularly advantageous for cleaning protein-containing stains such as blood, skin scales, mucus, grass, and food (e.g., eggs, milk, spinach, meat residue, tomato sauce).

[0355] According to the present invention, enzyme-containing detergents and cleaning compositions can vary based on a specific cleaning application and the type of dirt to be cleaned. For example, the temperature of a particular cleaning application affects the enzyme selected for the enzyme composition according to the present invention. For dishwashing applications, e.g., cleaning substrates at temperatures above about 60°C, above about 70°C, or between about 65°C and 80°C, enzymes such as proteases are desirable due to their ability to maintain enzymatic performance at such high temperatures. For laundry applications, e.g., cleaning laundry at temperatures above about 40°C, above about 50°C, or between about 65°C and 90°C, enzymes such as proteases are desirable due to their ability to maintain enzymatic performance at such high temperatures.

[0356] Preferably, at least one enzyme is selected from the group consisting of proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, gluconases, peroxidases, or mixtures thereof.

[0357] In some variations, the enzymes in the detergent and cleaning composition are proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, gluconases, peroxidases, mannanases, or any mixture thereof.

[0358] Preferably, the enzymes in the detergent and cleaning composition are a mixture of protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase and / or pectinate lyase.

[0359] Preferred cleaning enzymes in detergents and cleaning compositions include hydrolases such as proteases, amylases, lipases, or combinations thereof.

[0360] Preferably, the enzymes in the detergent and cleaning composition are protease, amylase, lipase, cellulose, peroxidase, gluconase, or any mixture thereof.

[0361] In a more preferred variation, the enzymes in the detergents and cleaning compositions disclosed herein are proteases, amylases, lipases, or any mixture thereof.

[0362] More preferably, the enzyme in the detergent and cleaning composition is a protease, amylase, or a mixture thereof.

[0363] More preferably, the enzyme in the detergent and cleaning composition is a protease, lipase, or a mixture thereof.

[0364] More preferably, the enzyme in the detergent and cleaning composition is selected from amylase, lipase, or a mixture thereof.

[0365] In some other embodiments, the enzyme in the detergent and cleaning composition is a protease.

[0366] In several other variations, the enzyme in detergents and cleaning compositions is amylase.

[0367] In several other variations, the enzyme in the detergent and cleaning composition is lipase.

[0368] In several other variations, the enzyme in the detergent and cleaning composition is cellulase.

[0369] Preferred enzymes in the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention for cleaning medical or dental devices or instruments include proteases, amylases, cellulases, lipases, or combinations thereof.

[0370] Preferred enzymes in the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention for food processing surfaces and equipment include proteases, lipases, amylases, gluconases, or combinations thereof.

[0371] Preferred enzymes in the detergents and compositions according to the present invention for laundry or textiles include proteases, cellulases, lipases, peroxidases, or combinations thereof.

[0372] Preferred enzymes in carpet detergents and compositions include proteases, amylases, or combinations thereof.

[0373] Preferred enzymes in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention for meat cutting tools include proteases, lipases, or combinations thereof.

[0374] Preferred enzymes in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention for hard surfaces include proteases, amylases, lipases, or combinations thereof.

[0375] Preferred enzymes in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention for wastewater use include proteases, amylases, lipases, or combinations thereof.

[0376] In the case of stain removers, the enzyme is preferably selected from the group consisting of proteases, amylases, lipases, mannanases, pectin lyases, and any mixtures thereof.

[0377] For fabric softeners, the enzyme is preferably selected from the group consisting of cellulases.

[0378] To enhance the bleaching effect, oxidoreductase is optionally added to the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention.

[0379] Oxidoreductase is selected from the group consisting of oxidases, oxygenases, catalases, peroxidases such as halo-, chloro-, bromo-, lignin-, glucose-, or manganese-peroxidases, dioxygenases, or laccases such as phenol oxidases and polyphenol oxidases, and any mixture thereof.

[0380] Commercially available enzymes are available in liquid or dry form (i.e., packs, powders, etc.) and are sold as raw material aqueous solutions or in various purified, processed, and formulated forms established in the prior art, generally containing about 0.1% to about 80% by weight of active enzymes in combination with stabilizers, buffers, cofactors, impurities, and inactive vehicles. Assuming that detergents and cleaning compositions have the desired enzymatic performance, the actual active enzyme content is not important and depends on the manufacturing method.

[0381] This includes, for example, solid enzyme preparations obtained by granulation, extrusion, or freeze-drying, or, particularly in the case of liquid or gel-like drugs, enzyme solutions that are advantageously as concentrated as possible, low in moisture, and / or containing added stabilizers. Alternatively, for both solid and liquid dosage forms, enzymes can be encapsulated, for example, by spray-drying or extruding the enzyme solution together with a natural polymer, or in the form of capsules, for example, with the enzyme enclosed in a coagulated gel, or in a core-shell type where the enzyme-containing core is coated with a protective layer that is impermeable to water, air, and / or chemicals. Further active substances, such as stabilizers, emulsifiers, pigments, bleaches, or dyes, may be applied to the superimposed layers. Such capsules are applied using methods known to themselves, for example, by vibration granulation or roll granulation, or by fluidized bed granulation. Advantageously, such granules are low in dust, for example, as a result of the application of polymer film-forming agents, and have storage stability due to the coating. Furthermore, it is possible to package two or more enzymes together so that a single granule exhibits multiple enzyme activities.

[0382] In a preferred variation of the present invention, the enzyme added to the detergent and cleaning composition is a single enzyme.

[0383] In some other variations, the enzymes added to the detergent and cleaning composition are preferably an enzyme cocktail of two, three, four, or even more different enzymes. Typically, in the case of laundry detergents, the enzyme cocktail contains two (preferably proteases and amylases) to six enzymes.

[0384] In a more preferred variation, at least one enzyme is added to the detergent composition according to the present invention as an enzyme preparation comprising an enzyme in a mixture with one or more stabilizers, preferably one or more enzyme stabilizers, and optionally a buffer, an additive, etc., or a cocktail of different enzymes.

[0385] Preferably, enzyme stabilizers are added to enzyme preparations to stabilize the enzymes in detergents and cleaning compositions from loss of performance (i.e., retention of enzyme activity or retention of enzymes). The enzymes are stabilized by the enzyme stabilizers through physical protection by a protective layer.

[0386] Enzyme preparations can vary depending on the specific enzyme used.

[0387] At least one enzyme (d) used herein is stabilized by the presence of a water-soluble source of calcium and / or magnesium ions in the final detergent, which provides such ions to the enzyme. Calcium ions are generally somewhat more effective than magnesium ions and are preferred herein when only one type of cation is used. A typical detergent, especially a liquid, contains 1 to 30 mmol, preferably 2 to 20 mmol, more preferably 5 to 15 mmol, and most preferably 8 to 12 mmol of calcium ions per liter of the final composition.

[0388] It should be understood that the aforementioned levels of calcium and / or magnesium ions are sufficient to provide enzyme stability. More calcium and / or magnesium ions may be added to the composition to provide an additional measure of grease removal performance. Therefore, as a general suggestion, the compositions herein typically contain 0.01% to 2% by weight of a water-soluble source of calcium or magnesium ions, or both. This amount may, of course, vary depending on the amount and type of enzyme used in the composition.

[0389] Additional enzyme stability may be provided by the presence of various other stabilizers disclosed in the art, particularly borate species.

[0390] One group of stabilizers is reversible protease inhibitors. Benzamidine hydrochloride, borax, boric acid, boronic acid, or salts or esters thereof, including derivatives having aromatic groups, are frequently used for this purpose. Typically, such enzyme stabilizers are used in a composition at a level of 0.05% to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.075% to 3% by weight, of boric acid or other borate compounds capable of forming boric acid in the composition (calculated based on boric acid). While boric acid is preferred, other compounds such as boron oxide, borax, and other alkali metal borates (e.g., sodium orthoborate, sodium metaborate, and sodium pyroborate, and sodium pentaborate) are also suitable. Substituted boric acids (e.g., phenylboronic acid, butaneboronic acid, and p-bromophenylboronic acid) can also be used instead of boric acid.

[0391] Furthermore, peptaldehydes, i.e., oligopeptides with a reduced C-terminus, particularly those with 2 to 50 monomers, or their bisulfite adducts, can be used for this purpose. Examples of peptidically reversible protease inhibitors include, but are not limited to, ovomucoids and leupeptins. Specific reversible peptide inhibitors for the protease subtilisin, as well as fusion proteins from proteases and specific peptide inhibitors, are also suitable for this purpose.

[0392] Further enzyme stabilizers include amino alcohols, such as mono-, di-, triethanolamine, and propanolamine, and mixtures thereof; aliphatic carboxylic acids up to C12, such as succinic acid, other dicarboxylic acids, or salts of the above acids.

[0393] End-capped fatty acid amide alkoxylates are also suitable for this purpose.

[0394] Preferably, the enzyme stabilizer in the enzyme preparation is selected from the group consisting of polyols, e.g., glycols, e.g., monopropylene glycol, glycerin, mannitol, isomaltol, lactic acid, sorbitol, xylitol, treitol, erythritol, arabitol; amino alcohols, e.g., mono-, di-, triethanolamine and -propanolamine; aliphatic carboxylic acids up to C12, e.g., succinic acid and its salts; dicarboxylic acids and their salts; terminally capped fatty acid amide alkoxylates; salts, preferably calcium and magnesium salts, e.g., calcium chloride, calcium formate, magnesium chloride, magnesium formate; reversible enzyme inhibitors, e.g., borate-containing compositions, e.g., 4-FBPA; boron-free inhibitors, e.g., disubstituted alaninamide, sodium formate; and any mixture thereof.

[0395] An enzyme stabilizer or an enzyme preparation containing an enzyme stabilizer is added to the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition in such an amount that the enzyme stabilizer is present in the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition in an amount of 0.0001 to 5% by weight based on the total weight of the detergent and cleaning composition. Preferably, the enzyme stabilizer is present in an amount of 0.001 to 4% by weight based on the total weight of the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition. Most preferably, the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition contains the enzyme stabilizer in an amount of 0.01 to 3% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

[0396] Alternatively, more preferably, at least one enzyme is added to the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention as an enzyme preparation in a mixture with 1,2-heptanediol and / or 2,3-heptanediol, or a specific type of degreasing enhancer (b), such as an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as specified herein, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or the aforementioned degreasing enhancer, and optionally in a mixture with buffers, additives, etc.

[0397] In a more preferred variation, at least one enzyme is added to the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention as an enzyme preparation in a mixture with an enzyme stabilizer and 1,2-heptanediol and / or 2,3-heptanediol, or a specific type of degreasing enhancer (b), such as an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as specified herein, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or the aforementioned degreasing enhancer, and optionally in a mixture with a buffer or the like.

[0398] Surprisingly, in such formulations, the addition of 1,2-heptanediol and / or 2,3-heptanediol, or certain types of degreasing enhancers (b), such as alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or mixtures of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, was found to improve or enhance the enzyme stabilizing effect of the enzyme stabilizers identified above in such mixtures.

[0399] Unexpectedly, the combination of 1,2-heptanediol and / or 2,3-heptanediol, or certain types of degreasing enhancers (b), such as alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or mixtures of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, with an enzyme stabilizer results in an improved enzyme stabilization effect in enzyme-containing detergents and cleaning compositions compared to the use of a single enzyme stabilizer without such degreasing enhancers.

[0400] With respect to detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention, the list of degreasing enhancers (b1, b2, b3, b) specified herein can be optionally combined with the list of enzyme stabilizers.

[0401] When one of the following degreasing enhancers is used in combination with one or more of the above-mentioned specific enzyme stabilizers, a significant improvement in enzyme stability is observed: • 1,2-pentanediol; • 1,2-Hexanediol; • 1,2-heptanediol; • 1,2-octanediol; • 1,2-nonanediol; • 1,2-decanediol; • 1,2-Undecanediol; • 1,2-dodecanediol; • 1,2-Tridecanediol; • 1,2-tetradecanediol; Glyceryl caprylate; ·4-hydroxyacetophenone; Ethylhexylglycerin; • Tropolone; • A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol and 1,2-octanediol; • A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-octanediol, and tropolone; and A mixture containing 4-hydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-octanediol.

[0402] Any further ingredients

[0403] Within the context of the present invention, it is possible, and in some cases advantageous, to combine detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention with other active substances and / or additives, depending on the purpose of the composition, to obtain ready-to-use compositions or formulations. The active ingredients provide the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention with desired properties and functionality. The terms “functional ingredient” or “functional additive” include ingredients that provide beneficial properties in a particular use. Some specific examples of functional ingredients are described in more detail below. However, a wide variety of other functional ingredients can also be used.

[0404] The detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention may contain any of the components commonly found in such compositions, such as organic solvents, builders, and further auxiliary agents, such as antifouling agents, thickeners, colorants, and fragrances.

[0405] Preferably, the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention may be advantageously combined with or modified by at least one active substance and / or at least one (functional) additive, such as solvents, builders, bleaches, stain removers, dispersants, anti-foaming agents, metal ion sequestering agents, chelating agents, anti-redeposition agents, anti-color transfer / color protection agents, dye scavengers, dyes, anti-graying agents, fluorescent whitening agents, ultraviolet light absorbers, thickeners or rheological modifiers, hydrotropes, solubility modifiers, pH adjusters, buffers, solvents, antistatic agents, anti-wrinkle agents, antimicrobial agents, odor removers / odor scavengers, ultraviolet light protection agents, fragrances, bactericides, disinfectants, water repellents, insect repellents, anti-pilling agents, scouring agents, antifungal agents, anti-allergic agents, and any mixtures thereof.

[0406] The detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention may further comprise one or more antimicrobial agents.

[0407] In the context of this invention, the term “antimicrobial component” refers to a group of substances, particularly agents that kill or stop or inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and / or fungi, thereby preventing microbial contamination of a product. Without the addition of such agents, the product may spoil, exhibit changes in odor, discoloration, mold growth, gas formation, emulsion separation, or viscosity changes, making the product unacceptable to consumers.

[0408] Suitable antimicrobial agents include, but are not limited to, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds, metal derivatives, amines, alkanolamines, nitro derivatives, analides, organosulfurs and sulfur-nitrogen compounds, and various other compounds. Exemplary phenolic agents include pentachlorophenol, orthophenylphenol, and phenoxyethanol. Exemplary quaternary antimicrobial agents include benzalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, amine and nitro-containing antimicrobial compositions, such as hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine, dithiocarbamates, such as sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate, and various other materials whose antimicrobial properties are known in the art. Other exemplary antimicrobial agents include glutaraldehyde, bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), silver, and isothiazolone, such as methylisothiazolinone, ethyl HCl lauroyl alginate sold under the trade name Neolone®, sodium benzoate, benzyl alcohol, or methylbenzyl alcohol.

[0409] In preferred variations of the present invention, the detergent and cleaning composition are further combined with benzyl alcohol, methylbenzyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, and any mixture thereof. The aforementioned substances have broad-spectrum activity against microorganisms and are added to the detergent composition to inhibit microbial decay and therefore for stabilization purposes.

[0410] In particular, antimicrobial agents are added to liquid detergents due to their higher water content, which makes such compositions susceptible to the invasion and growth of microorganisms.

[0411] If an antimicrobial agent is included in the detergent and cleaning composition of the present invention, it is preferably in an amount of about 0.001% to about 5% by weight.

[0412] Typically, at least one degreasing agent is present in the detergent and cleaning composition, particularly the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention, in an amount of 0.1 to 40.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. In a preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition contains degreasing agent (a) in an amount of 0.25 to 30.0% by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 20.0% by weight. Most preferably, the degreasing agent is included in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention in an amount of 1.0 to 10.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0413] A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol (b1) or 2,3-heptanediol (b2) or 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol (b3) according to a first aspect of the present invention is present in the detergent and cleaning composition in an amount of 0.001 to 15.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. In a preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition contains a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol (b1) or 2,3-heptanediol (b2) or 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol (b3) in an amount of 0.01 to 10.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. In a more preferred variation, a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol (b1) or 2,3-heptanediol (b2), or 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol (b3), is advantageously used in detergents and cleaning compositions in an amount of 0.1 to 5.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. In an even more preferred variation, a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol (b1) or 2,3-heptanediol (b2), or 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol (b3), is advantageously used in detergents and cleaning compositions in an amount of 0.3 to 3.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. In the most preferred variation, a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol (b1) or 2,3-heptanediol (b2) or 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol (b3) is advantageously used in detergent and cleaning compositions in an amount of 0.5 to 1.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

[0414] With respect to the heptanediol mixture (b3), the above amount refers to the total content of 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol in the mixture; that is, this amount is the sum of the content of 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol in the mixture.

[0415] The present invention provides at least one degreasing enhancer (b) in the detergent and cleaning composition in an amount of 0.001 to 15.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. In a preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition contains at least one degreasing enhancer (b) in an amount of 0.01 to 10.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. In a more preferred variation, at least one degreasing enhancer (b) is favorably used in the detergent and cleaning composition in an amount of 0.1 to 5.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. In an even more preferred variation, at least one degreasing enhancer (b) is favorably used in the detergent and cleaning composition in an amount of 0.3 to 3.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. In the most preferred variation, at least one degreasing enhancer (b) is favorably used in the detergent and cleaning composition in an amount of 0.5 to 1.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

[0416] For an alkane mixture containing at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols, the above amount is with respect to the total content of the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol in the mixture; that is, this amount is the sum of the content of the first linear alkanediol and the second linear alkanediol in the mixture.

[0417] In a particularly preferred variation according to the first aspect of the present invention, the detergent and cleaning composition contain, based on the total weight of the composition, 2,3-heptanediol (b3) of 2,3-heptanediol or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol in an amount of 0.001 to 15.0% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 10.0% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 5.0% by weight, even more preferably 0.3 to 3.0% by weight, and most preferably 0.5 to 1.0% by weight.

[0418] More preferably, the detergent and cleaning composition contains 2,3-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol (b3) of a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol in an amount of 0.001 to 0.5% by weight, preferably 0.005 to 0.1% by weight, and most preferably 0.01 to 0.075% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition or home care product.

[0419] In a particularly preferred variation of the present invention, the detergent and cleaning composition contains, based on the total weight of the composition or home care product, a 2,3-alkanediol as a linear alkanediol, or a mixture containing at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols, in an amount of 0.001 to 15.0% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 10.0% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 5.0% by weight, even more preferably 0.3 to 3.0% by weight, and most preferably 0.5 to 1.0% by weight.

[0420] More preferably, the detergent and cleaning composition contains, based on the total weight of the composition or home care product, 2,3-alkanediol as a linear alkanediol, or a mixture containing at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols, in an amount of 0.001 to 0.5% by weight, preferably 0.005 to 0.1% by weight, and most preferably 0.01 to 0.075% by weight.

[0421] Typically, at least one surfactant is present in the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention in an amount of 0.001 to 90% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Preferably, the surfactant is present in an amount of 0.001 to 60% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. More preferably, the detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention contains the surfactant in an amount of 0.01 to 50% by weight, most preferably 0.1 to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0422] In contrast, the light-duty composition according to the present invention contains at least one surfactant in an amount of 0.001 to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Preferably, the surfactant is present in an amount of 0.005 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. The dishwashing and / or rinsing composition according to the present invention contains the surfactant in an amount of 0.01 to 25% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0423] Enzymes are typically incorporated into detergents and cleaning compositions according to this disclosure in an amount sufficient to provide effective cleaning during the cleaning procedure. An effective cleaning amount means an amount that provides a clean, hygienic, and preferably non-corrosive appearance to the cleaned material, particularly medical or dental devices or instruments. An effective cleaning amount may also mean an amount that produces a cleaning effect, stain removal effect, dirt removal effect, whitening effect, deodorizing effect, or freshness-improving effect on a substrate, such as medical or dental devices or instruments. Such cleaning effects can be achieved with a small amount of enzyme, approximately 0.02% by weight of the detergent or cleaning composition.

[0424] In the detergents and cleaning compositions of this disclosure, adequate cleaning can typically be achieved when the enzyme is present in an amount of about 0.0001 to about 35% by weight, preferably about 2 to about 15% by weight, preferably about 3 to about 10% by weight, preferably about 4 to about 8% by weight, preferably about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, or about 8% by weight. Higher enzyme levels are typically desirable in highly concentrated cleaning formulations.

[0425] The enzyme is present in the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention in an amount of 0.0001 to 5% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Preferably, the enzyme is present in an amount of 0.0001 to 4% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. More preferably, the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention contains the enzyme in an amount of 0.001 to 3% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Most preferably, the enzyme is present in the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition in an amount of 0.01 to 2% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.

[0426] Typically, enzymes are present in the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention in an amount of 0.05 to 2.0% by weight. Usually, proteases and amylases are used in higher concentrations in the detergent and cleaning composition, i.e., based on the total weight of the composition, proteases in an amount of 0.4 to 1.5% by weight and amylase in an amount of 0.05 to 0.6% by weight.

[0427] In the case of enzyme cocktails, the above amounts refer to the total amount of enzymes in the mixture; that is, the amount is the sum of the amounts of all enzymes in the mixture.

[0428] Surprisingly, the detergents and cleaning compositions of this disclosure have been found to have superior cleaning performance compared to detergents and cleaning compositions of the present invention that do not contain the degreasing enhancer.

[0429] Surprisingly, it has been found that adding effective amounts of 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or mixtures containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or certain types of degreasing enhancers, such as alkanediols as defined herein, glyceryl caprylates as defined herein, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, or tropolone, in combination with surfactants to detergents and cleaning compositions containing degreasing agents, has a positive effect in that they improve the degreasing power of the detergents and cleaning compositions. The detergents and cleaning compositions exhibit superior degreasing performance compared to detergents and cleaning compositions that do not contain such degreasing enhancers.

[0430] Surprisingly, it has been found that adding an effective amount of 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, as defined herein, or certain types of degreasing enhancers, such as alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, or tropolone, in combination with a surfactant to a detergent and cleaning composition containing a degreasing agent also improves the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or stains compared to detergent and cleaning compositions without such enhancers.

[0431] In particular, 1,2-alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 10 carbon atoms exhibit remarkable oil stain and / or dirt removal performance. As demonstrated in the following examples, the longer the carbon chain of the 1,2-alkanediol, the better the degreasing power.

[0432] While not bound by theory, alkanediols are thought to reduce surface tension, resulting in more effective degreasing detergents and cleaning formulations. On the other hand, alkanediols can act as solvents / solubilizers for better solubilization of oily or greasy stains. Both effects result in improved removal of oily or greasy stains and / or dirt.

[0433] Unexpectedly, detergents and cleaning compositions comprising a degreasing agent (a), a degreasing enhancer (b), and a surfactant (c) have also been found to be highly effective against a wide range of oils and greases or oily-type stains and / or dirt, such as oily or greasy dyes, oily or greasy dirt, mayonnaise, frying oil, beef tallow, lard, dirty motor oil, lanolin, lipstick, and mineral oil. In particular, stains caused by stubborn dirty motor oil, lipstick, and frying oil can be easily removed by treatment with the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention.

[0434] Surprisingly, detergents and cleaning compositions comprising a degreasing agent (a), a degreasing enhancer (b), and a surfactant (c) have also been found to be highly effective when used as laundry products for cleaning and washing a wide range of substrates, preferably fabrics or textiles. In particular, the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention are especially beneficial for degreasing sensitive fibers such as wool, silk, and synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyacrylic, and nylon, which can only be treated at low temperatures.

[0435] Therefore, detergents and cleaning compositions containing a degreasing agent or a mixture of degreasing agents in combination with 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol or certain types of degreasing enhancers, such as alkanediols, glyceryl caprylates, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or mixtures of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers as specified herein, and a surfactant, exhibit improved overall cleaning performance compared to detergents and cleaning compositions that do not contain such degreasing enhancers.

[0436] Conversely, for the sake of enhancing the effect, the amount of degreasing agents and other components used to increase the degreasing and cleaning effects in these detergents and cleaning compositions can be reduced without losing cleaning performance.

[0437] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention can be used either by themselves or for the preparation of detergents and cleaning products.

[0438] The detergents and cleaning compositions or products specified herein can be used in a variety of cleaning methods. As used herein, the term “cleaning” means performing, facilitating, or assisting in the removal of dirt, bleaching, reduction of microbial populations, disinfection, etc. Preferably, the detergents and cleaning compositions or products are useful for textile cleaning, laundry, dishwashing, fabric care, household, institutional and industrial hard surface cleaning, such as clothing or other surfaces, and cleaning medical and dental instruments.

[0439] As used herein, the term “fabric cleaning” includes detergents and cleaning compositions or products designed for cleaning dyed and / or soiled materials. Such compositions include, but are not limited to, laundry detergent compositions, fabric softening compositions, fabric improving compositions, fabric freshening compositions, pre-washes, pre-wash treatments, laundry additives, spray products, dry cleaning agents or compositions, wash rinse additives, cleaning additives, post-rinse fabric treatments, ironing aids, unit-dose formulations, delayed-delivery formulations, detergents contained on or in porous substrates or nonwoven sheets, fibrous substrates, preferably the aforementioned fibrous materials containing activators, and other suitable forms that may be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0440] Preferably, detergents and cleaning compositions or products may be used to clean, wash, or soak medical or dental devices, instruments, or apparatus, including any of the various medical or dental instruments or devices that can benefit from cleaning with an enzymatic cleaning composition. Exemplary medical and dental instruments and devices include instruments, devices, tools, appliances, apparatus, and equipment used in medical or dental settings, including those that can be sterilized at low temperatures, immersed or washed and then heat-sterilized. Medical and / or dental instruments may be contaminated with blood, mammalian tissue including but not limited to human tissue, or other foreign matter.

[0441] Suitable examples of detergents and cleaning compositions or products, particularly degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions or products, include degreasing cleaners, heavy-duty detergents, color care detergents, light-duty detergents, general-purpose detergents, fabric softeners, fabric laundry fragrances, fragrance lotions, laundry wipes, stain removers (Press Potter, Vanish type), washing machine cleaners, general-purpose cleaners, hand dishwashing detergents, automatic dishwashing detergents, hard surface cleaners, glass and mirror cleaners, wet cleaning wipes, kitchen cleaners, cookware cleaners, oven cleaners, floor cleaners, wood floor cleaners, carpet cleaners, bathroom and shower cleaners, toilet cleaners, grout cleaners, disinfectants, drain cleaners, toilet rim block gels, air fresheners, furniture polishes, car shampoos, and medical cleaning products.

[0442] In a preferred variation, the detergent and cleaning composition or product is a degreasing cleaner. The degreasing cleaner of the present invention can be used for either manual or mechanical cleaning.

[0443] The aforementioned detergents and cleaning compositions or products refer to compositions or products in liquid, solid, tablet, encapsulated, diluted or concentrated form, and optionally in two-compartment or multi-compartment form.

[0444] As used herein, liquids include free-flowing liquids, as well as pastes, gels, foams, and mousses. Non-limiting examples of liquids include light-duty and heavy-duty liquid detergents and cleaning compositions, fabric conditioners, detergent gels commonly used in laundry, bleaches, and laundry additives. Gases, such as suspended bubbles, or solids, such as particles, may be contained within the liquids.

[0445] Solids used herein include powders, flakes, granules, pellets, tablets, microcapsules, beads, noodles, pearlescent balls, lozenges, packs, briquettes, bricks, blocks, or other solid forms known to those skilled in the art.

[0446] Solid detergents and cleaning compositions or products may be provided as compressed solid blocks, cast solid blocks, extruded pellets or blocks, or tablets. Furthermore, solid detergent compositions or products may be provided in unit dose form. A unit dose refers to a solid detergent or cleaning composition unit of a size such that the entire unit is used in a single cleaning cycle.

[0447] Solid detergents and cleaning compositions or products may be provided in the form of multi-use (e.g., multi-use) solids such as blocks or multiple pellets, which can be repeatedly used to produce aqueous use solutions of the detergent composition for multiple cycles or a predetermined number of dispensing cycles. Multi-use solid detergent compositions can be repeatedly used to produce aqueous detergent compositions, e.g., use solutions, for multiple cleaning cycles. Compressed solid detergent blocks are made suitable to provide stability such that the reactive components in the composition do not react with each other until the time of dilution and / or use. In some embodiments, the order in which the components are introduced to form a solid is not limited, as the amount of water introduced into the solid composition is minimal and / or no water. However, in some embodiments, compressed solid detergent blocks are made by using a binding system to minimize any damage to the coated granules that can be used. Advantageously, the compression process for producing compressed solid detergent blocks produces compressed solid detergent blocks and prevents the reaction or mixing of the components. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the solid detergent composition remains unreacted or unmixed until use, e.g., until dilution.

[0448] In a compression solid process, a fluid solid, such as a granular solid or other particulate solid containing a binder, is mixed under pressure. In a compression solid process, the fluid solid of the composition is placed into a mold (e.g., a mold or container). The method may include gently pressing the fluid solid in form to produce a solid cleaning composition.

[0449] Detergents and cleaning compositions or products may be supplied in concentrated form and diluted in a solution of use, or supplied as a solution of use. Preferably, the composition of use is diluted to a concentration of about 500 ppm to about 5000 ppm, more preferably about 750 ppm to about 4500 ppm, and most preferably about 1000 ppm to about 4000 ppm.

[0450] The detergents and cleaning compositions or products according to the present invention are used for household cleaning, medical cleaning, facility cleaning such as cleaning in schools, airports, and hospitals, or industrial cleaning.

[0451] The detergents and cleaning compositions or products according to the present invention can be prepared by combining and mixing various components according to commonly known methods. Preferably, the enzyme is added last to prevent denaturation or inactivation of the enzyme. Mixing can be carried out by any suitable automatic or manual method. For example, automatic or manual stirring can be performed. The detergent compositions can be prepared in a batch process or a continuous process.

[0452] Based on the aforementioned advantageous effects, detergents and cleaning compositions or products according to the present invention, comprising a combination of a degreasing agent, a degreasing enhancer, such as an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, and a surfactant, are particularly useful in cleaning and washing processes for efficiently removing oily or greasey stains and / or dirt from a substrate.

[0453] Therefore, in a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for treating a stained and / or soiled substrate, - A step of treating a substrate with a detergent and cleaning composition or product according to the present invention; and -The method comprises the step of rinsing the aforementioned substrate in water to remove the aforementioned composition or product.

[0454] Preferably, the method for treating a stained / stained substrate is carried out in a wash containing a washing solution comprising water and a detergent and washing composition according to the present invention. The washing solution may be applied to the substrate or the substrate may be immersed in the washing solution.

[0455] Alternatively, the method may involve directly applying detergents and cleaning compositions, i.e., enzymatic detergents and cleaning compositions that are not dissolved without water, to part or all of the substrate in order to directly treat stains and / or dirt on the substrate. Such a process is preferably a pretreatment, which may be followed by treatment with or in a cleaning solution.

[0456] The method according to the present invention is applicable to both higher and lower temperatures. For dishwashing applications, for example, washing substrates at temperatures above about 60°C, above about 70°C, or between about 65°C and 80°C. For laundry applications, for example, washing laundry at temperatures above about 40°C, above about 50°C, or between about 65°C and 90°C.

[0457] Preferably, this method is applied at a low temperature where staining and / or stain removal is more problematic. Preferably, the processing temperature is below 50°C, preferably below 40°C, and more preferably below 30°C.

[0458] Surprisingly, the detergents and cleaning compositions or products according to the present invention have been found to be particularly efficient at removing oily or greasey stains and / or dirt at the aforementioned low temperatures.

[0459] Therefore, the method enables the degreasing and removal of oily or greasey stains and / or dirt in a low-temperature range.

[0460] This is particularly advantageous in the treatment of sensitive substrates that can only be washed or cleaned at low temperatures, such as wool, silk, and synthetic fibers like polyester, polyacrylic, and nylon.

[0461] Preferably, the base material is cotton.

[0462] More preferably, the base material is wool or silk.

[0463] More preferably, the base material is a blended fabric such as cotton and polyester, or a synthetic fiber such as polyester, polyacrylic, or nylon.

[0464] Surprisingly, it has been found that stains caused by stubborn motor oil, lipstick, and frying oil can be easily removed by treatment with the degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention.

[0465] The use of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions or products according to the present invention in the method according to the present invention provides improved removal of oily or greasey stains and / or stains, and therefore results in improved overall cleaning performance.

[0466] As described above regarding degreasing enhancers, based on advantageous degreasing enhancement and improved oily or greasey stain and / or stain removal effects, the present invention further comprises 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined herein, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (bIII) 4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV Ethylhexylglycerin; (b V ) Tropolone; and With regard to the use of at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof; This invention relates to the use of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions to enhance their degreasing power, and / or to improve the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions containing degreasing agents and surfactants.

[0467] With respect to degreasing agents and preferred modifications thereof, refer to the above description of degreasing agents relating to detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention, which is equally valid with respect to the use of 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or at least one degreasing enhancer (b) for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions and for improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, in order to avoid repetition.

[0468] Surprisingly, the use of 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or mixtures containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or at least one degreasing enhancer specified herein, has been found to improve the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, improve the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or dirt in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, and result in improved overall cleaning performance compared to detergents and cleaning compositions that do not contain the aforementioned degreasing enhancers. This superior effect is based on the combination of degreasing agents, degreasing enhancers, and surfactants.

[0469] Therefore, the use of degreasing enhancers according to the present invention is beneficial for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, and / or for improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions with respect to the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or dirt. The improvement also allows for a reduction in degreasing agents such as solvents and / or solubilizers in degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0470] As described above regarding degreasing enhancers, based on their advantageous degreasing-enhancing effects, the present invention finally provides a method for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, and / or improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, (i) A step of providing a detergent and cleaning composition containing a degreasing agent and a surfactant; (ii) an effective amount of 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined herein, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV Ethylhexylglycerin; (b V ) Tropolone; and The present invention relates to a method comprising the step of adding at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixtures thereof.

[0471] With respect to degreasing agents and preferred modifications thereof, refer to the above description of degreasing agents related to detergents and cleaning compositions according to the present invention, which is also effective in relation to methods for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions and improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions in order to avoid repetition.

[0472] Surprisingly, it has been found that by adding an effective amount of 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or a specific type of degreasing enhancer, such as an alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined herein, glyceryl caprylate, 4-hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, tropolone, or a mixture of the aforementioned degreasing enhancers, to a degreasing detergent and cleaning composition containing a degreasing agent and a surfactant, the degreasing power of the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition is enhanced, the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or dirt is improved, and therefore the cleaning performance of the detergent and cleaning composition is improved compared to a detergent and cleaning composition without the aforementioned degreasing enhancers.

[0473] Therefore, the addition of the degreasing enhancer according to the present invention to degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions containing degreasing agents is beneficial in enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions and / or improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions with respect to the removal of oily or greasey stains and / or stains. The improvement also allows for a reduction in degreasing agents such as solvents and / or solubilizers in the degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions.

[0474] In addition, based on the aforementioned advantageous effects, 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or mixtures comprising 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or at least one degreasing enhancer as defined herein, are suitable for acting as degreasers / degreasing agents. Based on the aforementioned advantageous effects, 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or mixtures comprising 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, or at least one degreasing enhancer as defined herein, are suitable for replacing solvents and / or solubilizers in degreasing detergents or cleaning products.

[0475] Therefore, in further aspects of the present invention, the present invention relates to 1,2-heptanediol or 2,3-heptanediol, or a mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol, as a degreasing agent / substitute for a solvent and / or a solubilizing agent, or (b I ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined in any one of claims 2 and 4 to 10, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b II ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b III )4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b IV Ethylhexylglycerin; (b V ) Tropolone; and This relates to the use of at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof.

[0476] The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following examples, but these examples are merely illustrative and the content of the present invention is not limited to the following examples. [Examples]

[0477] Example 1: Cleaning performance

[0478] The following tests are conducted to demonstrate the effect of different degreasing enhancers according to the present invention on the degreasing power and cleaning performance of different degreasing cleaners containing degreasing agents and surfactants.

[0479] In parallel, a comparative test will be conducted using degreasing cleaners that have the same degreasing agent and surfactant, but lack a degreasing enhancer, under the same conditions.

[0480] Example 1.1: Test method according to the IKW Recommendation (2017) for quality evaluation of product performance of degreasing power cleaner.

[0481] The cleaning performance of the degreasing cleaner and comparative degreasing cleaner tested according to the present invention is carried out in accordance with the IKW Recommendations (2017) for Quality Evaluation of Product Performance of Degreasing Power Cleaners.

[0482] The test method involves evaluating the cleaning performance of a hard surface cleaner on tough polymerized grease baked onto a stainless steel plate. The grease test method simulates the removal of heated or baked-on grease. When cooking at home, hot, partially polymerized oils and fats are released onto kitchen surfaces, especially the tops of cookware. During cooking, the surface of the cookware becomes hot. This additional heating hardens the grease or grime due to the increased level of polymerization, ultimately forming tough grease or oily grime. A common cleaning habit is to clean this type of pure grease by direct application (i.e., scrubbing) when found on hard surfaces.

[0483] Grease or oily stains are placed on stainless steel tiles and then baked and cured before use for cleaning evaluation. A scrubbing device is used to simulate the scrubbing process that consumers perform when using the product on stubborn stains in their homes. The number of strokes required to completely clean the baked-on grease stains highlights the performance of the cleaner. Statistical analysis (e.g., Tukey's test) is performed at a 95% confidence level to determine significant differences between detergents.

[0484] Example 1.2: Test method in accordance with recommendations for quality evaluation of product performance of general-purpose cleaners

[0485] The cleaning performance of the degreasing cleaner and comparative degreasing cleaner tested according to the present invention was carried out in accordance with the recommendations for quality evaluation of product performance of general-purpose cleaners (published in SOFW-Journal 130, 10-2004, pages 83 to 93).

[0486] Product performance is determined by measuring its cleaning performance.

[0487] Example 1.3: Test method according to IKW recommendations for quality evaluation of the cleaning performance of dishwashing detergents

[0488] The cleaning performance of dishwashing detergents is analyzed in accordance with the IKW recommendations for quality assessment of the cleaning performance of dishwashing detergents (Part B, updated 2015).

[0489] The cleaning performance test consists of evaluating the stain removal effectiveness of the tested dishwashing detergent against 14 different stains.

[0490] Test conditions: Washing machine, Miele dishwasher GSL or Miele GSL 2 Water hardness: For classic products: 1.8 mmol / l For multi-functional products: 3.5 mmol / l Water temperature: 45℃ during the main wash cycle Wash cycle: at least 3 cycles Dosage: Recommended dosage for normal / medium hardness soiling. Dyeing kit: Black tea (bleachable), Milk, milk skin (persistent / alkaline sensitive), Starch mix, pasta (starch-containing, amylase-sensitive), Egg yolk, crème brûlée, ground meat (contains protein, protease sensitive) Number of soiled items: 6 of each type

[0491] Measurement / evaluation is performed for each stain by either visual inspection with reference to a photographic catalog or by gravimetric measurement, as described in the IKW recommendations.

[0492] The results obtained are statistically processed using Tukey's HSD test (HSD = truly significant difference) at a 95% confidence level. The HSD value highlights significant differences between each pair of products.

[0493] As can be seen from the test results, the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition according to the present invention exhibit superior cleaning performance in terms of stain removal and / or dirt removal compared to the cleaning performance without the degreasing enhancer of the present invention. Conversely, this means that the degreasing activity in the degreasing detergent and cleaning composition is improved by the addition of the degreasing enhancer of the present invention, whereas the detergent and cleaning composition without the degreasing enhancer have a lower degreasing effect, and therefore lower cleaning performance.

[0494] Example 1.4: Cleaning performance of the degreasing cleaner according to the present invention

[0495] The degreasing power of different degreasing cleaners according to the present invention was tested on ready-to-use CFT DM40 tiles (standard soiled substrate) soiled with a mixture of oil and carbon black.

[0496] The degreasing cleaner is a standard degreasing cleaner containing ethoxylated fatty alcohol (C9-C11 6 EO) and ethanol, to which a 1% degreasing enhancer has been added.

[0497] The degreasing enhancers are 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, and 1,2-octanediol.

[0498] For comparison, a standard degreasing cleaner was used without the addition of a degreasing enhancer.

[0499] The cleaning process was simulated using an Abrasimeter with 70 scrubs and a 160g load.

[0500] The cleaning performance of the degreasing cleaner and comparative degreasing cleaner tested according to the present invention is carried out as described in Example 1.2.

[0501] As can be seen from the panel evaluation results in Figure 1, 1,2-pentanediol, which exhibits effective release of oily stains, improves the degreasing power of degreasing cleaners. 1,2-hexanediol has a better degreasing power enhancing effect compared to 1,2-pentanediol. 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-octanediol show the best release of oily stains. Therefore, 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-octanediol are particularly beneficial degreasing enhancers. In Figure 1, number 0 = no removal; number 10 = completely cleaned. Thus, the longer the 1,2-alkanediol chain, the better the degreasing enhancing effect.

[0502] The cleaning performance of different degreasing cleaners is also shown by photographs of the cleaned tiles: as can be seen from the photographs, degreasing agents containing 1,2-octanediol and 1,2-heptanediol exhibit the best cleaning performance, with almost no dirt residue left on the tiles. 1,2-pentanediol also shows improved cleaning performance compared to a comparative sample without a degreasing enhancer. Degreasing cleaners using the degreasing enhancer 1,2-hexanediol perform better than degreasing cleaners using the degreasing enhancer 1,2-pentanediol.

[0503] Example 1.5: Cleaning performance of the degreasing cleaner according to the present invention

[0504] The degreasing power of the degreasing cleaner according to the present invention was further tested on a steel plate (standard soiled substrate) soiled with a mixture of oils, proteins, and starches.

[0505] The degreasing agent tested had the following composition: [Table 1]

[0506] A degreasing agent formulation having a surfactant concentration of 50% was to which 1,2-octanediol was added at a concentration of 0.5%.

[0507] For comparison, tests were conducted using a degreasing agent formulation with a total of 1.8% surfactant in a 100% surfactant concentration, and a degreasing agent formulation with a 50% surfactant concentration, using 0.9% surfactant (0.15% C8 C10 APG (caprylcaprylyl glucoside) and 0.75% C8 C10 5OE (ethoxylated fatty alcohol 5)) without the addition of a degreasing enhancer.

[0508] The cleaning performance of the tested degreasing cleaner was measured by weight by weighing the amount of dirt on the steel plate before and after cleaning.

[0509] As can be seen from the results in Figure 8, which shows the cleaning performance of the tested degreasing formulations, the degreasing formulation containing 1,2-octanediol achieves 59% dirt removal even with a surfactant concentration of only 50%. In contrast, a degreasing cleaner with a surfactant concentration of 50% without the addition of 1,2-octanediol achieves only 38% dirt removal. Therefore, the cleaning performance is improved by more than 20%. In contrast, the degreasing formulation with a surfactant concentration of 100% achieves 54% dirt removal. Compared to the degreasing formulation with a surfactant concentration of 100%, the cleaning performance of the degreasing formulation combined with the degreasing enhancer 1,2-octanediol performs better, even though its surfactant content is only 50%.

[0510] These results also demonstrate that the addition of the degreasing enhancer according to the present invention can significantly reduce the surfactant content in degreasing cleaners or degreasing formulations without a substantial decrease in cleaning performance. In particular, the results also show that alkanediols, along with their co-surfactant properties, are useful as a substitute for surfactants.

[0511] Example 2: Formulation Example

[0512] [Table 2]

[0513] [Table 3]

[0514] Table 4

[0515] Table 5

[0516] Table 6

[0517] Table 7

[0518] Table 8

Claims

1. Detergents and cleaning compositions, (a) at least one degreasing agent selected from the group consisting of solvents and solubilizers; (b) (b Ｉ ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b ＩＩ ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b ＩＩＩ ) 4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b ＩＶ Ethylhexylglycerin; (b Ｖ ) Tropolone; and At least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof; (c) at least one surfactant; and (d) comprising or consisting of at least one enzyme or an enzyme preparation comprising at least one enzyme; The at least one degreasing agent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of n-propanol or isopropanol, butanol, glycol, propanediol or butanediol, glycerol, diglycol, propyl diglycol, butyl diglycol, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether or propylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether or dipropylene glycol ethyl ether, methoxytriglycol, ethoxytriglycol, butoxytriglycol, 1-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol-t-butyl ether, and any mixture thereof; and / or A detergent and cleaning composition wherein the at least one degreasing agent is a solubilizer selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants having an HLB value of 13 to 20, selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol 400 monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35), potassium oleate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and any mixture thereof.

2. The at least one linear alkanediol or the first linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof; and / or The detergent and cleaning composition according to claim 1, wherein the second linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 2,3-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof.

3. The at least linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,2-hexanediol, 1,2-heptanediol, 1,2-octanediol, 1,2-nonanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2-undecanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol, 1,2-tridecanediol, 1,2-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof; or The linear alkanediol is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-pentanediol, 2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-heptanediol, 2,3-octanediol, 2,3-nonanediol, 2,3-decanediol, 2,3-undecanediol, 2,3-dodecanediol, 2,3-tridecanediol, 2,3-tetradecanediol, and any mixture thereof; or The mixture comprising at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-pentanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol and 2,3-hexanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-heptanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-octanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-nonanediol and 2,3-nonanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-decanediol and 2,3-decanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-undecanediol and 2,3-undecanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-dodecanediol and 2,3-dodecanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-tridecanediol and 2,3-tridecanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-tetradecanediol and 2,3-tetradecanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol and 1,2-octanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-hexanediol and 2,3-octanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-hexanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-octanediol and 2,3-heptanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-hexanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-heptanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-octanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 1,2-nonanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-pentanediol and 2,3-nonanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-pentanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-hexanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-octanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-octanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-nonanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 2,3-nonanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-decanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-undecanediol; A mixture containing 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-dodecanediol; and A detergent and cleaning composition according to claim 1 or 2, selected from the group consisting of a mixture comprising 1,2-heptanediol and 1,2-tridecanediol.

4. The detergent and cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mixture comprising at least one first linear alkanediol and one or more second linear alkanediols comprises the first linear alkanediol and the second alkanediol in a ratio in the range of 50:50 to 99.9:0.1, preferably in the range of 75:25 to 99:1, more preferably in the range of 80:20 to 98:2, and even more preferably in the range of 90:10 to 95:

5.

5. The at least one surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactants, and any mixture thereof; preferably - The anionic surfactant is C10-C18 alkylbenzene sulfonates; C10-C18 alkyl sulfates; - C10-C18 alkyl sulfates ethoxylated with 1-3 moles of ethylene oxide; C10-C18 alpha-olefin sulfonates; - C8-C18 alkylcarboxylates ethoxylated with 1-10 moles of ethylene oxide; and selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof; - The cationic surfactant is • Quaternary C8-C18 alkylethanolamines; • Quaternary C8-C18 alkylammonium compounds; C8-C18 alkylammonium methosulfates; and selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof; - The nonionic surfactant is - C6-C18 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 1-12 moles of ethylene oxide; ・Alkoxylated C6-C18 fatty alcohols, for example C6-C18 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with 1-25 moles of ethylene oxide, C6-C18 fatty alcohols propoxylated with 1-15 moles of propylene oxide, C6-C18 fatty alcohols butoxylated with 1-10 moles of butylene oxide, and their combinations; • C6-C18 sophorolipids; • C6-C18 rhamnolipids; C5-C18 alkyl polyglycosides; C6-C18 alkanolamides; C6-C18 fatty acid ester alkoxylates; and selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof; and - The aforementioned amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactant, C10-C18 N-(alkyl)-N,N-dimethylamine oxide; C10-C18 N-(alkyl)-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide; C10-C18 alkylamidopropyldimethylamine oxide; C10-C18 alkylbetaines; C10-C18 alkylamide betaines; C10-C18 sulfobetaine; Selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof; The detergent and cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mixture is any mixture of the above-mentioned cationic, anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric / zwitterionic surfactants.

6. The detergent and cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, cutinase, gluconase, peroxidase, pectinase, mannanase, esterase, hemicellulase, xylanase, phospholipase, pectinate lyase, keratinase, reductase, nuclease (including DNase and / or RNase), phenol oxidase, lipoxygenase, ligninase, pullulanase, tannase, pentosanase, maranase, β-glucanase, arabinosidase, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, oxidoreductase, and any mixture thereof.

7. Detergents and cleaning compositions according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising active substances and / or additives selected from the group consisting of solvents, builders, bleaches, stain removers, dispersants, anti-foaming agents, metal ion sequestering agents, chelating agents, anti-redeposition agents, anti-color transfer / color protection agents, dye scavengers, dyes, anti-graying agents, fluorescent whitening agents, ultraviolet light absorbers, thickeners or rheological modifiers, hydrotropes, solubility modifiers, pH adjusters, buffers, solvents, antistatic agents, anti-wrinkle agents, antimicrobial agents, odor removers / odor scavengers, ultraviolet light protection agents, fragrances, bactericides, disinfectants, water repellents, insect repellents, anti-pilling agents, scouring agents, antifungal agents, anti-allergic agents, and any mixtures thereof.

8. The detergent and cleaning composition according to claim 7, wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol, methylbenzyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, and any mixture thereof.

9. The detergent and cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the degreasing agent in an amount of 0.1 to 40.0% by weight, preferably 0.25 to 30.0% by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 20.0% by weight, and most preferably 1.0 to 10.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

10. Based on the total weight of the composition, the composition contains at least one degreasing enhancer (b) in an amount of 0.001 to 15.0% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 10.0% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 5.0% by weight, even more preferably 0.3 to 3.0% by weight, and most preferably 0.5 to 1.0% by weight; and / or Based on the total weight of the composition, the composition contains at least one surfactant in an amount of 0.001 to 90% by weight, preferably 0.001 to 60% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 50% by weight, and most preferably 0.1 to 40% by weight; and / or The detergent and cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the enzyme in an amount of 0.0001 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.0001 to 4% by weight, more preferably 0.001 to 3% by weight, even more preferably 0.01 to 2% by weight, and most preferably 0.05 to 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

11. Use of the detergent and cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, preferably for washing textiles, laundry, fabric care, dishwashing, household, institutional and industrial hard surface cleaning, and cleaning medical and dental instruments, as a detergent and cleaning product, or for the preparation of detergent and cleaning products.

12. A detergent and cleaning product comprising a detergent and cleaning composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the detergent and cleaning composition or product is a degreasing cleaner, heavy-duty detergent, color care detergent, light-duty detergent, general-purpose detergent, fabric softener, fabric laundry fragrance, fragrance lotion, laundry wipes, stain remover (Press Potter, Vanish type), washing machine cleaner, home care product, general-purpose cleaner, hand dishwashing detergent, automatic dishwashing detergent, hard surface cleaner, glass and mirror cleaner, wet cleaning wipes, kitchen cleaner, cookware cleaner, Detergents and cleaning products, including oven cleaners, floor cleaners, wood floor cleaners, carpet cleaners, bathroom and shower cleaners, toilet cleaners, grout cleaners, disinfectants, drain cleaners, toilet rim block gels, air fresheners, furniture polishes, and car shampoos; medical cleaning products, all of the aforementioned products in liquid, solid, gel, stick, paste, spray, tablet, encapsulated, diluted or concentrated forms, and optionally in two-compartment or multi-compartment forms; and all of the aforementioned products for household, medical, institutional or industrial use.

13. A method for processing a stained and / or soiled substrate, - A step of treating the substrate with the detergent and cleaning composition described in any one of claims 1 to 10 or the product described in claim 12, - A method comprising the step of rinsing the substrate in water to remove the composition or product.

14. To enhance the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, and / or to improve the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions containing degreasing agents and surfactants, (b Ｉ ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined in any one of claims 2 to 4, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b ＩＩ ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b ＩＩＩ ) 4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b ＩＶ ) ethylhexyl glycerin; (b Ｖ ) Tropolone; and At least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof Use.

15. A method for enhancing the degreasing power of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, and / or improving the cleaning performance of degreasing detergents and cleaning compositions, (i) A step of providing a detergent and cleaning composition comprising a degreasing agent and a surfactant; (ii) (b Ｉ ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined in any one of claims 2 to 4, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b ＩＩ ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b ＩＩＩ ) 4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b ＩＶ Ethylhexylglycerin; (b Ｖ ) Tropolone; and A method comprising the step of adding an effective amount of at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixtures thereof.

16. As a degreasing agent and / or as a substitute for a solubilizing agent, (b Ｉ ) A mixture comprising at least one linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms as defined in any one of claims 2 to 4, or at least one first linear alkanediol having a carbon chain of 5 to 14 carbon atoms and one or more second linear alkanediols having carbon chains of 5 to 14 carbon atoms different from the first linear alkanediol; (b ＩＩ ) Glyceryl caprylate; (b ＩＩＩ ) 4-hydroxyacetophenone; (b ＩＶ Ethylhexylglycerin; (b Ｖ ) Tropolone; and The use of at least one degreasing enhancer selected from the group consisting of any mixture thereof.

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