A cleaning agent, a cleaning kit, and a cleaning method using the same for cleaning hard surfaces contaminated with organic matter derived from grains.

Abstract

To provide a novel cleaning agent for cleaning a hard surface having grain-derived organic stain adhered, a cleaning agent kit, and a cleaning method using the same.SOLUTION: Provided are a cleaning agent that contains an alkaline agent and a cationic compound, a cleaning agent kit, and a cleaning method using the same.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning agent, a cleaning agent kit, and a cleaning method using the same for cleaning a hard surface to which organic dirt derived from grains adheres.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in food processing where foods made from grains such as wheat, buckwheat, and rice are cooked, organic dirt containing starch and protein contained in these foods adheres to cooking equipment and the like. For example, in a noodle-making apparatus, starch and protein contained in the noodles adhere to the surface in the boiling tank to form organic dirt.

[0003] In a food processing site, for cleaning organic dirt mainly composed of starch and protein, for example, a cleaning agent containing an alkaline agent or the like is used (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As described above, conventionally, in a food processing site, for cleaning organic dirt derived from grains (that is, organic dirt mainly composed of starch and protein) adhering to a hard surface, a cleaning agent containing an alkaline agent or the like is used.

[0006] However, conventional cleaning agents are not always able to adequately remove such organic stains. For example, in the process of manufacturing boiled noodles, the surface of the boiling tank tends to contain a lot of slime, which is mainly composed of starch and protein, and this slime is difficult to remove with conventional cleaning agents.

[0007] Under these circumstances, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a novel cleaning agent for cleaning hard surfaces contaminated with organic matter derived from grains. Furthermore, the present invention also aims to provide a novel cleaning agent kit, a two-part kit containing the cleaning agent for cleaning hard surfaces contaminated with organic matter derived from grains. Moreover, the present invention also aims to provide a method for cleaning hard surfaces using these cleaning agents or cleaning agent kits. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The inventors of this invention conducted diligent research to solve the above-mentioned problems. As a result, they discovered that hard surfaces to which organic matter stains derived from grains are attached can be suitably cleaned by using a cleaning agent that combines an alkaline agent and a cationic compound. The present invention was completed by further research based on this finding.

[0009] In other words, the present invention provides inventions in the following embodiments. Item 1. A cleaning agent for cleaning hard surfaces to which organic matter stains of grain origin are attached, A cleaning agent containing an alkaline agent and a cationic compound. Item 2. The cleaning agent according to Item 1, wherein the mass ratio of the alkaline agent to the cationic compound is 1:0.1 to 20. Item 3. The cleaning agent according to item 1 or 2, further comprising at least one of a chelating agent and a dispersing agent. Item 4. A cleaning agent according to any one of items 1 to 3, used for cleaning the hard surface, wherein the total concentration of the alkaline agent and the cationic compound is 3% by mass or less. Item 5. The cleaning agent according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the organic matter stains derived from grains are organic matter stains that adhere to the hard surface by boiling food containing at least one selected from the group consisting of starch and protein. Item 6. The cleaning agent according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the organic matter stains of grain origin are organic matter stains that adhere to the hard surface by boiling a food containing at least one selected from the group consisting of wheat, buckwheat, and rice. Item 7. A cleaning agent described in any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the water used to boil food is used for cleaning. Item 8. The first agent containing an alkaline agent, A second agent containing a cationic compound, Includes, A cleaning kit used to clean hard surfaces to which organic matter stains of grain origin are attached, by mixing the first agent and the second agent at the time of use. Item 9. The cleaning agent kit according to Item 8, wherein the mass ratio of the alkaline agent to the cationic compound is 1:0.1 to 20. Item 10. The cleaning kit according to item 8 or 9, further comprising at least one of the first agent and the second agent as at least one of a chelating agent and a dispersing agent. Item 11. A cleaning agent kit according to any one of items 8 to 10, used for cleaning the hard surface, wherein the total concentration of the alkaline agent and the cationic compound is 1% by mass or less. Item 12. A cleaning kit according to any one of items 8 to 11, wherein the organic matter stains are of grain origin and are organic matter stains that adhere to the hard surface by boiling a food containing at least one selected from the group consisting of starch and protein. Item 13. A cleaning kit according to any one of items 8 to 12, wherein the organic matter stains are of grain origin and are organic matter stains that adhere to the hard surface by boiling a food containing at least one selected from the group consisting of wheat, buckwheat, and rice. Item 14. A cleaning kit as described in any one of items 8-13, in which the water used to boil food is used for cleaning. Item 15. A cleaning step of cleaning a hard surface to which organic matter stains of grain origin are attached using a cleaning agent described in any one of items 1 to 7, The process involves rinsing the hard surface after cleaning with water, A method for cleaning hard surfaces, comprising the following features. Item 16. The method for cleaning a hard surface according to Item 15, wherein the hard surface is cleaned in the presence of boiling water for food during the cleaning step. Item 17. A step of preparing a cleaning agent by mixing water with the first and second agents of the cleaning agent kit described in any one of items 8 to 14, A cleaning step in which a hard surface to which organic matter stains derived from grains are attached is cleaned using the aforementioned cleaning agent, The process involves rinsing the hard surface after cleaning with water, A method for cleaning hard surfaces, comprising the following features. Item 18. The method for cleaning hard surfaces according to Item 17, wherein the water includes boiling water for food. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present invention provides a novel cleaning agent for cleaning hard surfaces contaminated with organic matter derived from grains. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a novel cleaning agent kit consisting of two components for cleaning hard surfaces contaminated with organic matter derived from grains. Moreover, the present invention also provides a method for cleaning hard surfaces using these cleaning agents or cleaning agent kits. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] 1. Cleaning agents and cleaning agent kits The present invention is a cleaning agent for cleaning hard surfaces to which organic matter stains derived from grains are attached, and is characterized by containing an alkaline agent and a cationic compound. By having such a configuration, the present invention can suitably clean hard surfaces to which organic matter stains derived from grains are attached.

[0012] Further, the cleaning agent kit of the present invention is a kit for preparing the cleaning agent of the present invention. Specifically, the cleaning agent kit of the present invention includes a first agent containing an alkaline agent and a second agent containing a cationic compound, and is characterized in that, at the time of use, the first agent and the second agent are mixed and used for cleaning a hard surface to which organic matter stains derived from grains adhere. The cleaning agent kit of the present invention is a two-agent type kit including the first agent and the second agent, and the cleaning agent of the present invention can be preferably prepared by mixing the first agent and the second agent at the time of use. The prepared cleaning agent of the present invention can preferably clean a hard surface to which organic matter stains derived from grains adhere. Further, since the cleaning agent kit of the present invention can be stored separately for the first agent and the second agent, it is advantageous in terms of storage stability and the like.

[0013] In addition, in the cleaning agent kit of the present invention, the timing of mixing the first agent and the second agent is not particularly limited as long as they are mixed when cleaning the hard surface. For example, the first agent and the second agent may be mixed in advance to form a cleaning agent, and this may be brought into contact with the hard surface to clean the hard surface. Alternatively, after bringing either the first agent or the second agent into contact with the hard surface, the remaining first agent or second agent may be further mixed to prepare a cleaning agent, and the hard surface may be cleaned.

[0014] Further, the cleaning agent of the present invention is a cleaning agent used for cleaning a hard surface in water. For example, an aqueous solution in which an alkaline agent and a cationic compound are dissolved in water is used as the cleaning agent, and the hard surface can be cleaned by bringing the cleaning agent into contact with the hard surface. Also, as will be described later, for example, when the cleaning agent of the present invention is used for surface cleaning of the boiling layer of a noodle-making apparatus for boiling grains (such as noodles made from wheat, buckwheat, rice, etc.), in a boiling tank filled with water (tap water, boiling water, etc.), cleaning components such as an alkaline agent and a cationic compound (components other than water contained in the cleaning agent) are added to prepare the cleaning agent of the present invention, and the boiling tank surface can be cleaned by bringing the cleaning agent into contact with the boiling tank surface. At this time, the cleaning agent may be prepared by adding cleaning components such as an alkaline agent and a cationic compound to the boiling water in the boiling tank. By using the boiling water, there is a great advantage that it is not necessary to discard the boiling water and prepare a new cleaning agent.

[0015] Further, the cleaning agent of the present invention may be prepared as a high-concentration cleaning agent stock solution in which an alkali agent and a cationic compound are previously dissolved in water, and diluted with water at the time of use for utilization.

[0016] Hereinafter, the cleaning agent of the present invention and a cleaning agent kit for preparing the same will be described in detail. In the following description, the description will be centered on the constitution of the cleaning agent of the present invention. However, in the cleaning agent kit of the present invention, except that it is divided into a first agent containing an alkali agent and a second agent containing a cationic compound, regarding the types of each component and the concentration (content ratio) when used as a cleaning agent, etc., since they are common to the cleaning agent of the present invention, the description will be omitted as appropriate.

[0017] As the alkali agent, an alkaline compound used in known cleaning agents can be used, and there is no particular limitation. For example, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium silicate, etc. can be mentioned. Among these, it is preferable to contain at least one of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide. The alkali agent may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0018] In the cleaning agent of the present invention, as the concentration of the alkali agent when cleaning a hard surface, for example, it is about 0.0001 to 0.5% by mass, more preferably about 0.0005 to 0.1% by mass, and still more preferably about 0.001 to 0.01% by mass. When the cleaning agent of the present invention is used as a cleaning agent stock solution, the concentration of the alkali agent in the cleaning agent stock solution is, for example, about 1 to 30% by mass, more preferably about 2 to 20% by mass, and still more preferably about 3 to 15% by mass.

[0019] In the cleaning agent of the present invention, by using an alkali agent and a cationic compound in combination, particularly, the protein contained in grains can be aggregated, and the organic matter stain can be preferably removed from the hard surface. The cationic compound is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved. For example, cationic surfactants, cationic flocculants, etc. can be mentioned.

[0020] Examples of cationic surfactants include benzalkonium chloride, lauryltrimethylammonium chloride, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, stearyltrimethylammonium chloride, behenyltrimethylammonium chloride, didecylmethylammonium chloride (DDAC), and N,N-didecyl-N-methyl-polyoxyethyl-ammonium propionate (DMPAP). Among these, N,N-didecyl-N-methyl-polyoxyethyl-ammonium propionate is particularly preferred because it effectively cleans hard surfaces with organic matter stains derived from grains under conditions where the pH does not become too high (for example, the pH of the cleaning agent when cleaning hard surfaces is preferably 12 or less, more preferably 11 or less, even more preferably 10 or less, and especially preferably 9 or less). One type of cationic surfactant may be used, or two or more types may be mixed and used.

[0021] Furthermore, examples of cationic flocculants include polyamines, modified polyamides, modified polyamidoamines, polyamide epichlorohydrins, polyethyleneimines, polyalkylene polyamines, polyamide compounds, polyamidoamine-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation reaction products, polyamine-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation reaction products, polyamidopolyurea-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation reaction products, polyaminepolyurea-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation reaction products, polyamidoaminepolyurea-epihalohydrin or formaldehyde condensation reaction products, polyamidopolyurea compounds, polyaminepolyurea compounds, polyamidoaminepolyurea compounds and polyamidoamine compounds, polyvinylpyridine, amino-modified acrylamide compounds, polyvinylamine, and polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride. Cationic flocculants may be used individually or in combination of two or more types.

[0022] In the cleaning agent of the present invention, the concentration of the cationic compound when cleaning hard surfaces is, for example, about 0.001 to 0.5% by mass, more preferably about 0.005 to 0.3% by mass, and even more preferably about 0.01 to 0.1% by mass. When the cleaning agent of the present invention is used as a cleaning agent stock solution, the concentration of the cationic compound in the cleaning agent stock solution is, for example, about 1 to 30% by mass, more preferably about 3 to 25% by mass, and even more preferably about 5 to 20% by mass.

[0023] In the detergent of the present invention, from the viewpoint of exhibiting the effects of the present invention more favorably, the mass ratio of the alkaline agent to the cationic compound is preferably about 1:0.1 to 20, more preferably about 1:0.5 to 15, and even more preferably about 1:1 to 10.

[0024] The cleaning agent of the present invention is preferably used for cleaning hard surfaces when the total concentration of the alkaline agent and cationic compound is 3% by mass or less. More preferably, it is preferred when the total concentration is 1% by mass or less. The total concentration is more preferably about 0.001 to 1% by mass, and even more preferably about 0.01 to 0.5% by mass. When the cleaning agent of the present invention is used as a cleaning agent stock solution, the total concentration of the alkaline agent and cationic compound in the cleaning agent stock solution is preferably about 2 to 60% by mass, more preferably about 3 to 50% by mass, and even more preferably about 5 to 40% by mass.

[0025] The detergent of the present invention may optionally contain other components in addition to the alkaline agent and cationic compound. Examples of other components include those found in known detergents used in the food industry and other fields, such as chelating agents, dispersants, nonionic surfactants, organic acids, and organic acid salts. Only one of these other components may be used, or two or more may be used in combination.

[0026] Chelating agents that enhance the cleaning effect of organic stains and have the ability to capture metal ions such as calcium and magnesium contained in water are preferably used. Examples of such chelating agents include ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), nitriloacetate, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, β-alanine diacetate, methylglycine diacetate, L-glutamic acid diacetate, 3-hydroxy-2,2'-iminodisuccinic acid, S,S-ethylenediaminesuccinic acid, iminodisuccinic acid, L-aspartic acid-N,N-diacetic acid tetrasodium salt, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, 2-phosphonovutane-1,2,4tricarboxylic acid, serine At least one selected from acetate, hydroxyethylethylenediamine triacetate, dihydroxyethylglycine salt, hydroxyacetate, tartrate, citrate, gluconate, pyromellitic salt, benzopolycarboxylate, cyclopentanetetracarboxylate, carboxymethyl tartronate, carboxymethyl oxysuccinate, oxydisuccinate, ether carboxylates such as mono- or disuccinate tartrate, and polyphosphates can be suitably used. Examples of polyphosphates include tripolyphosphates such as sodium tripolyphosphate and calcium tripolyphosphate, and hexametaphosphates such as sodium hexametaphosphate and calcium hexametaphosphate. Only one type of chelating agent may be used, or two or more types may be used in mixture.

[0027] When a chelating agent is incorporated into the cleaning agent of the present invention, the concentration of the chelating agent when cleaning hard surfaces is, for example, about 0.001 to 0.5% by mass, more preferably about 0.005 to 0.1% by mass, and even more preferably about 0.01 to 0.05% by mass. When the cleaning agent of the present invention is used as a cleaning agent stock solution, the concentration of the chelating agent in the cleaning agent stock solution is, for example, about 1 to 50% by mass, more preferably about 5 to 30% by mass, and even more preferably about 10 to 20% by mass.

[0028] The dispersant used is preferably one that uniformly disperses water-insoluble dirt in the cleaning solution, thereby enhancing the cleaning effect on organic dirt. Examples of such dispersants include homopolymers of polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, and polymaleic acid, as well as sodium or potassium salts of copolymers of acrylic methacrylic acid or maleic acid. One type of dispersant may be used, or two or more types may be mixed and used.

[0029] When a dispersant is added to the cleaning agent of the present invention, the concentration of the dispersant when cleaning hard surfaces is, for example, about 0.0001 to 0.1% by mass, more preferably about 0.0002 to 0.01% by mass, and even more preferably about 0.0005 to 0.005% by mass. When the cleaning agent of the present invention is used as a cleaning agent stock solution, the concentration of the dispersant in the cleaning agent stock solution is, for example, about 1 to 20% by mass, more preferably about 2 to 10% by mass, and even more preferably about 3 to 7% by mass.

[0030] Nonionic surfactants that exhibit a cleaning aid effect and enhance the cleaning effect on organic stains are preferably used. Examples of such nonionic surfactants include polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyalkylene alkylphenyl ethers, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, glycerin fatty acid esters, polyglycerin fatty acid esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, alkyl polyglucosides, polyoxyethylene methyl ether fatty acid esters, propylene glycol fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, fatty acid alkanolamides, fatty acid N-methylethanolamides, polyoxyalkylene alkylamines, fatty acid diethanolamides, saponins, alkylamine oxides, and the like. Nonionic surfactants may be used individually or in combination of two or more types.

[0031] When a nonionic surfactant is incorporated into the cleaning agent of the present invention, the concentration of the nonionic surfactant when cleaning hard surfaces is, for example, about 0.005 to 0.5% by mass, more preferably about 0.01 to 0.3% by mass, and even more preferably about 0.03 to 0.1% by mass. When the cleaning agent of the present invention is used as a cleaning agent stock solution, the concentration of the nonionic surfactant in the cleaning agent stock solution is, for example, about 1 to 30% by mass, more preferably about 3 to 20% by mass, and even more preferably about 5 to 15% by mass.

[0032] The cleaning agent of the present invention contains water when used to clean hard surfaces. Furthermore, it is preferable that the cleaning agent of the present invention contains water even when used as a concentrated solution. When using the cleaning agent of the present invention to clean hard surfaces, it is preferable that the water content be 99% by mass or more. Also, when using the cleaning agent of the present invention as a concentrated solution, the water content can be, for example, around 30-75% by mass, and such a content facilitates the transportation and storage of the concentrated solution.

[0033] When cleaning hard surfaces with the cleaning agent of the present invention, tap water can generally be used as the water, but for example, boiling water for food can also be used. For example, the cleaning agent of the present invention can be prepared using boiling water obtained by boiling food containing at least one selected from the group consisting of wheat, buckwheat, and rice. Specifically, the cleaning agent of the present invention can be prepared in the boiling tank by adding an alkaline agent, a cationic compound, and other components as needed to the boiling water in the boiling tank, and the surface of the boiling tank can be cleaned directly. Alternatively, when using the cleaning agent of the present invention as a concentrated solution, the concentrated solution can be added to the boiling tank containing the boiling water, and cleaning can be performed.

[0034] Furthermore, as described above, the present invention may be a two-component kit comprising a first agent containing an alkaline agent and a second agent containing a cationic compound, and the cleaning agent may be prepared by mixing the first and second agents at the time of use. Various components such as chelating agents, dispersants, and nonionic surfactants, which may be included in the cleaning agent as needed, may be added to either the first or second agent, or they may not be added to the cleaning agent kit of the present invention, but may be mixed with the first and second agents when cleaning a hard surface using the cleaning agent.

[0035] As described above, the cleaning agent of the present invention is suitably used to clean hard surfaces to which organic matter stains derived from grains have adhered. Examples of grains include wheat, buckwheat, and rice. The cleaning agent of the present invention is particularly effective as a cleaning agent for organic matter stains that adhere to hard surfaces when food containing at least one selected from the group consisting of wheat, buckwheat, and rice is boiled. For example, wheat contains gluten as a protein, and when wheat products are boiled in hot water, gluten-containing stains adhere to the surface of the boiling tank, and conventional cleaning agents have problems such as taking a long time to clean. In contrast, the cleaning agent of the present invention, by using an alkaline agent and a cationic compound in combination, can suitably clean these grain-derived organic matter stains from hard surfaces to which organic matter stains have adhered by peeling and dissolving them.

[0036] Examples of hard surfaces that the cleaning agent of the present invention can clean include metals and synthetic resins. For example, metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, and copper are widely used in food processing equipment (e.g., noodle-making equipment), and among these, stainless steel is the most commonly used. The cleaning agent of the present invention is suitable for cleaning the surface of stainless steel.

[0037] The temperature and time used when cleaning a hard surface with the cleaning agent of the present invention (the cleaning temperature and cleaning time in the cleaning process described later) are not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of exhibiting the effects of the present invention more favorably, the cleaning temperature is preferably 50°C or higher, more preferably 60°C or higher, even more preferably around 70-100°C, and particularly preferably around 80-100°C, and the cleaning time is preferably 5 minutes or more, more preferably 10 minutes or more, and even more preferably around 15-100 minutes.

[0038] 2. Cleaning method for hard surfaces The present invention provides a method for cleaning hard surfaces, comprising a cleaning step of cleaning a hard surface to which organic matter stains derived from grains are attached using the cleaning agent of the present invention, and a step of rinsing the hard surface after the cleaning step with rinse water. When using the cleaning agent of the present invention as a concentrated solution, it should be diluted with water before use for cleaning hard surfaces.

[0039] Furthermore, the cleaning method for hard surfaces using the cleaning agent kit of the present invention is characterized by comprising the steps of: preparing a cleaning agent by mixing water with the first and second agents of the cleaning agent kit of the present invention; cleaning a hard surface to which organic matter stains derived from grains are attached using the cleaning agent; and rinsing the hard surface after cleaning with rinse water.

[0040] Details of the cleaning agent and cleaning agent kit of the present invention are as described in section "1. Cleaning Agent and Cleaning Agent Kit". The hard surfaces, organic stains, cleaning temperature, and cleaning time targeted by the cleaning method of the present invention are also as described above.

[0041] Furthermore, as described above, the cleaning process can also be carried out using the cleaning agent of the present invention, which utilizes boiling water. For example, the cleaning agent of the present invention can be prepared using boiling water obtained by boiling a food product containing at least one selected from the group consisting of wheat, buckwheat, and rice. Specifically, the cleaning agent of the present invention can be prepared in the boiling tank by adding an alkaline agent, a cationic compound, and other components as needed to the boiling water in the boiling tank, and the surface of the boiling tank can be cleaned directly. Also, when the cleaning agent of the present invention is used as a concentrated cleaning agent, the concentrated cleaning agent can be added to the boiling tank containing the boiling water and then used for cleaning. By using boiling water, there is no need to discard the boiling water and prepare separately heated tap water or the like for preparing the cleaning agent, which allows for significant reductions in energy, time, and cost.

[0042] In the cleaning process, the cleaning agent only needs to come into contact with the organic contaminants on the hard surface. For example, cleaning can be performed by letting the cleaning agent stand in contact with the organic contaminants. It is also effective to combine this with physical cleaning methods, such as scrubbing with a brush or spraying the cleaning agent onto the hard surface with a spray gun.

[0043] In the cleaning method of the present invention, a step is performed to rinse the hard surface with rinse water after cleaning. The method of rinsing the hard surface with rinse water is not particularly limited and can be performed in the same way as the rinsing step in known hard surface cleaning methods. Tap water or the like can be used as the rinse water. [Examples]

[0044] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples and comparative examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the examples. Details of the components of the cleaning agents used in the examples and comparative examples are as follows.

[0045] Alkaline agent 48% potassium hydroxide aqueous solution (product name: Liquid Caustic Potassium, manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.)

[0046] • Cationic compounds Benzalkonium chloride (product name Cation G50, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) N,N-Didecyl-N-methyl-polyoxyethyl-ammonium propionate (DMPAP) (Product name: Bardap 26, manufactured by Lonza Japan)

[0047] Nonionic surfactants Coconut oil fatty acid diethanolamide (product name Amizol FDE, manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.) Polyoxyethylene lauryl alcohol (Emulmin LS-90 manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) Lauryldimethylamine oxide (Anchitol 20N, manufactured by Kao Corporation)

[0048] Anionic surfactants Sodium lauryl sulfate (Emal 10PT manufactured by Kao Corporation)

[0049] Chelatives EDTA-4Na (product name: Kirest 400, manufactured by Kirest Co., Ltd.)

[0050] • Dispersant Sodium polyacrylate (product name Poise 530, manufactured by Kao Corporation)

[0051] <Preparation of cleaning agent> Each component was mixed with water (tap water or boiling water as described later) to create the detergents shown in Tables 1-3. Each detergent was prepared during the cleaning power evaluations 1 and 2 described later. The pH of the detergents was measured using a pH meter at a temperature of 25°C.

[0052] <Sliminess and dirt removal power evaluation: 1 (using tap water)> 200g of dried wheat noodles (product name Sanuki Udon, manufactured by Kawada Seimen Co., Ltd.) were boiled in 1L of 90°C water, and then a stainless steel plate (SUS304, size 75mm x 25mm x 0.8mm) was immersed in the boiling water for 30 minutes. Next, the stainless steel plate was removed and dried at room temperature to prepare the test specimen. Then, the cleaning agents of the respective compositions for the examples and comparative examples were heated to 80°C, and the test specimens were immersed in this solution for 15 minutes. After rinsing the test specimens with tap water, the slime and dirt adhesion on the surface of the test specimens were checked, and the cleaning power was evaluated according to the following criteria. In addition, the percentage of dirt removed (mass %) was calculated according to the following formula. The results are shown in Table 1. Dirt removal rate (by mass) = (Amount of dirt before cleaning (g) - Amount of dirt remaining after cleaning (g)) ÷ Amount of dirt before cleaning (g) ◎: Slime and dirt have almost completely dissolved and peeled off. ○: Slime and dirt have mostly dissolved or peeled off. △: Slime and dirt are slightly dissolved or peeled off. ×: No slime or dirt dissolution / peeling was observed.

[0053] <Cleaning power evaluation 2 (using boiling water)> Except for using boiling water (adjusted to 80°C and the noodles removed) obtained by boiling 200g of dried wheat noodles (product name Sanuki Udon, manufactured by Kawada Seimen Co., Ltd.) in 2L of 90°C water as the water for the cleaning agent, the cleaning power evaluation and calculation of the percentage of dirt removed (by mass) were performed in the same manner as in the <Cleaning Power Evaluation 1 (using tap water)> described above. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0054] <Evaluation of variance> The dispersion of dirt was evaluated using the following procedure. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3. In <Cleaning Power Evaluation 2>, the dispersion of wheat dirt in the boiling water and wheat dirt detached from the stainless steel plate in the cleaning solution was visually observed. ○: The dirt is dispersed, and the wheat stains are visible in a fine, granular state. △: The stains are somewhat spread out, but medium to small-sized wheat stains are visible. ×: The stains are not evenly distributed, and large wheat-based stains are visible.

[0055] Table 1

[0056] Table 2

[0057] Table 3

Claims

1. A cleaning agent for cleaning hard surfaces of food processing equipment that are contaminated with organic matter derived from grains, It contains an alkaline agent, a cationic compound, and a nonionic surfactant. The alkaline agent includes potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, The cationic compound comprises N,N-didecyl-N-methyl-polyoxyethyl-ammonium propionate, The nonionic surfactant comprises fatty acid diethanolamide, The mass ratio of the alkaline agent to the cationic compound is 1:0.5 to 15. When using the cleaning agent for cleaning the hard surface, the total concentration of the alkaline agent and the cationic compound is used to be 0.001 to 0.5% by mass. A cleaning agent wherein the pH of the cleaning agent is 9 or less when used to clean the hard surface.

2. The cleaning agent according to claim 1, wherein the mass ratio of the alkaline agent to the cationic compound is 1:1 to 10.

3. The cleaning agent according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one of a chelating agent and a dispersing agent.

4. The cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the organic matter stains derived from grains are organic matter stains that adhere to the hard surface by boiling a food containing at least one selected from the group consisting of starch and protein.

5. The cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the organic matter stains derived from grains are organic matter stains that adhere to the hard surface by boiling a food product containing at least one selected from the group consisting of wheat, buckwheat, and rice.

6. A cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the water used to boil food is used for cleaning.

7. The first agent contains an alkaline agent, A second agent containing a cationic compound, Includes, This cleaning agent kit is used to clean the hard surfaces of food processing equipment that are contaminated with organic matter derived from grains, by mixing the first and second agents at the time of use. A nonionic surfactant is either incorporated into at least one of the first and second agents, or it is not incorporated into the detergent kit but is mixed with the first and second agents at the time of use. The alkaline agent includes potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, The cationic compound comprises N,N-didecyl-N-methyl-polyoxyethyl-ammonium propionate, The nonionic surfactant comprises fatty acid diethanolamide, The mass ratio of the alkaline agent to the cationic compound is 1:0.5 to 15. When using the cleaning agent for cleaning the hard surface, the total concentration of the alkaline agent and the cationic compound is used to be 0.001 to 0.5% by mass. A cleaning agent kit wherein the pH of the cleaning agent is 9 or less when the cleaning agent is used to clean the hard surface.

8. The cleaning agent kit according to claim 7, wherein the mass ratio of the alkaline agent to the cationic compound is 1:1 to 10.

9. The cleaning agent kit according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising at least one of the first agent and the second agent as at least one of a chelating agent and a dispersing agent.

10. The cleaning agent kit according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the organic matter stains derived from grains are organic matter stains that adhere to the hard surface by boiling a food containing at least one selected from the group consisting of starch and protein.

11. The cleaning agent kit according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the organic matter stains derived from grains are organic matter stains that adhere to the hard surface by boiling a food product containing at least one selected from the group consisting of wheat, buckwheat, and rice.

12. A cleaning agent kit according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the water used to boil food is used for cleaning.

13. A cleaning step of cleaning the hard surface of a food processing apparatus to which organic matter stains derived from grains are attached, using a cleaning agent according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The process involves rinsing the hard surface after cleaning with water, Equipped with, A method for cleaning the hard surface of a food processing apparatus, wherein the pH of the cleaning agent used to clean the hard surface in the cleaning step is 9 or less.

14. The method for cleaning a hard surface according to claim 13, wherein the hard surface is cleaned in the presence of boiling water for food during the cleaning step.

15. A step of preparing a cleaning agent by mixing water with the first agent and the second agent of the cleaning agent kit according to any one of claims 7 to 12, A cleaning step in which the hard surface of a food processing apparatus to which organic matter stains derived from grains are attached is cleaned using the aforementioned cleaning agent, The process involves rinsing the hard surface after cleaning with water, Equipped with, A method for cleaning the hard surface of a food processing apparatus, wherein the pH of the cleaning agent used to clean the hard surface in the cleaning step is 9 or less.

16. The method for cleaning a hard surface according to claim 15, wherein the water includes boiling water for food.

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