Dishwasher cleaner

Description

DISHWASHER CLEANERFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition comprising a visually distinct hydrophobic phase, a visually distinct polymer phase and a visually distinct salt phase. The composition comprises: a non-ionic surfactant; at least one acid; a soluble salt; and a hydrophilic polymer. The present disclosure also relates to a method of cleaning a dishwashing machine, using a multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition, in a wash cycle of the dishwashing machine. The multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition comprises a visually distinct hydrophobic phase, a visually distinct polymer phase and a visually distinct salt phase. The composition comprises: a non-ionic surfactant; at least one acid; a soluble salt; and a hydrophilic polymer.DESCRIPTION

[0002] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition comprising a visually distinct hydrophobic phase, a visually distinct polymer phase and a visually distinct salt phase. The invention is focusing on an inventive newly developed three-layer machine cleaner, which offers surprising technical advantages versus a one-layer machine cleaner and versus a two- layer machine cleaner. The composition comprises: a non-ionic surfactant; at least one acid; a soluble salt; and a hydrophilic polymer.

[0003] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of cleaning a dishwashing machine, using a multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition, in a wash cycle of the dishwashing machine. The multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition comprises a visually distinct hydrophobic phase, a visually distinct polymer phase and a visually distinct salt phase. The composition comprises: a non-ionic surfactant; at least one acid; a soluble salt; and a hydrophilic polymer. The composition may be the multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0004] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the use of a multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition in a wash cycle of a dishwashing machine, to clean said machine. The composition may be the multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.EXAMPLES

[0005] The present invention will now be described in further detail by the non-limiting examples provided below. The following definitions of terms and determination methods apply forthe above general description of the invention as well as to the below examples unless otherwise defined. The following non-limiting examples are provided to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention and to facilitate understanding of the invention but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appended hereto.Example 1 - Non-ionic surfactant mixtures

[0006] Table 1a below sets out compositions tested in Example 1 (i.e. compositions A-E).Table 1a: Exemplary compositions for Example 1

[0007] Table 1 b below sets out further compositions tested in Example 1 (i.e. compositions F-J).Table 1b: Further comparative compositions and one further inventive composition for Example 1

[0008] Alkyl alcohol ethoxylate (EO=6-8 and PO=2-4) is meaning in the context of the present invention an alkyl alcohol ethoxylate comprising a certain number of ethylene oxide (EO) units and a certain number of propylene oxide (PO) units.Comparative formulation A represents herein a one-layer machine cleaner as comparative example.Inventive formulations B, C, D, E, and F represent herein a three-layer machine cleaner according to the present invention.Comparative formulations G, H, I, and J represent herein a two-layer machine cleaner as comparative example.

[0009] Compositions A-J (as described in Table 1 above) were freshly prepared and placed in Dishwasher Cleaner bottles, filling 250 ml. These bottles were placed in 2 different climatic chambers:• 25°C / 50% room humidity• 40°C / 75% room humidity

[0010] Their performance (over limescale removal) was evaluated according to the methodology for limescale removal testing described below before the placement in the climatic chambers (time 0), after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks.

[0011] Pre-treated marble tiles are placed into a dishwasher per wash cycle and cleaned at a selected test dishwasher programme. The test product is dosed according to usage instruction. Evaluation is done via weight loss. The higher the weight loss the better the performance of the dishwasher machine cleaner. During the complete procedure the dishwasher does not contain any other ballast dishes or soil. Three marble tiles per test-cycle are used for testing.Preparation of the Marble tiles and weighing o Same batch of marble tiles were used to compare a batch of tests. o Marble tiles are wiped with Isopropanol, cleaned under running deionised water and put on grates to drain. After drying at laboratory condition the tiles are dried at 105°C in a drying cabinet for at least 1 hour. After cooling down for 1 hour at lab conditions the marble tiles are weighed.Preparation of dishwasher (Cleaning and Pre-conditioning) o The water hardness for the test is 14°GH for EU conditions. o First let the dishwasher run with Neodisher LaboClean A8 (25g + / - 5g, dosed in main wash chamber) to be cleaned before the testing. This can be done by a different program as the test. In this case the cleaning program is 1 h / 65°C - 14°GH water hardness. o Afterwards the dishwasher has to be pre-conditioned by running a dishwasher cycle. Therefore, the machine cleaner test product is dosed according usage instructions in test program, usually in the lower rack of the dishwasher with the test product. (In this case, was dosed 250 ml, 15 Minutes after machine program start. By that time the machine already reached the 50°C.Program o Dishwasher program for cleaning or hotter than 65°C, the selected cycle in this report in the Intensity 70°C. o Dishwasher program for pre-conditioning and testing is the same as mentioned above, Intensity 70°C. o Marble tiles and the test product are placed in the lower rack.Drying of the Marble tiles after testing and weighing: o The tiles are dried at 105°C in a drying cabinet by using grates for at least 1 hour, o After cooling down for 1 hour at lab conditions the marble tiles are weighed.Calculation of Limescale Removal Performance Result: o Limescale Removal Result of a single test cycle:Limescale Removal of a single tile (in g) = Weight of tile before testing (in g) - weight of tile after testing (in g)Limescale removal of a single test cycle (in g) = Sum of the Limescale Removal of all 3 tiles (in g)Evaluation o The higher the weight loss the better the performance of the dishwasher machine cleaner.

[0012] Tables 2 and 3 below summarises the results of limescale removal over time.Table 2: Results at 25°CTable 3: Results at 40°C

[0013] Herein it is demonstrated that the compositions according to the present invention show an improved profile of stability; in both, 25°C and 40°C. This applies versus a one-layer machine cleaner as well as versus a two-layer machine cleaner. All inventive three-layer machine cleaner formulations provide enhanced stability, reaching 92% of activity even after 12 weeks at 40C, while all comparative one-layer or two-layer machine cleaner formulations reach in the best case 50% of activity.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition comprising a visually distinct hydrophobic phase, a visually distinct polymer phase and a visually distinct salt phase, said composition comprising:- a non-ionic surfactant;- at least one acid;- a soluble salt; and- a hydrophilic polymer.

2. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said soluble salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium bisulfate, potassium sulfate, and mixtures thereof.

3. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said soluble salt is present in an amount between 0.5 wt. % to 30 wt. %, preferably between 2.5 wt. % and 15 wt. %, based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

4. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hydrophilic polymer comprises polyethylene glycols, polyacrylates, polyacrylate derivatives, celluloses, cellulose derivatives and mixtures thereof.

5. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hydrophilic polymer is present in an amount between 0.5 wt. % to 30 wt. %, preferably between 5 wt. % to 15 wt. %, based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

6. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one acid is selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfate, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, methanesulfonic acid, sulfamic acid, glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid, and mixtures thereof.

7. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one acid is present in an amount between 5 wt. % to 50 wt. %, preferably between 5 wt. % to 40 wt. %, based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

8. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said surfactant comprises an alkoxylated C7to Ci8alcohol having 2 - 8 ethoxy groups and / or 2 - 7 propoxy groups.

9. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said surfactant is present in an amount between 0.5 wt. % to 20 wt. % based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

10. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said liquid composition consists of said first visually distinct phase, said second visually distinct phase and said third visually distinct phase.

11. The liquid composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first visually distinct phase comprises a substantial amount of the non-ionic surfactant; and / or said second visually distinct phase comprises a substantial amount of the hydrophilic polymer, and / or said third visually distinct phase comprises a substantial amount of the acid; and / or said third visually distinct phase comprises a substantial amount of the salts.

12. A container comprising a multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A method of cleaning a dishwashing machine, using a multiphase liquid machine-cleaner composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , or a container according to claim 12, in a wash cycle of the dishwashing machine; wherein preferably the machine is empty of wares.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the liquid cleaning composition consists of three separate layers under ambient conditions.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the composition is in three separate layers throughout the range from 0°C - 50°C when at a pressure of 1 .01 x 105Pa.

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