Alkaline Floor Cleaning Composition for Polymerized Soil Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning compositions for the food service industry are inadequate in effectively removing both fresh, greasy soils and polymerized soils from floor surfaces, particularly on quarry tile, as they often require different cleaners and can be corrosive, posing challenges in safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An alkaline cleaning composition concentrate is developed, comprising a mixture of anionic and nonionic surfactants, chelants, and an alkalinity source, which is non-corrosive to aluminum, stable, and effective in removing both fresh and polymerized soils, with a pH of at least 9.5, and can be used as a liquid or solid concentrate, diluted to provide a use composition with a chelant level of at least 100 ppm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional alkaline or neutral cleaners are used to remove fresh, greasy soil, then fresh, greasy soil is effectively removed, but polymerized soil cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of fresh, greasy soil removal and polymerized soil removal into a single alkaline cleaning composition. This is achieved by merging the surfactant system (anionic and nonionic surfactants) with specific alkalinity sources and chelating agents, allowing one composition to handle both soil types that previously required separate cleaners.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning composition is designed with multi-functional capabilities to remove both fresh, greasy soils and polymerized soils. The formulation includes surfactants, alkalinity sources, and chelating agents that work synergistically to provide universal cleaning action against different soil types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cleaners.
2Productivity
If acidic cleaners are used to remove polymerized soil, then polymerized soil is removed, but the cleaner becomes corrosive to aluminum surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter from acidic to alkaline (pH 9.5-11.5) while maintaining the ability to remove polymerized soil. This parameter change eliminates the corrosiveness issue associated with acidic cleaners on aluminum surfaces, while the combination of alkaline surfactants and chelating agents preserves the soil-removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of high alkalinity (which could cause corrosion) into a benefit by carefully selecting and balancing the alkalinity sources and surfactants. The formulation achieves sufficient alkalinity to remove polymerized soils while maintaining compatibility with aluminum surfaces, turning a potential hazard into an effective cleaning mechanism.
3Productivity
If high alkalinity is used to remove polymerized soil, then cleaning effectiveness increases, but corrosion risk to metal surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the alkalinity parameter within a specific range (pH 9.5-11.5) to balance cleaning effectiveness and metal compatibility. By controlling the free alkalinity and total alkalinity expressions, the formulation achieves sufficient cleaning power for polymerized soils while preventing excessive corrosion of metal surfaces like aluminum.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning composition uses a composite formulation combining multiple surfactants (anionic and nonionic), alkalinity sources, and chelating agents. This composite approach allows the system to achieve high cleaning effectiveness through synergistic interactions while the chelating agents specifically protect metal surfaces by binding metal ions, preventing corrosion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The alkaline cleaning composition effectively removes fresh and polymerized soils from various floor surfaces, including quarry tile, while being non-corrosive to aluminum and stable against phase separation, ensuring safety and efficiency in cleaning operations.
Implementation Method 1
5 wt.% to 25 wt.% surfactant, wherein the surfactant comprises a mixture of anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of carboxybates, sulfonates, sulfates and nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of benzyl-, methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl- and alkyl-capped polyethylene glycol ethers of fatty alcohols
Implementation Method 2
an alkalinity source sufficient to provide a free alkalinity (expressed as Na 2 O) of 1.5% to 3.5% and a total alkalinity (expressed as Na 2 O) of 2.0% to 6.0%
Implementation Method 3
4 wt.% to 20 wt.% chelant
Implementation Method 4
an alkalinity source sufficient to provide a free alkalinity (expressed as Na 2 O) of 1.5% to 3.5% and a total alkalinity (expressed as Na 2 O) of 2.0% to 6.0%
Implementation Method 5
EP 1 580 302 A1 discloses a composition for cleaning comprising an alkyleneoxyalkylphophate diester - or triester as corrosion inhibitor
Data Source
AI summary
An alkaline floor cleaning composition concentrate in the form of a liquid and an alkaline cleaning composition concentrate in the form of a solid are provided. The alkaline cleaning composition concentrate can be used to remove fresh, greasy soil and polymerized soil from a floor surface.