Thickened Oven Cleaner Adhering to Vertical Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaners are ineffective at removing greasy and baked-on soils from vertical or inverted surfaces in the food service industry due to reduced contact time, and they often contain high levels of phosphates and caustic content.
Innovation Solution
A cleaner composition with a thickened formula, including alkalinity sources, chelants, surfactants, and thickening agents, that adheres well to surfaces, providing sufficient contact time and being substantially free of phosphates and caustic content, with a viscosity of over 300 centipoise to ensure effective removal of soils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If existing cleaners are applied to vertical or inverted surfaces, then cleaning action occurs, but contact time is reduced leading to ineffective soil removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of viscosity by incorporating thickening agents (hydrocolloids, polymers, or clays) to transform the cleaner from a low-viscosity liquid to a high-viscosity gel or paste. This parameter change enables the cleaner to adhere to vertical and inverted surfaces, maintaining contact time sufficient for effective soil removal without running or dripping away.
2Reliability
If high caustic content is used to remove baked-on soils, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but safety and environmental concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of alkalinity by reducing caustic content from traditional high levels (3-5% sodium hydroxide) to low levels (0.1-1% alkalinity). This is achieved by substituting caustic cleaners with alternative mechanisms including chelating agents that bind to grease molecules, surfactants that emulsify oils, and enzymes that biologically degrade organic soils, thereby maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical action of strong caustics with a multi-component system involving chelating agents (e.g., EDTA, citric acid), surfactants (anionic, nonionic, or amphoteric), and enzymes. This substitution uses gentler chemical mechanisms that achieve soil removal through complexation, emulsion, and biological degradation rather than aggressive saponification and tissue damage.
3Reliability
If phosphates are used to enhance cleaning performance, then soil removal capability improves, but environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts phosphates completely from the cleaner formulation, removing the harmful substance while replacing its cleaning function. Non-phosphorous chelating agents such as EDTA, citric acid, gluconate, or polyacrylate are used to provide water softening and grease-emulsifying capabilities that previously required phosphates, thereby eliminating pollution while maintaining cleaning performance.
4Duration of action of moving object
If thickening agents are added to increase viscosity, then adherence to vertical surfaces improves, but formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thickening agents that serve multiple functions simultaneously: hydrocolloids like xanthan gum or carboxymethyl cellulose provide both viscosity enhancement for adherence and surfactant properties for soil emulsification; polymers like polyacrylamide provide thickening and water-binding capacity; clays provide rheology modification and adsorption of oils. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate additives and simplifies the overall formulation despite the high-viscosity requirement.
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 cleaner composition effectively removes fresh and baked-on greasy soils from vertical and inverted surfaces without the need for extended contact time, while maintaining low levels of phosphates and caustic content, ensuring a safer and more efficient cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more thickening agent may be present in amount from about 0.1 wt % to about 2.0 wt %. The cleaner composition has a viscosity of over 300 centipoise.
Implementation Method 2
The one or more chelants may be present in an amount from about 0.1% to 5.0%. Effective removal of soils and grease from a surface.
Data Source
AI summary
Cleaner compositions, associated cleaners, and associated methods are disclosed. The cleaner compositions are capable for use in making thickened cleaners that are capable of removing from vertical and inverted surfaces fresh, greasy soils and baked-on soils encountered in the food service industry. The cleaner compositions include one or more alkalinity sources, one or more chelants, one or more surfactants, one or more thickening agents, one or more buffers, and as a remainder, water. Cleaner compositions of the invention are substantially free of phosphates and have a low caustic content making them user and environmentally friendly. Yet the cleaners of the invention are surprisingly effective at removing tenacious baked-on soils encountered in the food service industry. Compositions of the invention have a viscosity of about 700 cps and are applied using a foaming or misting dispenser. The one or more alkalinity sources may be present in an amount sufficient to provide a free alkalinity (expressible as Na2O) of less than about 1.0 wt % and a total alkalinity (expressible as Na2O) of less than about 2.0 wt %, based on the total weight of the cleaner concentrate. The one or more chelants may be present in an amount up to about 5.0 wt %.