EP0316726A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Stable microemulsion cleaning composition
Assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
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Filing: 1988-11-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A stable microemulsion cleaning composition is described, which, in the absence of opacifying component, appears clear to the eye, and which is especially useful for cleaning surfaces having oily or greasy soils thereon, which comprises synthetic organic detergent, water, co-surfactant of the described type, and perfume, which is the only "solvent". The concentrated detergent composition may be employed as is, or may be easily diluted with water to form a similarly clear and stable microemulsion. In process aspects of the invention both the concentrated and the diluted compositions may be employed to remove oily and greasy stains from substrates, such as normally shiny bathroom fixture and floor and wall surfaces, including tiles, by a "spray and wipe" process, which leaves the surface shiny. When the invented compositions are acidic they are useful for removing lime scale and soap scum from hard surfaces. Also described are processes for manufacturing and diluting the invented compositions.
Inventors
- 👤 Myriam Loth
- 👤 Claude Blanvalet
- 👤 Baudouin Valange
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:19
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/0008; C11D17/0017; C11D17/0021; C11D1/00; C11D1/66; C11D1/83; C11D10/00; C11D10/04; C11D3/00; C11D3/43; C11D3/50; C11D1/02; C11D1/04; C11D1/06; C11D1/12; C11D1/14; C11D1/22; C11D1/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A stable aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition in concentrated form, which, in the absence of opacifying component, is clear, and which is dilutable with water to at least five times its weight, which diluted composition is a stable aqueous microemulsion which is useful as an all-purpose cleaning composition, both the concentrated and diluted compositions being especially effective to clean oily and greasy soils from substrates, which concentrated composition comprises anionic synthetic organic detergent and,or nonionic synthetic organic detergent, essentially water insoluble perfume, water and co-surfactant, which co-surfactant, by reducing interfacial tension at interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases of an emulsion of said detergent, perfume and water, produces a stable concentrated microemulsion which, in the absence of opacifying component, is clear and stable at temperatures in the range of 5 to 50 C., and at a pH in the range of 1 to 11, and which composition does not contain any solvents for oils and greases other than the perfume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A stable aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition in concentrated form, which, in the absence of opacifying component, is clear, and which is dilutable with water to at least five times its weight, which diluted composition is a stable aqueous microemulsion which is useful as an all-purpose cleaning composition, both the concentrated and diluted compositions being especially effective to clean oily and greasy soils from substrates, which concentrated composition comprises anionic synthetic organic detergent and,or nonionic synthetic organic detergent, essentially water insoluble perfume, water and co-surfactant, which co-surfactant, by reducing interfacial tension at interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases of an emulsion of said detergent, perfume and water, produces a stable concentrated microemulsion which, in the absence of opacifying component, is clear and stable at temperatures in the range of 5 to 50 C., and at a pH in the range of 1 to 11, and which composition does not contain any solvents for oils and greases other than the perfume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
247 words
A stable microemulsion cleaning composition in concentrated form, according to claim 1. wherein the synthetic organic detergent component is a mixture of anionic and nonionic synthetic organic detergents and the co-surfactant is a water soluble lower alkanol of 2 to 4 carbon atoms, a polypropylene glycol of 2 to 18 propoxy units, a monoalkyl ether of a lower glycol of the formula RO(X) n H wherein R is a C 1-4 alkyl and X is CH 2 CH 2 O, CH(CH 3 )CH 2 0 or CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 O, and n is from 1 to 4, a monoalkyl ester of the formula R 1 O(X) n H wherein R' is a C 2 - 4 - acyl and X and n are as immediately previously described, an aryl substituted lower alkanol of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, propylene carbonate, an aliphatic mono-, di-, or tri-carboxylic acid of 3 to 6 carbon atoms, a mono-, di- or tri-hydroxy substituted aliphatic mono-, di-, or tri-carboxylic acid of 3 to 6 carbon atoms, a higher alkyl ether poly-lower alkoxy carboxylic acid of the formula R 2 O(X) n YCOOH, wherein R 2 is a C a -is alkyl, n is from 4 to 12, and Y is CH 2 , C(O)R 3 or wherein R 3 is a C 1-3 alkylene, or a lower alkyl mono-, di-, or tri-ester of phosphoric acid, wherein the lower alkyl is of 1 to 4 carbon atoms,or any mixture thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A microemulsion cleaning composition according to claim 2 wherein the proportions of synthetic organic detergents, perfume, water and co-surfactant are in the ranges of 5 to 65%, 2 to 50%, 15 to 85% and 2 to 50%, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A cleaning composition according to claim 3 wherein the synthetic organic detergent mixture is of an anionic detergent which is the higher linear alkylbenzene sulfonate or a higher paraffin sulfonate, or a mixture thereof, each of which is of 9 to 18 carbon atoms in the higher alkyl and paraffin moieties thereof, and wherein the nonionic detergent is a condensation product of higher fatty alcohol of 8 to 18 carbon atoms with 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of higher fatty alcohol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A composition according to claim 4 wherein the perfume includes 1 to 35% of terpenes, on a product basis, and the co-surfactant is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol isobutyl ether, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, or any mixture thereof, and in which the perfume is of particle sizes in the range of 25 to 800 A in diameter, dispersed in an aqueous phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A composition according to claim 5 which, when anionic detergent is present in the composition, comprises 0.5 to 1.5 equivalents, in salt, oxide . hydroxide form, of a bivalent or multivalent metal cation per equivalent of said anionic detergent, or at least 50% of said anionic detergent, on a molar basis, is a salt of a bivalent or multivalent metal, and wherein the pH is in the range of 2 to 7.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composition according to claim 6 which comprises 0.5 to 10% of a C 8-22 fatty acid or fatty acid soap, and which is non-foaming.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein the proportions of synthetic organic detergent(s), perfume, water and co-surfactant are in the ranges of 5 to 65%, 2 to 50%, 15 to 85% and 2 to 50%, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composition according to claim 3, of a pH in the range of 1 to 4, which is especially useful for removing lime scale and soap scum from bathtub and tile surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein the co-surfactant is dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether or dipropylene glycol isobutyl ether or a mixture thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein the co-surfactant is a mixture of adipic acid, glutaric acid and succinic acid in proportions within the ranges of 1-3 : 1-8 : 1-5, respectively, and the pH is in the range of 1 to 4.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A stable aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition which is of a formula corresponding to one part of a concentrated composition of claim 3, diluted with four parts of water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cleaning composition according to claim 12 which is of a formula corresponding to one part of a concentrated composition of claim 5 diluted with four parts of water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composition according to claim 13 which is of a formula corresponding to one part of a concentrated composition of claim 6 diluted with four parts of water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A stable aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition according to claim 12 which is of a formula corresponding to one part of a concentrated composition of claim 11 diluted with four parts of water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cleaning composition according to claim 1, in a spray container of synthetic organic polymeric plastic material, from which it is sprayable onto surfaces to be cleaned.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process for manufacturing a stable clear aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition which is in accordance with the description thereof in claim 1, which comprises dissolving the synthetic organic detergent in the water, admixing the co-surfactant with the aqueous detergent solution and subsequently admixing the perfume with the aqueous solution or emulsion of detergent, water and co-surfactant, at a temperature in the range of 5 to 50 C., which results in a clear and stable microemulsion cleaning composition in concentrated form, which is of a pH in the range of 1 to 11, and in which the perfume is of particle sizes in the range of 25 to 800 A in diameter, dispersed in a continuous aqueous phase.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for diluting the stable clear aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition of claim 1 to produce a diluted stable clear aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition of claim 6, which comprises adding four parts by weight of water at a temperature in the range of 5 to 50" C. to one part by weight of a composition of claim 1, which is at substantially the same temperature, while maintaining mixing of the composition during the addition of the water.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process for removing oily soils from surfaces which comprises applying to such surfaces from which the oily soil is to be removed a composition of claim 1, whereby the oily soil is absorbed into the dispersed lipophilic phase of the composition, and removing such composition and the oily soil from such surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein such removal is effected by wiping a normally shiny such surface without rinsing or by wiping after minimal rinsing, producing a surface which is shiny after such wiping, and drying.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 20 wherein minimal rinsing is effected with water, with the amount of rinse water employed being no more than ten times the weight of microemulsion applied.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process for removing oily soils from surfaces which comprises applying to such surfaces from which the oily soil is to be removed a composition of claim 12, whereby the oily soil is absorbed into the dispersed lipophilic phase of the composition, and removing such composition and the oily soil from such surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process for removing lime scale and soap scum from bathtubs, sinks, bathroom tiles and other hard surfaces which comprises spraying onto such a surface a composition in accordance with claim 9 and removing such composition and the lime scale and/or soap scum from such a surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process according to claim 23 wherein such spraying is effected from a synthetic organic polymeric plastic spray bottle and such removal is effected by wiping such surface without rinsing or by wiping after minimal rinsing, which minimal rinsing is effected with water, with the amount of rinse water employed being no more than ten times the weight of microemulsion applied.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process for removing lime scale and soap scum from bathtubs, sinks and bathroom tile and other hard surfaces which comprises spraying onto such surfaces a composition in accordance with claim 14 and removing such composition and the lime scale and/or soap scum from such surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process according to claim 25 wherein such spraying is effected from a synthetic organic polymeric plastic spray bottle and such removal is effected by wiping such surface without rinsing or by wiping after minimal rinsing, which minimal rinsing is effected with water, with the amount of rinse water employed being no more than ten times the weight of microemulsion applied.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
136 words
A stable aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition in concentrated form which, in the absence of opacifying component, is clear, which is dilutable with water to at least five times its weight, to a stable aqueous microemulsion which is useful as an all-purpose cleaning composition, especially effective to clean oily and greasy soils from substrates, which concentrated composition consists essentially of anionic synthetic organic detergent and / or nonionic synthetic organic detergent, essentially water insoluble perfume, water and co-surfactant, which co-surfactant, by reducing interfacial tension at interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases of an emulsion of said detergent, perfume and water, produces the stable concentrated microemulsion which, in the absence of opacifying component, is clear at temperature in the range of 5 to 50 C., and which is of a pH in the range of 1 to 11.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
136 words
A stable aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition in concentrated form which, in the absence of opacifying component, is clear, which is dilutable with water to at least five times its weight, to a stable aqueous microemulsion which is useful as an all-purpose cleaning composition, especially effective to clean oily and greasy soils from substrates, which concentrated composition consists essentially of anionic synthetic organic detergent and / or nonionic synthetic organic detergent, essentially water insoluble perfume, water and co-surfactant, which co-surfactant, by reducing interfacial tension at interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases of an emulsion of said detergent, perfume and water, produces the stable concentrated microemulsion which, in the absence of opacifying component, is clear at temperature in the range of 5 to 50 C., and which is of a pH in the range of 1 to 11.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for removing oily soils, lime scale and soap scum from surfaces which comprises applying to such surfaces a stable clear aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition which includes a perfume or a hydrocarbon solvent as the dispersed phase therein, which dispersed phase is of globule sizes in the range of 25 to 800 Angstroms, and wiping said microemulsion off said surface without rinsing or with minimal rinsing before such wiping.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for removing oily soils, lime scale and soap scum from surfaces which comprises applying to such surfaces a stable clear aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition which includes a perfume or a hydrocarbon solvent as the dispersed phase therein, which dispersed phase is of globule sizes in the range of 25 to 800 Angstroms, and wiping said microemulsion off said surface without rinsing or with minimal rinsing before such wiping.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for preparation of a stable clear aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition in dilute form from a stable clear aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition in concentrated form which comprises admixing at least an equal weight of water at a temperature in the range of 5 to 50 C. with the concentrated microemulsion until the desired dilute composition is obtained, which is at a pH in the range of 1 to 11.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for preparation of a stable clear aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition in dilute form from a stable clear aqueous microemulsion cleaning composition in concentrated form which comprises admixing at least an equal weight of water at a temperature in the range of 5 to 50 C. with the concentrated microemulsion until the desired dilute composition is obtained, which is at a pH in the range of 1 to 11.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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