EP0317066A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Viscoelastic cleaning compositions and use thereof
Assignee: Clorox Co
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Filing: 1988-10-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A thickened aqueous cleaning composition which is viscoelastic, and has utility as a drain opening compositon or as a hard surface cleaner having a cleaning-effective residence time on non-horizontal surfaces. In one embodiment the composition comprises a cleaning active, a quaternary ammonium compound, and an organic counterion. In another embodiment, the viscoelastic quality of the composition is advantageously utilized as a drain opener which rapidly penetrates standing water with minimal dilution to delivery active to the clog material.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:37
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/395; C11D3/3956; C11D1/00; C11D1/38; C11D1/62; C11D1/645; C11D1/65; C11D17/00; C11D17/0008; C11D17/003; C11D17/0034; C11D7/00; C11D7/02; C11D7/04; C11D7/06; C11D1/02; C11D1/04; C11D1/12; C11D1/14; C11D1/143; C11D1/146; C11D1/22; C11D1/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A thickened cleaning composition having a viscoelastic rheology comprising, in aqueous solution (a) an active cleaning compound, present in a cleaning effective amount; (b) a quaternary ammonium compound selected from those having the following structures: (iii) mixtures thereof; wherein R, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or benzyl, R₄ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl, and R₅ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl; and (c) an organic counterion mixture, comprising at least two selected from alkyl and aryl carboxylates, alkyl and aryl sulfonates, sulfated alkyl and aryl alcohols, and mixtures thereof; wherein (b) and (c) are present in an amount to thicken and result in a viscoelastic rheology.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A thickened cleaning composition having a viscoelastic rheology comprising, in aqueous solution (a) an active cleaning compound, present in a cleaning effective amount; (b) a quaternary ammonium compound selected from those having the following structures: (iii) mixtures thereof; wherein R, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or benzyl, R₄ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl, and R₅ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl; and (c) an organic counterion mixture, comprising at least two selected from alkyl and aryl carboxylates, alkyl and aryl sulfonates, sulfated alkyl and aryl alcohols, and mixtures thereof; wherein (b) and (c) are present in an amount to thicken and result in a viscoelastic rheology.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the active cleaning compound is selected from acids, bases, oxidants, reductants, solvents, enzymes, detergents, thioorganic compounds, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A composition as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the quaternary ammonium compound is an alkyltrimethyl ammonium compound having a 14-18 carbon alkyl group, and the organic counterion mixture includes a carboxylate-containing counterion and a sulfonate-containing counterion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the alkyl counterion is two to ten carbons in length, and the aryl counterion is benzene and naphthalene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A composition as claimed in claim 4 characterised in that said benzene and naphthalene may be substituted with one to four carbon alkyl or alkoxy groups, halogens and nitro groups.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the composition has a relative elasticity of greater than about 0.03 sec/Pa.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that component (a) is present in an amount of from about 0.05% to 50%; component (b) is present from about 0.1 to 10.0%; and component (c) is present in a mole ratio to component (b) of between about 6:1 and 1:12.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A thickened viscoelastic drain opening composition comprising, in aqueous solution (a) a drain opening active; and (b) a viscoelastic thickening system wherein the composition has a relative elasticity of greater than about 0.03 sec/Pa, and a density greater than that of water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A thickened viscoelastic drain opening composition comprising, in aqueous solution (a) a drain opening active; and (b) a viscoelastic thickening system wherein the composition has a relative elasticity of greater than about 0.03 sec/Pa, and a density greater than that of water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A drain opening composition as claimed in claim 8 characterised in that the drain opening active is selected from acids, bases, oxidants, reductants, solvents, enzymes, detergents, thioorganic compounds, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
A composition as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 characterised in that the thickening system comprises: (a) a quaternary ammonium compound, selected from; (iii) mixtures thereof; wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, or benzyl, R₄ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl, and R₅ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl; and (b) an organic counterion, selected from alkyl and aryl carboxylates, alkyl and aryl sulfonates, sulfated alkyl and aryl alcohols and mixtures thereof; and wherein (a) and (b) are present in an amount to thicken and result in a viscoelastic rheology.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composition as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that the organic counterion comprises a mixture of at least one carboxylate-containing counterion and at least one sulfonate-containing counterion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
A composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 characterised in that the composition has a delivery rate of greater than about 70%, as determined by pouring a first quantity of composition into a second quantity of standing water and measuring undiluted product delivered, and a flow rate of less than about 150 mL/minute through a US 230 mesh screen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A thickened viscoelastic drain opening composition comprising, in aqueous solution (a) an alkali metal hydroxide; (b) an alkali metal hypochlorite (c) a quaternary ammonium compound having the following structure: wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or benzyl, R₄ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl; and (d) an organic counterion, selected from alkyl and aryl carboxylates, alkyl and aryl sulfonates, sulfated alkyl and aryl alcohols and mixtures thereof; and wherein (c) and (d) are present in an amount sufficient to thicken and result in a viscoelastic rheology.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A thickened viscoelastic drain opening composition comprising, in aqueous solution (a) an alkali metal hydroxide; (b) an alkali metal hypochlorite (c) a quaternary ammonium compound having the following structure: wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or benzyl, R₄ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl; and (d) an organic counterion, selected from alkyl and aryl carboxylates, alkyl and aryl sulfonates, sulfated alkyl and aryl alcohols and mixtures thereof; and wherein (c) and (d) are present in an amount sufficient to thicken and result in a viscoelastic rheology.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A composition as claimed in claim 13 characterised in that it further includes 0 to about 5 weight percent of an alkali metal silicate, and 0 to about 5 weight percent of an alkali metal carbonate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A composition as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 characterised in that the composition has a relative elasticity of geater than about 0.03 sec/Pa, a density greater than that of water and a viscosity of at least about 20 cP.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A composition as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15 characterised in that the composition ionic strength is at least about 0.09 g-ions/Kg.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
A composition as claimed in any of claims 13 to 16 characterised in that component (a) is present in an amount of from about 0.5 to 20 weight percent; component (b) is present in an amount of from about 1 to 10 weight percent; component (c) is present from about 0.1 to 10 weight percent; and component (d) is present from about .01 to about 10 weight percent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
A thickened viscoelastic hypochlorite composition comprising, in aqueous solution (a) a hypochlorite-producing source, present in an amount sufficient to produce a bleaching-effective amount of hypochlorite; (b) a quaternary ammonium compound, selected from the group consisting of: (iii) mixtures thereof; wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, or benzyl, R₄ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl, and R₅ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl; and (c) an organic counterion, selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl carboxylates, alkyl and aryl sulfonates, sulfated alkyl and aryl alcohols, and mixtures thereof; and wherein (b) and (c) are present in an amount to thicken and result in a viscoelastic rheology.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
111 words
A thickened viscoelastic hypochlorite composition comprising, in aqueous solution (a) a hypochlorite-producing source, present in an amount sufficient to produce a bleaching-effective amount of hypochlorite; (b) a quaternary ammonium compound, selected from the group consisting of: (iii) mixtures thereof; wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, or benzyl, R₄ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl, and R₅ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl; and (c) an organic counterion, selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl carboxylates, alkyl and aryl sulfonates, sulfated alkyl and aryl alcohols, and mixtures thereof; and wherein (b) and (c) are present in an amount to thicken and result in a viscoelastic rheology.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A composition as claimed in claim 18 characterised in that the composition has a relative elasticity of greater than about 0.03 sec/Pa, and a viscosity of at least about 20 cP.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
A composition as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 characterised in that component (a) is present from about 0.1 to 15 weight percent; component (b) is present from about 0.1 to 10 weight percent; component (c) is present from about 0.01 to 10 weight percent; and a mole ratio of component (b) to (c) is between about 12:1 and 1:6.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composition as claimed in claim 20 characterised in that the composition ionic strength is at least 0.09 g-ions/Kg.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for clearing restrictions caused by organic materials in drain pipes comprising (a) introducing to a drain pipe having an organic restriction therein a drain opening composition comprising a drain opening active and a viscoelastic thickening system wherein the composition has a relative elasticity of greater than about 0.03 sec/Pa; (b) allowing the composition to remain in contact with the organic restriction material to react therewith; and (c) rinsing the composition and restriction away.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for clearing restrictions caused by organic materials in drain pipes comprising (a) introducing to a drain pipe having an organic restriction therein a drain opening composition comprising a drain opening active and a viscoelastic thickening system wherein the composition has a relative elasticity of greater than about 0.03 sec/Pa; (b) allowing the composition to remain in contact with the organic restriction material to react therewith; and (c) rinsing the composition and restriction away.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 characterised in that the drain opening active is selected from acids, bases, oxidants, reductants, solvents, enzymes, detergents, thioorganic compounds, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23 characterised in that the viscoelastic thickener comprises a quaternary ammonium compound and an organic counterion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method as claimed in claim 24 characterised in that the quaternary ammonium compound is selected from compounds having the following structures:- (iii) mixtures thereof; wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl or benzyl, R₄ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl, and R₅ is C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl, and; the organic counterion is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl carboxylates, alkyl and aryl sulfonates, sulfated alkyl and aryl alcohols, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the quaternary ammonium compound and organic counterion are present in an amount sufficient to thicken and result in a viscoelastic rheology.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as claimed in claim 25 characterised in that the composition comprises: (a) 0.5 to 20 weight percent of an alkali metal hydroxide (b) 1 to 10 weight percent alkali metal hypochlorite; (c) 0 to 5 weight percent alkali metal silicate; (d) 0 to 5 weight percent alkali metal carbonate; (e) 0.1 to 10 weight percent quaternary ammonium compound; and (f) 0.01 to 10 weight percent counterion.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
37 words
A method for the production of a composition as claimed in any of claims 1-20 characterised in that the desired components to form the composition are mixed as desired to form an aqueous solution containing such components.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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