Single-phase soap compositions

• US 5,820,695 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated, University of Southern Mississippi
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated, University of Southern Mississippi
• Inventors: Lochhead, Robert Y., Gipp, Mark M., Seaman, Charles E. Jr., Lance-Gomez, E. Theodore
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Mark L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailey, Patricia L.
• Application Number:
  US08/462,439
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 252/108, 252/110, 252/117, 252/111, 252/114, 252/118, 252/546, 252/162, 252/164, 252/166, 252/167, 252/173, 252/174.21, 252/174.22, 252/DIG. 1 , 252/DIG. 10, 252/DIG. 11, 252/DIG. 13, 252/DIG. 14, 252/DIG. 16, 134/25.1, 510/403, 510/159, 510/158
• US Class Current: 134/42
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 10/045 based on non-ionic surface-active compounds and soap
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/08 Liquid soap, e.g. for dispensers; capsuled
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/14 Hard surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0057 Oven-cleaning compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2079 Monocarboxylic acids-salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/50 Perfumes

Abstract

The present invention relates to single-phase soap gels and viscous soap compositions which are produced by alkanolamine neutralization of a fatty acid above the Krafft point. These compositions are robust, biodegradable, and are insensitive to temperature changes. The compositions also exhibit excellent cleaning properties and may be used as laundry cleaning agents, oven cleaners, hard surface cleaners, and disinfectants and air fragrancing compositions.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a hard surface, which comprises the steps of applying an effective amount of a single-phase soap composition to a hard surface, the soap composition comprising:

(a) an alkanolamine neutralized fatty acid, wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-amino-1-butanol, tetrahydroxypropylethylenediamine, triisopropanolamine, triethanolamine, monoethanolamine, diisopropanolamine and mixtures thereof;

(b) from about 0.5% to about 20% by weight of at least one non-ionic surfactant; and

mixtures thereof; and

(c) an effective amount of water to achieve the hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance necessary for liquid crystal formation;

wherein the soap composition has a temperature stability to at least about 80°

C.

2. The method of cleaning a hard surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-amino-1-butanol, tetrahydroxypropylethylenediamine, triisopropanolamine and mixtures thereof.

3. A The method of cleaning a hard surface as claimed in claim 1, wherein the single-phase soap composition further comprises from about 1.0% to about 35% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of water-soluble solvents, oil-soluble solvents and mixtures thereof.

4. A method of cleaning a hard surface, which comprises the steps of applying an effective amount of a single-phase soap composition to a hard surface, the soap composition comprising:

(a) an alkanolamine neutralized fatty acid, wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-amino-1-butanol, tetrahydroxypropylethylenediamine, triisopropanolamine, triethanolamine, monoethanolamine, diisopropanolamine and mixtures thereof;

(b) from about 1.0% to about 35% by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of water-soluble solvents, oil-soluble solvents and mixtures thereof; and

(c) an effective amount of water to achieve the hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance necessary for liquid crystal formation;

wherein the soap composition has a temperature stability to at least about 80°

C.

5. The method of cleaning a hard surface as claimed in claim 4, wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-amino-1-butanol, tetrahydroxypropylethylenediamine, triisopropanolamine and mixtures thereof.