Thickened acidic, hard surface cleaning and disinfecting compositions particularly useful for ceramic surfaces

• US 6,239,092 B1
• Filed: 09/01/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser LLC (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Incorporated (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Inventors: Cavanagh, James William, Love, Michael David, Papasso, Thomas Michael, Fellows, Robert Terrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Krynski, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garrett, Dawn L.
• Application Number:
  US09/144,701
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 510/384, 510/319, 510/423, 510/473, 510/488, 510/238
• US Class Current: 510/238
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 33/12 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/62 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/835 Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2075 Carboxylic acids-salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2086 Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/222 Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions

Abstract

Acidic, thickened cleaning and disinfecting compositions which exhibit good long term shelf stability, are particularly effective in the removal of limescale from hard surfaces, and which are effective against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The compositions comprise one or more nonionic surfactants; one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds having germicidal properties; an acid mixture comprising formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids, particularly water soluble organic acids selected from the group consisting of: lactic acid, citric acid, glycolic acid and where the formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid: formic acid:water soluble organic acid(s) of 1:0.1-10; a cellulose based thickening composition; optionally but desirably a one or more conventional additives such as a coloring agent, fragrance or pH adjusting agent; and, water. The compositions may also include further conventional adjuvants such as perfumes and coloring agents in minor amounts. The compositions feature surprisingly good viscosity retention over time notwithstanding the presence of formic acid and cellulose based thickeners in the compositions.

Claims

1. Thickened acidic hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition comprising:

one or more nonionic surfactants;

one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds having germicidal properties;

an acid mixture comprising formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids wherein these acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid;

water soluble organic acids of 1;

0.1-10;

a cellulose based thickening composition;

optionally to 10%wt. of one or more optional constituents;

and, water.

2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the water soluble organic acids are selected from the group consisting of:

lactic acid, glycolic acid and citric acid.

3. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the acid mixture comprises citric acid.

4. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the acid mixture comprises glycolic acid.

5. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfactant is a linear alcohol ethoxylate.

6. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the acid mixture contains at least formic acid, and at least two further different water soluble organic acids.

7. The composition according to claim 6 wherein the acid mixture contains formic acid, citric acid and glycolic acid.

8. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid:

water soluble organic acids of 1;

0.25-2.5.

9. The composition according to claim 1 which further comprises up to 1%wt. of a C₁-C₆ alcohol.

10. Thickened aqueous acidic hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to claim 1 which consists essentially of:

0.1-10%wt. one or more nonionic surfactants;

0.001-10%wt. of one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds having germicidal properties;

0.001-1% of a C₁-C₆ alcohol;

0.1-10%wt. of an acid mixture comprising formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids where the formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid;

water soluble organic acids of 1;

0.1-10;

0.01-5%wt. a cellulose based thickening composition;

optionally up to 10%wt. of one or more optional constituents,

with the remaining balance to 100%wt. of water.

11. The composition according to claim 10 wherein the formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid:

water soluble organic acids of 1;

0.25-2.5.

12. The composition according to claim 10 wherein the composition further includes colorants, fragrances, perfumes, or pH adjusting agents.

13. A thickened aqueous composition according to claim 1 which further includes one or more further detersive surfactants.

14. A process for cleaning limescale from a hard surface comprising the process step of:

contacting the hard surface having limescale thereon with a cleaning effective amount of the composition according to claim 1 to clean limescale present therefrom.

15. A process for cleaning limescale from a hard surface comprising the process step of:

contacting the hard surface having limescale thereon with a cleaning effective amount of the composition according to claim 10 to clean limescale present therefrom.

16. A thickened acidic hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition which comprises:

0.1-10%wt. of one or more nonionic surfactants;

0.001-10%wt. of one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds having germicidal properties;

0.1-10%wt. of an acid mixture consisting of formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids wherein these acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid;

water soluble organic acids of 1;

0.1-10;

0.01-5%wt. of a cellulose based thickening composition;

0-10%wt. of one or more optional constituents;

and, water.

17. The composition according to claim 16 wherein the water soluble organic acids are selected from the group consisting of:

lactic acid, glycolic acid and citric acid.

18. The composition according to claim 16 wherein the acid mixture contains at least formic acid, and at least two further different water soluble organic acids.

19. The composition according to claim 16 wherein the acid mixture contains formic acid, citric acid and glycolic acid.

20. The composition according to claim 16 wherein the formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid:

water soluble organic acids of 1;

0.25-2.5.

21. The composition according to claim 16 wherein the nonionic surfactant is a linear alcohol ethoxylate.

22. The composition according to claim 16 which further comprises up to 1%wt. of a C₁-C₆ alcohol.

23. The composition according to claim 16 which comprises one or more further detersive surfactants.

24. Thickened aqueous acidic hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to claim 16 which consists essentially of:

0.1-10%wt. one or more nonionic surfactants;

0.001-10%wt. of one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds having germicidal properties;

0.001-1% of a C₁-C₆ alcohol;

0.1-10%wt. of an acid mixture consisting of formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids where the formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid;

water soluble organic acids of 1;

0.1-10;

0.01-5%wt. a cellulose based thickening composition;

0-10%wt. of one or more optional constituents,

with the remaining balance to 100%wt. of water.

25. The composition according to claim 24 wherein the formic acid and one or more water soluble organic acids are present in a weight ratio of formic acid:

water soluble organic acids of 1;

0.25-2.5.