AU2005234634A1

AU2005234634A1 - Cleaning Composition

Info

Publication number: AU2005234634A1
Application number: AU2005234634A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ryan Gregory Hall; John Thalhammer
Original assignee: Paradise Supplies & Products Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Paradise Supplies & Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-11-11
Filing date: 2005-11-11
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Also published as: CN101007986A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Applicant: Cleaning Composition Paradise Supplies Products Pty Ltd The invention is described in the following statement.

CLEANING COMPOSITION 0 4 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cleaning composition.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Cleaning compositions containing surfactants are well known. Such cleaning Scompositions typically include a surfactant mixed with water. The mixture is often in the form of an emulsion. Other components, such as builders, enzymes, salts, ammonia, caustic alkalis, anti-redeposition agents, optical brighteners and chelating agents or complexing agents may also be added to the detergent composition.

Throughout this specification, the word "comprising" and its grammatical equivalence are to be taken to have an inclusive meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The applicant does not concede that any of the prior art discussed in this specification forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning composition comprising at least one surfactant, at least one fatty acid and water, characterised in that at least some of the water present in the composition has been subjected to a revitalising and a reenergising treatment.

In some embodiments of the present invention, all of the water present in the composition has been subjected to a revitalising and a re-energising treatment.

Throughout this specification, water that has been subjected to a revitalising and re-energising treatment is to be taken to refer to water that has been treated to affect the inner structure of the water. The revitalising and re-energising treatment returns the inner structure of the water to an optimum state. The revitalising and re-energising treatment involves subjecting the water to magnetic fields to affect the inner structure of the water.

Alternatively, the revitalising and re-energising treatment involves passing the water -2-

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0 through an environment surrounded by water that itself has been subjected to a magnetic z field, wherein the surrounding water itself then affects the inner structure of the water passing therethrough. In this treatment, a housing may be provided, which housing holds the water that has been subjected to the magnetic field. The water for inclusion in the composition of the present invention then passes through a passage or passages in the housing, which passage or passages are surrounded by the previously treated water. The erevitalising and re-energising treatment suitably uses an apparatus as described in NEuropean Patent Application Nos. 0497754 or 0712807. The entire contents of these two oearlier European patent applications are herein incorporated by cross-reference.

In the composition of the present invention, the water component of the composition has been changed to a revitalised and re-energised water. The water preferably first passes through a small treatment unit that restructures the atomic properties of the water and effects the inner structure of the water.

The composition of the present invention includes at least one surfactant. In some embodiments, the at least one surfactant comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant. The at least non-ionic surfactant may comprise two non-ionic surfactants. Ethoxylate based non-ionic surfactants are particular suitable for use in the present invention. For example, octylphenol ethoxylate non-ionic surfactants may be used. Examples of such non-ionic surfactants include the Triton TM series of surfactants available from Dow Chemicals.

Some examples of appropriate surfactants in this series include Triton X-45, which is described as "an excellent emulsifier with good wetting, aids in rinsability of solventbased systems", and Triton X-100 which is as "an excellent detergent, dispersant and emulsifier".

The at least one surfactant is suitably present in an amount of from 30 to 150 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume. More preferably, the at least one surfactant is present in an amount of from 50 to 120 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume, even more preferably in an amount of from 65 to 85 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.

The at least one fatty acid may be a fatty acid that is derived from plants or plant material. In one embodiment, the at least one fatty acid comprises a tall oil fatty acid.

'Tall oil fatty acids are fatty acids that are produced by fractional distillation of tall oil.

z They are known to be hydrotropes for non-ionic surfactants.

_Other fatty acids could also be used, for example, fatty acids derived from soy beans.

Cfl 5 The at least one fatty acid may be at least one dibasic fatty acid.

Cf The at least one fatty acid may be present in an amount of from 5 to 50 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume, more preferably from 10 to 30 parts, even more

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Spreferably, from 15 to 20 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.

The composition may further comprise at least one water miscible organic solvent.

The water miscible organic solvent may comprise a glycol ether solvent. The glycol either solvent may be diethyl glycol monoethyl ether.

The at least one water miscible organic solvent may be present in an amount of from 10 to 80 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume, more preferably from 20 to parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume, even more preferably from 30 to parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.

The composition may further comprise an alkanolamine. The alkanolamine may be monoethanolamine, although other alkanolamines may be used.

The alkanolamine may be present in an amount of from 5 to 50 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume, more preferably from 10 to 30 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume, even more preferably 15 to 20 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.

The composition may further comprise a chelating agent or a complexing agent.

The chelating agent or complexing agent may be added to chelate ionic species during the cleaning process. For example, the chelating agent or complexing agent may be especially useful in chelating or complexing with ferric ions to thereby remove the ferric irons during the cleaning process.

In -4- The chelating agent or complexing agent is suitably EDTA (ethylene di-amine O tetra acetic acid) or a salt thereof, such as a sodium salt thereof. The tetra sodium salt of EDTA is an example of a suitable chelating agent or complexing agent.

The chelating or complexing agent may be present in an amount of from 5 to parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume, more preferably from 10 to 30 parts per IN 1000 parts of composition, by volume, even more preferably from 15 to 20 parts per 1000 e n parts of composition, by volume.

In SAs mentioned above, at least some of the water present and preferably all of the CI water present in the composition has been subjected to a revitalising and re-energising solution. In some embodiments, all of the water present in the composition has been subjected to the revitalising and re-energising composition.

The composition may include other components, such as colouring agents and fragrances, as are conventionally used in detergent compositions or cleaning compositions.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a cleaning composition comprising, by volume: 20 parts EDTA tetra sodium salt; 85 parts non-ionic surfactants; and 20 parts tall oil fatty acid; 30 40 parts diethyl glycol monoethyl ether; 20 parts monoethanolamine; balance: water, wherein at least some of the water has been subjected to a revitalising and re-energising treatment.

Preferaby, all of the water present in the composition has been subjected to a revitalising and re-energising treatment.

Suitably, the water makes up the composition to 1000 parts.

t-) 0 0 The present invention also encompasses a method for producing the cleaning z composition. Accordingly, in a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing a cleaning composition as described with reference to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the method comprising the steps of mixing part of the water with other ingredients of the composition, adding further water and allowing the composition to settle. Preferably, the water is at a temperature of at least 23 0 C when the other n ingredients are added thereto because it has been found that mixing of the components is improved if a minimum temperature of 23 0 C is used.

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0In the method of the present invention, the water and the other ingredients are mixed together. The water may be added in one step or in two or more steps. Due to the nature of some of the ingredients added to the composition, a large amount of foam is typically produced during the mixing steps. The mixing is stopped and the composition is allowed to sit so that the foam settles. The composition may then be stored, bottled or put into other containers.

It will be understood that the water that is included in the composition has been changed to a revitalised and re-energised water. This may suitably be achieved by passing the water through a small treatment unit that restructures the atomic properties of the water.

The present inventors have surprisingly found that using water that has been changed to a revitalised and re-energised water has the following advantageous affects: The amount of fatty acid that needs to be added to the composition can be decreased, when compared to using ordinary water. The fatty acid has a preservative affect on the composition. Using a revitalised and re-energised water increasing the product shelf life of the composition which, in turn, allows a reduction in the amount of fatty acid that needed to be added to the composition. This, of course, lowers the cost of ingredients added to the composition.

Using a revitalised and re-energised water allows the mixing of the ingredients during manufacture of the composition to take place at a lower temperature than is the case when using ordinary water.

tfl -6- 0 0 The settling time at the end of the mixing steps, which is required to allow the z foam to break and settle, is remarkably reduced, when compared to using ordinary water. This allows increased throughput in the manufacturing facility.

Power is saved with reduced use of the heating element.

Production time is faster as the water does not have to be heated to as high a temperature as if ordinary water is used.

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o The introduction of revitalised and re-energised water has shown an increase in the effectiveness of the product, in terms of its cleaning ability. Despite this, the product is friendlier to the environment. It is believed that the revitalised and re-energised water will actually "treat" non-revitalised and non-re-energised water to a certain extent when exposed to the environment.

The revitalised and re-energised water increases the product's shelf life.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the at least one fatty acid may be either be replaced by or complemented with one or more preservatives.

The cleaning composition of the present invention may be in the form of a concentrated cleaning composition that is further diluted with water during use for cleaning. Thus, it will be appreciated that the water content of the composition may vary widely within the scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLE

The water used in the composition was passed through a revitalising and reenergising water unit prior to adding to the mixing vessel. The water was heated to approximately 23°C using a heating element. A mixer was placed in the water.

Whilst under agitation, water was mixed with approximately 18.5 litres of EDTA tetra sodium salt, 74 litres of Triton surfactant,18.5 litres of tall oil fatty acid, 37 litres of diethyl glycol monoethyl ether and 18.5 litres of monoethanolaminewere added to the mixing vessel. Mixing continued until all the components were thoroughly mixed together. The mixer was then turned off and further water added to make up to 1000 Ic) -7-

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litres. Mixing then continued until an homogenous mixture was again obtained. Mixing O was discontinued and the mixture allowed to settle until the foam broke and settled. The composition was then bottled for distribution and sale.

In this example, all of the water present in the composition was revitalised and reenergised water.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It will 0 be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

Claims

4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one fatty acid is derived from plants or plant material. A composition as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one fatty acid comprises a tall oil fatty acid.
6. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising at least one water miscible organic solvent.
7. A composition as claimed organic solvent is a glycol ether solvent.
8. A composition as claimed in claim 7 wherein the glycol ether solvent is diethyl glycol monoethyl ether.
9. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising an alkanolamine.
10. A composition as claimed in claim 9 wherein the alkanolamine is monoethanolamine.
11. A composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims further comprising a chelating agent or a complexing agent.
12. A composition as claimed in claim 11 wherein the chelating agent or complexing agent comprises EDTA or a salt thereof. w- __a In -9- 0 0
13. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at z least one surfactant is present in an amount of from 30 to 150 pats by volume, per 1000 parts by volume of the composition.
14. A composition as claimed in claim 13 wherein the at least one surfactant is present in an amount of 65 to 85 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at o least one fatty acid is present in an amount of from 5 to 50 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.
16. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one fatty acid is present in an amount of from 15 to 20 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.
17. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 16 wherein the at least one water miscible solvent is present in an amount of from 10 to 80 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.
18. A composition as claimed in claim 17 wherein the water miscible solvent is present in an amount of from 30 to 40 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.
19. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 18 wherein the alkanolamine is present in an amount of from 5 to 50 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume. A composition as claimed in claim 19 wherein the alkanolamine is present in an amount of from 15 to 20 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.
21. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 20 wherein the chelating or complexing agent is present in an amount of from 5 to 50 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume. t 0
22. A composition as claimed in claim 21 wherein the chelating agent or z complexing agent is present in an amount of from 15 to 20 parts per 1000 parts of composition, by volume.
23. A cleaning composition comprising, by volume: 15 20 parts EDTA tetra sodium salt; Va Cfl 65 85 parts non-ionic surfactants; and In 20 parts tall oil fatty acid; 40 parts diethyl glycol monoethyl ether; 20 parts monoethanolamine; balance: water, wherein at least some of the water has been subjected to a revitalising and re-energising treatment.
24. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein substantially all of the water has been subjected to the revitalising and re- energising treatment.
25. A method for producing a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising mixing the water with the other ingredients and allowing the composition to settle.
26. A method as claimed in claims 25 comprising mixing part of the water with other ingredients, adding further water and allowing the composition to settle.
27. A method as claimed in claim 25 wherein the water is at a temperature of at least 23 'C. Dated this 1 1th day of November 2005 Paradise Supplies Products Pty Ltd By the Patent Attorneys for the Applicant CULLEN CO.