EP0712436A1

EP0712436A1 - Low-foaming washing or cleaning agents

Info

Publication number: EP0712436A1
Application number: EP94925395A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Udo Hees; Eva Kiewert; Ansgar Behler; Astrid Haferkamp; Kerstin Link; Amerigo Pastura; Nada Volf
Original assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 1993-08-04
Filing date: 1994-07-26
Publication date: 1996-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2014-07-26
Also published as: US5753606A; ES2099628T3; DE59402172D1; EP0712436B1; DE4326112A1; WO1995004803A1; JPH09501195A

Abstract

The invention concerns low-foaming liquid detergents and all-purpose cleaners containing C8-C18 alkyl polyglycosides and fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates, especially fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylates.

Description

"Low foaming detergents or cleaning agents"

The invention relates to low-foaming detergents or cleaning agents, with liquid detergents and cleaning agents for hard surfaces being preferred. All non-textile surfaces occurring in the household and commercial sector, with the exception of dishes, are to be understood as cleaning agents for hard surfaces. The term general-purpose cleaner has become established for this type of cleaning agent. Low-foaming all-purpose cleaners are those that develop a low volume of foam when used manually, which significantly reduces further within a few minutes.

All-purpose cleaners have been known for a long time. These are essentially aqueous surfactant solutions of various types with or without the addition of builders and with or without the addition of water-soluble solvents or solubilizers. A disadvantage of manual application in practice has been its high foaming power. Although the consumer wants to perceive a certain amount of foam in the application solution at the beginning of his cleaning work to prove its effectiveness, the foam should then collapse as quickly as possible, so that once cleaned surfaces do not have to be wiped down.

Liquid detergents often also tend to have a high foaming capacity, which impairs their applicability in washing machines.

In order to meet this increased desire for lower foaming power, some manufacturers of all-purpose cleaners have started to significantly reduce the surfactant content of their products, but this naturally leads to a considerable loss in cleaning performance. The user of such products must compensate for the reduced cleaning effect through increased mechanical wiping work.

Because of their ecologically good properties, the use of alkyl polyglycosides (APG's) in washing and cleaning agents is enjoying growing popularity. However, alkyl polyglycosides are known as high foaming surfactants; they are therefore available for products with a high level of vision. conditions, e.g. recommended for manual dishwashing detergents or for shampooing. EP 0 070074 B1 and 0 070076 B2 describe such high-foaming detergents and cleaning agents based on various APG-containing surfactant combinations. Consequently, these combinations are not recommended for the area of all-purpose cleaners.

Special short-chain Cβ-Cio-alkyl glucosides (eg Triton ( ^R ) CG-110 from Rohm & Haas) have also been known for a long time as good foaming and foam-stable non-ionic surfactants. Low-foaming cleaning agents containing alkypolyglucosides for machine cleaning work, in particular dishwashing, are described in WO 88/09369. In these compositions, low-foaming is achieved by using conventional, low-foaming fatty alcohol alkoxylates, which have an HLB value of about 10 or less and can contain propylene oxide units.

German published patent application DE 42 27 046 describes detergent mixtures based on fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates.

The object of the present invention was to provide washing or cleaning agents which at the same time have good cleaning properties, good biodegradability and a distinctly low foaming power. When used for manual cleaning of hard surfaces, the criterion should be that initially formed foam visibly reduces within 2 minutes.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that with the aid of combinations of certain Cs-Ciö-alkyl polyglycosides known to be highly foaming with certain fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates, liquid detergents and all-purpose cleaners with high cleaning power and extremely poor foaming behavior can be provided.

The invention relates to water-containing washing or cleaning agents containing 0.1 to 50% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight, of at least one alkyl polyglycoside of the formula I, R - * - 0- [Z] _x (I ), where R is a branched or straight-chain, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, Z is a sugar residue, preferably a glucose or Xylose radical and x represents integers from 1 to 10 and 0.05 to 50% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight, of at least one fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylate of the formula II, R ² -CO ² - (AO) _y -R3 (II), where R ² for a branched or straight-chain, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having 5 to 21 carbon atoms, A0 for a C2-C4 ~ alkylene oxide unit, y for a number from 1 to 30 and R3 for a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

The alkyl polyglycosides used in the agents according to the invention are known substances which can be obtained by the relevant methods of preparative organic chemistry; as a representative, reference is made to the documents EP 0 301 298 AI and WO 90/3977. The alkyl polyglycosides can be from sugars or sugar residues, i.e. Derive aldoses or ketoses with 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose and xylose. The preferred alkyl polyglycosides are thus alkyl polyglucosides and alkyl polyxylosides.

The index x in formula (I) indicates the degree of oligomerization (DP degree), i.e. the distribution of mono- and oligoglycosides is present and stands for a number between 1 and 10. While x must always be an integer in a given compound and here can assume the values x = 1 to 6, the value x is for a certain alkyl polyglycoside an analytically determined arithmetic size, which usually represents a fractional number. Alkyl polyglycosides with an average degree of oligomerization of 1.1 to 3.0, preferably 1.1 to 1.7, are preferably used.

The alkyl radical R * in the formula (I) can be derived from primary branched and unbranched alcohols having 8 to 18 carbon atoms. Typical examples are myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol and their technical mixtures. However, preference is given to using alkylpolyglycosides of the formula (I) in which R ^{1 is} a carbon radical having 8 to 12, in particular 8 to 10, carbon atoms. In addition to lauryl alcohol, typical examples are, in particular, caprylic alcohol and capric alcohol and their technical mixtures, such as are obtained, for example, in the hydrogenation of technical fatty acid methyl esters or in the course of the hydrogenation of aldehydes from Roelen's oxosynthesis. The fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates of the formula (II) used in the agents according to the invention can be prepared by conventional methods, such as, for example, by esterification of fatty acid derivatives with alkoxylated methanol. However, this process has some disadvantages, it has two stages, the esterification takes a very long time and the products are colored by the high reaction temperatures. In addition, fatty acid ethyl ester alkoxylates produced in this way often have relatively high OH numbers after the esterification, which can be problematic for some applications. The fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates of the formula (II) are preferably prepared by heterogeneously catalyzed direct alkoxylation of fatty acid alkyl esters with alkylene oxide, in particular ethylene oxide. This synthesis method is described in detail in WO 90/13533 and WO 91/15441. The resulting products are characterized by a low OH number, the reaction is carried out in one step and light-colored products are obtained. Those fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates of the formula (II) which are formed by ethoxylation of fatty acid methyl esters, ie in which AO in the formula (II) is an ethylene oxide unit and R3 is a methyl group, are preferably used. The fatty acid methyl esters used as starting materials can be obtained from natural oils and fats as well as produced synthetically.

Fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates are preferably used in the all-purpose cleaners according to the invention, where y is a number from 5 to 25, in particular from 9 to 18. In contrast, fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates are preferably used in the liquid detergents according to the invention, where R ^{2 is} a branched or straight-chain, saturated alkyl group having 12 to 18 C atoms and y is a number from 3 to 15.

If the liquid detergents and general-purpose cleaners according to the invention are to be used to remove lipophilic soiling, fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates are chosen with a low degree of ethoxylation in the range according to the invention; if hydrophilic soiling is to be removed, it is expedient to use fatty acid alkyl ester ethoxylates with a higher degree of ethoxylation in the range according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned liquid detergents and all-purpose cleaners additionally contain an anionic surfactant selected from the group of Cö-Cig-alkylbenzenesulfonates, Cö-Cjs-alkanesulfonates, Cö-Cis-alkylsulfates, Cö-Ciss-alkylpolyglycol ether sulfates, α-ole- finsulfonate, Cö-Cig-alkyl polyglycol ether sulfonate, glycerin ether sulfonate, glycerin ether sulfate, hydroxy mixed ether sulfate, monoglyceride sulfate, sulfosuccinate, sulfotriglyceride, soap, id soap, Cö-Cig-fatty acid amide-ether sulfate, Cö-ethoxy sulfate, Cö-fatty acid, Cö-ethoxy sulfate, Acyl sarcosinates, N-Cδ-Ciss-acyl-taurides, Cö-Cis-alkyl oligoglucoside sulfates, Cö-Ci8-alkyl-phosphates and their mixtures in a total amount of up to 40% by weight based on the total weight the liquid detergent or all-purpose cleaner.

In a further preferred embodiment, the liquid detergents or general-purpose cleaners according to the invention additionally contain a further nonionic surfactant selected from the group of C6-Ciss-alkyl polyglycol ethers, sugar esters, C-Cis-fatty acid polyglycol ethers, sorbitan fatty acid esters, Co-Ciβ-fatty acid partial glycerides and the like Mixtures in a total amount of up to 30% by weight based on the total amount of the liquid detergent or all-purpose cleaner.

Particularly preferred embodiments contain anionic surfactants selected from the group of the Cδ-Ciβ-alkyl sulfates, the Cö-Ci8-alkyl polyglycol ether sulfates, the soaps and the Cö-Cis-alkanesulfonates as well as their mixtures or nonionic surfactants selected from the group of the C6-Ci8- Alkyl polyglycol ether.

The soaps to be used according to the invention are alkali, ammonium or alkanol ammonium salts of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids having 8-22, preferably 10-18, carbon atoms. The soaps can either be added as such or, after the addition of appropriate fatty acids, by salt formation with bases such as NaOH, KOH, NH3, A inen or alkanolamines. Depending on the pH of the agents according to the invention, the soaps are either completely neutralized or partly also in free form as a fatty acid. The C6-Ciss alkyl ether sulfates are primarily addition products of 2-15 mol ethylene oxide with C6-Ciss fatty alcohols, which are then sulfated. The C6-Ci8-alkyl polyglycol ethers used as nonionic surfactants are primarily addition products of 2-10 moles of ethylene oxide with C6-Ci8-fatty alcohols.

Auxiliaries customary in liquid detergents or all-purpose cleaners can optionally be added; these substances are builders, e.g. Glutaric acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, benzene hexacarboxylic acid, gluconic acid, trisodium citrate; Solvents, e.g. Acetone, ethanol or glycerin, hydrotropes e.g. Cu olsulfonate, octyl sulfate, butyl glucoside, butylene glycol; Cleaning booster; Viscosity regulator, e.g. synthetic polymers such as polyacrylates; pH regulators, e.g. Citric acid, triethanolamine or NaOH; Preservatives, e.g. Glutaraldehyde; Dyes, fragrances and opacifiers.

The pH of the all-purpose cleaners according to the invention is usually between 4 and 8.5, preferably between 6 and 8. However, a range between 7.0 and 7.5 is particularly preferred. The pH at an application concentration of 10 g / 1 is preferably 7.3-7.8.

The agents according to the invention are particularly suitable for cleaning hard surfaces such as e.g. Enamel, glass, PVC, linoleum, stone floors, e.g. Marble, terrazzo, unglazed clinker, ceramic tiles or sealed wooden floors, e.g. Parquet or floorboards.

The pH of the liquid detergents according to the invention is usually between 6.0 and 10.0, preferably between 7.0 and 9.0.

The liquid detergents are suitable both for use in washing machines and for use in hand basins for washing high-quality textiles made of wool or silk. Example

To demonstrate the advantages of the all-purpose cleaners according to the invention compared to known all-purpose cleaners for hard surfaces, comparative tests were carried out with regard to the cleaning ability and foam breakdown.

Cleaning ability:

The test method described below according to "Soap-Oil-Fat-Waxes", l 2, 371, (1986) was used to test the cleaning power and gives very reproducible results. The cleaning agent to be tested was then applied in the form of a 1% strength by weight aqueous solution (10 g / 1) to an artificially soiled plastic surface. A mixture of carbon black, machine oil, triglyceride, saturated fatty acids and low-boiling aliphatic hydrocarbon was used as artificial soiling for the dilute use of the cleaning agent. The test area of 26 x 28 cm was evenly coated with 2 g of the artificial soiling with the aid of a surface coater.

A plastic sponge was impregnated with 10 ml of the 1% detergent solution to be tested and moved mechanically on the dirt-coated test surface, to which 10 ml of the 1% detergent solution to be tested was also applied. After 10 wiping movements, the cleaned test area was kept under running water and the loose dirt was removed. The cleaning effect of the plastic surface cleaned in this way was determined with the aid of a reflectance color measuring device "Microcolor" (Dr. B. Lange). The measurand is the degree of whiteness. The clean white plastic surface served as the white standard; the whiteness of the clean, white plastic surface corresponds to 100% RV (cleaning power). The whiteness of a soiled and then cleaned plastic surface corresponds to a value between 0% and 100% RV. The% RV values represent mean values from triplicate determinations.

The measured values were set in relation to the cleaning result of a high-performance all-purpose cleaner used as standard. Measured values of the sample ^• 100 =% RV relative measured value of the standard

The powerful formulation used as standard had the following composition:

8% alkylbenzenesulfonate Na salt

2% adduct of Ci2-Ci4-alkyl epoxide + ethylene glycol + 10 mol ethylene oxide 2% Na-gluconate

0.1% polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of approx. 600000 (Polyox WSR 205 from UCC)

Foam behavior:

The foam behavior of the all-purpose cleaners according to the invention was tested as follows: the test product was placed in a large-volume confectioning glass. Then the amount of tap water was allowed to flow in freely from a height of 30 cm, which, together with the amount of product presented, gave an application concentration of the product of 10 g / l. The foam height in the beaker was read off immediately after the addition of water had ended.

The following compositions were prepared by mixing the components together and then adjusting the desired pH. All percentages relate to percent by weight of active substance.

Compositions 1 to 9 are shown in Table 1. Composition 1 (V) is not according to the invention and is used for comparison.

The fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylates are given in Table 1 in the following notation:

Example: stands for ^c ll ^H 23 ^CO 2 ( ^CH 2 ^CH 2 °) 15 ^CH 3f methyl ester with

15 ethylene oxide units ethoxylated Ci2 fatty acid. EO stands for ethylene oxide, PO stands for propylene oxide. The degrees of alkoxylation represent mean values.

Table 1

Figures in% by weight 1 (V) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Octanol x 4 EO

(Dehydol 04 DEO, Henkel) 2

Ci2FSE0i5Me - 2

C6-lθFSEOιo, 6M ^e -

C12FSEO12ME - - - 2 - - 2 2 2

C6-10 ^FSEu 6Me - - - - 2 - - - -

Ci2FSE06Me 2 - - -

APG 225 (Cg-io-alkyl polyglucoside, from Henkel,

DP = 1.6) 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 -

Cs-alkypolyglucoside,

(DP = 1.6) 3.5 - -

Cs-alkypipolyxyloside,

(DP = 1.4) 3.5 -

Cio-alkyl polyxyloside,

(DP = 1.4) 3.5

Ci2-18 fatty acid

(Edenor K12 / 18, Fa. Henkel) 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6

Amber, glutaric, adipic acid. (Sokalan DCS, BASF) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

NaOH 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

PH 7.0- 7.0- 7.0- 7.0- 7.0- 7.0- 7.0- 7.0- 7.0- 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7 , 5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5

Cleaning power (%) 61 74 66 74 68 64 66 69 67

Foam height (cm) immediately after adding water: 2 1.3 2 1.2 1 2.3 2.1 1.8 1.7

Tear open the foam blanket

(in min.) 2.5 0.5 1 0.5 0.5 1 1 0.5 0.5 It can be seen that compositions 2 to 9 according to the invention are clearly superior to comparative composition 1 (V) in terms of cleaning ability and disintegration.

The following examples show further preferred formulations and possible uses for the claimed general-purpose cleaners.

Example 10

45.0% by weight of Cβ-Cio-alkyl polyglucoside, DP = 1.6 20.0% by weight of Ci2 fatty acid methyl ester x 13 E0 5.0% by weight of palm kernel fatty acid 1.0% by weight of citric acid 10.0 % By weight cumene sulfonate

Potash lye to adjust the pH of the finished product to pH 8 dyes and fragrances ad 100.0 wt .-% water

Example 10 represents an all-purpose cleaner high concentrate which is used in 0.1% solution.

Example 11

3.0% by weight of C8-Cχo-alkyl polyglucoside, DP = 1.6

1% by weight butyl polyglucoside

1% by weight Ci2 fatty acid methyl tester x 12 EO

0.5% by weight of palm kernel fatty acid

2.0% by weight methacrylic acid (stearyl alcohol 20 E0 ester) ester / acrylic acid copolymer (Acrysol ICS-1 from Rohm & Haas)

0.05% by weight polyethylene oxide, MW 600000

2.0% by weight of butyl glycol

Sodium hydroxide solution to adjust to pH 8 dyes and fragrances, preservative ad 100.0 wt .-% water Example 12

0.2% by weight CiQ alkyl polyglucoside, DP = 1.6

0.05 wt .-% Cιo-Ci2 fatty acid methyl ester x 17 EO

7.0% by weight of ethanol

Ammonia to adjust to pH 8.3 ad 100.0 wt .-% water

It is an all-purpose spray cleaner that is applied undiluted using a hand spray pump. In this form of offer, the foam disintegration is determined by visual sampling of the spraying process: the sprayed surface to be cleaned showed no foam bubbles immediately after application of the spray cleaner.

Example 13

5% by weight Cio-alkyl polyglucoside, DP = 1.6

4% by weight of Ci2 fatty acid methyl ester x 6 EO

2% by weight octyl sulfate

5% by weight ethanol

3% by weight trisodium citrate

Citric acid to adjust to pH 5.5 ad 100.0 wt .-% water

Example 14

12% by weight Cio-alkyl polyxyloside, DP = 1.4 8% by weight Cχ2 fatty acid methyl tester x 11 E0 2% by weight Ci2 fatty alcohol sulfate

5% by weight ethanol

Potash lye to adjust to pH 7-7.5 ad 100.0 wt .-% water

Example 15

6% by weight Cio-alkyl polyxyloside, DP = 1.4

8% by weight of Ci2 fatty acid methyl ester x 11 E0

6% by weight of Ci2-Ci4 fatty alcohol ether (2 E0) sulfate

5% by weight ethanol

NaOH to adjust to pH 7-7.5 ad 100.0 wt .-% water

Example 16

10% by weight Cs-alkyl polyxyloside, DP = 1.4 8% by weight Cχ2 fatty acid methyl ester x 11 EO 2% by weight decanol x 3 E0 1.5% by weight coconut fatty acid 5 Ge ^{■ • *} - .. -% ethanol

NaOH to adjust to pH 7-7.5 ad 100.0 wt .-% water

Example 17

10% by weight of Cs-Cio-alkyl polyglucoside, DP = 1.6 8 6% by weight of C8-Ci6-fatty acid methyl ester x 18 PO

2% by weight of Ci3-Ci8-sec-alkanesulfonate, Na salt

Hostapur SAS 60 from Hoechst

3% by weight cumene sulfonate 1.5% by weight coconut fatty acid 5% by weight ethanol

NaOH to adjust to pH 7-7.5 ad 100.0 wt .-% water

Example 18

1.5% by weight of APG 600 (Ci2-Ci4-alkyl polyglucoside from Henkel,

DP = 1.4) 1.5% by weight of Ci2 fatty acid methyl ester x 15 E0

1% by weight methacrylic acid (stearyl alcohol 1-20 E0 ester) ester / acrylic acid copolymer (Acrysol ICS-1 from Rohm + Haas) 50% by weight quartz powder

Triethanolamine to adjust to pH 8 ad 100.0 wt .-% water Example 19

4.0% by weight Cio-alkyl polyglucoside, DP = 1.6

5.0% by weight of Ci2 fatty acid methyl ester x 17 EO

1.0% by weight octyl sulfate

4.0 wt% ethanol

2.0% by weight tri-sodium citrate

Citric acid to adjust the pH to 4.8 ad 100.0 wt .-% water

Example 20

Ml aqueous liquid detergent with low foaming tendency:

8.0% by weight of Ci2-Ci4-alkyl polyglucoside, DP = 1.4 10.0% by weight of Ci2-Ci8 fatty acid methyl ester x 3 E0

5.0% by weight Ci2-alkylbenzenesulfonate

5.0 wt% ethanol

8.0% by weight glycerin

0.5 wt% protease

5.0% by weight tri-sodium citrate

0.1% by weight of dyes and fragrances to 100.0% by weight of water

The agent had excellent foam properties (low foam values).

Example 21

Aqueous liquid detergent M2 with low foaming tendency:

9.0% by weight of Ci2-Ci4-alkyl polyglucoside, DP = 1.4

9, 0 wt .-% C ^ -Ciβ fatty acid methyl ester x 5 E0

6.0 wt% ethanol

5.0 wt% glycerin

0.5% by weight tri-sodium citrate ad 100.0% by weight water Foam determination in the drum washing machine:

Water hardness 16 ° d dosage 0.8 g / 1 temperature 60 ° C. Foam grade 0 means that no foam can be seen at the lower edge of the washing machine's bull's eye.

3 means that the foam height has reached half of the porthole.

5 means that the entire porthole is covered with foam.

As a comparative example, an agent V was tested which, instead of the fatty acid methyl ester, had a Ci3-Ci5 alcohol x 5 EO.

Medium minutes of foam notes for medium 2 5 7 10

M2 1 1 1 1

V 2.3 4 5 5.5

Claims

claims

1. Containing water-based detergent or cleaning agent

0.1 to 50% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight, of at least one alkyl polyglycoside of the formula I, R - * - 0- [Z] _x (I), where R is a branched or straight-chain, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with 8 to 18 carbon atoms, Z represents a sugar residue, preferably a glucose or xyose residue and x represents integers from 1 to 10 and

0.05 to 50% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight, of at least one fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylate of the formula II, R ² -C02- (A0) yR ³ (II), where R is a branched or straight-chain, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group with 5 to 21 C atoms, A0 for a C2-C4 alkylene oxide unit, y for a number from 1 to 30 and R ³ for a straight-chain or branched alkyl group with 1 to 6 C atoms.

2. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that in the alkyl polyglycoside of the formula I Rl represents an alkyl group having 8 to 12 carbon atoms and in the fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylate of the formula II A0 is an ethylene oxide unit and R3 is a methyl group.

3. Composition according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that an anionic surfactant selected from the group of C6-Ciss-alkylbenzenesulfonates, Cs-Cjs-alkanesulfonates, Cö-Cis-alkyl sulfates, Cö-Cis-alkyl polyglycol ether sulfates , α-olefin sulfonates, Cö-Cis-alkyl glycol ether sulfonates, glycerol ether sulfonates, glycerol ether sulfates, hydroxymixed ether sulfates, monoglyceride sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sulfotriglycerides, soaps, amide soaps, Cö-Cig-fatty acid amide ethoxylates -Cs-Cig-Acyl-Sarcosinate, -CÖ- Ciδ-Acyl-Tauride, Cö-Ciβ-Alkyloligoglucosidsulfate, Cö-Ciß-Alkyl-Phosphate and their mixtures in a total amount of up to 40 wt .-%, based on the entire remedy is included.

4. Composition according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that a further nonionic surfactant selected from the group of Cö-Cig-alkyl polyglycol ethers, sugar esters, Cß-Ciβ-fatty acid polyglycol ethers, sorbitan fatty acid esters, Cδ-Ciss fatty acid partial glycerides and mixtures thereof ¬ gen is contained in a total amount of up to 30 wt .-%, based on the total agent.

5. Composition according to claim 3, characterized in that the anionic surfactant is selected from the group of Cß-Ciß-alkyl sulfates, Cö-Ciß-alkyl polyglycol ether sulfates, soaps and C -C-alkanesulfonates and mixtures thereof.

6. Composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group of Cδ-Cis-alkyl polyglycol ethers.

7. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 6 as an all-purpose cleaner for cleaning hard surfaces, preferably using a fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylate in which y is a number from 5 to 25 and in particular from 9 to 18.

8. Use of an agent according to any one of claims 1 to 6 as a liquid detergent, preferably using a fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylate in which R2 is a branched or straight-chain, saturated alkyl group having 12 to 18 carbon atoms and y is a number from 3 to 15 stands.