EP3169760A1

EP3169760A1 - Composition for producing a cleaning solution for carpets and upholstery

Info

Publication number: EP3169760A1
Application number: EP14744493.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ralf DAIBER; Carsten Ehlert; Astrid WEGENER
Original assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2014-07-16
Filing date: 2014-07-16
Publication date: 2017-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-16
Also published as: RU2017101129A; RU2673232C2; EP3169760B1; PL3169760T3; ES2732125T3; RU2017101129A3; WO2016008517A1; UA119062C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition in the form of a solid mixture for producing a cleaning solution for carpets and upholstery, comprising at least one complexing agent, at least one surfactant and at least one component for encapsulating impurities. The composition comprises, as a complexing agent, citric acid and/or citrate, oxalic acid and/or oxalate, a silicate, in particular a metasilicate.

Description

Composition for the preparation of a cleaning solution for

Carpets and upholstery

The present invention relates to a composition in the form of a solid mixture for the preparation of a cleaning solution for carpet and upholstery, comprising at least one complexing agent, at least one surfactant and at least one component for encapsulating impurities.

The invention further relates to the use of such a composition for the production of a cleaning solution for carpets and upholstery, in particular for use with a spray extraction device.

Effective cleaning of carpets (i.e., particularly carpets) and upholstery (e.g., seating or in automobiles) may be particularly advantageously done with a spray extraction device. In this case, a special cleaning solution is applied in a definable dosage to the carpet or pad to be cleaned and after a certain exposure time, which can be from a few seconds to a few hours, aspirated again with the same device, including the dissolved or dispersed impurities , For very short exposure times, the application and suction can take place within the same operation.

In many cases, the user of a spray extraction device acquires a finished cleaning solution that can be filled directly into the storage tank of the device. This makes the application very easy because the product does not have to be dissolved or diluted by the user. The disadvantage, however, is that relatively high weights and volumes must be transported and stored in this case by the water content of the cleaning solution, this problem is particularly relevant for commercial users to implement the correspondingly high amounts of cleaning solution. As an alternative to finished cleaning solutions, therefore, solid mixtures are offered, which must be dissolved by the user to produce a cleaning solution in water. These solid mixtures may be present either in the form of a powder or in the form of compressed molded articles (tabs), the latter considerably facilitating the metering of the solid mixture. Compositions of this type may contain a variety of different components in order to develop the best possible cleaning action, but they regularly comprise at least the constituents mentioned at the outset (complexing agents, surfactants and components for encapsulating impurities).

The at least one complexing agent in the composition is particularly necessary for marking the water hardness, i. E. to complex the calcium and magnesium ions in the tap water with which the composition is dissolved by the user. The complexing agent also makes a significant contribution to the cleaning effect. Compositions according to the prior art contain as complexing agents in particular phosphates, which are extremely disadvantageous from an ecological point of view, but hitherto could not yet be replaced by alternative complexing agents with comparable cleaning performance.

The invention is therefore based on the object to propose a composition in the form of a solid mixture for the preparation of a cleaning solution for carpets and upholstery, which has a good cleaning performance and comprises complexing agents that are not phosphates.

This object is achieved in the composition of the aforementioned type according to the invention that the composition comprises as complexing agent citric acid and / or citrate, oxalic acid and / or oxalate and a silicate, in particular a metasilicate.

It has been shown that it is precisely through the combination of these three complexing agents that very good cleaning results can be achieved if one The cleaning solution prepared by the composition is used by means of a spray traction device for cleaning carpets or upholstery.

The composition according to the invention preferably contains no phosphates, so that the use is ecologically safer than with the corresponding compositions according to the prior art.

The cleaning performance of the composition can be further optimized by choosing the proportions of the various complexing agents. It is particularly favorable if the weight ratio of citric acid and / or citrate to oxalic acid and / or oxalate is between 5: 1 and 20: 1. Here, by "citric acid and / or citrate" is meant the sum of the proportions of free citric acid and / or one or more salts of citric acid contained in the solid mixture. Upon dissolution of the composition in water, it is known that equilibrium is established between the differently proportioned forms of the citrate molecule, depending on the pH of the cleaning solution. The same applies to the formulation "oxalic acid and / or oxalate".

Furthermore, it is preferred if the weight ratio of oxalic acid and / or oxalate to the silicate contained in the composition is between 1: 1 and 3: 1. As already mentioned, the silicate is preferably a metasilicate, z. For example, sodium metasilicate.

In addition to the three components mentioned, the composition according to the invention may also contain further complexing agents. In a preferred embodiment, the composition further comprises gluconic acid and / or gluconate as another complexing agent.

The proportion of all complexing agents in the solid mixture is favorably in the range of 15 to 40 wt.%, In particular in the range of 20 to 30 wt.%. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises free citric acid, free oxalic acid and sodium metasilicate, and optionally sodium gluconate.

More preferably, the composition comprises the following constituents:

10 to 30% by weight of citric acid,

optionally up to 10% by weight of trisodium citrate,

4 to 6% by weight sodium gluconate,

1 to 3% by weight of oxalic acid,

0.5 to 1.5% by weight of sodium metasilicate.

Another component of the composition according to the invention is the at least one component for encapsulating impurities. Such components bind the impurities and facilitate their subsequent removal, i. in particular their suction with the aid of the spray extraction device. Preferably, the composition comprises, as a component for encapsulating impurities, a polyacrylic acid or its salt, in particular its sodium salt.

Polyacrilic acids or salts thereof which have a molecular weight in the range from 3,000 to 5,000 g / mol have proved to be particularly advantageous. The proportion of polyacrylic acid or its salt is preferably in the range of 2.5 to 3.5 wt.%.

As a surfactant, the composition desirably comprises one or more nonionic surfactants. The use of one or more polyalkylene glycol ethers as nonionic surfactants has proven particularly advantageous, these are also referred to as fatty alcohol ethoxylates.

In addition, the composition can of course also other surfactants, eg. Anionic or amphoteric surfactants. It is favorable if the composition further comprises at least one odor-absorbing component. This can be achieved in addition to the actual cleaning effect, another beneficial effect in the treatment of carpets or upholstery. Particularly advantageous is the use of zinc ricinoleate as an odor-absorbing component.

As a further advantageous component, the composition may comprise one or more disintegrating agents. These are particularly water-soluble substances that facilitate and accelerate the dissolution of the solid mixture. The composition preferably comprises sodium carbonate and / or sodium bicarbonate as disintegrant.

Another advantageous component in the composition according to the invention are cellulose fibers. These improve the flowability of the solid mixture and counteract lumping, so that the composition can be well dosed.

In the context of the present invention, the solid mixture may be present either in the form of a powder or in the form of a compressed molding, ie. a so-called tab. In the case of tabs, the dosage of the composition is simplified for the user because he does not need any tools to measure a certain amount of powder.

The qualitative and quantitative composition of the solid mixture is substantially the same for both a powder and tabs, although tabs usually provide a lower concentration of the cleaning solution to be prepared. The slightly lower cleaning performance is accepted with regard to the more comfortable handling.

However, differences in the composition exist in that the composition in the form of tabs typically does not comprise any odor-absorbing component, since this would hardly be effective in the lower dosage. In addition, the composition in the form of tabs is preferred a higher proportion of disintegrants, in particular 40 to 50 wt.%, So that the compressed molded body disintegrates as soon as possible upon contact with water and dissolves.

It is advantageous if the pressed molding is coated with a water-soluble film, in particular based on polyvinyl alcohol. Thereby, an undesirable skin contact with the components of the composition can be avoided.

The present invention furthermore relates to the use of the composition described above for the production of a cleaning solution for carpets and upholstery, in particular for use with a spray extraction apparatus.

In the preparation of the cleaning solution, preferably 3 to 15 g of the composition is dissolved in one liter of water. As mentioned above, higher concentrations (eg 10 g / l) are generally selected if the solid mixture is in the form of a powder than if it is in the form of a compressed molded article (eg then only 4 g / l). ,

The composition of the present invention can be optimized to dissolve the solid mixture relatively quickly (for example, in cold water for one minute and warm water for one minute, both in the case of a powder and in the case of tabs). This can be achieved in particular by a corresponding proportion of disintegrant.

Depending on the degree of soiling, cleaning with the spray extraction device can be carried out by means of two different methods:

In the first method, which is intended for the treatment of heavy soiling, the entire carpet or upholstery is first sprayed with the cleaning solution so that it can be applied for a certain period of time. (for example, about 5 minutes or the time it takes to spray a room). It is then spray-extracted once or twice (ie cleaning solution is sprayed on and removed by suction in one operation). After drying, residual monocrystallized and / or encapsulated contaminants can be removed by suction.

In the second method, which is usually only suitable for lighter soiling, the carpet or padding is merely spray-extracted and then allowed to dry. Single-crystallized and / or encapsulated contaminants may be subsequently removed by suction or at the next maintenance cleaning.

A final rinsing of the carpet or pad with water is basically not required when using the composition according to the invention. This shortens the required drying time, which is usually around 12 hours.

These and other advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following embodiments.

Examples:

1. Feststoffischischunqen for use in the form of a powder

Six different compositions according to the invention were prepared as solid mixtures in powder form (Examples 1 to 6), the qualitative and quantitative composition of which is given in Table 1 below. Table 1

Continuation of Table 1

From the six solid mixtures, cleaning solutions were prepared by dissolving 10 g each of the powder in one liter of water.

The cleaning effect of the solutions was determined according to the following test procedure:

A blank of a bright suede carpet made of synthetic fibers is applied in a dirt drum with a defined test dirt by the dirt drum is filled with steel balls, polymer granules and 0.5 g of test debris according to ISO 11378-1 B.2 and then 10 min with use and then another 20 min is operated without use. The soiled carpet piece is then vacuumed three times with a vacuum cleaner to remove only loosely adhering dirt. Before and after soiling, the whiteness (measure of reflectance) is determined with a whiteness gauge (Elrepho). The measured values serve as reference values for the later calculation of the cleaning intensity.

For Examples 1 to 4, a "Test soil A" was used in this case and for Examples 5 and 6 a more intensive "Test soil B" with cement and peat contents.

The cleaning of the soiled carpet pieces is carried out with the "Puzzi 100" spray extractor (Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG). In the case of Examples 1 to 4, the test surface is first run over twice sprayed and the carpet saturated with the respective cleaning solution. After a contact time of 5 minutes, the carpet is washed twice with the cleaning solution and this immediately sucked off again, then twice only sucked. Then the carpet is rinsed twice with water, vacuumed twice and finally dried for 24 hours.

In the case of Examples 5 and 6, the test area is sprayed only once with the cleaning solution. After a contact time of 5 min, the Carpet twice rinsed with water and vacuumed and dried for 24 hours.

After the above-described cleaning of the carpet piece, the whiteness is measured again and the cleaning intensity is calculated according to the following formula:

Cleaning intensity = (whiteness after cleaning - whiteness after

Soiling) / (whiteness when new - whiteness after soiling)

The cleaning intensities which were achieved with the compositions according to the invention according to Examples 1 to 6, are shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2

It should be noted in the results that the cleaning intensities in Examples 5 and 6 are not directly comparable to those in Examples 1 to 4, since a different test soil and a different cleaning method were used here (Test soil B contains A unlike Test soil) Cement and peat parts). The cleaning intensities are therefore generally lower, with a value of about 35% as in example 6 is already acceptable.

A comparison of Examples 1 and 2 shows, in particular, that the use of sodium metasilicate as complexing agent leads to an improvement in the cleaning intensity compared to a sodium layer silicate.

A comparison of Examples 3 and 4 shows, in particular, that the addition of polyacrylic acid as a component for encapsulating impurities further improves the cleaning intensity of the composition. A comparison of Examples 5 and 6 shows in particular that the cleaning intensity can be improved by the additional nonionic surfactant (Berol 260). In addition, the use of the respective complexing agents shows that instead of a combination of citric acid and trisodium citrate only citric acid can be used.

2. Feststoffischischunqen for the production of compressed moldings

There were prepared three different compositions according to the invention in the form of solid mixtures (Examples 7 to 9), which are suitable for the production of compressed molded articles (tabs). The qualitative and quantitative composition of these solid mixtures is given in Table 3 below.

Table 3

Continuation of Table 3

From the three compositions according to Examples 7 to 9, cleaning solutions were prepared by dissolving 4 g each of the solid mixture in one liter of water (corresponding to the dissolution of a compressed 16 g body in 4 liters of water).

The determination of the cleaning intensity was carried out by the same test method as in Examples 1 to 6, wherein for each of Examples 7 to 9, the test soil B containing cement and peat portions was used. The results are shown in Table 4 below.

Table 4

A comparison of these results shows that the cleaning performance achieved can be optimized by the proportions of the complexing agents and also acting as disintegrating components sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.

Claims

Patent claims

Composition in the form of a solid mixture for producing a cleaning solution for carpets and upholstery, comprising at least one complexing agent, at least one surfactant and at least one component for encapsulating impurities,

characterized in that the composition comprises as complexing agent citric acid and / or citrate, oxalic acid and / or oxalate and a silicate, in particular a metasilicate.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises no phosphates.

3. Composition according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of citric acid and / or citrate to oxalic acid and / or oxalate is between 5: 1 and 20: 1.

A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of oxalic acid and / or oxalate to the silicate is between 1: 1 and 3: 1.

5. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising Giuconsäure and / or gluconate as a further complexing agent.

6. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the proportion of all complexing agents in the range of 15 to 40 wt.%, In particular in the range of 20 to 30 wt.%.

A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition comprises free citric acid, free oxalic acid and sodium metasilicate and optionally sodium gluconate.

8. The composition of claim 7, comprising

10 to 30% by weight of citric acid,

optionally up to 10% by weight of trisodium citrate,

4 to 6% by weight sodium gluconate,

1 to 3% by weight of oxalic acid,

0.5 to 1.5% by weight of sodium metasilicate.

9. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the composition comprises, as a component for encapsulating impurities, a polyacryic acid or its salt, in particular its sodium salt.

The composition of claim 9, wherein the polyacryic acid has a molecular weight in the range of 3,000 to 5,000 g / mol.

11. A composition according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the proportion of polyacryic acid or its salt in the range of 2.5 to 3.5 wt.% Is.

12. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the composition comprises as surfactant one or more non-ionic surfactants.

A composition according to claim 12 comprising one or more polyalkylene glycol ethers as nonionic surfactants.

14. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one odor-absorbing component.

15. A composition according to claim 14 comprising zinc ricinoleate as an odor absorbing component.

16. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more disintegrating agents.

17. Composition according to claim 16, comprising sodium carbonate and / or sodium bicarbonate as disintegrant.

18. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising cellulosic fibers to improve flowability.

19. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solid mixture is in the form of a powder.

20. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the solid mixture is in the form of a compressed molding.

21. The composition of claim 20, wherein the composition comprises 40 to 50% by weight disintegrant.

22. The composition of claim 20 or 21, wherein the pressed molded body is coated with a water-soluble film, in particular based on polyvinyl alcohol.

23. Use of a composition according to one of the preceding claims for the preparation of a cleaning solution for carpets and upholstery, in particular for use with a spray extraction device.

Use according to claim 23, wherein 3 to 15 g of the composition are dissolved in 1 liter of water.