GB2157705A - Cleaning composition for waste-disposer - Google Patents

Abstract

A composition for cleaning an in-sink waste-disposer, containing a surfactant, an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate and an acid. Each constituent is present in the composition in the range of 5 to 75% by weight. It is preferred that the composition contain 37.5% adipic acid, 37.5% sodium bicarbonate and 25% of a mixture of sodium lauryl sulfate and alpha-olefin sulfonate. Other ingredients may be added to provide desired properties, for example, halogen-containing compounds to provide germicidal properties, and abrasives.

Description

SPECIFICATION Disposer cleaner The present invention relates to cleaning compositions, and more particularly to a composition for cleaning garbage disposer units.

In-sink garbage disposer units are employed in homes, restaurants and the like to dispose of unwanted food scraps. As a result, garbage disposer units create sanitary problems such as grease build-up, potential for irritable smells and possible harmful bacterial build-up.

By design, any materials fed into a disposer unit are pushed by centrigual force into a series of cutting blades and forced through a screen into a drain line. Thus, in order to make an effective cleaning/degreasing produce for disposer units, it is necessary to provide a productkhich maintains contact time with the walls of the chamber for grease cutting purposes, and one which is not easily sucked or drawn into the drain during operation of the disposer unit.

Numerous types of cleaning compositions are known in the art. Exemplary of such cleaning compositions are those found in the following patents: Bacon 4,391,724 Dimond et al 4,388,204 Gotta el al 4,384,900 Rapisarda etal 4,379,069 Falivene 4,289,640 Cornelisseus 4,234,442 Cornelisseus 4,210,550 Ogoshi et al 4,129,526 Triket al 4,051,055 Chang 4,048,121 Heckert et al 4,005,030 Savino 3,928,065 The patents to Cornelisseus, Ogoshi et al, Rapisarda et al and Bacon all relate to laundry and/or dishwashing detergent compositions. The patents to Savino, Triket al, Falivene, Heckert et al, Chang and Gotta et al relate to compositions intended for cleaning hard surfaces such as metal and porcelain while the Domond et al patent relates to a clogged drain opening composition.None of these patents, however, are directed specifically to a composition for cleaning and sanitising garbage disposer units.

The present invention provides a method of cleaning an in-sink garbage-disposer unit by introducing a cleaning composition in which the cleaning composition comprises 5-75% by weight of an acid, 5-75% by weight of an alkali carbonate and 5-75% by weight of one or a mixture of surfactants.

When adipic acid and sodium bicarbonate come into contact with hot water in the disposer unit carbon dioxide gas is released. The carbon dioxide acts with the surfactants and the grinding action of the disposer to build a heavy foam and expand to fill the interior chamber of the unit. The foam created by the acid/base reaction temporarily plugs the drain of the disposer which thus allows additional foam to build up in the disposer chamber and rise to emerge through the baffle into the sink. This acid/base reaction provides a mechanism for maintaining foam in the chamber to provide sufficient contact time with the walls of the chamber to effectively clean and degrease the disposer.

Various other constituents in addition to adipic acid, sodium bicarbonate, and surfactants may be blended into the composition to provide numerous desirable properties. For example, alkaline builders such as sodium metasilicate may be employed to impart increased detergent properties to the composition. Other ingredients such as halogen containing compounds may be employed to provide better germicidal properties. Abrasives may be incorporated for added physical cleaning, and colours and/or fragrances may also be added.

The present invention thus provides a composition for cleaning, degreasing and sanitising a garbage disposer unit.

The acid and alkali carbonate components of the composition according to the invention react in an acid/base reaction with water in the disposer unit to release carbon dioxide gas. This carbon dioxide gas acts with the surfactants and the grinding action of the disposer to build a heavy foam and expand to fill the interior chamber of the unit and emerge through the baffle into the sink.

The acidic constituent is present in the range of 5 to 75% by weight and preferably between 25 and 40% by weight. Suitable acids for use in the composition of the present invention include oxalic, malonic, succinic, glutaric, adipic, pimelic, suberic, azelaic, sebacic, maleic, fumaric, citric, sodium citrate, sodium sulfite, potassium citrate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate, and sodium bisulfate.

The preferred acid is adipic acid which is present in an amount of aboiut 37.5% by weight based on the total cleaning composition. Thus, the acidic consitutent of the present composition preferably contains one or more acids having the formula: HOOC-(CH2),-COOH,where n is 2, 3, or 4.

Adipic acid has the general formula: C6H10O4 and is prepared by oxidising cyclohexanol with concentrated nitric acid. Adipic acid is preferred since it is only weakly soluble in water at room temperatures, but its solubility greatly increases as the water temperature increases beyond 90"F. For example, 100 milliliters of a saturated aqeuous solution contains 1.44 g. of adipic acid. However, 100 milliliters of boiling water dissolves 160 g. of adipic acid. The solubility of adipic acid at higher water temperatures greatly enhances its effectiveness in the acid/base reaction necessary for maintaining the foam wall to provide a cleansing action in accordance with the present invention.

The alkali carbonate constituent is present in the range of from about 5 to about 75% by weight, and preferably between 25 and 40% by weight in the present composition. Suitable alkali carbonates include sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, calcined sodium carbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and potassium carbonate. One or more of the above alkali carbonates may be used in the present composition with sodium bicarbonate preferred in an amount of about 37.5% by weight. Sodium bicarbonate is relatively insensitive to moisture and therefore provides adequate shelf life.

Alkaline builders may also be used as a component of the alkali carbonate constituent for the composition of the present invention. Suitable alkaline builders include sodium silicate, sodium disilicate, sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, disodium hydrogen orthophosphate, trisodium orthophosphate, sodium metaborate, sodium tetraborate sodium metasilicate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, tripotassium orthophosphate, sodium metalsilicate and potassium metasilicate. The above alkaline builders impart effective detergent properties to the composition of the present invention. Sodium metasilicate and trisodium phosphate are the preferred alkaline builders. These builders add penetrating power to the cleaner and aid in the emulsification of fats, oils, and greases often found in the waste disposer chamber.These builders suspend the fats, oils and greases as fine particles which are then easily washed away. Sodium metasilicate also aids in corrosion inhibition of the sensitive metais and inner parts of the disposer unit.

Surfactants that may be employed are anionics, amphoterics and nonionics either alone or in various combinations. The surfactant constitutent is present in the range of from about 5 to about 75% by weight in the composition of the present invention, and is preferably present in the range of 20 to 50% by weight.

Suitable alkyl ether sulfates that may be employed are sodium coconut alkyl sulfate, potassium coconut alkyl sulfate, potassium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium yellow fatty alcohol ether sulfates, tallow fatty alcohol (25 ethylene oxide), tallow fatty ether sulfate, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium stearyl sulfate, sodium palmityl sulfate, sodium decyl sulfate, sodium myristyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, potassium dodecyl benzene sulfonates, potassium stearyl sulfate, potassium palmityl sulfate, potassium decyl sulfate, potassium myristyl sulfate, and potassium dodecyl sulfate. Other examples of surfactants that may be used are taurates, sarcosinates, isethionates, alkyl beta-alanines, cycloimides, sulfated ethoxylated fatty alcohols, alpha-olefin sulfonates (AOS), linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS).The preferred surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate which is available under the trade designation Stepanol WA-1 00 and Stepanol ME-Dry available from the Stepan Chemical Company, Mayprofix 563 available from the Onyx Chemical Company, Texapon ZHC powder available from Henkel Corp. and Concosulfate WR available from the Continental Chemical Company.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is available in a dry form and has very good detergency, wetting, fast foaming and emulsifying properties. It is particularly effective as a detergent on grease, and has a maximum effect when used in conjunction with inorganic builders such as tetra-sodium pyrophosphate, trisodium phosphate or sodium metasilicate. Because sodium lauryl sulfate is a dry powder, it has a very large surface area and it easily reacted in the acid-base reaction with hot water to form a dense foam. The sodium lauryl sulfate coates the CO2 bubbles created by the acid base reaction and is thus easily carried up the walls of the disposer unit by the action of the acid/base reaction and stays suspended because of its high foam activity.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is relatively non-toxic and readily biodegradable. Another preferred surfactant is alpha-olefinsulfonate (AOS) such as that known under the trade designation Bioterge AS-SOB available from the Stepan Chemical Company. Alphaolefinsulfonate is a biodegradable surfactant and is designed to give maximum effectiveness and compatibility with other surfactants in light or heavy duty detergent compositions. Alpha-olefinsulfonate exhibits excellent wetting, foaming, and detersive properties in both alkaline and acid media. It also performs well in the presence of metallic salts commonly found in hard water. The aipha-olefinsulfonate is added to the composition of the present invention to provide increased detergency as a foam booster. The above surfactants may be used alone or in combination, preferably in an amount of about 25% by weight in the composition.

Phosphate surfactants could also be used in the composition of the present invention, but are not desirable because of their adverse ecological consequences.

The acid/base reaction provides the mechanism for maintaining a foam wall in the chamber of the disposer unit. When adipic acid and sodium bicarbonate, the preferred acid and alkali ingredients, come into contact with water in the disposer unit the following chemical reaction takes place: HOOC (CH2)4 COOH + NaHCO3 + H2O Adipic acid + Sodium + Water Bicarbonate CO2 + H2O + NaOOC (CH2) COO Na Carbon + Water + Sodium salt of Adipic Acid Dioxide Gas It is the release of the carbon dioxide gas that acts with the surfactant present in the composition and the grinding action of the disposer unit to build a heavy foam and expand to fill the chamber and emerge through the baffle into the sink.

Other ingredients may be added to the composition of the present invention to provide other desirable features. For example, halogen containing compounds, preferably chlorine-containing compounds, may be employed in the surfactant-alkali-acid blend to provide better germicidal properties than the blend alone.

Suitable halogenated compounds may be found in the following general chemical groups: alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hypochlorites, hypochlorite addition products, chloramines, chlorimines, chloramides, chlorimides, heterocyclic N-Bromo and N-Chloro cyanurates, halogenated hydantoins, halogenated melamines, and inorganic hypohalite releasing agents.Specific examples of some halogenated bactericides that could be used are: monobasic calcium hypochlorite, dibasic magnesium hypochlorite, chlorinated trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate, potassium dichloroisocyanurate, trichlorocyanuric acid, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate, 1, 3-dichloro 5, 5-dimethyl hydantoin, N-chlorosulfamide, chloramine T, dichloramine T, chloramine B, dichloramine B, tribromoisocyanuric acid, dibromocyanuric acid, N-monobromo-N-mono-chlorocyanuric acid, N-monobromo-N, N-dichlorocyanuric acid, N-brominate succinamide, malonimide, phthalimide and naphthalimide, N-chlorinated succinimide, malonimide, phthalimide, and naphlhalimide, 1,3-dibromo 5, 5-dimethyl hydantoin, 1,3-dibromo and 1, 3-dichloro-5-isobutyl hydantoin, 1,3-dibromo and 1, 3-dichloro-5-methyl-5-ethylhydantoin, tribromomelamine, trichloromelamine, lithium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorites, and calcium hypobromites. The halogen containing compounds reduce odor causing bacteria and are preferably present in the composition within a range of from about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight and preferably about 0.4% by weight. Chloramine T available under the trade designation Chlorazene from Wisconsin Pharmacal Company, and sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate available under the trade designation COB Clearon from FMC Corporation are the preferred halogen containing germicides.

Other ingredients that may be added to the surfactant-alkali-acid blend includes colors and/or fragrances.

Colors that might be used are those food dyes and colorings usually employed in the food and drug industry.

Examples of these are F D & C Blue #1, F D & CYellow *5 and F D & C *40. The preferred color is F D & C Blue #1 which is a water soluble blue dye that provides an attractive clear blue color to the foam produced by the present invention. The coloring is generally present in an amount of about 0.05% by weight.

Fragrances that may be used are any suitable acid/base stabilised fragrance associated with the desirable end results. Examples of such fragrances could be lemon, citrus or pine. Wet lemon fragrance is preferred and is present in the amount of about 1.0% by weight since it is a stable, easily blended fresh scent that leaves the unit and sink with a pleasant smell after treatment with the composition of the present invention.

Abrasive particles in the range of 1-250 micrometers may also be incorporated into the formula for added physical-cleaning. Suitable abrasives are: quartz, pumice, pumicite, silica sand, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, zirconium silicate, and diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth is preferred. The range of abrasive materials possible are used in percentages from 1.0 to 15.0%. Example VII uses 11.15% of Diatomaceous Earth.

According to the present invention a product comprises a container containing a composition comprising 5-75% by weight of an acid, 5-75% by weight of an alkali carbonate and 5-75% by weight of one or a mixture of surfactants.

The composition of the present invention is preferably a powder packaged in a moisture resistant foil laminate pouch or packet which would consist of a paper laminated to plastic or synthetic materials.

Preferably, the dry powder composition would be packaged into a water soluble, biodegradable disposable film which in turn would be wrapped with a foil pouch to prevent moisture damage. The foil pouch would be opened by a consumer and the entire water soluble pouch containing the composition of the present invention would then be dropped into the unit where it would be disintegrated within the garbage disposer.

In use, a consumer would first run hot water from a faucet at approximately 90-1 40oF, preferably about 11 0"F, into a sink and through the food-receiving chamber of a garbage disposer unit for about one minute.

Water exiting from a residential kitchen faucet typically flows at a rate of about 0.5 to about 4.0 gal.min.

depending upon altitude and municipal or well water pressure. The hot water from the faucet would then be reduced to just a trickle, i.e. between about 0.05 to about 0.25 gal./min., and allowed to run into the sink, but not directly into the disposer. The packet containing the composition of the present invention would then be pushed through the rubber baffle in the sink or poured through the drain into the disposer chamber. The disposer would then be turned on and allowed to run until the cleaning cycle is completed, i.e.

approximately 3 to 5 minutes. The end of the cleaning cycle is signaled by a swoosh or swish of water and all evidence of foaming will be absent. The water and disposer are then turned off.

The invention is further described in the following examples.

Example 1 % by grams weight % 25.0 adipic acid 41.60 25.00 sodium bicarbonate 41.60 5.00 Nacconal 90-F (Stepan Co.) 8.32 (Sodium Dodecyl benzene sulfonate) 5.00 Bioterge AS-90 B (Stepan Co.) 8.32 (Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate) 0.05 Pine Fragrance, l.T. Corp. #464800 0.08 0.05 MGK Reodorant (McLaughlin, 0.08 Gormley, King) 60.1 gm net weight 100.00 Example Il % by wt grams 28.8 14.40 adipic acid 28.8 14.40 Sodium bicarbonate 28.8 14.40 Sodium lauryl sulfate (Stepanol ME-Dry) 9.71 4.855 Sodium C 14-16 alpha olefin sulfonate (Bioterge AS-90B) 3.81 1.905 Sodium metasilicate .05 0.025 Dry lemon fragrance .03 0.015 FD & Blue*1 100.00 50.0gm net weight Example 111 %bywt grams 33.30 25.0 Adipic Acid 33.30 25.0 Sodium Bicarbonate 13.3 10.0 Calcium carbonate 13.3 10.0 sodium lauryl sulfate 6.8 5.0 sodium metasilicate 100.0 75.0 gm net weight Example IV % by wt grams 29.65 11.86 Adipic Acid 29.65 11.86 Sodium bicarbonate 29.65 11.86 Stepanol ME Dry 10.00 4.00 Bioterge AS-90-B 1.00 0.40 Fragrance l.T.Corp. #469970 0.05 0.02 F D & C Blue # 1 100.00 40.0 gm net weight Example V % by wt grams 32.00 24.0 Sodium Bicarbonate 32.00 24.0 adipic acid 6.67 5.00 sodium lauryl sulfate 13.33 10.00 Bioterge AS-9OB 13.27 9.95 Abrasive, Diatomaceous earth 1.33 1.00 CDB Clearon (sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate) 0.07 0.05 F D & C Blue # 1 1.33 1.000 Fragrance 100.00 75.00 gm netwt Example Vl % by wt grams 36.50 14.6 sodium bicarbonate 36.50 14.6 adipic acid 15.00 6.0 sodium lauryl sulfate 10.00 4.0 BiotergeAS-90B 0.95 0.38 Fragrance 1.00 0.40 CDBClearon .05 0.02 F D & C Blue #1 100.00 40.00 gum nett Example VII % by wt grams 26.36 11.86 t adipic acid 26.35 11.86 sodium bicarbonate 26.35 11.86 stepanol ME Dry 8.88 4.00 Bioterge AS-90-B .88 0.40 Fragrance l.T. Corp H 469970 0.04 0.02 F D & C Blue # 1 11.15 5.02 Diatomaceous earth 100.00 45.00 gm netwt.

The following test was conducted to determine the efficiency of the surfactant-acid-a Ika li blend in cleaning and degreasing a disposer unit. Animal lard was spread on a set area inside the garbage disposer. The lard was colored with food coloring to better observe cleaning action. The area spread with lard was approximately 3 in. by 0.75 in. and was approximately 0.1 to 2.0 millimeters thick. All formulas of Examples I - VI worked well to remove the lard with Examples IV and VI working best.

Claims (1)

1. A method of cleaning an in-sink garbage disposer unit by introducing a cleaning composition in which the cleaning composition comprises 5-75% by weight of an acid, 5-75% by weight of an alkali carbonate and 5-75% by weight of one or a mixture of surfactants.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the cleaning composition is introduced into the unit together with water.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which the water is at a temperature in the range 32 to 600C (90 to 140"CF).

4. A method according to any preceding claim in which the unit is actuated during the cleaning process.

5. A method according to any preceding claim in which the composition is introduced into the unit in the form of a powder or granules.

6. A method according to any preceding claim in which the composition is introduced into the unit in a rupturable sachet.

7. A method according to any preceding claim in which the alkali carbonate is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, calcined sodium carbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and potassium carbonate.

8. A method according to any preceding claim in which the alkali carbonate comprises 25-40% by weight sodium bicarbonate.

9. A method according to any preceding claim in which the acid is selected from the group consisting of acids having the formula: HOOC - (CH2)n - COOH where n is 2,3 or 4.

10. A method according to any preceding claim in which the acid comprises 25-40% by weight adipic acid.

11. A method according to any preceding claim in which the surfactant comprises 20-35% by weight sodium lauryl sulfate.

12. A method according to any preceding claim in which the surfactant comprises 20-50% by weight of a mixture of sodium lauryl sulfate and alpha-olefin sulfonate.

13. A method according to any preceding claim in which the composition further comprises 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of a chlorine containing compound as a bactericidal agent.

14. A method according to claim 13 in which the bactericidal agent is chloramine or sodium dichioroisocyanurate dihydrate.

15. A method according to any preceding claim comprising up to 37.5% sodium bicarbonate, up to 37.5% adipic acid and up to 25% of a mixture of sodium lauryl sulfate and alpha-olefinsulphonate.

16. A method according to any preceding claim in which the composition also comprises alkaline builders, abrasives, colours and/or fragrances.

17. A method according to claim 1 of cleaning a food-receiving chamber of a garbage disposer unit, comprising the steps of passing water at a rate of 2.3 to 18 1/min (0.5 to 4.0 gal/min) and at a temperature of between 32 and 60"C (90" to 140"F) through said chamber for about one minute; reducing the flow of water through said chamberto between 0.23 to 1.13 1/min (0.05 to 0.25 gal/min); introducing a container containing the cleaning composition into the chamber; actuating the disposer unit for about 3 to 5 minutes to shred the container and release the composition within the chamber so that the composition reacts with the water to effervesce and coat the surfaces of the chamber; and deactuating the disposer unit after foaming of the composition is completed.

18. Aproductcomprising a container containing a composition comprising 5-75% byweight of an acid, 5-75% by weight of an alkali carbonate and 5-75% by weight of one or a mixture of surfactants.

19. A product according to claim 18 in which the container comprises a rupturable pouch inside a moisture resistant package.

20. A product according to claim 19 in which the moisture resistant package is formed from a foil laminate.

21. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 20 in which the container comprises a pouch formed from water-soluble, preferably biodegradable, film.

22. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 21 in which the composition is in the form of a powder or granules.

23. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 22 in which the alkali carbonate is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, calcined sodium carbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and potassium carbonate.

24. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 23 in which the alkali carbonate comprises 25-40% by weight sodium bicarbonate.

25. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 24 in which the acid is selected from the group consisting of acids having the formula: HOOC - (CH2)n - COOH where n is 2,3 or 4.

26. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 25 in which the acid comprises 25-40% by weight adipic acid.

27. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 26 in which the surfactant comprises 20-35% by weight sodium lauryl sulfate.

28. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 27 in which the surfactant comprises 20-50% by weight of a mixture of sodium lauryl sulfate and alpha-olefin sulfonate.

29. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 28 in which 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of a chlorine containing compound as a bactericidal agent.

30. A product according to claim 29 in which the bactericidal agent is chloramine or sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate.

31. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 30 in which the composition comprises up to 37.5% sodium bicarbonate, up to 37.5% adipic acid and up to 25% of a mixture of sodium lauryl sulfate and alpha-olefinsulfonate.

32. A product according to any one of claims 18 to 31 in which the composition also comprises alkaline builders, abrasives, colours and/or fragrances.

32. A composition for cleaning a garbage disposer unit, comprising: 5-75% by weight of an alkali carbonate; 5-75% by weight of an acid; and 5-75% of one or more surfactants.

34. A composition according to claim 33 as described in any one of the examples in this specification.