JPH02196897A - Method and detergent for cleaning,sterlizing, and clarifying tableware in dishwasher for commercialuse,preparation of detergent, and clarifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain high deterging and disinfecting effects by using a detergent comprising an alkali metal silicate, an active chlorine-contg. substance or the like and an alkali metal phosphate, and a clearing agent of a surfactant type under specified conditions.

CONSTITUTION: Dishes are deterged, disinfected and cleared by using (A) 3 to 6 g/L of a detergent comprising (i) 60 to 90 wt.% alkali metal silicate, (ii) 1 to 40 wt.% active chlorine-contg. substance and/or active oxygen-contg. substance and (iii) 0 to 5 wt.% alkali metal phosphate in the presence of (B) 0.05 to 0.02 g/L of a clearing agent of a surfactant type mainly comprising an ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide adduct of 10 to 18C polyalkylene glycol or fatty acid alcohol at 30 to 60°C.

COPYRIGHT: (C)1990,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Industrial Field of Application The present invention provides a method for cleaning tableware in commercial dishwashers using cleaning agents based on alkali metal silicates, active chlorine-containing substances and/or active oxygen-containing substances. optionally an alkali metal polyphosphate and a disinfectant, and 10 to 1
Cleaning, disinfection and with the addition of clarifiers in the form of surfactants based on adducts of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide to high molecular weight polyalkylene glycols or fatty alcohols with 8 C atoms. It relates to a method of clarification and agents suitable for the purpose.

Conventional Technology Mechanical cleaning of tableware in commercial dishwashers is of constant importance in our mass society in the increasingly large kitchens of companies, government offices, schools, hospitals, etc. give rise to sex. In summary, the cleaning of such tableware consists in the interaction of mechanical, chemical and thermal factors;
and is carried out essentially in two steps: a cleaning/disinfection step and a clarification/drying step. Since such cleaning and clarifying steps must be carried out in a typical time period of several minutes, the agents and conditions for cleaning tableware must meet their task within a short action time.

Attempts have been made to solve this problem by consistently effective cleaning agents, higher concentrations of agents in the cleaning fluid and higher temperatures.

However, moving in this direction is prohibited for a number of reasons. The essence is that over time both the demand for chemicals and the demand for energy have become so high that it seems that this is no longer typical of a period under the banner of environmental protection and energy conservation. There is a particular thing.

On the other hand, the method as well as the medicament used in this case include:
A number of problems arise, such as, inter alia, the use of alkali metal hydroxides in increased concentrations in order to ensure the removal of baked-on food residues, disinfection and disinfection as well as teas carried out with chlorine-active or oxygen-active substances. Residue removal must be completed. In this case, on the other hand, the metal parts of the dishwasher must not be attacked, and this can be prevented using alkali metal silicates, which at the same time also have a cleaning action. Let it unfold.

In this case, the temperature of the cleaning liquid is of particular importance, and this temperature has now been increased even more significantly to 85°C. This is because a double effect can thereby be achieved.

In the past, higher temperatures ensured the death of pathogens and bacteria. On the other hand, the formation of bubbles, which was a concern in the cleaning process at high temperatures, becomes essentially low, so that the use of surfactants can be kept within certain limits.

On the other hand, the use of high temperatures, in addition to the high energy demands, has the disadvantage in this case of increased lime deposits. This is true, for example, in European Patent No. 0032.236
Attempts were made to counteract this by increasing the content of alkali metal phosphates as described in the patent specification. This leads to a strong contamination of the waste water with a group of products that have anyway become unpopular.

Just as well, high temperatures cause starch adhesion to tableware. This is because the inlet temperature of the dishes into the dishwasher, which is approximately 50° C., already promotes coagulation.

Therefore, a kind of circular reasoning is revealed, in which no breakthrough seems possible. This is because improvements in one direction are often accompanied by drawbacks in another respect.

In this case, the problem underlying the present invention is to find a solution and not rely on always higher temperatures, always more aggressive agents and higher concentrations.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is therefore to have a low energy demand, require only a small amount of chemicals to be used, and which nevertheless allows for an impeccable cleaning of utensils, free from pathogens and The object of the present invention is to obtain a method and a drug that reliably kill bacteria and do not cause any bubble problems.

Means for solving the problem Surprisingly, this problem can be solved starting from a completely new method and in a manner that exhibits the features stated in the claims. Although the synergistic effect of the process according to the invention and the drugs suitable for it are not explained in detail, it is clear that even though the working temperature is substantially reduced and the drugs are saved, It is possible to achieve a reliable death of pathogens and bacteria and an equally good or even improved cleaning action, without the problem of air bubbles, all while using a small amount of cleaning agent. It is based on

An essential and functionally surprising feature of the process according to the invention and of the cleaning agents used therefor is the very high content of alkali metal silicates of 60% by weight, preferably even 75% by weight. It is in. Hitherto, metasilicates have actually been added in each case to such cleaning agents. This is because the metasilicates have a certain cleaning effect and, above all, a protective effect on the metal parts from corrosion. However, the content of this metasilicate has hitherto been mainly between 10 and 40% by weight in practice. In rare cases, even sufficient percentages are stated. However, until now good cleaning action has not been achieved by the presence of significant amounts of alkali metal polyphosphates and alkali metals and
A temperature of 85°C was required.

Synergy in cooperation with certain groups of surfactants, known per se, based on adducts of a-alized ethylene to high molecular weight polyalkylene glycols and/or adducts of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide to fatty alcohols. If the effect is to be utilized, the above-mentioned easily available, inexpensive and chemically non-aggressive substances can be used as main ingredients in cleaning agents suitable for such cleaning methods.
It is even more surprising that it can be used at unusually low cleaning temperatures of 25-45°C, especially 35-45°C.

It is certainly an essential prerequisite that the clarification agent be supplied separately to the clarification tank and then transferred into the clarification conduit in order to induce a synergistic effect.

Only in this way can cleaning be carried out with slightly aggressive cleaning agents and low temperatures not previously considered sufficient, yet with an impressive cleaning effect and high disinfecting action. is guaranteed to be achieved.

Detergents suitable for carrying out the process of the composition described are advantageously used in powder form in solid form or preferably still in the form of nodules. Such powder cleaning agents have the advantage that the individual components are not adversely affected and storage problems do not arise. However, this detergent can be used in liquid form, preferably in the form of an approximately 30% solution in water and/or in a lower alcohol having 1 to 4 C atoms. The advantage of liquid cleaning agents is that they spontaneously distribute into the cleaning liquid and perform their action when added to the dishwasher.

The amount of detergent is preferably between 0.3 and 2 in the case of solid detergents.
g/Q, preferably from 0.7 to 0.99/12, and in the case of liquid cleaners advantageously from 0.6 to 6 g/Q.
Q, preferably 1 to 2 g/Q.

The enabled low cleaning temperatures of 25-45° C. associated with the method according to the invention can be lowered even further if too long drying times are made unnecessary with current mechanical technology. For similar reasons, the preferred temperature range is 35
~45°C.

Despite the low feed rates and low cleaning temperatures, the method and the cleaning agents used in this case, in cooperation with the surfactants of the cleaning agents, are capable of treating Streptococcus faecium (st
It is highly effective in killing even the most resistant and heat-stable pathogens such as Leptococcus faecium.

One advantageous composition of the cleaning agent consists of about 85% by weight of alkali metal metasilicates, about 10% by weight of active chlorine-containing substances or active oxygen-containing substances and optionally up to 5% by weight of alkali metal polyphosphates.

High molecular weight polyalkylene glycol or Ha 10-18 (
The nonionic surfactants required for the synergistic action based on adducts of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide to fatty alcohols with CM molecules of These nonionic surfactants do not need to be described in detail in this case. Of course, modifications and variations such as end-capped alkyl polyethylene glycyl ethers also apply.

Advantageously suitable as surfactants for carrying out the process of the invention are reaction products of fatty alcohols having 10 to 12 C atoms with 4 mol of ethylene oxide and 6 mol of propylene oxide. This surfactant is bubble-poor and biologically well degradable.

It also shows particularly good biological degradability, especially the so-called n-
End-capped alkyl polyethylene glycol ethers with butyl or methyl ether groups have proven suitable.

Regarding the clarification temperature, the method according to the invention also provides a quite significant temperature reduction by reducing the temperature from the hitherto customary 80-90°C to 30-60°C, advantageously 50-60°C. In turn, it is possible to save on energy costs.

Also in the case of clarification, a higher temperature range of 50-60° C. is advantageous. This is because mechanically speaking, the prerequisites for low temperatures are still not specified in the current equipment.

However, this new method also discloses a mechanically novel method, which in this case can be clarified at 30° C. and in each case without separate heating in the clarification liquid for approximately A temperature of °C is obtained.

Furthermore, it is essential for the method of the invention and the intended synergistic effect that the surfactant and the cleaning agent be brought together, as is the case with multi-chamber systems in commercial dishwashers. becomes clear. The fining agent does not need to be separately removed.

That is, the clarifier is separately fed into the clarification conduit, and the clarifier is separately fed into the wash tank, so that in this case, within the scope of the present invention, they are commonly used to cooperate synergistically in the wash tank. First, it is used for its original purpose.

As alkali metal silicates, in particular both the sodium salts and also the potassium salts are preferably applicable in anhydrous form, to which also the quantity statements are relevant. If pentahydrates or intermediate hydrates are used, the amounts stated can be correspondingly increased.

The active chlorine-containing compound itself is, for example, sodium-
N-monochloroamidosulfonic acid, sodium-N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonic acid amide and trichloroisocyanuric acid are also well known. Particular preference is given to sodium dichloroisocyanurate or its dihydrate.

Regarding liquid cleaning agents, sodium hypochlorite is a readily available and advantageous variant.

The use of active oxygen-containing substances, such as peroxyborates,
Particularly advantageous. This is because this substance does not contain chlorine and thus cannot overcome the doubts that increasingly appear in connection with chlorine-containing substances. As an advantageous active oxygen-containing substance or a substance that fully exhibits the action of such, it surprisingly completely exhibits the action of sodium dichloroin cyanurate, which has hitherto mainly been used in advantageous amounts of 20 to 30% by weight. It has become clear that Polax can be easily used in an environmentally friendly manner.

Trace amounts of alkali metal polyphosphates, up to about 511% by weight, are useful and do not involve the significant environmental problems that these species have caused in the amounts used to date. In some cases, said substances are not needed at all or can be replaced by substances of less concern, such as phosphonic derivatives.

All stated percentage proportions are made up to 100. This also applies optionally to other substances used together with aldehydes and, according to a preferred embodiment, the stated amounts of further disinfecting substances which are still mixed into the cleaning agent and which, inter alia, significantly improve the disinfecting and disinfecting action. consists exclusively of additionally added detergent components 10
It is for 0. The toxicity of aldehydes, especially formaldehyde, is still of great concern for use in the dishwasher provided. However, when using mixtures consisting of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and glyoxal, the content of the individual substances in the aldehyde is so low that it is below the toxic range. Advantageously, the ratio of formaldehyde to glutaraldehyde to glyoxal is approximately 1:1:10. These formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and glyoxal are used in amounts of up to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the cleaning agent according to the invention. With these additives, sterilization and disinfection are so complete that virtually no pathogenic bacteria are detected during routine tests. This also contributes significantly to the fact that the alkali metal polyphosphates can be extremely strongly reduced or even removed altogether, and that they can be cleaned at low temperatures.

Since this aldehyde is liquid or is used in liquid form (formalin), the detergents are particularly suitable together with the additives as liquid detergents. For powdered detergents, advantageously the liquid-aldehyde mixture is sprayed onto the powder in the required amount.

The following substances exhibit an action similar to that of aldehydes: peroxyacetic acid, peroxides, hydrogen peroxide, succinic dialdehyde, biguanides and quaternary ammonium compounds, such as dialkyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride and alkyl-methyl-ethyl Benzyl-ammonium chloride. These materials have the advantage that they do not present the concerns that aldehydes generally present. The alkyl groups in the above compounds represent aliphatic groups having 1 to 7 C atoms.

If the cleaning agent is used as a liquid cleaning agent, the percentage contents essentially correspond to those of the cleaning agent in powder form. The substance mixture is preferably dissolved in water at a concentration of about 30%. In the case of Polax exclusively as an oxygen-active substance,
Higher concentrations of up to 50% are preferably chosen.

In the case of liquid detergents in which the individual components of the detergent are adversely affected and react with each other or decompose, in particular the following components a, in particular alkali metal metasilicates, can be used selectively in the detergent: and optionally alkali metal polyphosphates and active chlorine-containing substances, on the other hand alkali metal metasilicates and optionally alkali metal polyphosphates and active oxygen-containing substances or b, on the one hand alkali metal metasilicates and optionally On the one hand, alkali metal polyphosphates and active chlorine-containing substances, on the other hand active oxygen-containing substances or present as components and therefore these components only come together in the dishwasher.

When using detergents, it is particularly advantageous to use them in the form of nodules. This is because this nodule shape allows precise dosing of the cleaning device using suitable dosing devices in a very simple manner. This form of use also advantageously involves using the individual components or different compositions of the cleaning agent in the form of a number of nodules and combining the cleaning agent optimally from a standard composition depending on the requirements of the tableware to be cleaned. It also has the advantage of being able to

The production of such nodular cleaners has hitherto been carried out in dosing containers by melting the components and pouring the melt. This method is disadvantageous insofar. This is because in this case energy is consumed again.

Additionally, certain components of detergents can decompose upon melting.

Therefore, one preferred method for producing the detergent in agglomerate form is to knead the mixed powder with about 10 to 20 parts by weight of water, introduce it into a metering container, solidify and harden therein. Particular Examples The invention will now be explained in detail with some advantageous examples of manual formulation: 1. Powdered detergent with active chlorine-containing substances: a. 85% by weight of (anhydrous) sodium metasilicate , 10% by weight of sodium dichloroisocyanurate, 5% by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate.

b, 75% by weight of (anhydrous) sodium metasilicate, 20% by weight of sodium dichloroisocyanurate, 5% by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate.

2. Powdered cleaning agent containing active oxygen-containing substances: a. (Anhydrous) sodium metasilicate 75% by weight, sodium perborate hydrate 20% by weight, sodium tripolyphosphate
5% by weight.

b, (anhydrous) sodium metasilicate 75% by weight, sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Porax)
20% by weight, sodium polyphosphate 5
weight%.

C, (anhydrous) sodium metasilicate 85% by weight, sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Porax)
15% by weight.

d, (anhydrous) sodium metasilicate 70% by weight, sodium tetraborate + hydrate (borax)
25% by weight, sodium tripolyphosphate
5% by weight.

3. Powdered cleaning agent containing an active chlorine-containing substance and an active oxygen-containing substance: (anhydrous) sodium metasilicate 63% by weight, sodium tetraborate hydrate (borax)
24% by weight, sodium dichloroisocyanurate 10% by weight, sodium tripolyphosphate 3% by weight.

All these powdered cleaning agents can also be formed into blocks and have all the advantages already mentioned in the form of blocks.

4. Liquid cleaning agent containing active oxygen-containing substances: a. (Anhydrous) sodium metasilicate 25% by weight, sodium tetraborate hydrate (borax)
3% by weight, sodium tripolyphosphate 1.5% by weight,
Residue Water/Isopropanol mixture.

b, (anhydrous) sodium metasilicate 25% by weight, sodium perborate tetrahydrate 5% by weight, sodium tripolyphosphate 1.5% by weight, balance water.

c, (anhydrous) sodium metasilicate 25% by weight, sodium tetraborate hydrate (Porax)
20% by weight, sodium tripolyphosphate 1.
5% by weight, balance water/isopropanol mixture.

Polax itself is only about 3% dissolved in water. However, in the case of the combination with sodium metasilicate and sodium tripolyphosphate, the solubility can be increased quite significantly, so that rather than 20 g
As in the case of , it still dissolves smoothly.

5. Liquid cleaning agent containing active chlorine-containing substance: Component A: 25.0 parts by weight of sodium metasilicate, 1.5 parts by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate, 73.5 parts by weight of water.

Component B: Sodium hypochlorite bleach solution 100 parts by weight.

Ingredients and B are stored separately and fed to the dishwasher.

6. Clarifying agent: a. 10 parts by weight of an adduct consisting of 4 mol of ethylene oxide and 6 mol of propylene oxide to 1 mol of a linear fatty alcohol mixture with 12-14 CyK molecules, Impropatool 5! i volume part.

b. 30 parts by weight of the additive described in a above, 10 parts by weight of Improper Tool.

C0 20 parts by weight of the adduct described in a above, 10 parts by weight of coumorsulfonate.

d, 10 parts by weight of an adduct consisting of 4 mol of ethylene oxide and 6 mol of propylene oxide to 1 mol of a linear fatty alcohol mixture having 10-12 C atoms, 5 parts by weight of Impropatool.

e. 30 parts by weight of an adduct consisting of 4 mol of ethylene oxide and 6 mol of propylene oxide to 1 mol of a linear fatty alcohol mixture having 10-12 C atoms, 10 parts by weight of Impropatool.

f, 30 parts by weight of an adduct consisting of 4 mol of ethylene oxide and 6 mol of propylene oxide to 1 mol of a linear fatty alcohol mixture having 10-12 0M molecules, 10 parts by weight of coumorsulfonate.

6. Example of the process: In a three-tub washing machine of the type HobarL F T E, 3 g/(2) of liquid detergent according to 4C was fed into the last tank before fining and the temperature was adjusted to This is done by automatically cooling the temperature to 40°C in the washing tank by supplying clear water which is controlled at 50°C. , since the cleaning bath is no longer heated separately in this method.

The clarified water is charged with clarifier 0 as described in Example 6d through a compressed conduit.
．． 19/Q is supplied.

The tableware obtained in the cleaning process is dry, free of droplet water, and has a well-cleaned surface without starch and protein residues (detected by iodine test).

The pathogen Streptococcus faecium (SLreptoc) has been shown as a resistance test specimen for pathogen species.

ccus faecium) is low even in cases of high precontamination of 108/mQ or in the area of tableware.
g6 reduction factor. This means that the
(Gesellschaft ft1r Hygien
This means a better sanitary efficiency than the regulation with a reduction factor of log 5 imposed by E and Mikrobiologie). Cleaning temperature of 60-70℃ and 8
The cleaning methods carried out hitherto, which operate at fining temperatures of 0 to 90° C., often still do not achieve the values previously required by regulations.

It should be emphasized once again that due to the synergistic effect and the essential merging according to the invention of the surfactant of the clarifier and the detergent, the clarification wash liquid can be used in the main and pre-wash steps in a counter-current manner. tank. Thereby, the surfactants of the clarifier fulfill a dual function: on the one hand, clarification and residue-free drying of the dishes, and on the other hand, their migration into the clarification liquid saves considerable energy while being environmentally friendly. Fulfill effective cleaning with protective substances.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Tableware is washed in a commercial dishwasher with a cleaning agent based on alkali metal silicates, active chlorine-containing substances and/or active oxygen-containing substances, optionally with alkali metal polyesters. Addition of phosphates and disinfectants as well as clarifying agents in the form of surfactants based on adducts of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide to high molecular weight polyalkylene glycols or fatty alcohols with 10 to 18 C atoms. In the method of cleaning, disinfecting and clarifying, the cleaning is carried out using 60 to 90% by weight of alkali metal silicates, 1 to 1% of active chlorine-containing substances and/or active oxygen-containing substances.
25 to 45 using 0.3 to 6 g/l of detergent containing 40% by weight and 0 to 5% by weight of alkali metal phosphates.
The clarification is carried out at a temperature of 30-60°C using 0.05-0.2 g of surfactant supplied separately, so that the detergent and the clarifier act synergistically during the cleaning. characterized by causing
How to clean, disinfect and clarify tableware. 2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the detergent is used in solid form in an amount of 0.3 to 2 g/l and in liquid form in an amount of 0.6 to 6 g/l. 3. The process as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the cleaning is carried out at a temperature of 35-45[deg.]C and the clarification is carried out at 50-60[deg.]C with a separate supply of clarifier. 4. Cleaning with 75~80% by weight of alkali metal silicate, active chlorine-containing substance and/or active oxygen-containing substance 1~
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is carried out using a detergent containing 20% by weight and 0-5% by weight of alkali metal phosphate. 5. A cleaning agent for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which comprises 60 to 90% by weight, in particular 75 to 80% by weight, of an alkali metal silicate as a powdered agent. , Active chlorine-containing substance and/or active oxygen-containing substance 1~
A cleaning agent characterized in that it consists of 40% by weight, in particular 10-25% by weight and 0-5% by weight of an alkali metal polyphosphate. 6. The cleaning agent according to claim 5, wherein the active oxygen-containing substance is porax. 7. Detergent according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the higher the content of polux, the lower the content of alkali metal silicate. 8. A cleaning agent for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning agent is a liquid cleaning agent containing the agent according to any one of claims 5 to 7. A cleaning agent, characterized in that it contains the composition dissolved in water and/or in an alcohol having 1 to 4 C atoms at a concentration of about 30%. 9. As separate components in the detergent a, on the one hand alkali metal metasilicates and optionally alkali metal polyphosphates and active chlorine-containing substances, on the other hand alkali metal silicates and optionally alkali metal polyphosphates and Active oxygen-containing substances or b, on the one hand alkali metal metasilicates and optionally alkali metal polyphosphates and active chlorine-containing substances, on the other hand active oxygen-containing substances or c, on the one hand alkali metal metasilicates and optionally alkalis 9. A cleaning agent according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein a metal polyphosphate and an active oxygen-containing substance, on the other hand a chlorine-containing substance, are present. 10. The cleaning agent according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning agent additionally contains up to 5 parts by weight of a mixture of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and glyoxal based on 100 parts by weight of cleaning agent. . 11. The detergent of claim 10, wherein the ratio of formaldehyde to glutaraldehyde to glyoxal is about 1:1:10. 12. A cleaning agent according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the liquid aldehyde mixture is sprayed onto the powdered cleaning agent. 13. The detergent may additionally contain any of the following substances per 100 parts by weight of the detergent: peroxyacetic acid, peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, succinic dialdehyde, biguanazide, and a foam-poor quaternary ammonium compound. A cleaning agent according to any one of claims 5 to 9, containing up to 5 parts by weight of one. 14. Detergent according to any one of claims 5 to 13, which is used in the form of nodules. 15. The cleaning agent according to claim 14, wherein the nodules of different compositions are combined to form a cleaning agent. 16. A method for producing a detergent in the form of nodules, characterized in that the mixed powder is kneaded with 10 to 20 parts by weight of water, introduced into a metering container and allowed to harden therein. manufacturing method. 17. A refining agent for carrying out the process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the refining agent comprises fatty alcohols having 10 to 12 C atoms as surfactants and 4 mol of ethylene oxide. and an addition product consisting of 6 moles of propylene oxide. 18. The clarifier contains a surfactant as a liquid clarifier.
18. A clarifier as claimed in claim 17, which is contained dissolved in water and/or an alcohol having 1 to 4 C atoms and/or a coumorsulphonate at a concentration of 50%.