MXPA03002623A - Hard surface cleaning and disinfecting compositions. - Google Patents

Abstract

Aqueous disinfecting and cleaning compositions and concentrates which are efficacious against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, have relatively low volatile organic content (VOC) and are surprisingly mild to user of the compositions. The compositions include a quaternary ammonium compound as its primary germicidal active agent, and have a low content of active constituents.

Description

COMPOSITIONS FOR CLEANING AND DISINFECTING HARD SURFACES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in cleaning compositions. More particularly, the present invention is directed to improved cleaning compositions which find particular use in applications for cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Compositions that both clean and disinfect hard surfaces are known in the art. These compositions, in many cases, contain quaternary ammonium compounds as the active disinfectant, non-ionic surfactants as cleaning agents. Examples of such compositions can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,454,984 to Graubart et al. and in U.S. Patent No. 5,522,942 to Graubart et al. These compositions are generally directed to a combination of quaternary ammonium compounds, a defined mixture of non-ionic surfactants, and a glycol ether solvent. In both Graubart et al. Patents, the number of carbon atoms in those non-ionic surfactants which are ethoxylated alcohols ranging from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 11 to 15 carbon atoms in the alcohol moiety which is combined with ethylene oxide. Others have investigated the use of quaternary ammonium compounds with ethoxylated alcohols of varying lengths of carbon chain. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,109,010 to Sias discloses a range of about 10 to 16 carbon atoms, but does not express a preference in the number of carbon atoms. US Pat. No. 4,065,409 to Flanagan discloses a range from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably from about 12 to 16 carbon atoms. US Patent No. 5,798,329 to Taylor, although directed to a liquid washing composition containing quaternary ammonium compounds, and not to a hard surface cleaner, discloses non-ionic surfactants which include ethoxylated alcohols having 8 to 18 atoms of carbon in the alkyl portion with 10 to 14 carbon atoms which are preferred. U.S. Patent No. 4,597,887 to Colodney is directed to a cleaning, germicidal, hard surface composition comprising a quaternary ammonium salt and a non-ionic, ethyleneoxylated detergent. Non-ionic detergents include the condensation products of a higher alkanol containing about 8 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration, condensed with about 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide. As mentioned herein, examples of those detergents such as the alkanol condensates of Cg-C with 2.5 moles of ethylene oxide, condensates of C12-C13 alkanol with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide and condensates of C10- alkanol are preferred. C12 with approximately 60% by weight of ethylene oxide. Although any advantage can be described in the formulations of the known art, there remains a real and continuing need in the art for improved cleaning and disinfecting compositions in general, and in specific such compositions that provide good sanitation or disinfection of the hard surfaces together with good cleaning but at the same time using minimal amounts of active ingredients in an aqueous formulation. The compositions of the invention are aqueous cleansing and disinfecting compositions and concentrates thereof which are effective cleansing compositions and are effective as disinfection compositions against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and are gentle for the user of the compositions . These results are currently achieved with a composition which includes a cationic surfactant that has germicidal properties, for example, quaternary ammonium compounds, as its germicidal, primary active agent, is surprising, and indicates a synergistic effect not apparent from the prior art. These compositions also provide good cleaning and disinfecting properties with low amounts of active constituents, and according to certain preferred embodiments the invention does not include organic solvents such as low molecular weight alcohols, glycols or glycol ethers, in significant amounts, ie , amounts in excess of about 1% by weight. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an aqueous composition comprising (preferably consisting essentially of): at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties; at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to eleven carbon atoms in the non-polar hydrophobic portion of the surfactant; optionally, up to about 5% by weight of one or more conventional additives selected from coloring agents, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents, other non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, other antimicrobial / germicidal agents, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts, non-aqueous solvents, optical brighteners, opacifiers, hydrotropes, anti-foaming agents, enzymes, anti-stain agents, anti-oxidants, and anti-oxidants. anti-corrosion; and, water to form 100% by weight of said composition. Preferably, at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties is present in an amount from about 0.001 to about 10% by weight, and at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic portion, Non-polar surfactant is present in an amount from about 0.01 to about 10% by weight. Preferably, the non-ionic surfactant having six to eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic, non-polar portion of the surfactant is selected from linear ethoxylated alcohols of Ce-Cu having from about 1 to about 6 moles of sodium oxide. ethylene The aqueous composition of the present invention for use on hard surfaces can be formulated as a ready-to-use composition which can be used as such by the consumer or as a concentrated composition which can be diluted in water by the consumer prior to its use. use. In any case, the composition provides a disinfection of the hard surface to which it is applied and has good cleaning properties. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a process for cleaning and / or disinfecting surfaces that have a need for such treatment which includes contacting a surface with the compositions, either ready for use or as a concentrate which is subsequently diluted. , as taught here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows the effect of non-ionic surfactants on the efficacy of quaternary benzylalkonium chloride against Salmonella choleraesuis in two concentrations (210 ppm, 450 ppm, -) of the quaternary. 0 refers to a non-ionic surfactant of Cg io? refers to a non-ionic surfactant of Ce-ic * V refers to a non-ionic surfactant of Cu; and refers to a nonionic surfactant of Ci2-i6- When referring to, for example, a non-ionic surfactant of Cs-io; Ce-io refers to the number of carbon atoms in the non-polar hydrophobic portion of the surfactant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an aqueous composition comprising (preferably consisting essentially of): at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties; at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to eleven carbon atoms in the non-polar hydrophobic portion of the surfactant; optionally, up to about 5% by weight of one or more conventional additives selected from coloring agents, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents, other non-short chain non-ionic surfactants, other antimicrobial / germicidal agents, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts, non-aqueous solvents, optical brighteners, opacifiers, hydrotropes, anti-foaming agents, enzymes, anti-stain agents, anti-oxidants, and anti-oxidants. -corrosion; and, water to form 100% by weight of said composition. Preferably, at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties, is present in an amount from about 0.001 to about 10% by weight, and at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic portion, does not -polar, of the surfactant, is present in an amount from about 0.01 to about 10% by weight. Preferably, the non-ionic surfactant having six to eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic, non-polar portion of the surfactant is selected from linear Cg-C ethoxylated alcohols having from about 1 to about 6 moles of sodium oxide. ethylene The aqueous composition of the present invention for use on hard surfaces can be formulated as a ready-to-use composition which can be used as such by the consumer or as a concentrated composition which can be diluted in water by the consumer prior to its use. use. In any case, the composition provides a disinfection of the hard surface to which it is applied and has good cleaning properties. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for cleaning and / or disinfecting surfaces that have a need for such treatment which includes contacting a surface with the compositions, either ready for use or as a concentrate which is diluted later, as taught here.

The compositions of the invention necessarily include at least one cationic surfactant which has germicidal properties which provide a primary sanitation benefit to the compositions. Particularly it is preferred to be used as the cationic surfactant which is found to provide a broad bactericidal or sanitation function which are well known, and the useful cationic surfactants may be one or more of those described in, for example, McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers, North American Edition, 2000; Kirk-Oth er, Encyclopedia oí Chemical Technology, 4a. Ed., Vol. 23, pp. 478-541, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Examples of preferred cationic surfactant compositions useful in the practice of the present invention are those which provide a germicidal effect to the concentrated compositions, and quaternary ammonium compounds and salts thereof are especially preferred, which are preferred. can be characterized by the structural, general formula: where at least one of Ri, R2, R3 and R4 is an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl substituent of 6 to 26 carbon atoms, and the entire cationic portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of at least 165. The alkyl substituents may be long chain alkyl, long chain alkoxyaryl, long chain alkylaryl, long chain alkylaryl, substituted with halogen, long chain alkyl phenoxyalkyl, arylalkyl, etc. The remaining substituents on the nitrogen atoms except the alkyl substituents mentioned above, are hydrocarbons that usually contain no more than 12 carbon atoms. The substituents R.sub.1, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may be straight chain or may be branched, but preferably are straight chain, and may include one or more amide, ether or ester linkages. The counter-ion X can be any anion for the formation of salts, which allows the water solubility of the quaternary ammonium complex. Exemplary quaternary ammonium salts, within the above description, include alkyl ammonium halides such as cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, alkyl aryl ammonium halides such as octadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium bromide, N-alkyl-pyridinium halides such as N-cetyl-pyridinium bromide, and the like. Other suitable types of quaternary ammonium salts include those in which the molecule contains either amide, ether or ester bonds such as phenoxy-ethoxy-ethyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride, N- (lauryl-lcocoamino-formylmethyl) chloride. ) -pyridinium, and the like. Other very effective types of quaternary ammonium compounds which are useful as germicides include those in which the hydrophobic radical is characterized by an aromatic nucleus, substituted, as in the case of lauryloxyphenyltrimethylammonium chloride, cetylamino-phenyltrimethylammonium methosulfate, dodecylphenyltrimethylammonium methosulfate, dodecylphenyltrimethylammonium chloride, chlorinated dodecylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride, and the like. Preferred quaternary ammonium compounds, which act as germicides and which are found to be useful in the practice of the present invention, include those having the structural formula: wherein ½½ and Ra are Cg-Cu alkyl, the same or different, or f½ is C12-16 alkyl, Cs i 8 alkyletoxy, alkyl phenoxyethoxy CB- T T and R3 is benzyl, and X is halide, for example, chloride, bromide or iodide , or is a methosulfate or saccharinate anion. The alkyl groups recited in R? and R3 may be straight or branched chain, but preferably are substantially linear.

Particularly useful quaternary germicides include compositions that include a single quaternary compound, as well as mixtures of two or more different quaternary compounds. Such useful quaternary compounds are available under the trademarks BARDAC®, BARQUAT®, HYAMINE®, LONZABAC®, BTC®, and ONYXIDE®, which are more fully described in, for example, McCutcheon's Functional Materials (Vol. ), North American Edition, 1998, and the respective literature on the product of the suppliers identified below. For example, BARDAC® 205M is described as being a liquid containing alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride, octyl-decyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride didecyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride, and dioctyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride ( active at 50%) (also available as 80% active (BARDAC® 208M)); it is generally described in McCutcheon's as a combination of alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride and dialkyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride); BARDAC® 2050 is described as a combination of octyl-decyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride / didecyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride, and dioctyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride (active 50%) (also available as 80% active ( BARDAC® 2080)); BARDAC® 2250 is described as didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (50% active); BARDAC® LF (or BARDAC® LF-80), is described as having the base in dioctyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride (BARQUAT® MB-50, MX-50, OJ-50 (each 50% liquid) and E -80 or MX-80 (each 80% liquid) each is described as an alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl ammonium chloride, BARDAC® 4250 and BARQUAT® 4250Z (each active at 50%) or BARQUAT® 4280 and BARQUAT® 4280Z (each active at 80%) each is described as alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride / alkyl-dimethyl-ethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride.

Also, HYAMINE® 1622 is described as diisobutyl-phenoxy-ethoxy-ethyl-1-dimethyl-1-benzyl ammonium chloride (available as either 100% active solutions or as 50% active solutions); HYAMINE® 3500 (active at 50%), described as alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (also available as 80% active (HYAMINE® 3500-80) and HYAMINE® 2389 described because it is based on methyldodecylbenzyl chloride ammonium and / or methyldodecylxylene-bis-trimethyl-ammonium chloride (BARDAC®, BARQUAT® and HYAMINE® are currently commercially available from Lonza, Inc., Fairlawn, NJ) BTC® 50 NF (or BTC® 65 NF ) is described as being alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (50% active), BTC® 99 is described as didecyl dimethyl anion chloride, (50% active), BTC® 776 is described as being chloride of Myristalconium (50% active); BTC® 818 is described as being octyl-decyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride, didecyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride, and dioctyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride (50% active) (also available as 80% active (BTC® 818-80%)), BTC® 824 and BTC® 835 are each described as being alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (each active at 50%); BTC® 8 85 is described as a combination of BTC® 835 and BTC® 818 (50% active) (also available as 80% active (BTC © 888)); BTC® 1010 is described as didecyl-dimet i1-ammonium chloride (active at 50%) (also available as 80% active (BTC® 1010-80)); BTC® 2125 (or BTC® 2125 M) is described as alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride and alkyl-dimethyl-ethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (each active at 50%) (also available as 80% active (BTC ® 2125-80 or BTC® 2125 M)); BTC® 2565 is described as alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chlorides (active at 50%) (also available as 80% active (BTC® 2568)); BTC® 8248 (or BTC® 8358) is described as alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (80% active) (also available as 90% active (BTC® 8249)); ONYXIDE® 3300 is described as n-alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium saccharinate (95% active). (BTC® and ONYXIDE® are currently commercially available from Stepan Company, Northfield, IL). Polymeric quaternary ammonium salts based on these monomeric structures are also considered desirable for the present invention. An example is POLYQUAT®, described as a polymer of 2-butenyldimethyl-ammonium chloride.

The cationic surfactant having germicidal properties may be present in any effective amount, but generally does not need to be present in amounts in excess of about 10% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Preferred cationic surfactant (s), germicide (s), may be present in disinfectant, liquid compositions, in amounts from about 0.001 wt% to about 10 % by weight, preferably about 0.01-8% by weight, more preferably in an amount between 0.5-6% by weight. Particularly advantageously, the preferred cationic surfactant (s), germicide (s), are (are) present in amounts of at least 200 parts per million (ppm), preferably in amounts of 200-700 ppm, more preferably in amounts of 200-500 ppm. An additional constituent in the compositions of the present invention is a short chain non-ionic surfactant. The short-chain non-ionic surfactant is one that has six to eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic, non-polar portion of the surfactant. Examples of short chain non-ionic surfactants include linear ethoxylated alcohols. The linear ethoxylated alcohols which can be employed in the present invention are generally straight chain alcohols of C6-C which are ethoxylated with from about 3 to about 6 moles of ethylene oxide. Its derivation is well known in the art. Examples include Alfonic® 810-4.5, which is described in the Condea Vista product information having an average molecular weight of 356, an ethylene oxide content of about 4.85 moles (about 60% by weight), and an HLB of approximately 12; Alfonic © 810-2, which is described in the Condea Vista product information which has an average molecular weight of 242, an ethylene oxide content of approximately 2.1 moles (approximately 40% by weight), and an HLB of approximately 12; and Alfonic® 610-3.5, which is described in the Condea Vista product information having an average molecular weight of 276, an ethylene oxide content of about 3.1 moles (approximately 50% by weight), and an HLB of 10. The information on the product of Condea Vista also identifies that the numbers in the ethoxylated alcohol mentioned, designate the length of the carbon chain (numbers before the dash) and the average moles of ethylene oxide (numbers after the hyphen) in the product. Other examples of ethoxylated alcohols include the non-ionic surfactants of Neodol® series 91, available from Shell Chemical Company, which are described as Cg-Cn ethoxylated alcohols. The non-ionic surfactants of Neodol® 91 series, of interest include Neodol 91-2.5, Neodol 91-6, and Neodol 91-8. Neodol 91-2.5 has been described as having approximately 2.5 ethoxy groups per molecule; Neodol 91-6 has been described as having approximately 6 ethoxy groups per molecule; and Neodol 91-8 has been described as having about 8 ethoxy groups per molecule. Additional examples of ethoxylated alcohols include the non-ionic surfactants of Rhodasurf® DA series, available from Rhodia, which are described as being branched ethoxylated isodecyl alcohols. Rhodasurf® DA-530 has been described as having 4 moles of ethoxylation and an HLB of 10.5; Rhodasurf® DA-630 has been described as having 6 moles of ethoxylation and an HLB of 12.5; and Rhodasurf® DA-639 is a 90% solution of DA-630. Additional examples of short chain non-ionic surfactants contemplated include Cg-Cio alkyl polyglycosides which are available under the trademark Glucopon de Cognis. These surfactants include Glucopon 225, 225DK, 225CS, and 225CSUP, described as Cg-Cio alkyl polysaccharide ether. Another example of a short chain nonionic surfactant, includes a C9 / Cn oxogluoroether polyol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide, available as Genapol UD-079 from Clariant.

The short-chain non-ionic surfactant may be present in any effective amount, but generally does not need to be present in amounts in excess of about 10% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. The short-chain nonionic surfactant is preferably present in liquid disinfectant compositions in amounts of from about 0.01% by weight to about 10% by weight, preferably about 0.01-5% by weight, and more preferably in one amount between 0.5 - 3% by weight. Other optional, conventional additives, although not particularly elucidated here, may also be included in the present inventive compositions in order to provide aesthetic properties or distinct properties beneficial thereto. Conventional, optional, exemplary additives include but are not limited to: other non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants; other antimicrobial / germicidal agents, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts; non-aqueous solvents, fragrances, fragrance solubilizers, optical brighteners, coloring agents such as dyes and pigments, opacifiers, hydrotropes, anti-foaming agents, viscosity modifying agents such as binders, enzymes, anti-stain agents , anti-oxidants, anti-corrosion agents as well as others not specifically elucidated here. These should be present in minor amounts, preferably in total they comprise less than about 5% by weight of the compositions, and desirably less than about 3% by weight. The optional ingredients chosen should be compatible with the compositions to which they are added and the compatibility can be easily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. Examples of other non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants; which may be present in minor amounts in the compositions of the invention, may include copolymers with alkoxy blocks, and in particular, compounds based on copolymers with ethoxy / propoxy blocks. The polymeric alkylene oxide block copolymers include non-ionic surfactants in which the major portion of the molecule is composed of a block of polymeric C2-C1 alkylene oxides. Such non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, while preferably being constructed from an initial group of an alkylene oxide chain, and can have as an initial core almost any group containing active hydrogen including, without limitation, amides, phenols, thiols and secondary alcohols. When used herein, non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants means those surfactants that have more than eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic, non-polar portion of the surfactant. An example is those non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants containing alkylene oxide blocks and which may be represented in the formula (A): HO- (EO), (PO) and (EO) zH (A ) where EO represents ethylene oxide, PO represents propylene oxide, and is equivalent to at least 15, (??)? -? equivalent to 20 to 50% of the total weight of said compounds, and, the total molecular weight is preferably in the range of about 2000 to 15,000. Another example are those non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, which may be represented in formula (B): R- (EO, PO) a (EO, PO) bH (B) wherein R is an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, wherein the R group contains 1 to 20 carbon atoms, Weight percentage of EO is within the range of 0 to 45% in one of blocks a, b, and within the range of 60 to 100%, in another of blocks a, b, and the total number of moles of EO and PO combined, is in the range of 6 to 125 moles, with 1 to 50 moles in the block rich in PO and 5 to 100 moles in the block rich in EO. Additional, non-short chain non-ionic surfactants, which are generally encompassed by Formula B, include butoxy derivatives of the propylene oxide / ethylene oxide block polymers having molecular weights within the range of about 2000 -5000 Another example are those non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, which contain polymeric butoxy groups (BO) and which can be represented by the formula (C) as follows: RC BOWEOk-H (C) wherein R is an alkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, n is about 5-15 and x is about 5-15. Another example are those non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, which can be represented by the following formula (D): HO- (EO) x (BO) n (EO) and H (D) where n is approximately 5 -15, preferably about 15, x is about 5-15, preferably about 15, and y is about 5-15, preferably about 15. Another example are those non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, which they include ethoxylated derivatives of propoxylated ethylene diamine, which can be represented by the following formula: where (EO) represents ethoxy, (PO) represents propoxy, the amount of (P0) x is such as to provide a molecular weight before ethoxylation of about 300 to 7500, and the amount of (EO) and is such as to provide about 20% to 90% of the total weight of said compound. If such non-ionic, non-chain-like surfactants are to be included in minor amounts, another preferred non-ionic, non-short chain surfactant is represented by formula (A) above; the specific examples of which include those materials commercially available today under the trademark "Pluronic®", and in particular Pluronic® F series, Pluronic® L series, Pluronic® P series, as well as in the Pluronic® series R, each of which is generally described as block copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide. Those of Pluronic® series L, and Pluronic® R series, are generally preferred when they are supplied in liquid form by the manufacturer and when formulated easily in the present inventive compositions. These are also available in a wide range of HLB values, and those having HLB values in the range of 1.0-23.0 can be used, although those with intermediate HLB values such as from about 12.0-18.0 are found to be particularly advantageous. These materials are currently commercially available from BASF AG (Ludwigshafen, Germany) as well as from BASF Corp. (Mt. Olive Township, New Jersey). Other examples of non-short chain non-ionic surfactants, which may be included in minor amounts, based on ethoxy / propoxy polymer units, include those that are currently commercially available in the PolyTergent® E, and PolyTergent® series P of materials from BASF Corp. (Mt. Olive, NJ). These are described as being non-ionic surfactants based on the copolymers with ethoxy / propoxy block, conveniently available in liquid form from their supplier. Other examples of non-short chain non-ionic surfactants, which may be included in minor amounts, include alkoxylated alcohols wherein the non-polar portion of the surfactant contains more than eleven carbon atoms. These include the condensation products of a higher alcohol (eg, alkanol containing about 12 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration) condensed with about 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide, eg, lauryl or myristyl condensed with about 16 moles of ethylene oxide, tridecanol condensed with about 6 moles of ethylene oxide, myristyl alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of myristyl alcohol.

Some examples of the above non-short chain non-ionic surfactants include certain ethoxylates of Neodol® (Shell Chemical Co., Houston Tex) such as C12-13 alkanol condensed with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol® 23 -6.5), C12-13 alkanol condensed with 7 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol® 23 -7), C1-15 alkanol condensed with 7 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol® 25-7), C12 alkanol i5 condensed with 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol® 25-9), Ci2_i5 alkanol condensed with 12 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol® 25-12), Ci4-i5 alkanol condensed with 13 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol® 45-13), and the like. Other possible non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, which may be used in minor amounts in the inventive compositions, are those which are currently sold under the trademark Genapol®. Particularly useful are those of Genapol® series "26-L" which include for example: linear alcohols of C12-i6 condensed with 1 mol of ethylene oxide (Genapol® 26-L-3); linear alcohols of C12-16 condensed with 1.6 moles of ethylene oxide (Genapol® 26-L-1.6); linear alcohols of C12-ie condensed with 2 moles of ethylene oxide (Genapol® 26-L-2); linear alcohols of C12-16 condensed with 3 moles of ethylene oxide (Genapol® 26-L-3); linear alcohols of C12-16 condensed with 5 moles of ethylene oxide (Genapol® 26-L-5); as well as Ci2-i6 linear alcohols condensed with various amounts of ethylene oxide to provide points in specific clusters, of the surfactant (i.e., Genapol® 26-L-60, Genapol® 26-L-60N, and Genapol® 26 -L-98N). These materials are commercially available from a variety of sources, including Clariant Corp. (Charlotte, M.C.).

Other possible non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, which may be used in minor amounts in the inventive compositions, include those based on alcohol condensates and ethylene oxide of an aliphatic, secondary alcohol. These alcohols contain 12 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration and are condensed with 5 to 30 moles of an alkylene oxide, especially ethylene oxide. Examples of commercially available non-ionic detergents of the above type are secondary alkanols of Cn-15 condensed either with ethylene oxides (Tergitol® 15-S-9) or with 7 ethylene oxides (Tergitol® 15-S- 7) sold by Union Carbide Corp. (Danbury Conn.). It will be understood that these secondary, alkoxylated, non-ionic alcohol surfactant compounds can be used individually or in mixtures of two or more such compounds. Other possible non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, which may be used in minor amounts in the inventive compositions, include certain aliphatic, linear, alkoxylated alcohol surfactants, which are believed to be condensation products of a hydrophilic portion of Cs-io with alkylene oxides, especially portions of polyethylene oxide and / or polypropylene oxide. Such linear alkoxylated alcohol surfactants are now commercially available under the trademark PolyTergent® (Olin Chemical Co., Stamford Conn.). Of these are particularly useful those sold as PolyTergent® SL-22, PolyTergent® SL-42, PolyTergent® SL-62 and PolyTergent® SL-29, of which PolyTergent® SL-62 is particularly advantageous. PolyTergent® SL-92 is described as a moderately foamable, biodegradable, linear alkoxylated alcohol surfactant having on average 8 moles of oxyethylene groups per molecule. These alkoxylated linear alcohol surfactants provide a good detersive action in the removal of various types of fats or baits as are frequently found in stains on hard surfaces, as well as provide additional solubilization effects and can be included in the concentrated compositions according to the present invention with advantage. Preferred linear alkoxylated alcohol surfactants should also exhibit low levels of ocular irritation in the concentrated compositions. The inventive compositions optionally but desirably may include in minor amounts an adjuvant. Such inorganic adjuvants, soluble in water, which can be used alone, in a mixture with other inorganic adjuvants, soluble in water, as well as together with one or more salts of the alkaline, organic retention aid. Exemplary adjuvants include alkali metal carbonates, phosphates, polyphosphates and silicates. More specific examples include sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium borates, potassium carbonate, sodium polyphosphate, potassium pyrophosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate, and sodium hexametaphosphate. Additional exemplary adjuvants also include salts of the alkaline, organic retention aid, such as alkali metal polycarboxylates including water-soluble citrates such as sodium potassium citrate, potassium sodium tartrate, sodium potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetate. , N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -ethylene-diamin-triacetates of sodium and potassium, nitrilotriacetates of sodium and potassium, as well as mono- and di-succinates of sodium and potassium tartrate. Also useful are gluconate or glucoheptonate salts, particularly sodium gluconate and sodium glucoheptonate. In particular, the di-, tri- and tetra-sodium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, in particular the tetrasodium salts thereof, are advantageously used. As noted, these salts of the organic adjuvant can be used individually, as a combination of two or more salts of the organic adjuvant, as well as together with one or more detersive adjuvants, including those indicated above. It will also be appreciated that many of these constituents which are useful as adjuvants frequently also provide a beneficial effect in adjusting the pH. Examples of non-aqueous solvents which may be used in minor amounts in the inventive compositions include those which are at least partially miscible in water such as alcohols, (eg, low molecular weight alcohols, such as, for example, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, and the like), glycols (such as, for example, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, and the like), water miscible ethers (for example diethylene glycol diethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether), water-miscible glycol (for example propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol monohexyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether), lower ethylene glycol monoalkyl ether esters or propylene glycol (for example, propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate) all available commercially, for example from Union Carbide (Danbury, CT), Dow Chemical Co.

(Midland, MI) or Hoechst (Germany). Mixtures of various organic solvents can also be used. Preferred non-aqueous solvents, which may be used in minor amounts in the inventive compositions are the glycol ethers. Useful, exemplary glycol ethers are those having the general structure Ra-0-Rb-OH, where Ra is alkyl of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or an aryl of at least 6 carbon atoms, and Rb is an alkylene of 1 to 8 carbons or is an ether or polyether containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms. Exemplary glycol ethers include propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol sobuyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, phenyl ether of diethylene glycol, phenol ether of propylene glycol, monobutyl ether of dipropylene glycol and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of the most preferred glycol ether solvents include propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol isobutyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether , ethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol phenyl ether, propylene glycol phenol ether, and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred solvents are described in the Examples.

Examples of other antimicrobial / germicidal agents which may be present in minor amounts in the inventive compositions of the present application include, in addition to the above-mentioned cationic, germicidal surfactants, pyrithiones especially the zinc complex (Zpt), Octopirox®, dimethyldimethylol (Glydant®) methylchloroisothiazolinone / methylisothiazolinone hydantoin (Kathon CG®), benzoic acid, benzoyl peroxide, salicylamides, picric acid, xylenol, pyrocatechol, pyrogallol, phloroglucin, sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, imidazolidinyl urea (Germall 115 ®), diazolidinyl urea (Germaill II®), benzyl alcohol, 2-bromo-2-nitropropan-1,3-diol (Bronopol®), formalin (formaldehyde), iodopropenyl butylcarbamate (Polyphase P100®), chloroacetamide, methanamine , methyldibromonitrile glutaronitrile (1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane or Tektamer®), glutaraldehyde, 5-bromo-5-nitro-l, 3-dioxane (Bronidox®), phenethyl alcohol, o-phenylphenol / o-phenylphenol sodium, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (Suttocide A®), bicyclic oxazolidine polymethoxy (Nuosept C®), dimethoxy, thimerosal, dichlorobenzyl alcohol, captan, chlorphenenesin, hexachlorophene, tetrachlorophen, 2,3-dihydroxy-5,5'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfide, 2,2'-dihydroxy-3,3 sulfide ',, 5' -tetrachlorodiphenyl, 2,2'-dihydroxy-3,5 ', 5,5', 6,6'-hexachlorodiphenyl sulphide, and 3,3'-dibromo-5,5'-dichloro-2 , 2'-dihydroxydifeni sheet, dichlorophen, chlorobutanol, glyceryl laurate, halogenated diphenyl ethers, 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxy-diphenyl ether (Triclosan® or TCS), 2'-2'-ether -dihydroxy-5, 5'-dibromo-diphenyl, phenolic compounds, phenol, 2-methyl phenol, 3-methyl phenol, 4-methyl phenol, 2-ethyl phenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, p-nitrophenol , 2, 4-dimethyl phenol, 2,5-dimethyl phenol, phenol d e 3, 4-dimethyl, 2,6-dimethyl phenol, 4-n-propyl phenol, 4-n-butyl phenol, 4-n-amyl phenol, 4-tert-amyl phenol, 4-n-phenol phenol. -n-hexyl, 4-n-heptyl phenol, mono- and poly-alkyl and aromatic halophenols, p-chlorophenol, methyl p-chlorophenol, ethyl p-chlorophenol, propyl p-chlorophenol, p-chlorophenol butyl, n-amyl p-chlorophenol, sec-amyl p-chlorophenol, n-hexyl p-chlorophenol, cyclohexyl p-chlorophenol, n-heptyl p-chlorophenol, n-octyl p-chlorophenol, or- chlorophenol, methyl o-chlorophenol, ethyl o-chlorophenol, n-propyl o-chlorophenol, n-butyl o-chlorophenol, n-amyl o-chlorophenol, tere-amyl o-chlorophenol, o-chlorophenol n-hexyl, o-chlorophenol n-heptyl, p-chlorophenol o-benzyl, p-chlorophenol of o-benzyl-m-methyl, p-chlorophenol of o-benzyl-m, m-dimethyl, p-chlorophenol of o-phenylethyl, p-chlorophenol of o-phenylethyl-m-methyl, p-chlorophenol of 3-methyl, 3,5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol, 6-ethyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, 6-n-propyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, 6-iso-propyl p-chlorophenol -3-methyl, 2-ethyl-3, 5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol, 6-sec-butyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, 2-iso-propyl-3, 5-dimethyl p-chlorophenol, p chlorophenol 6-diethylmethyl-3-ethyl, p-chlorophenol 6-iso-propyl-2-ethyl-3-methyl, p-chlorophenol 2-sec-amyl-3,5-dimethyl, p-chlorophenol 2 -diethylmethyl-3, 5-dimethyl, 6-sec-octyl-3-methyl p-chlorophenol, o-benzylphenol, p-chloro-o-benzylphenol, cresols of 4-phenolsulfonic acid (o-, m-, p- ), p-chloro-m-cresol, p-bromophenol, methyl p-bromophenol, ethyl p-bromophenol, n-propyl p-bromophenol, n-butyl p-bromophenol, n-amyl p-bromophenol, sec-amyl p-bromophenol, n-hexyl p-bromophenol, cyclohexyl p-bromophenol, o-bromophenol, o-bro mofenol of tert-amyl, o-bromophenol of n-hexyl, o-bromophenol of n-propyl-m, m-dimethyl, phenol of 2-phenyl, phenol of 4-chloro-2-methyl, phenol of 4-chloro- 3-methyl, 4-chloro-3,5-dimethyl phenol, 2-dichloro-3,5-dimethyl phenol, 3,4,5,6-tetrabromo-2-methylphenol, 5-methyl-2-pentylphenol , 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol, para-chloro-meta-xylene, chlorothymol, phenoxyethanol, phenoxyisopropanol, 5-chloro-2-hydroxydiphenylmethane, resorcinol and its derivatives, resorcinol, methyl resorcinol, ethyl resorcinol, resorcinol of n- propyl, n-butyl resorcinol, n-amyl resorcinol, n-hexyl resorcinol, n-heptyl resorcinol, n-octyl resorcinol, n-nonyl resorcinol, phenyl resorcinol, benzyl resorcinol, phenylethyl resorcinol, phenylpropyl resorcinol, p-chlorobenzyl resorcinol, 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxydi-phenol methane, 4'-chloro-2,4-dihydroxydiphenyl methane, 5-bromo-2,4-dihydroxydiphenyl methane, methane of 4 '-bromo-2, 4-dihydroxydiphenyl, bisfe compounds nolics, 2,2'-methylene, bis (3,, 6-trichlorophenol), 2,2'-methylene, bis (4-chloro-6-bromophenol), 2'-methylene, bis (4-chlorophenol) , bis (2-hydroxy-3,5-dichlorophenyl) sulfide, bis (2-hydroxy-5-chlorobenzyl) sulfide, benzoic ester parabens such as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, isopropylparaben, and sobutylparaben, benzylparaben , sodium methylparaben, sodium propylparaben, halogenated carbanilides, 3,4,4'-trichlorocarbanilides (Trichlocarban® or TCC), 3-trifluoromethyl-4, 4'-dichlorocarbanilide, and 3,3 ', 4-trichlorocarbanilide. Other antimicrobial / germicidal agents which may be present in minor amounts in the inventive compositions of the present application, also include antibacterial, so-called "natural" actives, referred to as natural oils. These assets derive their names from their natural occurrence in plants. Antibacterial active ingredients of natural, typical essences oils include anise oils, citrus fruits, anise seeds, roses, mint, camphor, lemon, orange, rosemary, pyrolle, thyme, lavender, cloves, hops, trees, tea, citronella, wheat, barley, lemon grass (Cymbopogon), cedar leaves, cedar wood, cinnamon, flea grass, geranium, sandalwood, violet, cranberry, eucalyptus, verbena, mint, benzoin gum, basil, fennel , fir, balsam, menthol, ocmea origanum, hydastis carradensis, berberidaceae daceae, ratanhiae and turmeric longa. Also included in this class of oils of natural essences are the key chemical components of vegetable oils which have been found to provide the anti-microbial benefit. These chemicals include, but are not limited to, anethole, catechol, camphene, pinocarvone, cedrol, thymol, eugenol, eucalyptol, ferulic acid, farnesol, hinokitiol, tropolone, cinnane, menthol, methyl salicylate, carvacol, terpineol, verbenone, berberine, ratanhiae extract, cariophelene oxide, citronellic acid, curcumin, nerolidol and geraniol. Additional antimicrobial / germicidal agents, which may be present in minor amounts in the inventive compositions of the present application, also include metal, anti-microbial salts. This class generally includes salts of metals in groups 3b-7b, 8 and 3a-5a.

Specifically are the aluminum, zirconium, zinc, silver, gold, copper, lanthanum, tin, bismuth, selenium, strontium, scandium, yttrium, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promised, samarite, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium salts , erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and mixtures thereof. Additionally other antimicrobial / germicidal agents which may be present in minor amounts in the inventive compositions of the present application, also include oxidants, for example hydrogen peroxide, peracids and their salts; bleach-based active substances, for example, sodium hypochlorite, organic acids, for example, formic, citric, glycolic, maleic, malic, lactic, glutaric, succinic, benzoic; and aldehydes, for example, glutaraldehyde, succina ldehyde. The other optional additives that can be added in minor amounts, such as coloring agents, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents, pH adjusting agents including organic and inorganic salts, optical brighteners, opacifiers, hydrotropes , anti-sputtering agents, enzymes, anti-staining agents, antioxidants, and anti-corrosion agents are well known to those skilled in the art as is their use and selection.

As noted above, the compositions according to the invention are aqueous in nature. The water is added to the constituents in order to provide 100% by weight of the composition. The water may be tap water, but preferably it is distilled and more preferably it is deionized water. If the water is tap water, it is preferred that it be substantially free of any undesirable impurities such as organic or inorganic salts, especially minerals, which are present in hard water which may therefore interfere with the operation of one or more of the constituents of the aqueous compositions according to the invention. Preferably the concentrated compositions comprise at least a possible amount of water, if it is not free of water. Such materials described above are known in the art, including those described in McCutcheon 's Emulsifiers and Detergents (Vol. 1), Edition North American, 2000; Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 4a. Ed., Vol. 23, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. The compositions according to the invention are useful in disinfecting and / or cleaning surfaces, especially hard surfaces that need such treatment. These in particular include surfaces where the presence of gram-positive and / or gram-negative bacteria is assumed. According to the present inventive process, cleaning and / or disinfecting such surfaces comprises the step of applying an effective amount of a stain solvent and a disinfectant of a composition as taught herein to such a stained surface. Thereafter, the compositions optionally but desirably are washed, rubbed or otherwise physically contacted with the hard surface, and optionally additionally, can be subsequently rinsed from such hard, clean and disinfected surface. Such a composition for cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces according to the invention, can be provided as a ready-to-use product which can be applied directly to a hard surface, but desirably is provided in a proposed concentrated form to be diluted in water to form a composition for cleaning therefrom. By way of example, hard surfaces include surfaces composed of refractive materials such as: glazed or non-glazed tile, porcelain, ceramic as well as stone including marble, granite, and other stone surfaces; glasses; metals; plastics for example polyester, vinyl; Fiberglass, Formica®, Corian® and other hard surfaces known in the industry. Hard surfaces that will be particularly denoted are sink installations such as bathroom shelves, bathtubs and bathroom accessories (hangers, bathroom doors, bathroom bars), toilets, bidets, wall and floor surfaces, especially those that include refractive materials and the like. In addition, the hard surfaces to be denoted are those associated with kitchen environments and other environments associated with food preparation, including cabinets and counter-ceiling surfaces as well as wall and floor surfaces especially those that include refractive materials, Plastics, Formica®, Corian © and stone. The hard surface cleaning composition, provided in accordance with the invention, can also be provided as a ready-to-use product in a manually operated spray dispenser container. Such a typical container is generally made of polymeric, synthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or the like, and includes a spray nozzle, an immersion tube and dispensing parts for the associated pump and therefore is the most suitable for use in a "spray and wash" application for the consumer. In such an application, the consumer generally applies an effective amount of the cleaning composition using the pump and within a few moments thereafter, thoroughly washes the treated area with a cloth, towel, or sponge, usually with a paper towel disposable or sponge. In certain applications, however, especially where deposits of undesirable stains are heavy, the cleaning composition according to the invention can be left in the stamped area until the stain deposits have been effectively loosened after which they are removed. they can then wash, rinse, or otherwise remove. For particularly heavy deposits of such undesirable spots, multiple applications can also be used. Still in a further embodiment, the compositions according to the invention may be formulated so that they may be useful in conjunction with an "aerosol" type product where it is discharged from a pressurized aerosol container. If the inventive compositions are used in an aerosol product, it is preferred that corrosion resistant aerosol containers, such as coated or lined aerosol containers, are used. It is preferred that they are known to be resistant to the effects of the basic formulations. Propellants known in the art such as liquid propellants as well as propellants in non-liquid form, ie pressurized gases, including carbon dioxide, air, nitrogen, hydrocarbons in addition to others, can be used. Also, although they are satisfactory for their use, fluorocarbons can be used as a propellant but for environmental and regulatory reasons their use is preferably avoided. In such an embodiment, the cleaning composition is dispensed by activating the discharge nozzle of said aerosol-type container in the stain and / or stained area, and in accordance with a manner described above, a stain is treated and removed. Considering that the present invention is intended to be used in the types of liquid forms described, the compositions according to the invention are desirably diluted with an additional amount of water to form a solution for cleaning and disinfecting therefrom. In such a diluted cleaning solution, proposed, the greater proportion of water added to form said cleaning dilution, the greater part may be the reduction of the ratio and / or efficiency of the cleaning solution thus formed in the cleaning of a hard surface , as well as a reduction in disinfectant efficacy. Accordingly, long residence times on the stain may be required to effect its loosening and / or the use of large quantities. On the contrary, it will also be understood that nothing in the specification limits the formation of a "super-concentrated" cleaning composition based on the composition described above. Such a super-concentrated composition is essentially the same as the compositions described above except that they include a much smaller amount of water. Even when cleaning compositions are more beneficial for their use in their form, that is, their shape as described above, they can also be diluted to form a cleaning composition therefrom. Such cleaning compositions can be easily prepared by diluting measured amounts of a concentrated composition which is an object of the present invention in additional amounts of water by the consumer or other end user in certain weight ratios of the composition: water, and optionally, shaking it to ensure a uniform distribution of the composition in the water. The concentrated compositions according to the invention can be used without further dilution, but can also be used with an additional aqueous dilution, that is, in a concentrated composition: water concentrations of 1: 0, at extremely dilute dilutions such like 1: 1000. When subjected to an additional aqueous dilution, such a dilution preferably is of a weight to volume ratio of 1: 10-1: 128, and more desirably is about 1:64. The current dilution selected is partly determined by the degree and amount of dirt and grime to be removed from one surface (s), the amount of mechanical force imparted to remove it, as well as the observed effectiveness of a particular dilution. Generally, better results and rapid removal at relatively lower dilutions of the composition and water will be expected. The concentrated compositions of the present invention are ideally formulations wherein the amounts of components, excluding water, are concentrated five, ten, fifteen, twenty or even twenty-five times such that when the concentrated compositions are diluted in water for later use, the The amounts of the short-chain cationic and non-ionic surfactant are present in the diluted form in the amounts stated below. The concentrated compositions of the present invention can be supplied in liquid form in bottles which are then added to the desired amount of water. Additionally, the concentrated compositions can be supplied in the form of sachets having a water-soluble film coating, for example, polyvinyl alcohol, such that when the sachet is placed in an amount of water, the polyvinyl alcohol dissolves, discharging the concentrated composition in the water, forming a composition that can be diluted. Preferably, the polyvinyl alcohol sachet is soluble in water at varying temperatures so that it is useful in dilutions of both cold water and hot water. Figure 1 shows the effects of non-ionic surfactants on the anti-microbial efficacy of the quaternary ammonium compound against Salmonella choleraesuis. For solutions containing 450 ppm of the quaternary, non-ionic, short-chain ammonium compound with alkyl chain lengths of 10 or shorter, does not reduce the anti-microbial efficacy of the quaternary ammonium compound against Salmonella choleraesuis in the non-ionic short chain concentrations as high as 1000 rpm. This compares to a decrease in the effectiveness of the quaternary ammonium compound of almost 4 logs in 1000 ppm of a non-ionic ethoxylated alcohol surfactant of Ci2-i6-For the non-ionic surfactant of Cu, a smaller decrease in 3 logs in the effectiveness of the quaternary ammonium compound. At a concentration of the quaternary ammonium compound of 210 ppm, the same tendency is observed when short chain non-ionic surfactants with alkyl chain lengths of 10 or shorter have no effect on the antimicrobial efficacy of the quaternary ammonium compound. . The results of the non-ionic surfactant of Cu in a smaller decrease, even when the non-ionic surfactant of ethoxylated alcohol of Ci2-i6f causes a greater decrease. The data contained in Figure 1, show that non-ionic ethoxylated alcohol surfactants with alkyl chain lengths of 10 or less, have a minimal impact, and those with chain lengths of 11, have a reduced impact on the anti-microbial efficacy of the quaternary ammonium compounds. This compares with a greater impact on the antimicrobial efficacy of the quaternary ammonium compound when used with a longer chain and C12 non-ionic surfactant. The non-ionic, short chain, representative surfactants, evaluated in Figure 1, are Alfonic 610-3.5 [C6-C10] of Condea Vista (0); Alfonic 810-4.5 [C8-CiU] of Condea Vista (?); Genapol UD-79 [Cu] from Clariant (V); and Genapol 26-L-50 [C12-C16] of Clariant (). The quaternary ammonium compound evaluated is BTC-8358 (alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (active 80%) of Stepan). The samples of Figure 1 are evaluated for anti-microbial activity using the Biomek® Laboratory Automation Workstation together with the BioWorks Operating System (available from Beckman Coulter Inc., Fullerton, CA). The tested organism is Salmonella choleraesuis at an average concentration in the test of 1.4 - 2.0 x 109 organisms / 20 microlitres (9 log titre). The Biomek method measures the recovery of the bacteria in the suspension. A portion of the organism suspension (Salmonella choleraesuis) is added to 9 parts of each sample in an appropriate container. Deionized water (H20 DI) is used as control. The organism and the sample are then mixed thoroughly for 15 seconds. Ten-fold serial dilutions are carried out in a neutralizing broth. The diluted samples are then incubated for 24-48 hours at 35-37 ° C. After this, the surviving organisms are quantified and the log reduction, as a measure of the survivors of the organism, is calculated as follows: Reduction Log = (Survivors Log / Control of H2O DI) - (Survivors Log / Sample) The following examples illustrate exemplary and preferred formulations of the compositions according to the present invention. It is understood that these examples are presented by means of an illustration only and that additional, useful formulations fall within the scope of this invention and the claims can be easily produced by one skilled in the art and do not deviate from the spirit's scope. the invention. Throughout this specification and the accompanying claims, the percentages by weight of any constituent will be understood as the percentage by weight of the active portion of the aforementioned constituent, unless indicated otherwise.

EXEMPLARY FORMULATIONS Preparation of Exemplary Formulations: Exemplary formulations illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the inventive compositions and described in more detail in Table 1 below, were generally formulated in accordance with the following protocol. The percentages in weight indicated are from the constituent called "as supplied" from their respective supplier. For the dye, the active percentages are shown in parentheses for the particular formulation. In a container of suitable size, a measured amount of water is provided after which the constituents are added in a uniform or nonspecific sequence, which indicates that the order of addition of the constituents is not critical. All of the constituents are supplied at room temperature, and no remaining amount of water is added after this. If certain non-ionic surfactants gel at room temperature they are first preheated to give them pourable liquids before addition and mixing. The mixing of the constituents is achieved by the use of a mechanical agitator with a small diameter propeller at the end of its rotating shaft. Mixing, which generally lasts from 5 minutes to 120 minutes, is maintained until the formulation of the particular example appears to be homogeneous. Exemplary compositions are readily pourable, and maintain good mixing characteristics (i.e., stable mixtures) by staying for extended periods. The compositions of the formulations of the example are listed in Tables 1 and 2. Examples of concentrated compositions which are suitable for dilution within the scope of this invention are shown in Tables 1 and 2. The various components used in the Tables 1 and 2 are identified in Table 3.

Table 1 Components Comp, 1 Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3 Ex. 4 EJ. 5 Ex 6 BTC 1010 1, 580 6,000 6,000 6,000 BTC 8358 1,482 0.960 1,482 Alfonic 810-4.5 1,500 1,500 1,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 Genapol 26-L-60 2,730 Glucopon 325 3,636 Pluronic PE6400 1,818 1, 500 1,500 EDTA Na "0.227 Borax 0.091 Na2C03 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.250 0.250 0.250 NaHC03 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.250 0.250 0.250 NaOH 0.864 KOH 0.389 0.389 0.389 Fragrance 0.182 0 182 0.450 0.350 0.350 Dye 0.182 (3%) 0.182 (3%) 0.450 (1%) 0.006 0.450 (1%) Water Di es. is. is. is. is. is. is.

Table 3 Component Description BTC 1010 Didecyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride (active at 50%) Stepan BTC 8358 Alkyl-dimethyl-benzyl-ammonium chloride (active at 80%) Stepan Alfonic 810-4.5 Straight chain alcohols of C8-CIQ , ethoxylated with approximately 4.85 moles of ethylene oxide (Condea Vista) Genapol 26-L-60 Ethoxylated primary alcohol of C12-16 having points in clusters of -60 C (1.0% by weight in water). Clariant Glucopon 325 C9-11 alkyl polyglycoside. Cognis Pluronic PE6400 Copolymer block EO / PO BASF AG (also available as Pluronic L64) EDTA of Na4 Ethylenediaminetetraacetate tetrasodium Borax Sodium borate hydrated Na2C03 Sodium carbonate NaHC03 Sodium bicarbonate NaOH Sodium hydroxide (25% solution) KOH Potassium hydroxide (45% solution) Fragrance Patented Blend Dye Patented Blend Water D.I. Deionized water The anti-microbial efficacy of Ex. 1 and Ex. 2 are generally evaluated in accordance with the standardized AOAC Dilution-Use test method based on the Official AOAC Methods of Test Procedures 955.14"Test disinfectants against Salmonella choleraesuis" and Procedure 955.15"Test disinfectants against Staphylococcus Aureus "(15th Edition, 1990, pages 135-137, Methods of Use-Dilution). The results reported in Table 4 indicate the proportion of the number of carriers within which the organism remains alive after 10 minutes of exposure at 20 ° C, above the total number of carriers used in the test. Samples of Ex. 1 and Ex. 2 are diluted from 1 part to 40 parts of water before the test. / Both examples show disinfectant activity.

The ocular toxicity of the inventive formulations which are the subject of the present application, is evaluated using the Draize ocular analysis. The measured response is the time in days needed to produce a Draize score of zero. The analysis of the results shows a non-ionic, significant type, through the interaction of the level of the quaternary ammonium compound, thus indicating the effect of the level of the quaternary ammonium compound, increased, in the ocular toxicity, is different when the surfactants are not Short-chain ionics are present in the formulation that when non-ionic non-short chain surfactants, in equal weight percentages. Specifically, the average effect to raise the level of the quaternary ammonium compound from its "lower" level to its "higher" level when a non-short chain non-ionic surfactant is present, is an increase of 3. IX in the time required to achieve a Draize score of zero against only a 1.4X increase when a non-ionic, short-chain surfactant is present. The cleaning evaluation of the formulation of Ex. 3 is compared to Comp. 1 in accordance with the test protocol described in accordance with Test Method AST D4488 A2, which evaluates the effectiveness of the cleaning compositions in the samples of the masonite panel, painted with the wall paint. Applied dirt is a sample of oily soil containing vegetable oil, food lard and animal fat. The sponge (wet with water) of a Gardner Abrasion Checker is drained with a 15 gram sample of a tested cleaning composition, and the apparatus is operated in a cycle 10 times. The evaluation of the cleaning compositions are "matched" with one side of each of the test samples treated with a composition according to the invention, and the other of the same sample is treated with a composition of the comparative example, thus allowing make a "side by side" comparison. Each of these tests is doubled in 20 panel tiles and the results are analyzed statistically. The cleaning efficiency of the tested compositions is evaluated using a Chroma Meter Minolta CF-110, with a DP-100 Data Processor, which evaluates the spectrophotometric characteristics of the sample. Also, the cleanup evaluation of the E formulation. 3 is compared to Comp. 1 in accordance with the test protocol described in accordance with ASTM D-4488-89 Annex A5 for soils with particles, which evaluates the effectiveness of the cleaning compositions in the vinyl tile samples. Applied dirt is a particulate soil sample containing natural humus, paraffin oil, used crankcase motor oil, Portland cement, silica, carbon black, iron oxide, black clay banded, stearic acid , and oleic acid. Each of the samples (two samples) of test vinyl tile, stained, they are placed in the apparatus and the center of each tile is moistened with a sample of 20 ml of a test formulation and left to stand for 1 minute. When approximately 30 seconds have elapsed, an additional 50 ml sample is applied to the sponge (wet with water, then squeezed to remove excess water) from a Gardner Abrasion Verifier. The apparatus is then operated in a cycle 10 times, which provides 20 strokes of the sponge through the front of each of the test vinyl tiles. The reflectance values of the cleaned samples are evaluated using a Chroma Meter Minolta CF-110, with a DP-100 Data Processor, which evaluates the spectrophotometric characteristics of the sample. In the test the cleaning efficiency of E. 3 with respect to Comp. 1 under ASTM D-4488 Annex A2 and D-4488-89 Annex A5, Ex. 3 is equal to or better than Comp. 1 when tested either fully concentrated or diluted 1:16 or 1:32 (E 3 or Comp 1 ragua).

Claims (17)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as novelty and, therefore, the content is claimed as the property in the following: CLAIMS 1. An aqueous composition characterized in that it comprises: at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties; at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to ten carbon atoms in the non-polar hydrophobic portion of the surfactant; optionally, up to about 5% by weight of one or more conventional additives selected from coloring agents, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents, other non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, other antimicrobial / germicidal agents, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts, non-aqueous solvents, optical brighteners, opacifiers, hydrotropes, anti-foaming agents, enzymes, anti-stain agents, anti-oxidants, and anti-oxidants. anti-corrosion; and, water to form 100% by weight of said composition.
2. 2. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties is present in an amount from about 0.001 to about 10% by weight.
3. 3. The composition according to claim 2, characterized in that at least ur. Non-ionic surfactant having from six to eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic, non-polar portion of the surfactant is present in an amount from about 0.01 to about 10% by weight.
4. 4. The composition according to claim 3, characterized in that a non-ionic surfactant having six to eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic, non-polar portion of the surfactant is selected from linear ethoxylated alcohols of C6_C10 having from about 1 to about 6 moles of ethylene oxide.
5. 5. The composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the C5-C10 linear ethoxylated alcohols having from about 1 to about 6 moles of ethylene oxide are present in an amount of about 0.1% - 6% by weight .
6. 6. The composition according to claim 5, characterized in that the linear C6-Ci0 ethoxylated alcohols having from about 1 to about 6 moles of cyclic oxide, are present in an amount from about 0.1% - 3% by weight.
7. 7. - The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it is in a ready-to-use form.
8. 8. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it is in a concentrated form.
9. 9. - An aqueous composition, characterized in that it comprises 1 part of the aqueous composition for cleaning and disinfecting according to claim 1, from 10 to 128 parts of water.
10. 10. - A process for cleaning / disinfecting hard surfaces, characterized in that it comprises the step of: applying an effective amount of the composition according to claim 1 to the surface.
11. 11. - An aqueous composition, characterized in that it consists essentially of: at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties; at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to ten carbon atoms in the hydrophobic, non-polar portion of the surfactant; optionally, up to about 5% by weight of one or more conventional additives selected from coloring agents, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents, other non-ionic, non-short chain surfactants, other antimicrobial / germicidal agents, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts, non-aqueous solvents, optical brighteners, opacifiers, hydrotropes, anti-foaming agents, enzymes, anti-stain agents, anti-oxidants, and anti-oxidants. anti-corrosion; and, water to form 100% by weight of said composition.
12. 12. The composition according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties is present in an amount from about 0.001 to about 10% by weight.
13. 13. - The composition according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one non-ionic surfactant having six to eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic, non-polar portion of the surfactant is present in an amount from about 0.01. up to about 10% by weight.
14. 14. The composition according to claim 13, characterized in that a non-ionic surfactant having six to eleven carbon atoms in the hydrophobic, non-polar portion of the surfactant is selected from linear Cg-Cio ethoxylated alcohols. having from about 1 to about 6 moles of ethylene oxide.
15. 15. The composition according to claim 14, characterized in that the Cg-Cio linear ethoxylated alcohols having from about 1 to about 6 moles of ethylene oxide are present in an amount from about 0.1% - 6% by weight .
16. 16. - The composition according to claim 15, characterized in that the linear C6-Ci0 ethoxylated alcohols having from about 1 to about 6 moles of ethylene oxide are present in an amount of about 0.1% - 3% by weight .
17. 17. The composition according to claim 16, characterized in that it is in a ready-to-use form.