MXPA97003824A - Liquid cleaning compositions for light work in the form of microemuls - Google Patents

Abstract

A composition in the form of a microemulsion, liquid for light work, comprises a mixture of a secondary alkane sulphonate surfactant, an alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfate surfactant, an anionic biodegradable surfactant, a co-surfactant agent, a perfume or a hydrocarbon insoluble in water and

Description

LIQUID CLEANING COMPOSITIONS FOR LIGHT WORK IN THE FORM OF MICROEMULSIONS Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved liquid cleaner for light work in the form of a microemulsion intended in particular for cleaning hard surfaces and which is effective for removing garbage in the form of grease. and / or kitchen garbage leaving the surface without rinsing with a shiny appearance. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, many liquid detergents have been popularized for cleaning hard surfaces, for example painted woodwork and panels, tiled walls, toilet bowls, bath tubs, linoleum or tile floor, washable wallpaper. and similar. Such liquids comprise blends to opaque and clear things of water soluble synthetic organic detergents as well as water soluble detergent forming salts. To achieve a cleaning efficiency comparable with general purpose cleaning compositions in the form of granules or powder, preference was given to the water-soluble inorganic phosphate forming salts in the general purpose liquids corresponding to the prior art. For example, such phosphate-containing compositions, belonging to the prior art, are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,560,839; 3,234,138; 3,350,319; as well as British Patent No. 1,223,739. In view of the efforts of environmentalists to reduce phosphate levels in the water of the subsoil, improved liquids have appeared for general purposes containing reduced concentrations of inorganic-type phosphate-forming salts or also non-phosphate-type forming salts. An automatically opaque, particularly useful liquid of the latter type has been described in U.S. Patent No. 4,244,840. However, these liquid detergents corresponding to the prior art containing detergent-forming salts or other equivalent tend to leave films, spots or streaks on the cleaned surfaces, without rinsing, particularly glossy surfaces. Thus it can be said that such liquids require a vigorous rinsing of the cleaned surfaces which is a task for the user that costs time. In order to overcome the above inherent disadvantage of the prior art, U.S. Patent No. 4,017,409 teaches that a sulfonate paraffin mixture and a reduced concentration of an inorganic phosphate-forming salt should be employed. However, such compositions are not entirely acceptable from the ecological point of view, based on the phosphate content. On the other hand, another alternative to achieve general-purpose, phosphate-free liquids has been to use a larger proportion of a mixture of anionic and nonionic detergents with smaller amounts of glycol ether solvent and organic amine as shown in the North American patent number 3,935,130. Again it is pointed out that this approach has not been totally satisfactory and the high levels of organic detergents needed to achieve cleaning generate foam which in turn leads to the need to achieve a complete rinse, which has been found to be unattractive to consumers. today's consumers. Another approach to forming a liquid detergent composition for hard surfaces, in which the homogeneity of the product and its clarity are important considerations, involves the formation of oil-in-water microemulsions (international abbreviation: o / w) containing one or more surfactant detergent compounds, a solvent immiscible with water (typically a hydrocarbon solvent), water and a "co-surfactant" compound, which provides stability in the product. By definition, an oil-in-water microemulsion is a colloidal dispersion which is formed spontaneously from particles in the "oil" phase which have a particle size in the range of 25 to 800 A in a continuous aqueous phase. In view of the extremely fine particle size of the dispersed oil phase, microemulsions are transparent to light, clear and usually highly stable against phase separation. The texts of the patents that refer to the use of grease separating solvents in oil-in-water microemulsions include, for example, European patent application EP 0160762, in the name of Johnston et al, and US Pat. No. 4,561,991, in the name of Herbots et al. Each of these patent texts also shows the use of at least 5% by weight of grease-stripping solvent. It is also known from the British patent application GB 2144763A in the name of Herbots et al, published on March 13, 1985, that magnesium salts improve the grease removal performance of organic fat-separating solvents, such as terpenes, within of liquid detergent compositions in the form of an oil-in-water microemulsion. The compositions of this invention, described by Herbots et al, require at least 5% of the solvent mixture of grease separator and magnesium salt and preferably at least 5% of solvent (which can be a non-solvent mixture). polar immiscible with water and a slightly polar solvent poorly soluble) as well as at least 0.1% magnesium salt. However, in view of the fact that the amount of the immiscible component with water and sparingly soluble, which may be present in an oil-in-water microemulsion with a low total of active ingredients without reducing the stability of the microemulsion is quite limited ( example up to 18% by weight of the aqueous phase), the presence of such high amounts of fat separating solvents tend to reduce the total amount of greasy or oily wastes that can be absorbed by the microemulsion without causing phase separation. The following representative patents belonging to the prior art also relate to liquid detergent cleaning compositions in the form of oil-in-water microemulsions: North American patents number 4,472,291 in the name of Rosario; number 4,540,448 in the name of Gauteer et al and 3,723,330 in the name of Sheflin. Liquid detergent compositions including terpenes, such as d-limonene or other fat separator solvents, although not disclosed in the form of oil-in-water microemulsions, are the subject of the following representative patent documents: application of European patent 0080749; text of British patents 1,603,047; 4,414,128 and 4,540,505. For example, the patent No. 4,414,128 discloses in broad terms an aqueous liquid detergent composition characterized by the following ingredients by weight: (a) From 1% to 20% of an anionic, nonionic, amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant, or a mixture thereof; same; (b) From 0.5% to 10% of a monoterpene or sesquiterpene or of a mixture thereof, with a weight ratio (a): (b) in the range of 5: 1 to 1: 3; (c) From 0.5% to 10% of a polar solvent having a solubility in water at 15 ° C, in the range of 0. Other ingredients present in the formulations, which are presented in this patent, include from 0.05% to 2%. % by weight of an alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium soap of a fatty acid with C 13 -C 24 carbon atoms; a calcium sequestering agent of 0.5% to 13% by weight; a non-aqueous solvent, for example alcohols and glycol ethers in an amount of up to 10% by weight; and also hydrotropic, for example urea, ethanolamines, salts of lower alkaryl sulphonates, up to 10% by weight. All formulations shown in the examples of this patent include large relative amounts of detergent-forming salts, which are detrimental to surface gloss. In addition, the present inventors observed that in formulations containing magnesium compounds that help to remove fat, the addition of smaller amounts of forming salts, such as alkali metal polyphosphate, alkali metal carbonates, salts of nitrilotriacetic acid and the like, makes it more difficult. degree the formation of stable systems in states of microemulsions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved, liquid, light duty cleaning composition of a certain clarity, which has an improved interfacial tension, which improves cleaning and which has the form of a microemulsion suitable for cleaning hard surfaces such as for example of plates, plastic, glazed surfaces and metals that have a shiny finish. The compositions in the form of a light duty liquid microemulsion according to the present invention can generally be described as comprising approximately by weight: (a) from 10% to 34% of a mixture of an alkali metal salt of a surfactant of secondary alkane sulphonate with 13 to 17 carbon atoms and an alkali metal salt of an alkyl polyethenoxy sulphate with 8 to 18 carbon atoms, in which the proportion of the sulfonate surfactant relative to the sulfate surfactant is from 1.2: 1 to 14: 1, and more preferably from 1.35: 1 to 5: 1; (b) 1% to 25% of a modified alkyl polyglycoside surfactant of an alkyl ethoxy citrate such as lauryl ethoxy citrate; (c) From 0.4% to 10.0%, more preferably from 1.0% to 8.0% of a perfume, an essential oil or hydrocarbon insoluble in water; (d) 0% to 25% of an agent-surfactant, more preferably 2% to 15% of an agent-surfactant; (e) 0% to 25% of a zwitterionic surfactant such as a betaine; (f) The remainder constituted by water, in which the composition has a Brookfield viscosity at 25 ° C and 30 revolutions per minute with the use of a number 2 shaft from 20 to 500 cps and more preferably from 200 to 450 cps, with a pH from 5 to 7, and a light transmission that at least 95% and more preferably 98%. Detailed description of the invention. The present invention relates to a stable composition in the form of a microemulsion containing approximately by weight: from 1% to 25% of a modified polyglycoside surfactant or an alkylethioxy citrate, from 10% to 34% of a mixture of an anionic secondary alkane sulfonate surfactant and an alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfate surfactant, is from 0% to 25% of a surfactant, from 0% to 25% of zwitterionic as betaine, from 0.4% to 10% of a hydrocarbon insoluble in water, essential oil or perfume and the rest being constituted by water, this composition having a light transmission of at least 95% and more preferably at least 98% In accordance with the present invention, the hydrocarbon paper is provided for a perfume not soluble in water.

Typically, in the water-based compositions the presence of a solubilizer, such as for example a hydrotropic of alkali metal lower alkyl aryl sulfonate, triethanolamine, urea, etc., is required for the dissolution of the perfume, especially with perfume levels. of 1% and more, since perfumes are generally a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aromatic compounds that are generally not soluble in water. Accordingly, by incorporating the perfume in the aqueous cleaning composition as the oil phase (hydrocarbons) of the final composition in the form of an oil-in-water microemulsion, various important advantages are achieved. First, the cosmetic properties of the final cleaning composition are improved: the compositions are both clear (as a result of the formation of a microemulsion) and have a high degree of fragrance (as a consequence of the level of the perfume). Second, the need to use solubilizers that do not contribute to the cleaning effect is eliminated. As used herein in the appended claims, the term "perfuming" is used (in its common sense to refer to, and include, any fragrant substance not soluble in water or mixtures of substances that include natural fragrances) ie those that are obtained by extraction of flowers, herbs or plants) or artificial (ie mixtures of natural oils or constituting based on oils and synthetically produced substances). Typically perfumes are complex mixtures of different organic compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, aromatics and different amounts of essential oils (for example terpenes) as from 0% to 80%, usually 10% to 70%. % by weight, the essential oils being volatile odoriferous compounds that also serve to dissolve the other components of the perfume. In the present invention, the exact composition of the perfume is not a particular consequence for the cleaning effect as long as the criteria of immiscibility with water and a pleasant smell are met. Of course, especially for cleaning compositions intended for use in the home, the perfume, like all other ingredients, must be cosmetically acceptable, ie they must be non-toxic, allergenic type, etc. The hydrocarbon, as a perfume, is present in the oil-in-water microemulsion diluted in an amount from 0.4% to 10% by weight, preferably from 1.0% to 8% by weight and particularly preferably from 2% to 7% by weight. weight. If the amount of hydrocarbon (perfume) is less than 0.4% by weight, it becomes difficult to form the oil-in-water microemulsion. If the hydrocarbon (perfume) is added in amounts greater than 10% by weight, it increases at cost without any additional cleaning benefit and in fact, with some reduction in cleaning performance since the total amount of oily or oily waste that can being absorbed in the oil phase of the microemulsion will decrease proportionally. In addition, although a higher fat separation performance will be achieved for perfume compositions that do not contain any solvent amount of perteno, it is obviously difficult for perfumers to formulate perfume compositions sufficiently economical for products of that type (ie, typical products of consumption, very sensitive in terms of cost), which include less than 20% and usually less than 30% of such terpene solvents. Thus, simply as a practical matter and based on economic considerations, the detergent compositions in the form of microemulsions, of the diluted type, of oil-in-water, according to the present invention, can often include as much as 0.2% to 7% by weight, based on the total composition, of the terpene solvents introduced into the material through the perfume component. However, even if it were the amount of terpene solvent within the cleaner formulation of less than 1.5% by weight, as up to 0.6% by weight, or up to 0.4% or less, a satisfactory grease separation and oil separation capacity is provided by the oil-in-water microemulsions, diluted according to the present invention. Place of perfume one may employ an essential oil such as D-limonene or alpha-terpineol, a water-insoluble paraffin or isoparaffin containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms with a concentration of 0.4 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.4 at 8.0% by weight. Suitable essential oils are selected from the group consisting of: Anethole 20/21 natural, Chinese star anise seed, anise globe brand seed oil, balsam (Peru), Brazil oil (India), black pepper oil, oleoresin 40/20 black pepper, rosewood (Brazil) FOB, Borneol flakes (China), camphor oil, white, camphor powder, technical synthetic type, Cananga oil (Java), cardamom oil, cassia oil (China ), cedar wood oil (China) BP, cinnamon bark oil, cinnamon leaf oil, citronella oil, clove button oil, clove leaf, coriander (Russia), coumarin at 69 ° C (China) cyclamen aldehyde, diphenyl oxide, ethyl vanillin, eucalyptol, eucalyptus oil, eucalyptus citriodora, fenel oil, geranium oil, ginger oil, ginger oleoresin (India), white grapefruit oil, wood oil guayaco, gurjun balm, heliotropin, isobornyl acetate, isolongi folene, juniper blackberry oil, L-methyl acetate, lavender oil, lemon oil, lemongrass oil, lime distilled oil, litsea cubeba oil, longifolle, methol crystals, methyl cedril ketone, methyl chavicol, methyl salicylate, musk ambrette, musk ketone, musk xylene, mixed walnut oil, orange oil, patchouli oil, peppermint oil, phenyl ethyl alcohol, pepper blackberry oil, pepper leaf oil, rosalin, sandalwood oil, sandenol, sago oil, sago clary, safran oil, spearmint oil, lavender spike, tagetes, tea tree oil, vanillin, vetiver oil (Java), oil of wintergreen. Anionic detergents, other than suitable soaps, soluble in water, include those surfactant compounds or detergents containing an organic hydrophobic group containing in general from 8 to 29 carbon atoms and preferably from 10 to 18 carbon atoms in their molecular structure and at least one water-solubilizing group selected from the group of sulfonate, sulfate and carboxylate to form a water-soluble detergent. In general, the hydrophobic group will include or comprise an alkyl, alkylaryl or acyl group with 8 to 22 carbon atoms. Such detergents are used in the form of water-soluble salts and the salt-forming cation is usually selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium and mono-alkanolammonium or trialkanolammonium having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, the cations of sodium, magnesium, ammonium.

Examples of suitable anionic sulfonate detergents are the well-known higher alkyl mononuclear aromatic sulphonates, such as higher alkyl benzene sulphonates containing from 10 to 16 carbon atoms in the higher alkyl in a straight or branched chain, the alkyl toluene sulphonates with 8 to 15 carbon atoms and the alkyl phenol sulfonates with 8 to 15 carbon atoms. A preferred sulfonate is straight chain alkyl benzene sulphonate having a high content of 3-phenyl isos (or greater) and a correspondingly low (well below 50%) content of 2-phenyl-isomers (or lower), that is to say that the benzene ring is preferably bonded and for the most part in the 3 or more position (for example 4, 5, 6 or 7) of the alkyl group and the content of the isomers in which the benzene ring is attached in position 2 or 1 is correspondingly low. Particularly preferred materials are mentioned in U.S. Patent No. 3,320,174. Other suitable anionic detergents are the olefin sulfonates, including the long chain alken sulfonates, the long chain hydroxyalkane sulfonates or the mixtures of the alken sulfonates and hydroxyaceano sulfonates. These olefin sulfonate detergents can be prepared in a known manner by the reaction of sulfur trioxide (S03) with long chain olefins containing from 8 to 25 carbon atoms and preferably from 2 to 21 carbon atoms and having the formula RCH = CHR1 in which R is an upper alkyl group with 6 to 23 carbon atoms and R? is an alkyl group with 1 to 17 carbon atoms or hydrogen to form a mixture of sultones and alkene sulphonic acids which is then treated to convert the sultones to sulfonates. The preferred olefin sulfonates contain from 14 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl group R and are obtained by sulfonating a 2-olefin. Other examples of suitable anionic sulphonate surfactants are the paraffin sulfonates containing from 10 to 20 atoms and preferably from 13 to 17 carbon atoms. The primary paraffin sulfonates are made by reacting the long chain alpha-olefins and the bisulfites and the paraffin sulphonates having the sulfonate group distributed by the paraffin chain as shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,503,280; 2,507,088; 3,260,744; 3,372,188, as well as in German Patent No. 735,096. The preferred anionic sulfonate surfactants used in the present compositions are the secondary alkane sulphonate surfactants with 13 to 17 carbon atoms. Examples of satisfactory anionic sulfate detergents are the salts of C 8 -C 18 alkyl sulphate and the alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulphate salts with 8 to 18 carbon atoms which I have formula R (OC2H4) n OS03M in which n is 1 to 12 preferably 1 to 5 and M is a solubilizing cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium and the ammonium ions of monoethanol, diethanol and triethanol. The alkyl sulphates can be obtained by sulfating the alcohols obtained by reducing the glycerides of coconut oil or tallow or their mixtures and neutralizing the resulting product. On the other hand, the alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfonates are obtained by sulfating the condensation product of ethylene oxide with an alkanol containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms and neutralizing the resulting product. The alkyl sulfates can be obtained by sulfating the alcohols obtained by reducing the glycerides of the coconut or tallow oil or their mixtures and neutralizing the resulting product. On the other hand, the alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfates are obtained by sulfating the condensation product of ethylene oxide with an alkanol of 8 to 18 carbon atoms and neutralizing the resulting product. The alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfates differ from each other in the number of moles of ethylene oxide which are reacted with one mole of alkanol. Preferred alkyl sulfates and preferred alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulphates contain from 10 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl group.

The alkyl phenyl ether polyethenoxy sulfates with 8 to 12 carbon atoms containing from 2 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide in the molecule are also suitable for use in the compositions according to the invention. These detergents can be prepared by reacting an alkyl phenol with 2 to 6 moles of ethylene oxides and sulfating and neutralizing the resulting ethoxylated alkyl phenol. Other suitable anionic detergents are the polyethenoxyl carboxylates of alkyl ether with 9 to 15 carbon atoms which have the structural formula R-0 (C2H40) nRlCOOX in which n represents a number from 4 to 12, preferably from 5 to 10 and R1 is selected from the group consisting of CH2TOC3H6 and X = H +, Na +, K +, Li +, NH4 +, DEA, TEA or other multivalent cations, while R is a fatty group with 8 to 18 carbon atoms. Obviously these anionic detergents will be present either in acid form or in salt form according to pH of the final composition, with the salt forming cation being the same as for the other anionic detergents. Of the anionic detergents which are not soaps, mentioned above, the preferred detergents are the straight chain alkyl benzene sulphonates having 9 to 15 carbon atoms and the paraffinic or secondary alkane sulphonates having 13 to 17 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the compounds of alkyl benzene sulfonates of sodium with 10 to 13 carbon atoms and the secondary alkane sulphonates of sodium with 13 to 17 carbon atoms. Generally the proportion of anionic sulfonates detergents which are not soaps, will be in the range of 1.0% to 25%, preferably 1% to 7% by weight of the diluted composition of the oil-in-water type microemulsion. Generally the proportion of the alkyl ether, anionic, non-soap polyethenoxy sulfate detergent will be in the range of 1% to 20%, preferably 2% to 10% by weight of the diluted composition of the oil-in microemulsion. Water, in which the ratio of the anionic sulfonate to the alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfate is from 1.2: 1 to 14: 1 and more preferably from 1.3: 1 to 5: 1. The water-soluble zwitterionic surfactant which is also an essential ingredient of the present liquid detergent composition, constitutes from 0% to 25%, preferably from 1% to 10% by weight and provides good foaming and softness properties with respect to the present liquid detergent based on a non-ionic character. The zwitterionic surfactant is a water-soluble betaine that has the general formula: R2 R, - N - R? - X ~ in which X- is selected from the group consisting of C02 ~ and S03- and R2 is an alkyl group having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 12 to 16 carbon atoms, or the radical amido R --CO - NH - (CH2) a - in which R is an alkyl group with 9 to 19 carbon atoms is already an integer from 1 to 4; R2 and R3 are each alkyl groups possessing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and preferably a carbon atom; R 4 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and optionally a hydroxyl group. Typical alkyl dimethyl betaines include decyl-dimethyl betaine or 2- (N-decyl-N, N-dimethyl-ammonia) acetate, coconut dimethyl betaine or 2- (N-coconut) acetate N, N-dimethyl-ammonium), myristyl dimethyl betaine, palmityl dimethyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl betaine, cetyl dimethyl betaine, stearyl dimethyl betaine, etc. Amidobetaines similarly include coconut amidoethyl betaine, coconut amidopropyl betaine, and the like. A preferred betaine is coco amidopropyldimethyl betaine with 8 to 18 carbon atoms. One of the biodegradable anionic surfactants useful in the present invention is a sodium salt of a di-alcohol ethoxy citrate which is represented by the formula: R-O- (CH2-CH2-O) m-OC-CH2 X + OOC-C-OH R-O- (CH2-CH2-O) n-OC-CH2 wherein R is an alkyl group with 10 to 16 carbon atoms. An especially preferred biodegradable anionic surfactant is the sodium salt of di-urine citrate, manufactured by Auschem in which X + is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, triethanol amine, diethanol amine and monoethanol amine, in which preference is given to sodium and that myn are each a number from 1 to 12, more preferably 5 to 9 and more preferably equivalent 7. Another biodegradable anionic surfactant is a modified alkyl polyglycoside represented by the formula CH, X R OH OH OH m in which R = ALCOHOL GRAS (radical) in which R is an alkyl group with 10 to 16 carbon atoms, m is an average number less than 4 and having a value such that it provides a number molecular weight of 500 to 1000 and preferably from 1 to 4 while X is selected from the group consisting of C0CH2CHC00Z (sold under the trade name Eucarol® S03Z APG / SS), COCH2COH - CH2OOZ (sold under the trade name Eucarol® COOZ APG / ET) CO - COH - CH - COOZ (sold under the trade name OH Eucarol ® APG / ET) in which Z is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, triethanol amine, diethanol amine and monoethanolamine. Escarol is a commercial name of Auschem. The CO-surfactant agent can play an essential role in the formation of the compositions present as microemulsions. In very brief terms and in the absence of the co-surfactant agent, the water, the detergent or the detergents and the hydrocarbon (for example the perfume), will form, when mixed in suitable proportions either micellar solution (of low concentration) or it will form an oil-in-water emulsion in the first aspect of the invention. With the co-surfactant agent added to that system, the interfacial yield at the interface between the droplets of the emulsion and the aqueous phase is reduced to a very low value (never negative). This reduction of the interfacial obtainment results in a spontaneous breakage of the droplets of the emulsion in consecutively smaller units until the state of a transparent emulsion of colloidal sizes, ie a microemulsion, is formed. In the state of a microemulsion, thermodynamic factors come to be balanced with different degrees of stability related to the total free energy of the microemulsion. Some of the thermodynamic factors involved in determining the total free energy of the system are (1) the potential of particle to particle; (2) the interfacial tension of the free energy (stretching and bending); (3) the entropy of the dispersion of the droplets; and (4) changes in the chemical potential upon formation. A thermodynamically stable system is reached when (2) the interfacial tension or free energy (3) is reduced to a minimum when the entropy of the dispersion of the droplets is put at a maximum point. Thus, the role of the co-surfactant agent in the formation of a stable microemulsion in the form of oil-in-water is (a) to decrease the interfacial tension (2); and (b) modify the structure of the microemulsion and increase the number of possible configurations (3). At the same time the co-surfactant (6) will decrease the stiffness. In general terms, an increase in the concentration of the co-surfactant agent results in a wider range of temperatures, as far as the stability of the product is concerned. The most important class of the compounds, which has been found, provides co-surfactants highly suitable for the microemulsion at temperatures ranging from 5 ° C to 43 ° C are, for example, glycerides, ethylene glycol, glycols of water-soluble polyethylene with a molecular weight of 300 to 1000, the polypropylene glycol with the formula HO (CH3CHCH20) nH in which n is a number from 2 to 18, the mixtures of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol (Synalox) and the mono-alkyl ethers and esters of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol having 1 to 6 carbon atoms possessing the structural formulas R (X) n0H and R-LIXHnOH in which R is an alkyl group with 6 atoms of carbon, R2 is an acyl group with 2 to 4 carbon atoms, X is (OCH2CH2) or (0CH2 (CH3) CH) and n is a number from 1 to 4, is diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, a lactate of alkyl wherein the alkyl group contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms l-methoxy-2-p ropanol, l-methoxy-3-propanol and 1-ethoxy 2-, 3- or 4-butanol. Representative members of polypropylene glycol include dipropylene glycol and polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 200 to 1000., for example polypropylene glycol 400. Other satisfactory glycol ethers are ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl cellosolve), ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl carbitol), triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, monobutyl ether of monopropylene, dipropylene or tripropylene glycol, triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, monopropylene glycol ether monobutyl, dipropylene or tripropylene, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, diethylene glycol monohexyl ether , the tertiary butyl ether of propylene glycol, the ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, the ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, the ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, the ethylene glycol monopentyl ether, the diethylene glycol monomethyl ether , diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monopropyl ether, diethylene glycol monopentyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether no, triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycol monopropyl ether, triethylene glycol monopentyl ether, triethylene glycol monohexyl ether, monopropylene glycol monoethyl ether, dipropylene or tripropylene glycol monoethyl ether, glycol monopropyl ether monopropylene, dipropylene or tripropylene, the monopentyl ether of glycol of monopropylene, dipropylene or of tripropylene, the monohexyl ether of glycol of monopropylene, dipropylene or of tripropylene, the monomethyl ether of glycol of monobutylene, of dibutylene or of tributylene, the monomethyl monobutylene, dibutylene or tributylene glycol ether, monobutylene glycol monopropyl ether, dibutylene or tributylene glycol monobutyl ether of monobutylene, dibutylene or tributylene, monobutyl ether of monobutylene glycol, dibutylene or of tributylene as well as the monohexyl ether of monobutylene glycol, of dibutylene or of tributylene, the ethylene glycol monoacetate no and dipropylene glycol propionate. When these co-surfactants of the glycol type are present in a concentration of 1.0% to 14% by weight, such as more preferably 2.0% by weight to 10% by weight in combination with a hydrocarbon insoluble in water at a concentration of at least 0.5% by weight, more preferably 1.5% by weight, one can form a composition in a microemulsion state. While all the glycol ether compounds mentioned above provide the described stability, the compounds of the most preferred co-surfactants of each type, on the basis of cost and cosmetic appearance (particularly the flavor) are glycerol, monomethyl ether dipropylene glycol as well as propylene glycol. The least preferred co-surfactants are ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol and the alkanols possessing from 5 to 7 carbon atoms. The amount of the co-surfactant agent required to stabilize the compositions in the form of microemulsions will of course depend on such factors as the characteristics of the surface tension of the co-surfactant agent, the type and amounts of the primary surfactants and the perfumes. as well as the type and quantities of any other additional ingredients that may be present in the composition and which may exert an influence on the thermodynamic factors indicated above. Generally the amounts of the co-surfactant agent in the range from 0% to 25%, preferably from 0.5% to 15% and especially preferably from 2% to 13% by weight, provide dilute and stable oil-in-water microemulsions for the levels described above of the primary surfactants and perfume and any other additional ingredients as described below. The final essential ingredient within the compositions in the form of liquid microemulsions for light work according to the present invention and which has improved interfacial tension properties is water. The proportion of water in the compositions present in the form of microemulsions is generally in the range of 20% to 97%, preferably from 70% to 97% by weight of the usual composition in the form of a diluted oil-in-water microemulsion.

With the above it is believed to have clarified within the present invention, the circumstance that the compositions in the form of liquid microemulsions for light work according to the present invention are particularly effective to be used as such, ie without further dilution in water, all Once the properties of the composition in the state of a microemulsion are manifested in the best way in its clean form, that is to say in its undiluted form. However, at the same time it should be clear that according to the levels of surfactants, co-surfactants, perfume and other ingredients, it is possible as such some degree of dilution, if by that to break the microemulsion. For example, at the preferred low levels of the active surfactant compounds, dilutions of up to 50% will generally be favorably tolerated without causing phase separation, ie the state of the microemulsion will be maintained. However, even when diluted to a high degree such as 2 to 10 times or more in terms of dilution, for example the resulting compositions will still be effective in cleaning greasy, oily and other debris. In addition, the presence of magnesium ions or other polyvalent ions, such as aluminum, as will be described in more detail below, serves in addition to improve the cleaning effect of the primary detergents in their use in diluted condition. In addition to the ingredients described above, required for the formation of the composition in the microemulsion state, the compositions according to the present invention may possibly contain 1 or several additional ingredients which will serve to improve the overall performance of the product. One such ingredient is an inorganic or organic oxide salt of a multivalent metal cation, particularly Mg ++. The salt or the metal oxide provides different benefits including improved cleaning performance during its use in the diluted state, particularly in areas of soft water and reduced amounts to a minimum of perfume required to obtain the microemulsion state. Magnesium sulfate, either anhydrous or hydrated (for example the heptahydrate) especially preferred as the magnesium salt. Good results have also been obtained with magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, magnesium acetate, magnesium propionate and magnesium hydroxyl. These magnesium salts can be used with formulations at neutral or acid pH levels since magnesium hydroxide will not precipitate at these pH levels. Although magnesium is the preferred multivalent metal from which salts are formed (including their oxides and hydroxides) it is also possible to use other polyvalent metal ions as long as their salts are non-toxic and are soluble in the aqueous phase of the system at the desired level of pH. Thus, in accordance with such factors as the character of the primary surfactants and the co-surfactant agent and so on, and also according to availability and cost factors, other suitable polyvalent metal ions include aluminum, copper, nickel, iron , calcium, etc. It should be noted, for example, that with the preferred paraffin sulfonate anionic detergent, the calcium salts will precipitate and therefore these salts should not be used. It has also been found that the aluminum salts work better at a pH lower than 5 or when a low level, for example 1% by weight, of citric acid is added to the composition that according to, has been designed, it must have a level neutral pH. As an alternative it is also possible to directly add the aluminum salt as the citrate, if so. As the salt, the same general classes of anions as mentioned for magnesium salts can be used, such as halide (for example bromide, chloride) sulfate, nitrate, hydroxide, oxide, acetate, propionate, etc. Preferably in the diluted compositions the metal compound is added to the composition in an amount sufficient to provide at least one stoichiometric equivalent between the anionic surfactant and the multivalent metal cation. For example for each gram of Mg ++ there will be 2 gram moles of paraffin sulphonate, alkyl benzene sulfonate, etc., while for each gram of Al 3+ there will be 3 gram moles of anionic surfactant. Thus, the proportion of multivalent salt will generally be selected in such a way that one equivalent of compound neutralizes from 0.1 to 1.5 equivalents, preferably from 0.9 to 1.4 equivalents of the acid form of the anionic detergent. At higher concentrations the anionic detergent, the amount of the multivalent salt will be in the range of 0.5 to 1 equivalent for each equivalent of anionic detergent. The concentration of magnesium sulfate is from 0% to 4%, more preferably from 0.1% to 2% by weight. The composition in the form of liquid microemulsion for light work according to the present invention, if desired, may also contain other components either to provide an additional effect or to make the product more attractive to the consumer. The following data are presented by way of example: Colors or dyes in amounts up to 0.5% by weight; bacterized in amounts of up to 1% by weight; preservatives or antioxidant agents, formalin, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isotaliazolin-3-a, 2,6-di-tert.butyl-p-cresol, etc., in amounts of up to 2% by weight , and pH adjusting agents, such as sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide according to the needs.

In view of the compositions, as they are prepared, their aqueous liquid formulation and in view that no mixing is required to form the oil-in-water microemulsion, the compositions are prepared with ease simply by combining all the ingredients in one suitable container. The order of the mixing of the ingredients is not particularly important and in general the different ingredients can be added in sequence or all at the same time or in the form of aqueous solutions of each and every one of the primary detergents and the agents can be prepared separately co-surfactants and can be combined with each other and with the perfume. The magnesium salt or other multivalent metal compound, if present can be added as an aqueous solution thereof or can be added directly. It is not necessary to use elevated temperatures in the forming step and the ambient temperature is sufficient. The following examples illustrate the liquid cleaning compositions of the described invention. Unless otherwise specified, all percentages are by weight. The exemplified compositions are illustrative only and do not limit the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, the proportions in the examples and elsewhere in the text are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 The following compositions were prepared in% by weight; In summary, the described invention relates overall to an improvement in a composition in the form of a microemulsion, liquid for light work, containing a mixture of a secondary alkane sulphonate surfactant with 13 to 17 carbon atoms and a polyethenoxy surfactant. alkyl ether sulfate, a biodegradable anionic surfactant, optionally a betaine surfactant, one of the specified co-surfactants, a hydrocarbon ingredient and water to form a liquid composition for light work, in the form of a microemulsion.

Claims (11)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A composition in the form of liquid microemulsion, for light work, containing approximately by weight: 10% to 34% of a mixture of a sulfonate surfactant and an alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfate surfactant; from 1% to 10% of a zwitterionic surfactant, from 1% to 10% biodegradable anionic selected from the group consisting of an alkyl ethoxy citrate and a modified alkyl polyglucoside; from 0.4% to 8.0% of a hydrocarbon insoluble in water, essential oil or perfume; 0 to 25% of a co-surfactant agent and the rest being constituted by water.
2. 2. A composition in the form of a microemulsion, liquid for light work, according to claim 1, wherein the sulphonate surfactant and the alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfate are present in a ratio of 1.2: 1 to 14: 1.
3. 3. The cleaning composition according to claim 2 further comprising a multivalent metal cation salt in an amount sufficient to provide from 0.5 to 1.5 equivalents of the aforementioned cation for each equivalent of the anionic detergent.
4. 4. The cleaning composition according to claim 3 wherein the multivalent metal cation is magnesium or aluminum.
5. 5. The cleaning composition according to claim 3 in which the composition contains from 0.9 equivalents to 1.4 equivalents of the mentioned cation per equivalent of anionic detergent.
6. 6. The cleaning composition according to claim 4 wherein the multivalent salt is magnesium sulfate. The cleaning composition according to claim 2 containing from 0.5-15% to 7% by weight of the co-surfactant agent and from 0.4% to 8.0% by weight of hydrocarbon. 8. The cleaning composition according to claim 2 wherein the co-surfactant is a water-soluble glycol ether. The cleaning composition according to claim 8 wherein the glycol ether is selected from the group consisting of monobutyl ether of ethylene glycol, monobutyl ether of diethylene glycol, monobutyl ether of triethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 200 to 1000 and tert.-butyl ether of propylene glycol, or the monobutyl ether of dipropylene or tripropylene monopropylene glycol. 10. The cleaning composition according to claim 9 in which the glycol ether is the ethyl monobutyl of ethylene glycol or the ethyl monobutyl of diethylene glycol. 11. The cleaning composition according to claim wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant having 9 to 15 carbon atoms or a secondary surfactant surfactant with 10 to 20 carbon atoms. carbon.