MXPA99002590A - Alkaline hard surface cleaner and process therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

Strong alkaline cleaning solutions and concentrates therefor can be prepared without using any phosphorus or nitrogen containing surfactants by combining a weak carboxylate surfactant with at least one, or preferably both, of an aliphatic alcohol alkoxylate nonionic surfactant and an alkyl phenol alkoxylate nonionic surfactant. The predominant alkoxylates in the nonionic surfactants are ethoxylates, but at least the non-aromatic based surfactant preferably contains some propoxylate also.

Description

ALKALINE CLEANER FOR HARD SURFACES AND PROCESS FOR USING IT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relates to a process for cleaning hard surfaces, particularly those of metal objects, which are contaminated with oil or similar materials that are widely used as lubricants in the machining and / or as temporary protection against corrosion. These oily materials should normally be virtually completely removed from a metal surface to prepare it for uniform formation on the surface of a coating that will provide long-term protection against corrosion.

The term "alkaline cleaning solutions" as used herein includes all aqueous solutions containing: (i) at least one dissolved alkalizing constituent, such as hydroxides, carbonates, borates, alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphates or silicates and ( ii) non-neutralizing acid or an amount of this acid that leaves the total composition with a pH greater than 8. Borates, phosphates and silicates in this class include simple and condensed types, such as metasilicate, pyrophosphate and tripol phosphate and borax and Similar. The alkali and alkaline earth metals include particularly sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, barium and the like. This invention relates more specifically to these cleaning solutions, and the concentrates for preparing them, which contain hydroxide (s) as the sole or at least the most predominant alkalizing constituent.

STATEMENT OF RELATED ART Commonly, the alkaline cleaning compositions now used for the preparation of metal surfaces contain a surfactant component, which may be a single chemical type of surfactant or a mixture of these chemical types, which includes any or all of the classes of anionic, cationic, amphoteric ionic and nonionic surfactants. (Cationic surfactants are used less commonly than other types in metal cleaning formulations because they are more likely to affect the processing and subsequent treatment of the metal surface in some way that may be adverse.) Nonionic surfactants are generally Preferred for cleaning powders, but they do not dissolve easily in highly concentrated aqueous hydroxide solutions, which are desirable for economic reasons to reduce shipping water costs: if a highly concentrated liquid can be supplied as a strong alkaline cleaner concentrate, the solutions Cleaning work that contain the alkaline ingredients of the concentrate can be prepared more economically with local water supplied at the point of use. It is known that the dissolution of nonionic surfactants in concentrated alkaline aqueous solutions can be improved by mixing with some type of anionic surfactants containing phosphorus. However, there are often environmental objections for cleaners that contain phosphorus. Surfactants containing amine groups, such as those used in some mixtures of commercial product surfactants recommended for strongly alkaline cleaners, may also be environmentally undesirable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aims of the invention A main objective of the invention is to provide an aqueous, alkaline cleaning composition, if desired very strongly alkaline and / or a combination of surfactants for it, with cleaning power at least as good as that which is achieved by the conventional prior art compositions, which utilize substantial amounts of surfactants containing phosphorus and / or nitrogen but with minimization of the amounts of phosphorus and / or nitrogen used in the compositions. Another concurrent or alternative objective is to provide aqueous alkaline cleaning compositions with better cleaning power than those of the prior art. Other objectives will be evident from the following description General principles of the description Except in the claims and operative examples, or where otherwise expressly indicated otherwise, all numerical quantities in this description indicating amounts of the material or conditions of reaction and / or use are understood modified by the "approximate" word in the description of the broadest scope of the invention. However, practice is generally preferred within established numerical limits. Also, in the description and the claims, unless otherwise expressly stated: the values for percent, "parts of" and proportion are by weight; the term "polymer" includes "oligomer", "copolymer", "terpolymer", and the like; the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a particular purpose in relation to the invention implies that mixtures of any two or more of the members of the group or class are equally suitable or preferred; the description of the constituents in chemical terms refers to the constituents at the time of addition to any combination specified in the description, and does not necessarily prevent chemical interactions between the constituents of a mixture once mixed; the specification of the materials in ionic form implies the presence of sufficient counterions to produce electrical neutrality for the composition as a whole, and any of the counterions thus implicitly specified is preferably selected from among other constituents explicitly specified in ionic form, in the extent possible; otherwise, these counterions may be freely selected, except to prevent the counterions from acting adversely for the purpose of the invention; and the term "mole" and its variations can be applied to ionic, chemically unstable neutral and any other chemical species, either real or hypothetical, which is specified by the type (s) of atoms present and the number of each type of atoms included in the defined unit, as well as substances with well-defined neutral molecules.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that a mixture of specific types of nonionic surfactants, with a specific type of anionic organic material, substantially free of any other chemical elements other than carbon, hydroxide and oxygen can achieve good cleaning force with acceptable foaming low in moderate to strongly alkaline aqueous cleaning compositions and has sufficient solubility to allow the formulation of a stable liquid concentrate package with more than 25% of the total alkali metal hydroxide content.

Detailed description of the invention, includes preferred embodiments A preferred embodiment of the invention is an aqueous liquid composition which is suitable, as such, after dilution with water, or as such and after dilution with water, to clean hard surfaces, particularly steel and galvanized steel surfaces. This composition contains, preferably consists essentially of, or more preferably consists of water and: (A) an amount of a dissolved alkalizing component; (B) an amount of a component of dissolved organic material selected from the group consisting of molecules containing, in each molecule: (i) at least one carboxyl or carboxylate moiety, and (ii) a total of at least 10 carbon atoms; and (C) an amount of a dissolved component of nonionic surfactants, which excludes those that are part of any of the previously mentioned components, selected from molecules each containing at least 4 portions - (CH2CH2O) -, preferably attached between yes in a block; and optionally, one or more of the following components: (D) an amount of a sequestering agent and / or chelating agent component that is not part of any of the aforementioned components; and (E) an amount of an anti-foaming agent component that is not part of any of the aforementioned components. The preferred alkalizing agents for the component (A) include ammonium, sodium and potassium hydroxides, the latter two being more preferred. Both of which appear substantially the same in the promotion of cleanliness. Sodium hydroxide is usually less expensive but also forms less soluble salts with almost any acidic material that can be added to the composition and / or is less tolerant of non-electrolytes in mutual aqueous solution with it, so that at least one Potassium hydroxide is usually preferred for very strong concentrates according to the invention. In a specific preferred embodiment, only potassium and / or sodium hydroxide (s) are used for component (A).

Independently of other preferences, a concentrated composition according to the invention, the amount of dissolved hydroxide in the component (A) is such as to provide at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 3.8 , 4.1, 4.4, 4.7, or 5.0 moles of OH "per kilogram of the total concentrated composition The total stoichiometric equivalent as hydroxide ions of all the soluble alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides dissolved in the composition should be considered as dissolved OH. to determine if these preferential values are obtained, except when acids or other reagents known to be rapidly reactive with aqueous hydroxide ions are also added to the compositions, in such case, only the remaining hydroxide ions net after theoretically complete neutralization or other Rapid reaction of these added reagents are considered OH "dissolved. In a working composition according to the invention, the concentration of dissolved hydroxide ions is preferably from 0.5 to 3.0% of concentrations initially stated in this paragraph as preferred for the concentrated compositions. Component (B) is preferably selected from molecules that contain, in each molecule, at least two portions selected from the group consisting of: (i) carboxyl and carboxylate portions, and (ii) carbonyl and hydroxyl portions that are not part of the carboxyl or carboxylate portions, these two portions being preferably independently separated from one another within the molecules by at least 2 atoms in these molecules that are not part of the portions. More preferably,. at least two portions selected from the group consisting only of carboxyl and carboxylate portions are present in each molecule carboxylates are present in each molecule of component (B), and independently, the carbon atoms in each of the portions are separated by exactly two or exactly three of other atoms in a molecule of component (B). For the purposes of this description, a single portion of the general formula: -COC-II II O or is considered equivalent to two carboxyl or carboxylate portions, because it is expected to hydrolyze very quickly to the corresponding dicarboxylic acid or salt thereof when it is added to a composition according to the invention. Independently of all other preferences, the molecules of component (B) preferably have numbers of total carbon atoms and portions selected from the group consisting of: (i) carboxyl and carboxylate portions, and (ii) carbonyl and hydroxyl portions which they are not part of the carboxyl or carboxylate moieties so that, on the average especially of the component (B), the number of total carbon atoms has a relation to the total number of portions selected from the group consisting of (i) carboxyl portions and carboxylate, and (ii) carbonyl and hydroxyl portions which are not part of the carboxyl or carboxylate moieties, which is at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 3.0: 1.0, 3.5: 1.0, 4.0: 1.0, 4.5: 1.0, 5.0: 1.0, 5.5: 1.0, or 5.9: 1.0 and independently of preference is not greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 20: 1.0, 18: 1.0, 16: 1.0, 14: 1.0, 12: 1.0, 11 : 1.0, 10: 1.0, 9.0: 1.0. 8.0: 1.0 7.5: 1.0, 7.0: 1.0 or 6.5: 1.0. More preferably, component (B) is selected from octenyl- and nonenyl succinic acids and their salts, which may be added to the compositions as such or as anhydrides as already indicated. The component (C) preferably includes molecules that conform to at least one of the general formulas I and II: R1 R2-C - (- CH-CH2-0) 3-R3 (i; wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and may be the same or different from one molecule to another within the component and from one location to another within a single molecule of the component; R2 represents a linear, cyclic and / or branched, saturated or unsaturated monovalent aliphatic portion that (1) can be any of the following: (1.1) is a hydrocarbon portion, or (1.2) can be formally derived from a hydrocarbon portion by (1.2.1) Substituting at least one halogen atom for at least one hydrogen atom and / or (1.2.2) substituting at least one oxygen atom for at least one methylene group which is separated by at least one atom. carbon atoms of the oxygen atom shown in formula (I) which is directly attached to R and (2) has a total number of carbon atoms and ether oxygen atoms such that the average value for the total number of carbon atoms and the ether oxygen atoms in each of the portions R in the total of all the molecules in the aqueous liquid composition that make up the general formula I is at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0.11, or 11.8 and independently of preference is not greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 50, 40, 30, 25, 20, 18, 16, 15.0, 14.0, 13.5, 13.0, 12.5; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or? ..? A monovalent organic portion with not more than 3 total carbon atoms; and s represents a positive integer, but it is necessary that it does not represent the same positive integer for each molecule; and: R1 R4-C (C6H4) -0- (- CH-CH2-0) t-R3 (II), wherein R1 and R have the same meanings as set forth for general formula I; R represents a monovalent, linear, cyclic and / or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic portion that: (1) can be any of the following: (1.1) is a hydrocarbon portion, or (1.2) can be formally obtained from a portion hydrocarbon by (1.2.1) substitution of at least one halogen atom for at least one hydrogen atom, (1.2.2) substitution of at least one ether oxygen atom for at least one methylene group or (1.2.3) both replacing at least one halogen atom with at least one hydrogen atom as the substitution of at least one ether oxygen atom for at least one methylene group, and (2) having a total number of carbon atoms and oxygen atom ether such that the average value, over all the molecules in the composition that make up the general formula II, by the total number of carbon atoms and ether oxygen atom in each of the R4 portions in the composition is when r > s, with increasing preference in the given order, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 7.5, or 8.0 and independently of preference is no greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 20, 18, 16, 15.0 , 14.0, 13.0, 12.0, 11.0, 10., or 9.0; (C6H4) represents an ortho-, meta- or para-phenylene nucleus; and t represents a positive integer, but it is necessary that it does not represent the same positive integer for each molecule. The molecules of the component (C) that make up the general formula I as given in the above can be collectively referred to below as the component (Cl), and likewise the molecules of the component (C) that make up the general formula II as given in the above can be collectively referred to as component (C.2). any one of, or both components (C.l) and (C.2) may, but not necessarily, constitute all of the component (C). More preferably, independently for each given preference, independently in each of the components (Cl) and (C.2) for which the specified portion is in the corresponding general formula: each of R2 and R4 is linear or only it has a methyl side chain in an otherwise linear structure; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, formyl, and acetyl moieties; the average values, especially of this component, for s and for the fraction of R1 for which R1 represents a hydrogen atom such that the value 1 of the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (hereinafter commonly abbreviated as "HLB") for the component (Cl) is at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 7.9, or 8.2, and independently of preference is no greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 20.0, 19.0, 18.0, 17.0, 16.0, 15.0, 14.7, 14.4, 14.1, 13.9, or 13.7; and the average values, especially of the component (C.2), for t and for the fraction of Ri for which Ri represents a hydrogen atom, are such that the HLB value for component (C.2) is at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 8. 0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 11.5, 12.0, 12.3, 12.6, 12.9, 13.2, or 13. 5, and independently of preference is not greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 20, 18.0, 17.0, 16. 5, 16.0, 15.5, 15.0, 14.5, 14.1, 13.9, or 13.8. Still more preferred, mainly for reasons of economy and independently for each of R and R4: the average number, especially of the component (C.2) for R4 or 2 of the component (Cl) for R, of the oxygen atoms ether per portion R 2 or R 4 is not greater than, preferably increasing in the given order, 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5, 0.3, 0.1, 0.02, or 0.002, and independently the average number, especially of the component (C. 2) for R4 or the component (Cl) for R, of halogen atoms per portion R2 or R4 is not greater than, preferably increasing in the given order, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2.0, 1.5, 0.3, 0.1 , 0.02, or 0.002, independently of all other established preferences, for the component (Cl), in an average on a total component, each molecule contains at least one portion R1 that is methyl instead of hydrogen. if the HLB value for a specific commercial nonionic surfactant or mixtures of surfactants is given as a range by its supplier and the chemical formula of the nonionic surfactant is known, the arithmetic average of the extremes of the range is considered the only HLB value for the material for the purposes of the definition of this invention. If the definition of this invention is to be calculated by the methods described in D. Meyer Surfactant Science and Technology. { VCH Publisher, New York and Weinheim, 1988), formulas 6-10 and 6-11 and table 6.2 on pages 236-237. Preferably, a working cleaning composition according to the invention contains the components (B), (C), (Cl) and (C.2) as described above in such concentrations that, independently for each established preference: the concentration of the component (Cl) is at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 0.001, 0.002, 0.004, 0.006 , 0.008, 0.010% but, mainly for reasons of economy, is no greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 10, 5, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, 1.0, 0.80, 0.70, 0.60, 0.50, 0.40, 0.30, 0.20, 0.10, 0.80, 0.60, 0.040, or 0.020%; the concentration of component (C.2) is at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 0.002, 0.004, 0.008, 0.012, 0.016, or 0.020%; but independently, mainly for reasons of economy, it is no greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 10, 5, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, 1.0, 0.80, 0.70, 0.60, 0.50, 0.40, 0.30, 0.20, 0.10, 0.080, 0.060, 0.040, or 0.030%; the ratio of the concentration of the component (C.2) to the concentration, if this concentration is not 0, of the component (Cl) is at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 0.10: 1.0, 0.20: 1.0, 0.30: 1.0, 0.35: 1.0, 0.40: 1.0, 0.45: 1.0, or 0.50: 1.0, but regardless of preference is not greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 50: 1.0, 40: 1.0, 30: 1.0, 20: 1.0, l.:1.0, 8.0: 1.0, 7.0: 1.0, 6.0: 1.0, 5.0: 1.0, 4.0: 1.0, 3.0: 1.0 2.5: 1.0 or 2.0: 1.0; the concentration of component (B) is at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50, 0.60, 0.70, 0.80, 0.90, or 0.98 times larger than (i) 4.0 times the concentration of the component (Cl) and (ii) 0.50 times the concentration of component (C.2) but independently, mainly for reasons of economy, is no greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 7.0, 6.5, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, or 4.5 times greater than the concentration of the total component (C). The main reason observed for a preference for the presence of both components (Cl) and (C2) is that the latter is more effective in cleaning and more soluble in aqueous solutions strongly alkaline but has a strong tendency to foam, while the The former contributes somewhat to the cleaning power itself and also unexpectedly acts as an exceptionally effective defoamer for an aqueous composition that would otherwise only include the components (A), (B), and (C.2). The resistance to foaming is usually very important in the use of any cleaning composition, because the production of excessive amounts of foam can make the cleaning process lines more ineffective. A laboratory test that has generally been found to be well correlated with the resistance to practical foaming is performed as follows: a volume of 100 ml of composition to be tested is placed in a graduated cylinder with a glass stopper with at least one 250 ml capacity. The cylinder and its contents are brought to a temperature equilibrium by any convenient method, usually a temperature-controlled bath, and then vigorously shaken up and down by hand, while the container is held upright with the stopper in place. , 20 times in rapid succession. Immediately after finishing this agitation, the cylinder is placed vertically on a horizontal table and the stopper is removed. A stopwatch is activated independently after the stopper has been removed. The volume of foam is determined from the graduations on the cylinder by noting the difference between the graduations in the upper part of the foam and in the upper part of the liquid composition underlying the cylinder in a time 30 ± 1 and / or 60 ± 1 seconds after the stopwatch started. A composition of work according to the invention, or a solution in year with a content of 2.0% of a concentrated composition according to the invention, preferably has a foam volume when measured by the above test which does not is greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 150, 100, 75, 60, 50, 40, 30, 25, 20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 7.0, 6.0, 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, or 2.0 milliliters. Component (B) has relatively little cleaning power but paijeces to act as an unexpectedly effective hydrotrope to solubilize component (C) in aqueous solutions: strongly alkaline. Sequestering agents suitable for optional component (D) include sorbitol, mannitol, gluconates, citrates, heptogluconates, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid ("EDTA"), nitro-triacetic acid ("NTA"), other water-soluble organic compounds containing at least two carboxyl, carboxylate and / or hydroxyl portions, the latter being exclusive of hydroxyl portions that are part of the carboxyl portions, which are separated from each other within the molecule by at least two, more preferably, by exactly two or three other atoms which are not part of the carboxyl or carboxylate, or hydroxyl, portions together with the salts, particularly potassium salts and sodium, of all the compounds previously mentioned in this paragraph, are acids. Gluconates, heptogluconates, EDTA, NTA; sorbitol and / or mannitol. The concentration of sequestering agents in a concentrated composition according to the invention is preferably at least, with increasing preference in the given order, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 2.9, 3.1, or 3.3% and independently, mainly for reasons of economy, it is no greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 20, 15, 10, 8.0, 7.0, 6.0, 5.0, 4.5, 4.1, 3.9, or 3.7%. The cleaning, according to the invention, can be carried out by any method which contacts the dirty hard surfaces to be cleaned with a liquid working cleaning composition according to the invention, for a sufficient time to transfer at least part of the dirt on the hard surface towards the liquid working cleaning composition, then removing the surface to be cleaned from contact with the liquid working cleaning composition and, optionally but normally, rinsing the cleaned surface with water to remove any adhering cleaning composition. Preferably, during the contact between a surface to be cleaned and a composition according to the invention, the temperature of the composition according to the invention is at least, preferably increasing in the given order, 30, 35, 40 , 45, 50, 55, or 60 ° C, and independently, mainly for reasons of economy, preferably not greater than, with increasing preference in the given order, 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, or 65 ° C . In general, the spraying of the surfaces to be cleaned with a working cleaning composition is preferred to other methods of contacting these surfaces, because the mechanical action of the dew shock assists in the rapid transfer of the dirt to the surface. cleaning liquid. Preferably, to avoid environmental contamination, and for other different reasons, the compositions according to the invention, preferably contain independently for each component of minimized preference set forth below, no more than, with increasing preference in the given order, 5.0, 3.0 , 1.0, 0.5, 0.2, 0.10, 0.05, 0.02, 0.01, 0.005, 0.002, 0.001, 0.0005, 0.0002, 0.0001, 0.00005, 0.00002, or 0.00001 percent of any of: phosphorus, nitrogen, and any material that: (i ) is not part of one of the necessary or optimal components previously established, and (ii) is regulated under the laws of the US as a "volatile organic compound". Another appreciation of the present invention can be had from the following examples and comparative examples which are proposed to illustrate, but not to limit, the invention.

Examples and Comparative Examples The liquid compositions shown in Tables 1 and 2 below, most, but not all of which are in accordance with the invention, were prepared, and the working compositions of some of these were prepared and used as it is described in the footnotes of the tables. All of these compositions, except number 10, were optically clear and showed no visual evidence of phase separation.

Table 1 Notes for table 1 The difference not explicitly shown for each composition in the table was water. TRITÓN ™ X-405 was commercially supplied by Van Waters and Rogers and was reported by its supplier as a modified polyethoxy addition product of an alcohol, giving rise to a nonionic surfactant with an HLB value of 13.6.; TRITÓN ™ X-100 was commercially provided by Van Waters and Rogers and was reported by its supplier as a non-phenol polyethoxy addition product, giving rise to a non-ionic surfactant with an HLB value of 13.5; and TERGITOL ™ 15-S-3 was commercially supplied by Van Waters and Rogers and was reported by its supplier as a modified polyethoxy addition product of secondary alcohols of Cn-15, giving rise to a non-ionic surfactant with an HLB value of 8.3.

Table 2 Notes for table 2 The difference not explicitly shown for each composition in the table was water. The foam volume values were measured in solutions at 2.0% of the concentrates in water at 4C ° C by the test method described in the main text. "n.m." means "not measured" (because the composition was not a single phase).

The percent water breakage values were measured by visual estimation by an expert classifier, such as percent of the area of the surfaces of stained, standardized metal test panels that were not covered with water breaks, ie, separation of a Adherent layer of water in visually obvious thick and thin areas, after a perfect rinse with water followed by immersion, without further mechanical agitation, for 10 minutes in a working composition that was prepared by dissolving the corresponding concentrate in water to provide a solution to 2.0% of the concentrate in the working composition and was maintained at 60 ° C during the dive.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS 1. A liquid, aqueous composition, which is suitable as such, after dilution with additional water, or both as a cleaner for hard surfaces, this composition contains water and: (A) a concentration of a dissolved alkalizing component; (B) a concentration of the dissolved component of organic material selected from the group consisting of molecules containing, in each molecule, (i) at least one carboxyl or carboxylate moiety, and (ii) a total of at least 10 carbon atoms; and (C) a concentration of a dissolved component of nonionic surfactants, except those that are part of any of the aforementioned components, selected from the molecules each containing at least four portions -CH2CH2O). The composition according to claim 1, which consists essentially of water and: (A) a concentration of a dissolved alkalizing component, at least a preponderance of which is selected from the group consisting of ammonium, sodium and potassium hydroxides; (B) a concentration of a dissolved substance of organic material selected from the group consisting of molecules containing, in each molecule, (1) at least two carboxyl or carboxylate moieties, (2) numbers of (2.1) carbon atoms total and (2.2) total portions selected from the group consisting of (2.2.1) carboxyl and carboxylate portions, and (2.2.2) carbonyl and hydroxyl portions that are not part of the carboxyl or carboxylate portions, so that the number of total carbon atoms has a relation to the total number of portions selected from the group consisting of: (i) carboxyl and carboxylate portions, and (ii) carbonyl and hydroxyl portions which are not part of the carboxyl or carboxylate portions, which is from approximately 3.0: 1.0, 20: 1.0, 18: 1.0, 16: 1.0, 14: 1.0, 12: 1.0, 11: 1.0, 10: 1.0, 9.0: 1.0, 8.0: 1.0; and (C) a concentration of a dissolved component of nonionic surfactants, exclusive of those that are part of any of the previously mentioned components, selected from molecules that each contain at least 4 portions - (CH2CH2O) - bonded together in a block; and, optionally, one of more [sic] of the following components: (D) a concentration of a sequestering agent and / or chelating agent component that is not part of any of the aforementioned components; and (E) a concentration of a component of antifoaming agent that is not part of any of the previously mentioned components, wherein the concentration of component (B) is not greater than about 15 times the concentration of component (C). 3. The composition according to claim 2, wherein: the component (C) includes molecules selected from each of the different groups of molecules that make up the general formulas I and II: R1 R2-C - (- CH-CH2-0) s-R3 (I), wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and can be the same or different from one molecule to another within the component and from one location to another. another within a single molecule of the component; R represents a linear, cyclic and / or branched, saturated or unsaturated monovalent aliphatic portion which (1) can be any of the following: (1.1) is a hydrocarbon portion, or (1.2) can be formally obtained from a hydrocarbon portion poi. (1.2.1) Substituting at least one halogen atom for at least one hydrogen atom and / or (1.2.2) substituting at least one oxygen atom for at least one methylene group that is separated by at least one atom. carbon atoms of the oxygen atom shown in formula (I) which is directly attached to R2 and (2) has a total number of carbon atoms and ether oxygen atoms such that the average value for the total number of carbon atoms carbon and ether oxygen atoms in each of the R portions in the total of the molecules in the aqueous liquid composition that make up the general formula I is from about 5.0 to about 30; R represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic portion with not more than 3 total carbon atoms; and s represents a positive integer, but does not need to represent the same positive integer for each molecule; and: R1 R4-C (C6H4) -0- (- CH-CH2-0) -R3 (II), wherein R1 and R3 have the same meanings as set forth for general formula I; R represents a monovalent, linear, cyclic and / or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic portion that: (1) can be any of the following: (1.1) is a hydrocarbon portion, or (1.2) can be formally obtained from a hydrocarbon portion by: (1.2.1) replacing at least one halogen atom with at least one hydrogen atom, (1.2.2) replacing at least one ether oxygen atom with at least one methylene group or (1.2.3) both the substitution of at least one halogen atom for at least one hydrogen atom as the substitution of at least one ether oxygen atom for at least one methylene group, and (2) has a total number of carbon atoms and oxygen atoms ether such that the average value, over all the molecules in the composition that make up for the general formula II, by the total number of carbon atoms and ether oxygen atom in each of the R4 portions in the composition is from approximately, 3.0 to approximately 15.0; (CßHs) represent an ortho-, meta- or para-phenylene nucleus; and t represents a positive integer, but does not need to represent the same positive integer for each molecule, the molecules of component C that make up the general formula I as given in the previous, being collectively referred to as component (Cl) and the molecules of the component (C) that they conform for the general formula II as it was given in the previous thing being denominated in collective form as the component (C.2); and components A, B, C, Cl, and C2 are present in the composition in concentrations such that: the ratio of the concentration of component C2 to the concentration of component Cl is from about 0.10: 1.0 to about 20: 1.0, and the concentration of component (B) is from about 0.40 times the largest of (i) 4.0 times the concentration of the component (Cl) and (ii) 0.50 times the concentration of the component (C.2) up to about 10 times the concentration of the component C total. 4. The composition according to claim 3, wherein: the concentration of the component (Cl) is from about 0.001% to about 5%; the concentration of component (C2) is from about 0.002% to about 10%; the ratio of the concentration of the component (C2) to the concentration of the component (Cl) is from about 0.10: 1.0 to about 20: 1.0; and the concentration of component (B) is from about 0.40 times the highest of (i) 4.0 times the concentration of the component (Cl) and (ii) 0.50 times the concentration of the component (C.2) up to about 10 times the concentration of the component. component C total; and the concentration of component (A) includes at least about 0.010 moles per liter of hydroxide ions from sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or both. The composition according to claim 4, wherein: each of R and R is linear or has only one methyl side chain in an otherwise linear structure; R3 is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, formyl, and acetyl moieties; the average values, especially of the component (C.l), for s and for the fraction of Ri for which Ri represents a hydrogen atom are such that the HLB value for the component (C.l) is from about 5.0 to about 20.0; and the average values, especially of the component (C.2), for t and for the fraction of Ri for which Ri represents a hydrogen atom, are such that the HLB value for component (C.2) is from about 8.0 to about 20. The composition according to claim 5, wherein: the concentration of the component (Cl) is from about 0.004% to about 0.40%; the concentration of component (C.2) is from about 0.008% to about 0.80%; the ratio of the concentration of component (C.2) to the concentration of component C.l is from about 035: 1.0 to about 5.0: 1.0; and the concentration of component B is from about 0.70 times the largest of (i) 4.0 times the concentration of the component (Cl) and (ii) 0.50 times the concentration of the component (C.2) up to about 6.0 times the concentration of the component Total C The composition according to claim 6, wherein: the average values, especially of the component (Cl), for s and for the fraction of R for which R represents a hydrogen atom are such that the HLB value for the Cl component is from about 7.0 to about 14.4; in an average especially of the component C.l, each molecule contains at least one portion R, which is methyl; the average values, especially of component C.2, for t and for the fraction of Ri for which Ri represents a hydrogen atom, are such that the HLB value for component C.2 is from about 11.0 to about 16.0; the concentration of component C.l is from about 0.008% to about 0.040%; the concentration of component C.2 is from about 0.16% to about 0.080%; the ratio of the concentration of component C.2 to the concentration of component C.l is from about 0.50: 1.0 to about 2.0: 1.0; and the concentration of component B is from about 0.90 times the largest of (i) 4.0 times the concentration of component C.l, and (ii) 0.50 times the concentration of component C.2 to about 5.0 times the concentration of total component C. The composition according to claim 3, wherein: the ratio of the concentration of component C.2 to the concentration of component C.l is from about 0.10: 1.0 to about 20: 1.0; and the concentration of component B is from about 0.40 times the largest of (i) 4.0 times the concentration of component C.l and (ii) 0.50 times the concentration of component C.2 to about 10 times the concentration of total component C; and the concentration of component A includes at least about 1.0 moles per liter of hydroxide ions derived from sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or both. The composition according to claim 8, wherein: each of R and R4 is linear or has only one methyl side chain in an otherwise linear structure; 3 R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, formyl and acetyl moieties; the average values especially of component C.l, for s and for the fraction of R1 for which R1 represents a hydrogen atom are such that the HLB value for component C.l is from about 5.0 to about 20.0; the average values, especially of the component (C.2), for t and for the fraction of R for which R represents a hydrogen atom, are such that the HLB value for component (C.2) is from about 8.0 at about 20; and the concentration of component (A) includes at least about 3.0 moles per liter of hydroxide ions derived from sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or both. The composition according to claim 9, wherein: the ratio of the concentration of the component (C.2) to the concentration of the component (C.l) is from about 0.35: 1.0 to about 5.0: 1.0; and the concentration of component (B) is from about 0.70 times larger than (i) 4 times the concentration of the component (Cl) and (ii) 0.50 times the concentration of the component (C.2) to about 6.0 times the concentration of the component. total component (C); and the concentration of component (A) includes at least about 3.8 moles per liter of hydroxide ions derived from sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or both. The composition according to claim 10, wherein: the average values, especially of the component (Cl), for s and for the fraction of Ri for which Ri represents a hydrogen atom are such that the HLB value of the component (Cl) is from about 7.0 to about 14.4; in an average especially of the component (C.l), each molecule contains at least one portion R which is methyl; the average values, especially of the component (C.2), for t and for the fraction of R for which R represents a hydrogen atom, are such that the HLB value for the component (C.2) is from approximately 11.0 to approximately 16.0; the ratio of the concentration of the component (C.2) to the concentration of the component (C.l) is from about 0.50: 1.0 to about 2.0: 1.0; and the concentration of component (B) is from about 0.90 times larger than (i) 4.0 times the concentration of the component (Cl), and (ii) 0.50 times the concentration of the component (C.2) up to about 5.0 times the concentration of the total component (C). 12. A process for cleaning a hard surface soiled with oily or greasy impurities, the process consists in the steps of: (I) putting the soiled dirty surface in contact by spraying or immersion with an aqueous liquid composition according to claim 7 for a time sufficient to transfer at least part of the dirt on the hard surface to the aqueous liquid composition, the composition being maintained during contact with the hard surface at a temperature in a range from 45 to 70 ° C and the contact maintained for a time from about 0.50 to about 3 minutes, if the contact is established by spraying, and during and at least 3 minutes if the contact is established by immersion; and (II) removing the hard surface from contact with the aqueous liquid composition to make the surface a clean hard surface; and, optionally, (III) rinsing the cleaned surface with water. The process according to claim 12, wherein the hard surface is a steel or galvan steel surface. 14. A process for cleaning a hard surface soiled with oily or greasy impurities, the process comprising the steps of: (I) putting the soiled dirty surface in contact with an aqueous liquid composition, according to claim 6, for a sufficient time to transfer at least part of the impurities on the hard surface to the aqueous liquid composition, the composition being maintained during contact with the hard surface at a temperature in a range from 30 to 90 ° C; and (II) removing the hard surface from contact with the aqueous liquid composition to make the surface a hard surface cleaned; and, optionally, (III) rinsing the cleaned surface with water. 15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the hard surface is a steel or galvan steel surface. 16. A process for cleaning a hard surface soiled with oily or greasy impurities, the process comprising the steps of: (I) putting the soiled dirty surface in contact with an aqueous liquid composition, according to claim 5, for a sufficient time to transfer at least part of the impurity on the hard surface to the aqueous liquid composition; and (II) removing the hard surface from contact with the aqueous liquid composition to make the surface a hard surface cleaned; and, optionally, (III) rinsing the cleaned surface with water. 17. The process according to claim 16, wherein the hard surface is a steel or galvan steel surface. 18. A process for cleaning a hard surface soiled with oily or greasy impurities, the process comprising the steps of: (I) putting the soiled dirty surface in contact with an aqueous liquid composition, according to claim 4, for a sufficient time to transfer at least part of the impurities on the hard surface to the aqueous liquid composition; and (II) removing the hard surface from contact with the aqueous liquid composition to make the surface a hard surface cleaned; and, optionally, (III) rinsing the cleaned surface with water. 19. The process according to claim 18, wherein the hard surface is a steel or galvan steel surface. 20. A process for cleaning a hard surface soiled with oily or greasy impurities, the process comprising the steps of: (I) putting the soiled dirty surface in contact with an aqueous liquid composition, according to claim 1, for a sufficient time to transfer at least part of the impurities on the hard surface to the aqueous liquid composition; and (II) removing the hard surface from contact with the aqueous liquid composition to make the surface a hard surface cleaned; and, optionally, (III) rinsing the cleaned surface with water.