MXPA99010912A - Cleaning composition and method of use - Google Patents

Abstract

A composition capable of removing hydrophobic soils is provided that includes a nonionic surfactant;a very slightly water soluble organic solvent;water;and an optional additive. Improved hydrophobic soil removal is achieved wherein an amount of the slightly water soluble solvent with respect to an amount of the surfactant is sufficient to achieve a haze point in the composition.

Description

COMPOSITION OF CLEANING AND METHOD OF USE OF THE SAME Description of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning composition for removing hydrophobic dirt from a soiled surface and to a method for the use of such a composition. __-Chemical cleaners are a significant portion of the industrial cleaning market. A chemical cleaner is typically aqueous and comprises an organic solvent for solubilizing various soils, a surfactant that serves as a wetting agent, and an additive that serves to chelate the ions present in water, such as magnesium and calcium. The types and ratios of these ingredients can vary considerably depending on the type of dirt to be cleaned and the desired performance. It is common for all components to be soluble in water. In some cases, however, particularly with the solvent ingredient, the solubility in water may be negligible. In these cases, components commonly called "couplers" or "hydrotropes" are used to increase the apparent water solubility of the organic solvent in the cleaning composition. The amount of coupler required depends on the type of coupler, REF .: 32049 organic solvent, and other components of the mixture. It is typically preferred to use the minimum amount of coupler necessary to completely solubilize the solvent, since this tends to reduce the cost of the cleaning composition. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,831 (VañEenam), discloses an aqueous cleaner that includes at least one organic solvent slightly soluble in water, having solubility in water of about 0.2 weight percent to about 6 weight percent, a solubilizing additive and water. The solubilization additive is present in an amount to make the slightly soluble water organic solvent completely soluble in water, so that the resulting aqueous solution is a true solution (ie, a clear mixture which does not have the effect of Tyndall) more than an emulsion or microemulsion. An aqueous composition that is formulated as a microemulsion is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,710 (VanEenam). The microemulsion includes at least one organic solvent slightly soluble in water, having solubility in water of about 0.2 weight percent to about 6 weight percent, an additive, a solubilizing additive and water. In this composition, the solubilization additive is present in an amount that does not substantially exceed the amount required to transform the combination of the organic solvent and the additive of a true macroemulsion to a microemulsion, but less than the amount required to transform the microemulsion to a true solution, where the microemulsion is clear and has a Tyndall effect. An aqueous composition degreaser is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,848 (VanEenam) The composition includes at least one organic solvent slightly soluble in water, having solubility in water of about 0.2 weight percent to about 6 weight percent, a thickener that increases viscosity, and water A stable emulsion, having a viscosity of at least 500 centipoises and a droplet size of about 0.1 to 3 millimicrons, occurs after subjecting the composition to vigorous mixing and / or cutting conditions.This relatively thick composition is typically used. in lotions, creams, emollients, lubricants, humectants and skin conditioners that do not degrease the skin - In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a composition for removing hydrophobic dirt The composition preferably includes a non-ionic surfactant, an organic solvent very slightly soluble in water, water and an optional additive.Preferably, the non-ionic surfactant and the thin solvent Water soluble in water are each present in an amount sufficient to reach a point of opacity in the composition. How it is used here, "surfactant" means a substance that is capable of reducing the surface tension of water. As used herein, "solvent very slightly soluble in water" means that the organic solvent has a water solubility range of from about 0.01 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, more preferably in the range of about 0.01 weight. weight percent to about 0.2 weight percent. "Opacity point", as used herein, means the first sign in which an aqueous composition of a nonionic surfactant titrated at room temperature with an organic solvent very slightly soluble in water becomes semitransparent. The opacity point is reached at the concentration when the clear solution of the nonionic surfactant is transformed to a translucent (or opaque) mixture of the nonionic surfactant and the organic solvent very slightly soluble in water.

While not related to any particular theory, it is believed that the opacity point is the point at which a true solution / microemulsion becomes a macroemulsion. Preferably, the composition includes the organic solvent slightly soluble in water and the non-ionic surfactant in a weight ratio of the organic solvent slightly soluble in water: southern, non-ionic, of about 0.3: 1.0 to about 0.8: 1.0. The opacity point is not intended to be synonymous with the "cloud point". Typically, "cloud point" is understood to mean the temperature below which the composition exists as a clear solution of a phase and above which phase separation is observed, often by an appearance of turbidity of the solution. Thus, the turbidity point of a given solution is temperature dependent. In contrast, the opacity point is measured at room or room temperature (typically from about 20 ° C to about 25 ° C). At room temperature, the concentration of one of the components is varied. Thus, a composition can be characterized by an opacity point that is dependent on the concentration of one of the components or relative ratio of components in the composition. An opacity point of a particular composition can be determined using the Opacity Point Determination Test, established herein as a Test Method. Preferably, the organic solvent slightly soluble in water is not a hydrocarbon or halocarbon, it contains one or more heteroatoms of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus containing the functional groups and contains an alkyl group containing from about 7 carbon atoms to about 16 carbon atoms. More preferably, the organic solvent slightly soluble in water contains a radical selected from the group of an alcohol, an aldehyde, a ketone, "an ether, a glycol ether, an acid, an amine, an ester, an N-alkyl pyrrolidone and a compatible mixture thereof Preferably, the non-ionic surfactant is selected from the group of a branched or linear ethoxylated primary alcohol, a secondary ethoxylated alcohol, a branched ethoxylated decylcole / tridecylic alcohol, a branched or linear ethoxylated alkylphenol, an alkyl branched or linear ethoxylated amine, an ethoxylated alkyl ether amine, a linear alkoxylated alcohol and a mixture thereof More preferably, suitable nonionic surfactants have an HLB value of from about 7 to about 16. Another embodiment of the invention is a method for removing hydrophobic dirt from dirty surfaces, comprising the steps of applying to an unclean surface an effective amount of the composition, as described above; and performing a mechanical operation on the surface with an abrasive article after applying the composition to the surface. An additional step to remove the composition from the surface could also be included in the method. • It was found surprisingly and unexpectedly that by adjusting the ratio of the slightly soluble organic solvent in water to the nonionic surfactant, the opacity point of the composition is reached, the removal of the hydrophobic soil was improved as shown by the decrease of the soaking times required to remove the dirt, demonstrated here by the examples. Figures 1 and 2 are a graphic representation of reaching an opacity point of compositions according to the invention. A composition for removing hydrophobic soil according to the invention preferably comprises a nonionic surfactant, an organic solvent very slightly soluble in water, water and an optional additive. Preferably, the nonionic surfactant and the solvent slightly soluble in water are each in an amount sufficient to reach a point of opacity in the composition. In a ratio of the organic solvent slightly soluble in water to the nonionic surfactant necessary to reach the point of opacity, the removal of hydrophobic soil improves compared to compositions where the ratio of the slightly soluble water organic solvent to the nonionic surfactant is either above or above. below the one needed to reach the opacity point. This phenomenon could indicate improved cleaning properties of the composition of the invention.

Non-ionic Surfactant As noted above, the surfactant serves the function of decreasing the surface tension of the water within the compositions of the invention. Nonionic surfactants are a preferred class of surfactants useful in the hydrophobic soil removal compositions of the invention. Examples are nonionic surfactants formed by condensation of alkyl phenols, alkyl amines or aliphatic alcohols with sufficient ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or a combination thereof, to produce a compound having a polyoxyethylene and / or polyoxypropylene chain within the molecule, ie, a chain composed of recurring (-0-CH2-CH2-) groups, or a chain composed of recurring (-0-CH2-XL.H-CH3) groups, or a combination of the same. Preferably, the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group of a branched or linear primary ethoxylated alcohol, a secondary ethoxylated alcohol, a branched ethoxylated tertiary / tridecyl alcohol, a branched or linear ethoxylated alkylphenol, a branched or linear ethoxylated alkyl amine, a Ethoxylated alkyl ether amine, a linear alkoxylated alcohol and a mixture thereof These nonionic surfactants preferably have an HLB value of from about 7 to about 16. "HLB", as used herein, refers to an emulsification behavior of A surfactant as well as the ratio between the hydrophilic and lipophilic moieties of a molecule Such nonionic surfactants are commercially available and are used for their detergent, active surface, wetting and emulsifying properties.A preferred nonionic surfactant used in the invention contains sufficient units of ethylene oxide to ensure the solubility of the surfactant nonionic in the composition or in any dilution thereof, which could be used in practice. A preferred group of nonionic surfactants includes from about 5 moles to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonionic surfactant, and more preferably from about 5 moles to about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonionic surfactant. Suitable nonionic surfactants include linear primary ethoxylated alcohols, such as those available under the trade designation "NEODOL 91-6" (a C9.CU alcohol having approximately 6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of linear primary ethoxylated alcohol) and "NEODOL 1-73B" (a Cu alcohol with a mixture of 7 moles and 3 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of linear primary ethoxylated alcohol), both are commercially available from Shell Oil ~ Company, Houston, TX; ethoxylated tridecyl alcohols such as "ICONOL TDA8" (which has 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of ethoxylated tridecyl alcohol), and "ICONOL TDA9" which has 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of ethoxylated tridecyl alcohol), • "ICONOL DA9" (an ethoxylated decyl alcohol having 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of ethoxylated decyl alcohol) and "ICONOL OPIO" (ethoxylated octylphenol having 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of ethoxylated octylphenol), all commercially available from BASF, Mount Olive, NJ; "E14-5" (ethoxylated isodecyloxypropyl amine having 5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of ethoxylated isodecyloxypropyl amine), commercially available from Tomah, Milton, Wl; and "TRITON RW-75" (an ethoxylated C12_C14 amine having 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of ethoxylated amine), commercially available from Union Carbide, Little Fall, NJ. Another preferred group of nonionic surfactants includes "PLURAFAC D-25" and "PLURAFAC RA-40", both are linear modified oxyethylated alcohol chains and are commercially available from BASF, Mount Olive, NJ, to name a few. The weight percent of the surfactant is typically in the range of about 0.1 to about 1.0 weight percent in ready-to-use formulas, with amounts of the surfactant greater than about 0.O percent by weight, which is non-economic and non-economic. typically makes a more beneficial moisturizing property. If the amount of nonionic surfactant is below about 0.1 weight percent, insufficient wetting of the surface covered with hydrophobic soil could be observed, but this is not necessarily considered outside the invention.

Organic Solvent Slightly Soluble in Asua ~ The slightly soluble water organic solvent used in the compositions of the invention serves to promote the rapid drying properties of the compositions, and to solubilize organic materials in hydrophobic soil. As used herein, the term "very slightly soluble in water" means that the organic solvent has a solubility in water in the range of about 0.01 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, more preferably about 0.01 weight percent. by weight at about 0.2 weight percent at about 20 ° C. Preferably, the organic solvent slightly soluble in water is not a hydrocarbon or halocarbon, it contains one or more heteroatoms of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus containing the functional groups and it contains an alkyl group containing from about 7 carbon atoms to about 16 carbon atoms More preferably, the organic solvent slightly soluble in water contains a radical selected from the group of an alcohol, an aldehyde, a ketone, an ether, a glycol ether, an acid, an amine, an ester, a pyrrolidone and a compatible mixture thereof. nicos slightly soluble in water are commercially available. For example, a preferred water-soluble organic solvent is an N-octyl pyrrolidone, available under the trade designation "SURFADONE" LP-100 from International Specialty Products, Wayne, NJ, which has a maximum water solubility of about 0.124 percent. in weigh. Other organic solvents slightly soluble in water include other materials commercially available under the trade designation "EEH," (ethylene glycol, ethyl hexyl ether having a solubility in water of about 0.1 weight percent) and "EH" (2-ethyl). hexanol having a solubility in water of about 0.1 weight percent), both commercially available from Eastman Chemical, Kingsport, TN; and "EXXAL-8" (isooctyl alcohol having a solubility in water of about 0.06 weight percent), as commercially available from Exxon, Houston, TX. Others include 1-octanol having a solubility in water of about 0.1 weight percent and di-isobutyl ketone having a solubility in water of about 0.05 weight percent, both commercially available from Aldrich Chemicals, Milwaukee, Wl.

Optional Additives The compositions of the invention may contain other optional but conventional additives. For example, the composition according to the invention could contain a coupler, typically of low molecular weight (less than 500), which has as its primary function the ability to substantially completely solubilize the organic solvents useful in the compositions of the invention. . 1 Couplers could also have surfactant properties. However, this is not its main function. The term "hydrotrope" is also sometimes used to describe coupling chemicals, and the terms "coupler" and "hydrotrope" are used interchangeably herein. A suitable coupler, which could optionally be included in the composition of the invention, is preferably selected from the group of isopropyl alcohol, DPM (dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether), propyl glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether and a mixture of same. "The compositions could also contain a colorant to provide a more aesthetic appearance, a fragrance to provide more acceptable odor, a condom to prevent bacterial growth in the solution, an antibacterial or bactericidal agent suitable for eradicating germs, mold, fungi and the like. , foaming or anti-foaming agents, film-forming agents, and the like In addition, it may be advantageous to include a compatible thickening agent to make the viscosity of the compositions of the invention such that they can be applied to a vertical surface, e.g., a table base, and without running from it. If such a shift occurs, the residence time of the composition with respect to the surface to be cleaned would be reduced. Alternatively, the composition could run over areas where you do not want to. In practice, the compositions of the invention could be sprayed as an aerosol or non-aerosol on the surface to be cleaned, or simply be poured on it. The grinding can be performed by means of conventional mechanical grinding devices or by using an aerosol dispenser container with a sufficient amount of suitable aerosol propellant such as low boiling alkanes or mixtures thereof, such as a mixture of isobutane and propane.

Methods for Cleaning Surfaces Using the Compositions of the Invention The compositions of the invention could be applied to a soiled surface in a concentrated or ready-to-use (rtu) form, as desired. It could be desired or required to perform a mechanical operation on the dirty surface after the application of a composition of the invention for the removal of hydrophobic dirt. The performance of a mechanical operation could include rubbing, abrading, washing, scrubbing and the like. However, if the fundamental surface is soft and / or decorative, abrasion or scrubbing may be undesirable. An abrasive article that could be used includes, for example, a porous sponge material, or woven or nonwoven article. A preferred nonwoven material is known under the trade designation "SCOTCH-BRITE" from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M), St. Paul, MN. Such non-woven products and their preparation are described in Pat. U.S. No. 2,958,593 (Hoover et al.). After performing a mechanical operation on the surface, the composition is preferably removed. This can be done by means of a variety of techniques that are known in general, including, for example, rinsing the composition of the surface.

Examples ~~ The compositions and methods of the invention are further described in the following Test Methods and Examples, wherein all parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.

Opacity Point Determination Test In a 150 ml glass beaker, a desired amount, typically about 0.1 gm to about 0.5 mg, of non-ionic surfactant was weighed to an accuracy of 0.01 gm on a standard top loading scale. Water was added in such a way that the weight of the aqueous solution of the non-ionic surfactant was 100 gm in total. The beaker containing the aqueous solution of the non-ionic surfactant was placed in a standard laboratory magnetic stir plate. The solution was stirred with a magnetic stir bar until the solution cleared. The stirring operation did not trap air or foam in the mixture. An organic solvent slightly soluble in water was added dropwise, until the solution became slightly opaque, by visual examination. The beaker was removed from the magnetic stir plate and placed in a standard light box containing a 52 watt / 120 volt light bulb. The light box also had a black paper mask around the four vertical surfaces. The entire upper surface of the light box was covered with white bond paper that had printed 9-point typeface and black-colored alpha-numeric characters. -_ The light of the light box went on. From the upper surface of the solution, the alpha-numeric characters were seen through the solution. The opacity point was determined by observation, if the characters were legible or totally dark. If the characters remained readable, the beaker was placed back on the magnetic stir plate and the organic solvent more lightly soluble in water was added dropwise and the observation of the character in the light box was repeated. The glass was weighed and the initial weight subtracted from the final weight. The difference in weight was the amount of organic solvent slightly soluble in water that was added to reach the opacity point. However, if the characters were completely dark, that is, the printed characters of any type could not be discerned, then the organic solvent slightly soluble in water was determined to be in excess and the entire process would need to be repeated. In other words, the point of _pacity was determined at the instant when the printed characters are still visible but the exact nature of each individual character could not easily be discerned while the characters are seen through the solution in the light box. .

Hydrophobic Dirt Removal Test 'In the hydrophobic soil removal tests, a hydrophobic soil solution consisting of equal amounts of dissolved soybean oil and lard in sufficient methylene chloride was prepared to form a solution. A small amount of blue oil pigment for visualization was added to the solution. Glass plates of 25 mm (mm) x 75 mm were then immersed for a few seconds in the hydrophobic dirt and were quickly placed in such a way that the hydrophobic dirt covered both sides of the plate (25 mm x 30 mm on each side). The plates covered with hydrophobic dirt were then dried by hanging them at room temperature (approximately 20 ° C) for at least 16 hours. In the hydrophobic soil removal test, 140 milliliters (ml) of the composition to be tested were placed in a 150 ml glass beaker equipped with a magnetic stir bar (2.54 cm in length). The beaker was then placed on a magnetic stirrer (Barnant Co. model No. 700-5011). The coated glass plate to be cleaned was then suspended vertically in the solution to be tested, covering the portion pointing towards the bottom of the glass with the other end attached to a suitable support, so that the glass plate did not it touched nothing but the composition that was going to be tested, and the stir bar did not hit the glass plate or the sides of the glass. The magnetic stirrer was turned on immediately and the power of the agitator was adjusted to 2000 rpm with a strobe light. The composition was stirred for five minutes, after which the% hydrophobic soil removal was measured visually for each side of the plate. The plates were not reused.

. Description of Materials The materials used to prepare the compositions evaluated in the following examples are summarized in Table 1, below Table 1 1 Ethylene glycol, ethyl hexyl ether 2 Isooctyl alcohol 3 2-ethyl hexanol Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether 5 Isopropyl alcohol Example 1 v Comparative Examples AE The compositions of Example 1 and Comparative Examples AE are given in Table 2. Comparative Examples A and B were formulated to include alone, an organic solvent slightly soluble in water (Comparative Example A) or a surfactant ( Comparative example B). Comparative Example C was formulated to include a surfactant and an organic solvent slightly soluble in water, wherein the organic solvent slightly soluble in water was present in a quantity just below the amount necessary to reach the opacity point, ie, the composition appeared clear in such a way that the characters were easily discernible when the composition was evaluated by means of the Opacity Point Determination Test, as described above. Comparative Examples D and E were formulated to include an organic solvent slightly soluble in water in an amount above the amount necessary to reach the opacity point, ie, turbidity appeared in the compositions and the presence of the characters could not be determined when the compositions were evaluated by means of the Opacity Point Determination Test. "" * These compositions were subjected to a Hydrophobic Dirt Removal Test, as described above. These results are shown in Table 3. The results in Table 3 showed that there was a synergistic effect of the slightly soluble organic solvent in water and the non-ionic surfactant at a ratio just below the opacity point, as shown by the Comparative Example C. However, it was unexpectedly observed that by increasing the ratio of slightly soluble water-soluble organic solvent to non-ionic surfactant so that the opacity point is reached, the cleaning effect of the composition markedly improved, as shown in Example 1. Comparative Examples D and E demonstrated that when the ratio of organic solvent slightly soluble in water to nonionic surfactant was increased well above the opacity point, no improvement of additional cleaning was observed. A determination of the opacity point was confirmed by a spectrophotometric analysis of a composition having increasing amounts of the organic solvent slightly soluble in water added to an aqueous solution of a surfactant, represented by Example 1. An aqueous solution of 0.35 was prepared. % by weight of a surfactant (ICONOL TDA9) and 0.14% by weight of isopropyl alcohol and stirred until clarified. An aliquot of 4 gm was transferred from the solution to the available polystyrene cuvette, available from Fischer Scintific. The percent transmittance was measured using a UVIKON 941 spectrophotometer, available from Kontron Instruments, San Diego, CA, at 500 nm wavelength. After the transmittance was recorded, the aliquot was decanted into the solution. Two drops of the slightly soluble water-soluble organic solvent (EEH) were added per interval, i.e., when the percent transmittance was determined after the addition of two drops of the slightly soluble water organic solvent. - The percent transmittance (% transmittance at 500 nm) is plotted against the concentration of the organic solvent slightly soluble in water (concentration% by weight). Figure 1 shows the results of increasing the amounts of EEH, as illustrated in Example 1 (at the opacity point). It appears that the opacity point can be determined graphically by drawing a tangent line in the part of the titration curve that shows the greatest decrease in percent transmittance. Then a tangent line can be drawn in Xa asymptotic part of the lower end of the curve. The amount of organic solvent slightly soluble in water, to reach an opacity point, for a given non-ionic surfactant, seems to be the concentration at the intersection of these two tangent lines (not shown).

NJ Lp or? Table 2 N) NJ O n cp NJ • m rH Examples 2-8 and Comparative Examples F and G The compositions of Examples 2-8 and Comparative Examples F and G are given in Table 4. These examples varied the surfactant and the organic solvent slightly soluble in water. Examples 2 and 3 included an organic solvent slightly soluble in water having a solubility in water of about 0.06% compared to about 0.1% of that used in Examples 1 and 2. Example 5 includes an organic solvent slightly soluble in water having a solubility in water of approximately 0.124%. These compositions were subjected to the Hydrophobic Dirt Removal Test, as described above. These results are shown in Table 5. An opacity point determination was confirmed by means of a spectrophotometric analysis of a composition having increases in the amounts of the slightly soluble water organic solvent added to an aqueous solution of a surfactant, depicted for Example 8. An aqueous solution of 0.35% by weight of a surfactant (NEODOL 91-6) and 0.14% by weight of isopropyl alcohol was prepared and stirred until clarified. An aliquot of 4 gm was transferred from the solution to the available polystyrene cuvette, available from Fischer Scientific. The percent transmittance was measured using a UVIKON 941 spectrophotometer, available from Kontron Instruments, San Diego, CA, at 500 nm wavelength. After the transmittance was recorded, the aliquot was decanted into the solution. Two drops of the slightly soluble organic solvent in water (HSE) were added per interval, ie, when the percent transmittance was determined after the addition of two drops of the organic solvent slightly soluble in water. The percentage of transmittance (% transmittance to 500 nm) is plotted against the concentration of the organic solvent slightly soluble in water (concentration% weight). Figure 2 shows the results of increasing the amounts of EEH, as illustrated in Example 8 (at the opacity point). It appears that the opacity point can be determined graphically by drawing a tangent line in the part of the titration curve that shows the greatest decrease in percent transmittance. Then a tangent line can be drawn in the asymptotic part of the lower end of the curve. The amount of organic solvent slightly soluble in water to reach a point of opacity, for a given non-ionic surfactant, seems to be the concentration at the intersection of these two tangent lines (not shown).

Table 4 Xh NJ y- h-1 O cp or cp NJ Ul NJ O cp Cp Table 5 Hydrophobic Dirt Removal Rate (%) neither! "ti I, Oü? Examples 9-12 The compositions in Examples 9-12 are provided in Table 6. These concentrated compositions were formulated by increasing the amounts of the determined components to reach the opacity point, multiplying by the desired final dilution factor. Thus, when these concentrated compositions were diluted, the opacity point was reached. These compositions were subjected to the Hydrophobic Dirt Removal Test, as described above, after dilution with water to the ratio shown in Table 6. These results are shown in Table 7. The results showed that the composition of the invention can be prepared as a concentrate, subsequently diluted with water and will still function in an equivalent manner to ready-to-use compositions that do not require dilution before use.

Table 6 Table 7 Hydrophobic Dirt Removal Rate (%) Examples 13-17 and Comparative Examples H e The compositions in Examples 13-17 were formulated using various combinations of a nonionic surfactant and an organic solvent slightly soluble in water. Comparative Example H was formulated using a known organic solvent, which has a water solubility of zero. Comparative Example I was formulated using a known organic solvent, which has a solubility in water of about 5.6% Table 8 Table 9 Hydrophobic Dirt Removal Rate (%) Examples 18-19 v Comparative Examples J and K The previous 17 examples all used a nonionic surfactant consisting of nonionic surfactants containing ethylene oxide. Examples 18 and 19 were formulated using nonionic surfactants containing propylene oxide and an organic solvent slightly soluble in water, present in an amount to reach. point of opacity of the composition. In particular, Example 18 contained a C12-C16 alcohol that had randomized ethoxylated / propoxylated units, wherein the composition was formulated at its opacity point. Comparative Example J contained the same surfactant as Example 18 but was formulated below the "opacity point." Example 19 contained a linear alcohol having block ethoxylated / propoxylated units, where the composition was formulated at its opacity point. Comparative Example K contained the same surfactant as Example 19 but was formulated below the opacity point The formulations for Examples 18 and 19 and Comparative Examples J and K are shown below in Table 10. These compositions were subjected to the Hydrophobic Dirt Removal Test, as described above, The results are shown in Table 11. The results show that the improved cleaning capacity is observed when the composition is formulated to reach its opacity point, compared to a composition that It includes both the non-ionic surfactant and the organic solvent slightly soluble in water, but formulated below its opacity point, confirms Thus, the trend observed in Exercises 1-17. However, it was observed that the compositions in Examples 18 and 19 appeared to separate or settle over time. It is believed that with the addition of a thickener, the composition would stabilize such that separation or settling would not occur.

Table 10 Table 11 Hydrophobic Soil Removal Rate (%) It will be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative, and not restrictive. Various modifications and alterations of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, from the aforementioned description without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It should be understood that this invention is not unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. A composition suitable for removing hydrophobic dirt from a surface, characterized in that the composition is formed by combining a non-ionic surfactant; an organic solvent very slightly soluble in water, having a solubility in water of about 0.01% by weight to about 1.0 percent by weight; Water; and an optional additive; wherein the nonionic surfactant and the solvent slightly soluble in water are each in an amount sufficient to reach a point of opacity in the composition, and wherein the slightly soluble water organic solvent and the nonionic surfactant are present in a ratio weight of organic solvent slightly soluble in water: nonionic surfactant from about 0.3: 1.0 to about 0.8: 1.0. -f

2. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the organic solvent slightly soluble in water has a solubility in water of about 0.01% by weight to about 0.2% by weight. x

3 The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the organic solvent slightly soluble in water is not a hydrocarbon or halocarbon, it contains one or more heteroatoms of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus containing the functional groups and contains an alkyl group containing from about 7 carbon atoms to about 16 carbon atoms.

4. The composition according to claim 3, characterized in that the organic solvent slightly soluble in water contains a radical selected from the group of an alcohol, an aldehyde, a ketone, an ether, a glycol ether, an acid, an amine, an ester, an N-alkyl pyrrolidone and a compatible mixture thereof.

5. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group of a branched or linear ethoxylated primary alcohol, a secondary ethoxylated alcohol, a branched ethoxylated trilecyl / decyl alcohol, a branched or linear ethoxylated alkylphenol, an alkyl branched or linear ethoxylated amine, an ethoxylated alkyl ether amine, a linear alkoxylated alcohol and a mixture thereof.

6. The composition according to claim 5, characterized in that the nonionic surfactant has an HLB value of about 7 to about 16. X

7. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the optional additive is selected from the group of a coupler, a dye, a fragrance, a preservative, an anti-microbial agent, a foaming agent, an antifoaming agent, a forming agent of film, a thickener and a mixture thereof.

8. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupler is selected from the group of isopropyl alcohol, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, propyl glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether and a mixture thereof.

9. A method for removing hydrophobic dirt from dirty surfaces, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: applying to an unclean surface an effective amount of the composition according to claim 1; and performing a mechanical operation on the surface with an abrasive article after applying the composition to the surface.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it also comprises the step of removing the composition from the surface after performing a mechanical operation step.