SK125295A3 - Spraying cleaning composition - Google Patents

Abstract

A known problem with hygienic cleaning sprays is the formation of airborne irritant droplets, either as a direct result of spraying a fine mist or due to the impact of a jet on a hard surface. The user is often advised to spray the product onto a cloth for subsequent application onto the surface. Use of a cloth or sponge in this manner detracts from the convenience of using a spray. By including surfactant in the product and using a spray head which contains a plurality of apertures disposed so as it is possible to produce a spray of foam droplets rather than produce a jet, mist of droplets or aerosol. Accordingly, the present invention provides an aqueous, liquid, hypo-chlorite-containing cleaning composition comprising, 0.05 % wt - 3.0 % wt aqueous alkali metal hypochlorite, 0.1 % wt - 5.0 % wt of a hypochlorite-stable surfactant, said composition being packaged in a container adapted to produce a spray of foam droplets.

Description

Spray cleaner

Technical field

The invention relates to a hygiene cleaning composition packaged in a spray-forming container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hygienic cleaning compositions always have some type of antimicrobial activity and, in particular, generally have antibacterial activity. Hard surface cleaning compositions commercially used as sanitary cleaners for sanitary porcelain, work surfaces, white goods and the like can be classified into two groups, hypochlorite-based products and hypochlorite-free products. In general, these products are liquids.

Hypochlorite-free products contain various aqueous acids, such as quaternary ammonium salts, peroxyacids and solvents such as antimicrobial agents. The effectiveness of these products r

vary with the type of antimicrobial used. Quaternary ammonium salts and peroxyacids are generally bioeidic. Solvents and aqueous acids are less effective especially against spore-forming bacteria. In general, commercial hypochlorite mixtures are less effective against fungi, fungi and yeasts than similar mixtures containing hypochlorite.

Hypochlorite-based products generally contain aqueous sodium hypochlorite. Hypochlorite is known as one of the most effective hygiene products and is available in commercial quantities and at an affordable price. Hypochlorite is an effective hygiene reagent providing hygienic benefits against a wide range of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, yeasts and fungi.

The hypochlorite cleaning compositions typically contain one or more surfactants in addition to hypochlorite. The choice of these surfactants is limited by the reactive chemistry of hypochlorite solutions. The surfactants used in hypochlorite solutions are generally amine oxides and / or water-soluble alkyl sulfates, although some betaines and soaps have also been used. In general, the surfactants present in hypochlorite solutions must be free of readily oxidizable groups. In some products, these surfactants are present to improve cleaning performance. In other products, these surfactants are present as part of a thickening system. Typical concentrations of hypochlorite in solution should be in the range of 1 to 15% by weight: with concentrations towards the lower end of this range (less than 3% by weight) they are used for general purpose cleaners that are used in both kitchens and bathrooms.

Traditionally, hypochlorite and hypochlorite-free cleaning compositions are delivered to surfaces using a carrier such as a fabric or sponge onto which the composition is poured or immersed in a solution of the composition. This method of use causes some product waste due to absorption on the fabric or sponge.

Later, the liquid hypochlorite-free products were supplied in a package adapted to form a fine spray (aerosol) or stream of product to facilitate delivery to the surface. Typical spray heads include one relatively small opening into which the product is dispensed by means of a pump with a trigger mechanism. Decisive factors in determining whether a particular spray head will form a mist or jet include product properties, spray orifice geometry, and spray pressure.

Known problems with sprays are the formation of irritating droplets in the air, either as a direct result of spraying a fine mist or as a result of the impact of a current on a hard surface. Consequently, in the instructions for use of certain products, especially those containing relatively high levels of hypochlorite, the user is advised not to spray the product directly on a hard surface, but rather to spray it onto the fabric prior to subsequent application to the surface. The use of a fabric or sponge in this way reduces the comfort of using a spray.

JP 62/286000 (filed June 4, 1986 as JP 129852/86) by Unicharm K.K. discloses sprayable, foaming, liquid detergent compositions comprising hypochlorite, an alkali, a hypochlorite-stable surfactant, and a solvent. The solvent is particularly characterized as a linear polyethylene glycol or a linear polypropylene glycol which is terminated with methyl at both ends of the molecule. Preferred solvents include short glycol chain solvents. It is believed that the presence of this specific class of solvents allows the formation of a stable foam on the surface to be cleaned, and that this foam prevents the release of chlorine from the foam into the environment.

It is believed that while the aforementioned Japanese publication discloses what reduction can be achieved in the release of chlorine on the surface to which the composition is applied, it does not solve the problem of formation of a fine mist or aerosol at the time of spraying causing irritation of respiratory and other wet tissues. It is believed that this irritation is caused both by the presence of hypochlorite in the droplets and by the presence of certain surfactants that are desired (i.e., stable) in the presence of hypochlorite.

EP 0298172 discusses the problem of fine mist formation. The document proposes a solution to this problem by the specific use of viscous-elastic surfactants: these surfactant systems are the minority of all surfactants. All surfactants used in the reference have hexadecyl-trimethylammonium bromide as a hydrophobic substance and either sodium p-toluenesulfonate or sodium 3,4-dichlorobenzoate as hydrophilic substances.

US 4228048 discloses a foam cleaner for food equipment containing 0.05-5.0% by weight of hypochlorite, with examples at 1.4% hypochlorite per product. The product further comprises n-alkane sulfonate (8.0% by weight), commonly known as SAS. It is not suggested in this reference that the product is to be delivered in the form of a spray of foamed droplets as a foam scrubber generating a stream of uniform foam that flows from the apparatus directly onto the surface which is thus covered with foam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We are now proposing a hypochlorite-containing product packaged in a spray-forming container which has a reduced tendency to cause respiratory irritation. We have done this by including in the surfactant product and using a spray head that contains a plurality of apertures arranged to form a spray of foam droplets rather than jet, mist of droplets or aerosols. For the purposes of this invention, the foam droplets are droplets having entrained air therein.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device comprising a connection of:

1) a container adapted to discharge a cleaning composition in the form of a spray of foam droplets, s;

(2) aqueous hypochlorite containing a cleaning composition within the container, containing:

a) 0.05 wt% to 3.0 wt% alkali metal hypochlorite; and,

b) 0.1% to 5.0% by weight of a hypochlorite-stable surfactant containing one or more alkylsulfonates;

wherein the mixture (2) is discharged from the container (1) in the form of spray foam drops.

It is believed that the advantage of the present invention is that the product can be sprayed directly onto the surface, avoiding the use of fabric or sponge as a carrier. In addition, the compositions of the present invention do not require the solvent of JP 62/286000 to be present to protect against droplet formation on the sprayable surface.

I

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As mentioned above, the use of a spray head that forms foam droplets prevents the formation of a fine mist of liquid droplets either by the direct action of the spray head or as a result of impact of the product on a hard surface. This requires the presence of a suitable surfactant that is both foaming and sufficiently stable in the presence of levels of hypochlorite as found in the product to achieve acceptable shelf life. Further details of the preferred features of the invention are set forth below.

hypochlorite

Hypochlorite is an essential component of the composition of the invention.

The preparation and handling of hypochlorite solutions are well known in the art. Preferred levels of hypochlorite content range from 0.15 to 2.0% by weight of the product. Lower levels of hypochlorite are less effective, while the risk of respiratory irritation increases with higher concentrations of hypochlorite. Levels of hypochlorite of 0.15 to 1.0% by weight, in particular 0.2 to 0.4% by weight, are advantageous as they provide enough hypochlorite to provide hygiene benefits without the serious risk of breathing irritation.

The presence of other hygiene agents other than hypochlorite in the compositions of the present invention is not excluded.

Surfactant

Hypochlorite-stable surface-active alkyl sulfonates are an essential component of the cleaning composition of the present invention. Importantly, this surfactant foams to the extent necessary to form foam droplets upon spraying.

More preferably, the surfactant is a secondary alkylsulfonate. We have determined that since the secondary alkyl sulfonate may be irritating when spraying in the form of a fine mist, it is particularly suitable to be formulated in the compositions of the invention where such a fine mist is not formed.

Particularly preferred secondary alkanesulfonates include a mixture of materials of the formula:

R ^{1 =} CH = SO ₃ X

I

R ²

Wherein R and R are the same or different, with a straight or branched alkyl group having at least one carbon atom, the length of the alkyl chain is in the range of 13-18 and X is a solubilizing cation.

Preferably, the level of surfactant is 1 to 3% by weight of the product. Lower surfactant levels reduce cleaning performance, while higher surfactant levels may lead to an increased incidence of respiratory irritation. Surfactant levels of about 2% by weight, i. 1.5 to 2.5% by weight are particularly advantageous since they provide sufficient cleaning performance and foaming effect without excessive use of surfactant.

Spray head

It is essential that the compositions of the present invention are packaged in a container adapted to form a spray of foam droplets.

α

Preferably, the spraying comprises less than 1000 µm / m drops with a particle size of less than 7 µm. More preferably, the spray comprises less than 500 µm / m drops with a particle size of less than 7 µm.

The usual UK legal limit for irritating / disgusting dust and gases is 500 mg / cubic liter. For the purposes of this document, potentially irritating drops are considered to have a droplet size of less than 7 µm.

As will be further illustrated with reference to specific examples, not all spray heads are capable of forming foam. Some modifications can be made to the conventional single orifice spray head described above to ensure that foam is formed, and modified spray heads are commercially available.

In a typical foam spray head, such as the head used in the AFA 7585-4 bottle cap (ex. SPRAYCHEM Ltd.), the product is delivered to the spray head by a conventional pump device with a trigger and sprayed through multiple holes including a grid plate to form numerous the streams that combine and thus entrain air into the formed droplets and thereby form foam.

Other designs of the trigger head with foam generation are known for delivering hypochlorite-free cleaning compositions to the surface. Many of these alternatives have a common common feature of having multiple orifices through which the product is discharged.

It is preferred that the spray head is removable from the body of the container in which the composition of the invention is stored, and thus the empty container body can be replaced with a full body.

stabilizers

Stabilizers are preferably present to prevent and retard hypochlorite decomposition during storage. Suitable stabilizers include sequestering agents for transition metals, preferably selected from the group consisting of silicates, phosphonates, alkali metal periodates, and mixtures thereof.

Particularly preferred stabilizers include sodium silicate at a level of 0.1 to 0.5% by weight of the product. This is an effective amount as a metal sequestrant in alkaline solutions.

pH

Preferably the products of the invention are alkaline, more preferably a pH of 10 to 13, most preferably 11 to 12. This pH is readily achieved by incorporating a strong alkali such as sodium hydroxide. It is preferred that the compositions of the present invention contain about 0.1% by weight alkali metal hydroxide.

Minority ingredients

Other non-essential components of the formulation of the invention may include a coloring agent containing one or more copper phthalocyanines. The compositions of the invention may further comprise one or more perfumes and solvents.

In order to facilitate the processing and especially the packaging of the compositions of the present invention, it is preferred that the formulations contain an initial, low level of a hypochlorite-sensitive antifoam component which decomposes upon storage of the product. Silicones are particularly suitable as hypochlorite-sensitive antifoams.

In view of the foregoing, typical embodiments of the invention include:

(a) 0,05% to 3,0% aqueous alkali metal hypochlorite;

(b) 0.1% to 5.0% by weight of a hypochlorite-stable alkyl sulfate or alkyl sulfonate surfactant; and

(c) an effective amount of sequestrant for transition metal ions, these mixtures are adjusted to a pH of 10 to 13, packaged in a spray drip container, this post-1, rec containing less than 500 gm / m droplets with a particle size of less than 7 gm.

In order that this invention may be further understood, it will be further elucidated by the following non-limiting examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compositions of the present invention were prepared from the ingredients as set forth in Table 1 below.

SAS:

silicate

perfume:

NaOH: Hypo:

silicone:

Secondary alkyl sulfonate (HOSTAPUR 30-X, ex. Hoechst, RTM), obtained as a 30% solution of the active substance.

Sodium silicate solution (CLAYSIL ex. CROSSFIELDS of Varrington), supplied as 100 Twaddle, containing 18% by weight NaOH 28% by weight silica.

Commercially available perfume, ex International Flavors and Fragrances.

NaOH ex. ICI: delivered as a 47% solution.

A solution of sodium hypochlorite from 14 to 15% by weight of the active 01 _2, 12 to 13% NaCl, ex. ICI.

DB-100 ex. DOV (RTM): hypochlorite sensitive antifoam.

Table 1

component % by weight of the product SAS 2% silicate 0,107% perfume 0.21% NaOH 0.08% hypochlorite 0.2% act. Cl ₂ silicone 0.01% Water up to 100%

The ingredients were mixed by adding half a portion of water to a stirred mixing vessel at 50-60 ° C: adding to the heated water SAS, silicate, perfume, NaOH and silicone, cooling with water to about 30 ° C and finally adding hypochlorite.

The mixture was packaged in a plastic container equipped with a spray head with a trigger type AFA 7585-4, ex. SPRAYCHEM Ltd.

To demonstrate the benefits of the compositions of the present invention, spraying experiments were performed to compare the respiratory irritability of the present invention and other products. The mixtures were sprayed using a specified trigger head and ten trigger presses in a 512 liter glove box equipped with air inlet and outlet, onto a vertical metal surface from a distance of 10 to 30 cm. The particle size distribution of the airborne particles sprayed in the chamber was monitored for five minutes in the collected air samples. The results are shown below in Table 2, for commercially available products, embodiments of the invention and other comparative examples.

The results as shown in Table 2 are given as RC: concentrations of particles with a mean size below 7 gm in micrograms per cubic meter.

Embodiment 1 is the composition of Table 1 and RC is obtained using AFA 5785-4 spray head mentioned above. A comparative example is a blend of Table 1 using a commercially available dual mode trigger head (T-8100 ex. Continetal Sprayers Inc.) in a non-foam mode, while Embodiment 2 is the same dual mode spray head in a foam mode. .

Embodiment 3 is the composition given in Table 1 with the addition of an additional 0.2% by weight SAS (10% increase in surfactant). Embodiment 4 is a mixture given in Table 1 with the addition of an additional 0.02% by weight of free chlorine as hypochlorite (10% increase in hypochlorite). In Embodiment 5, both surfactant and free chlorine levels were increased by 10%

Commercial products are hypochlorite mixtures used with sprays as shipped with the product.

VIF BATHROOM and CIF MULTIUSO are commercially available neutral and acid cleaners and are substantially free of strong biocidal components. Brand-X packaging recommends that the product should not be sprayed directly onto a hard surface, but sprayed onto a fabric for subsequent use: this product is believed to contain a quaternary ammonium substance as a biocidal component. The Brand-Z mixture is believed to contain relatively low levels of potentially irritating to the respiratory and to contain solvents; i the product is relatively free of strong biocidal components

Table 2

Example RC % act. CI2 Embodiment 1 209 0.2% comparative 1834 0.2% Embodiment 2 529 0.2% Embodiment 3 (+ SAS) 176 0.2% Embodiment 4 (+ hypochlorite) 158 0.22% Embodiment 5 (+ SAS / hypochlorite) 165 0.22% VIF BATHROOM 433 0 CIF MULTIUSO RTM 566 0 Brand-X 8772 0 Brand-Z 9774 0

From the results presented in Table 2, it can be seen that the compositions of the present invention, in conjunction with a foam-producing spray head, have a low respiratory irritation capability12. The comparative example produces a potentially irritating cloud of droplets and commercially available products that are generally free of irritant components exhibit varying droplet sizes, but due to the absence of free chlorine in the form of hypochlorite, they would be expected to have poor germicidal capability compared to the compositions of the invention.

To demonstrate this, a suspension test was performed with the composition of the invention and with several commercially available spray cleaners similar to those mentioned above. The results of the suspension tests are shown in Table 3 below.

Table 3a

germ St. s lureus P. mirabilis Ps. aruginosa pollution low high low high low high Log Initial 8.5 8.35 7.75 6.56 8.53 8.55 Product make to to to to to to Brand-X to to to to to to Brand-Y 6.7 to to to 6.88 5.76

Table 3b

germ St. faecium S. cereviscia pollution low high low high Log Initial 6.2 5.99 4.51 5.72 Product make to to to to Brand-X to to to to Brand-Y to 1.69 to 1.91

Evaluation was performed in the presence of both a high (1.00% BSA) and a low contamination model for each of the five microbial species. The results shown are for the final logarithm of the microbial concentration, k indicates complete killing of the microbes. Brand-X is believed to contain a quaternary ammonium agent as a biocidal agent, and the package instructions recommend the use of a sponge or fabric for administration. B.rand-Y is believed to contain relatively low levels of potentially irritating to the respiratory component, but is believed to contain solvents and is relatively free of strong biocidal components.

From the above results, it can be seen that the mixtures of the present invention and Brand-X achieved complete killing of the microorganisms until Brand-Y showed such significant antimicrobial and germicidal properties. It should be noted that the compositions of the invention and Brand-Y could be applied directly while Brand-X requires the use of a sponge or fabric. Thus, the hypochlorite products of the present invention provide complete killing of the observed range of microbial populations, at reduced risk and inconvenience to the user: a combination of properties not yet shown in the art.

Claims (5)

PATENT CLAIMS Wherein R and R are the same or different, with a straight or branched alkyl group having at least one carbon atom, the length of the alkyl chain is in the range of 13 to 18 and X is a solubilizing cation. 1) a container adapted to discharge a cleaning composition in the form of a spray of foam droplets, s; 1. Equipment comprising a connection: Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hypochlorite content is in the range of 0.15 to 2.0% by weight of the mixture. (2) aqueous hypochlorite containing a cleaning composition within the container, containing: a) 0.05 wt% to 3.0 wt% alkali metal hypochlorite; and, b) 0.1% to 5.0% by weight of a hypochlorite-stable surfactant containing one or more alkylsulfonates; wherein the mixture (2) is discharged from the container (1) in the form of a spray of foam droplets. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a mixture of materials of the general formula: R ^{x =} CH-SO ₃ X R The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixture further comprises one or more transition metal sequestering genes. The device of claim 1, wherein the mixture has a pH of 10 to 13. REA-