WO1992015662A1

WO1992015662A1 - Method of cleaning carpets

Info

Publication number: WO1992015662A1
Application number: PCT/EP1992/000427
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Soldanski; Bernd-Dieter Holdt; Thomas Hahn
Original assignee: Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien
Priority date: 1991-03-06
Filing date: 1992-02-27
Publication date: 1992-09-17
Also published as: EP0574431B1; GR3018508T3; DE59204768D1; ES2081100T3; DE4107118A1; DK0574431T3; ATE131861T1; EP0574431A1

Abstract

In this method, fitted carpets are cleaned by spray extraction using an aqueous surfactant solution containing, in addition to synthetic surfactants, 0,005 to 0,2 % by wt. of a water-soluble salt of a fatty acid with 12 to 18 C-atoms, preferably ammonium salts.

Description

"Carpet Cleaning Process"

The present invention relates to a method for cleaning carpets by means of spray extraction.

When cleaning carpets with liquid detergents, a distinction is essentially made between two processes: in the shampooing process, a relatively concentrated surfactant solution is applied to the carpet and, with the help of brushes or similar devices, is worked into the carpet material evenly with strong foaming tet. After a certain contact time, which is at least a few minutes, the foam is then suctioned off together with the dirt which has been taken up, or it is waited until the foam has dried on the carpet in order to then suction off the solid residues. In contrast, in the spray extraction process, the cleaning agent solution is sprayed on and suctioned off directly in succession using the same device. For this purpose, the devices have a row of nozzles at the front in the working direction, with which the very dilute surfactant solution is blown into the textile material under high pressure, and behind it a wide suction nozzle or a series of suction nozzles with which the liquid just introduced into the textile largely removed from the textile and transferred to a storage tank of the device. A brushing device can be provided between the application nozzles and the suction nozzles. Because of the relatively large amounts of liquid which are enforced in the liquid extraction process, it is necessary to use only slightly foaming or non-foaming surfactants in the cleaning solutions in order not to exhaust the capacity of the collecting container too quickly. Adducts of long-chain alcohols, ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) are therefore predominantly used, which are naturally extremely low-foaming and make the use of large amounts of defoamers unnecessary. A disadvantage of these surfactants, however, is their comparatively poor biodegradability and their limited extent Cleaning ability. Overcoming these drawbacks was one of the objects of the present invention.

Another task arose from the desire of the commercial carpet cleaner to use as few means as possible for his cleaning operations. For the reasons outlined above, it has so far not been possible to use the same cleaning agents for both the shampooing and spray extraction processes, since on the one hand strong foaming power and on the other hand low foam requirements were required. The task here was to develop an agent which can develop large amounts of foam in the undiluted or only slightly diluted state when used in the shampooing process, but which can be handled practically foam-free in the dilution with the spray extraction process. Of course, the agent should have the highest possible cleaning effect in both processes.

It has now been found that these goals can be achieved using agents that contain certain soaps in certain concentrations.

The invention relates to a process for cleaning carpets by spray extraction, in which the sprayed-on cleaning liquid, in addition to synthetic anionic or nonionic surfactants, contains 0.005 to 0.2% by weight of a water-soluble salt of a fatty acid having 12 to 18 carbon atoms. The ammonium salts of the fatty acids are preferably used as water-soluble salts.

The soap content in the cleaning liquid of the process according to the invention has the effect that even when strongly foaming anionic surfactants are used, the foam formation is reduced so much that the existing collecting tanks can be optimally used for the solutions to be extracted. Due to the extensive freedom in the choice of synthetic surfactants, it is possible to fall back on those surfactants that are characterized by particularly high cleaning power and low tendency to re-soiling. While the cleaning liquid is extremely low in foam at the concentration used in the spray extraction process, a corresponding liquid concentrate from which this cleaning liquid is used shows can be produced in normal operation, with undiluted use and application of brushes a strong foam development. The liquid concentrate can therefore be used undiluted or with a low dilution for the shampooing process, so that there are advantages for warehousing, above all for commercial users.

The cleaning method according to the invention can easily be carried out with the aid of conventional spray extraction devices. The work processes differ from the conventional method only in so far as the agents to be used according to the invention are used. Because of the low foam content of the compositions, the addition of silicone defoamers can generally be dispensed with.

The synthetic surfactants used in the cleaning liquid are nonionic and, preferably, anionic surfactants, although the use of other types of surfactants may also be appropriate in individual cases. The content of synthetic anionic and / or nonionic surfactants in the cleaning solution is preferably between 0.005 and 0.2% by weight, in particular between 0.04 and 0.08% by weight. The cleaning solution is preferably produced predominantly or exclusively with those surfactants which, together with the other constituents of the cleaning solution, lead to solid, brittle residues after the liquor remaining on the carpets has dried on.

Suitable anionic surfactants are in particular those of the sulfate or sulfonate type, but other types such as long-chain N-acyl sarcosinates, salts of fatty acid cyanamides or salts of ether carboxylic acids, as are obtainable from long-chain alkyl or alkylphenyl polyglycol ethers and chloroacetic acid, can also be used. be used. The anionic surfactants are preferably used in the form of the sodium salts.

Particularly suitable surfactants of the sulfate type are the sulfuric acid monoesters of long-chain primary alcohols of natural and synthetic origin with 10 to 20 carbon atoms, ie of fatty alcohols such as, for example, B. coconut fatty alcohols, tallow fatty alcohols, oleyl alcohol, or the Cio - C20-OXO alcohols and those of secondary alcohols of these chain lengths. she are also known as alkyl sulfates. In addition, the sulfuric acid monoesters of the aliphatic primary alcohols, secondary alcohols or alkylphenols (ether sulfates) ethoxylated with 1 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide come into consideration. Sulfated fatty acid alkanolamides and sulfated fatty acid monoglycerides are also suitable.

The surfactants of the sulfonate type are primarily sulfosuccinic acid monoesters and diesters with 6 to 22 carbon atoms in the alcohol parts, the alkylbenzenesulfonates with Cg-Cis-alkyl groups and the esters of α-sulfofatty acids, e.g. B. the α-sulfonated methyl or ethyl esters of hydrogenated coconut, palm kernel or tallow fatty acids. Other useful surfactants of the sulfonate type are the alkanesulfonates which are obtainable from C12-Ci8-alkanes by sulfochlorination or sulfoxidation and subsequent hydrolysis or neutralization or by bisulfite addition to olefins, and the olefinsulfonates, which are mixtures of alkene and hydroxyalkanesulfonates and disulfonates as obtained for example from long-chain monoolefins with a terminal or internal double bond by sulfonation with gaseous sulfur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of the sulfonation products.

Preferred are the alkyl sulfates with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, the salts of sulfosuccinic acid monoesters with 15 to 20 carbon atoms in the alcohol part, the alkylbenzenesulfonates with 10 to 13 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, the sulfates of those ethoxylated with 1 to 3 mol E0 Fatty alcohols with 12 - 18 carbon atoms and mixtures of these surfactants are used. Of these in turn, the fatty alcohol sulfates with 12 to 18 carbon atoms are particularly preferred.

Suitable nonionic surfactants for the process according to the invention are, in particular, addition products of 1 to 30, preferably 3 to 15, moles of ethylene oxide to 1 mole of a long-chain compound having 10 to 20 carbon atoms from the group of alcohols, alkylphenols, carboxylic acids and carboxamides. The addition products of ethylene oxide (E0) with long-chain primary or secondary alcohols, such as, for example, fatty alcohols or oxo alcohols, and with mono- or dialkylphenols with 6 to 14 C atoms in the alkyl groups are particularly important. However, other nonionic surfactants, for example long-chain amine oxides and, can also be used Alkyl glycosides. Particularly preferred nonionic surfactants are fatty alcohols or oxo alcohols with 10 to 20 carbon atoms, which are ethoxylated with 3 to 10 mol of EO, and mixtures of compounds of this type with different degrees of ethoxylation.

As a further constituent essential to the invention, the cleaning liquid used contains a water-soluble salt of a fatty acid with 12 to 18 carbon atoms. The alkali soaps of this chain length can be used, i. H. the lithium, sodium and potassium salts of the fatty acids, but also the salts of fatty acids with ammonia or suitable amines, for example triethanolamine. The ammonium soaps accessible from fatty acids and ammonia are particularly preferred. The content of fatty acid salts in the cleaning liquid is usually 0.005 to 0.2% by weight, preferably 0.03 to 0.06% by weight. The ratio of soap to other surfactants in the cleaning liquids is preferably between about 0.2: 1 and 3: 1, in particular between about 0.5: 1 and about 2: 1.

The cleaning liquid can be used for the method according to the invention without further additives. In many cases, however, it can be expedient to add further auxiliaries customary in carpet cleaning agents to the cleaning solution. Particularly noteworthy are sequestering agents, anti-pollution agents, antistatic agents, hydrotropes, organic solvents, preservatives and perfume. Also in the selection of auxiliary substances, especially those which are contained in large quantities in the cleaning agent, preference is given to those which, after the liquid residues have dried on the carpet, lead to solid residues, since these can later be vacuumed dry.

The auxiliaries which are intended to reduce re-soiling of the carpet are primarily water-soluble or water-dispersible polymers which have film-forming temperatures above 70 ° C. and which after drying do not lead to films but to brittle residues. Corresponding polyacrylates and polymethacrylates are preferably used. Their concentration in the cleaning liquid is normally not more than 0.5% by weight, preferably between 0.01 and 0.3% by weight. Quaternary ammonium compounds which attach to the textile material are usually used as active ingredients which are intended to provide the carpet with a certain antistatic finish. Inorganic salts can also have an antistatic effect on the carpet. The total content of auxiliaries in the cleaning agent solution, calculated without organic solvents, is generally not more than 1% by weight, preferably between 0.01 and 0.5% by weight.

The cleaning liquids sprayed in the cleaning process according to the invention can be mixed directly from the components. Since it is a matter of very dilute cleaning agent solutions, it had been established in practice to prepare these solutions by dilution with water before use from more concentrated preparations containing the active ingredients in appropriate proportions in higher concentrations. The concentrates can be solid, powdery products; However, more common are concentrates in liquid form which contain all active ingredients. For the production of stable liquid concentrates, it may be necessary to add solubilizers that ensure the perfect miscibility of all ingredients. Suitable solubilizing additives are primarily hydrotropes, for example the salts of short-chain alkylbenzenesulfonic acids or low-boiling, water-miscible organic solvents, for example ethanol and isopropanol. The concentration of the active ingredients in the concentrates is generally chosen so that the desired use concentrations can be achieved by dilution with water in a ratio of from 1:30 to 1: 300, preferably from 1:50 to 1: 100.

Examples

1. Cleaning agent concentrates

The following agents (Table 1) were prepared by dissolving the active ingredients in water and, if appropriate, organic solvent. The content is given in percent by weight, in each case calculated as a pure active substance.

Table 1

5.0

8.0

10.0

3.5

3.0 1.5

7.5

1.0

+

-ff-

2. Cleaning procedure

The agents according to Example 1 (a - e) were both with regard to their

Cleaning power and their foam behavior compared in the spray extraction process and also checked for their usability in the shampooing process.

a) Checking the cleaning effect

Uniform, naturally soiled carpets (polyamide velor, beige-colored) were cut into test pieces of size 33 cm x 79 cm, only test pieces with the same degree of soiling being used for the test. The products (a, c, d) according to the invention, as well as a comparative product (b) and a commercially available product (e) were diluted 1: 100 with tap water to the application concentration.

With a spray extraction device (Kärcher Puzzi S), each piece of carpet was uniformly sprayed and sucked off from all sides. The cleaning speed was chosen so that the product consumption per test specimen was 700 ml (i 50 ml). In the last step, the carpet samples were sucked off (against the pile direction without spraying) so that the carpet fiber was set up to dry.

After a drying phase of at least 12 hours, the test specimens were suctioned off from each side in a cross-way with a brush suction device (Siemens Universal Plus). Finally, the fibers of the carpet specimens were all brushed in the same direction using a soft brush.

The individual pieces of carpet were assessed visually in comparison to one another and to an uncleaned pattern. The assessment was carried out by 5 examiners who assessed each piece individually on a scale from 1 (completely clean) to 5 (no cleaning recognizable). Table 2 contains the results in the form of the mean values from 3 individual experiments. - 3 -

b) Procedure for determining the suction quantity (without defoamer additive)

In a commercially available spray extraction device (Kärcher Puzzi S), the fresh water tank was filled with 7.00 kg of the cleaning agent solution to be tested (dilution of the concentrates 1: 100 with tap water). The product to be tested was transferred to the dirty water tank by spraying the product on a hard, clean plastic floor and simultaneously vacuuming it. When the dirty water tank had reached its maximum filling quantity, the total weight of the extracted quantity was determined. Ideally (no foam formation), the amount of solution used could be sucked up without changing the dirty water tank. From the results in Table 2 it can be seen that in this respect the agents according to the invention are superior to the commercially available product, while this in turn can be rated better than the comparative product without added soap.

c) Testing as a shampoo

The test is carried out on polyamide velor carpets. 500 g of the agents diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 4 (concentrate: water) were applied per ιτ.2 using a shaving machine (Shampooer Hoover F 4002) and brushed in. Enough foam for uniform distribution and gentle brushing only developed in cases la - d.

Table 2

Recipe la lb lc ld le.

Cleaning performance 1.8 2.0 2.1 1.6 2.0

Extraction quantity (kg) 7.00 4.40 7.00 7.00 5.30

suitable for spraying - yes limited yes yes yes cleaning

suitable for shampoo- yes yes yes yes no cleaning

Claims

- / 0 -patent claims

1. Process for cleaning carpets by spray extraction, characterized in that the sprayed-on cleaning liquid contains, in addition to synthetic anionic and / or nonionic surfactant, 0.005 to 0.2% by weight of a water-soluble salt of a fatty acid with 12 to 18 carbon atoms .

2. The method according to claim 1 with a cleaning liquid in which an ammonium salt is used as the fatty acid salt.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2 with a cleaning liquid, in which the ratio of fatty acid salts to synthetic surfactants is between 0.2: 1 and 3: 1, in particular between 0.5: 1 and 2: 1.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2 with a cleaning liquid containing an anionic surfactant as a synthetic surfactant.

5. The method according to claim 4 with a cleaning liquid containing an alkyl sulfate as the anionic surfactant.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2 with a cleaning liquid, which additionally contains a water-soluble polymer with a film-forming temperature above 70 ° C, preferably a polymethacrylate.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the cleaning liquid by diluting an appropriately composed cleaning agent concentrate with water in a ratio of 1: 30 to

1: 300, preferably 1:50 to 1: 100.