WO2023087194A1

WO2023087194A1 - Manual detergent for pot and pan with destaining function

Info

Publication number: WO2023087194A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/131370
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhenbo Gao; Xin Lu
Original assignee: Ecolab Usa Inc.
Priority date: 2021-11-18
Filing date: 2021-11-18
Publication date: 2023-05-25

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to concentrated solid cleaning compositions and liquid use solutions for manual pot and pan cleaning, particulary for the hot pot industry. The cleaning compositions comprise an alkalinity source, anionic surfactant and a peroxygen source. Beneficially, the cleaning compositions provide not only a cleaning function, but also a destaining function. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the cleaning compositions to clean and destain food processing surfaces and ware.

Description

MANUAL DETERGENT FOR POT AND PAN WITH DESTAINING FUNCTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to concentrated solid cleaning compositions and liquid use solutions for manual pot and pan cleaning, particulary for the hot pot industry. The cleaning compositions comprise an alkalinity source, anionic surfactant and a peroxygen source. Beneficially, the cleaning compositions provide not only a cleaning function, but also a destaining function.

BACKGROUND

Hot Pot, the traditional asian dish and cooking method, has gained widespread popularity. The method involves a single large pot at the center of a table filled with a liquid, typically a broth, which is heated to boiling or near boiling temperature. Various food items are then added to the pot and cooked. These include raw meat items such as pork, beef, poultry, and seafeood, raw vegetables, bean products, potatoes, dumplings, tofu, and noodles. Individuals often add the food items of interest to them so that a wide variety of food items are cooked together in the broth and removed when cooked to the participant’s desire. There are some hot pots, with multiple cooking chambers that can have different types of broth and seasonings although the traditional method is just a single cooking chamber.

With the rise in popularity of Hot Pot cooking methods at restaraunts there are often long waits in certain regions for Hot Pot necessitating quick cleaning to reduce waits. Further with the high heat and variety of fats, oils, and other food soils, Hot Pot cookware is often soiled with heavy soils, difficult to remove, heated on soils, and stains.

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide cleaning compositions that can remove the complex, heated-on soils, including in particular those from various animal fats.

A further object is to provide cleaning compositions that also remove stains from cookware.

Still a further object is to provide cleaning compositions that provide rapid cleaning and destaining.

Other objects, aspects and advantages of this disclosure will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the following disclosure, the drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment is a concentrated solid cleaning composition comprising an alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal silicate, anionic surfactant, and a peroxygen source; wherein the concentrated composition is a solid; wherein the concentrated composition provides a pH between 9 and 14 upon dissolution; and wherein the concentrated composition provides foam upon dissolution.

Another preferred embodiment is a liquid use solution of the cleaning composition comprising an alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal silicate, anionic surfactant, and a peroxygen source; wherein the use solution has a pH between 9 and 14; and wherein the use solution comprises flash foam having a height of at least about 160 mm.

Still another preferred embodiment is a method of cleaning a hard surface, the method comprising diluting a concentrated cleaning composition with water at a ratio of about 1: 50 to about 1: 1000 to form a use solution; wherein the concentrated cleaning composition is a solid and comprises an alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal silicate, anionic surfactant, and a peroxygen source; contacting the soiled ware with the use solution for about 90 seconds or less; wherein the use solution provides cleaning and/or destaining; wherein at least a portion of the soil is captured in the foam.

Yet another preferred embodiment is a method of manufacturing a solid cleaning composition comprising combining an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal silicate, an anionic surfactant, and a peroxygen source and forming a solid composition; wherein the solid composition is a cast solid, a molded solid, a granulated solid, a flaked solid, or a pressed solid.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A-1D are a series of photographs showing ware soiled (FIG. 1A) , at sequences during cleaning with the cleaning compositions described herein (FIGS. 1B and 1C) , and after cleaning (FIG. 1D) .

FIG. 2A-2C are a series of photographs showing the flash foam (FIG. 2A) formed by the dissolving and dilution of Example Formulation 1, soiled ware being while soaking in the use solution and the remaining foam (FIG. 2B) , and the capture and retention of soil in the foam after cleaning (FIG. 2C) .

FIG. 3 shows a photograph of a ceramic tile which had been soiled and stained, and a portion of which had been destained with Example Formulation 2 in Example 3. The upper portion of ceramic tile is still stained and was not subjected to Example Formulation 2. The lower portion had been stained (consistent with the upper portion) , but was subjected to Example Formulation 2 at a diluation ratio of about 1: 62.

Various embodiments of the compositions will be described in detail with reference to the figures. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention. The figures represented herein are not limitations to the various embodiments according to the invention and are presented for exemplary illustration of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition is a concentrated solid comprising an alkalinity source, an anionic surfactant, and a peroxygen source. Another preferred embodiment is a liquid use solution comprised of the concentrated solid cleaning composition dissolved in water. The cleaning compositions have many advantages over existing compositions for cleaning heavy oily food soils and destaining. In a most preferred embodiment, the cleaning compositions are quick acting providing rapid cleaning and destaining. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the cleaning compositions described herein are cost-effective.

The embodiments described herein are not limited to particular hot pot cookware or soils, but rather works on a variety of surfaces and soils, which can vary and are understood by skilled artisans. It is further to be understood that all terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting in any manner or scope. For example, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a, ” “an” and “the” can include plural referents unless the content clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Further, all units, prefixes, and symbols may be denoted in its SI accepted form.

Numeric ranges recited within the specification are inclusive of the numbers defining the range and include each integer within the defined range. Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the preferred embodiments are presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible sub-ranges, fractions, and individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed sub-ranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and decimals and fractions, for example, 1.2, 3.8, 1 ¹/ ₂, and 4 ³/ ₄ This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

For clarity, certain terms are first defined. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood in the field. Many methods and materials similar, modified, or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the embodiments described herein without undue experimentation, the preferred materials and methods are described herein. In describing and claiming the embodiments described herein, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.

The term “weight percent, ” “wt. %, ” “percent by weight, ” “%by weight, ” and variations thereof, as used herein, refer to the concentration of a substance as the weight of that substance divided by the total weight of the composition and multiplied by 100. It is understood that, as used here, “percent, ” “%, ” and the like are intended to be synonymous with “weight percent, ” “wt. %, ” etc.

The term “about, ” as used herein, refers to variation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring techniques and equipment, with respect to any quantifiable variable, including, but not limited to, concentration, mass, volume, time, temperature, pH, etc. Further, given solid and liquid handling procedures used in the real world, there is certain inadvertent error and variation that is likely through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients used to make the compositions or carry out the methods and the like. The term "about" also encompasses amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions for a composition resulting from a particular initial mixture. The term “about” also encompasses these variations. Whether or not modified by the term “about, ” the claims include equivalents to the quantities.

The term “cleaning, “as used herein, refers to performing or aiding in any soil removal, bleaching, microbial population reduction, or combination thereof.

As used herein, the phrase “food processing surface” refers to a surface of a tool, a machine, equipment, a structure, a building, or the like that is employed as part of a food or beverage processing, preparation, or storage activity. Food processing surface is intended to encompass all surfaces used in brewing (including beer brewing and preparation of liquors and spirits) and winemaking processes (e.g., bright beer tanks and lines, fermentation vessels, mash tuns, bottling equipment, pipes, and storage vessels) . Examples of food processing surfaces include surfaces of food processing or preparation equipment (e.g., cooking, steaming, boiling, fermenting, slicing, canning, or transport equipment, including flumes) , of food processing wares (e.g., pots, pans, utensils, dishware, wash ware, and bar glasses) , and of floors, walls, or fixtures of structures in which food processing occurs. In particular, includes hot pot cooking apparatuses and utensils.

As used herein, the phrase “food product” includes any food substance that might require treatment with an antimicrobial agent or composition and that is edible with or without further preparation. Food products include meat (including, but not limited to, lamb, goag, beef, pork, poultry, duck, and goose) , seafood (including, but not limited to, fish, prawns, shrimp, scallops, crawfish, mussels, clams, lobster, crab, octopus, and squid) , poultry, produce (e.g., fruits and vegetables) , eggs, living eggs, egg products, ready to eat food, wheat, seeds, roots, tubers, leafs, stems, corns, flowers, sprouts, seasonings, condiments (including, but not limited to, cooking oils such as vegetable oil, chili oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, olive oil, corn oil, grapeseed oil, palm oil; sauces such as hoisin sauce, soy sauce, douchi, shacha sauce, sriacha, XO sauce; pastes) , broths, tofu, seitan, noodles, dumplings, rolls, cheese, or a combination thereof. The term "produce" refers to food products such as fruits and vegetables and plants or plant-derived materials that are typically sold uncooked and, often, unpackaged, and that can sometimes be eaten raw.

The term “hard surface” refers to any surface which is or has a component which is hard and typically non-or minimally porous, such as walls, floors, counters, tables, chairs, trays, pans, holders, racks, forceps, scissors, shears, knives, hooks, spatulas, glassware, ware such as ovens, toasters, microwaves, shelving, food storage containers, drying racks, pans, pots, mixers, blenders, chef/food preparation knives, bowls, whisks, baking sheets, cutlery (knives, forks, spoons, etc. ) , plates, tongs, glasses, mugs, carafes, and the like, or combinations thereof.

As used herein, the term “ware” refers to items such as eating and cooking utensils, dishes, such as ovens, toasters, microwaves, shelving, food storage containers, drying racks, pans, pots, kettles, mixers, blenders, chef/food preparation knives, bowls, ladels, whisks, baking sheets, cutlery (knives, forks, spoons, etc. ) , chopsticks, plates, strainers, skewers, spatulas, tongs, glasses, mugs, carafes, and other hard surfaces such as showers, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, countertops, windows, mirrors, transportation vehicles, and floors, and the like. As used herein, the term “warewashing” refers to washing, cleaning, or rinsing ware. Ware may include materials comprised of metal (including, but not limited to, stainless steel) , ceramic, china, composits, plastics, and glass. Types of plastics that can be cleaned with the detergent compositions described herein include but are not limited to, those that include polycarbonate polymers (PC) , acrilonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers (ABS) , and polysulfone polymers (PS) . Another exemplary plastic that can be cleaned using the detergent compositions include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) .

As used herein, the term “alkyl” or “alkyl groups” refers to saturated hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms, including straight-chain alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, etc. ) , cyclic alkyl groups (or "cycloalkyl" or "alicyclic" or "carbocyclic" groups) (e.g., cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, etc. ) , branched-chain alkyl groups (e.g., isopropyl, tert-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, etc. ) , and alkyl-substituted alkyl groups (e.g., alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl groups and cycloalkyl-substituted alkyl groups) .

Unless otherwise specified, the term “alkyl” includes both “unsubstituted alkyls” and “substituted alkyls. ” As used herein, the term “substituted alkyls” refers to alkyl groups having substituents replacing one or more hydrogens on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone. Such substituents may include, for example, alkenyl, alkynyl, halogeno, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, amino (including alkyl amino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino) , acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl and ureido) , imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfates, alkylsulfinyl, sulfonates, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclic, alkylaryl, or aromatic (including heteroaromatic) groups.

In some embodiments, substituted alkyls can include a heterocyclic group. As used herein, the term “heterocyclic group” includes closed ring structures analogous to carbocyclic groups in which one or more of the carbon atoms in the ring is an element other than carbon, for example, nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen. Heterocyclic groups may be saturated or unsaturated. Exemplary heterocyclic groups include, but are not limited to, aziridine, ethylene oxide (epoxides, oxiranes) , thiirane (episulfides) , dioxirane, azetidine, oxetane, thietane, dioxetane, dithietane, dithiete, azolidine, pyrrolidine, pyrroline, oxolane, dihydrofuran, and furan.

An “antiredeposition agent” refers to a compound that helps keep suspended in water instead of redepositing onto the object being cleaned. Antiredeposition agents are useful in reducing redeposition of the removed soil onto the surface being cleaned. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions do not contain an antiredeposition agent.

As used herein, the term "cleaning" refers to a method used to facilitate or aid in soil removal, bleaching, microbial population reduction, and any combination thereof.

As used herein, the term “flash foam” refers to the foam generated when water and the cleaning composition are first combined and agitated prior to cleaning a surface such as ware.

As used herein, the term “foam stability” refers to the relative ability of a foam to withstand gradual loss through exposure to soils.

As used herein, the term “phosphorus-free” or “substantially phosphorus-free” refers to a composition, mixture, or ingredient that does not contain phosphorus or a phosphorus-containing compound or to which phosphorus or a phosphorus-containing compound has not been added. Should phosphorus or a phosphorus-containing compound be present through contamination of a phosphorus-free composition, mixture, or ingredients, the amount of phosphorus shall be less than 0.5 wt. %. More preferably, the amount of phosphorus is less than 0.1 wt. %, and most preferably the amount of phosphorus is less than 0.01 wt. %.

As used herein, the term "polymer" generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, such as for example, block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, and higher "x" mers, further including their derivatives, combinations, and blends thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term "polymer" shall include all possible isomeric configurations of the molecule, including, but are not limited to isotactic, syndiotactic and random symmetries, and combinations thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term "polymer" shall include all possible geometrical configurations of the molecule.

As used herein, the term “soil” or “stain” refers to a non-polar oily substance which may or may not contain particulate matter such as mineral clays, sand, natural mineral matter, carbon black, graphite, kaolin, and environmental dust. Soils particularly include, but are not limited to, non-polar oily substances from fats, cooking oils, animal products, and food products.

As used herein, the term "substantially free" refers to compositions completely lacking the component or having such a small amount of the component that the component does not affect the performance of the composition. The component may be present as an impurity or as a contaminant and shall be less than 0.5 wt. %. In another embodiment, the amount of the component is less than 0.1 wt. %and in yet another embodiment, the amount of component is less than 0.01 wt. %.

The term "weight percent, " "wt. %, " "percent by weight, " "%by weight, " and variations thereof, as used herein, refer to the concentration of a substance as the weight of that substance divided by the total weight of the composition and multiplied by 100. It is understood that, as used here, "percent, " "%, " and the like are intended to be synonymous with "weight percent, " "wt-%, " etc.

The compositions and methods of the present disclosure may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of the components and ingredients described herein as well as other ingredients. As used herein, “consisting essentially of” means that the compositions and methods may include additional steps, components or ingredients, but only if the additional steps, components or ingredients do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed compositions and methods.

Cleaning Compositions

The cleaning compositions can be in a concentrated solid form or a liquid use solution. Liquid solutions inended for other than the time of use (e.g., ready-to-use or liquid concentrates) are not possible due to the incompatibility of the peroxygen source in the presence of the alkalinity source. In an aspect of the invention, the compositions can be prepared in the form of a soaking composition. In addition to loosening heavy greasy soils, including those applied to the surface at high temperatures. Such soils can be very difficult to remove as the high heat effectively bind the soils to the surface. Further, the fats found in oily/greasy soils are highly hydrophobic. The compositions can be applied by soaking ware in a solution made from the compositions, which is used to loosen grease and food soils on ware, such as pots and pans, before the pots and pans are run through a dishmachine. The soaking step reduces the number of washes soiled ware must undergo to remove the soils when compared to not using a soaking composition, soaking with water, or soaking with a manual detergent. The soaking composition can be used on ware made of various materials, including, for example: stainless steel, aluminum, and plastics. A particularly suitable application for the soaking composition is removing grease, soils from oils and animal fats, and organic soils from pots and pans.

The soaking composition loosens grease and soil from the surface such that the soil is substantially removed from the surface when the ware is passed through a single cycle of a dishmachine. In addition, no personal protective equipment is needed when the soaking composition is used at the recommended concentration and with the recommended procedures.

The soaking composition provides metal protection for metal ware and prevents discoloration when soaked in the soaking composition for extended soak times at the recommended detergent concentration. Ware immersed in the soaking composition can soak overnight with minimal to no discoloration. For example, Aluminum 3003 and 6061 can be soaked in the soaking solution for extended soak times at the recommended detergent concentration without causing noticeable blackening or discoloration.

Typically, when ware is soaked in a solution and then removed and placed into a dishmachine, a small quantity of the soaking solution is carried with the ware. Because the soaking composition is used prior to placing the ware in a dishmachine for cleaning, components in the soaking composition may produce foam. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions are provide a flash foam and the foam exhibits foam stability, i.e., it is stable when exposed to soils. As disclosed herein, the foam provides a mechanism for removing the soils and preventing redeposition of the soils. Beneficially, no anti-redeposition agent is required because of this. As shown in accompanying Figures 2B and 2C in Example 2, soil is captured within the foam bubbles thereby separating it from the use solution and limiting or even preventing redeposition. Thus, the amount of foam can be considered critical to certain preferred embodiments. Most preferably the amount of flash foam is from about 160 mm to about 200 mm, more preferably from about 170 mm to about 190 mm, most preferably from about 175 mm to about 185 mm. Further, as the flash foam exhibits stability in the presence of soil, preferably the foam has a height of from about 140 mm to about 200 mm, more preferably from about 150 mm to about 190 mm, most preferably from about 160 mm to about 185 mm

The concentrated cleaning compositions are preferably provided in a solid. Suitable solids include, but are not limited to, granulated solids, flaked solids, cast solids, molded solids, and pressed solids. Powdered solids are not suitable as the powder can be considered dangerous for a user’s respiratory health. Most preferably, the concentrated cleaning compositions are granulated solids.

In a beneficial aspect of the compositions, the compositions can be substantially free of halogen-based bleaching agents and substantially free of an antiredeposition agent. Halogen-based bleaching agents are often employed to destain and remove tough soils; however, such is not needed to achieve the cleaning and destaining of the present compositions; thus, the compositions preferably are substantially free of halogen-based bleaching agents. Similarly, cleaning compositions often include an antiredeposition agent to suspend removed soil particles and keep them from redepositing on the cleaned surface. Beneficially, the cleaning compositions disclosed herein are substantially free of an antiredeposition agent, but achieve cleaning and destaining without redeposition of soils.

The cleaning compositions are preferably a solid concentrate or a liquid use solution. In general, a solid concentrate refers to a composition that is intended to be dissolved and diluted with water to provide a use solution that contacts an object to provide the desired cleaning, rinsing, or the like. The solid concentrate can be contacted with the articles to be cleaned or contacted with water first to form a use solution. In an embodiment, where the solid concentrate is contacted with the articles to be cleaned, it is preferred that the solid concentrate be in a granulated or flaked form such that it can be sprinkled or otherwise added to the articles to be cleaned. At the same time or after, the water can be added which dissolves and dilutes the cleaning composition to form a use solution. In another embodiment, the solid concentrate can be contacted with water to dissolve and dilute composition and form a use solution after or simultaneously the articles can be added for cleaning.

Exemplary ranges of the cleaning compositions in solid concentrated form are shown in Tables 1A and 1B in weight percentage of the compositions.

Table 1A

Table 1B

A use solution may be prepared from the concentrate by dissolving and diluting the concentrate with water at a dilution ratio that provides a use solution having desired cleaning properties. In a preferred embodiment, the concentrate is at a ratio of from about 1: 50 to about 1: 10,000, more preferably from about 1: 60 to about 1: 8,000, still more preferably from about 1: 70 to about 1: 5,000, even more preferably from about 1: 80 to about 1: 2500, yet more preferably from about 1: 90 to about 1: 2000, still more preferably from about 1: 100 to about 1: 1500, most preferably from about 1: 500 to about 1: 1000, of the solid cleaning composition to water. The water that is used to dilute the concentrate to form the use composition can be referred to as water of dilution or a diluent, and can vary from one location to another.

Exemplary ranges of the liquid cleaning compositions in use solution form are shown in Tables 2A and 2B in parts per million.

Table 2A

Table 2B

In another aspect of the disclosure, the use solutions have a pH of between about 9 and about 14, more preferably between about 10 and 13, even more preferably between about 11 and about 12.5. It should be understood, however, that depending on the desired application and properties more alkaline or more acidic pHs may be desirable. In such instances, pH adjusters may be used to adjust the pH to the desired level.

Alkalinity Source

The cleaning compositions comprise one or more alkalinity sources. Preferred alkalinity sources include alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal silicates, and mixtures thereof. In a most preferred embodiment, the composition comprises at least two alkalinity sources. Preferred alkali metal hydroxides include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof. Preferred alkali metal carbonates, include, but are not limited to, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, potassium sesquicarbonate, and mixtures thereof. Preferred alkali metal silicates, include, but are not limited to, sodium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium metasilicate, potassium metasilicate, and mixtures thereof. In a most preferred embodiment, the composition comprises an alkali metal carbonate and an alkali metal silicate.

The solid concentrated cleaning compositions preferably comprise from about 30 wt. %to about 80 wt. %, more preferably from about 40 wt. %to about 75 wt. %, most preferably from about 50 wt. %and about 70 wt. %of the alkalinity source. In a preferred embodiment a first alkalinity source is present in the concentrated cleaning compositions in an amount from about 30 wt. %to about 65 wt. %, more preferably from about 35 wt. %to about 60 wt. %, most preferably from about 40 wt. %to about 55 wt. %. In a preferred embodiment a second alkalinity source is present in the concentrated cleaning compositions in an amount from about 10 wt. %to about 35 wt. %, more preferably from about 15 wt. %to about 30 wt. %, most preferably from about 20 wt. %to about 25 wt. %. While the first and second alkalinity sources can be in varying amounts as disclosed above, it is preferred that they are not both at the higher concentration levels disclosed in order for the other ingredients to be preferred. Thus, if the first alkalinity source is included in a concentration near the upper amount, it is expected that the second alkalinity source is in a concentration around the lower to upper middle concentration; conversely, if the second alkalinity source is included in a concentration near the upper amount, it is expected that the first alkalinity source is in a concentration around the lower to upper middle concentration.

The liquid use solutions preferably comprise from about 400 ppm to 3000 ppm, more preferably from about 500 ppm to about 2500 ppm, most preferably from about 600 ppm to about 1800 ppm of the alkalinity source. In a preferred embodiment a first alkalinity source is present in the use solutions in an amount from about 300 ppm to about 1300 ppm, more preferably from about 350 ppm to about 1200 ppm, most preferably from about 350 ppm to about 1000 ppm. In a preferred embodiment a second alkalinity source is present in the use solutions in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 700 ppm, more preferably from about 150 ppm to about 650 ppm, most preferably from about 150 ppm to about 500 ppm.

Surfactant

The cleaning compositions of the present invention comprise a surfactant. Preferred surfactants comprise anionic surfactants. In a more preferred embodiment, the compositions are substantially free of cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and zwitterionic surfactants. In a most preferred embodiment, the compositions are substantially free of cationic surfactants.

The solid concentrated cleaning compositions preferably comprise from about 10 wt. %to about 30 wt. %, more preferably from about 12 wt. %to about 28 wt. %, most preferably from about 15 wt. %and about 25 wt. %of the surfactant.

The liquid use solutions preferably comprise from about 100 ppm to 600 ppm, more preferably from about 120 ppm to about 550 ppm, most preferably from about 150 ppm to about 500 ppm of the surfactant.

Anionic Surfactant

The compositions of the invention can also include one or more anionic surfactants. Anionic surfactants are surface active molecules that include a charge on the hydrophile that is negative; or surfactants in which the hydrophilic section of the molecule carries no charge unless the pH is elevated to neutrality or above (e.g. carboxylic acids) . Carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate and phosphate are the polar (hydrophilic) solubilizing groups found in anionic surfactants. Of the cations (counter ions) associated with these polar groups, sodium, lithium and potassium impart water solubility; ammonium and substituted ammonium ions provide both water and oil solubility; and, calcium, barium, and magnesium promote oil solubility.

Anionic sulfate surfactants suitable for use in the present compositions include alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, the linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, alkyl ethoxysulfates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, the C ₅ -C ₁₇ acyl-N- (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl) and -N- (C ₁ -C ₂ hydroxyalkyl) glucamine sulfates, and sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside, and the like. Also included are the alkyl sulfates, alkyl poly (ethyleneoxy) ether sulfates and aromatic poly (ethyleneoxy) sulfates such as the sulfates or condensation products of ethylene oxide and nonyl phenol (usually having 1 to 6 oxyethylene groups per molecule) .

Preferred anionic sulfonated surfactants include alkyl sulfonates, the linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfonates, and the aromatic sulfonates with or without substituents. In an aspect, sulfonates include sulfonated carboxylic acid esters. In an aspect, suitable alkyl sulfonate surfactants include C8-C22 alkylbenzene sulfonates, or C10-C22 alkyl sulfonates. In an exemplary aspect, the anionic alkyl sulfonate surfactant is linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid (LAS) . In a preferred embodiment employing LAS as the anionic surfactant, the compositions are most effective at pH 3.5 or below. In a further embodiment, the anionic sulfonate surfactant may alternatively or additionally include diphenylated sulfonates, and/or sulfonated oleic acid. Most preferred anionic sulfonated surfactants include, but are not limited to, C8-C22 alkylbenzene sulfonates, sulfonated oleic acid, a sulfosuccinate, a secondary alkane sulfonate, or mixtures thereof.

Anionic carboxylate surfactants suitable for use in the present compositions include carboxylic acids (and salts) , such as alkanoic acids (and alkanoates) , ester carboxylic acids (e.g. alkyl succinates) , ether carboxylic acids, sulfonated fatty acids, such as sulfonated oleic acid, and the like. Such carboxylates include alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, alkyl aryl ethoxy carboxylates, alkyl polyethoxy polycarboxylate surfactants and soaps (e.g. alkyl carboxyls) . Secondary carboxylates useful in the present compositions include those which contain a carboxyl unit connected to a secondary carbon. The secondary carbon can be in a ring structure, e.g. as in p- octyl benzoic acid, or as in alkyl-substituted cyclohexyl carboxylates. The secondary carboxylate surfactants typically contain no ether linkages, no ester linkages and no hydroxyl groups. Further, they typically lack nitrogen atoms in the head-group (amphiphilic portion) . Suitable secondary soap surfactants typically contain 11-13 total carbon atoms, although more carbons atoms (e.g., up to 16) can be present. Suitable carboxylates also include acylamino acids (and salts) , such as acylgluamates, acyl peptides, sarcosinates (e.g. N-acyl sarcosinates) , taurates (e.g. N-acyl taurates and fatty acid amides of methyl tauride) , and the like.

Suitable anionic surfactants include alkyl or alkylaryl ethoxy carboxylates of the following formula:

R -O - (CH ₂CH ₂O) _n (CH ₂) _m -CO ₂X (3)

in which R is a C ₈ to C ₂₂ alkyl group or

in which R ¹ is a C ₄-C ₁₆ alkyl group; n is an integer of 1-20; m is an integer of 1-3; and X is a counter ion, such as hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, or an amine salt such as monoethanolamine or triethanolamine. In some embodiments, n is an integer of 4 to 10 and m is 1. In some embodiments, R is a C ₈-C ₁₆ alkyl group. In some embodiments, R is a C ₁₂-C ₁₄ alkyl group, n is 4, and m is 1.

In other embodiments, R is

and R ¹ is a C ₆-C ₁₂ alkyl group. In still yet other embodiments, R ¹ is a C ₉ alkyl group, n is 10 and m is 1.

Such alkyl and alkylaryl ethoxy carboxylates are commercially available. These ethoxy carboxylates are typically available as the acid forms, which can be readily converted to the anionic or salt form. Commercially available carboxylates include, Neodox 23-4, a C _12-13 alkyl polyethoxy (4) carboxylic acid (Shell Chemical) , and Emcol CNP-110, a C ₉ alkylaryl polyethoxy (10) carboxylic acid (Witco Chemical) . Carboxylates are also available from Clariant, e.g. the product

DTC, a C ₁₃ alkyl polyethoxy (7) carboxylic acid.

Peroxygen Source

The cleaning compositions optionally comprise a peroxygen source. Preferred peroxygen sources include, hydrogen peroxide, perborates, sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, phosphate peroxyhydrates, potassium permonosulfate, and sodium perborate mono and tetrahydrate, with and without activators such as tetraacetylethylene diamine, and the like. In a most preferred embodiment, the peroxygen source is a peroxyhydrate such as sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate and/or phosphate peroxyhydrate.

The solid concentrated cleaning compositions preferably comprise from about 10 wt. %to about 30 wt. %, more preferably from about 12 wt. %to about 28 wt. %, most preferably from about 15 wt. %and about 25 wt. %of the peroxygen source.

The liquid use solutions preferably comprise from about 100 ppm to 600 ppm, more preferably from about 120 ppm to about 550 ppm, most preferably from about 150 ppm to about 500 ppm of the peroxygen source.

Water

The liquid use solutions are prepared by dissolving the concentrated solid cleaning compositions in water. Preferably the solid concentrated cleaning composition is dissolved and diluted in water the concentrate is at a ratio of from about 1: 50 to about 1: 10,000, more preferably from about 1: 60 to about 1: 8,000, still more preferably from about 1: 70 to about 1: 5,000, even more preferably from about 1: 80 to about 1: 2500, yet more preferably from about 1: 90 to about 1: 2000, still more preferably from about 1: 100 to about 1: 1500, most preferably from about 1: 500 to about 1: 1000, of the solid cleaning composition to water.

Optional Ingredients

The components of the cleaning compositions can further be combined with various functional components suitable for a particular application or aesthetic. In some embodiments, the cleaning composition including the alkalinity source, surfactant, and peroxygen source, make up a large amount, or even substantially all of the total weight of the concentrated cleaning composition. For example, in some embodiments few or no additional functional ingredients are disposed therein.

In other embodiments, additional ingredients may be included in the compositions. The additional ingredients provide desired properties and functionalities to the compositions. Some particular examples of additional ingredients are discussed in more detail below, although the particular materials discussed are given by way of example only, and that a broad variety of other additional ingredients may be used. For example, many of the additional ingredients discussed below relate to materials used in cleaning, specifically ware wash applications. However, other embodiments may include additional ingredients for use in other applications.

In other embodiments, the compositions may include chelating/sequestering agents, corrosion inhibitors, dyes and/or odorants, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing systems, neutralizers, pH adjusters, silicates, and additional surfactants.

Chelating/Sequestering Agent

The cleaning compositions can optionally include a chelating/sequestering agent such as an aminocarboxylic acid, a condensed phosphate, a phosphonate, a polyacrylate, and the like. In general, a chelating agent is a molecule capable of coordinating (i.e., binding) the metal ions commonly found in natural water to prevent the metal ions from interfering with the action of the other detersive ingredients of a cleaning composition. The chelating/sequestering agent can also function as a threshold agent when included in an effective amount. An iminodisuccinate (available commercially from Bayer as IDS ^TM) may be used as a chelating agent.

Useful aminocarboxylic acids include, for example, N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) , ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) , N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA) , diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) , and the like.

Examples of condensed phosphates useful in the present composition include sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium and potassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and the like.

The composition may include a phosphonate such as 1-hydroxyethane-1, 1-diphosphonic acid and the like.

Polymeric polycarboxylates may also be included in the composition. Those suitable for use as cleaning agents have pendant carboxylate groups and include, for example, polyacrylic acid, maleic/olefin copolymer, acrylic/maleic copolymer, polymethacrylic acid, acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, hydrolyzed polymethacrylamide, hydrolyzed polyamide-methacrylamide copolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed polymethacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-methacrylonitrile copolymers, and the like. For a further discussion of chelating agents/sequestrants, see Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, volume 5, pages 339-366 and volume 23, pages 319-320, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Optionally, the concentrated cleaning compositions can include from about 0.01 wt. %to about 5 wt. %, preferably from about 0.05 wt. %to about 3 wt. %of a chelating/sequestering agent. Optionally, the use solutions can include from about 10 ppm to about 500 ppm, preferably from about 20 ppm to about 250 ppm.

Corrosion Inhibitors

A corrosion inhibitor can be optionally included in the cleaning compositions in an amount sufficient to provide a use solution that exhibits a rate of corrosion and/or etching of glass that is less than the rate of corrosion and/or etching of glass for an otherwise identical use solution except for the absence of the corrosion inhibitor.

Examples of suitable corrosion inhibitors include, but are not limited to: a combination of a source of aluminum ion and a source of zinc ion, as well as an alkaline metal silicate or hydrate thereof. The corrosion inhibitor can refer to the combination of a source of aluminum ion and a source of zinc ion. The source of aluminum ion and the source of zinc ion provide aluminum ion and zinc ion, respectively, when the solid detergent composition is provided in the form of a use solution. The amount of the corrosion inhibitor is calculated based upon the combined amount of the source of aluminum ion and the source of zinc ion. Anything that provides an aluminum ion in a use solution can be referred to as a source of aluminum ion, and anything that provides a zinc ion when provided in a use solution can be referred to as a source of zinc ion. It is not necessary for the source of aluminum ion and/or the source of zinc ion to react to form the aluminum ion and/or the zinc ion. Aluminum ions can be considered a source of aluminum ion, and zinc ions can be considered a source of zinc ion. The source of aluminum ion and the source of zinc ion can be provided as organic salts, inorganic salts, and mixtures thereof.

Exemplary sources of aluminum ion include, but are not limited to: aluminum salts such as sodium aluminate, aluminum bromide, aluminum chlorate, aluminum chloride, aluminum iodide, aluminum nitrate, aluminum sulfate, aluminum acetate, aluminum formate, aluminum tartrate, aluminum lactate, aluminum oleate, aluminum bromate, aluminum borate, aluminum potassium sulfate, and aluminum zinc sulfate. Exemplary sources of zinc ion include, but are not limited to: zinc salts such as zinc chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc nitrate, zinc iodide, zinc thiocyanate, zinc fluorosilicate, zinc dichromate, zinc chlorate, sodium zincate, zinc gluconate, zinc acetate, zinc benzoate, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc formate, zinc bromate, zinc bromide, zinc fluoride, zinc fluorosilicate, and zinc salicylate.

Optionally, the concentrated cleaning compositions can include a metal corrosion inhibitor in an amount from about 0.01 wt. %to about 5 wt. %, preferably from about 0.05 wt. %to about 3 wt. %of a corrosion inhibitor. Optionally, use solutionss can include from about 5 ppm to about 500, preferably from about 10 ppm to about 200 ppm of a corrosion inhibitor.

Dyes/Odorants

Optionally, various dyes, odorants including perfumes, and other aesthetic enhancing agents can also be included in the cleaning compositions. Dyes may be included to alter the appearance of the composition, as for example, Direct Blue 86 (Miles) , Fastusol Blue (Mobay Chemical Corp. ) , Acid Orange 7 (American Cyanamid) , Basic Violet 10 (Sandoz) , Acid Yellow 23 (GAF) , Acid Yellow 17 (Sigma Chemical) , Sap Green (Keyston Analine and Chemical) , Metanil Yellow (Keystone Analine and Chemical) , Acid Blue 9 (Hilton Davis) , Sandolan Blue/Acid Blue 182 (Sandoz) , Hisol Fast Red (Capitol Color and Chemical) , Fluorescein (Capitol Color and Chemical) , Acid Green 25 (Ciba-Geigy) , and the like.

Fragrances or perfumes that may be included in the compositions include, for example, terpenoids such as citronellol, aldehydes such as amyl cinnamaldehyde, a jasmine such as ClS-jasmine or jasmal, vanillin, and the like.

Enzymes

Optionally, the cleaning compositions can include one or more enzymes, which can provide desirable activity for removal of protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or triglyceride-based stains from substrates; for cleaning, destaining, and sanitizing presoaks, such as presoaks for flatware, cups and bowls, and pots and pans; presoaks for medical and dental instruments; or presoaks for meat cutting equipment; for machine warewashing; for laundry and textile cleaning and destaining; for carpet cleaning and destaining; for cleaning-in-place and destaining-in-place; for cleaning and destaining food processing surfaces and equipment; for drain cleaning; presoaks for cleaning; and the like. Enzymes may act by degrading or altering one or more types of soil residues encountered on a surface or textile thus removing the soil or making the soil more removable by a surfactant or other component of the cleaning composition. Both degradation and alteration of soil residues can improve detergency by reducing the physicochemical forces which bind the soil to the surface or textile being cleaned, i.e. the soil becomes more water soluble. For example, one or more proteases can cleave complex, macromolecular protein structures present in soil residues into simpler short chain molecules which are, of themselves, more readily desorbed from surfaces, solubilized or otherwise more easily removed by detersive solutions containing said proteases.

Suitable enzymes may include a protease, an amylase, a lipase, a gluconase, a cellulase, a peroxidase, or a mixture thereof of any suitable origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial, fungal or yeast origin. Selections are influenced by factors such as pH-activity and/or stability optima, thermostability, and stability to active detergents, builders and the like. In this respect bacterial or fungal enzymes may be preferred, such as bacterial amylases and proteases, and fungal cellulases. Preferably the enzyme may be a protease, a lipase, an amylase, or a combination thereof.

Optionally, the concentrated cleaning compositions can include an enzyme in an amount of from about 0.01 wt. %to about 5 wt. %, preferably from about 0.05 wt. %to about 3 wt. %of a enzyme. Optionally, the use solutions can include from about 10 ppm to about 0.5 wt. %, preferably from about 50 ppm to about 300 ppm of an enzyme.

Enzyme Stabilizing System

The cleaning compositions can optionally include an enzyme stabilizing system. The enzyme stabilizing system can include a boric acid salt, such as an alkali metal borate or amine (e.g. an alkanolamine) borate, or an alkali metal borate, or potassium borate. The enzyme stabilizing system can also include other ingredients to stabilize certain enzymes or to enhance or maintain the effect of the boric acid salt.

For example, the cleaning compositions can include a water soluble source of calcium and/or magnesium ions. Calcium ions are generally more effective than magnesium ions and are preferred herein if only one type of cation is being used. Water-soluble calcium or magnesium salts may be employed, including for example calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, calcium formate, calcium malate, calcium maleate, calcium hydroxide and calcium acetate; more generally, calcium sulfate or magnesium salts corresponding to the listed calcium salts may be used. Further increased levels of calcium and/or magnesium may of course be useful, for example for promoting the grease-cutting action of certain types of surfactant.

Suitable chlorine scavenger anions are known and readily available, and, if used, can be salts containing ammonium cations with sulfite, bisulfite, thiosulfite, thiosulfate, iodide, etc. Antioxidants such as carbamate, ascorbate, etc., organic amines such as ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) or alkali metal salt thereof, monoethanolamine (MEA) , and mixtures thereof can likewise be used.

Silicate

Optionally, a silicate can be included in the cleaning composition to provide for metal protection but are additionally known to provide alkalinity and additionally function as anti-redeposition agents. Exemplary silicates include, but are not limited to: sodium silicate and potassium silicate. The cleaning composition can be provided without a silicate, but when a silicate is included, it can be included in amounts that provide for desired metal protection.

Optionally, the concentrated cleaning composition can include a silicate in an amount of from about about 0.1 wt. %to about 5 wt. %, preferably from about 0.5 wt. %to about 3 wt. %. Optionally, the use solutions can include from about 10 ppm to about 500 ppm, preferably from about 20 ppm to about 300 ppm of a silicate.

Additional Surfactant

In addition to the surfactants specified above, the composition may optionaly also include other surfactants as enumerated hereinafter. In a preferred embodiment, the compostions can be free of these surfactants as well. Notably, cationic surfactants are incompatible with the compositions and cannot be included in the compositions; as such, the compositions are preferably substantially free of cationic surfactants.

Nonionic Surfactants

Useful nonionic surfactants are generally characterized by the presence of an organic hydrophobic group and an organic hydrophilic group and are typically produced by the condensation of an organic aliphatic, alkyl aromatic or polyoxyalkylene hydrophobic compound with a hydrophilic alkaline oxide moiety which in common practice is ethylene oxide or a polyhydration product thereof, polyethylene glycol. Practically any hydrophobic compound having a hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, or amido group with a reactive hydrogen atom can be condensed with ethylene oxide, or its polyhydration adducts, or its mixtures with alkoxylenes such as propylene oxide to form a nonionic surface-active agent. The length of the hydrophilic polyoxyalkylene moiety which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic compound can be readily adjusted to yield a water dispersible or water soluble compound having the desired degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. Useful nonionic surfactants include:

1. Block polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene polymeric compounds based upon propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane, and ethylenediamine as the initiator reactive hydrogen compound. Examples of polymeric compounds made from a sequential propoxylation and ethoxylation of initiator are commercially available under the trade names

and

manufactured by BASF Corp.

compounds are difunctional (two reactive hydrogens) compounds formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the addition of propylene oxide to the two hydroxyl groups of propylene glycol. This hydrophobic portion of the molecule weighs from about 1,000 to about 4,000. Ethylene oxide is then added to sandwich this hydrophobe between hydrophilic groups, controlled by length to constitute from about 10%by weight to about 80%by weight of the final molecule.

compounds are tetra-flinctional block copolymers derived from the sequential addition of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide to ethylenediamine. The molecular weight of the propylene oxide hydrotype ranges from about 500 to about 7,000; and, the hydrophile, ethylene oxide, is added to constitute from about 10%by weight to about 80%by weight of the molecule.

2. Condensation products of one mole of alkyl phenol wherein the alkyl chain, of straight chain or branched chain configuration, or of single or dual alkyl constituent, contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms with from about 3 to about 50 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl group can, for example, be represented by diisobutylene, di-amyl, polymerized propylene, iso-octyl, nonyl, and di-nonyl. These surfactants can be polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols. Examples of commercial compounds of this chemistry are available on the market under the trade names

manufactured by Rhone-Poulenc and

manufactured by Union Carbide.

3. Condensation products of one mole of a saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain alcohol having from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms with from about 3 to about 50 moles of ethylene oxide. The alcohol moiety can consist of mixtures of alcohols in the above delineated carbon range or it can consist of an alcohol having a specific number of carbon atoms within this range. Examples of like commercial surfactant are available under the trade names Neodol ^TM manufactured by Shell Chemical Co. and Alfonic ^TM manufactured by Vista Chemical Co.

4. Condensation products of one mole of saturated or unsaturated, straight or branched chain carboxylic acid having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms with from about 6 to about 50 moles of ethylene oxide. The acid moiety can consist of mixtures of acids in the above defined carbon atoms range or it can consist of an acid having a specific number of carbon atoms within the range. Examples of commercial compounds of this chemistry are available on the market under the trade names Nopalcol ^TM manufactured by Henkel Corporation and Lipopeg ^TM manufactured by Lipo Chemicals, Inc.

In addition to ethoxylated carboxylic acids, commonly called polyethylene glycol esters, other alkanoic acid esters formed by reaction with glycerides, glycerin, and polyhydric (saccharide or sorbitan/sorbitol) alcohols have application in this invention for specialized embodiments, particularly indirect food additive applications. All of these ester moieties have one or more reactive hydrogen sites on their molecule which can undergo further acylation or ethylene oxide (alkoxide) addition to control the hydrophilicity of these substances. Care must be exercised when adding these fatty ester or acylated carbohydrates to compositions of the present invention containing amylase and/or lipase enzymes because of potential incompatibility.

Examples of nonionic low foaming surfactants include:

5. Compounds from (1) which are modified, essentially reversed, by adding ethylene oxide to ethylene glycol to provide a hydrophile of designated molecular weight; and, then adding propylene oxide to obtain hydrophobic blocks on the outside (ends) of the molecule. The hydrophobic portion of the molecule weighs from about 1,000 to about 3,100 with the central hydrophile including 10%by weight to about 80%by weight of the final molecule. These reverse Pluronics ^TM are manufactured by BASF Corporation under the trade name Pluronic ^TM R surfactants. Likewise, the Tetronic ^TM R surfactants are produced by BASF Corporation by the sequential addition of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to ethylenediamine. The hydrophobic portion of the molecule weighs from about 2,100 to about 6,700 with the central hydrophile including 10%by weight to 80%by weight of the final molecule.

6. Compounds from groups (1) , (2) , (3) and (4) which are modified by "capping" or "end blocking" the terminal hydroxy group or groups (of multi-functional moieties) to reduce foaming by reaction with a small hydrophobic molecule such as propylene oxide, butylene oxide, benzyl chloride; and, short chain fatty acids, alcohols or alkyl halides containing from 1 to about 5 carbon atoms; and mixtures thereof. Also included are reactants such as thionyl chloride which convert terminal hydroxy groups to a chloride group. Such modifications to the terminal hydroxy group may lead to all-block, block-heteric, heteric-block or all-heteric nonionics.

Additional examples of effective low foaming nonionics include:

7. The alkylphenoxypolyethoxyalkanols of U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,486 issued Sep. 8, 1959 to Brown et al. and represented by the formula

in which R is an alkyl group of 8 to 9 carbon atoms, A is an alkylene chain of 3 to 4 carbon atoms, n is an integer of 7 to 16, and m is an integer of 1 to 10.

The polyalkylene glycol condensates of U.S. Pat. No. 3,048,548 issued Aug. 7, 1962 to Martin et al. having alternating hydrophilic oxyethylene chains and hydrophobic oxypropylene chains where the weight of the terminal hydrophobic chains, the weight of the middle hydrophobic unit and the weight of the linking hydrophilic units each represent about one-third of the condensate.

The defoaming nonionic surfactants disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,178 issued May 7, 1968 to Lissant et al. having the general formula Z [ (OR) _nOH] _z wherein Z is alkoxylatable material, R is a radical derived from an alkaline oxide which can be ethylene and propylene and n is an integer from, for example, 10 to 2,000 or more and z is an integer determined by the number of reactive oxyalkylatable groups.

The conjugated polyoxyalkylene compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,677,700, issued May 4, 1954 to Jackson et al. corresponding to the formula Y (C ₃H ₆O) _n (C ₂H ₄O) _mH wherein Y is the residue of organic compound having from about 1 to 6 carbon atoms and one reactive hydrogen atom, n has an average value of at least about 6.4, as determined by hydroxyl number and m has a value such that the oxyethylene portion constitutes about 10%to about 90%by weight of the molecule.

The conjugated polyoxyalkylene compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,674,619, issued Apr. 6, 1954 to Lundsted et al. having the formula Y [ (C ₃H ₆O _n (C ₂H ₄O) _mH] _x wherein Y is the residue of an organic compound having from about 2 to 6 carbon atoms and containing x reactive hydrogen atoms in which x has a value of at least about 2, n has a value such that the molecular weight of the polyoxypropylene hydrophobic base is at least about 900 and m has value such that the oxyethylene content of the molecule is from about 10%to about 90%by weight. Compounds falling within the scope of the definition for Y include, for example, propylene glycol, glycerine, pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane, ethylenediamine and the like. The oxypropylene chains optionally, but advantageously, contain small amounts of ethylene oxide and the oxyethylene chains also optionally, but advantageously, contain small amounts of propylene oxide.

Additional conjugated polyoxyalkylene surface-active agents which are advantageously used in the compositions of this invention correspond to the formula: P [ (C ₃H ₆O) _n (C ₂H ₄O) _mH] _x wherein P is the residue of an organic compound having from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and containing x reactive hydrogen atoms in which x has a value of 1 or 2, n has a value such that the molecular weight of the polyoxyethylene portion is at least about 44 and m has a value such that the oxypropylene content of the molecule is from about 10%to about 90%by weight. In either case the oxypropylene chains may contain optionally, but advantageously, small amounts of ethylene oxide and the oxyethylene chains may contain also optionally, but advantageously, small amounts of propylene oxide.

8. Polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants suitable for use in the present compositions include those having the structural formula R ₂CON _R1Z in which: R1 is H, C ₁-C ₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, ethoxy, propoxy group, or a mixture thereof; R ₂ is a C ₅-C ₃₁ hydrocarbyl, which can be straight-chain; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z can be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; such as a glycityl moiety.

9. The alkyl ethoxylate condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from about 0 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide are suitable for use in the present compositions. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from 6 to 22 carbon atoms.

10. The ethoxylated C ₆-C ₁₈ fatty alcohols and C ₆-C ₁₈ mixed ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty alcohols are suitable surfactants for use in the present compositions, particularly those that are water soluble. Suitable ethoxylated fatty alcohols include the C ₆-C ₁₈ ethoxylated fatty alcohols with a degree of ethoxylation of from 3 to 50.

11. Suitable nonionic alkylpolysaccharide surfactants, particularly for use in the present compositions include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,647, Llenado, issued Jan. 21, 1986. These surfactants include a hydrophobic group containing from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g., a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from about 1.3 to about 10 saccharide units. Any reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g., glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can be substituted for the glucosyl moieties. (Optionally the hydrophobic group is attached at the 2-, 3-, 4-, etc. positions thus giving a glucose or galactose as opposed to a glucoside or galactoside. ) The intersaccharide bonds can be, e.g., between the one position of the additional saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-, and/or 6-positions on the preceding saccharide units.

12. Fatty acid amide surfactants suitable for use the present compositions include those having the formula: R ₆CON (R ₇) ₂ in which R ₆ is an alkyl group containing from 7 to 21 carbon atoms and each R ₇ is independently hydrogen, C ₁-C ₄ alkyl, C ₁-C ₄ hydroxyalkyl, or -- (C ₂H ₄O) _XH, where x is in the range of from 1 to 3.

13. A useful class of non-ionic surfactants include the class defined as alkoxylated amines or, most particularly, alcohol alkoxylated/aminated/alkoxylated surfactants. These non-ionic surfactants may be at least in part represented by the general formulae: R ²⁰-- (PO) _SN-- (EO) _tH, R ²⁰-- (PO) _SN-- (EO) _tH (EO) _tH, and R ²⁰--N (EO) _tH; in which R ²⁰ is an alkyl, alkenyl or other aliphatic group, or an alkyl-aryl group of from 8 to 20, preferably 12 to 14 carbon atoms, EO is oxyethylene, PO is oxypropylene, s is 1 to 20, preferably 2-5, t is 1-10, preferably 2-5, and u is 1-10, preferably 2-5. Other variations on the scope of these compounds may be represented by the alternative formula: R ²⁰-- (PO) _V--N [ (EO) _wH] [ (EO) _zH] in which R ²⁰ is as defined above, v is 1 to 20 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4 (preferably 2) ) , and w and z are independently 1-10, preferably 2-5. These compounds are represented commercially by a line of products sold by Huntsman Chemicals as nonionic surfactants. A preferred chemical of this class includes Surfonic ^TM PEA 25 Amine Alkoxylate. Preferred nonionic surfactants for the compositions of the invention include alcohol alkoxylates, EO/PO block copolymers, alkylphenol alkoxylates, and the like.

Semi-Polar Nonionic Surfactants

The semi-polar type of nonionic surface active agents are another class of nonionic surfactant useful in compositions of the present invention. Generally, semi-polar nonionics are high foamers and foam stabilizers, which can limit their application in CIP systems. However, within compositional embodiments of this invention designed for high foam cleaning methodology, semi-polar nonionics would have immediate utility. The semi-polar nonionic surfactants include the amine oxides, phosphine oxides, sulfoxides and their alkoxylated derivatives.

14. Amine oxides are tertiary amine oxides corresponding to the general formula:

wherein the arrow is a conventional representation of a semi-polar bond; and, R ¹, R ², and R ³ may be aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, alicyclic, or combinations thereof. Generally, for amine oxides of detergent interest, R ¹ is an alkyl radical of from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms; R ² and R ³ are alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of 1-3 carbon atoms or a mixture thereof; R ² and R ³ can be attached to each other, e.g. through an oxygen or nitrogen atom, to form a ring structure; R ⁴ is an alkaline or a hydroxyalkylene group containing 2 to 3 carbon atoms; and n ranges from 0 to about 20.

Useful water soluble amine oxide surfactants are selected from the coconut or tallow alkyl di- (lower alkyl) amine oxides, specific examples of which are dodecyldimethylamine oxide, tridecyldimethylamine oxide, etradecyldimethylamine oxide, pentadecyldimethylamine oxide, hexadecyldimethylamine oxide, heptadecyldimethylamine oxide, octadecyldimethylaine oxide, dodecyldipropylamine oxide, tetradecyldipropylamine oxide, hexadecyldipropylamine oxide, tetradecyldibutylamine oxide, octadecyldibutylamine oxide, bis (2-hydroxyethyl) dodecylamine oxide, bis (2-hydroxyethyl) -3-dodecoxy-1-hydroxypropylamine oxide, dimethyl- (2-hydroxydodecyl) amine oxide, 3, 6, 9-trioctadecyldimethylamine oxide and 3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyldi- (2-hydroxyethyl) amine oxide.

Useful semi-polar nonionic surfactants also include the water soluble phosphine oxides having the following structure:

wherein the arrow is a conventional representation of a semi-polar bond; and, R ¹ is an alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl moiety ranging from 10 to about 24 carbon atoms in chain length; and, R ² and R ³ are each alkyl moieties separately selected from alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Examples of useful phosphine oxides include dimethyldecylphosphine oxide, dimethyltetradecylphosphine oxide, methylethyltetradecylphosphone oxide, dimethylhexadecylphosphine oxide, diethyl-2-hydroxyoctyldecylphosphine oxide, bis (2-hydroxyethyl) dodecylphosphine oxide, and bis (hydroxymethyl) tetradecylphosphine oxide.

Semi-polar nonionic surfactants useful herein also include the water soluble sulfoxide compounds which have the structure:

wherein the arrow is a conventional representation of a semi-polar bond; and, R ¹ is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl moiety of about 8 to about 28 carbon atoms, from 0 to about 5 ether linkages and from 0 to about 2 hydroxyl substituents; and R ² is an alkyl moiety consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Useful examples of these sulfoxides include dodecyl methyl sulfoxide; 3-hydroxy tridecyl methyl sulfoxide; 3-methoxy tridecyl methyl sulfoxide; and 3-hydroxy-4-dodecoxybutyl methyl sulfoxide.

Semi-polar nonionic surfactants for the compositions of the invention include dimethyl amine oxides, such as lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, myristyl dimethyl amine oxide, cetyl dimethyl amine oxide, combinations thereof, and the like. Useful water soluble amine oxide surfactants are selected from the octyl, decyl, dodecyl, isododecyl, coconut, or tallow alkyl di- (lower alkyl) amine oxides, specific examples of which are octyldimethylamine oxide, nonyldimethylamine oxide, decyldimethylamine oxide, undecyldimethylamine oxide, dodecyldimethylamine oxide, iso-dodecyldimethyl amine oxide, tridecyldimethylamine oxide, tetradecyldimethylamine oxide, pentadecyldimethylamine oxide, hexadecyldimethylamine oxide, heptadecyldimethylamine oxide, octadecyldimethylaine oxide, dodecyldipropylamine oxide, tetradecyldipropylamine oxide, hexadecyldipropylamine oxide, tetradecyldibutylamine oxide, octadecyldibutylamine oxide, bis (2-hydroxyethyl) dodecylamine oxide, bis (2-hydroxyethyl) -3-dodecoxy-1-hydroxypropylamine oxide, dimethyl- (2-hydroxydodecyl) amine oxide, 3, 6, 9-trioctadecyldimethylamine oxide and 3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyldi- (2-hydroxyethyl) amine oxide.

Suitable nonionic surfactants suitable for use with the compositions of the present invention include alkoxylated surfactants. Suitable alkoxylated surfactants include EO/PO copolymers, capped EO/PO copolymers, alcohol alkoxylates, capped alcohol alkoxylates, mixtures thereof, or the like. Suitable alkoxylated surfactants for use as solvents include EO/PO block copolymers, such as the Pluronic and reverse Pluronic surfactants; alcohol alkoxylates, such as Dehypon LS-54 (R- (EO) ₅ (PO) ₄) and Dehypon LS-36 (R- (EO) ₃ (PO) ₆) ; and capped alcohol alkoxylates, such as Plurafac LF221 and Tegoten EC11; mixtures thereof, or the like.

Amphoteric Surfactants

Amphoteric, or ampholytic, surfactants contain both a basic and an acidic hydrophilic group and an organic hydrophobic group. These ionic entities may be any of anionic or cationic groups described herein for other types of surfactants. A basic nitrogen and an acidic carboxylate group are the typical functional groups employed as the basic and acidic hydrophilic groups. In a few surfactants, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphonate or phosphate provide the negative charge.

Amphoteric surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic secondary and tertiary amines, in which the aliphatic radical may be straight chain or branched and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic water solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfo, sulfato, phosphato, or phosphono.

Amphoteric surfactants can be synthesized by methods known to those of skill in the art. For example, 2-alkyl hydroxyethyl imidazoline is synthesized by condensation and ring closure of a long chain carboxylic acid (or a derivative) with dialkyl ethylenediamine. Commercial amphoteric surfactants are derivatized by subsequent hydrolysis and ring-opening of the imidazoline ring by alkylation --for example with chloroacetic acid or ethyl acetate. During alkylation, one or two carboxy-alkyl groups react to form a tertiary amine and an ether linkage with differing alkylating agents yielding different tertiary amines.

Long chain imidazole derivatives having application in the present invention generally have the general formula:

wherein R is an acyclic hydrophobic group containing from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and M is a cation to neutralize the charge of the anion, generally sodium. Commercially prominent imidazoline-derived amphoterics that can be employed in the present compositions include for example: Cocoamphopropionate, Cocoamphocarboxy-propionate, Cocoamphoglycinate, Cocoamphocarboxy-glycinate, Cocoamphopropyl-sulfonate, and Cocoamphocarboxy-propionic acid. Amphocarboxylic acids can be produced from fatty imidazolines in which the dicarboxylic acid functionality of the amphodicarboxylic acid is diacetic acid and/or dipropionic acid.

The carboxymethylated compounds (glycinates) described herein above frequently are called betaines. Betaines are a special class of amphoteric discussed herein below in the section entitled, Zwitterion Surfactants.

Long chain N-alkylamino acids are readily prepared by reaction RNH ₂, in which R=C ₈-C ₁₈ straight or branched chain alkyl, fatty amines with halogenated carboxylic acids. Alkylation of the primary amino groups of an amino acid leads to secondary and tertiary amines. Alkyl substituents may have additional amino groups that provide more than one reactive nitrogen center. Most commercial N-alkylamine acids are alkyl derivatives of beta-alanine or beta-N (2-carboxyethyl) alanine. Examples of commercial N-alkylamino acid ampholytes having application in this invention include alkyl beta-amino dipropionates, RN (C ₂H ₄COOM) ₂ and RNHC ₂H ₄COOM. In an embodiment, R can be an acyclic hydrophobic group containing from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and M is a cation to neutralize the charge of the anion.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants include those derived from coconut products such as coconut oil or coconut fatty acid. Additional suitable coconut derived surfactants include as part of their structure an ethylenediamine moiety, an alkanolamide moiety, an amino acid moiety, e.g., glycine, or a combination thereof; and an aliphatic substituent of from about 8 to 18 (e.g., 12) carbon atoms. Such a surfactant can also be considered an alkyl amphodicarboxylic acid. These amphoteric surfactants can include chemical structures represented as: C ₁₂-alkyl-C (O) -NH-CH ₂-CH ₂-N ⁺ (CH ₂-CH ₂-CO ₂Na) ₂-CH ₂-CH ₂-OH or C ₁₂-alkyl-C (O) -N (H) -CH ₂-CH ₂-N ⁺ (CH ₂-CO ₂Na) ₂-CH ₂-CH ₂-OH. Disodium cocoampho dipropionate is one suitable amphoteric surfactant and is commercially available under the tradename Miranol ^TM FBS from Rhodia Inc., Cranbury, N.J. Another suitable coconut derived amphoteric surfactant with the chemical name disodium cocoampho diacetate is sold under the tradename Mirataine ^TM JCHA, also from Rhodia Inc., Cranbury, N.J.

Preferred amphoteric surfactants include alkylamido alkyl amines of structure RCONHCH ₂CH ₂NYCH ₂CH ₂OX where R is and alkyl group of about 10 to 18 carbon atoms, Y is CH ₂COOM, CH ₂CH ₂COOM, CH ₂CHOHCH ₂SO ₃M or CH ₂CHOHCH ₂OPO ₃M, X is a hydrogen or CH ₂COOM where M is a water soluble cation most preferably Na ⁺, K ⁺, NH ₄ ⁺, TEA and betaines with the structure RN ⁺ (C ₃) ₂CHCOO-where R is an alkyl group from about 10 to 18 carbons or an amidopropyl alkyl group where R is from about 10 to about 18 carbons. A preferred alkylamido alkyl amine is disodium cocopamphodipropianate sold as

C2M SF by Solvay.

Zwitterionic Surfactants

Zwitterionic surfactants can be thought of as a subset of the amphoteric surfactants and can include an anionic charge. Zwitterionic surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. Typically, a zwitterionic surfactant includes a positive charged quaternary ammonium or, in some cases, a sulfonium or phosphonium ion; a negative charged carboxyl group; and an alkyl group. Zwitterionics generally contain cationic and anionic groups which ionize to a nearly equal degree in the isoelectric region of the molecule and which can develop strong"inner-salt" attraction between positive-negative charge centers. Examples of such zwitterionic synthetic surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and sulfonium compounds, in which the aliphatic radicals can be straight chain or branched, and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and one contains an anionic water solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphate, or phosphonate.

Betaine and sultaine surfactants are exemplary zwitterionic surfactants for use herein. A general formula for these compounds is:

wherein R ¹ contains an alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxyalkyl radical of from 8 to 18 carbon atoms having from 0 to 10 ethylene oxide moieties and from 0 to 1 glyceryl moiety; Y is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur atoms; R ² is an alkyl or monohydroxy alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms; x is 1 when Y is a sulfur atom and 2 when Y is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, R ³ is an alkylene or hydroxy alkylene or hydroxy alkylene of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and Z is a radical selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphonate, and phosphate groups.

Examples of zwitterionic surfactants having the structures listed above include: 4- [N, N-di (2-hydroxyethyl) -N-octadecylammonio] -butane-1-carboxylate; 5- [S-3-hydroxypropyl-S-hexadecylsulfonio] -3-hydroxypentane-1-sulfate; 3- [P, P-diethyl-P-3, 6, 9-trioxatetracosanephosphonio] -2-hydroxypropane-1-phosphate; 3- [N, N-dipropyl-N-3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyl-ammonio] -propane-1-phosphonate; 3- (N, N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio) -propane-1-sulfonate; 3- (N, N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio) -2-hydroxy-propane-1-sulfonate; 4- [N, N-di (2 (2-hydroxyethyl) -N (2-hydroxydodecyl) ammonio] -butane-1-carboxylate; 3- [S-ethyl-S- (3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyl) sulfonio] -propane-1-phosphate; 3- [P, P-dimethyl-P-dodecylphosphonio] -propane-1-phosphonate; and S [N, N-di (3-hydroxypropyl) -N-hexadecylammonio] -2-hydroxy-pentane-1-sulfate. The alkyl groups contained in said detergent surfactants can be straight or branched and saturated or unsaturated.

The zwitterionic surfactant suitable for use in the present compositions includes a betaine of the general structure:

These surfactant betaines typically do not exhibit strong cationic or anionic characters at pH extremes nor do they show reduced water solubility in their isoelectric range. Unlike "external" quaternary ammonium salts, betaines are compatible with anionics. Examples of suitable betaines include coconut acylamidopropyldimethyl betaine; hexadecyl dimethyl betaine; C _12-14 acylamidopropylbetaine; C _8-14 acylamidohexyldiethyl betaine; 4-C _14-16 acylmethylamidodiethylammonio-1-carboxybutane; C _16-18 acylamidodimethylbetaine; C _12-16 acylamidopentanediethylbetaine; and C _12-16 acylmethylamidodimethylbetaine.

Sultaines useful in the present invention include those compounds having the formula (R (R ¹) ₂ N ⁺ R ²SO ^3-, in which R is a C ₆ -C ₁₈ hydrocarbyl group, each R ¹ is typically independently C ₁-C ₃ alkyl, e.g. methyl, and R ² is a C ₁-C ₆ hydrocarbyl group, e.g. a C ₁-C ₃ alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group.

Dispensing/Use of the Cleaning Composition

The cleaning compositions can be dispensed as a solid concentrate or as a use solution. The compositions can be applied directly to an article to be cleaned, in a sink, or to water to form a use solution. The use solution can be applied to the article surface during a presoak application, immediately preceding the manual wash application, or during the manual wash application.

The solid cleaning compositions are dissolved and diluted to form a use solution. Preferably they are dissolved and diluted with water. The water can be heated water, the use solution can be heated, or both the water can be heated and the use solution can be heated. Preferably, the water has a temperature of at least about 35 ℃, more preferably at least about 40 ℃, still more preferably at least about 45 ℃, even more preferably at least about 50 ℃. In a preferred embodiment the water has a temperature of greater than 35 ℃ and less than about 100 ℃, more preferably from about 40 ℃ to about 90 ℃, still more preferably from about 45 ℃ to about 80 ℃, even more preferably from about 45 ℃ to about 75 ℃.

Preferred Embodiments

The compositions and their methods of use are further elucidated in the following number paragraphs. These paragraphs are not to be construed as limiting, but merely as providing illustrative examples according to this disclosure.

1. A concentrated cleaning composition comprising:

an alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal silicate, anionic surfactant, and a peroxygen source;

wherein the concentrated composition is a solid; wherein the concentrated composition provides a pH between 9 and 14 upon dissolution; and wherein the concentrated composition provides foam upon dissolution.

2. The concentrated cleaning composition of paragraph 1, wherein the solid composition is a granulated solid, a flaked solid, a cast solid, a molded solid, or a pressed solid.

3. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-2, wherein the solid composition is a granulated solid or a flaked solid.

4. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-3, wherein the composition is free of a cationic surfactant.

5. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-4, wherein the anionic surfacntant comprises a carboxylate, a sulfonate, a sulfate, a phosphate, or a mixture thereof.

6. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-5, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises an alkyl sulfonates, a linear primary alkyl sulfonate, a branched primary alkyl sulfonate, a secondary primary alkyl sulfonate, a secondary branched primary alkyl sulfonate, an aromatic sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfate, a linear primary alkyl sulfate, a branched primary alkyl sulfate, a secondary primary alkyl sulfate, a secondary branched primary alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ethoxysulfate, a fatty oleyl glycerol sulfate, an alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfate, a C ₅ -C ₁₇ acyl-N- (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl) glucamine sulfate, an N- (C ₁ -C ₂ hydroxyalkyl) glucamine sulfate, a sulfates of an alkylpolysaccharide, or a mixture thereof.

7. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-6, wherein the alkali metal carbonate is in a concentration of between about 30 wt. %and about 65 wt. %.

8. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-7, wherein the alkali metal silicate is in a concentration of between about 10 wt. %and about 35 wt. %.

9. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-8, wherein the anionic surfactant is in a concentration of between about 10 wt. %and about 30 wt. %.

10. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-9, wherein the peroxygen source is in a concentration of between about 0.01 wt. %and about 15 wt. %.

11. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-10, wherein the composition further comprises water in a concentration of between about 0.01 and about 8 wt. %.

12. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the composition provides a pH upon diluation of between about 11 and about 12.5.

13. The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-12, wherein the foam has a height of from about 160 mm to about 200 mm.

14. Method of cleaning ware soiled with oily food soils comprising:

diluting the concentrated cleaning composition of any one of paragraphs 1-12 with water at a ratio of about 1: 50 to about 1: 1000 to form a use solution;

contacting the soiled ware with the use solution for about 90 seconds or less; wherein the use solution provides cleaning and/or destaining; wherein at least a portion of the soil is captured in the foam.

15. The method of paragraph 14, further comprising rinsing the ware.

16. The method of any one of paragraphs 14-15, wherein the contacting step is about 30 seconds or less, wherein dilution ratio is from about 1: 50 and about 1: 300, and wherein the use solution destains the ware in about 30 seconds or less.

17. The method of any one of paragraphs 14-16, wherein the dilution ratio is from about 1: 300 and about 1: 1000, and wherein the use solution destains the ware in about 90 seconds or less.

18. The method of any one of paragraphs 14-17, wherein the use solution has a temperature of greater than about 35 ℃.

19. The method of paragraph 18, wherein the use solution has a temperature of from about 40 ℃ to about 75 ℃.

20. The method of any one of paragraphs 14-19, wherein the soil comprises cooked on animal fat soils.

The above description provides a basis for understanding the broad meets and bounds of the invention. The following examples and test data provide an understanding of certain specific embodiments of the invention. These examples are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise noted, all parts, percentages, and ratios reported in the following examples are on a weight basis, and all reagents used in the examples were obtained, or are available, from the chemical suppliers described below, or may be synthesized by conventional techniques.

All publications and patent applications in this specification are indicative of the level of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated as incorporated by reference.

EXAMPLES

Embodiments of the present invention are further defined in the following non-limiting Examples. It should be understood that these Examples, while indicating certain embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. From the above discussion and these Examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the embodiments of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. Thus, various modifications of the embodiments of the invention, in addition to those shown and described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

The materials used in the following Examples are provided herein:

· Sodium carbonate;

· Sodium metasilicate;

· Sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate; and

· Sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate.

Formulations were prepared and tested. The formulations are provided below in Table 3. Control is representative of the current product on the market (surfactant and water alone) . While the exact surfactant employed in the market is not known, we tested the same surfactant in all formulations for comparative purposes. Example Formulation 1 is an example formulation of this disclosure, it does not include a peroxygen source. Example Formulation 2 is also preferred embodiment of this disclosure, which includes a peroxygen source and as demonstrated below, provides both cleaning and destaining.

Table 3

EXAMPLE 1

Exemplary Formulations from Table 3 were prepared for testing. The control was simply mixed well to form a homogenous solution. Examplary Formulations 1 and 2 were prepared as solid compositions. The solid compositions and the control were then dissolved in water to form a use solution at a various dilution ratios to test different concentrations. These are reflected in Table 4 below.

A soil was prepared by melting beef tallow hot pot seasoning and dripping 500 mg of the melted beef tallow on the surface of small saucers. The beef tallow was allowed to solidify on the saucers. The saucers were then soaked in the diluted use solutions (Example Formulation 1 and Control) and the time was monitored for the beef tallow to separate from the soiled saucers. The saucers were inspected for two observations –whether the soil was cleaned from the surface and whether the saucer retained a stain from the soil. The results for this are presented below in Table 4.

Table 4

As can be seen in Table 4, Example Formulation 1 was superior to the Control composition at every dilution and cleaning temperature evaluated. Notably the Control compoisiton is reflective of the current predominant cleaning composition used in the Hot Pot industry. Thus, the compositions disclosed herein, as well as their methods of use, provide faster cleaning than is currently expected in the industry.

Given the performance of the Example Formulation 1, it was tested at more dilution ratios and temperature conditions to assess the amount of time for cleaning. The results are provided below in Table 5.

Table 5

As can be seen, if achieving a cleaning rate of about 1 minute or less is desired, all of the dilution ratios were suitable and performed well at temperatures of about 35 ℃ or higher. If a cleaning time of about 45 seconds or less is desired, the temperature should be above about 35 ℃ and a dilution ratios can be from about 1: 300 to about 1: 1000. In a most preferred embodiment, the cleaning is completed in about 30 seconds or less; Table 5 indicates that such can be accomplished at dilution ratios between of up to 1: 1000 at a temperature of about 40 ℃ or greater. Lower dilution ratios, e.g., 1: 50, 1: 60, 1: 70, 1: 80 ... 1: 300 have higher concentrations of the active chemistry and are thus expected to clean as quickly or more quickly than the lowest tested ratio.

EXAMPLE 2

Further testing was performed to evaluate the ability to capture the soil within the foam and prevent soil redeposition. Example Formulation 1 was prepared at a 1: 600 dilution ratio to form a use solution. As shown in Figure 2A, there was good flash foam upon dissolution and dilution of the cleaning composition to form the use solution. Soiled ware was added to the composition to soak, Figure 2B shows the soil collecting in the foam while the ware soaks. Figure 2C shows the resultant use solution after cleaning. The ware came out clean without redeposition of the soil. The foam exhibited good foam stability for the time period of the cleaning and was thus sufficiently stable to prevent redeposition of soil. As seen in Figure 2C, the foam was reduced by the soil after the cleaning was concluded.

EXAMPLE 3

Example Formulation 2 (Table 3) was further evaluated not only for its cleaning performance, but for its destaining ability. Ceramic tiles were soiled and stained. Use solutions were prepared at varying dilution ratios to evaluate the destaining capability of the formulation. At a dilution ratio of about 1: 62, it provided nearly instant destaining, i.e., destaining in about 30 seconds or less. This is shown in Figure 3. Evan at a dilution ratios of between about 1: 300 and 1: 600, it provided destaining although under a slower time schedule, i.e., in about 300 seconds or less, more preferably 240 seconds or less, still more preferably about 180 seconds or less, even more preferably about 120 seconds or less, yet more preferably about 90 seconds or less, most preferably about 60 or less.

The inventions being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the inventions and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

The above specification provides a description of the manufacture and use of the disclosed compositions and methods. Since many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims.

Claims

A concentrated cleaning composition comprising:

an alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal silicate, anionic surfactant, and a peroxygen source;

wherein the concentrated composition is a solid; wherein the concentrated composition provides a pH between 9 and 14 upon dissolution; and wherein the concentrated composition provides foam upon dissolution.
The concentrated cleaning composition of claim 1, wherein the solid composition is a granulated solid, a flaked solid, a cast solid, a molded solid, or a pressed solid.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-2, wherein the solid composition is a granulated solid or a flaked solid.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the composition is free of a cationic surfactant.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the anionic surfacntant comprises a carboxylate, a sulfonate, a sulfate, a phosphate, or a mixture thereof.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises an alkyl sulfonates, a linear primary alkyl sulfonate, a branched primary alkyl sulfonate, a secondary primary alkyl sulfonate, a secondary branched primary alkyl sulfonate, an aromatic sulfonate, an alkyl ether sulfate, a linear primary alkyl sulfate, a branched primary alkyl sulfate, a secondary primary alkyl sulfate, a secondary branched primary alkyl sulfate, an alkyl ethoxysulfate, a fatty oleyl glycerol sulfate, an alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfate, a C ₅ -C ₁₇ acyl-N- (C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl) glucamine sulfate, an N- (C ₁ -C ₂ hydroxyalkyl) glucamine sulfate, a sulfates of an alkylpolysaccharide, or a mixture thereof.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the alkali metal carbonate is in a concentration of between about 30 wt. %and about 65 wt. %.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the alkali metal silicate is in a concentration of between about 10 wt. %and about 35 wt. %.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the anionic surfactant is in a concentration of between about 10 wt. %and about 30 wt. %.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the peroxygen source is in a concentration of between about 0.01 wt. %and about 15 wt. %.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the composition further comprises water in a concentration of between about 0.01 and about 8 wt. %.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the composition provides a pH upon diluation of between about 11 and about 12.5.
The concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the foam has a height of from about 160 mm to about 200 mm.
Method of cleaning ware soiled with oily food soils comprising:

diluting the concentrated cleaning composition of any one of claims 1-12 with water at a ratio of about 1: 50 to about 1: 1000 to form a use solution;

contacting the soiled ware with the use solution for about 90 seconds or less; wherein the use solution provides cleaning and/or destaining; wherein at least a portion of the soil is captured in the foam.
The method of claim 14, further comprising rinsing the ware.
The method of any one of claims 14-15, wherein the contacting step is about 30 seconds or less, wherein dilution ratio is from about 1: 50 and about 1: 300, and wherein the use solution destains the ware in about 30 seconds or less.
The method of any one of claims 14-16, wherein the dilution ratio is from about 1: 300 and about 1: 1000, and wherein the use solution destains the ware in about 90 seconds or less.
The method of any one of claims 14-17, wherein the use solution has a temperature of greater than about 35 ℃.
The method of claim 18, wherein the use solution has a temperature of from about 40 ℃to about 75 ℃.
The method of any one of claims 14-19, wherein the soil comprises cooked on animal fat soils.