ALKALINE CLEANING FORMULATION

Description

Object of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning formulation, more particularly, to an alkaline cleaning formulation comprising natural extracts which do not present a risk to the health of users or to the environment. The present invention therefore pertains to the sector of the chemical industry and, particularly, to the cleaning and disinfection product industry.

[0002] Said formulation comprises non-ionic surfactants and a series of additives conferring to said formulation an alkaline character.

Technical problem to be solved and background of the invention

[0003] Many of the cleaner compositions used in various industrial and domestic fields comprise chemical substances that are toxic to the health of the user, causing eye lesions and skin irritations. This combined with society's growing interest in respecting the environment and sustainability has led to industries manufacturing compositions for cleaning different types of materials face the need to develop biodegradable chemical products in order to eliminate any generation of chemical waste so as to have zero impact on the ecosystem.

[0004] In this manner, various compositions described in the patent literature have been developed.

[0005] One example is found in patent CN103608445A, which describes a biodegradable cleaning composition comprising biodegradable abrasive particles.

[0006] Another example is found in patent US2014352722A1, which describes a cleaning composition comprising abrasive particles, wherein said particles are abrasive foam particles and comprise a biodegradable thermoplastic material.

[0007] Another example is found in patent ES 2 291 214 T3, which describes a process for cleaning a surface by first contacting the surface with a cleaner composition capable of rendering the surface hydrophilic and then rinsing the surface with purified water.

[0008] A final example is patent ES 2576846 T3, which describes a solid cleaning composition including particles bound together by a binding agent.

[0009] Nevertheless, none of these patent documents describes a formulation with the advantages of the invention described herein.

[0010] While it is true that these compositions are biodegradable, three of the four patent documents mentioned present abrasive nanoparticles or particles, therefore, they may cause irritations in the user. The other patent relates to a process in which two steps are required for being able to clean a surface.

[0011] There is, therefore, a need to find compositions that have a more ecological profile, in other words, that use more ecological ingredients, reduce the number of ingredients, reduce the quantity necessary to achieve proper cleaning and are more effective than the current compositions. In addition, said compositions must be free of hazards for users and show proven efficacies that are equal to or better than other products on the market.

[0012] Therefore, the present document describes an improved cleaner formulation with respect to the cleaning compositions used at present in the industry of cleaning products and detergents with highly advantageous features. Said formulation comprises natural extracts which do not present risks to health or to the environment and are biodegradable but without dispensing with high-quality ingredients.

Description of the invention

[0013] The present invention proposes an alkaline cleaning formulation characterised in that it comprises by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation:

• 0.75 % - 2 % of at least one non-ionic surfactant,
• <4 % of at least one sequestering agent,
• 0.1 % - 0.3 % of at least one preservative,
• 0.05 % - 0.15 % of citric acid,
• 0.1 % - 0.3 % of at least one perfume,
• 0.0005 % to 0.001 % of at least one colourant, and
• a sufficient quantity (qs) of osmotic water,

and wherein the sum of the quantity of all the components is less than or equal to 100 %.

[0014] The present document refers to the object of the present invention as an alkaline cleaning formulation or alkaline cleaner formulation interchangeably.

[0015] At the formulation level, the cleaning capacity of the products is mainly achieved by an optimal mixture of surfactants, comprising sequestering agents, solvents, preservatives, perfumes and colourants, all in an aqueous base.

Detailed description of the invention

[0016] The present invention proposes an alkaline cleaning formulation characterised in that it comprises by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation:

• 0.75 % - 2 % of at least one non-ionic surfactant,
• <4 % of at least one sequestering agent,
• 0.1 % - 0.3 % of at least one preservative,
• 0.05 % to 0.15 % of citric acid,
• 0.1 % - 0.3 % of at least one perfume,
• 0.0005 % to 0.001 % of at least one colourant, and
• a sufficient quantity (qs) of osmotic water,

and wherein the sum of the quantity of all the components is less than or equal to 100 %.

[0017] The present formulation is characterised by having an alkaline pH comprised between 7 and 11.50.

[0018] The present document refers interchangeably to the cleaner formulation or the cleaner formulation that is the object of the present invention.

[0019] In embodiments of the present invention, the alkaline cleaner formulation object of the invention is characterised in that it comprises citric acid as a pH regulator in a quantity between 0.05 % and 0.15 %. Citric acid is a natural antioxidant that is present in most fruits and primarily in orange and lemon. In addition, citric acid is a very good preservative and has an excellent ecological and toxicological profile, making it very suitable for use in the present invention as a pH regulator.

[0020] In embodiments of the present invention, the cleaner formulation comprises non-ionic surfactants that can be selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohol ethoxylate, amine oxide and any combination thereof.

[0021] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, when the formulation object of the invention comprises fatty alcohol ethoxylate, the quantity of said fatty alcohol ethoxylate is comprised between 0.75 % and 1.25 % by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation. In an even more preferred embodiment, the quantity of fatty alcohol ethoxylate is comprised between 0.9 % and 1.0 % by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation.

[0022] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, when the formulation object of the invention comprises amine oxide, and the quantity of said amine oxide is comprised between 0.75 % and 1.25 % by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation.

[0023] In embodiments of the present invention, the alkaline cleaner formulation comprises at least one sequestering agent which is biodegradable, safe and even used in the food industry as an additive. Said sequestering agent cannot be comprised in a quantity greater than 4 % by weight with respect to the total weight of the cleaner formulation. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the alkaline cleaner formulation can comprise as a sequestering agent methylglycinediacetic acid, (MGDA) and be comprised between 0.1 % and 1.3 % by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation. In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the sequestering agent can be sodium citrate and can be comprised between 1 % and 1.5 % by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation.

[0024] In embodiments of the present invention, the cleaner formulation comprises at least one synthetic preservative, but it has the same structure as the molecule found in nature. In addition, said preservative is biodegradable, therefore it does not pollute the environment. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the preservative agent can be sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate or a combination thereof.

[0025] In the scope of the present invention, the perfumes which can be comprised in the formulation object of the invention are of a natural origin and their origin is mainly from plants, flowers, fruits, wood, etc. In embodiments of the present invention, the at least one perfume which can be comprised in the formulation object of the invention, if they are classified according to olfactory families, said perfume is selected from the group of olfactory families consisting of floral, fruit, balsamic, citrus, green, aromatic, marine and any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one perfume which can be comprised in the formulation object of the invention is from the floral olfactory family. In another preferred embodiment, the at least one perfume which can be comprised in the formulation object of the invention is from the fruit olfactory family.

[0026] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the quantity of perfume is comprised between 0.1 % and 0.2 % by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation.

[0027] In embodiments of the present invention, the alkaline cleaner formulation comprises at least one colourant. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the quantity of colourant is comprised between 0.0005 % and 0.001 % by weight with respect to the total weight of the formulation. In the scope of the present invention, the colourants are classified accordant to an international index known as Colour Index International, which is used as a reference for colourant manufacturers. Based on the foregoing points, in preferred embodiments, the formulation object of the invention can comprise colourant CI19140, CI14720 or a combination of the foregoing.

[0028] In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the alkaline cleaner formulation can comprise colourant CI19140, and it has a yellow tone. In other preferred embodiments, the colourant that can be comprised in the formulation object of the invention is CI14720, and it has a red tone.

[0029] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, three types of alkaline cleaner formulations can be obtained, which are referred to herein as alkaline cleaner formulation type A and alkaline cleaner formulation type B. These alkaline neutral cleaner formulations type A and B have in common surfactants, chelating agents and preservatives in the quantities described herein. Nevertheless, the colourants and perfumes comprised in said formulations are different from one another.

[0030] In preferred embodiments of the present invention, when the alkaline formulation is type A, said formulation is characterised in that the perfume is from the fruit olfactory family and the colourant is CI19140. In another embodiment of the present invention, when the alkaline formulation is type B, said formulation is characterised in that the perfume is from the floral olfactory family and the colourant is CI14720.

[0031] Therefore, there is described an alkaline and biodegradable cleaner formulation, which is the first of its kind in the scope of detergency, since it is a formulation not consolidated on the current market which has a cleaning capacity similar to products available on the market with the following advantages:

• It is hypoallergenic and dermatologically safe, therefore, it is highly advantageous for the end consumer;
• It is biodegradable, therefore, it does not cause environmental pollution.

Description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention

[0032] For the purpose of contributing to better understand the invention, and according to a practical embodiment thereof, a series of preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are attached as an integral part of this description.

Example 1: Composition 1 of the alkaline cleaning formulation

[0033] 

COMPOSITION	%
FATTY ALCOHOL ETHOXYLATE	0.935
AMINE OXIDE	0.90
MGDA	0.2
PERFUME (Fruit)	0.10
SODIUM BENZOATE	0.20
POTASSIUM SORBATE	0.10
CITRIC ACID	0.15
COLOURANT (CI19140)	0.0005
WATER	qs

Example 2: Composition 2 of the alkaline cleaning formulation

[0034] 

COMPOSITION	%
FATTY ALCOHOL ETHOXYLATE	0.98
AMINE OXIDE	0.75
MGDA	1.20
PERFUME (Floral)	0.10
SODIUM BENZOATE	0.10
POTASSIUM SORBATE	0.10
CITRIC ACID	0.10
COLOURANT (CI14720)	0.0005
WATER	qs

Claims

1. An alkaline cleaning formulation characterised in that it comprises:

• 0.75 % - 2 % of at least one surfactant,

• <4 % of at least one sequestering agent,

• 0.1 % - 0.3 % of at least one preservative,

• 0.05 % - 0.15 % of citric acid,

• 0.1 % - 0.3 % of at least one perfume,

• 0.0005 % - 0.001 % of at least one colourant, and

• a sufficient quantity of osmotic water,

wherein the sum of the quantity of all the components is less than or equal to 100 %, and it has a pH comprised between 7 and 11.50.

2. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to claim 1, wherein the at least one non-ionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohol ethoxylate, amine oxide and any combination thereof.

3. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to claim 2, wherein the at least one non-ionic surfactant is fatty alcohol ethoxylate, and it is comprised in a quantity between 0.75 % and 1.25 %.

4. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to claim 2, wherein the at least one non-ionic surfactant is amine oxide, and it is comprised in a quantity between 0.75 % and 1.25 %.

5. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sequestering agent is methylglycinediacetic acid, sodium citrate or any combination thereof.

6. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to claim 5, wherein the at least one sequestering agent is methylglycinediacetic acid, and it is comprised between 0.1 % and 1.3 %.

7. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to claim 5, wherein the at least one sequestering agent is sodium citrate, and it is comprised between 1 % and 1.5 %.

8. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the preservative is sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate or any combination thereof.

9. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one perfume is selected from the group of olfactory families consisting of floral, fruit, balsamic, citrus, green, aromatic, marine and any combination thereof.

10. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one colourant is CI19140, CI14720 or any combination of the foregoing.

11. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the perfume is from the fruit olfactory family and the colourant is CI19140.

12. The alkaline cleaning formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the perfume is from the floral olfactory family and the colourant is CI14720.