Abstract:
The invention relates to a cleaner concentrate composition which can be diluted to form a viscous use solution, the cleaner composition comprising: 
     an ammonium compound and/or an amphoteric compound; and 
     an anionic surfactant, wherein the composition is free of amine oxide.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention concerns cleaning compositions, and more specifically cleaning compositions which can be diluted in order to provide cleaning gels. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For the cleaning of hard surfaces and objects, particularly in industrial, institutional and catering environments, cleaning products in the form of gels, which have a prolonged contact with the target surface to be cleaned, are known. 
     A problem with known gels is that they comprise amine oxide as a gelling agent, which is environmentally harmful, for example by forming nitrosoamines. 
     An object of the present invention is to yield a gel cleaner, free of amine oxide. 
     The inventors have surprisingly found that said object can be achieved by applying an ammonium compound, preferably a quaternary or a ternary ammonium compound instead of amine oxide as a gelling agent, and that said ammonium compound can be used to yield an effective cleaning gel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaner concentrate composition which can be diluted to form a viscous use solution, the cleaner composition comprising: 
     an ammonium compound and/or an amphoteric compound; and 
     an anionic surfactant, wherein the composition is free of amine oxide. 
     Since this cleaner composition is free of amine oxide, environmentally harmful effects are reduced. 
     A second aspect of the present invention provides a cleaning method comprising the steps of diluting a concentrate composition according to the invention with water to a concentration to yield a desired viscosity and applying the composition thus diluted to a target surface. 
     Further aspects of the present invention provide a cleaning gel obtainable by diluting with water the concentrate composition of the invention, and the use of said cleaning gel for cleaning target surfaces. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     When in use for cleaning a surface, the cleaner concentrate composition of the present invention is desirably diluted with water to a concentration of from 1 to 20%, preferably from 2 to 10%, by weight, so as to yield a cleaning gel having a suitable viscosity. Particularly when cleaning verticle surfaces, said cleaning gel should have sufficient viscosity for obtaining effective cleaning performance. 
     The ammonium compound present in the composition of the invention is effectively a quaternary or a ternary ammonium compound. More preferably, said ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting essentially of benzalkonium chloride and primary, secondary or tertiary amines (C 12  -C 27 ). 
     If a quaternary ammonium compound is used, it has desirably a chain length of C 8  -C 20 , preferably C 12  -C 16 . 
     A tertiary amine is effectively present for obtaining viscous use solution having a pH-value of 9.5-10, whereas a secondary amine is suitably used when a viscous use solution having a pH of 3.5-4.0 is needed. 
     The ammonium compound is preferably present at a concentration of from 1 to 25%, more preferably from 1 to 10%, by weight of the concentrate composition of the invention. 
     Preferably, the anionic surfactant present in the concentrate composition of the invention consists one or more fatty acids neutralized by an alkaline source, preferably an alkaline metal salt such as a sodium salt, these forming a soap. Effectively, said anionic surfactant includes saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in a weight ratio of 1:5, preferably 1:2. Preferably, the fatty acids are selected from the group consisting essentially of oleic acid, palmitic acid, caprylic acid and isostearic acid. The alkaline source is preferably present in the concentrate composition of the invention at a concentration of 5 to 40% by weight. 
     Desirably, the concentrate composition of the present invention further comprises a cleaning agent selected from the group consisting of a secondary alkane sulphonate, an alkane sulphate, an ether sulphate, and mixtures thereof. More preferably, the concentrate composition of the invention includes a secondary alkane sulphonate at a concentration of from 1 to 25% by weight. 
     In order to boost the cleaning performance thereof, the concentrate composition of the invention may effectively further comprise a noaninic surfactant. 
     A suitable further component of the concentrate composition of the invention is a solvent, which can be effectively used for establishing the desired viscosity of the use solution to be obtained from said concentrate by dilution. Said solvent is preferably selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, ethanol, hexylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, monoethyl/butyl ether, dioxital butyl dioxital, and mixtures thereof. 
     A further preferred component of the concentrate composition of the invention is a sequestrant, said sequestrant being desirably present therein at a level of 0.1 to 15% by weight. Said sequestrant is preferably selected from the group consisting of ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid, nitrilo-trioacetic acid, citric acid, methyl-glycine-diacetic acid, serine diacetic acid, alkaline salts thereof, and mixtures thereof. 
     The concentrate composition of the invention may effectively further include threshold agents such as phosphonates, polyacrylates and hydrotropes, and/or iron binders such as sodium gluconate. These threshold agents and iron binders may be suitably present at a concentration of from 0.1 to 5% by weight. 
     The concentrate composition preferably has a flash point of between 25-50° C. 
     The present invention will now be illustrated by way of the following examples. 
     Field trials have been carried out with the following embodiments of a composition according to the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1-3 show the measured ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids of compositions 1 to 3 respectively. 
     
         ______________________________________Composition 1: General purpose liquid detergent for foamgeland gel cleaning (low flash point).Raw material       % as supplied                         as 100%______________________________________(2)   potassium hydroxide (50%)                  12.00      6.00(3)   ethanol          10.00      10.00(4)   palmitic acid    0.75       0.75(5)   oleic acid       5.50       5.50(6)   caprylic acid    1.50       1.50(7)   gluconic acid Na-salt                  0.50       0.50(8)   alkane suphonic acid                  1.50       0.30 Na-salt (30%)(9)   cumene sulphonic acid                  14.00      4.00 Na-salt (40%)(10)  alkyl dimethyl benzyl                  3.00       1.50 ammonium chloride (50%)(11)  ethylene diamine tetraacetic                  10.00      4.00 acid 4 Na-salt (40%)(12)  sodium hydroxide (50%)                  4.00       2.00(1)   water (demineralised) up to                  100.00     100.0______________________________________ 
    
    
    
     PRODUCTION METHOD OF COMPOSITION 1 
     The raw materials were mixed together in the order given in brackets. 
     Characteristics of composition 1 
     Appearance: light yellow colored clear viscous liquid 
     Relative density (20° C.): 1.09 
     Viscosity: 
     Neat product: 50-100 mPa.s at 21 s -1  (Haake MV1 25° C.) 
     4% solution: &gt;120 mPa.s at 21 s -1  (Haake MV1 25° C.) 
     pH (1% solution): 12.3-12.5 
     Active alkalinity to pH 8.2 (phenophtalein): 4.2-4.6as Na 2  O 
     Total alkalinity to pH 3.6 (methyl orange): 5.4-5.8% as Na 2  O 
     
         ______________________________________Composition 2: Heavy duty liquid detergent for foamgel andgel cleaning (low flash point).Raw material       % as supplied                         as 100%______________________________________(2)   potassium hydroxide (50%)                  24.00      12.00(3)   ethanol          10.00      10.00(4)   palmitic acid    0.50       0.50(5)   oleic acid       5.25       5.25(6)   caprylic acid    1.50       1.50(7)   gluconic acid Na-salt                  0.50       0.50(8)   alkane suphonic acid                  1.50       0.45 Na-salt (30%)(9)   cumene sulphonic acid                  2.00       0.80 Na-salt (40%)(10)  alkyl dimethyl benzyl                  2.25       1.13 ammonium chloride (50%)(11)  ethylene diamine tetraacetic                  10.00      4.00 acid 4 Na-salt (40%)(12)  sodium hydroxide (50%)                  6.00       3.00(1)   water (demineralised) to                  100.00     100.0______________________________________ 
    
     Production Method of Composition 2 
     The raw materials were mixed together in the order given in brackets. The plant must be suitable for readily foamable products. 
     Characteristics of composition 2 
     Appearance: light yellow colored clear viscous liquid 
     Relative density (20° C.): 1.13 
     Viscosity: Neat product: 50-100 mPa.s at 21 s -1  (Haake MV1 25° C.) 
     4% solution: &gt;120 mPa.s at 21 s -1  (Haake MV1 25° C.) 
     pH (1% solution): 12.5-12.7 
     Active alkalinity to pH 8.2 (phenophtalein): 8.0-8.5% as Na 2  O 
     Total alkalinity to pH 3.6 (methyl orange): 9.2-9.6% as Na 2  O 
     
         ______________________________________Composition 3: Heavy duty liquid detergent for foamgel andgel cleaning of ovens and smoke chambers (low flash point).Raw material       % as supplied                         as 100%______________________________________(2)   potassium hydroxide (50%)                  32.50      16.25(3)   ethanol          10.00      10.00(4)   palmitic acid    0.35       0.35(5)   oleic acid       5.50       5.50(6)   caprylic acid    2.75       2.75(7)   gluconic acid Na-salt                  0.50       0.50(8)   alkane suphonic acid Na-salt (30%)    1.50       0.45(9)   cumene sulphonic acid Na-salt (40%)    1.00       0.40(10)  alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (50%)                  2.25       1.12(11)  ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid 4 Na-salt (40%)                  5.00       2.00(12)  sodium hydroxide (50%)                  7.00       3.50(1)   water (demineralised) to                  100.00     100.0______________________________________ 
    
     Production Method of Composition 3 
     The raw materials were mixed together in the order given in brackets. The plant must be suitable for readily foamable products. 
     Characteristics of composition 3 
     Appearance: light yellow colored clear viscous liquid 
     Relative density (20° C.): 1.15 
     Viscosity: 
     Neat product: 50-100 mPa.s at 21 s -1  (Haake MV1 25° C.) 
     4% solution: &gt;120 mPa.s at 21 s -1  (Haake MV1 25° C.) 
     pH (1% solution): 12.5-12.7 
     Active alkalinity to pH 8.2 (phenophtalein): 9.7-10.1% as Na 2  O 
     Total alkalinity to pH 3.6 (methyl orange): 10.7-11.1% as Na 2  O