CA1228276A - Cleaning compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

CLEANING COMPOSITIONS

The present invention relates to a cleaning composition comprising a surfactant component and a terpene component consisting essentially of cineole substantially free of phellandrene. The cleaning composition of the present invention is particularly effective in removing a variety of stains whilst at the same time being safe to use and better tolerated by the human skin than previously known cleaning compositions of this type.

Description

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. . . --1--CLEANING COMPOSITIONS
This invention relates to cleaning compositions, such as detergents and soaps, sui-table for use in the cleaning of and removal of stains from fabrics, natural and synthetic fibres, plastics, metals and many other materials.
5 Various cleaning compositions are known for use in the cleaning of such materials. Many are however relatively expensive, harmful ~to the material being cleaned, and/or of only limited effectiveness.
It has previously been proposed to use soaps or detergents 10 containing various conventional ingredients such as surfac-tants together with eucalyptus oil. There are in fact very many different eucalyptus oils made up of mixtures of different constituents in different proportions. In pra-ctice many of these, including in particular industrial 15 grade eucalyptus oil, contain ma~or constituents such as phellandrene which are harmful to the skin to a greater or lesser extent and thereby considerably limit the use-fulness and possible applications of known such cleaning compositions.
20 It is an object of the present invention to avoid one or more of the above disadvantages.
The present invention provides a cleaning composition comprising a surfactant component and a terpene component consisting essentially of cineole substantially free of 25 phellandrene.
Amongst the many various terpenes obtainable from various sources including natural sources such as cajuput oil, pine oil and eucalyptus oil and by synthetic routes, it has been found that cineole is a particularly effective stain remov-30 ing or dispersing aid which at the same time is particularlywell tolerated by the skins of most people. This latter ,~
'' ; ~g~7 ~ ~ -2-feature is particularly important in practice because in many situations hand washing is the most convenient cleaning method for removing stains. This feature also allows the possibility of using the cleaning composition for removing 5 stains from the hands. By using compositions wherein the terpene component consists essentially of cineole i.e.
using cineole substantially free of harmful terpenes, in particular phellandrene, the hazards of using these are avoided. Preferably substantially pure cineole e.g.
10 cineole BPC is used though in general cineole containing up to the order of 50% of other non-harmful terpenes may be used~ Thus for example cajuput oil BPC and cineole containing up to 10% w/w of terpenes such as C~-pinene and p-cymene and up to 20 or 30% w/w of terpenes such as C~--ter-15 pineol may be used. Other aromatic compounds may also betolerated in relatively small amounts depending on their degree of innocuousness. Thus small amounts e.g. less than 5% v/v of phenolic compounds may be present though preferably the cineole is substantially free of phenolic 20 compounds.Although even lower proportions of cineole could be used this would normally be less desired since it would generally require the use of a larger amount of the terpene component in order to maintain the cleaning power of the composition.
25 A further significant advantage of the present inventiOn is that cineole has been found to be particularly effective when used in cool or cold water thereby minimizing the risk of 'setting' of the stain which may occur when hot or even warm wash solutions are used.
30 Yet another significant advantage that may be obtained with the present invention is that surfaces which have been cleaned with a cleaning composition of the present invention exhibit a significant repellent effect on pests such as cockroaches, which has not been previously found 35 with other terpene containing cleaners, thereby making the cleaning compositions particularly useful in shipboard and catering situations.

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, ~ --.3--The cleaning compositions may be used by itself if desired either undiluted or diluted in a washing or cleaning medium such as water. More convenient]y though the cleaning composition of the invention is used as an additive compos-5 ition which is incorporated in a more or 1ess conventionalcleaning agent such as a soap or detergent composition.
The cineole may be used in various proportions to the other constituen-ts in the cleaning composition depending inter alia on the nature,of the other constituents, the consti-10 tuents of any cleaning agent into which the composition isintended to be incorporated, and the ma~erials to be cleaned e.g. metal or fibre, and in certain cases the nature of the stain material. In general though the cineole preferably ,~
comprises from 0.1 to 70% v/v of the cleaning composition, 15 preferably from 3 to 70% in the case of an additive compos-ition with the higher concentrations being preferred in the Case of additives for detergents and the lower ones in the case of additives for soaps. In the case of additive comp-ositions these may be incorporated in any convenient pro-20 portion relative to the detergent, or soap, for example atfr~m 0.1 to 35% by volume, preferably at about 3% by~volume.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a clean-ing composition comprising a surfactant component and a terpene component comprising cineole substantially free of phellandrene, the cineole constituting from 0.1 to 70% v/v, preferably from 0.3 to 70% v/v, most preferably from 0.3 to 50~ v/v, of the composition, preferably the terpene component does not contain any phellandrene.
Th~ cineole used may be either synthetic cineole (e.g.
obtained by conversion of other terpenes having similar structures, for example from CC - terpineole)or natural cineole obtained from certain cineole - containing eucal-yptus species such as E. (Eucalyptus) Polybracteata, E.
Smithii~ E~ Globulus, E. Viridis, E. dives "var" C, E.
Australiana, E, Elaeophora, E. Sideroxylon, E. Leucoxy-lon~ E. Cineorifolia, and E. dumosa, which generally contain 70% or more cineole, by recovery e.g. fract-~2~3276, ional distillation (conveniently using steam distillation) or cineole-containing cajuput oil sources such as the narrow-leaved forms of certain Melaleuca species e.g.
M. Caujuputi and M. Leucadendron (Myrtaceae) or solvent extraction from the natural oils obtained therefrom. It is also possible and sometimes preferable to use synthetic forms of the natural oil "mixtures" e.g. commercially available synthetic ca~uput oil BPC obtainable from, for example 1 but using a synthetic cajuput oil obtained from Zimmerman Hobbs Ltd. of Milton Keynes, England in place of the substantially pure cineole component.
Desirably the cineole used is not less than 95%, most desirably not less than 99% v/v pure, free of phellandrene, and contains not more than 1% of other terpenes. ;~
Where natural or synthetic cajuput oil is used it is impo-rtant that the narrow leaved type should be used since the main constituent of the broad-leaved type is iso eugenol which i5 not an effective cleaning agent.
The cineole may conveniently be employed as a solution, for example, in an aliphatic alcohol, preferably a lower alkyl alcohol, for example ethanol or methanol, convenient-ly in the form of methylated spirits. Desirably the cin-eole is used as a from 30 to 90% v/v solution, preferably a 40% v/v solution, especially in the case of a methylated spirits solution. In this case the methylated spiritis solvent itself contributes to the stain removing properties of composition.
The surfactant component may comprise one or more of any suitable surfactant including anionic, cationic or nonio-nic surfactants; suitable surfactants which may be mention-ed include sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate such as the form commercially available from Albright ~ Wilson of Whitehaven, England, under the Trade Name "Nansa", or sodium lauryl ether sulphate or sodium lauryl sulphate also available from Albright & Wilson under the Trade Name "Empi~in'.

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Advantageously there is also used an emulsifying and foam stahlising agent that is a stain softening agent such as a lauric acid diethanolamide. This may conveniently be in the form of 1:1 coconut oil diethanolamide, coconut oil containing some 48~ lauric acid. Such materials are readily available commercially e.g. from Albright ~, Wilson of Whitehaven, England, under the Trade Name EMPILAN. Other suitable materials that may be mentioned included water soluble derivatives, for e~ample, diethano-lamides, of fixed oils such as olive or castor oil orpreferably palm oil or of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as oleic acid including for example lauric acid diethan-olamide. ~-Other components and ingredients known in the art of cleaning compositions may also be used, including for example one or more of an alkali metal salt, for example aqueous sodium chloride; an emulsifying agent such as a sorbitol ester emulsifying agent; a disinfect-ant; colouring, bleaching, and/or brightening agents;

2~ a filler; and a perfume component, though it may be noted that the cineole itself imparts a generally acceptable scent to the cleaning composition.
Naturally the soap and detergent compositions may be employed in any conventional form including soap tablets, flakes and powder and liquid detergent and concentrate.
Whilst the invention extends to an additive composition suitable for incorporation in a conventional soap deter-gent, or hand cleaning gel or cream, the composition of the invention may be used in its concentrate form or 3Q merely diluted in water.
The composition of the invention may be made by bringing the cineole and surfactant components into intimate a mixture with each other, and with any other ingredients, t~at may be required. Where a softening agent is used this is desirably added after any alkali metal salt has ~ -6~ 2~6 been added to the cineo]e surfactant mixture. The resulting composition is then suitable for use as an additive for incorporation in a soap base comprising generally alkali metal hydroxide, water, and a fatty acid component such as beef tallow and coconut oil, or in a detergent optionally with water, to form an intimate blend therewith.
The following examples are provided to further illustrate the invention without in any way limiting the scope 10 thereof.
Example 1 Preparation of Additive Composition The composition was made from the following ingredients: --1. 1,8 - Cineole chemical formula: C10 H18 0 systematic name: 1, 3, 3 - trimethyl - 2 - oxabicyclo (2,2~2) octane Cineole content; 99% v/v Other terpenes content 1.00% v/v Obtained from Eucalyptus Polybracteata 2. Surfactant Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate as 30% v/v aqueous solution commercially available from Albright ~ Wilson under the Trade Name "NANSA"

3. Emulsifying and Foam Stablising Agent l:lcoconut oil diethanolamide as commercially available from Albright & Wilson under the trade name EMPILAN.

4. Methylated spirits

5. Water

6. Sodium Chloride Cineole (112 mls) was mixed with methylated spirits (167 mls) to produce a 40% v/v cineole solution and left for 5 to 10 minutes. The surfactant (112 mls) was then added with water (692 mls) follo~Are~ bv chloride (3.5 g) and the resulting mixture stirred for 5 minutes. Finally the softening agent (167 mls) was added with stirring to produce a clear gel constituting the additive composition (1250 mls). All the above operations were carried out under ambient conditions.
Example 2 Preparation of Additive Composition An addi-tive composition was prepared from the followina ingredients:
1. Cineole - 40~ v/v solution in methylated spiritis) ;~
2. Surfactant - Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate as 30% v/v aqueous solution commercially available from Albright ~ Wilson under the Trade Name "NANSA' 3. Softening Agent - Coconut oil diethanolamide as commercially available from Albright & Wilson under the trade name EMPILAN.
The surfactant (20 mls) was added to the cineole solution (100 mls) and thoroughly mixed therewith. After standing for 5 minutes the softening agent (30 mls) was added and mixed in. The resulting additive composition was a clear liquid (150 mls).

A conventional soap composition was made up by dissolving caustic soda (Na OH 30 g) in water 20 mls and progressiv-ely brought into admixture with natural fatty acids in the form a blend of beef tallow (80% w/w) and coconut oil (20% w/w) (30 g) and stirred and boiled. After s-eparation of the residual lye, additive composition (2.0 mls) prepared according to Example 2 was mixed in thoroughly the resulting mixture then being compressed in a mould to form a soap tablet.

. -8~ 8 Example 4 Preparation of Additive Composition A cajuput oil based additive composition was prepared in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 but using a synthetic cajuput oil obtained from Zimmerman Hobbs Ltd.
of Milton KeyneS~ England in place of the substantially pure cineole component.
The synthetic cajuput oil had a cineole content of 60.6%
by weight and was substantially free of isoeugenol and phellandrene. Other terpene components of the oil used were ~-terpineol 20.0%, w/w, p-cymene 6.2% w/w, ~-pinene 5.1% w/w, and ~-terpinene 1.25% w/w. ~`

Example 5 Soap Tablet The procedure of Example 3 was followed but using the additive composition of Example 4 in place of that of Example 2.

Claims (11)

HE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A cleaning composition comprising a surfactant com-ponent and a terpene component characterised in that the terpene component consists essentially of cineole sub-stantially free of phellandrene.

2. The cleaning composition of claim 1 wherein the ter-pene component consists essentially of natural or synthet-ic cajuput oil having a composition corresponding substant-ially to thatof cajuput oil obtained from narrow leaved forms of Melaleuca Cajuputi.

3. The cleaning composition of claim 2 wherein the ter-pene component has a cineole content of at least 50% w/w, and not more than 10% W/W of ?-pinene, 10% w/v of p-cymene, and 30% w/w of ?-terpineol.

4. The cleaning composition of claim 1 wherein the terpene component has a cineole content of at least 95% w/w.

5. The cleaning composition of claim 4 wherein the terpene component contains not more than 5% w/w of phenolic comp-ounds.

6. The cleaning composition of claim 3 wherein the terpene component is in aliphatic alcoholic solution.

7. The cleaning composition of claim 6 wherein the surfac-tant is an anionic or non-anionic surfactant.

8. The cleaning composition of claim 7 wherein is included an emulsifying foam stabilising agent that is a stain softening agent.

9. The cleaning composition of claim 8 wherein said agent comprises lauric acid diethanolamide.

10. The cleaning composition of claim 3 which comprises a soap or detergent base and from 1 to 20% w/w of said surfactant and terpene components.

11. The cleaning composition of claim 7 which includes an alkali or alkaline earth metal salt.