Demulsifying cleaning agent retaining superficial humidity.

The invention relates to novel detergent, which painted or unpainted surfaces of vehicles, engines, floors in workshops or other work surfaces can be cleaned and degreased, the respective impurities removed are demulsifies.

Means for cleaning of solid surfaces that are contaminated with fats or fatty soils are especially widely used in the technical field. So far, so-called "cold cleaners" are used for the respective cleaning operations either compositions emulsify the fats or grease based contaminants, or used. The latter are (according to Römpp's Chemie-Lexikon, Franck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung Stuttgart, Volume 3 (1983), page 2033/34) solvent mixtures containing high levels of chlorinated or non-chlorinated hydrocarbons (petroleum fractions) and with or without emulsifiers, and other additives for cold removing fats, oils, waxes, tar, etc. are used. When using such cold cleaner and the process wastewater is not only detached from the treated surfaces grease, oil etc., but in addition to organic solvents, in particular chlorinated hydrocarbons, so that a separation of the polluting components of the corresponding wastewater mandatory because required by law, is. In addition, organic solvents containing cold cleaners have the further disadvantage that the cleaning operation flammable, malodorous or even emit noxious fumes, so that the respective cleaning operations can be carried out only under extreme caution and health protection measures.

The detergent containing the former, emulsifying components have the major disadvantage that, although fats or grease based contaminants from the surfaces to be cleaned can be removed, these contaminants are emulsified in water, however. It is accepted that either large quantities of oil, grease or other contaminants from entering the waste water, which is undesirable because of the environmental pollution associated, or additional means to break the emulsions formed must be added to a separation of the organic contaminants in to allow oil separators. Apart from economic aspects, however, the subsequent addition demulsifying agents with a further water pollution is connected, so that this solution can not satisfy.

In DE-OS 25 29 096 means for cold treatment of contaminated with fats or fatty impurities solid surfaces are disclosed which substantially in aqueous emulsions of ethoxylated phenols having 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain and ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols having 9 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain are made. The proposed detergents be neutral to slightly alkaline and can be handled safely because of their low or missing alkalinity in good degreasing properties.

Furthermore, DE-OS 29 01 927 detergent for removing oily Verunreinigungn are proposed which contain fatty alcohol ethoxylates in combination with phenol or Niederalkylphenolethoxylaten. In the cleaning operation, the fat- or oil-containing impurities in the form of an emulsion are removed from the surface to be cleaned. The emulsions formed are relatively short-lived, however, there are hours to break the same needs.

In addition to the above-mentioned disadvantages inherent in most known from the prior art cleaners, said cleaners have such a consistency that it extended to vertical surfaces, such as on walls or on the vertical outer surfaces of vehicles, directly run and a exposure time can only be achieved in that a means for increasing the viscosity or added to the surface to be treated several times with the cleaner. The surface is thus not maintained for a sufficiently long time with the cleaner in contact, so that a repeated application is usually required.

Aufabe of the present invention, alternatively to the means known from the prior art, such cleaners are available, which can be used without damaging the environment was. In particular, an emulsion formation should be avoided and to completely dispense with the use of organic solvents, such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, esters and fractions of mineral oil distillation (gasoline, hydrocarbons). The application of new cleaner should by any means possible and thereby lead to a persistent over time wetting of the treated surface. A cleaning action should also be given even at room temperature. Also were biodegradability via the regulatory standards beyond (Detergent Act, Chemicals Act) increased demands.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that cleaner can be obtained with good cleaning effect and demulsifying properties that hold the surface to be cleaned even without viscosity enhancer long enough with the cleaning components in contact when aqueous combinations of builders or Kom plexbildnern with one or more alkanolamines and one or more nonionic surfactants.

The invention thus relates to demulsifying cleaning agent with surface moisturizing effect which contain the following components:<ul><li>(A) Builder / complexing agent in an amount of 0.5 to 10 wt .-%,</li><li>(B) one or more alkanolamine (s) in an amount of 20 to 60 wt .-%,</li><li>(C) one or more nonionic surfactant (s) (e) and in an amount of 1 to 15 wt .-%</li><li>(D) water to 100 wt .-% summed in an amount with the components (a) (b) and (c).</li></ul>

The demulsifying cleaning preparations according to the invention may additionally contain solubilisers in an amount of 1 to 10 wt .-% and / or corrosion inhibitors for lightweight metals in an amount of 0.15 to 0.25 wt .-% and / or corrosion inhibitors for non-ferrous metals in an amount of 0.2 to 0.4 wt .-% and / or perfumes and / or dyes in an amount of 0 to 1 wt .-% by weight.

As builders / complexing agents are conventional, alkaline earth metal and / or transition metal ion chelating compounds. As such, for example, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, N- (2-hydroxyethyl) ethylenediamine are (Trilon^R C) and its water-soluble alkali metal salts are preferred, to name their sodium salts. Said builder / chelating agents are preferably used in an amount of 2 to 4 wt .-% in the cleaners according to the invention.

Another component of the cleaner according to the invention are alkanolamines. Alternatively you can either be used together a compound of this class or more such compounds in any mixing ratio. Examples of preferred alkanolamines diethanolamine, triethanolamine, diisopropanolamine and triisopropanolamine are mentioned. Compounds of this class of substances are preferably used in quantities of 25 to 50 wt .-%.

For the achievement of the present invention intended effect of "moisturizing" the treated surface, ie enabling a lasting about an immediate end of the applied agent addition contact the detergent components with the treated surface, the use of the alkanolamine in an amount below 20 wt % critical: amounts below 20 wt .-%, based on the novel aqueous cleaner concentrate would, the intended "moisturizing effect" deteriorate significantly.

As a further component demulsifying cleaning preparations according to the invention contain nonionic surfactants. Also in this case, a single representative of this group of substances, or alternatively a mixture of two or more non-ionic surfactants are used, as long as doing the amount ranging from 1 to 15. wt .-%. As a representative of this class of adducts of 4 moles of ethylene oxide with n- or i-octanol and also adducts of 2 moles of propylene oxide and 5 to 6 mol ethylene oxide onto said C₈-alcohols are mentioned. The preferred amount of the nonionic surfactants used is in the range of 3 to 6 wt .-%.

As solubilizers, (b), (c) and (d) existing demulsifying cleaners can also be added to from the above components (a) optionally, aromatic sulphonates such as cumene or Butylglykolsulfonat eligible. In addition, where appropriate, corrosion inhibitors for lightweight metals such as phosphoric acid and / or corrosion inhibitors for non-ferrous metals, such as tolyltriazole, are added. If desired, the demulsifying cleaning preparations and perfumes and / or dyes of the invention can contain.

The cleaner can be prepared by the above-mentioned components are mixed in respective amounts according to known methods with each other. The storage or shipping is usually in the form of containing the combination of the specified commodities aqueous concentrate to which the amounts stated are (in wt .-%).

For cleaning and degreasing of painted or unpainted surfaces of vehicles, engines, floors and walls of workshops etc. the demulsifying cleaning preparations according to the invention with moisturizing effect can be used in any dilution with water. Depending on application and contami the surfaces to be cleaned 3% strength or highly concentrated aqueous solutions pollution degree used. At high pollution can even be used the concentrate. The application is carried out by spraying, dipping or high pressure spraying with appropriate equipment. Even at room temperature, a forth protruding cleaning result is obtained. The product composition also guarantees a 20-to 30-minute moisturizing the surface to be cleaned and thus a correspondingly long contact of the cleaning active components with the contamination. This is for example in the cleaning of locomotives to achieve a good cleaning result of extraordinary importance.

Apart from the moisturizing effect above is compared with the conventional products, the demulsifying effect of decisive advantage. For example, at room temperature, an application solution of the invention from 10 to 50% concentration with rinse water to a concentration of small / diluted equal to 2%, so separates additionally introduced oil from the solution automatically almost completely off when it rests for 30 minutes. With corresponding sewage collecting containers can only by such a mechanical oil separation, the oil content of waste water to less than 50 mg. be 1⁻¹ lowered.

Optionally, it is possible to further reduce the oil content sulfate wastewater with iron (II) or to put aluminum sulfate, thereby achieving a flocculation of the impurities. By this, from the prior art known, additional purification step, the residual oil content in the effluent to a value below 10 mg. be 1⁻¹ lowered.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples.

example 1

detergency

Degreased steel panels (50 mm x 100 mm x 1 mm) were dissolved in a mixture of hot steam cylinder oil and ASTM III-oil in the volume ratio 1: 1 immersed, removed after 10 min and hung vertically for 4 h. The pretreated test sheets were then immersed owned in 50% cleaner solution of the following composition, and the time to complete degreasing (visual assessment) was measured.<ul><li>(A) cleaner according to the invention (concentrate): 7 wt .-% nitrilotriacetate trisodium salt (Trilon A^R, 38% strength), 9.5 wt .-% of diethanolamine, 18.0 wt .-% triethanolamine, 6.0 wt.% Of a condensation product of n-octanol to 4 mol of EO, 5.0 wt .-% sodium cumene at 40% and 54.5 wt .-% water.</li><li>(B) cleaner according to the invention (concentrate): 4.0 wt .-% ethylene diamine tetraacetate-sodium salt (Trilon B^R. 30.0 wt .-% triethanolamine, 15.0 wt .-% of diethanolamine, 7.0 wt .-% of a condensation product of i-octanol to 2 mol propylene oxide and 5 to 6 mol ethylene oxide, 3.0 wt .-% Natriumbutylglykolsulfonat, 0.2 wt .-% phosphoric acid, 0.2 wt .-% and tolyltriazole 40.6 wt .-% water.</li></ul>

Comparison cleaner (concentrate): 5 wt .-% of a condensation product of nonylphenol to 5 mol of EO, 2 wt .-% sodium cumene 5 wt .-% ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, 1 wt .-% sodium hydroxide solution and 87 wt .-% water.

So the comparison cleaner contained a strong emulsifying surfactant acting.

Result: The cleaning effect of the compositions of the invention was significantly higher than that of the comparative cleaner. There was a time factor of 0.7 obtained in favor of the compositions of the invention, that is, compositions of the invention in a significantly shorter time, based on the comparison cleaner, the required complete degreasing effected.

example 2

Moisturization:

For optimum cleaning results, especially when cleaning the exterior of vehicles, a moisturization over time is imperative. The cleaners mentioned in Example 1 (a) and (b) were in the ratio l: 10 diluted with water. A coated with a polyurethane varnish steel sheet (50 mm × 100 mm × 1 mm) was dipped into the appropriate solution, removed after a few minutes and suspended vertically. After 25 minutes was on the treated paintwork still wischbarer with finger liquid film exists.

example 3

demulsification

The given below components were mixed in a 2 1 beaker and with a paddle 10 min (16/15 mm) at mid-height of liquid with a stirring speed of 800 rpm. min⁻¹ stirred: 1620 ml of water, 20 ml cleaning concentrate (see. Example 1 (a) (b)) and 2 ml of a mixture of superheated steam cylinder oil and ASTM III-oil in the ratio 1: 1.

The mixture was after 10 min transferred to a 2 1 separating funnel and left for 30 minutes to rest. After 30 min, a liquid sample of 500 ml was drained from the separatory funnel. This water sample contained only small amounts of residual oil (less than 50 mg. L⁻¹.

To another sample of 500 ml of discharged from the funnel solution 0.75 g of anhydrous aluminum sulphate was added and the pH was adjusted with 1 N sodium hydroxide to 7.3. Thereafter, the solution was allowed to rest for 30 minutes. The thus formed flocculent precipitate was using a filter (NN 651 1/4) filtered. The residual oil content of the filtrate was less than 10 mg. 1⁻¹.

example 4

corrosion protection

The remaining on the cleaned parts after treatment product film offers besides the moisturization - also a necessary temporary corrosion protection. This is particularly in the cleaning of the engine room is important.

The examination with respect to the storage-corrosion protection granted pursuant to the so called "plates-air tests". There steel sheets of grade ST 1405 having been cleaned with trichlorethylene and then immersed in 10% solutions of the inventive cleaner. The panels were removed after 5 min and dried at room temperature. Storage of the sheets was performed in a climate box at 23 ° C and 100% relative humidity. Sheets treated in this way showed no signs of corrosion even after 14 days.

With the addition of 0.15 to 0.25 weight .-% phosphoric acid product concentrate and / or 0.2 to 0.4 wt .-% tolyltriazole product concentrate was also a complete corrosion protection of light metal surfaces, such as surfaces of aluminum or magnesium, achieved or of non-ferrous metal surfaces.