Cleaning compositions containing water soluble magnesium compounds and methods of using them

Abstract

The present invention relates to cleaning compositions and methods employing a water soluble magnesium compound. Such compositions can be used for reducing scale, rinsing, hard surface cleaning, ware washing, and corrosion inhibition.

1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A cleaning composition comprising:
 about 1 to about 60 wt-% water soluble magnesium salt;   about 0 to about 60 wt-% source of alkalinity;   about 0 to about 90 wt-% water; and   about 0 to about 20 wt-% surfactant;   
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the composition is substantially free of chelating agent. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the composition further comprises about 1 to about 7% of a chelating agent. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the aqueous composition is substantially free of threshold agent. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the water soluble magnesium salt comprises an anion that forms a soluble calcium salt. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the water soluble magnesium salt is selected from the group consisting of magnesium acetate, magnesium benzoate, magnesium bromide, magnesium bromate, magnesium chlorate, magnesium chloride, magnesium chromate, magnesium citrate, magnesium formate, magnesium hexafluorosilicate, magnesium iodate, magnesium iodide, magnesium lactate, magnesium molybdate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium perchlorate, magnesium phosphinate, magnesium salicylate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium sulfite, magnesium thiosulfate, and hydrates and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the source of alkalinity is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal carbonate, an alkali metal hydroxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the alkali metal carbonate is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, lithium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, lithium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, potassium sesquicarbonate, lithium sesquicarbonate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the alkali metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and combinations thereof.