Green Glycine Betaine Derivative Compounds And Compositions Containing Same

Abstract

Multifunctional green (eco-friendly) and antimicrobial compositions are described containing cationic glycine betaine esters and/or cationic glycine betaine amides. Particular glycine betaine esters and amides are alkyl(ene) betainate methane sulfonates and betainyl amino alkyl(ene) methane sulfonates. The glycine betaine components are cationic, have a hydrophobic group attached to a carboxylate group through an ester or amide linkage, and are derived from a natural source, such as sugar beets. The glycine betaine esters and amides serve as cationic surfactants which have effective antimicrobial activity. The surfactant compositions are effective as crude mixtures or semi-purified mixtures or purified surfactant compounds of glycine betaine components. The addition of sodium chloride or potassium chloride or magnesium chloride or natural gum or polysaccharide to compositions containing the cationic glycine betaine ester and/or glycine betaine amide derivatives serves to thicken or gel the composition.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . Composition including surfactant and antimicrobial properties comprising
 (a) at least one cationic glycine betaine component derived from a natural source, wherein said glycine betaine component comprises at least one glycine betaine ester or glycine betaine amide and wherein said glycine betaine component has a hydrophobic group attached to a carboxylate group through an ester or an amide linkage;   (b) at least one chelating agent;   (c) water;   (d) at least one pH adjuster, except when said composition is acidic, then said at least one pH adjuster is optional; and   (e) optionally, one or more of a fragrance, a herbicide or a pesticide.   
     
     
         2 . A thickened or gelled surfactant and antimicrobial composition comprising at least one glycine betaine component derived from sugar beets, wherein said glycine betaine component comprises at least one glycine betaine ester or glycine betaine amide and wherein said glycine betaine component has a hydrophobic group, wherein said glycine betaine component is derived from said sugar beets as a crude mixture of C 10 -C 18  alkyl(ene) betainate methane sulfonates or a crude mixture of betainyl amino C 10 , C 12 , C 14 , C 16  and/or C 18  alkylmethane sulfonates. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising sodium chloride, wherein said composition is thickened or gelled based on combination of said sodium chloride and said glycine betaine component in the absence of heating and cooling. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said natural source is sugar beets. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said glycine betaine ester is one or more alkyl(ene) betainate methane sulfonates, and said glycine betaine amide is one or more of betainyl amino alkyl(ene) methane sulfonates. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said glycine betaine component is derived from sugar beets as a crude mixture of C 8 -C 18  alkyl(ene) betainate methane sulfonates or a crude mixture of betainyl amino C 8 , C 10 , C 12 , C 14 , C 16  and/or C 18  alkyl methane sulfonates. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said crude mixture is semi-purified or purified. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said crude mixture is semi-purified or purified. 
     
     
         9 . A cleaning and wetting composition comprising at least one cationic glycine betaine component derived from a natural source, wherein the glycine betaine component comprises at least one glycine betaine ester or glycine betaine amide; wherein said glycine betaine component is cleavable to provide an alcohol and a sugar which are biodegradable; and wherein said composition has a surface tension in a range of about 24 to about 35, a contact angle in a range of about 2 to 60 on treated or untreated surfaces, and a minimum inhibition concentration of about 16 to about 500 ppm. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of glycine betaine components are present and such are of different chain lengths. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein ingredients present in the composition are present in amounts to provide a hard surface cleaning composition. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein ingredients present in the composition are present in amounts to provide a hard surface cleaning composition. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is combined with at least one additional surfactant different from that in (a), and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of colorants, dispersants, sheeting agents, buffering agents, solvents, and diluents; wherein ingredients present in the composition are present in amounts in combination to provide a hard surface cleaning composition. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said composition is combined with at least one additional surfactant different from that in (a), and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of colorants, dispersants, sheeting agents, buffering agents, solvents, and diluents; wherein ingredients present in the composition are present in amounts in combination to provide a hard surface cleaning composition. 
     
     
         15 . Method for preparing a cationic glycine betaine ester compound comprising
 (a) providing a raw material from a natural source;   (b) processing said raw material under solvent-free conditions to obtain a crude mixture of glycine betaine esters comprising alkyl(ene) betainate methane sulfonates, wherein said glycine betaine esters have a hydrophobic group attached to a carboxylate group through an ester linkage; and   (c) optionally, semi-purifying or purifying said crude mixture.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said cationic compound is present in an amount sufficient to remove soil from a hard surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising combining said cationic compound with one or more additional ingredients to provide a cleaning composition. 
     
     
         18 . A composition comprising at least one alkyl or alkylene betainate methane sulfonate which has a hydrophobic group attached to a carboxylate group through an ester linkage, wherein the alkyl and the alkylene contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms; and water as a carrier; wherein said at least one cationic alkyl or alkylene betainate methane sulfonate is cleavable to provide a biodegradable alcohol and biodegradable sugar. 
     
     
         19 . A composition comprising at least one betainyl amino alkyl or alkylene methane sulfonate which has a hydrophobic group attached to a carboxylate group through an amide linkage, wherein the alkyl or the alkylene contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms; and water as a carrier; and wherein said at least one betainyl amino alkyl or alkylene methane sulfonate is cleavable to provide a biodegradable alcohol and biodegradable sugar. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 18  wherein said at least one sulfonate is derived from a natural source. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one sulfonate is derived from a natural source. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 9 , further comprising sodium chloride or potassium chloride or magnesium chloride or a natural gum or a polysaccharide in an amount sufficient to thicken said composition. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 18 , further comprising sodium chloride or potassium chloride or magnesium chloride or a natural gum or a polysaccharide in an amount sufficient to thicken said composition. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 19 , further comprising sodium chloride or potassium chloride or magnesium chloride or a natural gum or a polysaccharide in an amount sufficient to thicken said composition. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one chelating agent is a synergistic blend of sodium citrate and sodium gluconate. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chelating agent is itaconic acid or sodium itaconate. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one chelating agent is sodium glutarate. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chelating agent is sodium citrate. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chelating agent is a synergistic blend of at least two chelators selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium gluconate, itaconic acid, sodium itaconate, and sodium glutarate. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition has a pH in a range of about 1.4 to about 11.5.