Alkyl amides for enhanced food soil removal and asphalt dissolution

Abstract

The present invention comprises a hard surface cleaning composition including an environmentally friendly alkyl amide solvent, derived from renewable bio-based resources that works at least as well as d-limonene. In one embodiment, the present invention is a cleaning composition including an anionic surfactant salt, a saturated C 8 to C 10 alkyl amide solvent, a cosolvent and water. The composition is substantially free of d-limonene and can remove red food soils with up to 20 percent protein, and also functions as an asphalt removal composition.

1 : A cleaning composition comprising:
 (a) C 8  and/or C 10  dimethyl alkyl amide solvent;   (b) an anionic surfactant,   (c) a cosolvent; and   (d) water, wherein said composition is substantially free of d-limonene.   
     
     
         2 : The cleaning composition of  claim 1 , wherein the co solvent is selected from the group consisting of: methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, mixed ethylene-propylene glycol ethers, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, triethylene glycol methyl ether, triethylene glycol ethyl ether, and triethylene glycol butyl ether. 
     
     
         3 : The composition of  claim 1  wherein said cosolvent is glycol ether. 
     
     
         4 : The cleaning composition of  claim 1  wherein said C 8  and/or C 10  dimethyl alkyl amide is saturated. 
     
     
         5 : The cleaning composition of  claim 1  wherein said anionic surfactant is a salt. 
     
     
         6 : The anionic surfactant salt of  claim 5  wherein said salt is an amine salt. 
     
     
         7 : The cleaning composition of  claim 1 , wherein the C 8  and/or C 10  dimethyl alkyl amide solvent constitutes between about 0.5 wt. % and about 30 wt. % of the cleaning composition. 
     
     
         8 : The cleaning composition of  claim 1 , wherein the anionic surfactant constitutes between about 5 wt. % and about 40 wt. % of the cleaning composition. 
     
     
         9 : The cleaning composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a chelant comprising from about 0.01 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of the cleaning composition. 
     
     
         10 : The cleaning composition of  claim 1  wherein said cleaning composition is a pot and pan pre-soaking composition, a hard surface cleaner or an asphalt dissolving composition. 
     
     
         11 : An asphalt dissolving/hard surface cleaning/pot and pan pre-soak composition comprising:
 (a) a saturated di-methyl amide solvent;   (b) an anionic surfactant amine salt   (c) a cosolvent, and   (d) water, wherein said composition includes less than 0.05 wt. % of d-limonene.   
     
     
         12 : The cleaning composition of  claim 11  wherein said alkyl amide solvent is a saturated C 8  and/or C 10  dimethyl alkyl amide. 
     
     
         13 : The composition of  claim 11  wherein said composition includes less than 0.01 wt. % of d-limonene. 
     
     
         14 : The cleaning composition of  claim 11 , wherein the di-methyl amide solvent constitutes between about 1.0 wt. % and about 25 wt. % of the cleaning composition. 
     
     
         15 : The cleaning composition of  claim 11 , wherein the anionic surfactant constitutes between about 10 wt. % and about 35 wt. % of the cleaning composition. 
     
     
         16 : The cleaning composition of  claim 11 , further comprising a chelant comprising from about 0.01 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of the cleaning composition. 
     
     
         17 : The cleaning composition of  claim 11  wherein said co solvent is a glycol ether. 
     
     
         18 : The cleaning composition of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning composition has a pH of between about 6.5 and about 10. 
     
     
         19 : A method of removing asphalt, red food or black oily soils from a surface, the method comprising:
 diluting a cleaner with water of dilution to form a use solution, wherein the cleaner comprises C 8  and/or C 10  dimethyl alkyl amide solvent;   an anoinic surfactant salt, a cosolvent; and   water, wherein said composition is essentially free of d-limonene; and   contacting the surface with the use solution.   
     
     
         20 : The method of  claim 19  wherein said soil comprises up to about 20% by weight proteins.