Surfactants based aqueous compositions with D-limonene and hydrogen peroxide and methods using the same

Abstract

A cleaning composition including a terpene such as D-limonene and hydrogen peroxide in a surfactants based aqueous solution. The composition in various specific formulations is a micro-emulsion useful for a variety of materials and for both industrial and household applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A clear stable liquid micro-emulsion cleanser composition comprising: a. from about 0.5% to 10% .Iadd.by weight .Iaddend.of a terpene .Iadd.solvent .Iaddend.selected from .[.mono- and.]. .Iadd.the group consisting of .Iaddend.sesquiterpenes and mixtures thereof;   b. from about 0.5% to about 10% .Iadd.by weight .Iaddend.of a water soluble glycol ether solvent;   c. from about 0.5% to about 10% .Iadd.by weight .Iaddend.of an isopropylamine salt of linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid as a first anionic surfactant;   d. from about 0.4% to about 10% .Iadd.by weight .Iaddend.of a sodium 1-octane sulfonate as a second anionic surfactant to provide coupling and stability effects;   e. from about 0.5% to about 10% .Iadd.by weight .Iaddend.of an alkyl ethoxylate nonionic surfactant with an HLB of 11 to 15 to approximate the HLB of the terpene solvent;   f. from about 2.0% to about 22.8% by weight of a 35% by weight aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide;   g. from about 0.2% to 4% by weight of a food grade anti-oxidant based on the terpene weight percentage to stabilize the terpene;   h. from about 1.0% to 5.0% by weight of a polyacrylate-polyalcohol polymer used as a thickening agent; and   i. deionized water.   
     
     
       2. A .[.cleaning.]. .Iadd.clear stable liquid micro-emulsion cleanser .Iaddend.composition according to claim 1 wherein said terpene solvent is D-limonene. 
     
     
       3. A method of using the micro-emulsion of claim 1 comprising a. applying said micro-emulsion to a material to be cleaned whereby said micro-emulsion incorporates soil from said material; and   b. removing said micro-emulsion from said material.   
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 3 including diluting one part of said micro-emulsion with up to 1000 parts of water prior to applying said micro-emulsion.