Cleaning surfaces
Substrates are cleaned by contacting the substrate with a cleaning composition, particularly an aqueous composition, including at least one compound of the formula (I): (R 2 ) p —Ph—(CH 2 ) m —COO—(AO) n —R 1 (I) where R 1 , AO, n, M, Ph, R 2 and p have defined meanings, particularly to give alkyl benzoates. Such compounds provide useful solvency to the cleaning formulations while having a relatively benign environmental profile.
1. A method of cleaning a substrate, which includes contacting the substrate to be cleaned with a composition, particularly and aqueous composition, including at least one compound of the formula (I):
(R 2 ) p —Ph—(CH 2 ) m —COO—(AO) n —R 1 (I)
where
R 1 is a C 1 to C 20 alkyl or alkenyl group;
AO is an alkyleneoxy group and may vary along the (poly)alkyleneoxy chain;
n 0 or from 1 to 100;
m is 0, 1 or 2; and
Ph is a phenyl group, which may be substituted with groups (R 2 ) p ; where each R 2 is independently a C 1 to C 4 alkyl or alkoxy group; and p is 0, 1 or 2.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein m, n and p are all 0.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein R1 is a C 1 to C 10 alkyl group, preferably a C 3 to C 5 branched alkyl group.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the compound of the formula (I) is or includes iso-propyl benzoate.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 for degreasing a substrate, particularly a metal substrate, by contacting the substrate with a composition, particularly an aqueous composition, including at least one compound of the formula (I).
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 for hard surface cleaning, by contacting a hard surface to be cleaned with a composition, particularly an aqueous composition, including at least one compound of the formula (I) together with a surfactant, particularly a detergent surfactant, and a builder or alkali.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 for cleaning graffiti from a surface in which the surface to be cleaned is contacted with a composition, particularly an aqueous composition, including at least one compound of the formula (I) together with a surfactant.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 for stripping paint from a substrate in which a painted substrate is contacted with a composition, particularly an aqueous composition, including at least one compound of the formula (I) together with a surfactant, particularly a detergent surfactant.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1 for rig cleaning in which the surface of the rig to be cleaned is contacted with an aqueous microemulsion composition including at least one compound of the formula (I) together with a surfactant, particularly a detergent surfactant.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said compositions is an aquesous emulsion or microemulsion; R 1 is a C 6 to C 20 alkyl or alkenyl group; n=0; and m=0.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein p=0.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein R 1 is a C 6 to C 10 alkyl group.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said C 6 to C 10 alkyl group is a branched alkyl group.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the compound of formula (I) is 2 -ethylhexyl benzoate.
15. The method of cleaning according to claim 10 wherein said substrate is degreased.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said substrate is metal.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein said composition further comprises a surfactant.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said surfactant is a detergent surfactant.
19. The method of clam 17 wherein said composition is for hard surface cleaning and further comprises a builder or an alkali.
20. The method of clam 18 wherein said composition is for hard surface cleaning and further comprises a builder or an alkali.
21. The method of claim 17 wherein graffiti is cleaned from said substrate.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein said substrate is painted and said cleaning removes said paint from said substrate.
23. The method of claim 18 wherein said substrate is painted and said cleaning removes said paint from said substrate.
24. The method of claim 17 wherein said substrate is a rig.
25. The method of claim 18 wherein said substrate is a rig.
26. The method of claim 11 wherein R 1 is a C 6 to C 10 alkyl group.
27. The method of claim 11 wherein R 1 is a C 6 to C 10 branched alkyl group.