Use of quaternary ammonium compound as a hydrotrope and a composition containing the quaternary ammonium compound
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to the use of an alkyl di(lower alkyl)mono(polyoxyethylene) quaternary ammonium compound as a hydrotrope in 5 aqueous solutions for a nonionic surfactant, preferably a C8-C18-alcohol alkoxylate containing 1-20 ethyleneoxy units and 0-5 propyleneoxy units. It also relates to a composition comprising said quaternary ammonium compound and said nonionic surfactant. The cationic surfactant has the formula 10 R2+R(1)N(CH2CH2O)n H X R1 wherein R═C6-C22 alkyl; R1 and R2 are independently a C1-C4 alkyl group; n=8-25; and X− is an anion. The compositions may be used for the cleaning of hard surfaces, for example for vehicle cleaning or machine dishwashing.
1. A method of cleaning hard surfaces which comprises applying to said surfaces a cleaning effective amount of an aqueous composition comprising a nonionic surfactant in an aqueous media, the solubility of said nonionic surfactant in said aqueous media having been increased by adding to said nonionic surfactant and/or aqueous media a hydrotrope for said nonionic surfactant, said hydrotrope comprising a cationic surfactant having the formula
wherein R═C 8 -C 20 alkyl or alkenyl; R 1 and R 2 independently are a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group; n=15-25; and X − is an anion, and said nonionic surfactant is a C 8 -C 18 -alcohol alkoxylate containing 1-20 ethyleneoxy units and 0-5 propyleneoxy units, and said aqueous media comprises alkali hydroxides, alkaline builders and/or alkaline complexing agents,
with the proviso that if any anionic and/or amphoteric surfactant is present in the composition, then the molar amount of the cationic hydrotrope is greater than the molar amount of any anionic groups in the anionic and/or amphoteric surfactant.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are methyl and X − is a halide ion or a methylsulfate ion.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein n=15-17.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein an alcohol alkoxylate is present of the formula
R 3 O—(PO) x (EO) y (PO) z H (2)
wherein R 3 is a C 8 to C 18 alkyl group, PO is a propyleneoxy unit, EO is an ethyleneoxy unit, x=0-4, y=1-20, and z=0-4.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein in said aqueous composition the molar ratio of anionic groups in the anionic and/or the amphoteric surfactant to cationic hydrotrope is less than 1:2.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein in said aqueous composition the molar ratio of anionic groups to cationic hydrotrope is less than 1:3.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous composition is free of anionic and amphoteric surfactants.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous composition comprises
a) 0.05-20% by weight of the alcohol alkoxylate and
b) 0.02-20% by weight of the cationic hydrotrope.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said aqueous composition further comprises c) 0.05-40% by weight of alkali hydroxides, alkaline builders and/or alkaline complexing agents.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein R═C 10 -C 18 alkyl or alkenyl.