Detergent for medical instrumentation

1. A cleaning composition comprising:

a. At least one alkanolamine;

b. At least one mineral acid;

c. At least one salt of a hydroxy monocarboxylic acid;

d. At least one protease enzyme; and

wherein said composition contains no surfactant.

2. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition has a pH in the range of about 7 to about 9.5.

3. A cleaning composition according to claim 2 , wherein the pH is in the range of about 7.5 and about 8.5.

4. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 and also comprising a secondary enzyme.

5. A cleaning composition according to claim 4 wherein the secondary enzyme is selected from the group consisting of an amylase, a cellulase or a lipase.

6. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the total enzyme content of said composition is between about 0.1% and 5% w/w.

7. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the protease enzyme is present in an amount of about 0.5% to about 2.0% w/w of the composition.

8. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the alkanolamine is present at a concentration of between about 3 and 25% w/w of the composition.

9. A cleaning composition according to claim 8 wherein the alkanolamine is present at a concentration of about 4% to about 22% w/w of the composition.

10. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine.

11. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the mineral acid is selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, sulphuric acid, sulphamic acid, phosphoric acid and boric acid, and combinations thereof.

12. A cleaning composition according to claim 11 comprising phosphoric acid and boric acid.

13. A cleaning composition according to claim 12 wherein the phosphoric acid is present in an amount of about 1 and 10% w/w of the composition.

14. A cleaning composition according to claim 12 comprising between about 0.5% to 5% w/w boric acid.

15. A cleaning composition according to claim 13 comprising between about 1 and about 9% w/w phosphoric acid and about 1% w/w boric acid.

16. A cleaning composition according to claim 15 comprising between about 2% and about 7% w/w phosphoric acid and about 1% w/w boric acid.

17. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the salt of the hydroxy monocarboxylic acid is a salt of any one or more of glycolic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid or combinations thereof.

18. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the salt of the hydroxy monocarboxylic acid is an alkali metal salt.

19. A cleaning composition according to claim 18 wherein the salt of hydroxy monocarboxylic acid is a sodium salt.

20. A cleaning composition according to claim 17 wherein the salt of hydroxy monocarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of sodium lactate, sodium gluconate, sodium glycolate, or mixtures thereof.

21. A cleaning composition according to claim 20 wherein the salt of hydroxy monocarboxylic acid is sodium gluconate.

22. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the salt of the hydroxy monocarboxylic acid is an alkanolamine salt.

23. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the salt of the hydroxy monocarboxylic acid is present in an amount between about 1% and 26% w/w of the composition.

24. A cleaning composition according to claim 23 wherein the salt of hydroxy monocarboxylic acid is present in an amount of about 1 to about 18% w/w of the composition.

25. A cleaning composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition also comprises a glycol solvent.

26. A cleaning composition according to claim 25 wherein said glycol solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butyl glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, glycerol and combinations thereof.

27. A cleaning composition according to claim 26 wherein said glycol solvent is present in an amount between about 5% and 40% w/w of the composition.

28. A method of cleaning and removing biological soil from surgical and medical instruments in an automated washer using a water diluted cleaning composition according to claim 1 .

29. A process of preparing a cleaning composition for medical and surgical instruments to be cleaned in an automated washer, comprising combining:

a. at least one alkanolamine

b. at least one mineral acid

c. at least one salt of a hydroxy monocarboxylic acid; and

d. at least one protease enzyme;

to form a concentrate, wherein said concentrate contains no surfactant.

30. A process according to claim 29 comprising diluting said concentrate with water.