# US 2009/0260659 A1 · Limescale and soap scum removing composition containing methane sulfonic acid

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2009/0260659 A1
- Document ID: US20090260659A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/419,145
- Filed: 2009-04-06
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-04
- Assignees: Ecolab Inc.
- Inventors: Barbara G. Choczaj; Michael J. Bartelme; Steven E. Lentsch; Katherine O. Vetter; Marvin C. Trulsen; Erik C. Olson; Mark D. Levitt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260659A1

## CPC

- C11D 3/2079: {Monocarboxylic acids-salts thereof}
- C11D 3/3409: {Alkyl -, alkenyl -, cycloalkyl - or terpene sulfates or sulfonates}
- C11D 3/2075: {Carboxylic acids-salts thereof}
- C11D 3/3418: {Toluene -, xylene -, cumene -, benzene - or naphthalene sulfonates or sulfates}
- C11D 3/43: Solvents
- C11D 2111/14: Hard surfaces
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL

## Abstract

A cleaning composition including an acid component is provided, along with methods for using the composition to remove soil from hard surfaces. The concentrate cleaning composition includes between about 1 and about 70 wt % of methane sulfonic acid, about 0.1 to about 15 wt % of a surfactant component, up to about 90% of a solvent and other adjuvants.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of removing soil from a hard surface, the method comprising:
(a) contacting the hard surface with a solution comprising a concentrate cleaning composition, the concentrate cleaning composition comprising:
(i) about 1 to about 70 wt % of a short chain alkane sulfonic acid composition;
(ii) about 0.1 to about 20 wt % of a surfactant; and
(iii) up to about 90% of a solvent; and
(b) rinsing the hard surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the short chain alkane sulfonic acid composition comprises methane sulfonic acid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises a biocidal surfactant.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the biocidal surfactant comprises at least one of a cationic surfactant or an anionic surfactant.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the biocidal surfactant comprises a cationic surfactant, and wherein the cationic surfactant is a quaternary ammonium compound.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the biocidal surfactant comprises a anionic surfactant, and wherein the anionic surfactant comprises one of a medium chain carboxylic acid, a linear alkylbenzene sulfuric acid or a sulfonated oleic acid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the concentrate cleaning composition comprises methane sulfonic acid and a medium chain carboxylic acid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the hard surface is covered with a layer made by physical vapor deposition.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising diluting the concentrate cleaning composition prior to contacting the hard surface.

### Claim 10

A method of removing soil from a surface covered with a layer made by physical vapor deposition, the method comprising:
(a) contacting a use solution to the surface, the use solution comprising between about 0.01 and about 30% by weight of methane sulfonic acid to the surface; and
(b) rinsing the surface covered with the layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the soil on the surface comprises limescale, soap scum, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the use solution is substantially free of phosphoric acid.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the use solution further comprises a medium chain alkanoic acid.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the use solution further comprises a biocidal surfactant.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the biocidal surfactant comprises one of a quaternary ammonium compound, a medium chain alkanoic acid, a linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, and a sulfonated oleic acid.

### Claim 16

A concentrate cleaning composition for removing soil from a hard surface, comprising:
(a) about 1 to about 70 wt % of methane sulfonic acid;
(b) about 0.1 to about 15 wt % of a surfactant; and
(c) up to about 90% of a solvent.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The composition of claim 16, wherein the composition further comprises a disinfecting active ingredient.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The composition of claim 16, wherein the composition further comprises a sanitizing active ingredient.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The composition of claim 16, wherein the composition comprises less than about 10% active methane sulfonic acid.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The composition of claim 19, wherein the composition comprises less than about 6% active methane sulfonic acid.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The composition of claim 16, wherein the composition is substantially free of phosphoric acid.