D-Limonene based aqueous cleaning compositions

Abstract

D-Limonene-based aqueous cleaning compositions for hard and/or flexible substrates are provided wherein the normally water-immiscible d-limonene is stabilized in clear aqueous solution by the combined effect of carefully selected and proportioned surface active agents, and a coupling agent, suitably in the form of a glycol or a lower alkyl glycol ether. One or more surfactants can be employed with a glycol or glycol ether as the coupling agent. Preferred formulations contain selected anionic, nonionic, or mixed anionic-nonionic surfactants. The compositions can also contain small amounts of additives adapting the compositions to particular uses. The new cleaning compositions contain by weight, 78 to 96 parts of a d-limonene/surfactant/water mixture containing 10-60% d-limonene, 10-30% surfactant, and 20-70% water, coupling agent in the amount of 2-10 parts by weight, and 2-12 parts of additives adapting the compositions to particular uses. Because better cleaning is obtained with higher solvent levels, the d-limonene/surfactant/water mixture preferably contains 40-60% d-limonene, 10-30% surfactant, and 20-40% water.

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