CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority from Canadian Patent Application No. 3,136,980, filed on October 29, 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In one of its aspect, the present invention relates to a cleaning composition. In another of its aspects, the present invention relates to use of the cleaning composition to treat a surface. In yet another of its aspects, the present invention relates to a kit comprising the present cleaning composition and a set of instructions to dilute the cleaning composition in a solvent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] A variety of compounds exist which can be utilized for cleaning or disinfection of hard surfaces in various environments. These are usually supplied as solutions containing specific concentrations of active ingredient(s), as well as a plethora of non-active ingredient options which can include surfactants, colourants, binders, stabilizers, fragrances, etc. Regardless, all are required to meet certain efficacy requirements with regard to microbial reduction in order to qualify as specific grades of disinfectants.

[0004] With continual changes in consumer habits, many people are moving towards use of products that are based on more minimalistic concepts, be it in ingredients, additives, packaging, shipping etc.

[0005] The Covid- 19 pandemic has significantly altered human life all over the world. It has spurred a need for the availability of simple to handle, strong disinfectant compositions to enable users (commercial and residential) to quickly and conveniently disinfecting surfaces that my be contaminated with microorganism. [0006] The present invention seeks to address this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the above- mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel cleaning composition.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel cleaning liquid.

[0010] Accordingly, in one of its aspects, the present invention provides a cleaning composition comprising citric acid.

[0011] In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a cleaning composition comprising 55% by weight citric acid, 34% by weight sodium percarbonate and 11% potassium peroxymonosulfate.

[0012] In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a cleaning composition comprising 69% by weight citric acid, 23% by weight sodium percarbonate and 8% by weight potassium peroxymonosulfate.

[0013] In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a cleaning composition comprising 62% by weight citric acid and 38% by weight sodium percarbonate.

[0014] In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a cleaning composition comprising 74% by weight citric acid and 26% by weight sodium percarbonate.

[0015] In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a cleaning liquid derived from mixing 6.5 g of citric acid, 4.0 g of sodium percarbonate, 1.3 g of potassium peroxymonosulfate and water Q.S. to 250 mL.

[0016] In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a cleaning liquid derived from mixing 12.0 g of citric acid, 4.1 g of sodium percarbonate, 1.35 g of potassium peroxymonosulfate and water Q.S. to 250 mL. [0017] In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a cleaning liquid derived from mixing 6.5 g of citric acid, 4.0 g of sodium percarbonate and water Q.S. to 250 mL.

[0018] In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a cleaning liquid derived from mixing 11.9 g of citric acid, 4.1 g of sodium percarbonate and water Q.S. to 250 mL.

[0019] Thus, the present inventor has discovered that citric acid is particularly well suited as an essential ingredient in a cleaning composition, preferably for treating and/or disinfectng surfaces suspected of being contaminated with one or more microorganisms. It is believed that the present cleaning composition will satisfy the growing consumer/commercial and market trend of minimalism, with few ingredients and eliminating the cost of shipping prepared cleaning liquids which comprise mostly solvent (e.g., aqueous based solvents such as water). The term “cleaning composition”, as used throughout this specification, is intended to encompass a composition that can be used to clean or treat a soiled surface, including a such a composition that can be used to disinfect a surface suspected suspected of being contaminated with one or more microorganisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The present invention relates to a cleaning composition comprising citric acid.

[0021] The present invention also relates to a cleaning composition comprising 55% by weight citric acid, 34% by weight sodium percarbonate and 11% potassium peroxymonosulfate.

[0022] The present invention also relates to a cleaning composition comprising 69% by weight citric acid, 23% by weight sodium percarbonate and 8% by weight potassium peroxymonosulfate.

[0023] The present invention also relates to a cleaning composition comprising 62% by weight citric acid and 38% by weight sodium percarbonate.

[0024] The present invention also relates to a cleaning composition comprising 74% by weight citric acid and 26% by weight sodium percarbonate. [0025] Preferred embodiments of these five cleaning compositions may include any one or a combination of any two or more of any of the following features:

• the cleaning composition consists only of citric acid;

• the cleaning composition further comprises an oxidizing agent;

• the oxidizing agent comprises sodium percarbonate;

• the oxidizating agent comprises potassium peroxymonosulfate;

• the oxidizating agent comprises a mixture of sodium percarbonate and potassium peroxymonosulfate;

• citric acid is present in an amount in the range of from about 55% by weight to about 75% by weight;

• citric acid is admixture with the oxidizing agent;

• citric acid is separate from the oxidizing agent;

• the cleaning composition comprises multiple oxidizing agents and wherein citric and each oxidizing agent are physically separated from each other;

• the cleaning composition is in the form of a free-flowing granular powder;

• the cleaning composition is in the form of a stick packs;

• the cleaning composition is in the form of a sachet;

• the cleaning composition is in the form of a capsule;

• the cleaning composition is in the form of a tablet; and/or the cleaning composition is in the form of a pressed tablet. [0026] The present invention also relates to a cleaning liquid derived by mixing the above cleaning composition with a solvent.

[0027] Preferred embodiments of this cleaning liquid may include any one or a combination of any two or more of any of the following features:

• the solvent comprises an aqueous solvent;

• the solvent is water;

• the cleaning composition is present in the solvent at a citric acid concentration of from about 2.5% w/v to about 4.5% w/v;

• where the cleaning composition is present in the solvent at a citric acid concentration of 2.5% w/v; and/or

• the cleaning composition is present in the solvent at a citric acid concentration of 4.5% w/v.

[0028] The present invention also relates to use of the above cleaning liquid to treat a surface (e.g., as a dishwasher detergent), preferably to treat a surface to achieve at least a 3 log reduction of micoorganisms on the surface.

[0029] Preferred embodiments of these uses may include any one or a combination of any two or more of any of the following features:

• the cleaning liquid is applied the surface for a period of at least 30 seconds;

• the cleaning liquid is applied the surface for a period of at least 1 minute;

• the cleaning liquid is applied the surface for a period of at least 2 minutes;

• the cleaning liquid is applied the surface for a period of at least 3 minutes; the cleaning liquid is applied the surface for a period of at least 4 minutes; the cleaning liquid is applied the surface for a period of at least 5 minutes;

• the cleaning liquid is applied the surface for a period of up to 5 minutes; and/or

• the cleaning liquid is applied the surface for a period of up to 10 minutes.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a kit comprising the above defined cleaning composition and a set of instructions for preparing a cleaning liquid. Preferred embodiments of this kit may include any one or a combination of any two or more of any of the following features:

• the set of instructions is for preparing the above defined cleaning liquid;

• the set instructions includes applying the cleaning liquid to a surface for a prescribed period if time; and

• the set instructions includes applying the cleaning liquid to a surface for the above defined period of time defined in the previous paragraph.

[0031] CASK-AIDE is offered in four distinct formulations (CASK-AIDE, CASK-AIDE Pro, CASK- AIDE 2 and CASK- AIDE 2 Pro), comprising two or three ingredients. The main, active ingredient is Citric Acid. The second ingredient is Sodium Percarbonate and a third ingredient, Potassium Peroxymonosulfate, is included in two of the formulations. All three compounds, Citric Acid, Sodium Percarbonate and Potassium Peroxymonosulfate, are solids in granular or powdered form.

[0032] Citric Acid, also known as 2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic Acid, is found naturally in fruits, particularly citruses such as lemon and oranges. It is a weak organic than can be obtained in dry powdered form. It has a multitude of uses and is sold as a household or commercial product, for applications including in cooking, flavouring, preserving and cleaning. Citric Acid also works as a descaling agent, capable of dissolving limescale without the aggression of stronger acids which can lead to damage of materials and surfaces. Among its applications is use as a disinfectant, the key attribute for which it is being utilized in the present invention.

[0033] According to Health Canada’s hard surface disinfectant monograph, disinfectants which provide at least 25,000 mg/L of Citric Acid satisfy the bacterial, viral and fungicidal requirements of minimum 3 log or 99.9% reduction, when applied for 5 minutes for domestic uses. For commercial uses, the concentration required is at least 45,000 mg/L, applied for 10 minutes. The formulations of CASK-AIDE are prepared such when a certain amount of each mixture is dissolved in a defined amount of water, a solution results that provide these required concentrations for cleaning (including disinfection).

[0034] Sodium Percarbonate is a powdered oxidant, forming Hydrogen Peroxide in solution with water. Hydrogen Peroxide is a well-known disinfectant, commonly used in households and clinical settings. Health Canada’s hard surface disinfectant monograph also lists Hydrogen Peroxide as an ingredient which satisfies the minimum 3 log/99.9% reduction in bacteria, viruses and fungi, when applied in concentrations at or above that 5,000 mg/L, for 5 minutes under domestic use, and 10 minutes for commercial use. CASK- AIDE formulations contain Sodium Percarbonate powder, that when a set amount of each is dissolved in water, produce Hydrogen Peroxide in solution of at least this concentration for cleaing (including disinfection).

[0035] Potassium Peroxymonosulfate, a free-flowing granular powder, is also a powerful oxidant, commonly used as a non-chlorine “pool shock” agent for bacterial and viral disinfection. It has greater efficacy than chlorine in the presence of organic compounds, particularly effective in environments where animals may be housed or present. It does not produce odours like chlorine and is non-irritating, with reaction products of mostly sulfate salts. It is often utilised in a 1% solution but has also demonstrated effectiveness at concentrations of 0.5%. The two formulations of CASK-AIDE which include this compound, when made into solution as per the directions, provide approximately 0.5% concentration of this disinfectant.

[0036] Preferred embodiments of the present cleaning composition and its use may be found in the Appendix to this specification appearing after page 8 thereof. [0037] While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments and examples, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Thus, various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments.

[0038] All publications, patents and patent applications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.