Aqueous alkaline cleaning composition containing surfactant mixture of N- octyl-2-pyrrolidone and N-coco-beta-aminocarboxylic (C.sub. 2 -C.sub.4) acid for cleaning substrates and method of using same

摘要

An alkaline aqueous cleaning composition for cleaning a substrate, e.g. , a plastic or metal substrate, contaminated with industrial-type soil contaminants contains (i) an aqueous portion and (ii) an active- ingredient portion composed of (A) an alkalinity-providing agent and (B) a surfactant mixture containing (a) an active concentration of an N- octyl-2-pyrrolidone surfactant and (b) an active concentration of at least one aminocarboxylic acid surfactant such as N-coco-beta- aminopropionic acid. The active-concentration ratio of surfactant (a) to surfactant (b) is such as to provide the cleaning composition with the ability to remove a substantial portion of the contaminants from the substrate. At an active-concentration ratio of surfactant (a) to surfactant (b) of about 2.5:1, the surfactants have a synergistic effect on the industrial-soil-removing ability of the aqueous composition. Cleaning of the substrate with the aqueous cleaning composition involves contacting the substrate with the composition for a period of time sufficient to remove at least a substantial portion of the contaminants from the substrate.