| abstract |
The aqueous composition comprises a non-ionic surfactant and an alkali metal hydroxide. nThe non-ionic surfactant is a propylene oxide-ethylene oxide derivative of an alcohol of Formula I n n R-O-[C₂H₃(CH₃)O] a -[C₂H₄O] b -H (I) n n n and/or na butylene oxide-ethylene oxide derivative of an alcohol (ROH), of Formula II n n R-O-[C₂H₃(C₂H₅) O ] c -(C₂H₄O] b -H (II) n n n wherein R is a linear or branched-alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 4 to 11 carbon atoms,n (a) (the average degree of propoxylation per mole) is from 2.5 to 7, (b) (the average degree of ethoxylation per mole) is from 1 to 10, and (c) (the average degree of butoxylation per mole) is from 0.5 to 4. n The content of the alkali metal hydroxide is at least 5 percent, based on the total weight of the aqueous composition. n The aqueous alkaline solution is useful for cleaning the surface of articles, such as fruit, vegetables or containers for food, or for chemical peeling of fruit or vegetables, metal working or cotton mercerization. |