Efficient surfactant system on plastic and all types of ware

• US 10,017,714 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2016
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BASF SE, Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kieffer, Janel Marie, Everson, Terrence P., Dailey, James S., Gessner, Thomas, Tropsch, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Webb, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US15/157,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20160340614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 510506, 510421, 510220, 510514
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0007 Washing phases
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/79 Phosphine oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/825 Mixtures of compounds all of which are non-ionic

Abstract

Surfactant systems and compositions incorporating the same are disclosed for use as rinse aids on plastics and other wares. The surfactant systems and compositions include both liquid and solid formulations, along with methods of use for treating plastics and other wares. The surfactant systems and compositions provide synergistic combinations allowing lower actives in composition formulations of the plastic-compatible surfactant systems providing good sheeting, wetting and drying properties.

Claims

1. A rinse aid composition comprising:

(A) a surfactant system comprising;

at least one nonionic alcohol alkoxylate according to the following formulas;

R¹—

O-(EO)_x3(PO)_y3—

H 

 

(A)

wherein R¹ is a straight-chain C₁₀-C₁₆ alkyl, wherein x₃ is from 5 to 8, and wherein y₃ is from 2 to 5, or

R¹—

O-(EO)_x4(PO)_y4—

H 

 

(A2)

wherein R¹ is a straight-chain C₁₀-C₁₆ alkyl, wherein x₄ is from 4 to 6, and wherein y₄ is from 3 to 5,

a nonionic alcohol alkoxylate according to the following formula;

R²—

O-(EO)_x1—

H 

 

(B)

wherein R² is C₁₀-C₁₄ alkyl with an average of at least 2 branches per residue, and

wherein x₁ is from 5 to 10; and

a nonionic Guerbet alcohol alkoxylate according to the following formula;

R⁷—

O—

(PO)y₅(EO)x₅(PO)y₆ 

 

(D)

wherein R⁷ is a branched C₈-C₁₆ guerbet alcohol, x₅ is from 5 to 30, y₅ is from 1 to 4, and y₆ is from 10 to 20,

(B) at least one additional functional ingredient,

wherein the foam profile of the composition has a foam height of less than 5 inches after 5 minutes using the Glewwe method; and

wherein the composition is plastic-compatible providing sheeting, wetting and drying properties.

2. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional surfactant polymer from the group consisting of the following formulae:

R²—

O-(EO)_x2—

H 

 

(C)

wherein R² is C₁₀-C₁₄ alkyl with an average of at least 2 branches per residue, and wherein x₂ is from 2 to 4,

R⁶—

O—

(PO)y₄(EO)x₄ 

 

(E)

wherein R⁶ is a C₈-C₁₆ guerbet alcohol, wherein x₄ is from 2 to 10, and wherein y₄ is from 1 to 2,

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is a liquid concentrate.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is a solid.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the composition is a pressed or an extruded solid and optionally further comprises a block EO-PO-EO surfactant polymer with the formulae (EO)x6 (PO)y7(EO)x6 wherein x₆ is from 88 to 108, and y₇ is from 57 to 77.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the contact angle of the composition is reduced at least 5 degrees compared to a conventional rinse aid composition.

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein the contact angle of the composition is reduced at least 10 degrees compared to a conventional rinse aid composition.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the nonionic alcohol alkoxylate of the surfactant system comprises from 5 to 80 parts by weight of the alcohol alkoxylate according to formula (A or A2), from 5 to 80 parts by weight of the alcohol alkoxylate according to formula (B), and from 5 to 80 parts by weight of the Guerbet alcohol alkoxylate according to formula (D).

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the nonionic alcohol alkoxylate of the surfactant system comprises from 30 to 45 parts by weight of the alcohol alkoxylate according to formula (A or A2), from 20 to 50 parts by weight of the alcohol alkoxylate according to formula (B), and from 5 to 40 parts by weight of the Guerbet alcohol alkoxylate according to formula (D).

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the nonionic alcohol alkoxylates is about 30/30/40 (A or A2/B/D) to about 45/45/10 (A or A2/B/D).

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the additional functional ingredient is a hardening agent, carrier, chelating agent, sequestering agent, builder, water conditioner, bleaching agent, sanitizer, defoaming agent, anti-redeposition agent, optical brightener, dye, odorant, stabilizing agent, dispersant, enzyme, corrosion inhibitor, thickener and/or solubility modifier.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the additional functional ingredient is a sanitizing agent.

14. The composition of claim 12, further comprising at least one additional surfactant polymer from the group consisting of the following formulae:

R²—

O-(EO)_x2—

H 

 

(C)

wherein R² is C₁₀-C₁₄ alkyl with an average of at least 2 branches per residue, and wherein x₂ is from 2 to 4,

R⁶—

O—

(PO)y₄(EO)x₄ 

 

(E)

wherein R⁶ is a C₈-C₁₆ guerbet alcohol, wherein x₄ is from 2 to 10, and wherein y₄ is from 1 to 2,

21. A method for rinsing a surface comprising:

(A) providing a rinse aid composition according to claim 1;

(B) contacting the composition with water to form a use solution providing from about 1 ppm to about 125 ppm surfactant system actives; and

(C) applying the use solution to a surface in need of rinsing at a temperature at or below 140°

F., wherein the surfactant system reduces the contact angle of the composition by at least about 5 degrees compared to the contact angle of a commercially-available rinse aid composition to induce sheeting and result in a faster drying time of the surface.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the surfactant system reduces the contact angle of the composition by at least about 10 degrees compared to the contact angle of a commercially-available rinse aid to induce sheeting and result in a faster drying time of the surface.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the surface is a ware.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the ware is plastic.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the ware dries within about 30 to about 90 seconds after the use solution is applied to the ware.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the method takes place in a consumer or institutional dish machine.

13. A rinse aid composition comprising:

(A) a surfactant system comprising;

at least one nonionic alcohol alkoxylate according to the following formulas;

R¹—

O-(EO)_x3(PO)_y3—

H 

 

(A)

wherein R¹ is a straight-chain C₁₀-C₁₆ alkyl, wherein x₃ is from 5 to 8, and wherein y₃ is from 2 to 5, or

R¹—

O-(EO)_x4(PO)_y4—

H 

 

(A2)

wherein R¹ is a straight-chain C₁₀-C₁₆ alkyl, wherein x₄ is from 4 to 6, and wherein y₄ is from 3 to 5,

a nonionic alcohol alkoxylate according to the following formula;

R²—

O-(EO)_x1—

H 

 

(B)

wherein R² is C₁₀-C₁₄ alkyl with an average of at least 2 branches per residue, and

wherein x₁ is from 5 to 10; and

a nonionic Guerbet alcohol alkoxylate according to the following formula;

R⁷—

O—

(PO)y₅(EO)x₅(PO)y₆ 

 

(D)

wherein R⁷ is a branched C₈-C₁₆ guerbet alcohol, x₅ is from 5 to 30, y₅ is from 1 to 4, and y₆ is from 10 to 20,

(B) at least one additional functional ingredient, selected from the group consisting of a sanitizing agent, sequestrant, water conditioning agent, acidulant, chelant, builder and combinations of the same,

wherein the composition is a use solution having a pH of 8.5 or below, from about 1 ppm to about 125 ppm surfactant system actives,

wherein the foam profile of the composition has a foam height of less than 5 inches after 5 minutes using the Glewwe method; and

wherein the composition is plastic-compatible providing sheeting, wetting and drying properties.

15. The composition of claim 13, wherein the ratio of the nonionic alcohol alkoxylates is about 30/30/40 (A or A2/B/D) to about 45/45/10 (A or A2/B/D).

16. The composition of claim 13, wherein the weight ratio of the nonionic alcohol alkoxylate of the surfactant system comprises from 5 to 80 parts by weight of the alcohol alkoxylate according to formula (A or A2), from 5 to 80 parts by weight of the alcohol alkoxylate according to formula (B), and from 5 to 80 parts by weight of the Guerbet alcohol alkoxylate according to formula (D).

17. The composition of claim 13, wherein a use solution thereof provides from about 1 ppm to about 50 ppm surfactant system actives.

18. The composition of claim 13, wherein the composition is a solid and comprises from about 10 wt-% to about 80 wt-% surfactant system, from about 0 wt-% to about 80 wt-% coupling agent, from about 10 wt-% to about 80 wt-% solidification aid, from about 0 wt-% to about 10 wt-% water conditioning agent, from about 0 wt-% to about 10 wt-% chelant, from about 0 wt-% to about 20 wt-% acidulant, from about 0 wt-% to about 5 wt-% water, and from about 0 wt-% to about 2 wt-% preservative and/or dye.

19. The composition of claim 13, wherein the composition is a liquid and comprises from about 2 wt-% to about 90 wt-% surfactant system, from about 0 wt-% to about 80 wt-% coupling agent, from about 0 wt-% to about 10 wt-% water conditioning agent, from about 0 wt-% to about 10 wt-% chelant, from about 0 wt-% to about 15 wt-% acidulant, from about 0 wt-% to about 95 wt-% water, and from about 0 wt-% to about 2 wt-% preservative and/or dye.

20. The composition of claim 13, wherein the additional functional ingredient is a hardening agent, carrier, chelating agent, sequestering agent, builder, water conditioner, bleaching agent, sanitizer, defoaming agent, anti-redeposition agent, optical brightener, dye, odorant, stabilizing agent, dispersant, enzyme, corrosion inhibitor, thickener and/or solubility modifier.