Solid detergent composition and method for solidifying a detergent composition

• US 20030040458A1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Man, Victor F., Olson, Keith E., Tarara, James J., Trinkle, Elizabeth A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,153,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 510/446
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/0047 Detergents in the form of bars or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/0052 Cast detergent compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/0073 Tablets
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/06 Phosphates, including polyphosphates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/10 Carbonates ; Bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/33 Amino carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/38609 Protease or amylase in solid compositions only

Abstract

A solid detergent composition is provided including an effective amount of a cleaning agent to provide soil removal and a binding agent dispersed throughout the solid detergent composition. The binding agent comprises a result of mixing alkali metal carbonate, alkali metal bicarbonate, and water. The binding agent preferably includes alkali metal sesquicarbonate. A method for solidifying a detergent composition is provided.

Claims

1. A solid detergent composition comprising:

(a) an effective amount of a cleaning agent to provide soil removal, wherein the cleaning agent comprises at least one of;

(i) surfactant;

(ii) source of alkalinity;

(iii) water conditioning agent; and

(iv) enzyme;

(b) an effective amount of a binding agent dispersed throughout the solid detergent composition to provide the detergent composition as a solid at room temperature, the binding agent comprising a result of mixing;

(i) alkali metal carbonate;

(ii) alkali metal bicarbonate; and

(iii) water.

2. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the binding agent comprises alkali metal sesquicarbonate.

3. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said alkali metal bicarbonate is provided as a reaction product of alkali metal carbonate and acid.

4. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a builder comprising sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium nitrilotriacetate, or mixtures thereof.

5. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a builder comprising sodium tripolyphosphate, organic phosphate, amino carboxylate, or mixtures thereof.

6. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent comprises a surfactant comprising at least one of a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and a mixture thereof.

7. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the binding agent has a melting transition temperature of about 11 0°

C. to 160°

C.

8. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent comprises alkali metal carbonate monohydrate and anhydrous alkali metal carbonate.

9. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises a blend of two or more organophosphonate compounds, a blend of two or more aminoacetate compounds, or a blend of at least one organophosphonate compound and at least one aminoacetate compound.

10. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is in the form of a pellet.

11. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the solid composition is in the form of a block.

12. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the solid composition is in the form of a tablet.

13. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the solid composition is in the form of a cast solid.

14. A method for solidifying a detergent composition, the method comprising a step of:

(a) mixing an effective amount of a cleaning agent to provide soil removal and an effective amount of a binding agent to solidify the detergent composition, the cleaning agent comprising at least one of;

(i) surfactant;

(ii) source of alkalinity;

(iii) water conditioning agent; and

(iv) enzyme;

the binding agent comprising a result of mixing;

(i) alkali metal carbonate;

(ii) alkali metal bicarbonate; and

(iii) water.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of:

(a) generating alkali metal bicarbonate by reacting alkali metal carbonate with acid.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the acid comprises at least one of citric acid, sulfamic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, and mixtures thereof.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the binding agent comprises alkali metal sesquicarbonate.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of mixing comprises extruding the composition in an extruder.

19. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of:

(a) solidifying the mixture of cleaning agent and binding agent.

20. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of:

(a) packaging the mixture of cleaning agent and binding agent.

21. A method according to claim 14, wherein the composition comprises a blend of two or more organophosphonate compounds, a blend of two or more aminoacetate compounds, or a blend of at least one organophosphonate compound and at least one aminoacetate compound.

22. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of forming the composition into a pellet.

23. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of forming the composition into a block.

24. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of forming the composition into a tablet.

25. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of forming the composition into a cast solid.

26. A solid detergent composition comprising:

(a) an effective amount of a cleaning agent to provide soil removal, wherein the cleaning agent comprises at least one of;

(i) surfactant;

(ii) source of alkalinity;

(iii) water conditioning agent; and

(iv) enzyme;

(b) an effective amount of a binding agent dispersed throughout the solid detergent composition to provide the detergent composition as a solid at room temperature, the binding agent comprising a result of mixing;

(i) alkali metal carbonate;

(ii) alkali metal bicarbonate;

(iii) alkali metal sesquicarbonate; and

(iv) water.

27. A method for solidifying a detergent composition, the method comprising a step of:

(a) mixing an effective amount of a cleaning agent to provide soil removal and an effective amount of a binding agent to solidify the detergent composition, the cleaning agent comprising at least one of;

(i) surfactant;

(ii) source of alkalinity;

(iii) water conditioning agent; and

(iv) enzyme;

the binding agent comprising a result of mixing;

(i) alkali metal carbonate;

(ii) alkali metal bicarbonate;

(iii) alkali metal sesquicarbonate; and

(iv) water.