BINDING AGENT FOR SOLIDIFICATION MATRIX

• US 20090018049A1
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Lyon, Scott P., Skadsberg, Ross M., Stolte, Roger L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,598,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 510/445
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 11/0082 one or more of the detergent ingredients being in a liquefied state, e.g. slurry, paste or melt, and the process resulting in solid detergent particles such as granules, powders or beads
• 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 3/33 Amino carboxylic acids

Abstract

Material, composition, and manufacturing method alternatives for a solidification matrix that may be used, for example, in solid cleaning compositions, or other technologies. In at least some embodiments, the solidification matrix includes a binding agent that is formed by the use of MGDA, or a salt or derivative thereof, and water to produce a solid binding agent. In some embodiments, the MGDA and water combines and can solidify to act as a binder material or binding agent dispersed throughout a solid composition that may contain other functional ingredients that provide the desired properties and/or functionality to the solid composition.

Claims

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A method of forming a solid composition, the method comprising:

providing MGDA;

providing water; and

admixing the MGDA with the water such that the MGDA cooperates with the water in the formation of a solid binding agent.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the mole ratio of water to MGDA present to form the binding agent is in the range of about 0.3:

1 to about 5;

1.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the mole ratio of water to MGDA present to form the binding agent is in the range of about 0.5:

1 to about 4;

1.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the mole ratio of water to MGDA present to form the binding agent is in the range of about 0.6:

1 to about 3.8;

1.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further includes an additional functional ingredient.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition comprises a solid cleaning composition including the binding agent and one or more functional ingredient, wherein the binding agent is distributed throughout the solid cleaning composition and binds the functional ingredient within the solid composition.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises a one or more functional ingredient including a chelating agent;

a sequestering agent;

an inorganic detergent;

an alkaline source;

an organic detergent;

a surfactant;

a cleaning agent;

a rinse aid;

a bleaching agent;

a sanitizer;

an anti-microbial agent;

an activator;

a detergent builder;

a filler;

a defoaming agent, an anti-redeposition agent;

an optical brightener;

a dye;

an odorant;

a secondary hardening agent, or a solubility modifier, or mixtures or combinations thereof.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises a chelating agent or a sequestering agent, or a mixture or combination thereof.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises an inorganic detergent.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises sodium tripolyphosphate.

48. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises one or more surfactant.

49. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises a linear alcohol.

50. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises one or more organic detergent.

51. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises a linear alkylate sulfonate.

52. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises a source of alkalinity.

53. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises an alkali metal salt.

54. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises an alkali metal silicate.

55. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition includes less than a solidification interfering amount of a component that can compete with the MGDA for water and interfere with solidification.

56. The method of claim 38, wherein the water used in creating the binding agent is present in the composition in the range of up to about 25 wt. % of the total composition.

57. The method of claim 38, wherein the water used in creating the binding agent is present in the composition in the range of about 2 to about 20 wt. % of the total composition.

58. The method of claim 38, wherein the MGDA used in creating the binding agent is present in the composition in the range of up to about 98 wt. % of the total composition.

59. The method of claim 38, wherein the MGDA used in creating the binding agent is present in the composition in the range of about 5 to about 50 wt. % of the total composition.

60. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition is extruded to form a solid block.

61. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition is formed into a solid mass having a weight in the range of 50 grams or less.

62. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition is formed into a solid mass having a weight in the range of 50 grams or greater.

63. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition is formed into a solid mass having a weight in the range of 500 grams or greater.

64. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition is formed into a solid mass having a weight in the range of 1 kilogram or greater.

65. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition is cast into a solid shape.

66. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition is extruded into a solid shape.

67. The method of claim 38, wherein the composition is formed into a solid shape.

68. The method of claim 38, wherein the solid is in the form of a pellet.

69. The method of claim 38, wherein the solid composition is in the form of a solid block formed within a container.