Reusable zeolite water softener for clothes washing

• US 4,066,394 A
• Filed: 12/30/1974
• Issued: 01/03/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Leonard, Ralph Spencer
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Jr., William R.
• Application Number:
  US05/537,223
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 8/137, 260/DIG. 33, 260/37 N, 260/2.5 AK, 428/331, 428/308, 117/109, 117/35.2, 117/152, 423/118, 423/328, 252/89 R, 252/90, 252/131, 252/140, 252/179, 252/DIG. 2, 252/DIG. 3, 210/36, 210/38 A
• US Class Current: 8/137
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 47/018 Granulation; Incorporation of ion-exchangers in a matrix; Mixing with inert materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249986 Void-containing component contains also a solid fiber or solid particle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/259 Silicic material

Abstract

Washing of clothes is effected in the presence of an insoluble substrate having bonded thereto an insoluble inorganic cation-exchanger.

Claims

1. A method of washing soiled textiles comprising the step of agitating said soiled textiles in an aqueous washing solution at a temperature in the range of 80°

F. to 200°

F. in a washing machine in the presence of (A) a detersive proportion of a water-soluble nonionic or anionic surfactant and (B) a product comprising 20 to 300 parts by weight of particles of a water-insoluble, inorganic aluminosilicate having at least about one atom of aluminum for every three atoms of silicon, a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium and hydrogen, and a particle size of less than ten microns incorporated in 100 parts by weight of a water-insoluble hydrophilic poly(urea/urethane) substrate having an open porous structure, said product being effective to remove calcium and magnesium ions from said washing solution.

2. A product as in claim 1 in which said ratio is about 1:

1.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surfactant is separately added to said aqueous washing solution.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein all or a portion of said surfactant is a component of said product.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aqueous washing solution further includes a water-soluble detergent builder salt.

6. A product for use in contact with the wash water in a clothes washing machine during the washing of soiled textiles which comprises 20 to 300 parts by weight of particles of amorphous or hydrated, water-insoluble inorganic aluminosilicate having at least one atom of aluminum for every three atoms of silicon, a cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium or hydrogen, and a particle size of less than 10 microns incorporated in 100 parts by weight of a water-insoluble substrate comprising a hydrophilic poly(urea/urethane) in the form of a sponge having about 30 to 100 pores per inch, said aluminosilicate being distributed on the pore walls and within the pores and said product being effective to remove calcium ions from said wash water.

7. A product as set forth in claim 6 wherein said aluminosilicate is a synthetic sodium zeolite of Type A.

8. A product as in claim 6 in which said ratio of aluminum to silicon is about 1:

1.

9. A product as in claim 6 wherein said polymer is derived from a prepolymer produced by reaction of a polyoxyalkylene polyol with a stoichiometric excess of an organic polyisocyanate.

10. A product as set forth in claim 6 which further includes about 2% to 10% by weight of a nonionic or an anionic surfactant.