Block detergent containing nitrilotriacetic acid

• US 5,665,694 A
• Filed: 03/07/1995
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solutia Incorporated (Eastman Chemical Company)
• Original Assignee: Monsanto Company (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Backes, Thomas Whitner, Verrett, Sheldon Philip, Dingman, Sean Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): OGDEN JR, NECHOLUS
• Application Number:
  US08/399,867
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 252/135, 252/136, 252/527, 252/174, 252/174.14, 252/174.19, 252/89.1, 252/156, 252/90, 510/447, 510/446, 510/445, 510/477, 510/478, 510/480
• US Class Current: 510/480
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/0052 Cast detergent compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/042 Acids
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/044 Hydroxides or bases
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/046 Salts
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/08 Silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/10 Carbonates ; Bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2079 Monocarboxylic acids-salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/33 Amino carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/06 Hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/08 Acids
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/12 Carbonates bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/14 Silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/265 Carboxylic acids or salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/3245 Aminoacids

Abstract

A solid, block detergent containing an alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid, an acid, alkali metal containing hydroxides and silicates, and alkali metal containing carbonates and sulfates is taught. A process for producing the block detergent is also taught.

Claims

1. A solid, block detergent comprising:

a. from about 25% to about 60% by weight of the formulation of an alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid;

b. from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the formulation of acid;

c. from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the formulation of a first alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal silicates and mixtures of alkali metal hydroxides and silicates, wherein when the alkali metal containing compound is an alkali metal hydroxide or a mixture containing an alkali metal hydroxide, the alkali metal containing compound must include from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the formulation potassium hydroxide; and

d. from about 5% to about 25% by weight of the formulation of a second alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal sulfates and mixtures of alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal sulfates.

2. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid is from about 35% to about 50% by weight of the formulation.

3. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid is trisodium nitrilotriacetate monohydrate.

4. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the acid is from about 2% to about 8% by weight of the formulation.

5. The solid, block detergent of claim 4 wherein the acid is from about 3% to about 6% by weight of the formulation.

6. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, hydroxy ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, amino acids, polyamino acids, amino tri(methylene phosphonic acid), 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), oxalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, benzoic acid, ascorbic acid, sorbic acid, linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, polyacrylic acid and boric acid.

7. The solid, block detergent of claim 6 wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.

8. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the first alkali metal compound is from about 15% to about 30% by weight of the formulation.

9. The solid, block detergent of claim 8 wherein the first alkali metal compound must include from about 3% to about 8% by weight of the formulation potassium hydroxide.

10. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the first alkali metal compound is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and mixtures of alkali metal hydroxides and alkali metal silicates.

11. The solid, block detergent of claim 10 wherein the first alkali metal compound is sodium hydroxide.

12. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the first alkali metal compound must include from about 3% to about 8% by weight of the formulation potassium hydroxide.

13. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the second alkali metal compound is from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the formulation.

14. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the second alkali metal compound is sodium carbonate.

15. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 wherein the second alkali metal compound is sodium sulfate.

16. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 comprising:

a. from about 35% to about 50% by weight of the formulation of an alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid;

b. from about 3% to about 6% by weight of the formulation of an acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, hydroxy ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, amino acids, polyamino acids, amino tri(methylene phosphonic acid), 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), oxalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, benzoic acid, ascorbic acid, sorbic acid, linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, polyacrylic acid and boric acid;

c. from about 15% to about 30% by weight of the formulation of a first alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal silicates and mixtures of alkali metal hydroxides and silicates, wherein when the alkali metal containing compound is an alkali metal hydroxide or a mixture containing an alkali metal hydroxide, the alkali metal containing compound must include from about 3% to about 8% by weight of the formulation potassium hydroxide; and

d. from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the formulation of a second alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal sulfates and mixtures of alkali metal carbonates and alkali metal sulfates.

17. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 comprising:

a. from about 35% to about 50% by weight of the formulation trisodium nitrilotriacetate monohydrate;

b. from about 3% to about 6% by weight of the formulation sulfuric acid;

c. from about 15% to about 30% by weight of the formulation of a mixture of sodium hydroxide and from about 3% to about 8% by weight of the formulation potassium hydroxide; and

d. from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the formulation of sodium carbonate.

18. The solid, block detergent of claim 1 comprising:

a. from about 35% to about 50% by weight of the formulation trisodium nitrilotriacetate monohydrate;

b. from about 3% to about 6% by weight of the formulation sulfuric acid;

c. from about 15% to about 30% by weight of the formulation of sodium silicate; and

d. from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the formulation of sodium carbonate.

19. A process for producing a solid, block detergent comprising the steps of:

a. preparing an aqueous alkaline solution containing from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the formulation of a first alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal silicates and mixtures of alkali metal hydroxides and silicates, wherein, when the aqueous alkaline solution contains alkali metal hydroxides, the alkali metal hydroxides must include sufficient potassium hydroxide to constitute from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the formulation;

b. mixing from about 25% to about 60% by weight of the formulation of an alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid into the aqueous alkaline solution to form a slurry;

c. adding from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the formulation of an acid to the slurry;

d. mixing from about 5% to about 25% by weight of the formulation of a second alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfates, alkali metal carbonates and mixtures of alkali metal sulfates and alkali metal carbonates into the slurry; and

e. curing the slurry.

20. The process of claim 19 in which the aqueous alkaline solution contains from about 15% to about 30% by weight of the formulation of the first alkali metal containing compound.

21. The process of claim 20 in which the first alkali metal compound in the aqueous alkaline solution is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and mixtures of alkali metal hydroxides and silicates.

22. The process of claim 21 in which the first alkali metal compound in the aqueous alkaline solution is sodium hydroxide.

23. The process of claim 19 in which, when the aqueous alkaline solution contains alkali metal hydroxides, the alkali metal hydroxides must include sufficient potassium hydroxide to constitute from about 3% to about 8% of the weight of the formulation.

24. The process of claim 20 which includes mixing from about 35% to about 50% by weight of the formulation of an alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid into the aqueous alkaline solution to form a slurry.

25. The process of claim 19 in which the alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid is trisodium nitrilotriacetate monohydrate.

26. The process of claim 19 which includes adding from about 2% to about 8% by weight of the formulation of an acid to the slurry.

27. The process of claim 26 which includes adding from about 3% to about 6% by weight of the formulation of an acid to the slurry.

28. The process of claim 19 in which the acid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, hydroxy ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, amino acids, polyamino acids, amino tri(methylene phosphonic acid), 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), oxalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, benzoic acid, ascorbic acid, sorbic acid, linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, polyacrylic acid and boric acid.

29. The process of claim 28 in which the acid is sulfuric acid.

30. The process of claim 19 which includes mixing from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the formulation of the second alkali metal containing compound into the slurry.

31. The process of claim 19 in which the second alkali metal containing compound is sodium carbonate.

32. The process of claim 19 which includes:

a. preparing an aqueous alkaline solution containing from about 15% to about 30% by weight of the formulation of a first alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal silicates and mixtures of alkali metal hydroxides and silicates, wherein, when the aqueous alkaline solution contains alkali metal hydroxides, the alkali metal hydroxides must include sufficient potassium hydroxide to constitute from about 3% to about 8% by weight of the formulation;

b. mixing from about 35% to about 50% by weight of the formulation of trisodium nitrilotriacetate monohydrate into the aqueous alkaline solution to form a slurry;

c. adding from about 3% to about 6% by weight of the formulation of an acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, hydroxy ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, amino acids, polyamino acids, amino tri(methylene phosphonic acid), 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid), oxalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, citric acid, maleic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, benzoic acid, ascorbic acid, sorbic acid, linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, polyacrylic acid and boric acid to the slurry;

d. mixing from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the formulation of a second alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfates, alkali metal carbonates and mixtures of alkali metal sulfates and alkali metal carbonates into the slurry; and

e. curing the slurry.

33. The process of claim 32 which includes:

a. preparing an aqueous alkaline solution containing from about 15% to about 30% by weight of the formulation of an alkali metal hydroxides which must include sufficient potassium hydroxide to constitute from about 3% to about 8% by weight of the formulation;

b. mixing from about 35% to about 50% by weight of the formulation of trisodium nitrilotriacetate monohydrate into the aqueous alkaline solution to form a slurry;

c. adding from about 3% to about 6% by weight of the formulation of sulfuric acid to the slurry;

d. mixing from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the formulation of sodium carbonate into the slurry; and

e. curing the slurry.

34. A process for producing a solid, block detergent comprising the steps of:

a. preparing an aqueous alkaline solution containing from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the formulation of a first alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal silicates and mixtures of alkali metal hydroxides and silicates, wherein, when the aqueous alkaline solution contains alkali metal hydroxides, the alkali metal hydroxides must include sufficient potassium hydroxide to constitute from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the formulation;

b. mixing from about 25% to about 60% by weight of the formulation of a granular, acid treated alkali metal salt of nitrilotriacetic acid into the aqueous alkaline solution to form a slurry;

c. mixing from about 5% to about 25% by weight of the formulation of a second alkali metal containing compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfates, alkali metal carbonates and mixtures of alkali metal sulfates and alkali metal carbonates into the slurry; and

d. curing the slurry.