Solid detergent composition and method for solidifying a detergent composition

• US 7,153,820 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Trinkle, Elizabeth A., Man, Victor F., Olson, Keith E., Tarara, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hardee, John R.
• Application Number:
  US09/928,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 510/451, 510/452, 510/453, 510/531
• US Class Current: 510/451
• 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 about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of a surfactant based on the weight of the solid detergent composition, and about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % phosphonate, amino-carboxylate, or mixture thereof based on the weight of the detergent composition;

(b) an effective amount of a binding agent dispersed throughout the solid detergent composition to provide the detergent composition as a solid at a temperature up to about 100°

F. within about 20 minutes of extrusion, the binding agent comprising a result of mixing;

(i) about 10 wt. % to about 80 wt. % alkali metal carbonate, based on the weight of the detergent composition;

(ii) about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. % alkali metal bicarbonate, based on the weight of the detergent composition; and

(iii) a sufficient amount of water to react with the alkali metal carbonate and the alkali metal bicarbonate to provide solidification;

wherein the solid detergent composition is provided as an extruded solid in the form of a pellet or a block as a result of a step of hardening, and wherein the hardening comprises a result of solidification by the binding agent.

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 surfactant comprises at least one of a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, or a mixture thereof.

6. A solid detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the solid composition is provided as a result of extrusion into a packaging.

7. A method for solidifying a detergent composition, the method comprising:

(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 to form a mixture, the cleaning agent comprising about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of a surfactant based on the weight of the solid detergent composition, and about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % phosphonate, amino-carboxylate, or mixture thereof based on the weight of the detergent composition, the binding agent comprising a result of mixing;

(i) about 10 wt. % to about 80 wt. % alkali metal carbonate, based on the weight of the detergent composition;

(ii) about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. % alkali metal bicarbonate, based on the weight of the detergent composition; and

(iii) a sufficient amount of water to react with the alkali metal carbonate and the alkali metal bicarbonate to provide solidification;

(b) extruding the mixture; and

(c) hardening the mixture to form the solid detergent composition in the form of a pellet or a block, wherein the hardening comprises a result of solidification by the binding agent, and wherein the solid detergent composition and has a melting temperature greater than 100°

F. within about 20 minutes of extruding the mixture.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of:

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

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the acid comprises at least one of citric acid, sulfamic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, and mixtures thereof.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the binding agent comprises alkali metal sesquicarbonate.

11. A method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of:

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