EP0302567A2
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EP
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Method for preparing biodegradable fabric softening compositions
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
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Filing: 1988-08-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-08-02
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method for preparing fabric softening compositions containing quarternized di-esters of di-isopropanol amines. When formulated using the disclosed procedure, including the use of narrowly-defined pH and temperature ranges, the resulting compositions are both biodegradable and storage stable.
Inventors
- 👤 Nienyuan James Chang
- 👤 Darlene Rose Walley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:07
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/0005; C11D3/001; C11D3/0015; C11D1/00; C11D1/38; C11D1/62; C11D3/16; C11D3/20; C11D3/2003; C11D3/2006; C11D3/201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
A method for preparing aqueous biodegradable shelf-stable fabric softening compositions comprising the steps of: (a) combining a C 1 -C 4 monohydric alcohol with a biodegradable quaternary ammonium softening compound of the formula: wherein, each R is a C 1 -C 6 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, or mixtures thereof: each R is a C 13 -C 19 hydrocarbyl group, or mixtures thereof; R is a C,-C 4 . hydrocarbyl group; and X- is a softener-compatible anion; the amount of the C 1 -C 4 monohydric alcohol being from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the biodegradable quaternary ammonium softening compound present in the mixture; (b) heating said mixture to a temperature of from about 60 C to about 90 °C to form a fluidized melt; (c) diluting said melt with water, heated to a temperature of from about 50 C to about 85 °C. to a concentration of from about 1% to about 25% by weight of the biodegradable quaternary ammonium softening compound; (d) mixing said dilute mixture with a high shear mixer to form a homogeneous mixture with the softener compound having a particle size of from about 0.1 to about 0.5 microns: and (e) adjusting the pH to from about 2.0 to about 5.0 by adding a sufficient amount of a Bronsted acid to the homogeneous mixture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
221 words
A method for preparing aqueous biodegradable shelf-stable fabric softening compositions comprising the steps of: (a) combining a C 1 -C 4 monohydric alcohol with a biodegradable quaternary ammonium softening compound of the formula: wherein, each R is a C 1 -C 6 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, or mixtures thereof: each R is a C 13 -C 19 hydrocarbyl group, or mixtures thereof; R is a C,-C 4 . hydrocarbyl group; and X- is a softener-compatible anion; the amount of the C 1 -C 4 monohydric alcohol being from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the biodegradable quaternary ammonium softening compound present in the mixture; (b) heating said mixture to a temperature of from about 60 C to about 90 °C to form a fluidized melt; (c) diluting said melt with water, heated to a temperature of from about 50 C to about 85 °C. to a concentration of from about 1% to about 25% by weight of the biodegradable quaternary ammonium softening compound; (d) mixing said dilute mixture with a high shear mixer to form a homogeneous mixture with the softener compound having a particle size of from about 0.1 to about 0.5 microns: and (e) adjusting the pH to from about 2.0 to about 5.0 by adding a sufficient amount of a Bronsted acid to the homogeneous mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the homogenous mixture formed in step (c) has a concentration of from about 3% to about 8% of the biodegradable quaternary ammonium softening compound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the pH of the homogeneous mixture in step (e) is from about 3.0 to about 4.0.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein each R is C, to C 3 alkyl, R' is C 13 -C 17 alkyl, and R" is methyl.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method accoding to Claim 4 wherein each R group is methyl.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the C 1 -C 4 monohydric alcohol is isopropanol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the mixture in step (a) additionally contains no more than about 1.0% of a protonated free amine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to Claim 7 wherein the free amine is protonated monotallow-dipolyethoxyamine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the mixture in step (a) additionally contains from about 0.1 % to about 10% of a conventional di-(higher alkyl) quaternary ammonium softening agent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the mixture in step (a) additionally contains from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of a nonionic extender.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to Claim 10 wherein the nonionic extender is selected from the group consisting of glycerol monostearate, ethoxylated linear alcohols, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the mixture formed in step (d) additionally contains from about 0.1 % to about 10.0% of a predominantly linear di(Ci-Cs) alkyl or C 1 -C 5 alkylaryl siloxane in which the alkyl groups may be partially or wholly fluorinated and which may be substituted with cationic nitrogen groups, the siloxane having a viscosity at 25 C of from about 100 centistokes to about 100,000 centistokes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to Claim 12 wherein the siloxane is a polydimethyl siloxane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the mixture formed in step (c) has a concentration of from about 10% to about 25% of biodegradable quaternary ammonium softening compound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to Claim 14 wherein the mixture in step (c) additionally contains from about 20 to about 3,000 ppm of a salt selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, lithium chloride, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to Claim 15 wherein the salt is calcium chloride.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the Bronsted acid in step (e) is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, methylsulfonic acid, benzoic acid, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to Claim 17 wherein the Bronsted acid is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the mixture in step (b) is heated to a temperature of from about 70 °C to about 80 °C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the water in step (c) is heated to a temperature of from about 60 °C to about 80 ° C.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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