Machine dishwashing detergent having a reduced condensed phosphate content

Claim 2

IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING A LOW-FOAMING OR NONFOAMING MACHINE DISHWASHING DETERGENT COMPOSITION FROM THE COMPONENTS COMPRISING:

Claim 3

AN ALKALINE CONDENSED PHOSPHATE SALT GENERALLY CHARACTERIZED BY THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA

Claim 4

AN ALKALINE CONDENSED PHOSPHATE SALT GENERALLY CHARACTERIZED BY THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA

Claim 5

99 - 1,000 parts by weight of water for each part by weight of dry solids contained in component (1), said component (1) being totally dissolved in said water.

Claim 6

99 - 1,000 parts by weight of water for each part by weight of dry solids contained in component (1), said component (1) being totally dissolved in said water.

Claim 7

2 - 80% by weight, on a dry basis, of a nonsequestering, alkaline, pH-adjusting or buffering detergent builder salt; said detergent Composition having a pH of about 10.0 to 12.8 and a Ross-Miles foam height, determined at a concentration of 0.1 percent by weight of said detergent composition in water, of less than 45 mm initially and less than 15mm after five minutes in a column of water maintained at 50*C.; the improvement which comprises: substituting into said detergent composition at least 5 - 60 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said detergent composition, of a water soluble metal salt of citric acid; whereby said salt of citric acid substitutes for part of said condensed phosphate; whereby the amount of said condensed phosphate in the resulting detergent composItion is in the range of 0.5 to 35 percent by weight of the resulting detergent composition; and whereby the amount of said detergent builder salt in the resulting detergent composition is within the range of 2 - 80% by weight; all of the foregoing parts by weight and percentages by weight being on a dry basis.

Claim 8

2 - 80% by weight, on a dry basis, of a nonsequestering, alkaline, pH-adjusting or buffering detergent builder salt; said detergent Composition having a pH of about 10.0 to 12.8 and a Ross-Miles foam height, determined at a concentration of 0.1 percent by weight of said detergent composition in water, of less than 45 mm initially and less than 15mm after five minutes in a column of water maintained at 50*C.; the improvement which comprises: substituting into said detergent composition at least 5 - 60 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of said detergent composition, of a water soluble metal salt of citric acid; whereby said salt of citric acid substitutes for part of said condensed phosphate; whereby the amount of said condensed phosphate in the resulting detergent composItion is in the range of 0.5 to 35 percent by weight of the resulting detergent composition; and whereby the amount of said detergent builder salt in the resulting detergent composition is within the range of 2 - 80% by weight; all of the foregoing parts by weight and percentages by weight being on a dry basis.

Claim 9

Improved process according to claim 1, wherein said salt of citric acid substitutes for at least one-third by weight, on a dry basis, said alkaline condensed phosphate, whereby the ratio of said salt of citric acid to said condensed phosphate in said resulting detergent composition, on a dry weight basis, is in the range of from 1:3 to 20:1.

Claim 10

Improved process of claim 2 wherein said salt of citric acid is an alkali metal citrate; the amount of said citrate is 10 - 30 percent by weight and the amount of said alkaline condensed phosphate on the same basis is less than 30 percent by weight, all on a dry basis.

Claim 11

Improved process according to claim 1, wherein said detergent composition consists essentially of solids including a chlorine-releasing agent selected from the group consisting of chlorinated trisodium phosphate, potassium dichloroisocyanurate, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, trichloroisocyanuric acid, double salts or crystalline complex salts or hydrated salts of trichloroisocyanuric acid, trichloromelamine, and Chloramine T.

Claim 12

Improved process according to claim 1, wherein said detergent composition is a liquid concentrate containing a chlorine releasing agent comprising an alkali metal hypochlorite.

Claim 13

Improved process according to claim 5 wherein said salt of citric acid is formed in situ.

Claim 14

A machine dishwashing detergent composition which, in 0.1 weight percent concentration in water, has Ross-Miles foam heights, using a water column maintained at 50*C., of less than 45mm initially and less than 15mm after five minutes, and which has a pH, determined at 1 weight percent solution in water, of about 10 to 12.8, said composition consisting essentially of: a. 2 - 70 percent by weight of at least one nonsequestering, alkaline, pH adjusting or buffering, water soluble detergent builder salt, b. 0 - 5 percent by weight of a surfactant which, in 0.1 weight percent concentration in water, has the said Ross-Miles foam heights, using a water column maintained at 50*C., c. from 5 to 60 percent by weight of a water soluble metal salt of citric acid, and d. 0.5 to 35 percent by weight of water soluble alkaline condensed phosphate of the formula

Claim 15

A machine dishwashing detergent composition which, in 0.1 weight percent concentration in water, has Ross-Miles foam heights, using a water column maintained at 50*C., of less than 45mm initially and less than 15mm after five minutes, and which has a pH, determined at 1 weight percent solution in water, of about 10 to 12.8, said composition consisting essentially of: a. 2 - 70 percent by weight of at least one nonsequestering, alkaline, pH adjusting or buffering, water soluble detergent builder salt, b. 0 - 5 percent by weight of a surfactant which, in 0.1 weight percent concentration in water, has the said Ross-Miles foam heights, using a water column maintained at 50*C., c. from 5 to 60 percent by weight of a water soluble metal salt of citric acid, and d. 0.5 to 35 percent by weight of water soluble alkaline condensed phosphate of the formula

Claim 16

Composition according to claim 7 wherein the ratio, on a dry weight basis, of said component (c) to said component (d) is in the range of 1:2 to 20:1, and total of said components (c) and (d) does not exceed 65 percent by weight of said composition on a dry basis.

Claim 17

Composition according to claim 7 wherein said component (c) is the product of the in situ reaction of citric acid and an alkali metal hydroxide.

Claim 18

Composition according to claim 7 wherein said detergent composition consists essentially of solids including a chlorine-releasing agent selected from the group consisting of chlorinated trisodium phosphate, potassium dichloroisocyanurate, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, trichloroisocyanuric acid, double salts or crystalline complex salts or hydrated salts of trichloroisocyanuric acid, trichloromelamine, and Chloramine T.

Claim 19

Composition according to claim 7 wherein said detergent composition is a liquid concentrate containing a chlorine releasing agent comprising an alkali metal hypochlorite.

Claim 20

Composition according to claim 7 wherein said water soluble dEtergent builder salt is capable of precipitating hardness from water in the form of calcium carbonate in water having a pH of about 10 to 12.8.

Claim 21

Composition according to claim 12 wherein said water soluble detergent builder salt is sodium carbonate.

Claim 22

Composition according to claim 7 wherein said component (c) comprises an alkali metal citrate and said component (d) comprises an alkali metal tripolyphosphate.

Claim 23

Composition according to claim 14 wherein said composition comprises 10-30 percent by weight of said citrate and 2-20 percent by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate.

Claim 24

In the process of machine dishwashing, the improvement which comprises using as the dishwashing detergent added to the wash water the composition of claim 7.

Claim 25

The process of claim 16 wherein the wash water used in said process, after addition of said composition, comprises 0.1-1 percent by weight of said composition on a dry basis.

Claim 26

In the process of machine dishwashing, the improvement which comprises using as the dishwashing detergent the composition of claim 15.

Claim 27

Treated wash water useful for machine dishwashing having a pH in the range of about 10 - 12.8 and being substantially free of stable foam comprising:

Claim 28

Treated wash water useful for machine dishwashing having a pH in the range of about 10 - 12.8 and being substantially free of stable foam comprising:

Claim 29

Treated wash water according to claim 19 wherein said machine dishwashing detergent composition further contains up to 5 percent by weight of a surfactant which, in 0.1 percent by weight concentration in water, has Ross-Miles foam heights, using a water column maintained at 50*C., of less than 45 mm initially and less than 15 mm after five minutes and a cloud point, determined in distilled water at a concentration of 1 percent by weight of less than 45*C.

Claim 30

Improved process according to claim 1 wherein all surfactants included in said dishwashing detergent composition, when tested individually at a concentration of 0.1% by weight in water, have said Ross-Miles foam height characteristics.