Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A storage-stabilized aqueous sodium dithionite bleaching solution, comprising: A. a chelating agent which is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt and nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt, said nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt being at a concentration in said solution of 0.3-1.0% by weight; B. a source of zinc ion which is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfate and zinc dithionite at a concentration in said solution of 0.1-0.5% by weight; C. a complex former which comprises sodium tripolyphosphate at a concentration of 0.6-3.0% by weight; D. a source of hydroxyl ion which comprises sodium carbonate at a concentration in said solution of 1.0-4.0% by weight; and E. sodium dithionite at a concentration by weight of at least 12%, said sodium dithionite being zinc derived.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A storage-stabilized aqueous sodium dithionite bleaching solution, comprising: A. a chelating agent which is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt and nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt, said nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt being at a concentration in said solution of 0.3-1.0% by weight; B. a source of zinc ion which is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfate and zinc dithionite at a concentration in said solution of 0.1-0.5% by weight; C. a complex former which comprises sodium tripolyphosphate at a concentration of 0.6-3.0% by weight; D. a source of hydroxyl ion which comprises sodium carbonate at a concentration in said solution of 1.0-4.0% by weight; and E. sodium dithionite at a concentration by weight of at least 12%, said sodium dithionite being zinc derived.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of preparing said solution of claim 1, wherein the order of addition to potable water is as follows: A. said nitriolotriacetic acid trisodium salt; B. said zinc dithionite; C. said sodium tripolyphosphate; D. said sodium carbonate; and E. said zinc-derived sodium dithionite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A storage-stabilized sodium dithionite bleaching solution, having a pH of 9.5-10.5 and characterized by substantially no floc, or fines, comprising: A. a complex former comprising sodium tripolyphosphate at a concentration of 0.6-3.0% by weight; B. sodium carbonate at a concentration in said solution of 1.0-4.0% by weight; and C. zinc-derived sodium dithionite at a concentration of at least 12% by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A storage-stabilized sodium dithionite bleaching solution, having a pH of 9.5-10.5 and characterized by substantially no floc, or fines, comprising: A. a complex former comprising sodium tripolyphosphate at a concentration of 0.6-3.0% by weight; B. sodium carbonate at a concentration in said solution of 1.0-4.0% by weight; and C. zinc-derived sodium dithionite at a concentration of at least 12% by weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
157 words
A storage-stabilized aqueous sodium dithionite bleaching solution, comprising: A. a chelating agent which is nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt at a concentration of 0.5% by weight of said solution; B. a source of zinc ion which is zinc dithionite at a concentration by weight of about 0.2% by weight of said solution; C. a complex former which is selected from the group consisting of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium phosphate, said sodium tripolyphosphate being at a concentration of at least 0.9% by weight of said solution; D. a source of hydroxyl ion which is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide and comprises a combination of said sodium carbonate at a concentration of at least 1.0% by weight of said solution and said sodium hydroxide at a concentration of at least 0.1% by weight of said solution; and E. sodium dithionite at a concentration by weight of at least 12%, said sodium dithionite being formate-derived.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
157 words
A storage-stabilized aqueous sodium dithionite bleaching solution, comprising: A. a chelating agent which is nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt at a concentration of 0.5% by weight of said solution; B. a source of zinc ion which is zinc dithionite at a concentration by weight of about 0.2% by weight of said solution; C. a complex former which is selected from the group consisting of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium phosphate, said sodium tripolyphosphate being at a concentration of at least 0.9% by weight of said solution; D. a source of hydroxyl ion which is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide and comprises a combination of said sodium carbonate at a concentration of at least 1.0% by weight of said solution and said sodium hydroxide at a concentration of at least 0.1% by weight of said solution; and E. sodium dithionite at a concentration by weight of at least 12%, said sodium dithionite being formate-derived.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
126 words
A storage stabilized aqueous bleaching solution that undergoes less than 5% decomposition during anaerobic storage for 5 days at 50° F and is substantially free of fines, floc, and turbidity, said solution being based on sodium dithionite and comprising at least two additives selected from the group consisting of a chelator, a source of soluble zinc ion, a complex former, and a source of hydroxylation, wherein: A. said sodium dithionite is at a concentration of at least 12% by weight of said solution; B. said source of soluble zinc ion is zinc dithionite at a concentration of at least about 0.2% by weight of said solution; and C. said chelator is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt and nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
A storage stabilized aqueous bleaching solution that undergoes less than 5% decomposition during anaerobic storage for 5 days at 50° F and is substantially free of fines, floc, and turbidity, said solution being based on sodium dithionite and comprising at least two additives selected from the group consisting of a chelator, a source of soluble zinc ion, a complex former, and a source of hydroxylation, wherein: A. said sodium dithionite is at a concentration of at least 12% by weight of said solution; B. said source of soluble zinc ion is zinc dithionite at a concentration of at least about 0.2% by weight of said solution; and C. said chelator is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt and nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The solution of claim 5 wherein: A. said nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt is at a concentration of about 0.4% by weight of said solution; B. said complex former is sodium tripolyphosphate at a concentration of about 3% by weight of said solution; C. said source of hydroxyl ion comprises sodium carbonate at a concentration of about 1% by weight of said solution; and D. the pH of said solution is about 10.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The solution of claim 6 wherein said sodium dithionite is zinc derived and said storage stabilized aqueous bleaching solution undergoes decomposition of approximately 31/2% after 12 days storage at 50° F. (10° C).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
The solution of claim 5 wherein: A. said ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt is at a concentration of approximately 0.06%; B. said complex former is sodium tripolyphosphate at a concentration of approximately 3% by weight; C. said source of hydroxyl ion comprises said sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium carbonate at a concentration of approximately 11/2% by weight; and D. said sodium dithionite is zinc derived, and wherein said storage stabilized aqueous bleaching solution undergoes decomposition of approximately 1% in 12 days of anaerobic storage at 50° F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
The storage-stabilized sodium dithionite bleaching solution of claim 8, which is substantially free of turbidity and additionally comprises a source of soluble zinc ion selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfate and zinc dithionite at a concentration in said storage-stabilized sodium dithionite bleaching solution of 0.1-0.5% by weight and a chelating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt, nitrilotriacetic acid, and nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The storage-stabilized sodium dithionite bleaching solution of claim 9, wherein said ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt is at a concentration of approximately 0.06% by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The storage stabilized sodium dithionite bleaching solution of claim 10, wherein said nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt is at a concentration in said solution of approximately 0.3-1.0% by weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
The solution of claim 5, wherein: A. said nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt is at a concentration of about 0.5% by weight of said solution; B. said source of hydroxyl ion and said complex former are sodium phosphate at a concentration of about 4% by weight of said solution; and C. said sodium dithionite is: 1. formate derived and 2. at a concentration of about 141/2% by weight of said solution; and wherein said storage stabilized aqueous bleaching solution undergoes decomposition of approximately 3.5% in five days and 5% in 7 days of anaerobic storage at 70°-75° F. (21-24° C).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
The solution of claim 5 wherein: A. said nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt is at a concentration of about 0.5% by weight of said solution; B. said complex former is sodium phosphate at a concentration of about 22/3% by weight of said solution; C. said source of hydroxyl ion comprises said sodium phosphate and sodium carbonate at a weight concentration of about 11/4% by weight of said solution; and D. said sodium dithionite is:
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
formate derived and 2. at a concentration of about 141/2% by weight of said solution and wherein said storage stabilized aqueous bleaching solution undergoes decomposition of approximately 3% in five days of anaerobic storage at 70°-75° F. (21°-24° C).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
formate derived and 2. at a concentration of about 141/2% by weight of said solution and wherein said storage stabilized aqueous bleaching solution undergoes decomposition of approximately 3% in five days of anaerobic storage at 70°-75° F. (21°-24° C).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
110 words
The solution of claim 5 wherein: A. said nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt is at a concentration of about 0.5% by weight of said solution; B. said complex former is sodium metaborate at a concentration of 4% by weight of said solution; C. said source of hydroxyl ion comprises said sodium metaborate and sodium hyroxide at a concentration of about 0.3% by weight of said solution; and D. said sodium dithionite is: 1. formate derived and 2. at a concentration of about 13% by weight of said solution; and wherein said storage stabilized aqueous bleaching solution undergoes approximately 5% decomposition in five days of anaerobic storage at 70°-75° F. (21°-24° C.)
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
134 words
The solution of claim 5 wherein: A. said nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt is at a concentration of about 0.5% by weight of said solution; B. said complex former is sodium metaborate at a concentration of about 22/3% by weight of said solution; C. said source of hydroxyl ion is; 1. said sodium metaborate, 2. sodium carbonate at a concentration of about 11/4% by weight of said solution, and 3. sodium hydroxide at a concentration of about 1/3% by weight of said solution; and D. said sodium dithionite is: 1. formate derived and 2. at a concentration of about 13% by weight of said solution; and wherein said storage stabilized aqueous sodium dithionite undergoes approximately 5% decomposition in 5 days and approximately 111/2% decomposition in 10 days of anaerobic storage at 70°-75° F. (21°-24° C).