Process and concentrates for clear-rinsing in mechanical dishwashing

Claim 2

The process for the mechanical washing of dishes which comprises subjecting dirty dishes to the action of a washing solution, subjecting the washed dishes to at least one clear-rinsing solution and recovering said washed dishes, the improvement consisting of utilizing an aqueous solution containing from 0.01 to 0.5 grams per liter of at least one alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl ester of the formula ##STR11## wherein R 1 and R 2 are members selected from the group consisting of (a) similar and different alkyl having from 1 to 17 carbon atoms where the sum of the carbon atoms in R 1 and R 2 is from 6 to 18 and (b) one hydrogen and one alkyl having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, R 3 is a member selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and a hydrocarbon aryl having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 2 to 14, m is an integer from 1 to 7 when both R 1 and R 2 are alkyl and an integer from 0 to 7 when one of R 1 or R 2 is hydrogen, as said at least one clear-rinsing solution.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen and the other is alkyl having 8 to 14 carbon atoms.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen and the other is alkyl having 10 to 12 carbon atoms.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen, the other is alkyl having 10 to 12 carbon atoms and the ratio of n to m is 1:0.2 to 0.6.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein n is from 5 to 10 and m is from 1 to 4.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 wherein said alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl ester is the adduct of 7 mols of ethylene oxide and 2 mols of propylene oxide onto 1 mol of 2-hydroxy-C 12/14 -alkylacetate.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein said alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl ester is a mixture from 50% to 90% by weight of a compound where one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen and the other is alkyl having 10 to 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 5 to 10 and m is an integer from 1 to 4 and from 10% to 50% by weight of a compound where one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen and the other is alkyl having 10 to 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 5 to 10 and m is 0.

Claim 9

The process of claim 7 wherein said mixture is a mixture of 50% to 90% by weight of an adduct of 5 mols of ethylene oxide and 3 mols of propylene oxide onto 1 mol of 2-hydroxy-C 12/14 -alkylacetate and 10% to 50% by weight of an adduct of 7 mols of ethylene oxide onto 1 mol of 2-hydroxy-C 12/14 -alkylacetate.

Claim 10

A low-foaming concentrate adapted for use in the clear-rinse cycle of dishwashers consisting essentially of (A) from 25% to 75% by weight of water and (B) from 25% to 75% by weight of a clear-rinsing agent consisting essentially of (a) from 50% to 100% by weight of at least one alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl ester of the formula ##STR12## wherein R 1 and R 2 are members selected from the group consisting of (a') similar and different alkyl having from 1 to 17 carbon atoms where the sum of the carbon atoms in R 1 and R 2 is from 6 to 18 and (b') one hydrogen and one alkyl having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, R 3 is a member selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and a hydrocarbon aryl having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 2 to 14, m is an integer from 1 to 7 when both R 1 and R 2 are alkyl and an integer from 0 to 7 when one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen, and (b) from 0 to 50% by weight of at least one alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl ester of the formula ##STR13## wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 have the above assigned values and p is an integer from 5 to 14, wherein said clear-rinsing agent further contains (1) from 0 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of said clear-rinsing agent of a water-soluble lower organic hydroxycarboxylic acid having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and sequestering properties toward salts causing water hardness and (2) from 0 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of said clear-rinsing agent of a water-miscible lower alcohol.

Claim 11

A low-foaming concentrate adapted for use in the clear-rinse cycle of dishwashers consisting essentially of (A) from 25% to 75% by weight of water and (B) from 25% to 75% by weight of a clear-rinsing agent consisting essentially of (a) from 50% to 100% by weight of at least one alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl ester of the formula ##STR12## wherein R 1 and R 2 are members selected from the group consisting of (a') similar and different alkyl having from 1 to 17 carbon atoms where the sum of the carbon atoms in R 1 and R 2 is from 6 to 18 and (b') one hydrogen and one alkyl having from 8 to 14 carbon atoms, R 3 is a member selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms and a hydrocarbon aryl having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 2 to 14, m is an integer from 1 to 7 when both R 1 and R 2 are alkyl and an integer from 0 to 7 when one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen, and (b) from 0 to 50% by weight of at least one alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl ester of the formula ##STR13## wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 have the above assigned values and p is an integer from 5 to 14, wherein said clear-rinsing agent further contains (1) from 0 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of said clear-rinsing agent of a water-soluble lower organic hydroxycarboxylic acid having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and sequestering properties toward salts causing water hardness and (2) from 0 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of said clear-rinsing agent of a water-miscible lower alcohol.

Claim 12

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 9 wherein one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen and the other is alkyl having 8 to 14 carbon atoms.

Claim 13

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 9 wherein one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen and the other is alkyl having 10 to 12 carbon atoms.

Claim 14

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 9 wherein one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen, the other is alkyl having 10 to 12 carbon atoms and the ratio of n to m is 1:0.2 to 0.6.

Claim 15

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 9 wherein n is from 5 to 10 and m is from 1 to 4.

Claim 16

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 9 wherein said alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl ester is the adduct of 7 mols of ethylene oxide and 2 mols of propylene oxide onto 1 mol of 2-hydroxy-C 12/14 -alkylacetate.

Claim 17

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 9 wherein said alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl ester is a mixture from 50% to 90% by weight of a compound where one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen and the other is alkyl having 10 to 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 5 to 10 and m is an integer from 1 to 4 and from 10% to 50% by weight of a compound where one of R 1 and R 2 is hydrogen and the other is alkyl having 10 to 12 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 5 to 10 and m is 0.

Claim 18

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 15 wherein said mixture is a mixture of 50% to 90% by weight of an adduct of 5 mols of ethylene oxide and 3 mols of propylene oxide onto 1 mol of 2-hydroxy-C 12/14 -alkylacetate and 10% to 50% by weight of an adduct of 7 mols of ethylene oxide onto 1 mol of 2-hydroxy-C 12/14 -alkylacetate.

Claim 19

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 9 wherein said clear-rinsing agent further contains from 5% to 40% by weight of said water-soluble lower organic hydroxycarboxylic acid.

Claim 20

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 9 wherein said clear-rinsing agent further contains from 10% to 35% by weight of said water-soluble lower organic hydroxycarboxylic acid.

Claim 21

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 18 wherein said water-soluble lower organic hydroxycarboxylic acid is citric acid.

Claim 22

The low-foaming concentrate of claim 9 wherein said clear-rinsing agent has a further content of from 0.05% to 1% based on the weight of said clear-rinsing agent of a preservative.