US4525291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid detergent compositions
Assignee: Solvay Interox Ltd
•
Filing: 1982-02-22
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Granted: 1985-06-25
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Expires: 2002-02-22
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to aqueous alkaline built detergent compositions containing hydrogen peroxide. Alkaline conditions present particular difficulties for preventing the hydrogen peroxide from decomposing excessively rapidly during storage. Aqueous compositions containing a builder, especially polyphosphate or citrate, anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant, nonionic ethoxylate surfactant and hydrogen peroxide of acceptable peroxide stability can be obtained by employing an alcohol, preferably ethanol or isopropanol, or a polyhydroxy carboxylate, preferably gluconate, or especially both, in conjunction with a phosphonate, especially an ethylene amine methylene phosphonate. Many of such alkaline compositions are formulated to permit the anionic surfactant to work at or near to its optimum pH in conjunction with the builder. The invention also provides similar, but unbuilt compositions containing instead of the builder, additional surfactant, generally nonionic surfactant, and having a somewhat lower pH.
Inventors
- 👤 Eileen Smith
- 👤 Doreen A. Timperley
- 👤 Dorothy M. Titchener
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:07
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/39; C11D3/3902; C11D3/3937; C11D3/394; C11D3/3947
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A stabilised aqueous built alkaline liquid detergent composition comprising at least 4% of an anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant and/or of a non-ionic ethoxylate surfactant, at least 5% of a builder selected from alkali metal polyphosphates and carboxylic complexing builders, at least 2% hydrogen peroxide, sufficient alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope to maintain the composition in a single phase, either by itself or in conjunction with other components, and a stabilising amount of a combination comprising, from 5 to 15% of a low molecular weight mono-hydroxy saturated aliphatic alcohol, from 0.08 to 1% of a polyhydroxy aliphatic carboxylate and from 0.075-1% of an aminomethylene phosphonate or hydroxyalkyl diphosphonate, %'s being by weight, based on the weight of the composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A stabilised aqueous built alkaline liquid detergent composition comprising at least 4% of an anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant and/or of a non-ionic ethoxylate surfactant, at least 5% of a builder selected from alkali metal polyphosphates and carboxylic complexing builders, at least 2% hydrogen peroxide, sufficient alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope to maintain the composition in a single phase, either by itself or in conjunction with other components, and a stabilising amount of a combination comprising, from 5 to 15% of a low molecular weight mono-hydroxy saturated aliphatic alcohol, from 0.08 to 1% of a polyhydroxy aliphatic carboxylate and from 0.075-1% of an aminomethylene phosphonate or hydroxyalkyl diphosphonate, %'s being by weight, based on the weight of the composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein the proportion of anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant is selected within the range of 3 to 15% weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein the proportion of nonionic alcohol ethoxylate is selected within the range of 3 to 15% by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein the weight proportion of ethoxylate in the nonionic alcohol ethoxylate is from 60 to 80% of the molecule.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein the total proportion of anionic sulphate or sulphonate and nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactants is from 6 to 15%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant to nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactant is from 5:2 to 2:5.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A composition according to claim 1, 5 or 6 wherein the builder comprises a polyphosphate or an hydroxy carboxylic acid complexing builder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composition according to claim 7 wherein the proportion of builder is selected within the range 9 to 16% by weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A composition according to claim 7 wherein the polyphosphate comprises potassium tetra pyrophosphate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A composition according to claim 7 wherein the builder comprises an alkali metal citrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A composition according to any of claims 1, 5 or 6 wherein the builder comprises up to 10% nitrilotriacetic acid, alkali metal salt or up to 8% carboxymethylsuccinate, alkali metal salt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A composition according to claim 1, wherein the total proportion of all components except for water and hydrogen peroxide is from 30 to 45% by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
An unbuilt aqueous alkaline liquid detergent composition comprising at least 10% of an anionic surfactant and/or of a non-ionic ethoxylate surfactant, of which at least 5% is nonionic surfactant, at least 2% hydrogen peroxide, sufficient alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope to maintain the composition in a single phase, either by itself or in conjunction with other components, and a stabilising amount of a combination comprising from 5 to 15% of a low molecular weight mono-hydroxy saturated aliphatic alcohol, from 0.08-1% of a polyhydroxy aliphatic carboxylate and from 0.075-1% of an aminomethylene phosphonate or hydroxyalkyl, based on the weight of the composition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
An unbuilt aqueous alkaline liquid detergent composition comprising at least 10% of an anionic surfactant and/or of a non-ionic ethoxylate surfactant, of which at least 5% is nonionic surfactant, at least 2% hydrogen peroxide, sufficient alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope to maintain the composition in a single phase, either by itself or in conjunction with other components, and a stabilising amount of a combination comprising from 5 to 15% of a low molecular weight mono-hydroxy saturated aliphatic alcohol, from 0.08-1% of a polyhydroxy aliphatic carboxylate and from 0.075-1% of an aminomethylene phosphonate or hydroxyalkyl, based on the weight of the composition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composition according to claim 13 wherein the proportion of anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant is selected within the range of 3 to 15% weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A composition according to claim 13 wherein the proportion of nonionic alcohol ethoxylate is selected within the range of 5 to 35% by weight.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composition according to claim 13 wherein the weight proportion of ethoxylate in the nonionic alcohol ethoxylate is from 60 to 80% of the molecule.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A composition according to claim 13 wherein the total proportion of anionic sulphate or sulphonate and nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactants is from 6 to 40%.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A composition according to claim 13 or 17 wherein the weight ratio of anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant to nonionic alcohol ethoxylate surfactant is from 1:3 to 1:6.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A composition according to claim 13 wherein the total proportion of all components except for water and hydrogen peroxide is from 40 to 55% by weight.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A composition according to claim 1 or 13 wherein the proportion of hydrogen peroxide is selected within the range 5 to 15% by weight.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A composition according to claim 1 or 13 wherein the proportion of sulphonate hydrotrope is selected within the range 3 to 9% by weight.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composition according to claim 1 or 13 which contains from 1 to 3% by weight of an ethoxylated phosphate ester.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A composition according to claim 1 or 13 wherein the weight ratio of the polyhydroxy carboxylate to the phosphonate is from 2:1 to 1:1.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composition according to claim 1 or 13 wherein the low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol comprises ethanol or isopropanol or a mixture thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
A composition according to claim 24 wherein the alcohol comprises methylated spirits.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A composition acording to claim 1 or 13 wherein the proportion of polyhydroxy carboxylate is from 0.1 to 0.4% by weight.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A composition according to claim 1 or 13 wherein the polyhydroxy carboxylate comprises an alkali metal gluconate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A composition according to claim 1 or 13 wherein the proportion of phosphonate is selected within the range of 0.1-0.4% by weight.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
A composition according to claim 28 wherein the phosphonate comprises an ethylene diamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) or hexamethylene diamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) or diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) or an alkali metal salt thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composition according to claim 1 or 13 which contains from 5 to 12% by weight ethanol or isopropanol or a mixture thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
102 words
A built liquid detergent composition which comprises from 8 to 12% in total of anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant and nonionic ethoxylated surfactants, from 9 to 15% builder selected from alkali metal, tetra pyrophosphate or alkali metal citrate from 3 to 9% alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope; from 5 to 12%, ethanol or isoproponal; from 5 to 10%, hydrogen peroxide; from 0.2 to 1% in total of a polyhydroxy linear C 6 or C 7 aliphatic carboxylate, and an alkali metal amino methylene phosphonate complexing agent, up to 5% of detergent adjuvant or adjuvants and the balance, water, %s being by weight.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
102 words
A built liquid detergent composition which comprises from 8 to 12% in total of anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant and nonionic ethoxylated surfactants, from 9 to 15% builder selected from alkali metal, tetra pyrophosphate or alkali metal citrate from 3 to 9% alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope; from 5 to 12%, ethanol or isoproponal; from 5 to 10%, hydrogen peroxide; from 0.2 to 1% in total of a polyhydroxy linear C 6 or C 7 aliphatic carboxylate, and an alkali metal amino methylene phosphonate complexing agent, up to 5% of detergent adjuvant or adjuvants and the balance, water, %s being by weight.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
107 words
A composition according to claim 31 characterised by one or more of the following features: (i) from 3 to 8% of the surfactant is anionic and 2 to 8% is nonionic; (ii) the builder is selected from potassium tetrapyrophosphate and sodium citrate; (iii) from 8 to 12% ethanol or isopropanol is used; (iv) the aliphatic carboxylate is an alkali metal gluconate; (v) the phosphonate complexing agent comprises an ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate, hexamethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate or diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonate; (vi) the aliphatic carboxylate and phosphonate complexing agent are in a weight ratio of 2:1 to 1:1; (vii) the water content is from 55 to 65%.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
86 words
An unbuilt liquid detergent composition which comprises from 25 to 40% in total of anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant and nonionic ethoxylated surfactants, from 3 to 9% alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope; from 5 to 12% ethanol or isoproponal; from 5 to 10% hydrogen peroxide; from 0.2 to 1% in total of a polyhydroxy linear C 6 or C 7 aliphatic carboxylate, and an alkali metal methylene phosphonate complexing agent, up to 5% of detergent adjuvant or adjuvants and the balance, water, %s being by weight.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
86 words
An unbuilt liquid detergent composition which comprises from 25 to 40% in total of anionic sulphate or sulphonate surfactant and nonionic ethoxylated surfactants, from 3 to 9% alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope; from 5 to 12% ethanol or isoproponal; from 5 to 10% hydrogen peroxide; from 0.2 to 1% in total of a polyhydroxy linear C 6 or C 7 aliphatic carboxylate, and an alkali metal methylene phosphonate complexing agent, up to 5% of detergent adjuvant or adjuvants and the balance, water, %s being by weight.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
96 words
A composition according to claim 33 characterised by one or more of the following features: (i) from 3 to 8% of the surfactant is anionic and 20 to 35% is nonionic; (ii) from 8 to 12% ethanol or isopropanol is used; (iii) the aliphatic carboxylate comprises an alkali metal gluconate; (iv) the phosphonate complexing agent comprises an ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate, hexamethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate or diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonate; (v) the aliphatic carboxylate and phosphonate complexing agent are in a weight ratio of 2:1 to 1:1; (vi) the water content is from 40 to 60%.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
131 words
A composition according to any one of claims 1, 13, 31, or 33 in which the hydrogen peroxide and the stabilisers have been introduced by incorporation of the corresponding amount of a premix consisting essentially of: (a) from 20 to 35% by weight, based on the composition, of hydrogen peroxide, (b) water in an amount of at least 3 parts per 7 parts by weight of hydrogen peroxide and (c) an organics component comprising a mixture of stabiliser in a weight ratio to the hydrogen peroxide of from 1:4 to 3:1 and comprising a low molecular weight monohydric aliphatic alcohol and an aminomethylenephosphonate and an hydroxyalkyldiphosphonate optionally together with up to thrice its weight of a polyhydroxycarboxylate to a total weight ratio to the monohydric alcohol of from 1:4.5 to 1:60.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process for the production of a detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the components are mixed until an homogenous mixture is obtained, the order of introduction of the components being such that the hydrogen peroxide contacts the polyphosphate or surfactants only in the presence of the stabiliser system.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for washing or laundering comprising the steps of diluting a composition as described in any of claims 1, 13, 31 or 33 to a desired extent and contacting the article to be washed with the dilute solution at a temperature from ambient to the boiling point of the solution.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for stabilising hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous detergent composition comprising at least 4% of an anionic surfactant and/or of a non-ionic ethoxylate surfactant, up to 20% of a builder selected from alkali metal polyphosphates and carboxylic complexing builders, at least 2% hydrogen peroxide, sufficient alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope to maintain the composition in a single phase, either by itself or in conjunction with other components, characterised by incorporating in the composition a stabilising amount of a combination comprising a low molecular weight mono-hydroxy aliphatic alcohol, a polyhydroxy aliphatic carboxylate and an aminomethylene phosphonate or hydroxyalkyl diphosphonate, %'s being by weight.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for stabilising hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous detergent composition comprising at least 4% of an anionic surfactant and/or of a non-ionic ethoxylate surfactant, up to 20% of a builder selected from alkali metal polyphosphates and carboxylic complexing builders, at least 2% hydrogen peroxide, sufficient alkali metal aryl sulphonate hydrotrope to maintain the composition in a single phase, either by itself or in conjunction with other components, characterised by incorporating in the composition a stabilising amount of a combination comprising a low molecular weight mono-hydroxy aliphatic alcohol, a polyhydroxy aliphatic carboxylate and an aminomethylene phosphonate or hydroxyalkyl diphosphonate, %'s being by weight.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 38 wherein the combination incorporated in the composition comprises 5 to 15% ethanol and/or isopropanol, and 0.1 to 0.4% of each of the polyhydroxyaliphatic carboxylate and the aminomethylenephosphonate.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
A composition according to claim 1 wherein the total amount of carboxylate and phosphonate is from 0.2 to 1% and wherein the weight ratio of carboxylate:phosphonate is from 1:3 to 3:1.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
31 words
A composition according to claim 13 wherein the total amount of carboxylate and phosphonate is from 0.2 to 1% and wherein the weight ratio of carboxylate:phosphonate is from 1:3 to 3:1.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-06-24 | 1988-12-24 | 1989-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-24 | 1992-12-24 | 1993-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-24 | 1996-12-24 | 1997-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |