Patent US4552681A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4552681A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Granular, free-flowing detergent component and method for its production
Assignee: A GERMAN CORP
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Filing: 1984-12-06
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Granted: 1985-11-12
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Expires: 2004-12-06
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a granular, free-flowing detergent component which dissolves rapidly in water and which has a powder density of from 550 to 900 g/l, consisting of synthetic, essentially nonionic surfactants, inorganic supports, other organic washing aids, and water bound by adsorption and in hydrate form. The detergent component is produced by spray-drying, and more than 50% by weight thereof consists of droplet-like to rodlet-like particles having an average diameter of from about 0.02 to 1.5 mm, an average length of from about 0.1 to 5 mm, and a ratio of average diameter to average length of from about 1:1.2 to 1:10, optionally coated with a finely divided water-soluble or water-dispersible solid material as a fluidity improving agent.
Inventors
- 👤 Otto Koch
- 👤 Herbert Reuter
- 👤 Wolfgang Seiter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:39
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D17/00; C11D17/06; C11D17/065; C11D11/00; C11D11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for preparing a granular, freeflowing detergent component which dissolves rapidly in water, which has a powder density of from about 550 to 800 gm/l, more than 50% by weight of which comprises droplet-like to rodlet-like particles having an average diameter of from about 0.02 to 1.5 mm, an average length of from about 0.1 to 5 mm, and a ratio of average diameter to average length of from about 1:1.2 to 1:10, which method comprises spraying an aqueous suspension of synthetic, essentially nonionic surfactants, inorganic supports, additional organic washing aids, and water bound by adsorption and in hydrate form, the suspension containing from about 35 to 55% by weight of water, through nozzles having an orifice diameter of from about 3 to 5.5 m into a spray-drying tower under a pressure of from 16 to 30 bars and at a temperature equal to or less than about 250° C., the ratio of the pressure at the nozzle entrance to the nozzle orifice diameter being from about 3 to 9 bars/mm, wherein the product, as recovered from the spray-drying step, contains about 15 to 28% by weight of alkoxylated surfactant(s).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for preparing a granular, freeflowing detergent component which dissolves rapidly in water, which has a powder density of from about 550 to 800 gm/l, more than 50% by weight of which comprises droplet-like to rodlet-like particles having an average diameter of from about 0.02 to 1.5 mm, an average length of from about 0.1 to 5 mm, and a ratio of average diameter to average length of from about 1:1.2 to 1:10, which method comprises spraying an aqueous suspension of synthetic, essentially nonionic surfactants, inorganic supports, additional organic washing aids, and water bound by adsorption and in hydrate form, the suspension containing from about 35 to 55% by weight of water, through nozzles having an orifice diameter of from about 3 to 5.5 m into a spray-drying tower under a pressure of from 16 to 30 bars and at a temperature equal to or less than about 250° C., the ratio of the pressure at the nozzle entrance to the nozzle orifice diameter being from about 3 to 9 bars/mm, wherein the product, as recovered from the spray-drying step, contains about 15 to 28% by weight of alkoxylated surfactant(s).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous suspension contains from about 38 to 50% by weight of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1, wherein nozzles which apply spin to the material to be sprayed are used, the pressure at the nozzle entrance is from about 18 to 28 bars, the nozzle orifice diameter is from about 3.5 to 5 mm, and the ratio of the pressure to the diameter is from about 4 to 6 bars/mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the pressure is from about 19 to 25 bars.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the diameter is from about 3.5 to 4.5 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the ratio of the pressure to the diameter is from about 4.5 to 5.5 bars/mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein drying gases moving in counter-current direction to the material to be spray-dried have an entry temperature of from about 180° to 240° C. and an exit temperature of about 90° C.±15° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the entry temperature is from about 190° to 220° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous suspension comprises from about 42 to 55% by weight of water, inclusive of adsorptively bound water and water of hydration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the aqueous suspension comprises from about 44 to 52% by weight of water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said inorganic supports include an anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate having a content of from 30 to 50% of the I-type modification.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the content of the I-type modification in said anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate is from 35 to 45%.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the viscosity of said aqueous suspension is adjusted to values in the range of from 2000 to 15,000 mPa.s.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the viscosity of said aqueous suspension is adjusted to values in the range of from 5000 to 12,000 mPa.s.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the viscosity of said aqueous suspension is adjusted to values in the range of from 6000 to 10,000 mPa.s.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said inorganic supports include an anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate and said aqueous suspension is heated to a temperature above 85° C. prior to the addition of said tripolyphosphate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said inorganic supports include an anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate and said aqueous suspension is heated to a temperature of 86° to 102° C. prior to the addition of said tripolyphosphate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said spray-dried product is cooled within 5 minutes to a temperature below 35° C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said spray-dried product is cooled within 2 minutes to a temperature of from 20° to 30° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 or 19, wherein said spary-dried product is treated in a mixing device with 0.01 to 3% by weight of a water-soluble or water-dispersable finely divided solid material as fluidity improving agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 or 19, wherein said spray-dried product is treated with 0.1 to 2% by weight of zeolite of the NaA type, or with 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of microfine silica, respectively.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
A detergent component prepared according to the method of claim 1.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The detergent component of claim 22 which comprises less than about 1% by weight of anionic surfactants, and less than 0.2% by weight of soap.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The detergent component of claim 23 which comprises from about 17 to 25% by weight of alkoxylated nonionic surfactants.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The detergent component of claim 24 which comprises from about 18 to 23% by weight of alkoxylated nonionic surfactants.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The detergent component of claim 23 which comprises less than about 0.5% by weight of anionic surfactants.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The detergent component of claim 23 which comprises about 0% by weight of soap.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
76 words
The detergent component of claim 22 which contains, for a content of from about 40 to 80% by weight of inorganic support, including from about 10 to 60% by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate, including its hydrolysis products, from about 5 to 20% by weight of alkali metal silicate, and from about 0 to 40% by weight of finely crystalline sodium aluminosilicate of the zeolite A-type containing bound water, based upon the weight of the spray-dried product.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The detergent component of claim 28 which contains from about 45 to 70% by weight of inorganic support.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The detergent component of claim 28, wherein the alkali metal silicate has a ratio of Na 2 O to SiO 2 of from about 1:1.5 to 1:3.5.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
68 words
The detergent component of claim 28 which contains as inorganic support from about 15 to 50% by weight of sodium tripolyphosphate, including its hydrolysis products, from about 6 to 15% by weight of sodium silicate, the ratio of Na 20 to SiO 2 being from about 1:2 to 1:2.5, and from about 3 to 30% by weight of zeolite NaA, based upon the weight of the spray-dried product.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
The detergent component of claim 22 which comprises from about 0.5 to 10% by weight of additional organic washing aids and from about 8 to 20% by weight of water bound by adsorption and in hydrate form, based upon the total weight of the spray-dried product.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
61 words
The detergent component of claim 22 which consists of compact, non-porous particles having an uninterrupted surface, more than about 60% by weight of the particles having an average diameter of from about 0.05 to 1 mm, an average length of from about 0.3 to 3 mm, and a ratio of average diameter to average length of from about 1:1.4 to 1:8.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The detergent component of claim 22, wherein the surface of the particles has a grained to striated texture.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The detergent component of claim 22, wherein the powder density is from about 600 to 750 gm/l.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
The detergent component of claim 22, wherein the grains have a coating of a finely divided water-soluble or water-dispersable solid material as fluidity improving agent, in an amount of from 0.01 to 3% by weight of the granular spray-dried product.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The detergent component of claim 36, wherein said coating consists of from 0.1 to 2% by weight of zeolite of the NaA type.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The detergent component of claim 36, wherein said coating consists of from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight of microfine silica.
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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) | 1988-11-11 | 1989-05-13 | 1989-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-11 | 1993-05-13 | 1993-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-11 | 1997-05-13 | 1997-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |