Layered silicates of limited swelling power, a process for their production and their use in detergents and cleaning preparations

Claim 2

A synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase which is irregularly permeated by crystalline sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges: a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4; b is from 0 to about 0.3; c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0; n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0, said layered silicate having a swelling power (V s /V) of less than about 0.6 as determined by the quotient of the sediment volume (V s ) to the total volume (V) of said layered silicate in aqueous suspension.

Claim 3

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 1, wherein a, b and c have a value within the following ranges: a is from about 0.15 to about 0.30; b is from 0 to about 0.10; c is from about 1.3 to about 1.5.

Claim 4

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 1 wherein the ratio of a to b is equal to or greater than about 3.

Claim 5

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 1 wherein the ratio of a to b is equal to or greater than about 4.

Claim 6

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 1 having a swelling power (V s /V) of less than about 0.4.

Claim 7

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 1 wherein the silicate comprises a mixed crystal system composed of a structure-determining saponite- and/or hectorite-like crystal phase which is irregularly permeated by said crystalline sodium polysilicate.

Claim 8

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 1 wherein the silicate contains an alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of (i) an alkali not bound in the crystal structure of the layered silicate and (ii) water-soluble alkali metal salts.

Claim 9

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 1 wherein the silicate contains sodium hydroxide not bound in the crystal structure of the layered silicate.

Claim 10

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 1 wherein the silicate contains water-soluble alkali metal salts selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfates, alkali metal carbonates, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

A synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate comprising a mixed crystal system corresponding to the following structural formula [Na.sub.x+y (Mg.sub.3-x Li.sub.x)(Si.sub.4-y Al.sub.y)O.sub.10 (OH).sub.2 ].m[Na.sub.2 Si.sub.z O.sub.2z+1 ].nH.sub.2 O x is from 0 to about 0.3; y is from 0 to about 0.5; x+y is from about 0.1 to about 0.5; z is from about 1.0 to about 22; m is from about 0.1 to about 0.5, and n is from 0 to about 8.

Claim 12

A synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate comprising a mixed crystal system corresponding to the following structural formula [Na.sub.x+y (Mg.sub.3-x Li.sub.x)(Si.sub.4-y Al.sub.y)O.sub.10 (OH).sub.2 ].m[Na.sub.2 Si.sub.z O.sub.2z+1 ].nH.sub.2 O x is from 0 to about 0.3; y is from 0 to about 0.5; x+y is from about 0.1 to about 0.5; z is from about 1.0 to about 22; m is from about 0.1 to about 0.5, and n is from 0 to about 8.

Claim 13

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 10, wherein x is from 0 to about 0.1; y is from 0 to about 0.4; x+y is from about 0.2 to about 0.4; z is from about 1.0 to about 14; m is from about 0.1 to about 0.3, and n is from about 2 to about 6.

Claim 14

The synthetic layered silicate of claim 10 wherein the molar ratio of sodium to lithium is at least about 2.

Claim 15

A process for producing a synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase which is irregularly permeated by crystalline sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges: a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4; b is from 0 to about 0.3; c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0; n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0, comprising hydrothermally reacting water-soluble sodium silicate with an oxide, hydroxide, or water-soluble salt of magnesium, aluminum and/or lithium.

Claim 16

A process for producing a synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase which is irregularly permeated by crystalline sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges: a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4; b is from 0 to about 0.3; c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0; n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0, comprising hydrothermally reacting water-soluble sodium silicate with an oxide, hydroxide, or water-soluble salt of magnesium, aluminum and/or lithium.

Claim 17

The process of claim 13, wherein said compounds are hydrothermally reacted in an aqueous medium over a period of about 1 to about 20 hours at a reaction temperature of about 150° to about 250° C. within a sealed reaction vessel under an equilibrium vapor pressure corresponding to the reaction temperature.

Claim 18

The process of claim 13, wherein said compounds are hydrothermally reacted in the presence of an excess of an alkali metal salt.

Claim 19

The process of claim 13, wherein said compounds are hydrothermally reacted in the presence of an excess of sodium hydroxide and/or soda.

Claim 20

The process of claim 13, wherein said compounds are intensively stirred during the hydrothermal reaction.

Claim 21

The process of claim 13, wherein said compounds are hydrothermally reacted in an aqueous medium over a period of from about 2 to about 8 hours at a temperature of from about 170° C. to about 200° C.

Claim 22

The process of claim 13, wherein said compounds are hydrothermally reacted in an aqueous medium over a period of from about 4 to about 6 hours at a temperature of from about 170° C. to about 190° C.

Claim 23

The process of claim 13, wherein from about 50 to about 100 moles of H 2 O, based on the water-free oxide formula MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2 in which M, a, b and c are as defined in claim 13, are used during the hydrothermal reaction to prepare a reaction product of low water content which may be further processed without separating the layered silicate from the mother liquor.

Claim 24

The process of claim 13, including recovering said layered silicate by separating the layered silicate from the mother liquor.

Claim 25

The process of claim 13, including recovering said layered silicate by separating the layered silicate from the mother liquor and washing the layered silicate.

Claim 26

The process of claim 13, including recovering said layered silicate as an aqueous suspension.

Claim 27

The process of claim 13, including separating said layered silicate from the mother liquor by filtration or centrifugation, and washing the layered silicate until it is substantially free from water-soluble components.

Claim 28

The process of claim 13, including hydrothermally reacting said compounds in the presence of NaOH and monitoring the pH of the mother liquor so that after preparing the layered silicate the pH of the mother liquor is at least about 12.

Claim 29

A detergent comprising from about 10 to about 35% by weight of a crystalline builder of the zeolite type, and at least about 5% by weight of a synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase which is irregularly permeated by crystalline sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges: a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4; b is from 0 to about 0.3; c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0; n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0, said layered silicate having a swelling power (V s /V) of less than about 0.6 as determined by the quotient of the sediment volume (V s ) to the total volume (V) of said layered silicate in aqueous suspension.

Claim 30

A detergent comprising from about 10 to about 35% by weight of a crystalline builder of the zeolite type, and at least about 5% by weight of a synthetic, finely-divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase which is irregularly permeated by crystalline sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges: a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4; b is from 0 to about 0.3; c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0; n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0, said layered silicate having a swelling power (V s /V) of less than about 0.6 as determined by the quotient of the sediment volume (V s ) to the total volume (V) of said layered silicate in aqueous suspension.

Claim 31

The detergent of claim 26, including a surfactant.

Claim 32

The detergent of claim 26, wherein the zeolite builder comprises zeolite NaA, and the synthetic layered silicate is present in a quantity of from about 5 to about 30% by weight of the total weight of the detergent.

Claim 33

The detergent of claim 26, including a phosphate builder component.

Claim 34

The detergent of claim 26, including a bleaching agent.

Claim 35

The detergent of claim 26, including a water-soluble organic solvent.

Claim 36

The detergent of claim 26, including a builder capable of complexing calcium ions.

Claim 37

The detergent of claim 26, including finely-divided, synthetic sodium alumo-silicates.

Claim 38

The detergent of claim 26, including inorganic alkali metal salts selected from the group consisting of carbonates, bicarbonates, borates, sulfates, and silicates.

Claim 39

The detergent of claim 26, including a soil suspending agent.

Claim 40

The detergent of claim 26, including a compound which yields H 2 O 2 in water, and a stabilizer for said compound.

Claim 41

The detergent of claim 26, including a compound which yields H 2 O 2 in water, and an activator for said compound.

Claim 42

The detergent of claim 26, including an optical brightener for laundry fabrics.

Claim 43

A laundry detergent comprising: (a) about 5 to about 30% by weight of a synthetic, finely divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase and a sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges: a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4; b is from 0 to about 0.3; c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0; n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0, said layered silicate having a swelling power (V s V) of less than about 0.6 as determined by the quotient of the sediment volume (V s ) to the total volume (V) of said layered silicate in aqueous suspension; (b) from about 5% to about 30% by weight of a surfactant; (c) up to about 60% by weight of an alumosilicate; (d) up to about 30% by weight of a phosphate; (e) up to about 5% by weight of a complexing agent for calcium ions; (f) up to about 50% by weight of a builder incapable of complexing calcium ions; and (g) up to about 50% by weight of a bleaching agent and other additives generally present in a laundry detergent, all weights being based on the weight of said laundry detergent.

Claim 44

A laundry detergent comprising: (a) about 5 to about 30% by weight of a synthetic, finely divided, water-insoluble layered silicate having a mixed crystal system including a smectite-like crystal phase and a sodium polysilicate, and the following oxide summation formula MgO.aM.sub.2 O.bAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O wherein M is selected from the group consisting of sodium, and a mixture of sodium and lithium, said mixture having a molar ratio of Na to Li of at least about 2, n representing the number of water molecules bound in the crystal phase and a, b, c and n each represent a number having a value within the following ranges: a is from about 0.05 to about 0.4; b is from 0 to about 0.3; c is from about 1.2 to about 2.0; n is from about 0.3 to about 3.0, said layered silicate having a swelling power (V s V) of less than about 0.6 as determined by the quotient of the sediment volume (V s ) to the total volume (V) of said layered silicate in aqueous suspension; (b) from about 5% to about 30% by weight of a surfactant; (c) up to about 60% by weight of an alumosilicate; (d) up to about 30% by weight of a phosphate; (e) up to about 5% by weight of a complexing agent for calcium ions; (f) up to about 50% by weight of a builder incapable of complexing calcium ions; and (g) up to about 50% by weight of a bleaching agent and other additives generally present in a laundry detergent, all weights being based on the weight of said laundry detergent.