US4810410A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Bleach activation
Assignee: Solvay Interox Ltd
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Filing: 1987-12-10
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Granted: 1989-03-07
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Expires: 2007-12-10
Abstract
Abstract It is desired to enhance the ability of hydrogen peroxide and persalts at wash temperatures of around 30° to 70° C., in order to use less energy and to minimize damage to various fabric finishes. It has been proposed in the past to use transition metal compounds, including cobaltous compounds for this purpose, but the literature is self-conflicting in the way to do this. In repeat trials the simple cobaltous salts did not show much activation. The invention provides a class of activators for persalts and hydrogen peroxide comprising cobalt III ammine complexes, preferably containing 4 or 5 ammine ligands obeying the formula: Co[(NH.sub.3).sub.n M.sub.m B.sub.b T.sub.t Q.sub.q ] Y.sub.y Preferred complexes contain a chloride, bromide, hydroxyl or water ligand. Such complexes can activate particularly well at above about pH10.2, which can vary from complex to complex, and retain activity in the presence of normal concentrations of many heavy duty washing compositions. At wash pHs below that pH, activity is exhibited in the presence of a promoter substance, namely an alkaline earth metal salt.
Inventors
- 👤 Eileen M. Diakun
- 👤 Christopher T. Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:38
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/39; C11D3/3902; C11D3/3905; C11D3/3932
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In a low temperature washing or bleaching process employing in an aqueous solution under alkaline conditions hydrogen peroxide or a material that develops hydrogen peroxide which is activated by a catalytic amount of a cobalt compound the improvement in which the cobalt compound employed is selected from water-soluble cobalt III complexes having the formula: Co[(NH.sub.3).sub.n M.sub.m B.sub.b T.sub.t Q.sub.q ]Y.sub.y in which n represents an integer from 1 to 6, M represents a monodentate ligand, m an integer from 0 to 5, B a bidentate ligand, b an integer from 0 to 2, T a tridentate ligand, t either 0 or 1, Q a tetradentate ligand, q being either 0 or 1, provided that n+m+2d+3t+4q=6 and Y represents a water-soluble counterion present in an appropriately selected number y to obtain a charge-balanced salt, said solution further comprising an alkaline earth metal salt in an amount of 1 to 400 parts by weight per part by weight of said cobalt complex.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a low temperature washing or bleaching process employing in an aqueous solution under alkaline conditions hydrogen peroxide or a material that develops hydrogen peroxide which is activated by a catalytic amount of a cobalt compound the improvement in which the cobalt compound employed is selected from water-soluble cobalt III complexes having the formula: Co[(NH.sub.3).sub.n M.sub.m B.sub.b T.sub.t Q.sub.q ]Y.sub.y in which n represents an integer from 1 to 6, M represents a monodentate ligand, m an integer from 0 to 5, B a bidentate ligand, b an integer from 0 to 2, T a tridentate ligand, t either 0 or 1, Q a tetradentate ligand, q being either 0 or 1, provided that n+m+2d+3t+4q=6 and Y represents a water-soluble counterion present in an appropriately selected number y to obtain a charge-balanced salt, said solution further comprising an alkaline earth metal salt in an amount of 1 to 400 parts by weight per part by weight of said cobalt complex.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the bleach/wash solution has a pH in the range of pH8 to pH12.5.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the cobalt complex is present at a concentration selected in the range of from 2 to 50 micromoles per liter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 3 characterised in that the cobalt complex is present at a concentration of 4 to 12 micromoles per liter at a pH below the change pH of the complex.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the bleach/wash solution has a concentration of at least 50 micromoles per liter of an alkaline earth metal salt when it has a pH below the change pH of the cobalt complex.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the alkaline earth metal salt is present in a concentration of up to 4000 micromoles per liter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 6 characterised in that the solution contains an alkaline earth metal salt selected from calcium salts, and preferably chloride, bromide, nitrate, perchlorate or acetate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the cobalt complex is selected from complexes in which the monodentate ligand M is chloride, bromide, hydroxyl or water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that n in the formula for the complex represents 4, 5, or 6.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 9 characterised in that in the formula for the complex n is 5 and M is chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 charcterised in that the solution contains at least 2 millimoles per liter of hydrogen peroxide, introduced as such or developed in situ.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 11 characterised in that the solution contains from 5 to 50 millimoles per liter of hydrogen peroxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the solution has a temperature of from 30° to 70° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the solution has a pH above the change pH of the complex and contains one or more calcium-sensitive surfactants.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 14 characterised in that the surfactant is an alkyl benzene sulphonate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 14 characterised in that the solution contains one or more detergent builders selected from alkali metal polyphosphates, orthophosphates and pyrophosphates or zeolites or hydroxycarboxlate complexing builders.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the solution contains one or more soil anti-redeposition agents.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the solution contains one or more alkali metal carbonates or silicates and/or calcium-insensitive surfactants.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 18 characterised in that the calcium-insensitive surfactant is selected from non-ionic surfactants and sulphated or phosphated derivatives.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
154 words
An activator composition suitable for addition to and activation of a hydrogen peroxide containing bleach solution which comprises a mixture of a least 1 part by weight of an alkaline earth metal salt calculated as calcium carbonate per part by weight of the cobalt III complexes having the formula: Co[(NH.sub.3).sub.n M.sub.m B.sub.b T.sub.t Q.sub.q ]Y.sub.y in which n represents an integer from 1 to 6, M represents a monodentate ligand, m an integer from 0 to 5, B a bidentate ligand, b an integer from 0 to 2, Ta tridentate ligand, t either 0 or 1, Q a tetradentate ligand, q being either 0 or 1, provided that n+m+2d+3t+4q=6 and Y represents a water soluble counterion present in an appropriately selected number y to obtain a charge-balanced salt characterized in that the weight ratio of the calculated weight of the alkaline earth metal salt calculated to the cobalt complex is not more than 400:1.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
154 words
An activator composition suitable for addition to and activation of a hydrogen peroxide containing bleach solution which comprises a mixture of a least 1 part by weight of an alkaline earth metal salt calculated as calcium carbonate per part by weight of the cobalt III complexes having the formula: Co[(NH.sub.3).sub.n M.sub.m B.sub.b T.sub.t Q.sub.q ]Y.sub.y in which n represents an integer from 1 to 6, M represents a monodentate ligand, m an integer from 0 to 5, B a bidentate ligand, b an integer from 0 to 2, Ta tridentate ligand, t either 0 or 1, Q a tetradentate ligand, q being either 0 or 1, provided that n+m+2d+3t+4q=6 and Y represents a water soluble counterion present in an appropriately selected number y to obtain a charge-balanced salt characterized in that the weight ratio of the calculated weight of the alkaline earth metal salt calculated to the cobalt complex is not more than 400:1.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A composition according to claim 20 characterised in that the weight ratio of the calculated weight of the alkaline earth metal salt calculated to the cobalt complex weight is in the range of 4:1 to 200:1.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A storable bleach additive composition containing a peroxide in solid form mixed with a metal activator characterised in that the metal activator is a cobalt III complex as described in claim 1, and optionally also containing an alkaline earth metal salt.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A composition according to claim 22 characterised in that it contains the peroxide (calculated as the weight of hydrogen peroxide) to cobalt complex in a weight ratio in the range of 1:1 to 1200:1.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A composition according to claim 23 characterised in that it contains the peroxide (calculated as the weight of hydrogen peroxide) to cobalt complex in a weight ratio in the range of 10:1 to 80:1.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A composition according claim 22 characterised in that it contains an alkaline earth metal salt in a weight ratio to the cobalt complex in the range of 4:1 to 200:1.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A composition according to claim 22 characterised in that it also contains one or more surfactants and/or one or more detergent builders.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A composition according to claim 26 characterised in that the surfactant and builder are calcium-insensitive, thereby enabling the composition to be employed at a pH below the change pH of the complex.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
A composition according to claim 26 characterised in that the builder is selected from alkali metal polyphosphates, pyrophosphates and orthophosphates, alkalimetal silicates, alkali metal carbonates, sodium zeolites, and alkali metal citrates, for use at a solution pH above the change pH of the complex.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A composition according to claim 22 characterised in that the peroxide in solid form represents 5 to 40% by weight of the composition.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process for washing/bleaching comprising the steps of forming an aqueous dispersion or paste of a washing composition and bringing the dispersion or paste into contact with a hard surface, dishes or other material to be cleansed characterised by employing as the washing composition a composition according to any of claims 22 to 29.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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GB1120944A
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US3532634A
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SU954418A1
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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) | 1992-03-06 | 1992-09-05 | 1993-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-06 | 1996-09-05 | 1997-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-06 | 2000-09-05 | 2001-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |