Ecolab Inc.

Economics Laboratory, Inc.

Bernard J Heile

Terry James Klos

Kent Richard Brittain

Charles Allen Hodge

Helmut K Maier

James J Tarara

John J Rolando

G Jason Wei

Stephen A Morganson

Kim J Ashton

We have found that long standing problems relating to the stability of organic materials in alkaline detergents, including the reversion or hydrolysis of condensed phosphate sequestrants in alkaline solid detergent compositions can be alleviated by the use of an organic composition having vicinal hydroxyls. Such a solid block detergent can be manufactured by a process in which a source of alkalinity, a functional material including a condensed phosphate sequestering agent, an organic compound having two vicinal hydroxyl groups, are combined in a pourable composition or liquid. Such a liquid can be introduced into a plastic capsule and solidified. During manufacture and solidification, we have found that the vicinal hydroxyl compound prevents substantial hydrolysis or reversion of the condensed phosphate maintaining effective hardness ion sequestration during the use of the detergent. The stabilizer can also stabilizes color, chlorine content and dispensing properties.

Alkaline solid block composition

There is provided an environmentally stable detergent article. Normally, hygroscopic caustic detergent materials can be made resistant to absorption of ambient humidity or water by introducing a barrier coating onto the caustic detergent. The barrier also renders the highly active alkaline material safe for human handling. The coated detergent article can further be enclosed in a film enclosure or wrapping which provides further protection for handling during production, shipment, storage and final end use. The coated article can be removed from any packaging material, inserted into a water spray-on dispenser and used to create a concentrated aqueous detergent for use in ware washing machines. In order to obtain control over dispensing, hydrophobic coatings can be nicked, split, peeled or partially removed using other means to provide an initial surface of caustic detergent exposed to the water spray. The water spray can then dispense the detergent and either melt or dissolve the hydrophobic coating in a controlled manner.

Stable hygroscopic detergent article

The invention provides a urea based solid composition and a process for preparing a homogeneous, urea-based, solid cleaning composition. Cleaning compositions for use in warewashing and cleaning hard surfaces, rinsing, sanitizing, deodorizing, and the like, made by the method are also provided. The ingredients are charged into a heated mixing apparatus and when uniform are transferred into a mold or other packaging system for dispensing the detergent. The consistency of the composition ranges from that of a fused solid block to a malleable article.

Urea-based solid alkaline cleaning composition

A solid cast warewashing composition is produced for use in automatic washing machines at low temperatures. A liquid detergent composition is cast into a mold where it is allowed to solidify. The solid cast detergent, surrounded on all but its upper surface by the mold, is used in automatic washing machines having a dispensing device designed to dispense a liquid aqueous detergent formed from the solid cast detergent using an impinging liquid spray. The liquid aqueous detergent flows out of the dispensing device generally simultaneously with its formation in the dispenser. The cast detergent composition includes about 5 to 12 wt-% of a nonionic surfactant, an alkali metal hydroxide, a sequestrant, water of hydration and optionally further includes one or more preformed cores or plugs comprising an available chlorine source, a defoamer, or the like.

Low temperature cast detergent-containing article and method of making

Methods are disclosed for preparing solid alkaline detergent compositions from aqueous emulsions comprising water, a source of alkalinity, a condensed phosphate hardness sequestering agent and a solidifying agent such as anhydrous sodium carbonate, comprising heating said emulsion to hydrate and melt the solidifying agent and then cooling the mixture.

Method for forming solid detergent compositions

A stable, highly alkaline liquid warewashing emulsion composition can comprise an effective hardness sequestering amount of a sodium condensed phosphate, a detergent building amount of sodium hydroxide, an effective stain-removing amount of an inorganic source of chlorine, and an emulsion stabilizing amount of a hectorite clay thickener, which can be used in wash water at concentrations of less than about 2% to clean and destain tableware.

Growing community of inventors

Apple Valley, MN, United States of America

Bernard J Heile