EP0560001A1 - High active detergent pastes - Google Patents
High active detergent pastes Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0560001A1 EP0560001A1 EP92870040A EP92870040A EP0560001A1 EP 0560001 A1 EP0560001 A1 EP 0560001A1 EP 92870040 A EP92870040 A EP 92870040A EP 92870040 A EP92870040 A EP 92870040A EP 0560001 A1 EP0560001 A1 EP 0560001A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- detergent
- paste
- alkyl
- anionic surfactant
- weight
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D11/00—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents ; Methods for using cleaning compositions
- C11D11/04—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents ; Methods for using cleaning compositions by chemical means, e.g. by sulfonating in the presence of other compounding ingredients followed by neutralising
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
- C11D1/02—Anionic compounds
- C11D1/37—Mixtures of compounds all of which are anionic
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D10/00—Compositions of detergents, not provided for by one single preceding group
- C11D10/04—Compositions of detergents, not provided for by one single preceding group based on mixtures of surface-active non-soap compounds and soap
- C11D10/042—Compositions of detergents, not provided for by one single preceding group based on mixtures of surface-active non-soap compounds and soap based on anionic surface-active compounds and soap
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
- C11D17/06—Powder; Flakes; Free-flowing mixtures; Sheets
- C11D17/065—High-density particulate detergent compositions
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
- C11D1/02—Anionic compounds
- C11D1/04—Carboxylic acids or salts thereof
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
- C11D1/02—Anionic compounds
- C11D1/12—Sulfonic acids or sulfuric acid esters; Salts thereof
- C11D1/14—Sulfonic acids or sulfuric acid esters; Salts thereof derived from aliphatic hydrocarbons or mono-alcohols
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
- C11D1/02—Anionic compounds
- C11D1/12—Sulfonic acids or sulfuric acid esters; Salts thereof
- C11D1/22—Sulfonic acids or sulfuric acid esters; Salts thereof derived from aromatic compounds
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
- C11D1/02—Anionic compounds
- C11D1/12—Sulfonic acids or sulfuric acid esters; Salts thereof
- C11D1/28—Sulfonation products derived from fatty acids or their derivatives, e.g. esters, amides
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
- C11D1/02—Anionic compounds
- C11D1/12—Sulfonic acids or sulfuric acid esters; Salts thereof
- C11D1/29—Sulfates of polyoxyalkylene ethers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to pumpable high active surfactant pastes which are suitable for further processing into detergent granules, and to a process for making such pastes.
- Granular detergents have so far been principally prepared by spray drying.
- the detergent components such as surfactants and builders, are mixed with as much as 35-50% water to form a slurry.
- the slurry obtained is heated and spray dried, which is expensive.
- a good agglomeration process could be less expensive.
- the purpose of this invention is to provide a high active anionic surfactant paste which has rheological properties that make it suitable for pumping, storing, transportation between manufacturing sites, and further processing by agglomeration into high active detergent particles. It is an important feature of the invention that the granulation/agglomeration step is completely uncoupled from the sulph(on)ation step.
- GB2021141 published November 28 1979, discloses surfactant paste compositions within a narrow concentration range in the fluid lamellar ('G') phase.
- GB2116200 published September 21 1983, discloses paste compositions of up to about 40% by weight of anionic surfactant containing ethoxylated surfactants as dissolution aids, and forming agglomerates from these compositions.
- EP 403148 published December 19 1990, describes high active surfactant compositions containing less than 14% water.
- process aids to reduce viscosity of the high active paste in a neutralisation loop is described.
- Polyethylene glycol and ethoxylated nonionic surfactants are disclosed as suitable process aids.
- EP 399581 published November 28 1990, describes high active surfactant compositions containing ethoxylated anionic surfactants and ethoxylated nonionic surfactants.
- the present invention relates to a detergent paste composition
- a detergent paste composition comprising : from 50% to 94% by weight of an anionic surfactant; from 1% to 30% by weight of an alkyl ethoxy sulphate and from 5% to 35% by weight of water.
- the paste has a viscosity greater than 10 Pa.s at a temperature of 70°C and measured at a shear rate of 25 s ⁇ 1.
- the present invention also encompasses a process for making such a paste.
- the alkyl ethoxy sulphate herein has been found to act as a rheology modifier and gives the anionic surfactant paste the behaviour of a simple shear thinning fluid with a yield point. Accordingly the very concentrated paste of the present invention can be pumped with the certainty that it will not thicken during processing.
- surfactant pastes in the form of concentrated solutions can be described by non-Newtonian, shear thinning rheology models with yield points. These pastes usually show reduced viscosities at increased shear rates (see figure 1).
- shear thickening in these pastes makes the transportation, storage and handling in general, a very difficult task.
- the possibility of the formation of these shear thickened pastes during pumping and conveying can result in considerable pressure drops and possible blockage of lines.
- the paste can be stored between these two steps, alternatively it can be transported between two manufacturing sites. This means that the manufacturing process is greatly simplified, and becomes much more flexible.
- the paste has a high viscosity, greater than 10 Pa.s at 70°C when measured at a shear rate of 25s ⁇ 1, but has rheological characteristics that make it easily pumpable and favour further processing by agglomeration.
- the paste has a viscosity greater than 20 Pa.s at 70°C.
- the paste is made up of two main components, the anionic surfactant (the "active” ingredient) and the alkyl ethoxy sulphate (the “rheological modifier”). These components are described in greater detail below.
- the aqueous surfactant paste contains an organic surfactant selected from the group of anionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.
- organic surfactant selected from the group of anionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.
- Surfactants useful herein are listed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,961, Norris, issued May 23, 1972, and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,678, Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975.
- the paste includes a high concentration of anionic surfactant, 50%-94% by weight of the paste, preferably 60%-85%.
- Water-soluble salts of the higher fatty acids are useful anionic surfactants in the compositions herein.
- Soaps can be made by direct saponification of fats and oils or by the neutralization of free fatty acids.
- Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of the mixtures of fatty acids derived from coconut oil and tallow, i.e., sodium or potassium tallow and coconut soap.
- Useful anionic surfactants also include the water-soluble salts, preferably the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts, of organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group.
- alkyl is the alkyl portion of acyl groups.
- this group of synthetic surfactants are the sodium and potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C8-C18 carbon atoms) such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; and the sodium and potassium alkyl benzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight or branched chain configuration, e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383.
- Especially valuable are linear straight chain alkyl benzene sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 13, abbreviated as C11-C13 LAS.
- Other useful anionic surfactants herein include the water-soluble salts of alpha-sulfonated fatty acid methyl esters containing from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; watersoluble salts of olefin sulfonates containing from about 12 to 24 carbon atoms; and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.
- the preferred anionic surfactant pastes are mixtures of linear or branched alkylbenzene sulfonates having an alkyl of 10-16 carbon atoms and alkyl sulfates having an alkyl of 10-18 carbon atoms. These pastes are usually produced by reacting a liquid organic material with sulfur trioxide to produce a sulfonic or sulfuric acid and then neutralizing the acid to produce a salt of that acid.
- the salt is the surfactant paste discussed throughout this document.
- the sodium salt is preferred due to end performance benefits and cost of NaOH vs. other neutralizing agents, but is not required as other agents such as KOH may be used.
- Particularly preferred surfactants for use herein include : sodium linear C11-C13 alkyl benzene sulphonate; ⁇ olefin sulphonates, triethanol ammonium C11-C13 alkyl benzene sulphonate; alkyl sulphates (tallow, coconut, palm, synthetic origins eg. C14-C15 etc.) methyl ester sulphonate and the water soluble sodium and potassium salts of coconut and tallow fatty acids.
- the rheology modifier in the paste is chosen from the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium salts of alkyl ethylene oxide ether sulphates (generally referred to as alkyl ethoxy sulphates), containing from about 1 to about 7 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl group contains from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms.
- alkyl ethoxy sulphate is present at a level of 1%-30% by weight of the paste, preferably 1%-15%.
- the ratio of anionic surfactant to alkyl ethoxy sulphate will vary according to the rheological behaviour of the anionic surfactant chosen.
- the ratio may vary between 2:1 (for example, in the case where the anionic surfactant is tallow alkyl sulphate), to 50:1 (for example, in the case where the anionic surfactant is a mixture of 75% LAS with 25% tallow alkyl sulphate).
- a preferred ratio of 9:1 is suitable in the case where the anionic surfactant is C14-C15 alkyl sulphate.
- the water content of the paste is between 5% and 35% by weight.
- a low water content is preferable in order to be able to make high active detergent particles in the granulation/agglomeration step.
- ingredients commonly used in detergent compositions can be included in the paste of the present invention. These include additional surfactants, hydrotropes, suds boosters or suds suppressors, antitarnish and anticorrosion agents, soilsuspending agents, soil release agents, germicides, pH adjusting agents, enzyme stabilising agents, perfumes, polymers including polyacrylates, and copolymers including copolymers of maleic and acrylic acids.
- Additional surfactants may be selected from the groups of anionic, zwitterionic, ampholytic, cationic and nonionic surfactants.
- Suitable anionic surfactants include alkyl polyglucosides, alkyl glyceryl ethoxy sulphonates and alkyl glucose amides.
- Suitable nonionic surfactants include the polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenol, and water soluble condensation products of aliphatic alcohols containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, in either straight chain or branched configuration, with from 4 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
- Semipolar nonionic surfactants including amine oxides, phosphine oxides, and sulphoxides are also suitable for use in the paste.
- Ampholytic surfactants including those derived from secondary and tertiary amines, and zwitterionic surfactants including those derived from aliphatic quaternary ammonium , phosphonium and sulphonium compounds may also be used.
- the surfactant paste is preferably produced in a continuous neutralisation system, for example a continuous neutralisation loop available from the Chemithon Corporation, Seattle, WA, USA.
- a continuous neutralisation loop organic sulphuric/sulphonic acid and concentrated metal hydroxide solution (greater than about 45% by weight of the hydroxide) are added to the loop where neutralisation takes place.
- alkali metal hydroxide solution between 50% and 75% hydroxide is preferred with the higher concentrations leading to less water in the final paste.
- a separate stream of water may also be added to the loop, or mixed with the metal hydroxide in order to achieve the required water level in the finished paste.
- the organic sulphuric/sulphonic acid for use in making the surfactant paste preferably is made by a sulph(on)ation process using SO3 in a falling film reactor. See “Synthetic Detergents", 7 th Ed., A.S. Davidson and B. Milwidsky, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1987, pages 151-168.
- the alkali metal hydroxide is preferably present in slight excess of stoichiometric amount necessary to neutralise the organic sulphuric/sulphonic acid.
- reserve (free) alkalinity should not exceed about 1.5% M2O (where M is metal)otherwise the paste becomes difficult to circulate because of high viscosity. If reserve alkalinity drops below about 0.1%, the surfactant paste may not be stable long term because of hydrolysis. It is therefore preferred that reserve alkalinity, which can be measured by titration with acid, of the paste in the neutralisation system be between about 0.1% and 1.5%, more preferably between 0.2% and 1.0%, most preferably between about 0.3% and 1.0%.
- the organic sulphuric/sulphonic acid and alkali metal hydroxide are put into the continuous neutralisation loop, preferably at a high shear mixer in the neutralisation loop so that they mix together as rapidly as possible.
- the alkyl ethoxy sulphate can be added at any suitable stage in the process, including post addition to the paste after the neutralisation loop or even in a storage tank, provided enough mechanical energy is provided to intimately mix the alkyl ethoxy sulphate with the salt of the anionic surfactant.
- a preferred embodiment of the invention is to add the alkyl ethoxy sulphates directly into the neutralisation loop. In this way the rheology benefits of the invention are realised in the paste within the neutralisation loop and no additional mixing stage is required later.
- Another alternative is to sulphate the ethoxylated alcohol at the same time as sulph(on)ation of the anionic surfactant. Then both components can be neutralised together in the neutralisation loop to give a paste of the required composition.
- the paste of the invention can be processed into high active detergent agglomerates by any conventional granulation/agglomeration step. This is normally done by agglomerating the paste upon mixing with a dry detergent powder.
- a highly attractive option in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to further increase the concentration of surfactant in the final particle is accomplished by the addition to a liquid stream containing the anionic surfactant and/or other surfactant, of other elements that result in increases in viscosity and/or melting point and/or decrease the stickiness of the paste.
- the addition of these elements can be done in line as the paste is pumped into the agglomerator.
- Example of these elements can be various powders, including zeolite, carbonate, silica, silicate, citrate, phosphate, perborate etc. and process aids such a starch.
- the preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention involves introduction of the anionic surfactant in via pastes as described above, it is possible to have a certain amount via the powder stream, for example in the form of blown powder. In these embodiments, it is necessary that the stickiness and moisture of the powder stream be kept at low levels, thus preventing increased "loading" of the anionic surfactant and, thus, the production of agglomerates with too high of a concentration of surfactant.
- the liquid stream of a preferred agglomeration process can also be used to introduce other surfactants and/or polymers. This can be done by premixing the surfactant into one liquid stream or, alternatively by introducing various streams in the agglomerator.
- agglomeration means mixing and/or granulation of the above mixture in a fine dispersion mixer at a blade tip speed of from about 5m/sec. to about 50 m/sec., unless otherwise specified.
- the total residence time of the mixing and granulation process is preferably in the order of from 0.1 to 10 minutes, more preferably 0.1-5 and most preferably 0.2-4 minutes.
- the more preferred mixing and granulation tip speeds are about 10-45 m/sec. and about 15-40 m/sec.
- Suitable apparatus includes, for example, falling film sulphonating reactors, digestion tanks, esterification reactors, etc.
- any of a number of mixers/agglomerators can be used.
- the process of the invention is continuously carried out.
- mixers of the Fukae R FS-G series manufactured by Fukae Powtech Kogyo Co., Japan are especially preferred.
- this apparatus is essentially in the form of a bowl-shaped vessel accessible via a top port, provided near its base with a stirrer having a substantially vertical axis, and a cutter positioned on a side wall.
- the stirrer and cutter may be operated independently of one another and at separately variable speeds.
- the vessel can be fitted with a cooling jacket or, if necessary, a cryogenic unit.
- mixers found to be suitable for use in the process of the invention include Diosna R V series ex Dierks & Söhne, Germany; and the Pharma Matrix R ex T K Fielder Ltd., England.
- Other mixers believed to be suitable for use in the process of the invention are the Fuji R VG-C series ex Fuji Sangyo Co., Japan; and the Roto R ex Zanchetta & Co srl, Italy.
- Other preferred suitable equipment can include Eirich R , series RV, manufactured by Gustau Eirich Hardheim, Germany; Lödige R , series FM for batch mixing, series Baud KM for continuous mixing/agglomeration, manufactured by Lödige Maschinenbau GmbH, Paderborn Germany; Drais R T160 series, manufactured by Drais Werke GmbH, Mannheim Germany; and Winkworth R RT 25 series, manufactured by Winkworth Machinery Ltd., Bershire, England.
- the Littleford Mixer, Model #FM-130-D-12, with internal chopping blades and the Cuisinart Food Processor, Model #DCX-Plus, with 7.75 inch (19.7 cm) blades are two examples of suitable mixers. Any other mixer with fine dispersion mixing and granulation capability and having a residence time in the order of 0.1 to 10 minutes can be used.
- the "turbine-type" impeller mixer, having several blades on an axis of rotation, is preferred.
- the invention can be practiced as a batch or a continuous process.
- Preferred operating temperatures should also be as low as possible since this leads to a higher surfactant concentration in the finished particle.
- the temperature during the agglomeration is less than 100°C, more preferably between 10 and 90°C, and most preferably between 20 and 80°C.
- Lower operating temperatures useful in the process of the present invention may be achieved by a variety of methods known in the art such as nitrogen cooling, cool water jacketing of the equipment, addition of solid CO2, and the like; with a preferred method being solid CO2, and the most preferred method being nitrogen cooling.
- the present invention produces agglomerates of high density for use in detergent compositions.
- a preferred composition of the final agglomerate for incorporation into granular detergents has a high surfactant concentration.
- the particles/agglomerates made by the present invention are more suitable for a variety of different formulations.
- These high surfactants containing particle agglomerates require fewer finishing techniques to reach the final agglomerates, thus freeing up large amounts of processing aids (inorganic powders, etc.) that can be used in other processing steps of the overall detergent manufacturing process (spray drying, dusting off, etc).
- the agglomerates made according to the present invention are large, low dust and free flowing, and preferably have a bulk density of from about 0.4 to about 1.2 g/cc, more preferably from about 0.6 to about 0.8 g/cc.
- the weight average particle size of the particles of this invention are from about 200 to about 1000 microns.
- the preferred granules so formed have a particle size range of from 200 to 2000 microns.
- the more preferred granulation temperatures range from about 10°C to about 60°C, and most preferably from about 20°C to about 50°C.
- the desired moisture content of the free flowing agglomerates of this invention can be adjusted to levels adequate for the intended application by drying in conventional powder drying equipment such as fluid bed dryers. If a hot air fluid bed dryer is used, care must be exercised to avoid degradation of heat sensitive components of the granules. It is also advantageous to have a cooling step prior to large scale storage. This step can also be done in a conventional fluid bed operated with cool air. The drying/cooling of the agglomerates can also be done in any other equipment suitable for powder drying such as rotary dryers, etc.
- the final moisture of the agglomerates needs to be maintained below levels at which the agglomerates can be stored and transported in bulk.
- the exact moisture level depends on the composition of the agglomerate but is typically achieved at levels of 1-8% free water (i.e. water not associated to any crystalline species in the agglomerate) and most typically at 2-4%.
- the present invention also encompasses free flowing granular detergent compositions containing the agglomerates described hereinabove and processes to make them ;
- Said detergent compositions may comprise additional detergency builders and powders which may be added to the agglomerates to give a free flowing granular detergent composition.
- the additional detergency builder and powders may be combined into an aqeous slurry and spray dried to form a powder, and/or simply added to the agglomerates in a dry powder form.
- At least part of the builder is incorporated into a surfactant free slurry which has physical properties which make it suitable for spray drying by conventional process.
- a free flowing granular detergent composition is then made by mixing these spray dried particles, with the agglomerates of the invention and with any other detergency builders and powders.
- Any compatible detergency builder or combination of builders or powder can be used in the process and compositions of the present invention.
- the detergent compositions herein can contain crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange material of the formula Na z [(AlO2) z ⁇ (SiO2) y ] ⁇ xH2O wherein z and y are at least about 6, the molar ratio of z to y is from about 1.0 to about 0.4 and z is from about 10 to about 264.
- Amorphous hydrated aluminosilicate materials useful herein have the empirical formula M z (zAlO2 ⁇ ySiO2) wherein M is sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium, z is from about 0.5 to about 2 and y is 1, said material having a magnesium ion exchange capacity of at least about 50 milligram equivalents of CaCO3 hardness per gram of anhydrous aluminosilicate. Hydrated sodium Zeolite A with a particle size of from about 1 to 10 microns is preferred.
- the aluminosilicate ion exchange builder materials herein are in hydrated form and contain from about 10% to about 28% of water by weight if crystalline, and potentially even higher amounts of water if amorphous. Highly preferred crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials contain from about 18% to about 22% water in their crystal matrix.
- the crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are further characterized by a particle size diameter of from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns. Amorphous materials are often smaller, e.g., down to less than about 0.01 micron.
- Preferred ion exchange materials have a particle size diameter of from about 0.2 micron to about 4 microns.
- particle size diameter herein represents the average particle size diameter by weight of a given ion exchange material as determined by conventional analytical techniques such as, for example, microscopic determination utilizing a scanning electron microscope.
- the crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials herein are usually further characterized by their calcium ion exchange capacity, which is at least about 200 mg equivalent of CaCO3 water hardness/g of aluminosilicate, calculated on an anhydrous basis, and which generally is in the range of from about 300 mg eq./g to about 352 mg eq./g.
- the aluminosilicate ion exchange materials herein are still further characterized by their calcium ion exchange rate which is at least about 2 grains Ca ++ /gallon/minute/gram/gallon of aluminosilicate (anhydrous basis), and generally lies within the range of from about 2 grains/gallon/minute/gram/gallon to about 6 grains/gallon/minute/gram/gallon, based on calcium ion hardness.
- Optimum aluminosilicate for builder purposes exhibit a calcium ion exchange rate of at least about 4 grains/gallon/minute/gram/gallon.
- the amorphous aluminosilicate ion exchange materials usually have a Mg ++ exchange of at least about 50 mg eq. CaCO3/g (12 mg Mg ++ /g) and a Mg ++ exchange rate of at least about 1 grain/gallon/minute/gram/gallon. Amorphous materials do not exhibit an observable diffraction pattern when examined by Cu radiation (1.54 Angstrom Units).
- Aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful in the practice of this invention are commercially available.
- the aluminosilicates useful in this invention can be crystalline or amorphous in structure and can be naturally occurring aluminosilicates or synthetically derived.
- a method for producing aluminosilicate ion exchange materials is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,669, Krummel et al., issued Oct. 12, 1976, incorporated herein by reference.
- Preferred synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful herein are available under the designations Zeolite A, Zeolite B, and Zeolite X.
- the crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange material has the formula Na12[(AlO2)12(SiO2)12] ⁇ xH2O wherein x is from about 20 to about 30, especially about 27 and has a particle size generally less than about 5 microns.
- the granular detergents of the present invention can contain neutral or alkaline salts which have a pH in solution of seven or greater, and can be either organic or inorganic in nature.
- the builder salt assists in providing the desired density and bulk to the detergent granules herein. While some of the salts are inert, many of them also function as detergency builder materials in the laundering solution.
- neutral water-soluble salts examples include the alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium chlorides, fluorides and sulfates.
- the alkali metal, and especially sodium, salts of the above are preferred.
- Sodium sulfate is typically used in detergent granules and is a particularly preferred salt.
- Citric acid and, in general, any other organic or inorganic acid may be incorporated into the granular detergents of the present invention as long as it is chemically compatible with the rest of the agglomerate composition.
- water-soluble salts include the compounds commonly known as detergent builder materials.
- Builders are generally selected from the various water-soluble, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium phosphates, polyphosphates, phosphonates, polyphosphonates, carbonates, silicates, borates, and polyhyroxysulfonates.
- alkali metal especially sodium, salts of the above.
- inorganic phosphate builders are sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, pyrophosphate, polymeric metaphosphate having a degree of polymerization of from about 6 to 21, and orthophosphate.
- polyphosphonate builders are the sodium and potassium salts of ethylene diphosphonic acid, the sodium and potassium salts of ethane 1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid and the sodium and potassium salts of ethane, 1,1,2-triphosphonic acid.
- Other phosphorus builder compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,159,581; 3,213,030; 3,422,021; 3,422,137; 3,400,176 and 3,400,148, incorporated herein by reference.
- nonphosphorus, inorganic builders are sodium and potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, tetraborate decahydrate, and silicate having a molar ratio of SiO2 to alkali metal oxide of from about 0.5 to about 4.0, preferably from about 1.0 to about 2.4.
- the compositions made by the process of the present invention does not require excess carbonate for processing, and preferably does not contain over 2% finely divided calcium carbonate as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,093, Clarke et al., issued Apr.1, 1980, and is preferably free of the latter.
- powders normally used in detergents such as zeolite, carbonate, silica, silicate, citrate, phosphate, perborate, etc. and process aids such as starch, can be used in preferred embodiments of the present invention.
- Fig. 1 shows graphs of shear stress and viscosity plotted against shear rate.
- the paste tested is 77% by weight sodium C11-C13 linear alkyl benzene sulphonate solution, measured at 70°C.
- Fig. 2 shows graphs of shear stress and viscosity plotted against shear rate.
- the paste tested is 76% by weight sodium C14-C15 alkyl sulphate solution, measured at 70°C.
- Fig. 3 shows graphs of shear stress plotted against rate for five different paste compositions.
- the percentage by weight of sodium C14-C15 alkyl sulphate solution : sodium C13-C15 alkyl ethoxy sulphate (with average of 3 ethoxylates) is a) 70:0, b)68:2, c)66.5:3.5, d)63:7, e) 56:14.
- the aqueous paste is measured at 70°C.
- Fig. 4 shows graphs of shear stress and viscosity plotted against shear rate.
- the paste tested is 78% by weight of a mixture of sodium C11-C13 linear alkyl benzene sulphonate and sodium tallow alkyl sulphate. The two surfactants being present in equal proportions.
- the aqueous paste is measured at 70°C.
- Fig. 5 shows graphs of shear stress and viscosity plotted against shear rate.
- the paste tested is 74.8% by weight of a mixture of sodium C11-C13 linear alkyl sulphonate and sodium tallow alkyl sulphate. The two surfactants being present in equal proportions.
- the paste also includes 3.2% by weight of sodium C13-15 alkyl ethoxy sulphate (with an average of 3 ethoxylates).
- the aqueous paste is measured at 70°C.
- the anionic surfactant paste was made by sulphation of a fatty alcohol followed by neutralisation by 48-50% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide in a continuous neutralisation loop at production rates between 1 and 2 tonnes/hour.
- a 76% active paste of C14-C15 sodium alkyl sulphate has a rheological profile as shown in Figure 2. There is a distinct shear thickening region at shear rates of between about 20 and 40 s ⁇ 1.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to pumpable high active surfactant pastes which are suitable for further processing into detergent granules, and to a process for making such pastes.
- Granular detergents have so far been principally prepared by spray drying. In the spray drying process the detergent components, such as surfactants and builders, are mixed with as much as 35-50% water to form a slurry. The slurry obtained is heated and spray dried, which is expensive. A good agglomeration process, however, could be less expensive.
- There are many prior art nonspray-drying processes which produce detergent granules. Most require neutralisation of the anionic surfactant acid, immediately before, or in the course of, a granulation step.
- However, these processes have certain limitations. The close coupling of the neutralization and granulation steps considerably limits the range of processing conditions that can be used. Furthermore, if the anionic surfactant chosen is not stable in the acid form (eg. alkyl sulphate) it is necessary to have close coupling of the sulph(on)ation with the neutralization and granulation stages. This results in considerable limitations in the logistics and/or design of the facilities for these processes as well as an important increase in complexity and difficulty of control systems for the overall process.
- The purpose of this invention is to provide a high active anionic surfactant paste which has rheological properties that make it suitable for pumping, storing, transportation between manufacturing sites, and further processing by agglomeration into high active detergent particles. It is an important feature of the invention that the granulation/agglomeration step is completely uncoupled from the sulph(on)ation step.
- It has now been found that the addition of small amounts of alkyl ethoxy sulphate greatly improves the rheological characteristics of the surfactant paste.
- GB2021141, published November 28 1979, discloses surfactant paste compositions within a narrow concentration range in the fluid lamellar ('G') phase.
- GB2116200, published September 21 1983, discloses paste compositions of up to about 40% by weight of anionic surfactant containing ethoxylated surfactants as dissolution aids, and forming agglomerates from these compositions.
- EP 403148, published December 19 1990, describes high active surfactant compositions containing less than 14% water. The use of process aids to reduce viscosity of the high active paste in a neutralisation loop is described. Polyethylene glycol and ethoxylated nonionic surfactants are disclosed as suitable process aids.
- EP 399581, published November 28 1990, describes high active surfactant compositions containing ethoxylated anionic surfactants and ethoxylated nonionic surfactants.
- The present invention relates to a detergent paste composition comprising : from 50% to 94% by weight of an anionic surfactant; from 1% to 30% by weight of an alkyl ethoxy sulphate and from 5% to 35% by weight of water. The paste has a viscosity greater than 10 Pa.s at a temperature of 70°C and measured at a shear rate of 25 s⁻¹. The present invention also encompasses a process for making such a paste.
- The alkyl ethoxy sulphate herein has been found to act as a rheology modifier and gives the anionic surfactant paste the behaviour of a simple shear thinning fluid with a yield point. Accordingly the very concentrated paste of the present invention can be pumped with the certainty that it will not thicken during processing.
- Typically surfactant pastes in the form of concentrated solutions can be described by non-Newtonian, shear thinning rheology models with yield points. These pastes usually show reduced viscosities at increased shear rates (see figure 1).
- Surprisingly, it has now been found that under certain conditions of surfactant type, concentration, inorganic content, unsulph(on)ated contents, temperature etc., these pastes may show a rheology profile where, at certain shear rates, the viscosity increases with the shear rate. This phenomenon is referred to as shear thickening.
- The presence of shear thickening in these pastes makes the transportation, storage and handling in general, a very difficult task. The possibility of the formation of these shear thickened pastes during pumping and conveying can result in considerable pressure drops and possible blockage of lines. In order to make the transportation of these pastes a robust operation, suitable for commercial application, it is necessary to ensure the absence of shear thickening behaviour and to turn the rheology of the paste into that of a typical shear thinning fluid, with or without a yield point.
- This then makes it possible to completely decouple the neutralisation and granulation steps of making the finished detergent granule. The paste can be stored between these two steps, alternatively it can be transported between two manufacturing sites. This means that the manufacturing process is greatly simplified, and becomes much more flexible.
- The paste has a high viscosity, greater than 10 Pa.s at 70°C when measured at a shear rate of 25s⁻¹, but has rheological characteristics that make it easily pumpable and favour further processing by agglomeration. Preferably the paste has a viscosity greater than 20 Pa.s at 70°C.
- A process for making such a paste is also described hereinafter.
- The paste is made up of two main components, the anionic surfactant (the "active" ingredient) and the alkyl ethoxy sulphate (the "rheological modifier"). These components are described in greater detail below.
- The aqueous surfactant paste contains an organic surfactant selected from the group of anionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Surfactants useful herein are listed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,961, Norris, issued May 23, 1972, and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,678, Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975.
- The paste includes a high concentration of anionic surfactant, 50%-94% by weight of the paste, preferably 60%-85%.
- Water-soluble salts of the higher fatty acids, i.e., "soaps", are useful anionic surfactants in the compositions herein. This includes alkali metal soaps such as the sodium, potassium, ammonium, and alkylammonium salts of higher fatty acids containing from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, and preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms. Soaps can be made by direct saponification of fats and oils or by the neutralization of free fatty acids. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of the mixtures of fatty acids derived from coconut oil and tallow, i.e., sodium or potassium tallow and coconut soap.
- Useful anionic surfactants also include the water-soluble salts, preferably the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts, of organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. (Included in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl portion of acyl groups.) Examples of this group of synthetic surfactants are the sodium and potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C₈-C₁₈ carbon atoms) such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; and the sodium and potassium alkyl benzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight or branched chain configuration, e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383. Especially valuable are linear straight chain alkyl benzene sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 13, abbreviated as C₁₁-C₁₃ LAS.
- Other useful anionic surfactants herein include the water-soluble salts of alpha-sulfonated fatty acid methyl esters containing from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; watersoluble salts of olefin sulfonates containing from about 12 to 24 carbon atoms; and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety.
- The preferred anionic surfactant pastes are mixtures of linear or branched alkylbenzene sulfonates having an alkyl of 10-16 carbon atoms and alkyl sulfates having an alkyl of 10-18 carbon atoms. These pastes are usually produced by reacting a liquid organic material with sulfur trioxide to produce a sulfonic or sulfuric acid and then neutralizing the acid to produce a salt of that acid. The salt is the surfactant paste discussed throughout this document. The sodium salt is preferred due to end performance benefits and cost of NaOH vs. other neutralizing agents, but is not required as other agents such as KOH may be used.
- Particularly preferred surfactants for use herein include : sodium linear C₁₁-C₁₃ alkyl benzene sulphonate; α olefin sulphonates, triethanol ammonium C₁₁-C₁₃ alkyl benzene sulphonate; alkyl sulphates (tallow, coconut, palm, synthetic origins eg. C₁₄-C₁₅ etc.) methyl ester sulphonate and the water soluble sodium and potassium salts of coconut and tallow fatty acids.
- Most preferred are sodium C₁₁-₁₃ linear alkyl benzene sulphonate, tallow alkyl sulphonate and mixtures thereof.
- The rheology modifier in the paste is chosen from the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium salts of alkyl ethylene oxide ether sulphates (generally referred to as alkyl ethoxy sulphates), containing from about 1 to about 7 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl group contains from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms. The alkyl ethoxy sulphate is present at a level of 1%-30% by weight of the paste, preferably 1%-15%.
- Preferred are the sodium or potassium salts of alkyl ethoxy sulphate containing from about 2 to about 4 units of ethylene oxide.
- Most preferred are products of the sulphation of synthetic, branched C13-C15, C14-C15 or C12-C15 ethoxylated alcohols with an average of about 3 units of ethylene oxide per molecule.
- The ratio of anionic surfactant to alkyl ethoxy sulphate will vary according to the rheological behaviour of the anionic surfactant chosen. The ratio may vary between 2:1 (for example, in the case where the anionic surfactant is tallow alkyl sulphate), to 50:1 (for example, in the case where the anionic surfactant is a mixture of 75% LAS with 25% tallow alkyl sulphate). A preferred ratio of 9:1 is suitable in the case where the anionic surfactant is C14-C15 alkyl sulphate.
- The water content of the paste is between 5% and 35% by weight. A low water content is preferable in order to be able to make high active detergent particles in the granulation/agglomeration step.
- Other ingredients commonly used in detergent compositions can be included in the paste of the present invention. These include additional surfactants, hydrotropes, suds boosters or suds suppressors, antitarnish and anticorrosion agents, soilsuspending agents, soil release agents, germicides, pH adjusting agents, enzyme stabilising agents, perfumes, polymers including polyacrylates, and copolymers including copolymers of maleic and acrylic acids.
- Additional surfactants may be selected from the groups of anionic, zwitterionic, ampholytic, cationic and nonionic surfactants.
- Suitable anionic surfactants include alkyl polyglucosides, alkyl glyceryl ethoxy sulphonates and alkyl glucose amides.
- Suitable nonionic surfactants include the polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenol, and water soluble condensation products of aliphatic alcohols containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, in either straight chain or branched configuration, with from 4 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
- Semipolar nonionic surfactants including amine oxides, phosphine oxides, and sulphoxides are also suitable for use in the paste.
- Ampholytic surfactants including those derived from secondary and tertiary amines, and zwitterionic surfactants including those derived from aliphatic quaternary ammonium , phosphonium and sulphonium compounds may also be used.
- The surfactant paste is preferably produced in a continuous neutralisation system, for example a continuous neutralisation loop available from the Chemithon Corporation, Seattle, WA, USA. In a continuous neutralisation loop, organic sulphuric/sulphonic acid and concentrated metal hydroxide solution (greater than about 45% by weight of the hydroxide) are added to the loop where neutralisation takes place. For this invention, alkali metal hydroxide solution, between 50% and 75% hydroxide is preferred with the higher concentrations leading to less water in the final paste.
- A separate stream of water may also be added to the loop, or mixed with the metal hydroxide in order to achieve the required water level in the finished paste.
- The organic sulphuric/sulphonic acid for use in making the surfactant paste preferably is made by a sulph(on)ation process using SO₃ in a falling film reactor. See "Synthetic Detergents", 7th Ed., A.S. Davidson and B. Milwidsky, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1987, pages 151-168.
- The alkali metal hydroxide is preferably present in slight excess of stoichiometric amount necessary to neutralise the organic sulphuric/sulphonic acid. However, reserve (free) alkalinity should not exceed about 1.5% M₂O (where M is metal)otherwise the paste becomes difficult to circulate because of high viscosity. If reserve alkalinity drops below about 0.1%, the surfactant paste may not be stable long term because of hydrolysis. It is therefore preferred that reserve alkalinity, which can be measured by titration with acid, of the paste in the neutralisation system be between about 0.1% and 1.5%, more preferably between 0.2% and 1.0%, most preferably between about 0.3% and 1.0%.
- The organic sulphuric/sulphonic acid and alkali metal hydroxide are put into the continuous neutralisation loop, preferably at a high shear mixer in the neutralisation loop so that they mix together as rapidly as possible.
- The alkyl ethoxy sulphate can be added at any suitable stage in the process, including post addition to the paste after the neutralisation loop or even in a storage tank, provided enough mechanical energy is provided to intimately mix the alkyl ethoxy sulphate with the salt of the anionic surfactant.
- A preferred embodiment of the invention is to add the alkyl ethoxy sulphates directly into the neutralisation loop. In this way the rheology benefits of the invention are realised in the paste within the neutralisation loop and no additional mixing stage is required later.
- Another alternative is to sulphate the ethoxylated alcohol at the same time as sulph(on)ation of the anionic surfactant. Then both components can be neutralised together in the neutralisation loop to give a paste of the required composition.
- The paste of the invention can be processed into high active detergent agglomerates by any conventional granulation/agglomeration step. This is normally done by agglomerating the paste upon mixing with a dry detergent powder.
- A highly attractive option in a preferred embodiment of the present invention to further increase the concentration of surfactant in the final particle, is accomplished by the addition to a liquid stream containing the anionic surfactant and/or other surfactant, of other elements that result in increases in viscosity and/or melting point and/or decrease the stickiness of the paste. In a preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention the addition of these elements can be done in line as the paste is pumped into the agglomerator. Example of these elements can be various powders, including zeolite, carbonate, silica, silicate, citrate, phosphate, perborate etc. and process aids such a starch.
- Although the preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention involves introduction of the anionic surfactant in via pastes as described above, it is possible to have a certain amount via the powder stream, for example in the form of blown powder. In these embodiments, it is necessary that the stickiness and moisture of the powder stream be kept at low levels, thus preventing increased "loading" of the anionic surfactant and, thus, the production of agglomerates with too high of a concentration of surfactant. The liquid stream of a preferred agglomeration process can also be used to introduce other surfactants and/or polymers. This can be done by premixing the surfactant into one liquid stream or, alternatively by introducing various streams in the agglomerator. These two process embodiments may produce differences in the properties of the finished particles (dispensing, gelling, rate of dissolution, etc.), particularly, if mixed surfactants are allowed to form prior to particle formation. These differences can then be exploited to the advantage of the intended application for each preferred process.
- It has also been observed that by using the presently described technology, it has been possible to incorporate higher levels of certain chemicals (e.g. nonionic, citric acid) in the final formula than via any other known processing route without detrimental effects to some key properties of the matrix (caking, compression, etc.).
- The term "agglomeration," as used herein, means mixing and/or granulation of the above mixture in a fine dispersion mixer at a blade tip speed of from about 5m/sec. to about 50 m/sec., unless otherwise specified. The total residence time of the mixing and granulation process is preferably in the order of from 0.1 to 10 minutes, more preferably 0.1-5 and most preferably 0.2-4 minutes. The more preferred mixing and granulation tip speeds are about 10-45 m/sec. and about 15-40 m/sec.
- Any apparatus, plants or units suitable for the processing of surfactants can be used for carrying out the process according to the invention. Suitable apparatus includes, for example, falling film sulphonating reactors, digestion tanks, esterification reactors, etc. For mixing/agglomeration any of a number of mixers/agglomerators can be used. In one preferred embodiment, the process of the invention is continuously carried out. Especially preferred are mixers of the FukaeR FS-G series manufactured by Fukae Powtech Kogyo Co., Japan; this apparatus is essentially in the form of a bowl-shaped vessel accessible via a top port, provided near its base with a stirrer having a substantially vertical axis, and a cutter positioned on a side wall. The stirrer and cutter may be operated independently of one another and at separately variable speeds. The vessel can be fitted with a cooling jacket or, if necessary, a cryogenic unit.
- Other similar mixers found to be suitable for use in the process of the invention include DiosnaR V series ex Dierks & Söhne, Germany; and the Pharma MatrixR ex T K Fielder Ltd., England. Other mixers believed to be suitable for use in the process of the invention are the FujiR VG-C series ex Fuji Sangyo Co., Japan; and the RotoR ex Zanchetta & Co srl, Italy.
- Other preferred suitable equipment can include EirichR, series RV, manufactured by Gustau Eirich Hardheim, Germany; LödigeR, series FM for batch mixing, series Baud KM for continuous mixing/agglomeration, manufactured by Lödige Maschinenbau GmbH, Paderborn Germany; DraisR T160 series, manufactured by Drais Werke GmbH, Mannheim Germany; and WinkworthR RT 25 series, manufactured by Winkworth Machinery Ltd., Bershire, England.
- The Littleford Mixer, Model #FM-130-D-12, with internal chopping blades and the Cuisinart Food Processor, Model #DCX-Plus, with 7.75 inch (19.7 cm) blades are two examples of suitable mixers. Any other mixer with fine dispersion mixing and granulation capability and having a residence time in the order of 0.1 to 10 minutes can be used. The "turbine-type" impeller mixer, having several blades on an axis of rotation, is preferred. The invention can be practiced as a batch or a continuous process.
- Preferred operating temperatures should also be as low as possible since this leads to a higher surfactant concentration in the finished particle. Preferably the temperature during the agglomeration is less than 100°C, more preferably between 10 and 90°C, and most preferably between 20 and 80°C. Lower operating temperatures useful in the process of the present invention may be achieved by a variety of methods known in the art such as nitrogen cooling, cool water jacketing of the equipment, addition of solid CO₂, and the like; with a preferred method being solid CO₂, and the most preferred method being nitrogen cooling.
- The present invention produces agglomerates of high density for use in detergent compositions. A preferred composition of the final agglomerate for incorporation into granular detergents has a high surfactant concentration. By increasing the concentration of surfactant, the particles/agglomerates made by the present invention are more suitable for a variety of different formulations. These high surfactants containing particle agglomerates require fewer finishing techniques to reach the final agglomerates, thus freeing up large amounts of processing aids (inorganic powders, etc.) that can be used in other processing steps of the overall detergent manufacturing process (spray drying, dusting off, etc).
- The agglomerates made according to the present invention are large, low dust and free flowing, and preferably have a bulk density of from about 0.4 to about 1.2 g/cc, more preferably from about 0.6 to about 0.8 g/cc. The weight average particle size of the particles of this invention are from about 200 to about 1000 microns. The preferred granules so formed have a particle size range of from 200 to 2000 microns. The more preferred granulation temperatures range from about 10°C to about 60°C, and most preferably from about 20°C to about 50°C.
- The desired moisture content of the free flowing agglomerates of this invention can be adjusted to levels adequate for the intended application by drying in conventional powder drying equipment such as fluid bed dryers. If a hot air fluid bed dryer is used, care must be exercised to avoid degradation of heat sensitive components of the granules. It is also advantageous to have a cooling step prior to large scale storage. This step can also be done in a conventional fluid bed operated with cool air. The drying/cooling of the agglomerates can also be done in any other equipment suitable for powder drying such as rotary dryers, etc.
- For detergent applications, the final moisture of the agglomerates needs to be maintained below levels at which the agglomerates can be stored and transported in bulk. The exact moisture level depends on the composition of the agglomerate but is typically achieved at levels of 1-8% free water (i.e. water not associated to any crystalline species in the agglomerate) and most typically at 2-4%.
- The present invention also encompasses free flowing granular detergent compositions containing the agglomerates described hereinabove and processes to make them ;
Said detergent compositions may comprise additional detergency builders and powders which may be added to the agglomerates to give a free flowing granular detergent composition. The additional detergency builder and powders may be combined into an aqeous slurry and spray dried to form a powder, and/or simply added to the agglomerates in a dry powder form. - In a preferred embodiment of the invention at least part of the builder is incorporated into a surfactant free slurry which has physical properties which make it suitable for spray drying by conventional process. A free flowing granular detergent composition is then made by mixing these spray dried particles, with the agglomerates of the invention and with any other detergency builders and powders.
- Any compatible detergency builder or combination of builders or powder can be used in the process and compositions of the present invention.
- The detergent compositions herein can contain crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange material of the formula
Naz[(AlO₂)z·(SiO₂)y]·xH₂O
wherein z and y are at least about 6, the molar ratio of z to y is from about 1.0 to about 0.4 and z is from about 10 to about 264. Amorphous hydrated aluminosilicate materials useful herein have the empirical formula
Mz(zAlO₂·ySiO₂)
wherein M is sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium, z is from about 0.5 to about 2 and y is 1, said material having a magnesium ion exchange capacity of at least about 50 milligram equivalents of CaCO₃ hardness per gram of anhydrous aluminosilicate. Hydrated sodium Zeolite A with a particle size of from about 1 to 10 microns is preferred. - The aluminosilicate ion exchange builder materials herein are in hydrated form and contain from about 10% to about 28% of water by weight if crystalline, and potentially even higher amounts of water if amorphous. Highly preferred crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials contain from about 18% to about 22% water in their crystal matrix. The crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are further characterized by a particle size diameter of from about 0.1 micron to about 10 microns. Amorphous materials are often smaller, e.g., down to less than about 0.01 micron. Preferred ion exchange materials have a particle size diameter of from about 0.2 micron to about 4 microns. The term "particle size diameter" herein represents the average particle size diameter by weight of a given ion exchange material as determined by conventional analytical techniques such as, for example, microscopic determination utilizing a scanning electron microscope. The crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials herein are usually further characterized by their calcium ion exchange capacity, which is at least about 200 mg equivalent of CaCO₃ water hardness/g of aluminosilicate, calculated on an anhydrous basis, and which generally is in the range of from about 300 mg eq./g to about 352 mg eq./g. The aluminosilicate ion exchange materials herein are still further characterized by their calcium ion exchange rate which is at least about 2 grains Ca++/gallon/minute/gram/gallon of aluminosilicate (anhydrous basis), and generally lies within the range of from about 2 grains/gallon/minute/gram/gallon to about 6 grains/gallon/minute/gram/gallon, based on calcium ion hardness. Optimum aluminosilicate for builder purposes exhibit a calcium ion exchange rate of at least about 4 grains/gallon/minute/gram/gallon.
- The amorphous aluminosilicate ion exchange materials usually have a Mg++ exchange of at least about 50 mg eq. CaCO₃/g (12 mg Mg++/g) and a Mg++ exchange rate of at least about 1 grain/gallon/minute/gram/gallon. Amorphous materials do not exhibit an observable diffraction pattern when examined by Cu radiation (1.54 Angstrom Units).
- Aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful in the practice of this invention are commercially available. The aluminosilicates useful in this invention can be crystalline or amorphous in structure and can be naturally occurring aluminosilicates or synthetically derived. A method for producing aluminosilicate ion exchange materials is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,669, Krummel et al., issued Oct. 12, 1976, incorporated herein by reference. Preferred synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful herein are available under the designations Zeolite A, Zeolite B, and Zeolite X. In an especially preferred embodiment, the crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange material has the formula
Na₁₂[(AlO₂)₁₂(SiO2)₁₂]·xH₂O
wherein x is from about 20 to about 30, especially about 27 and has a particle size generally less than about 5 microns. - The granular detergents of the present invention can contain neutral or alkaline salts which have a pH in solution of seven or greater, and can be either organic or inorganic in nature. The builder salt assists in providing the desired density and bulk to the detergent granules herein. While some of the salts are inert, many of them also function as detergency builder materials in the laundering solution.
- Examples of neutral water-soluble salts include the alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium chlorides, fluorides and sulfates. The alkali metal, and especially sodium, salts of the above are preferred. Sodium sulfate is typically used in detergent granules and is a particularly preferred salt. Citric acid and, in general, any other organic or inorganic acid may be incorporated into the granular detergents of the present invention as long as it is chemically compatible with the rest of the agglomerate composition.
- Other useful water-soluble salts include the compounds commonly known as detergent builder materials. Builders are generally selected from the various water-soluble, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium phosphates, polyphosphates, phosphonates, polyphosphonates, carbonates, silicates, borates, and polyhyroxysulfonates. Preferred are the alkali metal, especially sodium, salts of the above.
- Specific examples of inorganic phosphate builders are sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, pyrophosphate, polymeric metaphosphate having a degree of polymerization of from about 6 to 21, and orthophosphate. Examples of polyphosphonate builders are the sodium and potassium salts of ethylene diphosphonic acid, the sodium and potassium salts of ethane 1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid and the sodium and potassium salts of ethane, 1,1,2-triphosphonic acid. Other phosphorus builder compounds are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,159,581; 3,213,030; 3,422,021; 3,422,137; 3,400,176 and 3,400,148, incorporated herein by reference.
- Examples of nonphosphorus, inorganic builders are sodium and potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, tetraborate decahydrate, and silicate having a molar ratio of SiO₂ to alkali metal oxide of from about 0.5 to about 4.0, preferably from about 1.0 to about 2.4. The compositions made by the process of the present invention does not require excess carbonate for processing, and preferably does not contain over 2% finely divided calcium carbonate as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,093, Clarke et al., issued Apr.1, 1980, and is preferably free of the latter.
- As mentioned above powders normally used in detergents such as zeolite, carbonate, silica, silicate, citrate, phosphate, perborate, etc. and process aids such as starch, can be used in preferred embodiments of the present invention.
-
- Fig. 1 shows graphs of shear stress and viscosity plotted against shear rate. The paste tested is 77% by weight sodium C₁₁-C₁₃ linear alkyl benzene sulphonate solution, measured at 70°C.
- Fig. 2 shows graphs of shear stress and viscosity plotted against shear rate. The paste tested is 76% by weight sodium C₁₄-C₁₅ alkyl sulphate solution, measured at 70°C.
- Fig. 3 shows graphs of shear stress plotted against rate for five different paste compositions. The percentage by weight of sodium C₁₄-C₁₅ alkyl sulphate solution : sodium C13-C15 alkyl ethoxy sulphate (with average of 3 ethoxylates) is a) 70:0, b)68:2, c)66.5:3.5, d)63:7, e) 56:14. In each case the aqueous paste is measured at 70°C.
- Fig. 4 shows graphs of shear stress and viscosity plotted against shear rate. The paste tested is 78% by weight of a mixture of sodium C11-C13 linear alkyl benzene sulphonate and sodium tallow alkyl sulphate. The two surfactants being present in equal proportions. The aqueous paste is measured at 70°C.
- Fig. 5 shows graphs of shear stress and viscosity plotted against shear rate. The paste tested is 74.8% by weight of a mixture of sodium C₁₁-C₁₃ linear alkyl sulphonate and sodium tallow alkyl sulphate. The two surfactants being present in equal proportions. The paste also includes 3.2% by weight of sodium C13-15 alkyl ethoxy sulphate (with an average of 3 ethoxylates). The aqueous paste is measured at 70°C.
-
1. In each of the following examples, the anionic surfactant paste was made by sulphation of a fatty alcohol followed by neutralisation by 48-50% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide in a continuous neutralisation loop at production rates between 1 and 2 tonnes/hour.
A 76% active paste of C₁₄-C₁₅ sodium alkyl sulphate has a rheological profile as shown in Figure 2. There is a distinct shear thickening region at shear rates of between about 20 and 40 s⁻¹.
The following examples a-e illustrate how the rheological profile is modified by the addition of C₁₃-C₁₅ sodium alkyl ethoxy sulphate (with an average of 3 ethoxylate groups) In examples b-e the alkyl ethoxy sulphate is injected into the neutralisation loop.a b c d e Alkyl sulphate 70 68 66.5 63 56 Alkyl ethoxy sulphate 0 2 3.5 7 14 water(and misc.)* 30 30 30 30 30
The shear thickening behaviour of compositions a-c can be seen in Figure 3. By contrast, examples d and e do not show shear thickening behaviour, but rather they behave as shear thinning liquids (with a yield point).
2. In the following example a mixture of C₁₁-C₁₃ linear alkyl benzene sulphonate and tallow alkyl sulphate (equal parts of each by weight) was made by coneutralisation with a 48-50% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide at a production rate of 1-2 tonnes/hour.F (Fig. 4) G (Fig. 5) C₁₁-C₁₃ LAS 39 37.1 TAS 39 37.4 Alkyl ethoxy sulphate 0 3.2 water (and misc.)* 22 22
The compositions in example F (see Fig. 4) behaves erratically in the neutralisation loop because of large pressure fluctuations caused by the rheological characteristics of this composition. This makes steady state production of this paste composition impossible by continuous neutralisation loop.
The composition in example G (see Fig. 5) contains 3.2% by weight of C₁₃-C₁₅ alkyl ethoxy sulphate (average of 3 ethoxylates) which makes the resulting paste composition behave as a shear thinning liquid. - Note :
- In examples 1 and 2 the total percentage reported for water also includes a low level of impurities, mainly unsulph(on)ated materials e.g. alcohols, fatty acids.
Claims (14)
- A detergent paste composition comprising:(a) from 50% to 94% by weight of an anionic surfactant, selected from salts of
C12-C20 alkyl sulphate, branched or linear C10-C16 alkyl benzene sulphonate, C14-C16 olefin or paraffin sulphonate, salts of higher (C12-C18) fatty acids, C12-C20 alkyl methyl ester sulphonate, and mixtures thereof;(b) from 1% to 30% by weight of an alkyl ethoxy sulphate of the formula R(OC2H4)nOSO3 M
wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, branched or linear, containing from 10 to 18 carbon atoms, the average number of ethoxylate groups n is between 1 and 7, and M is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal ammonium or substituted ammonium,(c) from 5% to 35% by weight water;
said paste having a viscosity greater than 10Pa.s at a temperature of 70°C and measured at a shear rate of 25s⁻¹. - A detergent paste according to claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant (a) is present at a level from 60% to 85% by weight of the composition.
- A detergent paste according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the alkyl ethoxy sulphate (b) is present at a level from 1% to 15% by weight of the composition.
- A detergent paste according to any of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the viscosity of the paste is greater than 20 Pa.s at a temperature of 70°C and measured at a shear rate of 25s⁻¹.
- A detergent paste according to any of the claims 1 to 4 wherein the average number of ethoxylate groups, n, in the alkyl ethoxy sulphate (b) lies between 2 and 4.
- A detergent paste according to any of the claims 1 to 5 wherein the ratio of anionic surfactant (a) to alkyl ethoxy sulphate (b) lies between 9:1 and 50:1.
- A detergent paste according to any of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the anionic surfactant (a) comprises tallow alkyl sulphate, C11-C13 linear alkyl benzene sulphonate, or a mixture thereof; and an alkyl ethoxy sulphate (b) comprising a branched C12-C15 alkyl ethoxy sulphate with an average of 3 ethoxylate groups.
- A high active detergent agglomerate, containing 30%-80% by weight of the paste in any of the claims 1 to 7.
- A high active detergent agglomerate according to claim 8 comprising a dry detergent powder selected from zeolite, carbonate, silica, silicate, citrate, phosphate, perborate, starch and mixtures thereof.
- A process for making a paste composition according to claims 1-7, including the continuous neutralisation of the anionic surfactant (a) in a neutralising loop, with an alkali metal, preferably sodium, hydroxide.
- A process according to claim 10 wherein the alkyl ethoxy sulphate (b) is added after the neutralisation of the anionic Surfactant (a).
- A process according to claim 10 wherein the alkyl ethoxy sulphate (b) is added as a salt to the neutralisation loop during neutralisation of the anionic surfactant (a).
- A process according to claim 10 wherein the anionic surfactant (a) and the alkyl ethoxy sulphate (b) are cosulph(on)ated before neutralisation.
- A process for making a free flowing granular detergent comprising the mixing of an effective amount of a detergent paste according to any of claims 1 to 7 and an effective amount of a dry detergency powder, rapidly forming a uniform mixture from said mix, granulating said mixture into discrete detergent agglomerates and admixing said detergent agglomerates with the remainder of the detergent composition.
Priority Applications (19)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE69229218T DE69229218T2 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1992-03-10 | Highly active surfactant pastes |
EP92870040A EP0560001B1 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1992-03-10 | High active detergent pastes |
DK92870040T DK0560001T3 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1992-03-10 | Highly active detergent pastes |
ES92870040T ES2131524T3 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1992-03-10 | VERY ACTIVE DETERGENT PASTES. |
AT92870040T ATE180273T1 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1992-03-10 | HIGHLY ACTIVE SURFACTANT PASTES |
US08/295,858 US5529722A (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-01 | High active detergent pastes |
AU37813/93A AU3781393A (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-01 | High active detergent pastes |
JP51579793A JP3514758B2 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-01 | Highly active detergent paste |
PCT/US1993/001790 WO1993018123A1 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-01 | High active detergent pastes |
CA002131172A CA2131172C (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-01 | High active detergent pastes |
TR00164/93A TR27088A (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-03 | High altitude detergent pastes. |
EG13793A EG19954A (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-08 | High active detergent pastes |
PH45832A PH30683A (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-08 | High active detergent pastes |
MA23111A MA22817A1 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-08 | VERY ACTIVE DETERGENT PASTA. |
IE017593A IE930175A1 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-09 | High active detergent pastes |
MX9301337A MX9301337A (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-10 | HIGHLY ACTIVE DETERGENT PASTES. |
CN93104045A CN1054630C (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1993-03-10 | High active detergent pastes |
CN97122640A CN1098351C (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1997-11-27 | Process for making detergent paste |
JP2002271900A JP2003147390A (en) | 1992-03-10 | 2002-09-18 | Highly active detergent paste |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP92870040A EP0560001B1 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1992-03-10 | High active detergent pastes |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0560001A1 true EP0560001A1 (en) | 1993-09-15 |
EP0560001B1 EP0560001B1 (en) | 1999-05-19 |
Family
ID=8212244
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP92870040A Expired - Lifetime EP0560001B1 (en) | 1992-03-10 | 1992-03-10 | High active detergent pastes |
Country Status (16)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0560001B1 (en) |
JP (2) | JP3514758B2 (en) |
CN (2) | CN1054630C (en) |
AT (1) | ATE180273T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU3781393A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2131172C (en) |
DE (1) | DE69229218T2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK0560001T3 (en) |
EG (1) | EG19954A (en) |
ES (1) | ES2131524T3 (en) |
IE (1) | IE930175A1 (en) |
MA (1) | MA22817A1 (en) |
MX (1) | MX9301337A (en) |
PH (1) | PH30683A (en) |
TR (1) | TR27088A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1993018123A1 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0663439A1 (en) * | 1994-01-17 | 1995-07-19 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for preparing detergent granules |
GB2288409A (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 1995-10-18 | Albright & Wilson | Structured surfactants |
WO1996027655A1 (en) * | 1995-03-07 | 1996-09-12 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for producing detergent agglomerates from high active surfactant pastes having non-linear viscoelastic properties |
WO1997007196A1 (en) * | 1995-08-15 | 1997-02-27 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for making high density detergent composition using conditioned air |
EP0816486A1 (en) * | 1996-07-04 | 1998-01-07 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for conditioning of surfactant pastes to form high active surfactant agglomerates |
DE19648014A1 (en) * | 1996-11-20 | 1998-06-04 | Henkel Kgaa | Anhydrous surfactant mixtures |
WO1998038279A1 (en) * | 1997-02-27 | 1998-09-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for making a detergent composition by adding co-surfactants |
EP0673365B2 (en) † | 1992-12-14 | 2000-11-02 | Unilever Plc | Detergent production |
US6166095A (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 2000-12-26 | Albright & Wilson Uk Limited | Method of preparing a drilling fluid comprising structured surfactants |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1996025482A1 (en) * | 1995-02-13 | 1996-08-22 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for producing detergent agglomerates in which particle size is controlled |
CA2921073A1 (en) * | 2013-09-09 | 2015-03-12 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process of making a liquid cleaning composition |
CN105849085B (en) * | 2013-12-27 | 2017-12-19 | 花王株式会社 | The manufacture method of internal olefin sulphonates |
JP2019099794A (en) * | 2017-11-29 | 2019-06-24 | 花王株式会社 | Internal olefin sulfonate composition, and preservation method of internal olefin sulfonate |
US20190292490A1 (en) * | 2018-03-22 | 2019-09-26 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process of making liquid household care compositions |
MX2020011976A (en) * | 2018-05-10 | 2021-01-15 | Procter & Gamble | Detergent granule. |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2195679A1 (en) * | 1972-08-08 | 1974-03-08 | Nitto Chemical Industry Co Ltd | |
FR2371509A1 (en) * | 1976-11-18 | 1978-06-16 | Shell Int Research | DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS |
FR2568584A1 (en) * | 1984-08-06 | 1986-02-07 | Kao Corp | HIGH DENSITY POWDER DETERGENT AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING THE SAME |
EP0172742A2 (en) * | 1984-08-17 | 1986-02-26 | Unilever N.V. | Detergent compositions |
EP0349200A2 (en) * | 1988-06-29 | 1990-01-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for making concentrated surfactant granules |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US469227A (en) * | 1892-02-23 | William g | ||
DE1692009B2 (en) * | 1968-02-17 | 1973-02-15 | Farbwerke Hoechst AG, vormals Mei ster Lucius & Bruning, 6000 Frankfurt | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING PUMPABLE, FLOWABLE DETERGENT PASTE |
JPS5116036B2 (en) * | 1972-05-23 | 1976-05-21 | ||
US4692271B1 (en) * | 1977-12-09 | 1997-07-22 | Albright & Wilson | Concentrated aqueous surfactant compositions |
DE2921366A1 (en) * | 1978-05-26 | 1979-12-06 | Albright & Wilson | CONCENTRATED Aqueous SURFACE PREPARATION |
DE3066054D1 (en) * | 1979-09-01 | 1984-02-09 | Henkel Kgaa | Watery tenside concentrates and process for the improvement of the flowing property of difficultly movable watery tenside concentrates |
DE3168008D1 (en) * | 1980-04-24 | 1985-02-14 | Procter & Gamble | Liquid detergent compositions |
US4487710A (en) * | 1982-03-01 | 1984-12-11 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Granular detergents containing anionic surfactant and ethoxylated surfactant solubility aid |
GB8412045D0 (en) * | 1984-05-11 | 1984-06-20 | Unilever Plc | Detergent compositions |
JP2662221B2 (en) * | 1987-07-15 | 1997-10-08 | 花王株式会社 | High density granular concentrated detergent composition |
US5080848A (en) * | 1988-12-22 | 1992-01-14 | The Proctor & Gamble Company | Process for making concentrated surfactant granules |
CA2017922C (en) * | 1989-06-09 | 1995-07-11 | Frank Joseph Mueller | Formation of discrete, high active detergent granules using a continuous neutralization system |
-
1992
- 1992-03-10 DK DK92870040T patent/DK0560001T3/en active
- 1992-03-10 AT AT92870040T patent/ATE180273T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-03-10 DE DE69229218T patent/DE69229218T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-03-10 EP EP92870040A patent/EP0560001B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-03-10 ES ES92870040T patent/ES2131524T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1993
- 1993-03-01 AU AU37813/93A patent/AU3781393A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-03-01 WO PCT/US1993/001790 patent/WO1993018123A1/en active Application Filing
- 1993-03-01 CA CA002131172A patent/CA2131172C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-03-01 JP JP51579793A patent/JP3514758B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-03-03 TR TR00164/93A patent/TR27088A/en unknown
- 1993-03-08 MA MA23111A patent/MA22817A1/en unknown
- 1993-03-08 EG EG13793A patent/EG19954A/en active
- 1993-03-08 PH PH45832A patent/PH30683A/en unknown
- 1993-03-09 IE IE017593A patent/IE930175A1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1993-03-10 CN CN93104045A patent/CN1054630C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-03-10 MX MX9301337A patent/MX9301337A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1997
- 1997-11-27 CN CN97122640A patent/CN1098351C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2002
- 2002-09-18 JP JP2002271900A patent/JP2003147390A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2195679A1 (en) * | 1972-08-08 | 1974-03-08 | Nitto Chemical Industry Co Ltd | |
FR2371509A1 (en) * | 1976-11-18 | 1978-06-16 | Shell Int Research | DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS |
FR2568584A1 (en) * | 1984-08-06 | 1986-02-07 | Kao Corp | HIGH DENSITY POWDER DETERGENT AND PROCESS FOR PREPARING THE SAME |
EP0172742A2 (en) * | 1984-08-17 | 1986-02-26 | Unilever N.V. | Detergent compositions |
EP0349200A2 (en) * | 1988-06-29 | 1990-01-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for making concentrated surfactant granules |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS, vol. 110, no. 26, 26 June 1989, Columbus, Ohio, US; abstract no. 233685, JP-A-01020298 * |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0673365B2 (en) † | 1992-12-14 | 2000-11-02 | Unilever Plc | Detergent production |
US6166095A (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 2000-12-26 | Albright & Wilson Uk Limited | Method of preparing a drilling fluid comprising structured surfactants |
GB2288409A (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 1995-10-18 | Albright & Wilson | Structured surfactants |
GB2288409B (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 1997-12-03 | Albright & Wilson | Structured surfactants |
EP0663439A1 (en) * | 1994-01-17 | 1995-07-19 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for preparing detergent granules |
WO1996027655A1 (en) * | 1995-03-07 | 1996-09-12 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for producing detergent agglomerates from high active surfactant pastes having non-linear viscoelastic properties |
WO1997007196A1 (en) * | 1995-08-15 | 1997-02-27 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for making high density detergent composition using conditioned air |
CN1133740C (en) * | 1995-08-15 | 2004-01-07 | 普罗格特-甘布尔公司 | Process for making high density detergent composition using conditioned air |
EP0816486A1 (en) * | 1996-07-04 | 1998-01-07 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for conditioning of surfactant pastes to form high active surfactant agglomerates |
DE19648014A1 (en) * | 1996-11-20 | 1998-06-04 | Henkel Kgaa | Anhydrous surfactant mixtures |
US6165961A (en) * | 1996-11-20 | 2000-12-26 | Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien | Water-free surface-active agents |
DE19648014C2 (en) * | 1996-11-20 | 2002-09-19 | Cognis Deutschland Gmbh | Anhydrous surfactant mixtures |
WO1998038279A1 (en) * | 1997-02-27 | 1998-09-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for making a detergent composition by adding co-surfactants |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EG19954A (en) | 1999-05-31 |
MA22817A1 (en) | 1993-10-01 |
CN1098351C (en) | 2003-01-08 |
EP0560001B1 (en) | 1999-05-19 |
DK0560001T3 (en) | 1999-11-08 |
DE69229218T2 (en) | 1999-12-16 |
PH30683A (en) | 1997-09-16 |
ES2131524T3 (en) | 1999-08-01 |
WO1993018123A1 (en) | 1993-09-16 |
CN1190670A (en) | 1998-08-19 |
AU3781393A (en) | 1993-10-05 |
CA2131172A1 (en) | 1993-09-16 |
JPH07507818A (en) | 1995-08-31 |
CA2131172C (en) | 1998-08-18 |
JP2003147390A (en) | 2003-05-21 |
JP3514758B2 (en) | 2004-03-31 |
DE69229218D1 (en) | 1999-06-24 |
IE930175A1 (en) | 1993-09-22 |
CN1077486A (en) | 1993-10-20 |
CN1054630C (en) | 2000-07-19 |
TR27088A (en) | 1994-10-18 |
MX9301337A (en) | 1994-01-31 |
ATE180273T1 (en) | 1999-06-15 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP0508543B1 (en) | Chemical structuring of surfactant pastes to form high active surfactant granules | |
US4925585A (en) | Detergent granules from cold dough using fine dispersion granulation | |
US5616550A (en) | Process for the continuous production of a granular detergent | |
US4487710A (en) | Granular detergents containing anionic surfactant and ethoxylated surfactant solubility aid | |
US5366652A (en) | Process for making high density detergent agglomerates using an anhydrous powder additive | |
EP0510746A2 (en) | Process for preparing condensed detergent granules | |
EP0560001B1 (en) | High active detergent pastes | |
US5712242A (en) | High active granular detergents comprising chelants and polymers, and processes for their preparation | |
EP0578871B1 (en) | Process and compositions for compact detergents | |
US5494599A (en) | Agglomeration of high active pastes to form surfactant granules useful in detergent compositions | |
CA2140285C (en) | Detergent compositions | |
US5529722A (en) | High active detergent pastes | |
US5451354A (en) | Chemical structuring of surfactant pastes to form high active surfactant granules | |
EP0816486B1 (en) | Process for conditioning of surfactant pastes to form high active surfactant agglomerates | |
WO1992018603A1 (en) | Agglomeration of high active pastes to form surfactant granules useful in detergent compositions | |
US6172033B1 (en) | Process for conditioning of surfactant pastes to form high active surfactant agglomerates |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL PT SE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19940301 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19960918 |
|
GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
GRAG | Despatch of communication of intention to grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA |
|
GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
GRAH | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL PT SE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 19990519 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 19990519 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19990519 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 19990519 Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 19990519 Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 19990519 |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 180273 Country of ref document: AT Date of ref document: 19990615 Kind code of ref document: T |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 69229218 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19990624 |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: ES Ref legal event code: FG2A Ref document number: 2131524 Country of ref document: ES Kind code of ref document: T3 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 19990819 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DK Ref legal event code: T3 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20000310 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: IF02 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DK Payment date: 20040123 Year of fee payment: 13 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Payment date: 20040303 Year of fee payment: 13 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20050302 Year of fee payment: 14 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20050311 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20050331 |
|
EUG | Se: european patent has lapsed | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DK Ref legal event code: EBP |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20060206 Year of fee payment: 15 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: ES Payment date: 20060313 Year of fee payment: 15 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20060330 Year of fee payment: 15 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Payment date: 20060331 Year of fee payment: 15 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20070310 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: ST Effective date: 20071130 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20071002 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20070310 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: ES Ref legal event code: FD2A Effective date: 20070312 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20070402 Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20070312 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20060331 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20070310 |