EP1448483A1 - Water-softening tablet - Google Patents
Water-softening tabletInfo
- Publication number
- EP1448483A1 EP1448483A1 EP02781405A EP02781405A EP1448483A1 EP 1448483 A1 EP1448483 A1 EP 1448483A1 EP 02781405 A EP02781405 A EP 02781405A EP 02781405 A EP02781405 A EP 02781405A EP 1448483 A1 EP1448483 A1 EP 1448483A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- water
- softening
- region
- salt
- compressed
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N citric acid group Chemical group C(CC(O)(C(=O)O)CC(=O)O)(=O)O KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 33
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 claims description 16
- BPQQTUXANYXVAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Orthosilicate Chemical group [O-][Si]([O-])([O-])[O-] BPQQTUXANYXVAA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-Propenoic acid Natural products OC(=O)C=C NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- SMZOUWXMTYCWNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-(2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)ethanamine Chemical compound COC1=CC=C(C)C=C1CCN SMZOUWXMTYCWNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- LSNNMFCWUKXFEE-UHFFFAOYSA-M Bisulfite Chemical compound OS([O-])=O LSNNMFCWUKXFEE-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 3
- ABLZXFCXXLZCGV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphorous acid Chemical compound OP(O)=O ABLZXFCXXLZCGV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- OFOBLEOULBTSOW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propanedioic acid Natural products OC(=O)CC(O)=O OFOBLEOULBTSOW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001519 homopolymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- VZCYOOQTPOCHFL-UPHRSURJSA-N maleic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)\C=C/C(O)=O VZCYOOQTPOCHFL-UPHRSURJSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011976 maleic acid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- VZCYOOQTPOCHFL-UHFFFAOYSA-N trans-butenedioic acid Natural products OC(=O)C=CC(O)=O VZCYOOQTPOCHFL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 13
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 abstract description 11
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000008233 hard water Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000005342 ion exchange Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229910000323 aluminium silicate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910000503 Na-aluminosilicate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000004115 Sodium Silicate Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910001424 calcium ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 229910021645 metal ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 235000012217 sodium aluminium silicate Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- NTHWMYGWWRZVTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium silicate Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-][Si]([O-])=O NTHWMYGWWRZVTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910052911 sodium silicate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- BHPQYMZQTOCNFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium cation Chemical compound [Ca+2] BHPQYMZQTOCNFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 2
- 229920000615 alginic acid Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 235000010443 alginic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229940043430 calcium compound Drugs 0.000 description 2
- HNPSIPDUKPIQMN-UHFFFAOYSA-N dioxosilane;oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Si]=O.O=[Al]O[Al]=O HNPSIPDUKPIQMN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010457 zeolite Substances 0.000 description 2
- KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N EDTA Chemical compound OC(=O)CN(CC(O)=O)CCN(CC(O)=O)CC(O)=O KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- JLVVSXFLKOJNIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium ion Chemical compound [Mg+2] JLVVSXFLKOJNIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920000388 Polyphosphate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004902 Softening Agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910021536 Zeolite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical class [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920006243 acrylic copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- -1 acrylic phosphonates Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000004480 active ingredient Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052783 alkali metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- ANBBXQWFNXMHLD-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminum;sodium;oxygen(2-) Chemical compound [O-2].[O-2].[Na+].[Al+3] ANBBXQWFNXMHLD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002821 anti-nucleating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 244000309464 bull Species 0.000 description 1
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001674 calcium compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910001385 heavy metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000004435 hydrogen atom Chemical class [H]* 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000002681 magnesium compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910001425 magnesium ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002736 metal compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002667 nucleating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000704 physical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000058 polyacrylate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000001205 polyphosphate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011176 polyphosphates Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920005996 polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene)-polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000004760 silicates Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000344 soap Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001388 sodium aluminate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000429 sodium aluminium silicate Substances 0.000 description 1
- URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium aluminosilicate Chemical compound [Na+].[Al+3].[O-][Si]([O-])=O.[O-][Si]([O-])=O URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 159000000000 sodium salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003871 sulfonates Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 1
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
- C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
- C11D3/16—Organic compounds
- C11D3/37—Polymers
- C11D3/3746—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- C11D3/3757—(Co)polymerised carboxylic acids, -anhydrides, -esters in solid and liquid compositions
- C11D3/3761—(Co)polymerised carboxylic acids, -anhydrides, -esters in solid and liquid compositions in solid compositions
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F5/00—Softening water; Preventing scale; Adding scale preventatives or scale removers to water, e.g. adding sequestering agents
- C02F5/08—Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents
- C02F5/10—Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents using organic substances
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F5/00—Softening water; Preventing scale; Adding scale preventatives or scale removers to water, e.g. adding sequestering agents
- C02F5/08—Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents
- C02F5/10—Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents using organic substances
- C02F5/14—Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents using organic substances containing phosphorus
-
- 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
- C11D17/0047—Detergents in the form of bars or tablets
- C11D17/0065—Solid detergents containing builders
- C11D17/0073—Tablets
-
- 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
- C11D17/0047—Detergents in the form of bars or tablets
- C11D17/0065—Solid detergents containing builders
- C11D17/0073—Tablets
- C11D17/0078—Multilayered tablets
-
- 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
- C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
- C11D3/02—Inorganic compounds ; Elemental compounds
- C11D3/12—Water-insoluble compounds
- C11D3/124—Silicon containing, e.g. silica, silex, quartz or glass beads
- C11D3/1246—Silicates, e.g. diatomaceous earth
- C11D3/128—Aluminium silicates, e.g. zeolites
-
- 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
- C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
- C11D3/16—Organic compounds
- C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
- C11D3/2075—Carboxylic acids-salts thereof
- C11D3/2086—Hydroxy carboxylic acids-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
- C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
- C11D3/16—Organic compounds
- C11D3/37—Polymers
- C11D3/3746—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- C11D3/378—(Co)polymerised monomers containing sulfur, e.g. sulfonate
-
- 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
- C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
- C11D3/16—Organic compounds
- C11D3/37—Polymers
- C11D3/3746—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
- C11D3/3784—(Co)polymerised monomers containing phosphorus
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2103/00—Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated
- C02F2103/02—Non-contaminated water, e.g. for industrial water supply
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2305/00—Use of specific compounds during water treatment
- C02F2305/14—Additives which dissolves or releases substances when predefined environmental conditions are reached, e.g. pH or temperature
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method of softening water and/or in which the deposition of hard water scale is inhibited.
- the invention relates in particular to such a method carried out in a domestic environment, in particular in ware-washing machines.
- the invention also relates to compressed water-softening compositions for such methods in which at least one water-softening ingredients are unevenly distributed between at least two regions .
- Suitable levels of "hardness” are between 150 N and 250 N (the test conditions being set out in the Example section) .
- Suitable levels of "friability” are between 2% and 9% (the test conditions being set out in the Example section) .
- Suitable "disintegration" times are between 5 seconds and 180 seconds, when place in 11 of gently stirred water.
- Multi-region compressed compositions are now of interest in being able to provide such advantages as differential release of actives, or delayed release of one region.
- Developing multi-region compressed compositions is time consuming and expensive due to ingredients reacting to the same physical conditions in different ways, such as moisture or temperature fluctuations. This is may lead to problems at the interface between the regions and the need to prevent separation, which can be caused, for example, by differential expansion. Therefore there is a need to balance the physical properties between the regions even where the composition in each region may be different.
- the starting point is usually to start by keeping the compositions between the regions as similar as possible.
- water-softening ingredients are generally highly crystalline and are not easily bound into a compressed formulation, such as citric acid and their salts thereof, and silicates.
- water- softening polymers being a homo or co polymer of the following monomeric units or a salt thereof; an acrylic acid, a maleic acid, a sulfonic acid or a phosphonic acid.
- a compressed water-softening composition having at least two regions comprising at least one water- softening active, preferably a homo or co polymer of the following monomeric units or a salt thereof; an acrylic acid, a maleic acid, a sulfonic acid or a phosphonic acid wherein the weight excess of the polymer in at least one region is at least 5%, ideally greater than 7%, 10%, 12%, 20%, 50%, 75% or 95% greater than in a second region.
- a preferred active is citric acid or its salt, ideally the sodium salt.
- citric acid, or a salt thereof, between the regions of the compressed formulation affect the values discussed above.
- a preferred distribution is the weight excess of citric acid or its salt in at least one region is at least
- 5%w/w ideally greater than 7%, 10%, 12%, 20%, 50%, 75% or 95% greater than in a second region.
- concentration of the citric acid, or salt thereof should be lower in the region with the higher polymer concentration and vice versa .
- Additional preferred actives can be a silicate or any one of those described below as Ion exchange agents.
- a preferred distribution is the weight excess of silicate or other Ion exchange agent in at least one region is at least 5%w/w, ideally greater than 7%, 10%, 12%, 20%, 50%, 75% or 95% greater than in a second region.
- the distribution of polymer and/or citric acid, or a salt thereof is the same as that of the silicate, i.e. the concentration of the silicate should be higher in the region with the highest concentration of polymer and/or citric acid, or salt thereof.
- Ion exchange agents - such agents include alkali metal (preferably sodium) aluminosilicates either crystalline, amorphous or a mixture of the two.
- alkali metal preferably sodium
- Such aluminosilicates generally have a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 mg CaO per gram of aluminosilicate, comply with a general formula:
- sodium aluminosilicates within the above formula contain 1.5-3.0 Si0 2 units. Both amorphous and crystalline aluminosilicates can be prepared by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as amply described in the literature.
- Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion- exchange detergency builders are described, for example, in GB 1429143 (Procter & Gamble) .
- the preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well known commercially available zeolites A and X, and mixtures thereof.
- zeolite P described in EP 384070 (Unilever) .
- Another class of compounds are the layered sodium silicate builders, such as are disclosed in US-A-4464839 and US-A-4820439 and also referred to in EP-A-551375.
- M denotes sodium or hydrogen
- x is from 1.9 to 4
- y is from 0 to 20.
- Ion capture agents - agents which prevent metal ions from forming insoluble salts or reacting with surfactants, such as polyphosphate, monomeric polycarbonates, such as citric acid or salts thereof, EDTA, algins, alginates.
- surfactants such as polyphosphate, monomeric polycarbonates, such as citric acid or salts thereof, EDTA, algins, alginates.
- Anti-nucleating agents - agents which prevent seed crystal growth such as polycarbonate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphonates, and sulfonates.
- compositions may be used in ware washing using a machine or a manual method.
- the compositions may also be used to soften water in other cleaning methods such as hard surfaces, for example using a hand-cloth or mop, and an open vessel, for example a bucket or bowl.
- the cleaning method could be a method of cleaning a hard surface, for example a window, a tiled surface, shower screen, dirty tableware and kitchenware, a sanitary article, for example a bath, shower screen, lavatory, wash basin or sink, a car or a kitchen worktop.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Emergency Medicine (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Detergent Compositions (AREA)
- Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
Abstract
This invention relates to a method of softening water and/or in which the deposition of hard water scale is inhibited. The invention relates in particular to such a method carried out in a domestic environment, in particular in ware-washing machines. The invention also relates to compressed water-softening compositions for such methods in which at least one water-softening ingredients are unevenly distributed between at least two regions of the compressed water-softening composition.
Description
WATER-SOFTENING TABLET
This invention relates to a method of softening water and/or in which the deposition of hard water scale is inhibited. The invention relates in particular to such a method carried out in a domestic environment, in particular in ware-washing machines. The invention also relates to compressed water-softening compositions for such methods in which at least one water-softening ingredients are unevenly distributed between at least two regions .
It is well known that certain metal compounds, notably calcium compounds, when present in water, have a significant effect on the properties of the water. For example, "hard" water containing a significant loading of soluble calcium and magnesium compounds may require a large amount of soap or detergent in order to form a lather. Scale deposits can readily form from such water, for example on heating or pH change or evaporation. These can be encrustations, or watermarks left on evaporation of water droplets from, especially, a shiny surface .
There have been many proposals for removal of metal ions from aqueous solutions. In the industrial context proposals have included filter beds and polymeric filters for capturing heavy metal ions from an aqueous solution flowing within a passageway. Examples are given in EP992238A and GB20869564A. In the domestic context chelating compositions can be added to an aqueous washing solution and these can capture metal ions, such as
calcium ions. Examples of chelating compositions are given in EP892040A.
Increasingly popular is the delivery of cleaning and water-softening compositions as compressed compositions, typically a tablet. These are convenient providing a unit dosage which is easily handled. Difficulties arise in the production of such compressed compositions in balancing the needs that the ' compressed composition is suitably hard and non-friable under transportation conditions but yet is not so compacted that it cannot easily disintegrate. Suitable levels of "hardness" are between 150 N and 250 N (the test conditions being set out in the Example section) . Suitable levels of "friability" are between 2% and 9% (the test conditions being set out in the Example section) . Suitable "disintegration" times are between 5 seconds and 180 seconds, when place in 11 of gently stirred water.
Multi-region compressed compositions are now of interest in being able to provide such advantages as differential release of actives, or delayed release of one region. Developing multi-region compressed compositions is time consuming and expensive due to ingredients reacting to the same physical conditions in different ways, such as moisture or temperature fluctuations. This is may lead to problems at the interface between the regions and the need to prevent separation, which can be caused, for example, by differential expansion. Therefore there is a need to balance the physical properties between the regions even where the composition in each region may be different. To
aid ease of development the starting point is usually to start by keeping the compositions between the regions as similar as possible.
A particular problem found with producing such a multi-region product is that the water-softening ingredients are generally highly crystalline and are not easily bound into a compressed formulation, such as citric acid and their salts thereof, and silicates.
We have found that for certain common actives in water-softening compositions the distribution of the active ingredients between two regions in mutual contact with each other is important. In particular water- softening polymers, being a homo or co polymer of the following monomeric units or a salt thereof; an acrylic acid, a maleic acid, a sulfonic acid or a phosphonic acid.
Therefore we present as a feature of the invention a compressed water-softening composition having at least two regions comprising at least one water- softening active, preferably a homo or co polymer of the following monomeric units or a salt thereof; an acrylic acid, a maleic acid, a sulfonic acid or a phosphonic acid wherein the weight excess of the polymer in at least one region is at least 5%, ideally greater than 7%, 10%, 12%, 20%, 50%, 75% or 95% greater than in a second region.
Additional water-softening actives may also be present as described below. A preferred active is citric acid or its salt, ideally the sodium salt. We have also
found that the distribution of citric acid, or a salt thereof, between the regions of the compressed formulation affect the values discussed above. A preferred distribution is the weight excess of citric acid or its salt in at least one region is at least
5%w/w, ideally greater than 7%, 10%, 12%, 20%, 50%, 75% or 95% greater than in a second region. Preferably we have found that the distribution of polymer is opposite to that of the citric acid or salt thereof, i.e. the concentration of the citric acid, or salt thereof, should be lower in the region with the higher polymer concentration and vice versa .
Additional preferred actives can be a silicate or any one of those described below as Ion exchange agents. A preferred distribution is the weight excess of silicate or other Ion exchange agent in at least one region is at least 5%w/w, ideally greater than 7%, 10%, 12%, 20%, 50%, 75% or 95% greater than in a second region. Preferably we have found that the distribution of polymer and/or citric acid, or a salt thereof, is the same as that of the silicate, i.e. the concentration of the silicate should be higher in the region with the highest concentration of polymer and/or citric acid, or salt thereof.
There are three main types of method of action for water softening actives, described below.
1) Ion exchange agents - such agents include alkali metal (preferably sodium) aluminosilicates either crystalline, amorphous or a mixture of the two. Such aluminosilicates generally have a calcium ion exchange
capacity of at least 50 mg CaO per gram of aluminosilicate, comply with a general formula:
0.8-1.5 Na20 . Al203 . 0.8-6 Si02
and incorporate some water. Preferred sodium aluminosilicates within the above formula contain 1.5-3.0 Si02 units. Both amorphous and crystalline aluminosilicates can be prepared by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as amply described in the literature.
Suitable crystalline sodium aluminosilicate ion- exchange detergency builders are described, for example, in GB 1429143 (Procter & Gamble) . The preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the well known commercially available zeolites A and X, and mixtures thereof. Also of interest is zeolite P described in EP 384070 (Unilever) .
Another class of compounds are the layered sodium silicate builders, such as are disclosed in US-A-4464839 and US-A-4820439 and also referred to in EP-A-551375.
These materials are defined in US-A-4820439 as being crystalline layered, sodium silicate of the general formula
NaMSix02x+ι . YH20
where
M denotes sodium or hydrogen, x is from 1.9 to 4 and y is from 0 to 20.
Quoted literature references describing the preparation of such materials include Glastechn. Ber.
37,194-200 (1964), Zeitschrift fur Kristallogr. 129, 396- 404 (1969), Bull. Soc . Franc. Min. Crist., 95, 371-382 (1972) and Amer. Mineral, 62, 763-771 (1977) . These materials also function to remove calcium and magnesium ions from water, also covered are salts of zinc which have also been shown to be effective water softening agents .
2) Ion capture agents - agents which prevent metal ions from forming insoluble salts or reacting with surfactants, such as polyphosphate, monomeric polycarbonates, such as citric acid or salts thereof, EDTA, algins, alginates.
3) Anti-nucleating agents - agents which prevent seed crystal growth, such as polycarbonate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic/maleic copolymers, and acrylic phosphonates, and sulfonates.
The compositions may be used in ware washing using a machine or a manual method. The compositions may also be used to soften water in other cleaning methods such as hard surfaces, for example using a hand-cloth or mop, and an open vessel, for example a bucket or bowl. Thus, the cleaning method could be a method of cleaning a hard surface, for example a window, a tiled surface, shower screen, dirty tableware and kitchenware, a sanitary
article, for example a bath, shower screen, lavatory, wash basin or sink, a car or a kitchen worktop.
The invention will now be described, by way of embodiment, with reference to the following Examples.
Examples
Hardness Test
Using a dynamometer with a test piston diameter of 8 mm and a piston speed 30 mm per minute (a machine such as the ERWEKA tablet hardness tester THB 30 may be used) the maximum hardness of the tablet just prior to breakage is recorded for 4 tablets in the same orientation and averaged.
Friability Test
Ten tablets are weighed and placed into a square plastic sample holder of approximate dimensions llOXllOmm square by 170mm long. The sample holder is rotated horizontally along it length at 50 rpm for 1 minute. The tablets are weighed again and the amount of material loss expressed as percentage
W0-W. % friability index = —— xlOO
Wn
where : Wo = initial weight
i = weight of the tablets after one minute of test at 50 rpm
Claims
1. A compressed water-softening composition having at least two regions comprising at least one water-softening active selected from a homo or co polymer of the following monomeric units or a salt thereof; an acrylic acid, a maleic acid, a sulfonic acid or a phosphonic acid wherein, the weight excess of the water-softening active in a first region is at least 5% greater than in a second region.
2. A compressed water-softening composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein also present is citric acid or its salt.
3. A compressed water-softening composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein the citric acid or its salt is present in a weight excess in the second region of at least 5% greater than in the first region.
4. A compressed water-softening composition as claimed in any claim from claim 1 to claim 3, wherein also present is a silicate.
5. A compressed water-softening composition as claimed in claim 4, wherein the silicate is present in a weight excess in the first region of at least 5% greater than in the second region.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP06004362A EP1681273A1 (en) | 2001-11-27 | 2002-11-27 | Water-softening tablet |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0128321A GB2382342A (en) | 2001-11-27 | 2001-11-27 | Water-softening tablet |
| GB0128321 | 2001-11-27 | ||
| PCT/GB2002/005352 WO2003045856A1 (en) | 2001-11-27 | 2002-11-27 | Water-softening tablet |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP06004362A Division EP1681273A1 (en) | 2001-11-27 | 2002-11-27 | Water-softening tablet |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP1448483A1 true EP1448483A1 (en) | 2004-08-25 |
Family
ID=9926483
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP02781405A Withdrawn EP1448483A1 (en) | 2001-11-27 | 2002-11-27 | Water-softening tablet |
| EP06004362A Withdrawn EP1681273A1 (en) | 2001-11-27 | 2002-11-27 | Water-softening tablet |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP06004362A Withdrawn EP1681273A1 (en) | 2001-11-27 | 2002-11-27 | Water-softening tablet |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (2) | EP1448483A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2002349123A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE20220458U1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2382342A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2003045856A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1935852A1 (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2008-06-25 | Dalli-Werke GmbH & Co. KG | Water softener composition |
| DE102008061858A1 (en) * | 2008-12-15 | 2010-06-17 | Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa | Machine dishwashing detergent |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001098448A1 (en) * | 2000-06-23 | 2001-12-27 | Reckitt Benckiser N.V. | Multi-phase laundry tablets and methods for producing them |
Family Cites Families (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4605509A (en) | 1973-05-11 | 1986-08-12 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Detergent compositions containing sodium aluminosilicate builders |
| JPS5767634A (en) | 1980-10-13 | 1982-04-24 | Sumitomo Chem Co Ltd | Ion-exchange filter and its preparation |
| IL63856A (en) | 1981-09-16 | 1984-12-31 | Beta Eng & Dev Ltd | Three dimensional digitizer for digitizing the surface contour of a solid body |
| DE3413571A1 (en) | 1984-04-11 | 1985-10-24 | Hoechst Ag, 6230 Frankfurt | USE OF CRYSTALLINE LAYERED SODIUM SILICATES FOR WATER SOFTENING AND METHOD FOR WATER SOFTENING |
| CA2001927C (en) | 1988-11-03 | 1999-12-21 | Graham Thomas Brown | Aluminosilicates and detergent compositions |
| HU212980B (en) | 1990-09-28 | 1997-01-28 | Procter & Gamble | Zeolite/layered silicate built detergent composition containing polyhydroxy fatty acid amides |
| DK65596A (en) * | 1996-06-12 | 1997-12-13 | Cleantabs As | water softening tablets |
| GB2318575A (en) * | 1996-10-22 | 1998-04-29 | Unilever Plc | Detergent tablet |
| DE69811786T2 (en) | 1997-07-16 | 2003-10-23 | Nagase Chemtex Corp., Osaka | Use of chelating compositions for cleaning |
| DE69921058T2 (en) | 1998-10-06 | 2006-02-02 | I-Dent International Corp. | Use of triclosan for the treatment and prevention of mucositis |
| DE19922578C2 (en) * | 1999-05-17 | 2003-12-24 | Benckiser Nv | Process for the production of a multilayer tablet, in particular detergent tablet, and product which can be produced thereafter |
| EP1090980A1 (en) * | 1999-10-07 | 2001-04-11 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Fabric rejuvenating treatment |
| GB9925829D0 (en) * | 1999-11-02 | 1999-12-29 | Smiths Industries Plc | Disposal means |
| DE10005576A1 (en) * | 2000-02-09 | 2001-08-23 | Reckitt Benckiser Nv | Detergent tablet for use as, e.g. dishwasher detergent, experiences buoyancy upon contact with water reservoir that it at least remains suspended in the water |
-
2001
- 2001-11-27 GB GB0128321A patent/GB2382342A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2002
- 2002-11-27 AU AU2002349123A patent/AU2002349123A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-11-27 EP EP02781405A patent/EP1448483A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2002-11-27 WO PCT/GB2002/005352 patent/WO2003045856A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2002-11-27 DE DE20220458U patent/DE20220458U1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-11-27 EP EP06004362A patent/EP1681273A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001098448A1 (en) * | 2000-06-23 | 2001-12-27 | Reckitt Benckiser N.V. | Multi-phase laundry tablets and methods for producing them |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| See also references of WO03045856A1 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2003045856A1 (en) | 2003-06-05 |
| GB2382342A (en) | 2003-05-28 |
| AU2002349123A1 (en) | 2003-06-10 |
| GB0128321D0 (en) | 2002-01-16 |
| DE20220458U1 (en) | 2003-10-02 |
| EP1681273A1 (en) | 2006-07-19 |
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