JP2002519476A - Method for producing an alkaline aqueous detergent in cream form - Google Patents

Abstract

  (57) [Summary] According to the method of the invention, it comprises (a) one or several alcohols and (b) a powdered substance from the group consisting of builder substances, defoamers, surfactants, salts and mixtures thereof. The premix raw material is manufactured first. The premix material is then mixed with concentrated caustic, which may contain another detergent active, by stirring and simultaneously or later by mixing with an inert gas. Usually, air is used as the inert gas. The resulting creamy product is particularly suitable for washing dishes and equipment and utensils in the food industry and also for washing textiles.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of strongly alkaline cleaning agents, in particular for use in the commercial sector for cleaning dishes and equipment and utensils in the food industry and also for cleaning textiles. About.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Very alkaline detergents for cleaning hard surfaces and fabrics are known in a very wide variety of forms. That is, for example, International Patent Application Publication WO96 / 27653.
WO 97/41203 and WO 98/13466 describe detergents in the form of pastes and blocks comprising, in addition to alkali metal hydroxides, certain alcohols and optionally further cleaning active ingredients. .

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to find a new supply form for highly alkaline aqueous cleaning agents that has advantages over known forms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a process for producing an alkaline aqueous detergent in cream form, comprising: (a) one or more alcohols of the following general formula (I):

R ¹ R ² R ³ COH (I) wherein R ¹ and R ² independently represent a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched saturated or unsaturated substituted or unsubstituted C ₁ -C ₃ alkyl or - (C
H ₂ ) _n —CH ₂ —OH groups, wherein n is 0-5, and R ³ is independently of the others a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched saturated or unsaturated a substituted or unsubstituted C ₁ -C ₁₈ alkyl or ^{_{- (CH 2) m NR 4}} R 5
A group wherein R ⁴ and R ⁵ are independently of each other a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, or a — (CH ₂ ) _p —OH group or a — ((CH ₂ ) _q —O) _r H group And m, p,
q and r independently of one another may have a value of 2 to 5), wherein the alcohol is 0.1 to 30% by weight, based on the final cleaning agent, preferably From 1 to 15% by weight, in particular from 3 to 8% by weight; and (b) a powdered substance from the group consisting of builder substances, foam inhibitors, surfactants, salts and mixtures thereof, wherein said powdered substance Is from 2 to 70% by weight, preferably 1%, based on the final detergent.
From 0 to 60% by weight, in particular from 30 to 50% by weight; a premix consisting of 21 to 70% by weight, preferably 3%, based on the final detergent.
Inert with stirring and at the same time or after stirring with a solution of concentrated alkali metal hydroxide, optionally containing further cleaning active ingredients, in an amount of 5 to 55% by weight, in particular 45 to 55% by weight It provides a method consisting of mixing while mixing the gases. Preferably, the inert gas used is ordinary air.

[0005] This new process is distinguished by a low density and, more surprisingly, by a low viscosity compared to products of the same composition but made without gas, in a cream form. Enables the production of certain products. Thus, its production can be carried out directly at room temperature. The new product does not subsequently cure.
They are pumpable and, as a result, can be used more easily and surprisingly dissolve more rapidly in water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a particularly preferred embodiment of the novel process, the gas entrainment is carried out during or after the mixing of the components with the gas from the gas atmosphere present thereon. Is incorporated into the viscous mixture and uniformly distributed therein by rapid stirring.

The inert gas used is preferably a non-flammable gas, for example nitrogen, argon or particularly preferably normal air, the low content of carbon dioxide does not hinder the process according to the invention. . The proportion of gas is adjusted during the process such that its proportion in the final cleaning agent is about 1 to about 35% by volume, preferably about 2 to about 25% by volume, especially about 5 to about 15% by volume. . The particular composition of the other components of the cleaning agent ensures a stable dispersion of the finely dispersed gas in the cleaning agent.

[0008] The alcohol of formula (I) used in the method of the present invention is a monohydric or polyhydric aliphatic alcohol or amino alcohol. Preferred alcohols are methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, glycerol, ethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine. Among these alcohols, particularly preferred alcohols are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and 1,3-butanediol. Of course, mixtures of two or more alcohols can also be used.

The solution of the concentrated alkali metal hydroxide used is preferably a potassium hydroxide solution,
Sodium hydroxide solution, a mixture of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide solution,
In particular, the sodium hydroxide solution itself. According to the invention, a solution of concentrated alkali metal hydroxide is taken to mean a solution having a content of alkali metal hydroxide of at least 30% by weight. Preferably, the content of alkali metal hydroxide in the hydroxide solution should be about 30 to about 60% by weight, especially about 42 to about 55% by weight.

In the course of the process according to the invention, there are provided (a) one or more alcohols of the general formula (I), and (b) builder substances, foam inhibitors, surfactants, salts and mixtures thereof. A premix comprising powdered material from the group consisting of is first prepared and then mixed with a solution of concentrated alkali metal hydroxide. The preparation of the premix comprising (a) and (b) is not critical and can be carried out in various ways. In principle, the alcohol is sprayed onto the powder with stirring, but in certain cases it is also possible to introduce the alcohol of the formula (I) as a liquid and to mix the powdered solid with one another in this liquid. . If desired, liquid nonionic surfactants and / or paraffin oils can be introduced into the premix.

The mixing of the premix containing (a) and (b) with the concentrated alkali metal hydroxide solution can be performed, for example, by mixing the premix containing (a) and (b) with concentrated alkali metal water. It can be performed by mixing in an oxide solution. However, it is also possible to mix the alkali metal hydroxide solution into the premix. The latter embodiment has the advantage that it can be done in just one batch container. The inert gas can be incorporated into the alkali metal hydroxide solution during or after mixing with the premix comprising (a) and (b). The introduction of gas during mixing has the advantage that it cannot be raised to an excessive viscosity which impairs stirring. When the gas is not mixed in thereafter, this mixing takes place immediately after the mixing of the premix comprising (a) and (b) with the alkali metal hydroxide solution to increase the post thickening of the mixture. It is preferred to prevent. Preferably, the process of the invention is carried out at about room temperature, but in principle is carried out at relatively high temperatures up to about 65 ° C., preferably up to about 42 ° C., and then optionally with stirring, to obtain the product in cream form. It can also be cooled.

[0012] The introduction of the gas into the alkaline cleaning agent can be performed by various methods. For example, gas may be introduced into the product from appropriately positioned nozzles, while at the same time with appropriate agitation, to break up relatively large gas bubbles and achieve a uniform distribution of gas in the product. Can be Another preferred possibility is to agitate the liquid or viscous detergent mixture very rapidly so that the gases from the gas atmosphere present thereon are incorporated into the viscous mixture and evenly distributed therein. Consists of For this embodiment, an anchor stirrer with a stripper (and, if appropriate, as a counter-rotating double-motion mixer) has been found to be particularly suitable.

In principle, the process of the invention comprises mixing a premix comprising (a) and (b) and a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution (optionally comprising another detergent active),
As well as by homogeneous mixing of the inert gas. However, in certain cases, after these steps, further components can also be mixed into the detergent (
If this is deemed appropriate). For example, specifically, a finely divided solid alkali metal hydroxide, preferably sodium hydroxide, may be added to the detergent at about 1 to about 25% by weight without compromising the basic creamy characteristics of the product. In particular, it can be mixed later in amounts of about 5 to about 15% by weight. However, at this point, other powder components or other components of the type already described above, such as coated chlorine carriers, coated enzymes, coated phosphates and other complexing agents, and liquid components For example, paraffin oils and non-ionic surfactants can be incorporated into the detergent.

The powdery part can all be used as component (b) for preparing the premix, but, as mentioned above, a part can also be mixed later. The portion to be subsequently mixed is preferably up to about 60% by weight, in particular up to about 40% by weight, based on the total powder constituents.

Next, other components of the cleaning agent produced according to the present invention will be described. Surfactants that can be used are either anionic or cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and non-ionic surfactants. Depending on the field of application, for example, in the case of washing dishes and surfaces, weak foaming surfactants,
In particular, the nonionic surfactant may be present in an amount of up to 10% by weight, preferably 1 to 5% by weight, particularly preferably 2 to 4% by weight. Typically, very low effervescent compounds are used for mechanical dishwashing. This preferably comprises C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alkyl polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol ethers, in each case having up to 8 mol of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units in the molecule. However, low foaming Further nonionic surfactants which are known to be, for example, ethylene oxide in the case of C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alkyl polyethylene glycol polybutylene glycol ethers (respectively, up to 8 mol in the molecule And having butylene oxide units), and end-capped alkyl polyalkylene glycol mixed ethers.

When the cleaning agents produced according to the invention are intended for machine washing of laundry, a relatively high surfactant content is desired, and in principle this content should not exceed 20%, based on the total cleaning agent. %, Preferably from 0.1 to 15% by weight, particularly preferably from 1 to 10% by weight, most preferably from 2 to 4% by weight. Also, in addition to non-ionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants, in particular, anionics from the group consisting of alkyl benzene sulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol ether sulfates and other known anionic surfactants. An ionic surfactant is used.

The paraffin oil can be present according to the invention in an amount of up to 10% by weight.
This paraffin oil refers to long chain hydrocarbons which may be branched or unbranched. In a preferred embodiment, this is added to the detergent prepared according to the invention in 0.1.
-8% by weight, particularly preferably 0.5-3% by weight. Paraffin oils, like liquid nonionic surfactants, can be incorporated at various stages of the process, e.g., in a premix containing (a) and (b), in a sodium hydroxide solution, Or they can be incorporated into a creamy product.

The builder substances present in the cleaning compositions according to the invention can in principle be any substances known in the prior art as builders which are in the broadest sense suitable for detergents and cleaning compositions. Preferred builders are water-soluble builder substances. It is also possible to use the coated builder substances known in the prior art, and it is also preferable to use chlorine-containing bleaches.

Suitable builder substances are, for example, alkali metal phosphates, which can be present in the form of their sodium or potassium salts. Examples are tetrasodium diphosphate, pentasodium triphosphate, so-called sodium hexametaphosphate, and the corresponding potassium salt, or a mixture of sodium hexametaphosphate and the corresponding potassium salt or a mixture of sodium and potassium salts.

It should also be mentioned complexing agents such as nitrilotriacetic acid or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. In addition, soda and borax are examples of builder substances for the purposes of the present invention.

Further possible water-soluble builder components are, for example, organic polymers of natural or synthetic origin, in particular polycarboxylates. Suitable are, for example, polyacrylic acid and copolymers of maleic anhydride and acrylic acid, and the sodium salts of these polymeric acids. Commercially available products are, for example, Sokal from BASF
an, ^R) CP5 and PA 30, a LMW ^R 45N and SPO2 ND from Arukosupaze (Alcosperse ^R) 175 and 177, Norsohaas from Alco. Suitable natural polymers include, for example, oxidized starch and polyamino acids, such as polyglutamic acid or polyaspartic acid (e.g., Cygnus, Bayer, Rohm &
Haas, available from Rhone-Poulenc or SRCHEM).

Further possible builder components are natural hydroxycarboxylic acids, such as mono,
Dihydroxysuccinic acid, α-hydroxypropionic acid, citric acid, gluconic acid,
And salts thereof. Preferably, the citrate is used in the form of trisodium citrate dihydrate.

Also suitable builder substances are amorphous metasilicates or phyllosilicates. Crystalline phyllosilicates are also suitable builders if they are sufficiently alkali-stable. Crystalline phyllosilicates are available from Hoechst AG (Germany) under the trade name Na-SKS, for example, Na-SKS-1 (Na ₂ Si ₂₂ O ₄₅ ×
H ₂ O, kenyaite), Na-SKS-2 ( Na 2 Si 14 O 29 · xH 2 O, magadite)
_{Na-SKS-3 (Na 2} Si 8 O 17 · xH 2 O), Na-SKS-4 (Na 2 Si 4 O 9 · xH 2 O
, Macatite), Na-SKS-5 (α-Na ₂ Si ₂ O ₅ ), Na-SKS-7 (β-Na ₂ Si ₂
O ₅ , natrosilite), Na-SKS-11 (τ-Na ₂ Si ₂ O ₅ ) and Na-SKS-6
It is commercially available as (δ-Na ₂ Si ₂ O ₅ ).

Particularly preferred builder substances are substances selected from the group consisting of pentasodium triphosphate, trisodium citrate, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, soda, alkali metal silicates and mixtures thereof. The content of the builder substance is about 60% by weight, preferably about 15%, in the detergent prepared according to the invention.
It may be in an amount of up to about 45% by weight.

Also, bleaching agents commonly present in detergents and cleaning agents can be present in the cleaning agents made in accordance with the present invention. In that case, preferably 0.5 to
It is present in an amount of 10% by weight, particularly preferably 1.5 to 10% by weight. These include oxygen-based bleaches, such as sodium perborate (including its hydrate form) or sodium percarbonate, or chlorine-based bleaches, such as N-
Chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide, trichloroisocyanuric acid, alkali metal dichloroisocyanurate, alkali metal hypochlorite, and can be selected from the group consisting of substances that release alkali metal hypochlorite, Alkali stable bleaching compositions are preferred. These can be either alkali-stable substances or components stabilized by a suitable method, for example by surface coating or surface passivation.

[0026] Yet another suitable ingredient in the cleaning agent made in accordance with the present invention is an antifoam.
These are 0.1 to 0.1 if the selected surfactant foams too much under the given conditions.
It can be used at a concentration of 5% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 3% by weight, and has a foam suppressing effect on foamable food residues in dishwashers. Antifoaming agents (foam inhibitors) mean all foam inhibitors known in the prior art, but are preferably silicone and paraffin-based materials, particularly preferably paraffin-based materials.

The optional component is yet another conventional detergent component such as a neutral salt (eg, sodium sulfate), a dye, an enzyme in coated form, or an alkali-stable fragrance. The components having an abrasive action can in principle be present, but it is preferred that the cleaning agents produced according to the invention do not contain this.

Thickeners such as swellable phyllosilicates of the montmorillonite type, bentonite, kaolin, talc or carboxymethylcellulose can be used if desired to change the hardness, but these are the desired in the process according to the invention. Not required to obtain consistency. That is, it is possible not to include such a thickener.

The use of high-melting paraffin or high-melting polyethylene glycol to solidify the mixture is neither necessary here to achieve the success according to the invention. However, such substances may additionally be present. It is also not necessary to use long-chain fatty acids and long-chain fatty acid salts (C12-C18 chain length) as used in the soap industry to obtain the consistency according to the invention. But,
Such substances are usually not harmful to the success according to the invention. The formation of a liquid-crystalline structure is likewise not necessary for thickening.

The creamy product produced according to the invention is a Brookfield viscometer
(5 rpm / spindle according to viscosity) at 20 ° C.
Preferably, it has a viscosity of from 0.000 to about 150,000 mPas. Here, this viscosity can be varied within wide limits by the amount of gas introduced and depends only to a surprisingly low degree on the viscosity of the basic mixture without gas (determined by the composition of the mixture). For example, the viscosity can be changed later by rolling the cream with a roll mill.

The creamy nature of the product produced according to the invention facilitates its use and greatly improves the rate of dissolution in water. Examples of low-viscosity detergents produced according to the invention, which can flow under their own weight, can be supplied, for example, to capped bottles, from which Can be taken out without the need. Also, relatively high-viscosity products are suitable for transport using pressurized pumps, thus allowing simple metering in corresponding automatic cleaning equipment. Also, supply from a suitable cartridge supply device is possible without any problem.

Example A Loedige plow mixer having a capacity of 100 L was prepared by:
Add 6.75 kg of sodium nitrilotriacetate (92% pure powder), 5.7 kg of calcined soda, and 0.3 kg of powdered paraffin foam inhibitor, and add 1.5 kg of ethylene glycol to a mixer. It was introduced from the nozzle in one minute while circulating. Thereafter, the mixture was further circulated for 3 minutes, and as a result, the premix was homogenized. Next, this premix was mixed little by little with the sodium hydroxide solution in a 50 L stirring vessel, and stirred using an anchor stirrer in an air atmosphere (100 revolutions / minute). During the addition, the temperature rose to just above 30 ° C. When the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred under these conditions for a further 20 minutes, during which time it was cooled to below 30 ° C. The creamy product was then homogenized on a roll mill using a pressing force of 29 bar at a gap width of 0.2 mm. The density of the final product was 1.4. It contained 6.5% by volume of air. The viscosity measured at 20 ° C. using a Brookfield viscometer (5 revolutions / min, spindle 7) was 120,000 mPas.

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Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A process for producing an alkaline aqueous detergent in the form of a cream, comprising: (a) one or more alcohols of the following general formula (I): R ¹ R ² R ³ COH (I) wherein R ¹ and R ² independently of one another are a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted C ₁ -C ₃ alkyl group or-( C
H ₂ ) _n —CH ₂ —OH groups, wherein n is 0-5, and R ³ is independently of the others a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched saturated or unsaturated a substituted or unsubstituted C ₁ -C ₁₈ alkyl or ^{_{- (CH 2) m NR 4}} R 5
A group wherein R ⁴ and R ⁵ are independently of each other a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, or a — (CH ₂ ) _p —OH group or a — ((CH ₂ ) _q —O) _r H group And m, p,
q and r may independently have a value of 2 to 5), wherein the alcohol constitutes 0.1 to 30% by weight, based on the final cleaning agent. And (b) a powdered substance from the group consisting of builder substances, foam inhibitors, surfactants, salts and mixtures thereof, wherein the powdered substance is 2-70% by weight, based on the final cleaning agent. A premix consisting of a solution of concentrated alkali metal hydroxide, optionally containing further cleaning active ingredients, in an amount of 21 to 70% by weight, based on the final cleaning agent. And while or simultaneously or after mixing with the inert gas. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the gas is mixed in under a suitable gas atmosphere, in particular in air, by stirring the other components sufficiently rapidly. 3. The amount of alcohol of formula (I) is based on the final cleaning agent.
3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the amount is 1 to 15% by weight, preferably 3 to 8% by weight. 4. The ratio of the powder component (b) is from 10 to 6 based on the final cleaning agent.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the amount is 0% by weight, preferably 30 to 50% by weight. 5. A solution of concentrated alkali metal hydroxide, based on the final cleaning agent,
The solution of alkali metal hydroxide is used in an amount of 5 to 55% by weight, preferably 45 to 55% by weight, the alkali metal hydroxide content preferably being 30 to 60% by weight, in particular 42 to 55% by weight. The method according to claim 1, comprising: 6. The amount of the inert gas is adjusted so that its proportion in the final cleaning agent is 1 to 35% by volume, preferably 2 to 25% by volume, especially 5 to 15% by volume. 5. The method according to any one of 5. 7. Mixing of the premix consisting of (a) and (b) with a solution of concentrated alkali metal hydroxide, with the introduction of gas, followed by finely divided solid alkali metal hydroxide, Preferably 1 to 25% by weight, especially 5 to 1% by weight, based on the final cleaning agent
7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the mixture is further stirred in an amount of 5% by weight. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alkali metal hydroxide solution used is a sodium hydroxide solution, and the solid alkali metal hydroxide used as desired is sodium hydroxide. Method. 9. The powder component (b) is selected from the group consisting of Na ₂ CO ₃ , sodium nitrilotriacetate, sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, sodium polyphosphate, powder foam inhibitors and mixtures thereof. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. Use of a cleaning agent as obtained according to claim 1 for cleaning hard surfaces or textiles.