US1737223A - Process of making cleaning compounds - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEYMOUR B. DEWEY, .13., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR '10 THOMAS H. TAYLOR, OF EAST MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA PROCESS OF MAKING CLEANING COMPOUNDS No Drawing.

This invention relates to cleaning compounds for floors, woodwork and the like and more particularly to the process of making the cleaning compound.

An object of my invention is to provide a process of making such a cleaning compound which is particularly effective for cleaning linoleum, rubber, marble and other kinds of floors, painted or varnished woodwork and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a process of makinga cleaning compound which contains a minimum amount of free alkali so that the compound will not be injurious to the human skin or to the article being cleaned.

A further object of my invention is to provide a process of making a mild liquid soap having valuble detergent and germicidal properties, and which is readily misclble with water to form a smooth soap solution of any desired concentration.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of it hereinafter given.

The preferred form of soap is prepared from raw linseed oil saponifiedwith potassium hydroxide. It has been found that potassium hydroxide produces a softer, more smooth soap and emulsion without the liability of forming curds or scums.

Castor oil may also be present in the cleaning compound'and the castor oil may either be substantially all saponified or partly saponified and partly in an unsaponified emulsion. A saponified castor oil is not only a detergent and a solvent, but has very valuable preservative and germicidal properties.

Linseed oil is advantageous in that it re- 40 acts readily with the saponifying agent to form a smooth soap having excellent detergent qualities. in certain cases be employed in place of linseed oil, -I greatly prefer linseed oil as the 5 main ingredient of my soap.

castor oil may be present in the soap to ad- While cotton seed oil might- Application filed December 24, 1926. Serial No. 157,000.

Castor oil in its saponified condition imparts not only detergent qualities to the soap, but also extremely valuable preservative and germicidal properties. Thus, it is now known that castor oil soap has a higher germicidal value than carbolic, acid. The amount ofsaponified castor oil in the soap Wlll, of course, depend on the characteristics desired in the finished soap. Unsaponified vantage, whereby an extremely thin film of oil may remain on the surface to be cleaned. This feature is particularly desirable when the soap is used, for example, in cleaning articles where an excellent finish is desired, such as, fine woodwork, furniture and even some kinds of floors.

I prefer in the manufacture of my soap to permit any glycerin formed to remain in the soap, thereby addinga soothing effect when til: soap comes in contact with the human s n.

In the manufacture of my improved soap,

caustic potash preferably of relatively high a purity is used to saponify the linseed oil or other oil from which the soap is being formed. We have found that a very desirable way of carrying out the saponification is to heat the oil, such as linseed oil, with substantially equal amounts of water substantially to the boiling point, and separately dissolve the potassium hydroxide in water, to form a concentrated solution. The potassium hydroxide solution is then heated if necessary to bring it to substantially the same t mperature as the hot oil and water, and is a ded in successive increments to the oil and water.

Upon thorough mixing of the oil and potassium hydroxide, heating is continued until the mixture boils for some time and the saponification reaction has taken place in the solution. Cold water is then added in substantial quantities together with constant stirring, and this seems to cause formation of a gel of the soap and produces a very homowater may even be further increased by permitting the mixture to age for from 1 to 7 days and then diluting to the proper amount to obtain the desired concentration and consistency,

Breferably sufficient potassium hydroxide is used to give an excess of alkali to the mixture, and after the saponificatio'n'reaction and the addition of the cold water a small amount a of castor oil may be added depending upon the desired composition of the resulting compound. The castor oil is preferably added in sufiicient quantity to be partly saponified by the free alkali, and the remaining portion of the castor oil forms an unsaponified emulsion of castor oi l in excess of the amount required to. react with the free alkali.

For cleaning purposes the amount of castor oil added is preferably about 1% of the soap solution, but if it be desired to have the soap solution more germicidal or to have more unsaponified castor oil in emulsion, more castor 011 may be used.

The percentage of castor oil may be as great as from 5% to 10% if desired, and by controlling the amount of potassium hydroxide used such castor oil may be completely saponified or partially saponified, leaving the balance as an unsaponified emulsion of castor oil.

The unsaponified castor oil or other oil present in the soap solution forms a thin film of oil on the surface being cleaned. It is obvious, therefore, that the desired film of oil may be controlled by controlling the amount of unsaponified emulsion of oil present in the liquid soap and by the selection of an oil which has in relatively high degree the property of spreading on and adhering to the surface.

It is preferred to use caustic potash to.

cause saponification because this produces a softer, smoother soap which has a lower melting point and is liquid under ordinary conditions, and also has a. greater solubility. The addition of the cold water mentioned above results in the gelatinization or thickening of the potassium soap. The soap is quite hygroscopic and takes up water freely, and this property is taken advantage of to produce a very smooth liquid soap which may be readily mixed with water to. the desired consistency.

The cleamng compound may be concentratvarious purposes. It may be noted, however, that freezing and thawing does not seem to injure the liquid soap product produced bymy process. 7 I

It will furthermore be noted that I prefer to permit any glycerin formed during the saponification to remain in the soap. As has been previously mentioned, the presence of glycerin is advantageous when the soap comes in contact with the human skin.

It may also be noted that pine oil or sassafras oil or any other suitable oils to provide departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. The process of making a cleaning compound which comprises' heating linseed oil with water, adding postassium hydroxide in excess of that required to saponi the oil, boiling the mixture until saponi cation is substantially complete, adding cold water to cause gelatinization of the soap solution, adding castor oil in a quantity in excess of that required to react with the free potassium hydroxide, heating the mixture and thereby saponifying a portion of the castor oil and forming an emulsion of unsaponified oil.

2. The process of making a cleaning com pound, which consists in heating linseed oil and water, adding successive increments of potassium hydroxide to saponify the oil, boiling the mixture until saponification is substantially complete, adding a sufficient quantity of cold water to the hot soap solution to cause the same to gel, adding castor oil, and emulsifying the castor oil in the soap solution to form a homogeneous cleaning compound.

3. The process of making a cleaning compound, which consists in heating linseed oil and water, adding successive increments of potassium hydroxide to saponify the oil, boiling the mixture until saponification is substantially complete, adding a suflicient quantity of cold water to the hot soap solution to cause the same to gel, adding castor oil, emulsifying the castor oil in the'soap solution, and permitting the resulting soap solution to age.

4. The process of making a cleaning compound, which consists in heating linseed oil and water to approximately the boiling point of the mixture, dissolving potassium hydroxide in water and heating the same to substantially the same temperature as the linseed oil mixture, adding said hot potassium hydroxide solution in successive increments to the linseed oil mixture to saponify said oil, boiling the mixture until saponification is substantially complete, adding a sufiicient quan tity of cold water to the soap solution while constantly stirring said soap solution to cause gelatinization thereof, adding castor oil, emulsifying the castor oil with the soap solution, permitting the resulting soap solution to age, and subsequently diluting the soap solution with the water to the desired consistency.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SEYMOUR B. DEWEY, J R.