US2066208A - Soap composition - Google Patents

Description

Patented Dec. 29, 1936 soar COMPOSITION John B. Lewis, Cranford, N. J., and John 0. Bird, Germantown, Pa., assignors to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application April 21, 1932,

Serial No. 606,758

Z'Claims. (01. 87-5) This invention relates to improved soap compositions ,and more especially to soap compositions containing sulfonic acids and sulfonates in limited amount.

The preparation of soap compositions by incorporating suitable liquids such as water and fat solvents such as naphtha and other hydrocarbon oils, turpentine, pine oil and the like with ordinary detergent soaps such as the alkali metal salts of fatty acids or other vegetable, animal or oxidized wax acids, is commonly'practiced. Such compositions, however; especially when the amount of incorporated liquid is relatively large, possess the disadvantage of being much softer than the original soap. These compositions are also relatively unstable a'ndthe incorporated liquid tends to separate. on standing, as when the composition is sold in cans which may remain on the dealer's shelves for some time before use.

We have-nowfou'nd that the addition of a small amount of a sulfonic acid or sulfonate to such soap compositions serves to harden them materially. The compositions are also stabilized so that the incorporated liquid no longer separates, even though the soap maybe stored for extended periods of time'of several months or 7 more either in contact with the atmosphere or in sealed cans. j

The water-soluble sulfonic acids and alkali ,30 metal sulfonates obtained from hydrocarbon oil acid sludge are especially suitable for use in these improved soap compositions. When a hydrocarbon oil such as a petroleum lubricating oil, white oil stock or kerosene is treated with strong or lower layer of acid sludgeforms and may be separately removed. This acid sludge contains sulfuric acid, water-soluble sulfo-bodies which areconsidered for the-purpose of this invention to 40 be sulfonic acids and other organic materials of an asphaltic, tarry or resinous nature. Means for separating and purifying these sulfonic acids and preparing water-soluble soaps thereof are generally known. Improved means are described in co-pending applications Ser. No. 585,158, filed 35 fuming sulfuric acid and allowed to stand, a'

composition which may be prepared according to our invention:

A potassium soft soap prepared from the acid radicals of soya bean or linseed oil and containing about 60% of water, was thoroughly mixed 5 with 0.5% of sodium sulfonates prepared from a petroleum oil acid sludge. Samples of the original soap-water composition and of the composition containing added sulfonate were stored in metal cans for four months and were inspected 10 from'time to time. The separation of water in a. distinct mobile layerwas apparent on the surface of the original composition within a few days while no separation ,occurred during the entire period of observation with the composition con- 15 taining added sulfonate.

Separation of water took place from samples of this soap composition containing less than 0.2% of added sulfonates but no separation was apparent with samples containing 0.5% to 5% 20 or even more. The hardness of the composition increased with added sulfonates up to about 5% but the addition of more than 10% of sulfonate caused the composition to become increasingly softer and with about 25 to 40% of sulfonates a 25 readily fluid mixture results.

Compositions similar to the above may be prepared with naphtha or other fat solvents as the incorporated liquid. Sodium or ammonium soaps may be used, andthe soaps may be prepared from various other oils or fats. Soaps containing acids prepared by oxidation of petroleum wax are especially desirable. Perfumes and dyes may be added as desired. Abrasives, such as silica and pumice, may also be added for preparing hand soaps suit-.- able for removing greasy substances.

Suli'onic acids derived from petroleum oil acid sludge may be used in soap compositions similar to those described above. Alkali metal sulfonates, and generally all metal sulfonates soluble in the 40 incorporated liquids, including those of the heavier metals such as barium, calcium, lead silver,

v and others, are also suitable.

The amount of incorporated liquid may vary widely and depends upon the characteristics of the soap used and the composition desired, our invention being applicable to all soap compositions of a solid nature. For example, water may be used in a proportion of about 30 to 70%, or more or less. Heavy oils such as white oils may be used in similar proportions, while with more volatile oils such as naphtha, benzene, and kerosene, it may be preferable to use a smaller amount, say from 5 to 25% or more.

Other methods for preparing these improved soap compositions may also be used. For example, the sulfonic acids or sulfonates may be added cific examples given herein solely for purpose of illustration but only by the following claims, in which we wish to claim all novelty insofar as the 10 prior art permits.

We claim: 1. A solid soap composition comprising about 65% to 95% or an alkali metal soap 01' a fatty acid, 5% to 25% of. a hydrocarbon liquid and 0.5% to 10% 0t sulfonic acid salts derived frommineral oil acid sludge.

2. A solid soap composition comprising about 65% to 95% of an alkali metal soap or a fatty acid, 5% to 25% of naphtha and 0.5% to 10% of sulfonic acid salts derived from mineral oil acid sludge.

. JOHN B. LEWIS. JOHN C. BIRD.