Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Cleaning or laundering
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-15
2002-10-29
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Cleaning or laundering
C134S042000, C510S277000, C510S281000, C510S300000, C510S321000, C510S337000, C510S350000, C510S351000, C510S361000, C510S393000, C510S421000, C510S426000, C510S433000, C510S434000, C510S466000, C510S488000, C510S530000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06471728
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to compositions and methods for removal of blood stains from fabrics. More specifically, the invention relates to amine-based compositions and methods of using these compositions for the removal of blood stains from textiles including natural and synthetic fabrics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The routine soiling of clothing, uniforms, and coverings is common in many industries. In most instances, fabrics soiled in the course of professional service can be laundered, effectively returning the fabric to a condition suitable for use. As one might suspect, certain types of soils are more difficult to remove from fabric than others.
Soiling resulting from contact with mammalian blood can be some of the most resistant to laundering. Blood is generally considered a fluid connective tissue comprising plasma and cells which circulates within vessels in mammalian bodies. Of the many constituents of mammalian blood, certain elements such as, for example, hemoglobin and iron may contribute to the difficulty in removing blood stains from fabrics. As the blood dries on the fabric, it becomes a hydrophobic, protein-based soil that forms a crusty surface that is difficult to disrupt.
In the past, uniforms, aprons and other fabrics, soiled with blood, were laundered in a highly alkaline solution. However, the use of these caustic solutions requires the application of a large volume of rinse water to avoid deterioration of the fabric and burning any person who may come into contact with the fabric. In turn, the rinse water resulting from laundering creates environmental concerns as the water must be neutralized and disposed.
One alternative to using a caustic laundry wash may be found in Japanese Kokai Patent Appellation No. Sho 52 [1977]-126408 to Kawabe. Kawabe discloses the use of a dilute combination, of hexylene glycol to increase osmotic capacity, monethanolamine to chelate iron in hemoglobin, and sodium chloride to displace iron in hemoglobin for blood removal. However, the use of sodium chloride is disadvantageous in two respects. First, the sodium chloride requires the incorporation of substantial water to solubilize the salt. Further, this also prevents the formulation of highly concentrated detergents sought by the laundry industry. Second, in the laundry environment, sodium chloride can also lead to metal stress and fatigue, ultimately resulting in corrosion.
As a result, there is still a need for laundry compositions and laundering methods which effectively remove blood stains from fabrics while not causing deterioration of the machines used in the process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of removing blood stains from fabric, comprising the step of applying a cleaning composition to the fabric. The cleaning composition comprises a detergent additive, comprising from about 95 to 99.9 wt-% of an amine compound, and from about 0.1 to 5 wt-% of an enzyme compound wherein the composition is free of neutral salts such as sodium chloride.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a detergent additive composition comprising an amount of amine compound effective to remove blood from fabric; and an effective soil degrading amount of enzyme, wherein the detergent additive composition is solvent-free and free of any neutral salt.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a detergent builder comprising an effective blood removing amount of amine compound; an effective amount of chelating agent; an amount of alkalinity source effective to provide a compositional pH of from about 8 to 14; and a balance of water.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of removing blood stains from fabric, comprising the step of applying a cleaning composition to the fabric. The cleaning composition comprises a detergent builder comprising an effective blood removing amount of amine compound, an effective amount of chelating agent, an amount of alkalinity source effective to provide a compositional pH in the detergent builder of from about 8 to 14, and a balance of water.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a laundry pre-spotter composition and methods of using the same for removal of blood stains from fabric. The composition comprises an amount of surfactant effective to provide detersive action to the composition; a blood stain removing effective amount of amine compound; and a balance of water wherein the composition is free of any neutral salt.
The invention has various aspects which allow removal of blood stains from natural and synthetic fabrics. The invention allows removal of blood stains from fabrics without the use of neutral salts such as sodium chloride to displace the iron compound found in the blood hemoglobin. Further, the compositions and methods of the invention do not require the use of osmosis enhancing agents such as alkylene glycols.
Representative fabrics which may be treated by the compositions and methods of the invention include those derived from natural and synthetic fibers including celluloses, acrylics, olefins, acetates, aramids, nylons, polyesters, segmented polyurethanes (spandex), regenerated proteins (azlon), polyphenylene sulfides, and carbon/graphite fibers as well as inorganic fibers based on glass, metal, or ceramic constituents.
We have discovered that water-soluble amines can be formulated to be a very effective means of removing blood stains from fabric without the need for the alkylene glycol or neutral salt adjuvants of Kawabe or for active oxygen bleaches or active chlorine bleaches. These amines are not only more effective than the prior art but are also free of the chemical stability problems seen with active oxygen and chlorine bleaches. Additionally, the amines are not limited to only white fabrics as seen with active chlorine bleaches. In the context of this invention, a neutral salt is an inorganic salt which, when dissolved in an aqueous system, does not substantially affect the pH of the system.
Water-soluble amines may be described by the appropriate combination of the general structure R
1
R
2
R
3
N such that water solubility is greater than 1% where R
1
, R
2
, and R
3
can be hydrogen, alkyl, hydroxyallkyl, poly(alkoxy)alkyl, ester-substituted alkyl, or amide-substituted alkly substituents. The preferred type of water-soluble amines for this invention can be described as alkanolamines, a more preferred type as ethanolamines, and most preferred as diethanolamine.
These amines may be used alone or incorporated into fabric pre-spotters, laundry detergents, builders, or dry cleaning detergents. Except for the incorporation of the amines disclosed herein, such formulations are well-known to those versed in the fabric care art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention comprises compositions and methods for removing blood stains from natural and synthetic fabrics. Included in the invention are detergent additives, detergent pre-spotters, and detergent builders. The constituents of these systems may include one or more amine compounds, enzymes, chelating agents, as well as additional surfactants and sources of alkalinity.
The Amine Compound
The compositions of the invention generally comprise one or more organic alkali compounds. Useful organic alkalis include amine compounds which function to swell blood cells and thereby facilitate removal of the stain from fabric.
Representative amine compounds suitable include alkyl amines such as methylamine, dimethylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine, n-propylamine, di-n-propylamine, isopropylamine, disopropylamine, n-butylamine, di-n-butylamine, isobutylamine, diisobutylamine, sec-butylamine, t-butylamine, ethyl-n-butylamine, dimethyl-n-butylamine, n-amylamine, and di-n-amylamine; cycloaliphatic amines such as 1-methylcyclohexylamine, 2-methylcyclohexylamine, 3-methylcyclohexylamine, 4-methylcyclohexylamine,3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine, 4-tert-butylc
Olson Lynne Ann
Smith Kim R.
Ecolab Incorporated
Gupta Yogendra N.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
Mruk Brian P.
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