Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Work handled in bulk or groups
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-11
2002-04-09
Kopec, Mark (Department: 1751)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Work handled in bulk or groups
C134S003000, C510S179000, C510S219000, C510S223000, C510S225000, C510S227000, C510S229000, C510S398000, C510S434000, C510S435000, C510S477000, C510S488000, C510S533000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06367487
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a novel cleaning composition for glassware. More particularly, the invention is directed to an anti-etch and cleaning composition that unexpectedly results in bottles that are substantially free of etching and contaminants after washing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Glassware, like domestic dishes and glass bottles used in the soft drink and alcoholic beverage industries, is frequently rewashed, recycled and/or reused. With respect to glass bottles, for example, such a recycling process is extremely advantageous since it reduces the amount of glassware that, for instance, pollutes local neighborhoods and results in non-biodegradable debris in local landfills. Also, the recycling of bottles enables the beverage industry to save money by getting more uses out of the bottles it has invested in.
When recycling glassware, it is imperative that the glassware be washed to the point of being commercially sterile. Obtaining commercially sterile bottles, for example, from bottles that have been previously used, is not easy since used bottles are often contaminated with dirt, mold, sugar, food coloring, product labels, glue and the like. In order to remove such contaminants from the bottles being cleaned, harsh environments, such as those which employ relatively long contact times, high temperatures, chelators (e.g., ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid [EDTA] and nitrilotriacetic acid [NTA]) and caustic, are used. Such environments typically are successful in “transforming” glassware that was once used into glassware that is substantially free of contaminants and commercially sterile.
Unfortunately, however, when bottles are subjected to harsh environments, like those that employ EDTA and NTA, the bottles begin to literally dissolve in the presence of the strong chelators. The dissolution of the glass gives the bottles a scratchy look, making the bottles aesthetically unappealing for consumer use. Moreover, glass dissolution results in free silica in cleaning environments. Free silica often creates problems in equipment used to clean glassware, since free silica often complexes with other materials and deposits as a silica scale on the equipment used for cleaning the glassware.
Other attempts have been made for cleaning glassware with compositions that do not employ harsh chelating agents like EDTA and NTA. These compositions typically use metal ions (e.g., zinc, beryllium); however, such compositions often do not display superior cleaning capabilities and can pose health, environmental and equipment problems.
It is of increasing interest to formulate a composition that results in glassware that is not etched, and contaminant free after washing. This invention, therefore, is directed to a superior anti-etch and cleaning composition that unexpectedly results in glassware, like bottles, that is substantially free of etching and contaminants after washing. Substantially free of contaminants is defined to mean glassware that is about as clean as glassware cleaned with conventional washing solutions, (having strong chelators like EDTA), as analyzed by the Examples which follow.
BACKGROUND REFERENCES
Efforts have been disclosed for cleaning glassware. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,095, anti-etch bottle washing solutions are made, and the solutions do not contain a phosphorus comprising polymer.
Other efforts have been disclosed for making cleaning compositions. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,569, a cleaning composition comprising sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and sodium gluconate is described.
Still further, other attempts for making cleaning compositions have been disclosed. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,198, thixotropic liquid dishwashing detergents that result in improved filming and spotting are described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to an anti-etch and cleaning composition comprising:
a) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a hetero functionalized polymer comprising a carboxylic acid group and a hetero functionalized polycarboxylate; and
b) caustic.
In a second embodiment, the present invention is directed to an anti-etch and cleaning composition comprising:
a) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of a hetero functionalized polymer comprising a carboxylic acid group and a hetero functionalized polycarboxylate;
b) caustic; and
c) an anti-etch component.
In a third embodiment, the present invention is directed to glassware that has been subjected to the to the anti-etch and cleaning composition described in the first embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
There generally is no limitation with respect to the type of hetero functionalized polymer comprising a carboxylic acid group that may be used in this invention other than that the polymer results in an anti-etch and cleaning composition that renders dirty glassware substantially free of etching and contaminants after washing. Such polymers typically comprise backbones that are derived from polypeptides, polyolefins, polyesters and polyethers, including homopolymers and copolymers (including terpolymers) prepared therefrom. The polymers also comprise carboxylic acid groups that are, for example, substituted on to the precursor monomeric units used to make each polymer.
There generally is no limitation with respect to the hetero functionalized polycarboxylate polymer used in this invention, other than that the polymer results in an anti-etch and cleaning composition that renders dirty glassware substantially free of etching and contaminants after washing. The preferred polycarboxylate polymers include those having hetero groups as grafts, terminating groups or both. The most preferred polycarboxylate polymers used in this invention are phosphino carboxylic acids and phosphono carboxylic acids having sulfonate groups, both of which are commercially available from FMC Corporation and sold under the names of Belclene 750 and Belclene 745, respectively. Other most preferred hetero functionalized polycarboxylate polymers which may be used in this invention include polymers having a portion derived from diacids. The most preferred diacid derived hetero functionalized polycarboxylate polymer used in this invention is one derived from the copolymerization of maleic acid, an alkyl acrylate (such as a C1-C4 alkyl acrylate) and a vinyl acetate. Such a terpolymer is commercially available from FMC Corporation and sold under the name of Belclene 730.
There generally is no limitation with respect to the hetero groups used to functionalize the polymers which may be used in this invention other than that the hetero groups enhance the solubility, chelating effect or both of the polymer. The preferred hetero groups are those comprising elements having a valence number of 5 or 6, with phosphino, phosphono and sulfonate groups being the most preferred hetero groups.
As to the hetero groups employed in this invention, such groups typically make up from about 0.1% to about 5.0%, and preferably, from about 0.15% to about 3.0%, and most preferably, from about 0.5% to about 1.5% by weight of the total weight of the hetero functionalized polymer comprising a carboxylic acid group or the hetero functionalized polycarboxylate, including all ranges subsumed herein. The primary factor with respect to determining the molecular weight of the hetero functionalized polymer used in this invention is the ability of the polymer to result in an anti-etch and cleaning composition able to achieve the desired results of this invention. Generally, however, the polymers have a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 500 to about 125,000.
When formulating the anti-etch and cleaning composition of this invention, there is no limitation with respect to the amount of hetero functionalized polymer used other than that the amount used results in a composition capable of achieving the desired results of this invention. Typically, the anti-etch and cleaning composition of this invention will h
Cole David
Crawford Charles Allen
Howell Michael
Rouillard Carol Anne
Diversey Lever Inc.
Mruk Brian P.
Squillante, Jr. Edward A.
LandOfFree
Anti-etch and cleaning composition for glass bottles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Anti-etch and cleaning composition for glass bottles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Anti-etch and cleaning composition for glass bottles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2874968