Gemini surfactant compositions

Details Gemini surfactant compositions Gemini surfactant compositions

2002-08-07

2004-09-28

Mruk, Brian P. (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing

Specific organic component

C510S220000, C510S224000, C510S356000, C510S360000, C510S413000, C510S421000, C510S443000, C510S444000, C510S446000, C510S451000, C510S452000, C510S505000, C510S506000, C510S535000, C568S613000, C568S622000, C523S400000, C523S406000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06797687

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of German patent application number 101 37 925.0, filed on Aug. 7, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to mixtures comprising gemini surfactants and polyethylene glycol, optionally in combination with further nonionic surfactants, to a process for the preparation thereof, and to the use of such mixtures in laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents and cleaners and for improving the wetting behavior on various surfaces.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
For the preparation of laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents and cleaners, preference is given to using surfactant mixtures in solid form, i.e. in the form of granules, flakes, powders, pellets or tablets.
Particularly in the field of machine dishwashing detergents, there is an increased need to be able to incorporate solid surfactant mixtures directly. The consumer now preferably demands combined products comprising dishwashing detergent with incorporated rinse aid for the domestic and also commercial sector. To date, the rinse aid has previously been metered in separately in domestic dishwashers and then released into the wash chamber after the prewash and cleaning operation at just below 40° C.-65° C. In the case of combined dishwashing detergents (e.g. “2 in 1” tablets or powders, i.e. detergents and rinse aids; “3 in 1” tablets or powders, i.e. detergent, rinse aid and regenerating salt), the rinse aid dissolves in a time-delayed manner relative to the detergent and in this way is added to the wash liquor.
Commercial dishwashing machines additionally operate with only a detergent liquor which is merely replaced by adding the wash solution from the previous wash operation. During the entire wash program, no complete water exchange therefore takes place. For this reason, the detergent must also have a foam-suppressing action, be thermally stable over a steep temperature gradient of 85-35° C. and also be sufficiently stable against alkali and active chlorine.
WO 99/35225 (Henkel) describes dishwashing detergent shaped bodies containing surfactants which already comprise rinse aids. In contrast to the present invention, the rinse aid surfactants must be mixed with paraffin for use in the shaped bodies and are additionally surrounded by a coating substance.
WO 00/06688 (Benckiser) also describes compositions for use in a dishwasher. The compounds known for use as rinse aids are mixed, to increase the melting point, with up to 70% polyethylene glycol and must still additionally be incorporated into the dishwashing detergent protecting with with coating substances. As a result of the high proportion of polyethylene glycol, correspondingly less rinse aid substance can be incorporated. The gemini surfactants present in the mixtures according to the invention are not described, and in addition these can be processed with far smaller amounts of polyethylene glycol and incorporated into detergent formulations.
It is an object of the present invention to provide mixtures which can be incorporated into detergent formulations in a simplified manner. In addition, they should exhibit good foaming and cleaning behavior, but in particular very good run-off behavior, i.e. an improvement in the wetting behavior on hard surfaces, and high material compatibility. In addition, it should be possible to incorporate the mixtures according to the invention into detergent formulations in high concentration without the addition of coating substances.
This object was achieved by using chosen surfactants from the gemini surfactant type in combination with polyethylene glycol.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a mixture comprising: (a) a gemini surfactant of the formula (I)
R
1
—CHOH—CH
2
—[OCH
2
CH
2
]x—O—CH
2
—CHOH—R  (I)
wherein each of R and R
1
is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl group having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms and x is a number from about 5 to about 400; (b) polyethylene glycol (PEG).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Gemini Surfactants
In general, gemini surfactants are prepared by reacting 1,2-epoxyalkanes (CH
2
CHO—R) or (CH
2
CHO—R1) or mixtures thereof, where R and R1 are a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl and/or alkenyl radical, with polyols.
In this connection, polyol is to be considered as being the collective term for polyhydric alcohols or polyalkylene glycols, i.e. as an organic compound which contains at least two hydroxy groups in the molecule. Polyalkylene glycols are also to be understood as meaning reaction products of polyhydric alcohols with alkoxylation reagents such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.
For the purposes of the invention, polyethylene glycol HO—[OCH
2
CH
2
]x—OH is used as polyol.
Particular preference is given to gemini surfactants of the formula (I) where x is 5 to 400, preferably 10 to 100 and in particular 10 to 50.
Preference is also given to mixtures comprising gemini surfactants of the formula (I) where R and R1, independently of one another, are a linear or branched alkyl radical having 4 to 22 carbon atoms, particularly preferably a linear alkyl radical having having 8 to 12 carbon atoms.
In a further embodiment, preference is given to mixtures which comprise gemini surfactants of the formula (I) obtained by reaction of polyethylene glycol with epoxyalkanes, where at least 60%, preferably 90%, in particular at least 95%, of all free hydroxyl groups of the polyethylene glycol are capped by epoxyalkanes.
Preference is also given to mixtures which comprise polyethylene glycol with a molar weight (g/mol) of from 500 to 300,000, preferably 1,000 to 100,000, preferably 1,500 to 50,000 and particularly preferably 1,550 to 20,000.
Very particular preference is given to mixtures which comprise gemini surfactants of the formula (I) where x is 10 to 50, and polyethylene glycol with a molar weight of from 3,000 to 20,000 g/mol.
The mixtures also preferably comprise gemini surfactants of the formula (I) and polyethylene glycol in the ratio (a:b) 100:1 to 1:2, preferably 20:1 to 1:1 and particularly preferably 10:1 to 2:1.
The given ratio is calculated from the amount of gemini surfactant used directly relative to the amount of polyethylene glycol added to the mixture.
Nonionic Surfactants
The mixtures according to the invention can comprise further nonionic surfactants. Typical examples of nonionic surfactants are alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides, alkoxylates of alkanols, terminally capped alkoxylates of alkanols without free OH groups, alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters, amine oxides, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, fatty acid polyglycol esters, fatty acid amide polyglycol ethers, fatty amine polyglycol ethers, alkoxylated triglycerides, mixed ethers or mixed formals, fatty acid N-alkylglucamides, protein hydrolyzates (in particular wheat-based vegetable products), polyol fatty acid esters, sugar esters, sorbitan esters and polysorbates. If the nonionic surfactants contain polyglycol ether chains, these may have a conventional homolog distribution, but preferably have a narrowed homolog distribution.
The further nonionic surfactants are preferably chosen from the group formed by alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides, alkoxylates of alkanols, in particular fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol ethers or fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol ethers of the formula (III) or fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol/polyethylene glycol ethers of the formula (IV), terminally capped alkoxylates of alkanols without free OH groups, in particular terminally capped fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol ethers or terminally capped fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol/polyethylene glycol ethers, and alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters and amine oxides.
Particular preference is given to mixtures which comprise, as further nonionic surfactants, preferably alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides of the formula (II), fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol ethers of the formula (III) or fatty alcohol polyprop

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Gemini surfactant compositions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Gemini surfactant compositions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gemini surfactant compositions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3261560