Process for dosing paste-form detergents

Details Process for dosing paste-form detergents Process for dosing paste-form detergents

1991-02-01

1993-06-22

Lander, Ferris

Compositions

Compositions for enhancing the appearance of consumer...

8137, 134 56R, 134 93, 134198, 252 87, 252170, 25217421, 252DIG1, D66L 112, C11D 1708

Patent

active

052214885

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a process which is particularly suitable for use in institutional laundries and which is based on the development of a new paste-form detergent introduced into the washing process by means of a specially adapted dosing system.
Liquid to paste-form detergents are known in large numbers. They are generally adapted to domestic requirements, i.e. they should be sufficiently liquid so that they can be poured out and dosed without difficulty. Since, in addition, they should be stable in storage over a relatively wide temperature range, organic solvents and/or hydrotropic additives normally have to be used. However, these additives are inactive in the washing process, comparatively expensive and, in addition, take up packaging space and transport and storage capacity. The presence of volatile inflammable solvents is particularly troublesome and necessitates additional safety precautions. Accordingly, detergent concentrates of the type mentioned are of no use or of only very limited use for laundries.
Paste-form, substantially anhydrous detergents are also known, for example from U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,115,308 and 3,850,831. They also normally contain liquid additives inactive in the washing process, such as polyglycols or triethanolamine, for dispersing the finely divided builder salts and for establishing viscosity so that they may readily be squeezed out from a tube by hand pressure. In this form, they are unsuitable for use in washing machines equipped with standard dispensing compartments. This is because if the paste is dosed into these compartments, it is not dissolved and dispersed by the inflowing water, instead a gel surface layer is formed around the paste and prevents any further dissolution. The gel-like paste passes together with the inflowing water into the liquor drum where, on account of its high specific gravity, it collects almost completely in the vicinity of the outlet pipe where it remains virtually unchanged until the washing process is over. The detergent then passes substantially unused into the main drains with the rinsing water.
Another disadvantage which, hitherto, has prevented paste-form detergents from being used in institutional laundries are packaging and dosing problems. Tubes are unsuitable for such applications because they are only suitable for limited filling volumes and, hence, are labor-intensive and time-consuming in terms of handling. In addition, excessive residues generally remain on the walls of the tube and around the head of the tube. The removal of viscous pastes from typical storage containers by means of dosing spoons is also complicated and labor-intensive and, in addition, leads to the dispensing problems mentioned above.
Accordingly, powder-form detergents are mainly used in institutional laundries. Since the exact dosing of powderform detergents is problematical and labor-intensive, particularly in large automated laundries, they are generally stored and dosed in predissolved form as stock liquors, i.e. an aqueous concentrate is prepared and is delivered to the individual machines. However, the detergents typically used in laundries contain comparatively large amounts of washing alkalis which show only limited solubility in cold water and, in addition, lead to salting-out effects. They give rise to phase separation with the result that the organic components, particularly nonionic surfactants and soaps, settle out and cream. Accordingly, the stock liquors have to be diluted relatively heavily with water and, in addition, have to be intensively mixed and circulated continuously to prevent individual components from being deposited in the feed lines to the individual machines. Accordingly, processes of the type in question require considerable investment in large mixing vessels and the statics involved and in mixers and transport systems and also require a continuous supply of energy for heating and recirculating the stock liquors.
Accordingly, there is a considerable need for detergent compositions and adapted dosing systems by which the prob

REFERENCES:
patent: 4889644 (1989-12-01), Amberg et al.

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