Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Solid – shaped macroscopic article or structure
Patent
1996-03-04
1998-06-16
McAvoy, Ellen M.
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Solid, shaped macroscopic article or structure
510454, 510488, C11D 1102
Patent
active
057670579
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to spray-dried granules which are particularly suitable for use as detergents or cleaning compositions or for use in detergents or cleaning compositions and which have an apparent density of at least 700 g/l and to a spray-drying process for the production of these heavy granules.
It is generally known that, depending on the formulation, apparent densities of around 600 to 650 g/l can be obtained by conventional spray drying in which inflated, i.e. porous, granules are generally formed. A further increase in apparent density can be obtained either by spraying these porous granules with nonionic surfactants, in which case the pores of the granules are filled, or by powdering them with fine-particle powders, for example zeolite powders.
2. Discussion of Related Art
European patent application EP-A-0 120 492 describes special spray-dried granules which even reach an apparent density of at least 550 g/l to 800 g/l without the above-described aftertreatment. These granules contain ethoxylated alcohols containing 12 to 24 carbon atoms and an average of 3 to 20 ethylene oxide groups. To achieve an apparent density as high as this, it is essential that the content of anionic surfactants in these granules should be less than 1% by weight and the soap content less than 0.2% by weight because small quantities of such additives lead during spray drying to inflation of the granules and hence to a reduction in the desired high apparent density and to a deterioration in the flow properties of the granules. The granules are produced by a process in which a slurry containing 55 to 35% by weight of water (including the water bound by adsorption or as hydrate) is sprayed. However, the water content is preferably no lower than 42% by weight because lower contents lead to a significant increase in the viscosity of the slurry and necessitate the addition of viscosity-reducing agents, such as toluene, xylene or cumene sulfonate. Slurry viscosities of up to at most 15,000 mPas under operating conditions are regarded as acceptable.
The problem addressed by the present invention was to make the spray drying process more favorable from the energy point of view and to obtain an increase in the performance of the spray drying towers and hence an increase in the capacity of existing installations for the same energy consumption. To this end, it should be possible to spray slurries of higher concentration. However, these slurries should not have such high viscosities that they can no longer be sprayed. In addition, there would be no need for additives, such as toluene, xylene or cumene sulfonate, as typical viscosity-reducing agents.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It has now been found that slurries of relatively high concentration can be sprayed in conventional spray drying towers if they contain certain additional substances which are already known ingredients of detergents or cleaning compositions where they are used in particular as co-builders.
In a first embodiment, therefore, the present invention relates to spray-dried granules which may be used in particular as detergents or cleaning compositions or as a component therefor, contain nonionic surfactants in the quantities mentioned below, but anionic surfactants in quantities of less than 1% by weight and soap in quantities of less than 0.2% by weight and have an apparent density of at least 550 g/l, the granules containing 1 to 30% by weight of nonionic surfactants and, in addition, sugar acids or salts of sugar acids.
Preferred granules have an apparent density of at least 600 g/l, preferably 700 to 1000 g/l and, more preferably, around 750 to 800 g/l. In the context of the present invention, spray-dried granules of high apparent density, more particularly with apparent densities of at least 700 g/l, are produced exclusively by a spray drying process. Aftertreatments, such as impregnation with liquid to wax-like components, for example nonionic surfactants, powdering with fine-particle powders or the
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De Jong Chris
Merz Thomas
Wilms Elmar
Grandmaison Real J.
Henkel-Ecolab GmbH & Co. OHG
Jaeschke Wayne C.
McAvoy Ellen M.
Szoke Ernest G.
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