Title of Invention

PRESSED, WAXY SOLID CLEANING COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING THEM

Abstract The present invention relates to a method of making a solid cleaning composition. The method can include pressing and/or vibrating flowable waxy particles of a waxy cleaning composition. For a waxy cleaning composition, pressing and/or vibrating flowable waxy particles determines the shape and density of the solid but is not required for forming a solid. The method can employ a concrete block machine for pressing and/or vibrating. The present invention also relates to a solid cleaning composition made by the method and to solid cleaning compositions including particles bound together by a binding agent.
Full Text

PRESSED, WAXY, SOLID CLEANING COMPOSITIONS
AND METHODS OF MAKING THEM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of making a solid cleaning
composition. The method can include pressing and/or vibrating flowable waxy
particles of a waxy cleaning composition. For a waxy cleaning composition, pressing
and/or vibrating flowable waxy particles determines the shape and density of the solid.
The method can employ a concrete block machine and/or a turntable press for pressing
and/or vibrating. The present invention also relates to a solid cleaning composition
made by the method and to solid cleaning compositions including waxy particles bound
together.
Background of the Invention
The use of solidification technology and solid block detergents in institutional
and industrial operations was pioneered in the SOLID POWER® brand technology
claimed in Fernholz et al., U.S. Reissue Patent Nos. 32,762 and 32,818. Similar
advances have not been achieved for waxy solid cleaning compositions.
Conventional waxy solid compositions can be made by casting a melted
composition and by extrusion. An expensive tablet press can apply its high pressures
only to form tablet or puck sized solids. A tablet press is not suitable for making solid
blocks. Casting requires melting the composition to form a liquid. Melting consumes
energy and can destroy certain desirable ingredients in some cleaning products.
Extruding requires expensive equipment and advanced technical know how.
There remains a need for additional methods for making waxy solid cleaning
compositions and for compositions that can be made by these methods.


Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of making a solid cleaning
composition. The method can include pressing and/or vibrating flowable waxy
particles of a waxy cleaning composition. For a waxy cleaning composition, pressing
and/or vibrating flowable waxy particles determines the shape and density of the solid.
The method can employ a concrete block machine for pressing and/or vibrating. The
present invention also relates to a solid cleaning composition made by the method and
to solid cleaning compositions including waxy particles bound together.
The present method relates to a method of making a solid cleaning composition.
This method includes providing flowable waxy particles comprising a waxy
solidification agent, alkalinity source, sequestrant, or mixture thereof. The method can
include mixing the desired ingredients to form the flowable waxy particles. The
method also includes placing the flowable waxy particles into a form. The method can
include gently pressing, vibrating, or a combination thereof, the flowable waxy particles
in the form to produce the solid cleaning composition.
Gently pressing, vibrating, or a combination thereof can be done by a concrete
block machine, also known as a concrete products machine or masonry product
machine, or by a turntable press. The method of making a solid cleaning composition
can include providing flowable waxy particles comprising waxy solidification agent,
sequestrant, or mixture thereof. This embodiment of the method includes putting the
flowable waxy particles in a hopper or a drawer of a concrete block machine and
operating the concrete block machine to produce solid cleaning composition.
In some embodiments, the method includes putting the flowable waxy particles
in a drawer of a concrete block machine and vibrating the flowable waxy particles in the
drawer. The method also includes transferring the flowable waxy particles from the
drawer into a form. Once in the form, the method includes gently pressing the flowable
waxy particles in the form to produce the solid cleaning composition, vibrating the
flowable waxy particles to produce the solid cleaning composition, or combination


thereof. The method then includes removing the solid cleaning composition from the
form.
Gently pressing can include applying pressures of about 1 to about 1000 psi to
the flowable waxy particles. Vibrating can occur at about 3000 to about 6000 rpm.
Vibrating can occur at about 1500 to about 3000 rpm. Vibrating can occur for about 1
to about 10 sec.
The present invention also relates to a solid cleaning composition. The solid
cleaning composition can include waxy solidification agent, alkalinity source,
sequestrant, or mixture thereof. The solid cleaning composition can include particles of
cleaning composition including an interior and a surface. In the solid cleaning
composition, the surfaces of adjacent particles can contact one another just enough to
provide sufficient contact of the adjacent particles to provide a stable solid cleaning
composition. The solid cleaning composition can be made by the method of the present
invention.
Brief Description of the Figure
Figure 1 schematically illustrates an apparatus suitable for gently pressing the
present compositions, a concrete block machine.
Figure 2 schematically illustrates an apparatus suitable for gently pressing the
present compositions, a turntable press.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Definitions
As used herein, the phrase "concrete block machine" refers to a machine that
forms concrete products (e.g., blocks or pavers) from concrete and that includes
apparatus for pressing, vibrating, or combination thereof concrete (or the present
flowable waxy particles) in a form or mold. Such a machine is known in the product
literature as a concrete product machine, concrete block machine, a masonry product
machine, and the like.


Unless stated otherwise, as used herein, the term "psi" or "pounds per square
inch" refers to the actual pressure applied to the material (e.g., the present flowable
waxy particles) being pressed (e.g., gently pressed) or applied to the material in a
plurality of forms. As used herein, psi or pounds per square inch does not refer to the
gauge or hydraulic pressure measured at a point in the apparatus doing the pressing.
Gauge or hydraulic pressure measured at a point in an apparatus is referred to herein as
"gauge pressure".
As used herein, the term "phosphate-free" refers to a composition, mixture, or
ingredients that do not contain a phosphate or phosphate-containing compound or to
which a phosphate or phosphate-containing compound has not been added. Should a
phosphate or phosphate-containing compound be present through contamination of a
phosphate-free composition, mixture, or ingredients, the level of phosphate shall be less
than 0.5 wt %, may be less then 0.1 wt%, and can be less than 0.01 wt %.
As used herein, the term "phosphorus-free" refers to a composition, mixture, or
ingredients that do not contain phosphorus or a phosphorus-containing compound or to
which phosphorus or a phosphorus-containing compound has not been added. Should
phosphorus or a phosphorus-containing compound be present through contamination of
a phosphorus-free composition, mixture, or ingredients, the level of phosphorus shall be
less than 0.5 wt %, may be less then 0.1 wt%, and can be less than 0.01 wt %.
The term "functional material" or "functional additives" refers to an active
compound or material that affords desirable properties to the solid or dissolved
composition. For example, the functional material can afford desirable properties to the
solid composition such as enhancing solidification characteristics or dilution rate. The
functional material can also, when dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous phase, provide
a beneficial property to the aqueous material when used. Examples of functional
materials include chelating/sequestering agent, alkalinity source, surfactant, cleaning
agent, softening agent, buffer, anti-corrosion agent, bleach activators secondary
hardening agent or solubility modifier, detergent filler, defoamer, anti-redeposition
agent, antimicrobials, rinse aid compositions, a threshold agent or system, aesthetic


enhancing agent (i.e., dye, perfume), lubricant compositions, additional bleaching
agents, functional salts, hardening agents, solubility modifiers, enzymes, other such
additives or functional ingredients, and the like, and mixtures thereof. Functional
materials added to a composition will vary according to the type of composition being
manufactured, and the intended end use of the composition.
"Cleaning" means to perform or aid in soil removal, bleaching, microbial
population reduction, or combination thereof.
As used herein, a solid cleaning composition refers to a cleaning composition in
the form of a solid, including, but not limited to a waxy powder, a flake, a granule, a
pellet, a tablet, a lozenge, a puck, a briquette, a brick, a solid block, or a unit dose. In
addition, the term "solid" refers to the state of the cleaning composition under the
expected conditions of storage and use of the solid cleaning composition. In general, it
is expected that the cleaning composition will remain in solid form when exposed to
temperatures of up to about 100 °F and greater than about 120 °F.
As used herein, microbial preparation refers to a composition including one or
more of spores (bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria, or fungi, which can be
provided in a preservative. As used herein, bacteria preparation refers to a composition
including bacterial spores and/or vegetative bacteria, which can be provided in a
preservative. The preservative can include, for example, any or a variety of
preservative compositions used in commercially supplied preparations of spores
(bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria, or fungi. Such preservatives can include, for
example, chelator, surfactant, buffer, water, or the like. The microbial preparation can,
for example, digest or degrade soils such as fat, oil, grease, sugar, protein, carbohydrate,
or the like.
As used herein, boric acid salt and borate salt are used interchangeably to refer
to a salt such as potassium borate, monoethanolamine borate, or another salt obtained
by or that can be visualized as being obtained by neutralization of boric acid. The
weight percent of a boric acid salt or borate salt in a composition of the present
invention can be expressed either as the weight percent of either the negatively charged


boron containing ion, e.g. the borate and/or boric acid moieties, or as the weight percent
of the entire boric acid salt, e.g. both the negatively charged moiety and the positively
charged moiety. Preferably, the weight percent refers to the entire boric acid salt.
Weight percents of citric acid salts, or other acid salts, can also be expressed in these
ways, preferably with reference to the entire acid salt. As used herein, the term "total
boron compound" refers to the sum of borate and boric acid moieties.
As used herein, basic or alkaline pH refers to pH greater than 7, greater than or
equal to 8, about 8 to about 9.5, about 8 to about 11, greater than about 9, or about 9 to
about 10.5.
As used herein, the terms "flooring" or "floor" refer to any horizontal surface on
which a person might walk. Flooring or a floor can be made of an inorganic material,
such as ceramic tile or natural stone (e.g., quarry tile), or an organic material, such as an
epoxy, a polymer, a rubber, or a resilient material. The flooring or floor can be in any
of a variety of environments such as a restaurant (e.g., a fast food restaurant), a food
processing and/or preparation establishment, a slaughter house, a packing plant, a
shortening production plant, a kitchen, or the like.
As used herein, the phrases "coefficient of friction" and "slip resistance" can be
defined with respect to any of a variety of standard publications, such as ASTM
Standard D-2047, "Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish Coated Floor Surfaces as
Measured by the James Machine" and a report by ASTM Committee D-21 which
indicated that a floor having a coefficient of static friction of not less than 0.5 as
measured by this test is recognized as providing a non-hazardous walkway surface.
This value is qualified in NBS Technical Note 895 "An Overview of Floor Slip-
Resistance, With Annotated Bibliography" by Robert J. Brungraber, wherein it is
indicated that the value of 0.5 provides a factor of safety and that most people, taking
normal strides, would be unlikely to slip on surfaces for which the value is greater than
0.3-0.35. Other relevant and similar standards include ANSI 1264.2-2001, ASTM
C1028-89, ASTM D2047-93, ASTM F1679-00 (which relates to the English XL


Tribometer), ASTM Test Method F1677-96, and UL 410 (1992). Each of the standards
in this paragraph is incorporated herein by reference.
As used herein, weight percent (wt-%), percent by weight, % by weight, and the
like are synonyms that refer to the concentration of a substance as the weight of that
substance divided by the total weight of the composition and multiplied by 100.
As used herein, the term "about" modifying the quantity of an ingredient in the
compositions of the invention or employed in the methods of the invention refers to
variation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical
measuring and liquid handling procedures used for making concentrates or use solutions
in the real world; through inadvertent error in these procedures; through differences in
the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients employed to make the
compositions or carry out the methods; and the like. The term about also encompasses
amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions for a composition resulting
from a particular initial mixture. Whether or not modified by the term "about", the
claims include equivalents to the quantities.
Compositions
The present invention relates to solid cleaning compositions and methods of
making them. The present method can include pressing, vibrating, or a combination
thereof (pressing and vibrating) flowable waxy particles of a waxy cleaning
composition to produce a solid, such as a block or puck. As used herein, the term
"waxy" when used with respect to particles, compounds or compositions (e.g., waxy
particles, waxy solidification agents) refers to particles or compounds or compositions
that stick, e.g., bind, together when a sufficient amount of particles are in contact with
each other. If just placed in a form or mold without having pressure or vibration
applied to it, flowable waxy particles of a waxy cleaning composition forms a crumbly
(friable) solid. Gently pressing and/or vibrating the flowable waxy particles in a mold
or form produces a stable solid. A stable solid composition retains its shape under
conditions in which the composition may be stored or handled. For a waxy cleaning

composition, pressing and/or vibrating flowable waxy particles determines the shape
and density of the stable solid.
The waxy solid compositions include waxy solidification agent and any of a
variety of cleaning agents. For example, the present solid compositions can include
acidulant, antimicrobial agent (e.g., quaternary ammonium compound), alkalinity
source, chelating agent, or combination thereof and water. Mixing of waxy
solidification agent, alkalinity source, chelating agent, or combination thereof with
water and other desired cleaning agents produces flowable waxy particles (e.g., a
flowable waxy powder). Placing the flowable waxy particles into a form (e.g., a mold
or container) and gently pressing and/or vibrating the waxy powder produces a stable
solid.
Gently pressing refers to compressing the flowable waxy particles in a container
in a manner that is effective to bring a sufficient quantity of particles (e.g., granules) of
the flowable waxy particles into contact with one another. Vibrating refers to moving
or imparting vibrational energy to the flowable waxy particles in a container in a
manner that is effective to bring a sufficient quantity of particles (e.g., granules) of the
flowable waxy particles into contact with one another. In the present method, pressing
and vibrating refers to moving or imparting vibrational energy to and compressing the
flowable waxy particles in a container in a manner that is effective to bring a sufficient
quantity of particles (e.g., granules) of the flowable waxy particles into contact with one
another. A sufficient quantity of particles (e.g. granules) in contact with one another
provides binding of particles to one another effective for making a stable solid
composition.
The method of the present invention can produce a stable solid without the high
pressure compression employed in conventional tableting. A conventional tableting
press applies pressures of at least about 5000 psi and even about 30,000-100,000 psi or
more to a solid to produce a tablet. In contrast, the present method employs pressures
on the solid of only less than or equal to about 1000 psi. In certain embodiments, the
present method employs pressures of less than or equal to about 300 psi, less than or


equal to about 200 psi, or less than or equal to about 100 psi. In certain embodiments,
the present method can employ pressures as low as greater than or equal to about 1 psi,
greater than or equal to about 2, greater than or equal to about 5 psi, or greater than or
equal to about 10 psi.
The method of the present invention can produce a stable solid in any of a
variety of sizes, including sizes larger than can be produced in a tableting press. A
conventional tableting press can make only smaller solid products, for example, those
smaller than a hockey puck (or smaller than about 600 g). The present method has been
employed to produce a solid block weighing about 3 kg to about 6 kg, with a volume of,
for example, 5 gal, or having dimensions of, for example, 6x6 inches or a paver-like
slab 12 inches square. The present method employs a binding agent, not pressure, to
provide a large stable solid.
The method of the present invention can produce a stable solid without
employing a melt and solidification of the melt as in conventional casting. Forming a
melt requires heating a composition to melt it. The heat can be applied externally or
can be produced by a chemical exotherm (e.g., from mixing caustic (sodium hydroxide)
and water). Heating a composition consumes energy. Handling a hot melt requires
safety precautions and equipment. Further, solidification of a melt requires cooling the
melt in a container to solidify the melt and form the cast solid. Cooling requires time
and/or energy. In contrast, the present method can employ ambient temperature and
humidity during solidification or curing of the present compositions. Caustic
compositions made according to the present method produce only a slight temperature
increase due to the exotherm. The solids of the present invention are held together not
by solidification from a melt but by a binding agent produced in the flowable waxy
particles and that is effective for producing a stable solid.
The method of the present invention can produce a stable solid without
extruding to compress the mixture through a die. Conventional processes for extruding
a mixture through a die to produce a solid cleaning composition apply high pressures to
a solid or paste to produce the extruded solid. In contrast, the present method employs


pressures on the solid of only less than or equal to about 1000 psi or even as little as 1
psi. The solids of the present invention are held together not by mere compression but
by a binding agent produced in the flowable waxy particles and that is effective for
producing a stable solid.
Any of a variety of flowable waxy particles can be used in the method of the
present invention. For example, in an embodiment, the flowable waxy particles have a
consistency similar to wet sand.
Methods of Making the Solid Cleaning Compositions
In some aspects, the present compositions can be vibrated and gently pressed in
an apparatus that can form a concrete block, concrete paver, or other shaped concrete
product. Such apparatus are known variously as a concrete block machine, a concrete
product machine, a masonry product machine, or the like. Another configuration of
such an apparatus is known variously as a hermetic press, tamping machine, brick press,
turntable press, hydraulic press, or the like.
The method can include employing a concrete block machine to form the solid
cleaning composition. The method can include providing the present flowable waxy
particles. The flowable waxy particles are placed or provided in a drawer of the
machine. The flowable waxy particles can be vibrated in the drawer. The flowable
waxy particles are then transferred from the drawer into a form. Once in the form, the
flowable waxy particles can be subjected to gently pressing, vibrating, or a combination
thereof, in the form to produce the solid cleaning composition. The stable solid
composition can then be removed from the form.
The concrete block machine can vibrate the composition in the mold or form at
about 200 to about 6000 rpm, about 200 to about 300 rpm, about 2500 to about 3000
(e.g., 3100) rpm, about 1500 to about 3000 rpm, or about 3000 to about 6000 rpm.
The concrete block machine can vibrate the composition in the mold for about 1
to about 10 sec or about 1 to about 6 sec.


The concrete block machine can press the content of the mold or form with a
force of about 1 to about 1000 psi, about 2 to about 300 psi, about 5 psi to about 200
psi, or about 10 psi to about 100 psi. In certain embodiments, the present method
employs pressures of less than or equal to about 300 psi, less than or equal to about 200
psi, or less than or equal to about 100 psi. In certain embodiments, the present method
can employ pressures as low as greater than or equal to about 1 psi, greater than or
equal to about 2, greater than or equal to about 5 psi, or greater than or equal to about
10 psi.
The concrete block machine can vibrate the composition in the mold (and
including the vibrating the form) at an excitation force (i.e., amplitude, centrifugal
force) of, for example, about 2000 to about 6,500 lb, about 3000 to about 9000 lb, about
4000 to about 13,000 lb, or about 5000 to about 15,000 lb. In certain embodiments, the
vibrational force can be about 2,000 lb, about 3,000 lb, about 4,000 lb, about 5,000 lb,
about 6,000 lb, about 7,000 lb, about 8,000 lb, about 9,000 lb, about 10,000 lb, about
11,000 lb, about 12,000 lb, about 13,000 lb, about 14,000 lb, or about 15,000 lb.
In an embodiment, the method can include vibrating the drawer containing
flowable waxy particles for about 1 to about 10 sec at about 200 to about 6,000 rpm. In
an embodiment, the method can include vibrating the form containing flowable waxy
particles for about 1 to about 10 sec at about 200 to about 6,000 rpm. In an
embodiment, the method can include such vibrating and also include pressing on the
flowable waxy particles in the form with a weight of about 100 to about 2000 lb.
The method employing the concrete products machine can include any of a
variety of additional manipulations useful for forming the solid cleaning composition.
For example, the method can include putting the flowable waxy particles into a hopper,
and/or flowing or transporting the flowable waxy particles from the hopper into the
drawer. The flowable waxy particles can flow from the hopper under the force of
gravity into the drawer, or by being pushed into the hopper. If the hopper is positioned
directly above the drawer, opening a portal on the bottom of the hopper can allow
flowable waxy particles to drop into the drawer. Alternatively, the hopper can be


positioned above a ramp and the flowable waxy particles can flow down the ramp and
into the drawer.
The method can include vibrating and/or agitating the flowable waxy particles in
the hopper, as it flows or drops from the hopper into the drawer, in the drawer as it is
flowing into the drawer, once it is in the drawer, and any combination thereof.
The method includes transferring the flowable waxy particles from the drawer
into the form. Transferring the flowable waxy particles from the drawer into the form
can be accomplished by the force of gravity. For example, the drawer can be in a
position (disposed) above the form. The bottom of the drawer can be configured to
slide out or be moved laterally out from under the interior of the drawer. Thus, any
flowable waxy particles in the drawer will fall into the form, e.g., the cavity or cavities
of the form. The method can include providing the drawer disposed above the form, the
drawer including a panel disposed between an interior of the drawer and the form. The
method can include laterally moving the panel to a position not between the interior of
the drawer and the form. Accordingly, the flowable waxy particles drops into the form.
The method can include vibrating the flowable waxy particles in the form, as it
flows or drops from the drawer into the form, in the form as it is flowing into the form,
once it is in the form, or any combination thereof. The method can include pressing the
flowable waxy particles in the form (e.g., in the cavity or cavities of the form).
The pressed and/or vibrated flowable waxy particles can be removed from the
form by any of a variety of methods. For example, removing the composition from the
form can include raising the form with the composition remaining on a pallet that had
formed the bottom of the form, or moving the pallet horizontally away from the drawer
and form.
In short, the method can employ a drawer and form that are components of a
concrete block machine. The concrete block machine can vibrate the flowable waxy
particles in the drawer; transfer the flowable waxy particles from the drawer into a
form, gently press the flowable waxy particles in the form to produce the solid cleaning
composition, vibrate the flowable waxy particles to produce the solid cleaning


composition, or combination thereof; and remove the solid cleaning composition from
the form (i.e., move the form off of the composition).
Concrete Block Machine
Suitable concrete block machines include those manufactured by, for example,
Columbia, Besser, Masa, Omag, or Quadra and having model numbers such as
Columbia Model 15, 21, or 22; Besser SuperPac, BescoPac, or VibraPac; or Masa
Extra-Large XL 6.0. These machines can produce, for example, 6-10 blocks of solid
cleaning composition each weighing 1.5-3 kg in a single operation.
Referring now to Figure 1, a concrete block machine 100 can include a drawer 1
configured to receive the flowable waxy particles and to drop the flowable waxy
particles into a form 3. The form 3 can define one or a plurality of cavities 5 configured
to provide the desired shape of the solid cleaning composition. For example, the form 3
can define cavity 5 with open top 7, form sides 9, and pallet 11.
Drawer 1 can include drawer sides 13 and bottom panel 15. Bottom panel 15
can be configured to be moved from beneath drawer sides 13. For example, bottom
panel 15 can slideably engage drawer sides 13 so that bottom panel 15 be slid our from
under drawer interior 17 defined by drawer sides 13. Concrete block machine 100 can
be configured to position drawer 1 containing the present flowable waxy particles (not
shown) over form 3. Concrete block machine 100 can be configured to slide bottom
panel 15 out from under drawer interior 17. When drawer 1 containing the present
flowable waxy particles is positioned over form 3 and bottom panel 15 is slid out from
under drawer interior 17, the flowable waxy particles drops into cavity or cavities 5.
Concrete block machine 100 can also include vibration system 19. Vibration
system 19 can include drawer vibrator 21. Drawer vibrator 21 can be configured to
vibrate drawer 1 and any flowable waxy particles it contains. Drawer vibrator 21 can
impart vibrational energy to the flowable waxy particles in the drawer. Drawer vibrator
21 can be configured to vibrate drawer 1 and its contents at a preselected frequency
(rpm) and a preselected amplitude (centrifugal force). Vibration system 19 can include
form vibrator 23. Form vibrator 23 can be configured to vibrate form 3 and any


flowable waxy particles it contains. Form vibrator 23 can impart vibrational energy to
the flowable waxy particles in the form. Drawer vibrator 23 can be configured to
vibrate form 3 and its contents at a preselected frequency (rpm) and a preselected
amplitude (centrifugal force).
Concrete block machine 100 can also include pressing system 25. Pressing
system 25 can be configured to press flowable waxy particles in the cavity or cavities 5
of form 3. Pressing system can include, for example, a shoe or shoes 27 configured to
be moved down onto flowable waxy particles in cavity or cavities 5. Pressing system
25 can be configured to press upon the flowable waxy particles in the cavity or cavities
5 of form 3 at a preselected pressure (psi).
Concrete block machine 100 can also include optional drawer transport 29
configured to move the drawer 1 with respect to the form 3. For example, drawer
transport 29 can be configured to move drawer 1 from under a hopper 31 to over form
3. Alternatively, drawer 1 and hopper 31 can both be positioned over form 3. In such
an embodiment, the drawer transport 29 may be absent of may be configured to move
drawer 1 from over form 3, for example, for maintenance or other purposes. Hopper 31
can be configured to contain sufficient flowable waxy particles for repeatedly filling the
drawer 1 and the cavity or cavities 5.
Concrete block machine 100 can also include form transport 33 configured to
move the form 3 with respect to the drawer 1. For example, form transport 33 can be
configured to move form 3 from under drawer 1 to a position at the exterior of machine
100. For example, form transport 33 can be configured to raise form sides 9 while
leaving the solid composition on pallet 11. Pallet 11 can then be moved to the exterior
of the machine 100 so that the solid composition can be removed from the machine.
Turntable Press
Suitable concrete block machines include those manufactured by, for example,
Schauer & Hacberlc, Masa, or the like and having model names such as Multi-System-
Press 970, RECORD Power WP-06 4D, UNI-2000, WKP 1200 S, or the like. These


machines can produce, for example, 6-10 blocks of solid cleaning composition each
weighing 1.5-3 kg in a single operation.
Referring now to Figure 2, a turntable press 200 can include a hopper 201 with
chute 203 configured to receive the flowable solid and to drop the flowable solid into a
mold 205. The mold 205 can define one or a plurality of chambers 207 configured to
provide the desired shape of the solid cleaning composition. Turntable press 200 can
include hopper vibrator 209 and/or mold vibrator 211 to vibrate the hopper and/or the
mold, respectively, and any flowable solid that they might contain.
Turntable press 200 can impart vibrational energy to the flowable solid in the
hopper 201. Hopper vibrator 209 can be configured to vibrate hopper 201 and its
contents at a preselected frequency (rpm) and a preselected amplitude (centrifugal
force). Mold vibrator 211 can impart vibrational energy to the flowable solid in the
mold 205. Mold vibrator 211 can be configured to vibrate mold 205 and its contents at
a preselected frequency (rpm) and a preselected amplitude (centrifugal force).
Turntable press 200 can also include press 213. Press 213 can be configured to
press flowable solid in the mold 205 and any chamber or chambers 207 that might be in
the mold 205. Press 213 can include, for example, a ram 215 configured to be moved
down onto flowable solid in mold 205 and any chamber or chambers 207. Press 213
can be configured to press upon the flowable solid in the mold 205 and any chamber or
chambers 207 at a preselected pressure (psi).
Turntable press 200 can also include turntable 217 configured to move the mold
205. For example, turntable 217 can be configured to move mold 205 from under chute
203 to a position under ram 215, and then, for example, to a unloading position 219,
where the turntable pressed solid 221 can be removed from the apparatus.
In some aspects, the method for making a stable solid cleaning composition
includes providing the flowable waxy particles including a solidification agent; and an
ingredient selected from the group consisting of alkalinity source, acidulant, stabilized
microbial or enzyme composition, surfactant, sequestrant, and mixtures thereof. The
flowable waxy particles are transferred to a holding hopper. The holding hopper can


include an agitation blade to prevent the waxy particles from solidifying or cementing
while remaining in the holding hopper. The flowable waxy particles are then fed from
the holding hopper into a run hopper. The run hopper can include an agitation blade to
prevent the waxy particles from solidifying or cementing while residing in the run
hopper. The flowable waxy particles are then transferred from the run hopper into a
cavity on a load cell. Any desired amount of flowable particles can be placed into the
cavity. The amount of flowable waxy particles placed into the cavity can be measured
by the load cell. The flowable waxy particles are then subjected to gentle pressing,
vibration, or a combination of both, in the cavity to produce the stable solid cleaning
composition. The stable solid cleaning composition is then removed from the cavity.
Additional Methods for Pressing and/or Vibrating
The present solid composition can be made by an advantageous method of
pressing and/or vibrating the solid composition. The method of pressing and/or
vibrating the composition includes mixing the desired ingredients in the desired
proportions, for example, with a ribbon or other known blender to form the flowable
waxy particles. In an embodiment, the method then includes forming the solid cleaning
composition from the mixed ingredients by placing the flowable waxy particles in a
mold, pressing and/or vibrating the flowable waxy particles in the mold to form a stable
solid composition, and recovering the composition from the mold.
Pressing can employ low pressures compared to conventional pressures used to
form tablets or other conventional solid cleaning compositions. For example, in an
embodiment, the present method employs a pressure on the solid of only less than or
equal to about 1000 psi. In certain embodiments, the present method employs pressures
of less than or equal to about 300 psi, less than or equal to about 200 psi, or less than or
equal to about 100 psi. In certain embodiments, the present method can employ
pressures as low as greater than or equal to about 1 psi, greater than or equal to about 2,
greater than or equal to about 5 psi, or greater than or equal to about 10 psi. In certain
embodiments, the present method can employ pressures of about 1 to about 1000 psi,


about 2 to about 300 psi, about 5 psi to about 200 psi, or about 10 psi to about 100 psi.
Such pressing is referred to herein as "gentle pressing."
In some embodiments, the solid compositions are formed by a method including
vibrating. This embodiment includes forming the solid cleaning composition from the
mixed ingredients by placing the flowable waxy particles in a mold, vibrating the mold
containing the flowable waxy particles, vibrating the flowable waxy particles in the
mold, vibrating the flowable waxy particles before or as it is put into the mold, or
combination thereof to form the composition, and recovering the pressed and/or
vibrated composition from the mold.
Vibrating can include any of a variety of methods for imparting vibrational
energy to the mold of the mixed ingredients. For example, vibrating can include
vibrating a plurality of molds containing the mixed ingredients on a platform. For
example, vibrating can include inserting a vibrating probe into the mixed ingredients in
the mold. For example, vibrating can include placing a vibrating surface or object onto
the mixed ingredients in the mold.
Vibrating can also include vibrating the flowable waxy particles before or at
substantially the same time as the flowable waxy particles are placed in the mold. The
flowable waxy particles can be stored or provided as a quantity sufficient for producing
hundreds or thousands of pounds of solid cleaning composition. For example, an
amount of flowable waxy particles sufficient to fill several molds or forms can be
placed in a container (e.g., a drawer) and vibrated in the container. The flowable waxy
particles can be vibrated as it is moved (e.g., dropped) from the container into the mold
or form.
Vibrating effective for forming the present solids includes vibrating at about 200
to about 6000 rpm, about 200 to about 300 rpm, about 2500 to about 3000 (e.g., 3100)
rpm, about 1500 to about 3000 rpm, or about 3000 to about 6000 rpm.
Vibrating can be conducted for about 1 to about 10 sec or about 1 to about 6 sec.
Suitable apparatus for vibrating the composition includes a concrete block machine or
concrete products machine.


In certain embodiments, the vibration can be quantified as the amount of
vibrational energy - centrifugal force - applied to the flowable waxy particles, mold or
form, and moving parts of the apparatus. In certain embodiments, the amount of
vibrational force is about 100 lb, about 200 lb, about 300 lb, about 400 lb, about 500 lb,
about 600 lb, about 700 lb, about 800 lb, about 900 lb, or about 1,000. In certain
embodiments, the amount of vibrational force is about 2,000 lb, about 3,000 lb, about
4,000 lb, about 5,000 lb, about 6,000 lb, about 7,000 lb, about 8,000 lb, about 9,000 lb,
about 10,000 lb, about 11,000 lb, about 12,000 lb, about 13,000 lb, about 14,000 lb, or
about 15,000 lb. In certain embodiments, the amount of vibrational force is about 100
lb, about 200 lb, about 300 lb, about 400 lb, about 500 lb, about 600 lb, about 700 lb,
about 800 lb, about 900 lb, about 1,000, about 1,500 lb, about 2,000 lb, about 3,000 lb,
about 4,000 lb, about 5,000 lb, about 6,000 lb, about 7,000 lb, about 8,000 lb, about
9,000 lb, about 10,000 lb, about 11,000 lb, about 12,000 lb, about 13,000 lb, about
14,000 lb, or about 15,000 lb. Employing a concrete products machine, the amount of
vibrational force applied to the flowable waxy particles, mold or form, and moving
parts of the machine can be about 2000 to about 6,500 lb, about 3000 to about 9000 lb,
about 4000 to about 13,000 lb, or about 5000 to about 15,000 lb.
The mold can be coated with a release layer to ease release of the solid
composition from the mold.
The method can operate on any of a variety of waxy compositions. The
composition can be, for example, a flowable waxy powder or a waxy paste. Suitable
flowable waxy powders include a waxy powder and a wetted waxy powder. The
method can operate on a waxy composition that can flow or be dropped into and fill the
mold.
Solid Cleaning Compositions
In some aspects, the present invention provides solid cleaning compositions
including a waxy solidification agent, and other ingredients. Some examples of

representative constituent concentrations for embodiments of the present compositions
can be found in Table A, in which the values are given in wt-% of the ingredients in
reference to the total composition weight. In certain embodiments, the proportions and
amounts in Table A can be modified by "about".

The waxy solidification agent can be an anionic surfactant such as sodium alkyl
benzene sulfonate alone or as a mixture with sodium laurel sulfate and/or sodium laurel
ether sulfate. The waxy solidification agent can be urea.
The present solid product can be formulated with ingredients for use as, for
example, an air freshener, a urinal block, a drain ring, or a laundry bar.
Solidification Agents
The waxy solid compositions can include a waxy solidification agent. The
waxy solidification agent in the present compositions participates in maintaining the


compositions in a solid form. Although other components of the solid composition may
also be solids, the solidification agent can maintain the overall composition including
solid and liquid components in a solid form. A waxy solidification agent can be a
compound or system of compounds that significantly contributes to the uniform
solidification of the composition. The waxy solidification agent should also be capable
of forming a matrix with the cleaning agent and other ingredients when mixed and
solidified to provide a uniform dissolution of the cleaning agent from the solid cleaning
composition during use. The solidification agent can also provide cleaning power or
antimicrobial activity to the composition.
The amount of solidification agent included in the solid cleaning composition
will vary according to factors including, but not limited to: the type of solid cleaning
composition being prepared, the ingredients of the solid cleaning composition, the
intended use of the composition, the quantity of dispensing solution applied to the solid
composition over time during use, the temperature of the dispensing solution, the
hardness of the dispensing solution, the physical size of the solid cleaning composition,
the concentration of the other ingredients, and the concentration of the cleaning agent in
the composition. It is preferred that the amount of the solidification agent included in
the solid cleaning composition is effective to combine with the cleaning agent and other
ingredients of the composition to form a homogeneous mixture under continuous
mixing conditions and a temperature at or below the melting temperature of the
solidification agent.
The amount of the solidification agent included in the solid cleaning
composition is effective to provide a desired hardness and desired rate of controlled
solubility of the processed composition when placed in an aqueous medium to achieve a
desired rate of dispensing the cleaning agent from the solidified composition during use.
In some embodiments, the solidification agent can assist the source of alkalinity in
maintaining the solid cleaning composition in solid form. In other embodiments, the
solidification agent is compatible with the cleaning agent and other active ingredients of


the composition and are capable of providing an effective amount of hardness and/or
aqueous solubility to the processed composition.
Suitable waxy solidification agents include, but are not limited to: a solid
polyethylene glycol (PEG); anionic surfactants; a solid EO/PO block copolymer, and
the like; an amide, such as stearic monoethanolamide, lauric diethanolamide, an
alkylamide, or the like; high melt alcohol ethoxylate (e.g., C12-C14 alcohol ethoxylate
with 12,14,16,18, or 20 mole ethoxylate, C12-15 alcohol ethoxylate with 20 mole
ethoxylate, C14-15 alcohol ethoxylate with 13 mole ethoxylate, C6 alcohol ethoxylate
with 20 mole ethoxylate), or the like; waxes, e.g., paraffin; other generally functional or
inert materials with high melting points; and the like. Additional suitable solidification
agents include EO/PO block copolymers such as those sold under the tradenames
Pluronic 108, Pluronic F68; amides such as lauric diethanolamide or cocodiethylene
amide; and the like.
Polyethylene Glycol
The waxy solidification agent may be an organic waxy solidification agent. A
suitable organic solidification agent is a polyethylene glycol (PEG) compound. The
solidification rate of solid cleaning compositions comprising a polyethylene glycol
solidification agent will vary, at least in part, according to the amount and the molecular
weight of the polyethylene glycol added to the composition. Examples of suitable
polyethylene glycols include, but are not limited to: solid polyethylene glycols of the
general formula H(OCH2CH2)nOH, where n is greater than 15, particularly
approximately 30 to approximately 1700. Typically, the polyethylene glycol is a solid
in the form of a free-flowing powder or flakes, having a molecular weight of
approximately 1,000 to approximately 100,000, particularly having a molecular weight
of at least approximately 1,450 to approximately 20,000, more particularly between
approximately 1,450 to approximately 8,000.
In some embodiments, the polyethylene glycol is present at a concentration of
from approximately 1% to 75% by weight and particularly approximately 3% to


approximately 15% by weight. Suitable polyethylene glycol compounds include PEG
4000, PEG 1450, and PEG 8000 among others. Certain embodiments employ PEG
4000 or PEG 8000. An example of a commercially available solid polyethylene glycol
includes, but is not limited to: CARBOWAX, available from Union Carbide
Corporation, Houston, TX.
In certain embodiments, the solidification agent includes solid PEG, for example
PEG 1500 up to PEG 20,000. In certain embodiments, the PEG includes PEG 1450,
PEG 3350, PEG 4500, PEG 8000, PEG 20,000, and the like. In certain embodiments,
the solidification agent includes a combination of solidification agents, such as
combination of PEG and an EO/PO block copolymer (such as a Pluronic) and
combination of PEG and an amide (such as lauric diethanol amide or stearic
monoethanol amide).
Anionic Surfactant
The present composition can include an anionic surfactant as solidification
agent. Suitable anionic surfactants include organic sulfonate surfactant, organic sulfate
surfactant, phosphate ester surfactant, carboxylate surfactant, mixtures thereof, or the
like. In an embodiment, the anionic surfactant includes alkyl sulfonate, alkylaryl
sulfonate, alkylated diphenyl oxide disulfonate, alkylated naphthalene sulfonate,
alcohol alkoxylate carboxylate, sarcosinate, taurate, acyl amino acid, alkanoic ester,
phosphate ester, sulfuric acid ester, salt or acid form thereof, or mixture thereof. The
particular salts will be suitably selected depending upon the particular formulation and
the needs therein.
Suitable anionic surfactants include sulfonic acids (and salts), such as
isethionates (e.g. acyl iscthionates), alkylaryl sulfonic acids and salts thereof, alkyl
sulfonates, and the like.
Examples of suitable synthetic, water soluble anionic cleaning compounds
include the ammonium and substituted ammonium (such as mono-, di- and
triethanolamine) and alkali metal (such as sodium, lithium and potassium) salts of the


alkyl mononuclear aromatic sulfonates such as the alkyl benzene sulfonates containing
from about 5 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group in a straight or branched
chain, e.g., the salts of alkyl benzene sulfonates or of alkyl toluene, xylene, cumene and
phenol sulfonates; alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, diamyl naphthalene sulfonate, and
dinonyl naphthalene sulfonate and alkoxylated derivatives or their free acids. Suitable
sulfonates include olefin sulfonates, such as long chain alkene sulfonates, long chain
hydroxyalkane sulfonates or mixtures of alkenesulfonates and hydroxyalkane-
sulfonates.
In certain embodiments, the present compositions including an anionic
surfactant, such as a normal C8 sulfonate, can be non-foam or low foam compositions.
Such compositions can be advantageous for applications such as clean in place,
machine warewashing, destaining, and sanitizing, laundry washing, destaining, and
sanitizing, etc.
Anionic sulfate surfactants suitable for use in the present compositions include
alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, the linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl
sulfates, alkyl ethoxysulfates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide
ether sulfates, the C5 -C(7 acyl-N-(Ci -C4 alkyl) and -N-(Ci -C2 hydroxyalkyl)
glucamine sulfates, and sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of
alkylpolyglucoside, and the like. Also included are the alkyl sulfates, alkyl
poly(ethyleneoxy) ether sulfates and aromatic poly(ethyleneoxy) sulfates such as the
sulfates or condensation products of ethylene oxide and nonyl phenol (usually having 1
to 6 oxyethylene groups per molecule).
Urea
Urea particles can also be employed as solidification agents and/or hardeners in
the solid cleaning compositions. The solidification rate of the compositions will vary,
at least in part, to factors including, but not limited to: the amount, the particle size, and
the shape of the urea added to the composition. For example, a particulate form of urea
can be combined with a cleaning agent and other ingredients, and preferably a minor


but effective amount of water. The amount and particle size of the urea is effective to
combine with the cleaning agent and other ingredients to form a homogeneous mixture
without the application of heat from an external source to melt the urea and other
ingredients to a molten stage. It is preferred that the amount of urea included in the
solid cleaning composition is effective to provide a desired hardness and desired rate of
solubility of the composition when placed in an aqueous medium to achieve a desired
rate of dispensing the cleaning agent from the solidified composition during use. In
some embodiments, the composition includes between approximately 5% to
approximately 90% by weight urea, particularly between approximately 8% and
approximately 40% by weight urea, and more particularly between approximately 10%
and approximately 30% by weight urea.
The urea may be in the form of prilled beads or powder. Prilled urea is generally
available from commercial sources as a mixture of particle sizes ranging from about 8-
15 U.S. mesh, as for example, from Arcadian Sohio Company, Nitrogen Chemicals
Division. A prilled form of urea is preferably milled to reduce the particle size to about
50 U.S. mesh to about 125 U.S. mesh, particularly about 75-100 U.S. mesh, preferably
using a wet mill such as a single or twin-screw extruder, a Teledyne mixer, a Ross
emulsifier, and the like.
Source of Alkalinity
The solid cleaning composition according to the invention includes an effective
amount of one or more alkaline sources to enhance cleaning of a substrate and improve
soil removal performance of the composition. In general, an effective amount of one or
more alkaline sources should be considered as an amount that provides a use
composition having a pH of at least about 8. When the use composition has a pH of
between about 8 and about 10, it can be considered mildly alkaline, and when the pH is
greater than about 12, the use composition can be considered caustic. In general, it is
desirable to provide the use composition as a mildly alkaline cleaning composition
because it is considered to be safer than the caustic based use compositions.


The solid cleaning composition can include an alkali metal carbonate and/or an
alkali metal hydroxide. Suitable metal carbonates that can be used include, for
example, sodium or potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, mixtures
thereof. Suitable alkali metal hydroxides that can be used include, for example, sodium,
lithium, or potassium hydroxide. An alkali metal hydroxide can be added to the
composition in the form of solid beads, dissolved in an aqueous solution, or a
combination thereof. Alkali metal hydroxides are commercially available as a solid in
the form of prilled solids or beads having a mix of particle sizes ranging from about 12-
100 U.S. mesh, or as an aqueous solution, as for example, as a 50 wt-% and a 73 wt-%
solution.
The solid cleaning composition can include a sufficient amount of the alkaline
source to provide the use composition with a pH of at least about 8. The source of
alkalinity is preferably in an amount to enhance the cleaning of a substrate and improve
soil removal performance of the composition. In general, it is expected that the
concentrate will include the alkaline source in an amount of at least about 5 wt-%, at
least about 10 wt-%, or at least about 15 wt-%. The solid cleaning composition can
include between about 10 wt-% and about 80 wt-%, preferably between about 15 wt-%
and about 70 wt-%, and even more preferably between about 20 wt-% and about 60 wt-
% of the source of alkalinity. The source of alkalinity can additionally be provided in
an amount to neutralize the anionic surfactant and can be used to assist in the
solidification of the composition.
In order to provide sufficient room for other components in the concentrate, the
alkaline source can be provided in the concentrate in an amount of less than about 60
wt-%. In addition, the alkaline source can be provided at a level of less than about 40
wt-%, less than about 30 wt-%, or less than about 20 wt-%. In certain embodiments, it
is expected that the solid cleaning composition can provide a use composition that is
useful at pH levels below about 8. In such compositions, an alkaline source can be
omitted, and additional pH adjusting agents can be used to provide the use composition


with the desired pH. Accordingly, it should be understood that the source of alkalinity
can be characterized as an optional component.
For compositions including carboxylate as a component of the binding agent,
the solid cleaning composition can include about 75 wt-%, less than about 60 wt-%, less
than about 40 wt-%, less than about 30 wt-%, or less than about 20 wt-%. The
alkalinity source may constitute about 0.1 to about 90 wt-%, about 0.5 to about 80 wt-
%, or about 1 to about 60 wt-% of the total weight of the solid cleaning composition.
Secondary Alkalinity Sources
In some embodiments, a solid of the present invention can include effective
amounts of one or more inorganic detergents or alkaline sources to enhance cleaning of
a substrate and improve soil removal performance of the composition. As discussed
above, in embodiments including an alkali metal salt, such as alkali metal carbonate, the
alkali metal salt can act as an alkalinity source. The composition may include a
secondary alkaline source separate from the source of alkalinity, and that secondary
source can include about 0 to 75 wt-%, about 0.1 to 70 wt-% of, 1 to 25 wt-%, or about
20 to 60 wt-%, or 30 to 70 wt-% of the total composition.
Additional alkalinity sources can include, for example, inorganic alkalinity
sources, such as an alkali metal hydroxide or silicate, or the like. Suitable alkali metal
hydroxides include, for example, sodium or potassium hydroxide. An alkali metal
hydroxide may be added to the composition in a variety of forms, including for example
in the form of solid beads, dissolved in an aqueous solution, or a combination thereof.
Alkali metal hydroxides are commercially available as a solid in the form of prilled
solids or beads having a mix of particle sizes ranging from about 12-100 U.S. mesh, or
as an aqueous solution, as for example, as a 50 wt-% and a 73 wt-% solution.
Examples of useful alkaline metal silicates include sodium or potassium silicate
(with a M2O:SiO2 ratio of 1:2.4 to 5:1, M representing an alkali metal) or metasilicate.
Other sources of alkalinity include a metal borate such as sodium or potassium
borate, and the like; ethanolamines and amines; and other like alkaline sources.

Organic Sequestrant
Suitable organic sequestrant includes organic phosphonate, aminocarboxylic
acid, or mixtures thereof.
Organic Phosphonate
Appropriate organic phosphonates include those that are suitable for use in
forming the solidified composition with the source of alkalinity and water. Organic
phosphonates include organic-phosphonic acids, and alkali metal salts thereof. Some
examples of suitable organic phosphonates include: 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic
acid: CH3C(OH)[PO(OH)2]2; aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid): N[CH2PO(OH)2]3;
aminotri(methylenephosphonate), sodium salt

hydroxyethyliminobis(methylenephosphonic acid): HOCH2CH2N[CH2PO(OH)2]2;
diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonicacid):
(HO)2POCH2N[CH2CH2N[CH2PO(OH)2]2]2;
diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonate), sodium salt: CgH(28-x)NNaxO15P5
(x=7); hexamethylenediamine(tetramethylenephosphonate), potassium salt: CioH(28-
X)N2KxO12P4 (x=6); bis(hexamethylene)triamine(pentamethylenephosphonic acid):
(HO2)POCH2N[(CH2)6N[CH2PO(OH)2]2]2; and phosphorus acid H3PO3; and other
similar organic phosphonates, and mixtures thereof.
These materials are well known sequestrants, but have not been reported as
components in a solidification complex material including an source of alkalinity.
Suitable organic phosphonate combinations include ATMP and DTPMP. A
neutralized or alkaline phosphonate, or a combination of the phosphonate with an alkali
source prior to being added into the mixture such that there is little or no heat or gas
generated by a neutralization reaction when the phosphonate is added is suitable.


Aminocarboxylic Acid
The organic sequestrant can also include aminocarboxylic acid type sequestrant.
Appropriate aminocarboxylic acid type sequestrants include those that are suitable for
use in forming the solidified composition with the source of alkalinity and water.
Aminocarboxylic acid type sequestrant can include the acids, or alkali metal salts
thereof. Some examples of aminocarboxylic acid materials include amino acetates and
salts thereof. Some examples include the following: N-hydroxyethylaminodiacetic
acid; hydroxyethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA);
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid
(HEDTA); diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA); and
alanine-N,N-diacetic acid; and the like; and mixtures thereof.
In an embodiment, the organic sequestrant includes a mixture or blend including
two or more organophosphonate compounds, or including two or more aminoacetate
compounds, or including at least one organophosphonate and an aminoacetate
compound.
Useful aminocarboxylic acids include, for example,
n-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA),
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid
(HEDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and the like.
Useful aminocarboxylic acid materials containing little or no NTA and no
phosphorus include: N-hydroxyethylaminodiacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid (EDTA), hydroxyethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic
acid, N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA),
diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and other similar acids having an amino
group with a carboxylic acid substituent.
Examples of suitable biodegradable aminocarboxylates include:
ethanoldiglycine, e.g., an alkali metal salt of ethanoldiglycine, such at disodium
ethanoldiglycine (Na2EDG); methylgylcinediacetic acid, e.g., an alkali metal salt of
methylgylcinediacetic acid, such as trisodium methylgylcinediacetic acid;


iminodisuccinic acid, e.g., an alkali metal salt of iminodisuccinic acid, such as
iminodisuccinic acid sodium salt; N,N-bis (carboxylatomethyl)-L-glutamic acid
(GLDA), e.g., an alkali metal salt of N,N-bis (carboxylatomethyl)-L-glutamic acid,
such as iminodisuccinic acid sodium salt (GLDA-Na4); [S-S]-
ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), e.g., an alkali metal salt of [S-S]-
ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, such as a sodium salt of [S-S]-
ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid; 3-hydroxy-2,2'-iminodisuccinic acid (HIDS), e.g., an
alkali metal salt of 3-hydroxy-2,2'-iminodisuccinic acid, such as tetrasodium 3-
hydroxy-2,2'-iminodisuccinate.
Examples of suitable commercially available biodegradable aminocarboxylates
include: Versene HEIDA (52%), available from Dow Chemical, Midland, MI; Trilon M
(40% MGDA), available from BASF Corporation, Charlotte, NC; IDS, available from
Lanxess, Leverkusen, Germany; Dissolvine GL-38 (38%), available from Akzo Nobel,
Tarrytown, NJ; Octaquest (37%), available from; and HIDS (50%), available from
Innospec Performance Chemicals (Octel Performance Chemicals), Edison, NJ.
Acidulant
In an embodiment, the present composition includes an acidulant. The acidulant
can be a solid acid. The acidulant can be effective to form a use composition with pH
of about 5, about 5 or less, about 4, about 4 or less, about 3, about 3 or less, about 2,
about 2 or less, or the like. In an embodiment, the acidulant includes an inorganic acid.
Suitable inorganic acids include sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric
acid, sulfamic acid, mixtures thereof, or the like. In an embodiment, the acidulant
includes a carboxylic acid with pKa less than 4. Suitable carboxylic acids with pKa less
than 4 include hydroxyacetic acid, hydroxypropionic acid, other hydroxycarboxylic
acids, mixtures thereof, or the like. Additional suitable carboxylic acids include
diacids. Suitable organic acids include methane sulfonic acid, ethane sulfonic acid,
propane sulfonic acid, butane sulfonic acid, xylene sulfonic acid, benzene sulfonic acid,
mixtures thereof, or the like. Suitable organic acids include acetic acid, hydroxyacetic


acid, citric acid, tartaric acid and the like. Acidulants found useful include organic and
inorganic acids such as citric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, glycolic acid, adipic acid,
tartaric acid, succinic acid, propionic acid, maleic acid, alkane sulfonic acids,
cycloalkane sulfonic acids, as well as phosphoric acid and the like or mixtures thereof.
Water
A solid cleaning composition can include water. Water can be independently
added to the cleaning composition or can be provided in the composition as a result of
its presence in an aqueous material that is added to the composition. Typically, water is
introduced into the cleaning composition to provide the cleaning composition with a
desired flowability prior to solidification and to provide a desired rate of solidification.
In certain embodiments of the solid cleaning composition, water can be present at about
0 to about 10 wt-%, about 0.1 to about 10 wt-%, about 2 to about 10 wt-%, about 1 to
about 5 wt-%, or about 2 to about 3 wt-%.
Solid Compositions Including A Stabilized Microbial Preparation and/or Enzyme
The present solid composition can include a borate salt and spores (bacterial or
fungal), vegetative bacteria, fungi, or enzyme. The present solid composition can
include, for example, solidification agent and stabilized microbial preparation. The
present solid composition can include, for example, solidification agent and stabilized
enzyme preparation. The present solid composition can include, for example,
solidification agent, stabilized microbial preparation, and stabilized enzyme preparation
(e.g., stabilized microbial and enzyme preparation). The present composition can also
include one or more of surfactant or surfactant blend, chelating agent, sodium
carbonate, or other ingredients useful for cleaning. The present invention also includes
methods of using these compositions.
The present composition can provide advantageous stability of spores (bacterial
or fungal), vegetative bacteria, fungi, or enzyme. In an embodiment, the present solid
including borate salt can provide advantageous stability of the spores (bacterial or


fungal), vegetative bacteria, fungi, or enzyme in the solid composition. For example,
the solid can retain acceptable levels (e.g., >70% initial activity) of active/living spores
(bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria, fungi, or enzyme for one year, two years, or
longer.
The present solid composition can include a stabilized microbial preparation
including a borate salt and microbe. The microbe can be in the form of spores (bacterial
or fungal), vegetative bacteria, or fungi. The microbial preparation can include, for
example, spores or spore blend that can digest or degrade soils such as grease, oils (e.g.,
vegetable oils or animal fat), protein, carbohydrate, or the like. The microbial
preparation can also produce enzymes that aid in the degradation of soils such as
grease, oil, fat, protein, carbohydrate, or the like. The borate salt can include any of a
variety of salts of boric acid, for example, alkali metal salts or alkanol amine salts. The
boric acid salt can provide a source of alkalinity for a solid cleaning composition
including the stabilized microbial preparation.
In an embodiment, the present stabilized microbial preparation is a component
of a cleaning composition. Although not limiting to the present invention, the microbial
preparation can be viewed as a source of detersive enzyme in the cleaning composition.
Such a cleaning composition can also include additional enzymes, not produced by the
microbial preparation in situ. The microbial preparation can produce, for example,
enzymes such as proteases, lipases, and/or amylases. The composition can also include
other added enzymes, such as, for example, proteases, lipases, and/or amylases.
Although not limiting to the present invention, the added enzymes can be viewed as
providing immediate cleaning upon application of the cleaning composition, and the
microbial preparation can be viewed as providing persistent cleaning as the microbes
remain on the article being cleaned, even after rinsing.
Most cleaners can only provide soil removal which is actually just moving the
soil from one surface or location (e.g., a floor) to another (e.g., a drain). In certain
embodiments, cleaning compositions including the present stabilized microbial


preparation can provide both soil removal and persistent soil reduction, through
persistent enzymatic breakdown of soils.
The present solid composition can include a stabilized enzyme preparation
including a borate salt and enzyme. The enzyme can be a detersive enzyme. The
enzyme preparation can include, for example, enzyme or enzyme blend that can digest
or degrade soils such as grease, oils (e.g., vegetable oils or animal fat), protein,
carbohydrate, or the like. The borate salt can include any of a variety of salts of boric
acid, for example, alkali metal salts or alkanol amine salts. The boric acid salt can
provide a source of alkalinity for a cleaning composition including the stabilized
enzyme preparation.
Solid cleaning compositions including the present stabilized enzyme or
microbial preparations can be used for a variety of purposes, including as a floor
cleaner, as a grout cleaner, as a combination floor and drain cleaner and
degreaser/grease digester, as a grease digester in grease traps, for effluent and/or
wastewater treatment (e.g., reduction of fats, oils, and greases), in municipal waste
treatment, as a grease digester in rendering plants, or for black and gray water treatment
on cruise ships.
Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is thought that the
present stable solid cleaning compositions including microbial or enzyme compositions
can break down grease or oil on a surface. Breaking down the grease or oil can release
other soil stuck in the grease or oil. Accordingly, the present solid composition can
clean a surface. In an embodiment, the present invention includes a method including
repeating application of the present solid stable microbial or enzyme composition. For
example, the present method can include daily application. Application for five to 21
days, or even in certain circumstances 5-14 days, can clean a lightly soiled surface.
Application for three to six weeks can clean a heavily soiled surface.
In certain embodiments, the compositions of the present invention can be
described by the ingredients and amounts listed in the tables below. The ingredients of
the stabilized microbial composition and/or the stabilized enzyme composition are not

listed in the tables below, but are described herein. The amounts or ranges in these
tables can also be modified by about.



Microbial Preparations
Any of a variety of spores (bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria, or fungi can
be employed in the present solid cleaning compositions including stabilized bacterial
compositions. For example, the present solid composition can include any viable


microorganism or mixture thereof that can survive the formulation and the intended use
environment or that can digest, degrade, or promote the degradation of lipids, proteins,
carbohydrates, other organic matter, or the like common to domestic, institutional, and
industrial soil or effluent, or the like. Many suitable strains and species are known.
Suitable spores (bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria, or fungi include
Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Corynebacter,
Nitrobacter, mixtures thereof, or the like; Acinetobacter, Aspergillus, Azospirillum,
Burkholderia, Ceriporiopsis, Escherichia, Lactobacillus, Paenebacillus, Paracoccus,
Rhodococcus, Syphingomonas, Streptococcus, Thiobacillus, Trichoderma,
Xanthomonas, Lactobacillus, Nitrosomonas, Alcaliaens, Klebsiella, mixtures thereof, or
the like; mixtures thereof, or the like.
Suitable Bacillus include Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus
polymyxa, mixtures thereof, or the like; Bacillus methanolicus, Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus pasteurii, Bacillus laevolacticus, Bacillus megaterium,
mixtures thereof, or the like; mixtures thereof, or the like. Suitable Pseudomonas
include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas alkanolytica, Pseudomonas
dentrificans, mixtures thereof, or the like. Suitable Arthrobacter include Arthrobacter
paraffineus, Arthrobacter petroleophagus, Arthrobacter rubellus, Arthrobacter sp.,
mixtures thereof, or the like. Suitable Enterobacter include Enterobacter cloacae,
Enterobacter sp., mixtures thereof, or the like. Suitable Citrobacter include Citrobacter
amalonaticus, Citrobacter freundi, mixtures thereof, or the like. Suitable
Corynebacterium include Corynebacterium alkanum, Corynebacteriumfujiokense,
Corynebacterium hydrocarbooxydano, Corynebacterium sp. mixtures thereof, or the
like.
Suitable spores (bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria, or fungi include those
with ATCC accession nos. 21417, 21424, 27811,39326, 6051a, 21228,21331, 35854,
10401, 12060,21551, 21993, 21036,29260, 21034, 13867, 15590, 21494,21495,
21908, 962, 15337,27613, 33241,25405,25406,25407, 29935,21194, 21496,21767,


53586,55406, 55405, 55407, 23842,23843, 23844, 23845,6452, 6453, 11859,23492,
mixtures thereof, or the like.
Suitable microorganisms that can be used in the present invention include those
disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,655,794, 5,449,619, and 5,863,882; and U.S. Patent
Application Publication Nos. 20020182184, 20030126688, and 20030049832; the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Suitable spores (bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria, or fungi are
commercially available from a variety of sources (e.g., Sybron Chemicals, Inc., Semco
Laboratories, Inc., or Novozymes). Tradenames for such products include
SPORZYME® 1B, SPORZYME® Ultra Base 2, SPORZYME® EB, SPORZYME®
BCC, SPORZYME® WC Wash, SPORZYME® FE, BI-CHEM® MSB, BI-CHEM®
Purta Treat, BI-CHEM® BDO, BI-CHEM® SANI-BAC®, BI-CHEM® BIO-SCRUB®,
BI-CHEM® GC600L®, BI-CHEM® Bioclean, GREASE GUARD®, or the like.
In an embodiment, the spores (bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria, or fungi
include strains of Bacillus specifically adapted for high production of extracellular
enzymes, particularly proteases, amylases and cellulases. Such strains are common in
waste treatment products. This mixture can include Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus
subtilis, and Bacillus polymyxa. By way of further example, Bacillus pasteurii can
exhibit high levels of lipase production; Bacillus laevolacticus can exhibit a faster
germination cycle; Bacillus amyloliquefaciens can exhibit high levels of protease
production.
Suitable concentrations for the spores (bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria,
or fungi in the formula include about 1x103 to about 1x109 CFU/mL, about 1x104 to
1x108 CFU/mL, about 1x10s CFU/mL to 1x107 CFU/mL, or the like. Commercially
available compositions of spores (bacterial or fungal), vegetative bacteria, or fungi can
be employed in the present solid compositions at effective cleaning compositions, for
example, about 0.5 to about 10 wt-%, about 1 to about 5 (e.g., 4) wt-%, about 2 to about
10 wt-%, about 1 to about 3 wt-%, about 2 wt-%, about 3 wt-%, or about 4 wt-%. The
present solid composition can include these amounts or ranges not modified by about.


Enzymes
The present cleaning composition can include one or more enzymes, which can
provide desirable activity for removal of protein-based, carbohydrate-based, or
triglyceride-based stains from substrates; for cleaning, destaining, and presoaks.
Although not limiting to the present invention, enzymes suitable for the present
cleaning compositions can act by degrading or altering one or more types of soil
residues encountered on a surface or textile thus removing the soil or making the soil
more removable by a surfactant or other component of the cleaning composition. Both
degradation and alteration of soil residues can improve detergency by reducing the
physicochemical forces which bind the soil to the surface or textile being cleaned, i.e.
the soil becomes more water soluble. For example, one or more proteases can cleave
complex, macromolecular protein structures present in soil residues into simpler short
chain molecules which are, of themselves, more readily desorbed from surfaces,
solubilized or otherwise more easily removed by detersive solutions containing said
proteases.
Suitable enzymes include a protease, an amylase, a lipase, a gluconase, a
cellulase, a peroxidase, or a mixture thereof of any suitable origin, such as vegetable,
animal, bacterial, fungal or yeast origin. Preferred selections are influenced by factors
such as pH-activity and/or stability optima, thermostability, and stability to active
detergents, builders and the like. In this respect bacterial or fungal enzymes are
preferred, such as bacterial amylases and proteases, and fungal cellulases. Preferably
the enzyme is a protease, a lipase, an amylase, or a combination thereof.
"Detersive enzyme", as used herein, means an enzyme having a cleaning,
destaining or otherwise beneficial effect as a component of a composition for laundry,
textiles, warewashing, cleaning-in-place, drains, floors, carpets, medical or dental
instruments, meat cutting tools, hard surfaces, personal care, or the like. Suitable
detersive enzymes include a hydrolase such as a protease, an amylase, a lipase, or a
combination thereof.


Enzymes are normally incorporated into a composition according to the
invention in an amount sufficient to yield effective cleaning during a washing or
presoaking procedure. An amount effective for cleaning refers to an amount that
produces a clean, sanitary, and, preferably, corrosion free appearance to the material
cleaned. An amount effective for cleaning also can refer to an amount that produces a
cleaning, stain removal, soil removal, whitening, deodorizing, or freshness improving
effect on substrates. Typically such a cleaning effect can be achieved with amounts of
enzyme from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight, preferably about 1% to about 3% by
weight, of the cleaning composition. Higher active levels may also be desirable in
highly concentrated cleaning formulations.
Commercial enzymes, such as alkaline proteases, are obtainable in liquid or
dried form, are sold as raw aqueous solutions or in assorted purified, processed and
compounded forms, and include about 2% to about 80% by weight active enzyme
generally in combination with stabilizers, buffers, cofactors, impurities and inert
vehicles. The actual active enzyme content depends upon the method of manufacture
and is not critical, assuming the composition has the desired enzymatic activity. The
particular enzyme chosen for use in the process and products of this invention depends
upon the conditions of final utility, including the physical product form, use pH, use
temperature, and soil types to be digested, degraded, or altered. The enzyme can be
chosen to provide optimum activity and stability for any given set of utility conditions.
The compositions of the present invention preferably include at least a protease.
The composition of the invention has further been found, surprisingly, not only to
stabilize protease for a substantially extended shelf life, but also to significantly
enhance protease activity toward digesting proteins and enhancing soil removal.
Further, enhanced protease activity occurs in the presence of one or more additional
enzymes, such as amylase, cellulase, lipase, peroxidase, endoglucanase enzymes and
mixtures thereof, preferably lipase or amylase enzymes.
The enzyme can be selected for the type of soil targeted by the cleaning
composition or present at the site or surface to be cleaned. Although not limiting to the


present invention, it is believed that amylase can be advantageous for cleaning soils
containing starch, such as potato, pasta, oatmeal, baby food, gravy, chocolate, or the
like. Although not limiting to the present invention, it is believed that protease can be
advantageous for cleaning soils containing protein, such as blood, cutaneous scales,
mucus, grass, food (e.g., egg, milk, spinach, meat residue, tomato sauce), or the like.
Although not limiting to the present invention, it is believed that lipase can be
advantageous for cleaning soils containing fat, oil, or wax, such as animal or vegetable
fat, oil, or wax (e.g., salad dressing, butter, lard, chocolate, lipstick). Although not
limiting to the present invention, it is believed that cellulase can be advantageous for
cleaning soils containing cellulose or containing cellulose fibers that serve as
attachment points for other soil.
The enzyme can include detersive enzyme. The detersive enzyme can include
protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, peroxidase, gluconase, or mixtures thereof. The
detersive enzyme can include alkaline protease, lipase, amylase, or mixtures thereof.
A valuable reference on enzymes is "Industrial Enzymes", Scott, D., in Kirk-
Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. 3rd Edition, (editors Grayson, M. and
EcKroth, D.) Vol. 9, pp. 173-224, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1980.
Protease
A protease suitable for the composition of the present invention can be derived
from a plant, an animal, or a microorganism. Preferably the protease is derived from a
microorganism, such as a yeast, a mold, or a bacterium. Preferred proteases include
serine proteases active at alkaline pH, preferably derived from a strain of Bacillus such
as Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus licheniformis; these preferred proteases include native
and recombinant subtilisins. The protease can be purified or a component of a
microbial extract, and either wild type or variant (either chemical or recombinant). A
preferred protease is neither inhibited by a metal chelating agent (sequestrant) or a thiol
poison nor activated by metal ions or reducing agents, has a broad substrate specificity,
is inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), is an endopeptidase, has a molecular


weight in the range of about 20,000 to about 40,000, and is active at a pH of about 6 to
about 12 and at temperatures in a range from about 20°C to about 80°C.
Examples of proteolytic enzymes which can be employed in the composition of
the invention include (with trade names) Savinase®; a protease derived from Bacillus
lentus type, such as Maxacal , Opticlean , Durazym , and Properase®; a protease
derived from Bacillus licheniformis, such as Alcalase® and Maxatase®; and a protease
derived from Bacillus amyloUquefaciens, such as Primase®. Preferred commercially
available protease enzymes include those sold under the trade names Alcalase®,
Savinase®, Primase®, Durazym®, or Esperase® by Novo Industries A/S (Denmark);
those sold under the trade names Maxatase®, Maxacal®, or Maxapem® by Gist-
Brocades (Netherlands); those sold under the trade names Purafect®, Purafect OX, and
Properase by Genencor International; those sold under the trade names Opticlean® or
Optimase® by Solvay Enzymes; and the like. A mixture of such proteases can also be
used. For example, Purafect® is a preferred alkaline protease (a subtilisin) for use in
cleaning compositions of this invention having application in lower temperature
cleaning programs, from about 30°C to about 65°C; whereas, Esperase® is an alkaline
protease of choice for higher temperature detersive solutions, from about 50°C to about
85°C. Suitable detersive proteases are described in patent publications including: GB
1,243,784, WO 9203529 A (enzyme/inhibitor system), WO 9318140 A, and WO
9425583 (recombinant trypsin-like protease) to Novo; WO 9510591 A, WO 9507791 (a
protease having decreased adsorption and increased hydrolysis), WO 95/30010, WO
95/30011, WO 95/29979, to Procter & Gamble; WO 95/10615 {Bacillus
amyloUquefaciens subtilisin) to Genencor International; EP 130,756 A (protease A); EP
303,761 A (protease B); and EP 130,756 A. A variant protease employed in the present
solid compositions is preferably at least 80% homologous, preferably having at least
80% sequence identity, with the amino acid sequences of the proteases in these
references.
In some embodiments, the amount of commercial alkaline protease present in
the composition of the invention ranges from about 0.1% by weight of detersive


solution to about 3% by weight, preferably about 1% to about 3% by weight, preferably
about 2% by weight, of solution of the commercial enzyme product. Typical
commercially available detersive enzymes include about 5-10% of active enzyme.
Whereas establishing the percentage by weight of commercial alkaline protease
required is of practical convenience for manufacturing embodiments of the present
teaching, variance in commercial protease concentrates and in-situ environmental
additive and negative effects upon protease activity require a more discerning analytical
technique for protease assay to quantify enzyme activity and establish correlations to
soil residue removal performance and to enzyme stability within the preferred
embodiment; and, if a concentrate, to use-dilution solutions. The activity of the
proteases for use in the present invention are readily expressed in terms of activity units
— more specifically, Kilo-Novo Protease Units (KNPU) which are azocasein assay
activity units well known to the art. A more detailed discussion of the azocasein assay
procedure can be found in the publication entitled "The Use of Azoalbumin as a
Substrate in the Colorimetric Determination of Peptic and Tryptic Activity", Tomarelli,
R.M., Charney, J., and Harding, M.L., J. Lab. Clin. Chem. 34, 428 (1949).
In some embodiments, the activity of proteases present in the use-solution
ranges from about 1 x 10-5 KNPU/gm solution to about 4 x 10"3 KNPU/gm solution.
Mixtures of different proteolytic enzymes may be incorporated into this
invention. While various specific enzymes have been described above, it is to be
understood that any protease which can confer the desired proteolytic activity to the
composition may be used and this embodiment of this invention is not limited in any
way by specific choice of proteolytic enzyme.
Amylase
An amylase suitable for the composition of the present invention can be derived
from a plant, an animal, or a microorganism. Preferably the amylase is derived from a
microorganism, such as a yeast, a mold, or a bacterium. Preferred amylases include
those derived from a Bacillus, such as B. licheniformis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B.


subtilis, or B. stearothermophilus. The amylase can be purified or a component of a
microbial extract, and either wild type or variant (either chemical or recombinant),
preferably a variant that is more stable under washing or presoak conditions than a wild
type amylase.
Examples of amylase enzymes that can be employed in the composition of the
invention include those sold under the trade name Rapidase by Gist-Brocades®
(Netherlands); those sold under the trade names Termamyl®, Fungamyl® or Duramyl®
by Novo; Purastar STL or Purastar OXAM by Genencor; and the like. Preferred
commercially available amylase enzymes include the stability enhanced variant amylase
sold under the trade name Duramyl® by Novo. A mixture of amylases can also be used.
Amylases suitable for the compositions of the present invention include: a-
amylases described in WO 95/26397, PCT/DK96/00056, and GB 1,296,839 to Novo;
and stability enhanced amylases described in J. Biol. Chem., 260(11):6518-6521
(1985); WO 9510603 A, WO 9509909 A and WO 9402597 to Novo; references
disclosed in WO 9402597; and WO 9418314 to Genencor International. A variant a-
amylase employed in the present solid compositions can be at least 80% homologous,
preferably having at least 80% sequence identity, with the amino acid sequences of the
proteins of these references.
Suitable amylases for use in the compositions of the present invention have
enhanced stability compared to certain amylases, such as Termamyl . Enhanced
stability refers to a significant or measurable improvement in one or more of: oxidative
stability, e.g., to hydrogen peroxide/tetraacetylethylenediamine in buffered solution at
pH 9-10; thermal stability, e.g., at common wash temperatures such as about 60 °C;
and/or alkaline stability, e.g., at a pH from about 8 to about 11; each compared to a
suitable control amylase, such as Termamyl®. Stability can be measured by methods
known to those of skill in the art. Suitable enhanced stability amylases for use in the
compositions of the present invention have a specific activity at least 25% higher than
the specific activity of Termamyl® at a temperature in a range of 25 °C to 55 °C and at a
pH in a range of about 8 to about 10. Amylase activity for such comparisons can be


measured by assays known to those of skill in the art and/or commercially available,
such as the Phadebas® I-amylase assay.
In some embodiments, the amount of commercial amylase present in the
composition of the invention ranges from about 0.1% by weight of detersive solution to
about 3% by weight, preferably about 1% to about 3% by weight, preferably about 2 %
by weight, of solution of the commercial enzyme product. Typical commercially
available detersive enzymes include about 0.25-5% of active amylase.
Whereas establishing the percentage by weight of amylase required is of
practical convenience for manufacturing embodiments of the present teaching, variance
in commercial amylase concentrates and in-situ environmental additive and negative
effects upon amylase activity may require a more discerning analytical technique for
amylase assay to quantify enzyme activity and establish correlations to soil residue
removal performance and to enzyme stability within the embodiment; and, if a
concentrate, to use-dilution solutions. The activity of the amylases for use in the
present invention can be expressed in known units or through known amylase assays
and/or commercially available assays, such as the Phadebas a-amylase assay.
Mixtures of different amylase enzymes can be incorporated into this invention.
While various specific enzymes have been described above, it is to be understood that
any amylase which can confer the desired amylase activity to the composition can be
used and this embodiment of this invention is not limited in any way by specific choice
of amylase enzyme.
Celluloses
A cellulase suitable for the composition of the present invention can be derived
from a plant, an animal, or a microorganism. The cellulase can be derived from a
microorganism, such as a fungus or a bacterium. Suitable cellulases include those
derived from a fungus, such as Humicola insolens, Humicola strain DSM1800, or a
cellulase 212-producing fungus belonging to the genus Aeromonas and those extracted
from the hepatopancreas of a marine mollusk, Dolabella Auricula Solander. The


cellulase can be purified or a component of an extract, and either wild type or variant
(either chemical or recombinant).
Examples of cellulase enzymes that can be employed in the composition of the
invention include those sold under the trade names Carezyme® or Celluzyme® by Novo,
or Cellulase by Genencor; and the like. A mixture of cellulases can also be used.
Suitable cellulases are described in patent documents including: U.S. Pat. No.
4,435,307, GB-A-2.075.028, GB-A-2.095.275, DE-OS-2.247.832, WO 9117243, and
WO 9414951 A (stabilized cellulases) to Novo.
In some embodiments, the amount of commercial cellulase present in the
composition of the invention ranges from about 0.1% by weight of detersive solution to
about 3% by weight, preferably about 1% to about 3% by weight, of solution of the
commercial enzyme product. Typical commercially available detersive enzymes
include about 5-10 percent of active enzyme.
Whereas establishing the percentage by weight of cellulase required is of
practical convenience for manufacturing embodiments of the present teaching, variance
in commercial cellulase concentrates and in-situ environmental additive and negative
effects upon cellulase activity may require a more discerning analytical technique for
cellulase assay to quantify enzyme activity and establish correlations to soil residue
removal performance and to enzyme stability within the embodiment; and, if a
concentrate, to use-dilution solutions. The activity of the cellulases for use in the
present invention can be expressed in known units or through known or commercially
available cellulase assays.
Mixtures of different cellulase enzymes can be incorporated into this invention.
While various specific enzymes have been described above, it is to be understood that
any cellulase which can confer the desired cellulase activity to the composition can be
used and this embodiment of this invention is not limited in any way by specific choice
of cellulase enzyme.


Lipases
A lipase suitable for the composition of the present invention can be derived
from a plant, an animal, or a microorganism. In an embodiment, the lipase is derived
from a microorganism, such as a fungus or a bacterium. Suitable lipases include those
derived from a Pseudomonas, such as Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC 19.154, or from a
Humicola, such as Humicola lanuginosa (typically produced recombinantly in
Aspergillus oryzae). The lipase can be purified or a component of an extract, and either
wild type or variant (either chemical or recombinant).
Examples of lipase enzymes that can be employed in the composition of the
invention include those sold under the trade names Lipase P "Amano" or "Amano-P" by
Amano Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Nagoya, Japan or under the trade name Lipolase® by
Novo, and the like. Other commercially available lipases that can be employed in the
present solid compositions include Amano-CES, lipases derived from Chromobacter
viscosum, e.g. Chromobacter viscosum var. lipolyticum NRRLB 3673 from Toyo Jozo
Co., Tagata, Japan; Chromobacter viscosum lipases from U.S. Biochemical Corp.,
U.S.A. and Disoynth Co., and lipases derived from Pseudomonas gladioli or from
Humicola lanuginosa.
A suitable lipase is sold under the trade name Lipolase by Novo. Suitable
lipases are described in patent documents including: WO 9414951 A (stabilized lipases)
to Novo, WO 9205249, RD 94359044, GB 1,372,034, Japanese Patent Application
53,20487, laid open Feb. 24, 1978 to Amano Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and EP
341,947.
In an embodiment, the amount of commercial lipase present in the composition
of the invention ranges from about 0.1% by weight of detersive solution to about 3% by
weight, preferably about 1% to about 3% by weight, of solution of the commercial
enzyme product. Typical commercially available detersive enzymes include about 5-10
percent of active enzyme.
Whereas establishing the percentage by weight of lipase required is of practical
convenience for manufacturing embodiments of the present teaching, variance in


commercial lipase concentrates and in-situ environmental additive and negative effects
upon lipase activity may require a more discerning analytical technique for lipase assay
to quantify enzyme activity and establish correlations to soil residue removal
performance and to enzyme stability within the embodiment; and, if a concentrate, to
use-dilution solutions. The activity of the lipases for use in the present invention can be
expressed in known units or through known or commercially available lipase assays.
Mixtures of different lipase enzymes can be incorporated into this invention.
While various specific enzymes have been described above, it is to be understood that
any lipase which can confer the desired lipase activity to the composition can be used
and this embodiment of this invention is not limited in any way by specific choice of
lipase enzyme.
Additional Enzymes
Additional enzymes suitable for use in the present solid compositions include a
cutinase, a peroxidase, a gluconase, and the like. Suitable cutinase enzymes are
described in WO 8809367 A to Genencor. Known peroxidases include horseradish
peroxidase, ligninase, and haloperoxidases such as chloro- or bromo-peroxidase.
Peroxidases suitable for compositions are disclosed in WO 89099813 A and WO
8909813 A to Novo. Peroxidase enzymes can be used in combination with oxygen
sources, e.g., percarbonate, perborate, hydrogen peroxide, and the like. Additional
enzymes suitable for incorporation into the present solid composition are disclosed in
WO 9307263 A and WO 9307260 A to Genencor International, WO 8908694 A to
Novo, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,139 to McCarty et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,457 to Place
et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,219 to Hughes and U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,868 to Hora et al.
An additional enzyme, such as a cutinase or peroxidase, suitable for the
composition of the present invention can be derived from a plant, an animal, or a
microorganism. Preferably the enzyme is derived from a microorganism. The enzyme
can be purified or a component of an extract, and either wild type or variant (either
chemical or recombinant). In preferred embodiments of this invention, the amount of

commercial additional enzyme, such as a cutinase or peroxidase, present in the
composition of the invention ranges from about 0.1% by weight of detersive solution to
about 3% by weight, preferably about 1 % to about 3% by weight, of solution of the
commercial enzyme product. Typical commercially available detersive enzymes
include about 5-10 percent of active enzyme.
Whereas establishing the percentage by weight of additional enzyme, such as a
cutinase or peroxidase, required is of practical convenience for manufacturing
embodiments of the present teaching, variance in commercial additional enzyme
concentrates and in-situ environmental additive and negative effects upon their activity
may require a more discerning analytical technique for the enzyme assay to quantify
enzyme activity and establish correlations to soil residue removal performance and to
enzyme stability within the embodiment; and, if a concentrate, to use-dilution solutions.
The activity of the additional enzyme, such as a cutinase or peroxidase, for use in the
present invention can be expressed in known units or through known or commercially
available assays.
Naturally, mixtures of different additional enzymes can be incorporated into this
invention. While various specific enzymes have been described above, it is to be
understood that any additional enzyme which can confer the desired enzyme activity to
the composition can be used and this embodiment of this invention is not limited in any
way by specific choice of enzyme.
Enzyme Stabilizing System
The present solid compositions can also include ingredients to stabilize one or
more enzymes. For example, the cleaning composition of the invention can include a
water-soluble source of calcium and/or magnesium ions. Calcium ions are generally
more effective than magnesium ions and are preferred herein if only one type of cation
is being used. Compositions, especially liquids, can include from about 1 to about 30,
preferably from about 2 to about 20, more preferably from about 8 to about 12
millimoles of calcium ion per liter of finished composition, though variation is possible
depending on factors including the multiplicity, type and levels of enzymes


incorporated. Preferably water-soluble calcium or magnesium salts are employed,
including for example calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, calcium formate, calcium
malate, calcium maleate, calcium hydroxide and calcium acetate; more generally,
calcium sulfate or magnesium salts corresponding to the listed calcium salts may be
used. Further increased levels of calcium and/or magnesium may of course be useful,
for example for promoting the grease-cutting action of certain types of surfactant.
Stabilizing systems of certain cleaning compositions, for example warewashing
compositions, may further include from 0 to about 10%, preferably from about 0.01% to
about 6% by weight, of chlorine bleach scavengers, added to prevent chlorine bleach
species present in many water supplies from attacking and inactivating the enzymes,
especially under alkaline conditions. While chlorine levels in water may be small,
typically in the range from about 0.5 ppm to about 1.75 ppm, the available chlorine in
the total volume of water that comes in contact with the enzyme, for example during
warewashing, can be relatively large; accordingly, enzyme stability to chlorine in-use
can be problematic.
Suitable chlorine scavenger anions are widely known and readily available, and,
if used, can be salts containing ammonium cations with sulfite, bisulfite, thiosulfite,
thiosulfate, iodide, etc. Antioxidants such as carbamate, ascorbate, etc., organic amines
such as ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) or alkali metal salt thereof,
monoethanolamine (MEA), and mixtures thereof can likewise be used. Likewise,
special enzyme inhibition systems can be incorporated such that different enzymes have
maximum compatibility. Other conventional scavengers such as bisulfate, nitrate,
chloride, sources of hydrogen peroxide such as sodium perborate tetrahydrate, sodium
perborate monohydrate and sodium percarbonate, as well as phosphate, condensed
phosphate, acetate, benzoate, citrate, formate, lactate, malate, tartrate, salicylate, etc.,
and mixtures thereof can be used if desired.
In general, since the chlorine scavenger function can be performed by
ingredients separately listed under better recognized functions, there is no requirement
to add a separate chlorine scavenger unless a compound performing that function to the


desired extent is absent from an enzyme-containing embodiment of the invention; even
then, the scavenger is added only for optimum results. Moreover, the formulator will
exercise a chemist's normal skill in avoiding the use of any enzyme scavenger or
stabilizer which is unacceptably incompatible, as formulated, with other reactive
ingredients. In relation to the use of ammonium salts, such salts can be simply admixed
with the composition but are prone to adsorb water and/or liberate ammonia during
storage. Accordingly, such materials, if present, are desirably protected in a particle
such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,392, Baginski et al.
Boric Acid Salts
In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a solid cleaning
composition including stable microbial cleaning compositions that employ one or more
boric acid salts to provide improved stability of the microbial preparation, even at basic
pH or in an aqueous concentrate prepared from the solid composition. Suitable boric
acid salts can provide alkalinity. Such salts include alkali metal boric acid salts; amine
boric acid salts, preferably alkanolamine boric acid salts; and the like; or a combination
thereof. In certain embodiments, the boric acid salt includes potassium borate,
monoethanolammonium borate, diethanolammonium borate, triethanolammonium
borate, and the like, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the boric acid salt
includes monoethanolamine borate.
The boric acid salt, e.g. potassium or monoethanolamine borate, can be obtained
by any of a variety of routes. For example, commercially available boric acid salt, e.g.
potassium borate, can be added to the composition. Alternatively, the boric acid salt,
e.g. potassium or monoethanolamine borate, can be obtained by neutralizing boric acid
with a base, e.g. a potassium containing base such as potassium hydroxide or a base
such as monoethanolamine.
In certain embodiments, the boric acid salt is soluble in an aqueous concentrate
prepared from the solid composition at concentrations in excess of 5 or 10 wt-%, e.g., in
excess of 11, 12, 13, 14,15, 16,17, 18, 19, or 20 wt-%. In certain embodiments, the


boric acid salt can be soluble in an aqueous concentrate prepared from the solid
composition at concentrations up to 35 wt-%, e.g., up to 25, 30, or 35 wt-%. In certain
embodiments, the boric acid salt can be soluble at 12-35 wt-%, 15-30 wt-%, or 20-25
wt-%, e.g., 20-25 wt-%. The present solid compositions can also include any of the
quantities or ranges of boric acid salt modified by the term "about".
In some embodiments, alkanol amine borates, such as monoethanolamine
borate, are soluble at concentrations larger than other boric acid salts, particularly
sodium borate. Alkanol amine borates, such as monoethanolamine borate, can be
employed and soluble in an aqueous concentrate prepared from the solid composition at
concentrations listed above, preferably up to about 30 weight percent, preferably about
20 to about 25 weight percent. In an embodiment, this high solubility can be obtained
at alkaline pH, such as pH about 9 to about 10.5.
In some embodiments, potassium borate is soluble at concentrations larger than
other metal boric acid salts, particularly other alkali metal boric acid salts, particularly
sodium borate. Potassium borate can be employed and soluble in an aqueous
concentrate prepared from the solid composition at concentrations listed above,
preferably up to about 25 weight percent, preferably about 15 to about 25 weight
percent. In an embodiment, this high solubility can be obtained at alkaline pH, such as
pH about 9 to about 10.5.
The boric acid salt can provide desirable increases in microbial preparation
stability at basic pH compared to other buffer systems suitable for maintaining a pH
above about 7, above about 8, about 8 to about 11, or about 9 to about 10.5.
Maintaining alkaline pH can provide greater cleaning power.
In an embodiment, the present cleaning composition includes spore, bacteria, or
fungi; and alkanol amine borate. In an embodiment, the composition can include
ingredients that when dissolved as a use composition or concentrate composition
provide a composition with pH greater than or equal to 9, e.g., about 9 to about 10.5. In
an embodiment, the use or concentrate composition can have pH greater than or equal
to 8, e.g., about 8 to about 9.5.


In certain embodiments, the present solid composition includes boric acid salt
(e.g., alkanolamine borate, e.g., monoethanolamine borate or sodium borate) at about 2
wt-% to about 10 wt-%, at about 5 to about 35 wt-%, at about 5 wt-% to about 20 wt-%,
at about 5 wt-% to about 15 wt-%, about 10 wt-% to about 30 wt-%, at about 10 to
about 20 wt-%, or at about 25 wt-% to about 30 wt-%. In certain embodiments, borate
salt is present at about 5 wt-%, at about 10 wt-%, at about 15 wt-%, at about 20 wt-%,
at about 25 wt-%, or at about 30 wt-% of the composition. The present solid
compositions can also include any of the quantities or ranges of monoethanolamine
borate not modified by the term "about".
Additional Ingredients
Solid cleaning compositions made according to the invention may further
include additional functional materials or additives that provide a beneficial property,
for example, to the composition in solid form or when dispersed or dissolved in an
aqueous solution, e.g., for a particular use. Examples of conventional additives include
one or more of each of salt, alkalinity source, surfactant, detersive polymer, cleaning
agent, rinse aid composition, softener, pH modifier, source of acidity, anti-corrosion
agent, secondary hardening agent, solubility modifier, detergent builder, detergent filler,
defoamer, anti-redeposition agent, antimicrobial, rinse aid composition, threshold agent
or system, aesthetic enhancing agent (i.e., dye, odorant, perfume), optical brightener,
lubricant composition, bleaching agent or additional bleaching agent, enzyme,
effervescent agent, activator for the source of alkalinity, other such additives or
functional ingredients, and the like, and mixtures thereof. The present solid product can
be formulated with ingredients for use as, for example, an air freshener, a urinal block, a
drain ring, or a laundry bar.
Adjuvants and other additive ingredients will vary according to the type of
composition being manufactured, and the intended end use of the composition. In
certain embodiments, the composition includes as an additive one or more of source of


alkalinity, surfactant, detergent builder, cleaning enzyme, detersive polymer,
antimicrobial, activators for the source of alkalinity, or mixtures thereof.
In embodiments including a stabilized microbial preparations suitable additional
ingredients can include hydrotrope, chelating agent, divalent cation, polyol,
antimicrobial agent, aesthetic enhancing agent, preservative, or the like. In certain
embodiments, the composition can also include an effective amount of one or more
antimicrobials; an effective amount of one or more chelating agents; or mixtures
thereof. The composition can include about 0.1 to 30 wt-% of chelating agent. The
chelating agent can include small or polymeric compound having carboxyl group, or
mixtures thereof. In certain embodiments, the composition can also include source of
calcium ions, polyol, builder, dye, or a combination or mixture thereof.
Divalent Ion
The cleaning compositions of the invention can contain a divalent ion, such as
calcium and magnesium ions, at a level of from 0.05% to 5% by weight, from 0.1% to
1% by weight, or about 0.25% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment,
calcium ions can be included in the present solid compositions. The calcium ions can,
for example, be added as a chloride, hydroxide, oxide, formate or acetate, or nitrate,
preferably chloride, salt.
In some embodiments, the cleaning compositions include magnesium ions. The
magnesium ion source can be a water insoluble magnesium ion source, a water soluble
magnesium ion source, and combinations thereof. Exemplary cleaning compositions
including soluble and insoluble magnesium ion sources are described for example, in
U.S. Patent Application Nos. 12/114,327; 12/114,385; 12/114,355; 12/114,486;
12/114,513; 12/114,342; 12/114,329; and 12/114,364, each of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.

Polyol
The solid cleaning compositions can also include a polyol. The polyol can, for
example, provide additional stability and hydrotrophic properties to the composition.
Suitable polyols include glycerin; glycols, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or
hexylene glycol; sorbitol; alkyl polyglycosides; and mixtures thereof. In some
embodiments, the polyol includes propylene glycol.
Suitable alkyl polyglycosides for use as polyols according to the invention
include those with the formula:
(G)x-O-R
in which G is a moiety derived from reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon
atoms, e.g., pentose or hexose, R is a fatty aliphatic group containing 6 to 20 carbon
atoms, and x is the degree of polymerization (DP) of the polyglycoside representing the
number of monosaccharide repeating units in the polyglycoside. Preferably, x is about
0.5 to about 10. In an embodiment, R contains 10-16 carbon atoms and x is 0.5 to 3.
In some embodiments, the polyol can be in the form of a polyether. Suitable
polyethers include polyethylene glycols. Suitable polyethers include those listed below
as solvent or co-solvent.
In certain embodiments, the present solid composition includes about 2 to about
30 wt-% polyol, about 2 to about 10 wt-% polyol, about 5 to about 20 wt-% polyol,
about 5 to about 10 wt-% polyol, or about 10 to about 20 wt-% polyol. In certain
embodiments, the present stabilized microbial preparations include about 2 to about 40
wt-% polyol, about 2 to about 20 wt-% polyol, about 2 to about 15 wt-% polyol, about 2
to about 10 wt-% polyol, about 3 to about 10 wt-% polyol, about 4 to about 15 wt-%
polyol, or about 4 to about 8 wt-% polyol, about 4 wt-% polyol, about 8 wt-% polyol, or
about 12 wt-% polyol. The composition can include any of these ranges or amounts not
modified by about.

Metal Protecting Silicate
An effective amount of an alkaline metal silicate or hydrate thereof can be
employed in the compositions and processes of the invention to form a stable solid
cleaning composition that can have metal protecting capacity. The silicates employed
in the compositions of the invention are those that have conventionally been used in
warewashing formulations. For example, typical alkali metal silicates are those waxy
powdered, particulate or granular silicates which are either anhydrous or preferably
which contain water of hydration (5 to 25 wt%, preferably 15 to 20 wt% water of
hydration). These silicates can be sodium silicates and have a Na2O:SiO2 ratio of about
1:1 to about 1:5, respectively, and typically contain available bound water in the
amount of from 5 to about 25 wt%. In general, the silicates of the present invention
have a Na20:Si02 ratio of 1:1 to about 1:3.75, preferably about 1:1.5 to about 1:3.75
and most preferably about 1:1.5 to about 1:2.5. A silicate with a Na2O:SiO2 ratio of
about 1:2 and about 16 to 22 wt% water of hydration is suitable.
For example, such silicates are available in waxy powder form as GD Silicate
and in granular form as Britesil H-20, from PQ Corporation. These ratios may be
obtained with single silicate compositions or combinations of silicates which upon
combination result in the preferred ratio. The hydrated silicates at preferred ratios, a
Na2O:SiO2 ratio of about 1:1.5 to about 1:2.5 have been found to provide the optimum
metal protection and rapidly forming solid block cleaning. The amount of silicate used
in forming the compositions of the invention tend to vary between 10 and 30 wt%,
preferably about 15 to 30 wt% depending on degree of hydration. Hydrated silicates are
preferred.
Suitable silicates for use in the present compositions include sodium silicate,
anhydrous sodium metasilicate, and anhydrous sodium silicate.
Salt
In some embodiments, salts, for example acidic salts, can be included as pH
modifiers, sources of acidity, effervescing aids, or other like uses. Some examples of


salts for use in such applications include sodium bisulfate, sodium acetate, sodium
bicarbonate, citric acid salts, and the like and mixtures thereof. The composition can
include in the range of 0.1 to 50 wt-% such material. It should be understood that
agents other than salts that act as pH modifiers, sources of acidity, effervescing aids, or
like, can also be used in conjunction with the invention.
Exemplary salts for use in the composition include, but are not limited to,
sodium acetate, sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate anhydrous, magnesium sulfate
heptahydrate, sodium citrate dehydrate, and magnesium chloride.
Active Oxygen Compounds
The active oxygen compound acts to provide a source of active oxygen, but can
also act to form at least a portion of the solidification or binding agent. The active
oxygen compound can be inorganic or organic, and can be a mixture thereof. Some
examples of active oxygen compound include peroxygen compounds, and peroxygen
compound adducts that are suitable for use in forming the binding agent.
Many active oxygen compounds are peroxygen compounds. Any peroxygen
compound generally known and that can function, for example, as part of the binding
agent can be used. Examples of suitable peroxygen compounds include inorganic and
organic peroxygen compounds, or mixtures thereof.
Inorganic Active Oxygen Compound
Examples of inorganic active oxygen compounds include the following types of
compounds or sources of these compounds, or alkali metal salts including these types of
compounds, or forming an adduct therewith: hydrogen peroxide; group 1 (IA) active
oxygen compounds, for example lithium peroxide, sodium peroxide, and the like; group
2 (IIA) active oxygen compounds, for example magnesium peroxide, calcium peroxide,
strontium peroxide, barium peroxide, and the like; group 12 (IIB) active oxygen
compounds, for example zinc peroxide, and the like; group 13 (IIIA) active oxygen
compounds, for example boron compounds, such as perborates, for example sodium


perborate hexahydrate of the formula Na2[Br2(O2)2(OH)4] • 6H2O (also called sodium
perborate tetrahydrate and formerly written as NaBO3.4H2O); sodium peroxyborate
tetrahydrate of the formula 4H2O (also called sodium perborate
trihydrate, and formerly written as NaBO3.3H2O); sodium peroxyborate of the formula
Na2[B2(O2)2(OH)4] (also called sodium perborate monohydrate and formerly written as
NaBO3.H2O); and the like; e.g., perborate;
group 14 (IVA) active oxygen compounds, for example persilicates and
peroxycarbonates, which are also called percarbonates, such as persilicates or
peroxycarbonates of alkali metals; and the like; e.g., percarbonate, e.g., persilicate;
group 15 (VA) active oxygen compounds, for example peroxynitrous acid and its salts;
peroxyphosphoric acids and their salts, for example, perphosphates; and the like; e.g.,
perphosphate; group 16 (VIA) active oxygen compounds, for example peroxysulfuric
acids and their salts, such as peroxymonosulfuric and peroxydisulfuric acids, and their
salts, such as persulfates, for example, sodium persulfate; and the like; e.g., persulfate;
group VIIa active oxygen compounds such as sodium periodate, potassium perchlorate
and the like.
Other active inorganic oxygen compounds can include transition metal
peroxides; and other such peroxygen compounds, and mixtures thereof.
In certain embodiments, the compositions and methods of the present invention
employ certain of the inorganic active oxygen compounds listed above. Suitable
inorganic active oxygen compounds include hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide
adduct, group IIIA active oxygen compounds, group VIA active oxygen compound,
group VA active oxygen compound, group VIIA active oxygen compound, or mixtures
thereof. Examples of such inorganic active oxygen compounds include percarbonate,
perborate, persulfate, perphosphate, persilicate, or mixtures thereof. Hydrogen peroxide
presents an example of an inorganic active oxygen compound. Hydrogen peroxide can
be formulated as a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, e.g., as liquid hydrogen
peroxide in an aqueous solution. The mixture of solution can include about 5 to about
40 wt-% hydrogen peroxide or 5 to 50 wt-% hydrogen peroxide.


In an embodiment, the inorganic active oxygen compounds include hydrogen
peroxide adduct. For example, the inorganic active oxygen compounds can include
hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide adduct, or mixtures thereof. Any of a variety of
hydrogen peroxide adducts are suitable for use in the present compositions and
methods. For example, suitable hydrogen peroxide adducts include percarbonate salt,
urea peroxide, peracetyl borate, an adduct of H2O2 and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sodium
percarbonate, potassium percarbonate, mixtures thereof, or the like. Suitable hydrogen
peroxide adducts include percarbonate salt, urea peroxide, peracetyl borate, an adduct
of H2O2 and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or mixtures thereof. Suitable hydrogen peroxide
adducts include sodium percarbonate, potassium percarbonate, or mixtures thereof, e.g.,
sodium percarbonate.
Organic Active Oxygen Compound
Any of a variety of organic active oxygen compounds can be employed in the
compositions and methods of the present invention. For example, the organic s active
oxygen compound can be a peroxycarboxylic acid, such as a mono- or di-
peroxycarboxylic acid, an alkali metal salt including these types of compounds, or an
adduct of such a compound. Suitable peroxycarboxylic acids include C1-C24
peroxycarboxylic acid, salt of C1-C24 peroxycarboxylic acid, ester of C1-C24
peroxycarboxylic acid, diperoxycarboxylic acid, salt of diperoxycarboxylic acid, ester
of diperoxycarboxylic acid, or mixtures thereof.
Suitable peroxycarboxylic acids include C1-C10 aliphatic peroxycarboxylic acid,
salt of C1-C10 aliphatic peroxycarboxylic acid, ester of C1-C10 aliphatic
peroxycarboxylic acid, or mixtures thereof; e.g., salt of or adduct of peroxyacetic acid;
e.g., peroxyacetyl borate. Suitable diperoxycarboxylic acids include C4-C10 aliphatic
diperoxycarboxylic acid, salt of C4-C10 aliphatic diperoxycarboxylic acid, or ester of
C4-C10 aliphatic diperoxycarboxylic acid, or mixtures thereof; e.g., a sodium salt of
perglutaric acid, of persuccinic acid, of peradipic acid, or mixtures thereof.


Organic active oxygen compounds include other acids including an organic
moiety. Suitable organic active oxygen compounds include perphosphonic acids,
perphosphonic acid salts, perphosphonic acid esters, or mixtures or combinations
thereof.
Active Oxygen Compound Adducts
Active oxygen compound adducts include any generally known and that can
function, for example, as a source of active oxygen and as part of the solidified
composition. Hydrogen peroxide adducts, or peroxyhydrates, are suitable. Some
examples of source of alkalinity adducts include the following: alkali metal
percarbonates, for example sodium percarbonate (sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate),
potassium percarbonate, rubidium percarbonate, cesium percarbonate, and the like;
ammonium carbonate peroxyhydrate, and the like; urea peroxyhydrate, peroxyacetyl
borate; an adduct of H2O2 polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and the like, and mixtures of any of
the above.
Chelating/Sequestering Agents
Chelating/sequestering agents can be added to the composition and are useful
for their sequestering properties. In general, a chelating/sequestering agent is a
molecule capable of coordinating (i.e., binding) the metal ions commonly found in
natural water to prevent the metal ions from interfering with the action of the other
detersive ingredients of a cleaning composition. The chelating/sequestering agent may
also function as a threshold agent when included in an effective amount. In certain
embodiments, a cleaning composition includes about 0.1-70 wt-% or about 5-60 wt-%,
of a chelating/sequestering agent. Examples of chelating/sequestering agents include
aminocarboxylic acids, condensed phosphates, polymeric polycarboxylates, and the
like.
Examples of condensed phosphates include sodium and potassium
orthophosphate, sodium and potassium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium


tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and the like. A condensed phosphate
may also assist, to a limited extent, in solidification of the composition by fixing the
free water present in the composition as water of hydration.
Water conditioning polymers can be used as non-phosphorus containing
builders. Suitable water conditioning polymers include, but are not limited to:
polycarboxylates. Suitable polycarboxylates that can be used as builders and/or water
conditioning polymers include, but are not limited to: those having pendant carboxylate
(-CO2-) groups such aspolyacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic/olefin copolymer,
sulfonated copolymer or terpolymer, acrylic/maleic copolymer, polymethacrylic acid,
acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, hydrolyzed
polymethacrylamide, hydrolyzed polyamide-methacrylamide copolymers, hydrolyzed
polyacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed polymethacrylonitrile, and hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-
methacrylonitrile copolymers. For a further discussion of chelating agents/sequestrants,
see Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, volume 5,
pages 339-366 and volume 23, pages 319-320, the disclosure of which is incorporated
by reference herein. These materials may also be used at substoichiometric levels to
function as crystal modifiers
In an embodiment, organic sequestrants include amino tri(methylene
phosphonic) acid, l-hydroxyethylidene-l,l-diphosphonic acid,
diethylenetriaminepenta(methylene phosphonic) acid, alanine-N,N-diacetic acid,
diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, or alkali metal salts thereof, or mixtures thereof. In
this embodiment, alkali metal salts include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, or
mixtures thereof. The organic sequestrant can include one or more of 1-
hydroxyethylidene-l,l-diphosphonic acid; or diethylenetriaminepenta(methylene
phosphonic) acid; or alanine-N,N-diacetic acid; or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid.
For compositions including a carboxylate as a component of the binding agent,
suitable levels of addition for builders that can also be chelating or sequestering agents
are about 0.1 to about 70 wt-%, about 1 to about 60 wt-%, or about 1.5 to about 50 wt-
%. The solid detergent can include about 1 to about 60 wt-%, about 3 to about 50 wt-

%, or about 6 to about 45 wt-% of the builders. Additional ranges of the builders
include about 3 to about 20 wt-%, about 6 to about 15 wt-%, about 25 to about 50 wt-%,
or about 35 to about 45 wt-%.
Glass and Metal Corrosion Inhibitors
The solid cleaning composition can include a metal corrosion inhibitor in an
amount up to about 50 wt-%, about 1 to about 40 wt-%, or about 3 to about 30 wt-%.
The corrosion inhibitor is included in the solid cleaning composition in an amount
sufficient to provide a use solution that exhibits a rate of corrosion and/or etching of
glass that is less than the rate of corrosion and/or etching of glass for an otherwise
identical use solution except for the absence of the corrosion inhibitor. The use solution
will include at least about 6 parts per million (ppm) of the corrosion inhibitor to provide
desired corrosion inhibition properties. Larger amounts of corrosion inhibitor can be
used in the use solution without deleterious effects. However, at a certain point, the
additive effect of increased corrosion and/or etching resistance with increasing
corrosion inhibitor concentration will be lost, and additional corrosion inhibitor will
simply increase the cost of using the solid cleaning composition. The use solution can
include about 6 ppm to about 300 ppm of the corrosion inhibitor or about 20 ppm to
about 200 ppm of the corrosion inhibitor. Examples of suitable corrosion inhibitors
include, but are not limited to: a combination of a source of aluminum ion and a source
of zinc ion, as well as an alkaline metal silicate or hydrate thereof.
The corrosion inhibitor can refer to the combination of a source of aluminum ion
and a source of zinc ion. The source of aluminum ion and the source of zinc ion
provide aluminum ion and zinc ion, respectively, when the solid cleaning composition
is provided in the form of a use solution. The amount of the corrosion inhibitor is
calculated based upon the combined amount of the source of aluminum ion and the
source of zinc ion. Anything that provides an aluminum ion in a use solution can be
referred to as a source of aluminum ion, and anything that provides a zinc ion when
provided in a use solution can be referred to as a source of zinc ion. It is not necessary


for the source of aluminum ion and/or the source of zinc ion to react to form the
aluminum ion and/or the zinc ion. Aluminum ions can be considered a source of
aluminum ion, and zinc ions can be considered a source of zinc ion. The source of
aluminum ion and the source of zinc ion can be provided as organic salts, inorganic
salts, and mixtures thereof. Suitable sources of aluminum ion include, but are not
limited to: aluminum salts such as sodium aluminate, aluminum bromide, aluminum
chlorate, aluminum chloride, aluminum iodide, aluminum nitrate, aluminum sulfate,
aluminum acetate, aluminum formate, aluminum tartrate, aluminum lactate, aluminum
oleate, aluminum bromate, aluminum borate, aluminum potassium sulfate, aluminum
zinc sulfate, and aluminum phosphate. Suitable sources of zinc ion include, but are not
limited to: zinc salts such as zinc chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc nitrate, zinc iodide, zinc
thiocyanate, zinc fluorosilicate, zinc dichromate, zinc chlorate, sodium zincate, zinc
gluconate, zinc acetate, zinc benzoate, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc formate, zinc
bromate, zinc bromide, zinc fluoride, zinc fluorosilicate, and zinc salicylate.
Controlling the ratio of the aluminum ion to the zinc ion in the use solution, it is
possible to provide reduced corrosion and/or etching of glassware and ceramics
compared with the use of either component alone. That is, the combination of the
aluminum ion and the zinc ion can provide a synergy in the reduction of corrosion
and/or etching. The ratio of the source of aluminum ion to the source of zinc ion can be
controlled to provide a synergistic effect. In general, the weight ratio of aluminum ion
to zinc ion in the use solution can be at least about 6:1, can be less than about 1:20, and
can be about 2:1 and about 1:15.
An effective amount of an alkaline metal silicate or hydrate thereof can be
employed in the compositions and processes of the invention to form a stable solid
cleaning composition having metal protecting capacity. The silicates employed in the
compositions of the invention are those that have conventionally been used in solid
cleaning formulations. For example, typical alkali metal silicates are those waxy
powdered, particulate or granular silicates which are either anhydrous or preferably
which contain water of hydration (about 5% to about 25 wt-%, about 15% to about 20


wt-% water of hydration). These silicates are preferably sodium silicates and have a
Na2O:SiO2 ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:5, respectively, and typically contain available
water in the amount of from about 5% to about 25 wt-%. In general, the silicates have a
Na2O:SiO2 ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:3.75, about 1:1.5 to about 1:3.75 and most
about 1:1.5 to about 1:2.5. A silicate with a Na2O:SiO2 ratio of about 1:2 and about
16% to about 22 wt-% water of hydration, is most preferred. For example, such
silicates are available in waxy powder form as GD Silicate and in granular form as
Britesil H-20, available from PQ Corporation, Valley Forge, PA. These ratios may be
obtained with single silicate compositions or combinations of silicates which upon
combination result in the preferred ratio. The hydrated silicates at preferred ratios, a
Na2O:SiO2 ratio of about 1:1.5 to about 1:2.5, have been found to provide the optimum
metal protection and rapidly form a solid cleaning agent. Hydrated silicates are
preferred.
Silicates can be included in the solid detergent composition to provide for metal
protection but are additionally known to provide alkalinity and additionally function as
anti-redeposition agents. Suitable silicates include, but are not limited to: sodium
silicate and potassium silicate. The solid cleaning composition can be provided
without silicates, but when silicates are included, they can be included in amounts that
provide for desired metal protection. The composition can include silicates in amounts
of at least about 1 wt-%, at least about 5 wt-%, at least about 10 wt-%, and at least
about 15 wt-%. In addition, in order to provide sufficient room for other components in
the composition, the silicate component can be provided at a level of less than about 35
wt-%, less than about 25 wt-%, less than about 20 wt-%, or less than about 15 wt-%.
Antimicrobial Agent
Antimicrobial agents are chemical compositions that can be used in a solid
functional material that alone, or in combination with other components, act to reduce
or prevent microbial contamination and deterioration of commercial products material
systems, surfaces, etc. In some aspects, these materials fall in specific classes including


phenolics, halogen compounds, quaternary ammonium compounds, metal derivatives,
amines, alkanol amines, nitro derivatives, analides, organosulfur and sulfur-nitrogen
compounds and miscellaneous compounds.
In certain embodiments, the present composition can include antimicrobial
agent. For example, a composition including an enzyme can include any of a variety of
antimicrobial agents compatible with the enzyme and enzyme activity. For example, a
composition including a spore can include any of a variety of antimicrobial agents
compatible with the spore. The antimicrobial agent can be selected to persist for a
shorter time than the spore. After the antimicrobial agent is sufficiently gone, the spore
can germinate to form microbes without the microbe being killed or inhibited by the
antimicrobial agent. For example, a composition including a microbe can include an
antimicrobial agent ineffective against that microbe.
Any of a variety of suitable antimicrobial agents can be employed at effective
antimicrobial concentration. Antimicrobial agents include active oxygen compounds
(e.g., hydrogen peroxide, percarbonate, perborate, and the like), halogen containing
compounds, amine or quaternary ammonium compounds, or the like. Suitable
antimicrobial agents include aliphatic amine, ether amine or diamine. Common
antimicrobial agents include phenolic antimicrobials such as pentachlorophenol,
orthophenylphenol, a chloro-p-benzylphenol, p-chloro-m-xylenol. Halogen containing
antibacterial agents include sodium trichloroisocyanurate, sodium dichloro isocyanate
(anhydrous or dihydrate), iodine-poly(vinylpyrolidinone) complexes, bromine
compounds such as 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and quaternary antimicrobial
agents such as benzalkonium chloride, didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, choline
diiodochloride, tetramethyl phosphonium tribromide. Other antimicrobial compositions
such as hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-triazine, dithiocarbamates such as
sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate, and a variety of other materials are known in the art
for their anti-microbial properties. In some embodiments, an antimicrobial component,
such as TAED can be included in the range of 0.001 to 75 wt-% of the composition,
about 0.01 to 20 wt-%, or about 0.05 to about 10 wt-%.

In an embodiment, the present composition can include an effective amount
(e.g., antimicrobial amount) of ether amine of Formula 1:

or mixtures thereof. In Formula 1 and Formula 2 (independently) R1 can be a linear
saturated or unsaturated C6-C18 alkyl, R2 can be a linear or branched C1-C8 alkyl, and R3
can be a linear or branched C1 -C8 alkyl. In an embodiment, R1 is a linear C12-C16 alkyl;
R2 is a C2 -C6 linear or branched alkyl; and R3 is a C2-C6 linear or branched alkyl. In an
embodiment, the present composition includes a linear alkyl ether diamine compound of
Formula 2 in which R1 is C12-C16, R2 is C3, and R3 is C3. In an embodiment, R1 is
either a linear alkyl C12-C16 or a mixture of linear alkyl C10 -C12 and C14 -C16. Suitable
ether amines are commercially available from Tomah Products Incorporated as PA-19,
PA-1618, PA-1816, DA-18, DA-19, DA-1618, DA-1816, and the like.
In an embodiment, the antimicrobial agent can include or be a diamine, such as
a diamine acetate. Suitable diamines, shown as the acetates, include those having the
formulas:
[(R1)NH(R2)NH3 ]+ (CH3 COO)-
or
[(R1)NH2(R2)NH3++](CH3COO)2-
in which R1 can be C10-C18 aliphatic group or an ether group having the formula
R10OR11 in which R10 is a C10-C18 aliphatic group and R11 is a C1-C5 alkyl group; and
R2 is a C1-C5 alkylene group. Suitable diamine acetates include those in which R1 is a
C10-C18 aliphatic group derived from a fatty acid and R2 is propylene. The diamine
can have a counter ion other than acetate.
Representative examples of useful diamines include N-coco-1,3-propylene
diamine, N-oleyl-1,3-propylene diamine, N-tallow-1,3-propylene diamine, and mixtures
thereof. Such N-alkyl-1,3-propylene diamines are available from Akzo Chemie
America, Armak Chemicals under the trademark Duomeen.


The amount of the amine compound in the composition can be about 0.1 wt-%
to 90 wt-%, about 0.25 wt-% to 75 wt-%, or about 0.5 wt-% to 50 wt-%. The amount of
the amine compound in use compositions can be about 10 ppm to 10000 ppm, about 20
ppm to 7500 ppm, and about 40 ppm to 5000 ppm.
In an embodiment, the present composition can provide greater than 3 logio
reduction of bacteria within a 5 minute contact time. In an embodiment, the present
composition can provide in excess of 5 log10 reduction of microorganisms. This can be
advantageous in food preparation and food processing and other areas where
triglyceride fats and lipids are soil components.
In certain embodiments, the antimicrobial agent can be at about 0.01 to about 30
wt-% of the composition, 0.05 to about 10 wt-%, or about 0.1 to about 5 wt-%. In a use
solution the additional antimicrobial agent can be about 0.001 to about 5 wt-% of the
composition, about 0.01 to about 2 wt-%, or about 0.05 to about 0.5 wt-%.
Activators
In some embodiments, the antimicrobial activity or bleaching activity of the
composition can be enhanced by the addition of a material which, when the
composition is placed in use, reacts with the active oxygen to form an activated
component. For example, in some embodiments, a peracid or a peracid salt is formed.
For example, in some embodiments, tetraacetylethylene diamine can be included within
the composition to react with the active oxygen and form a peracid or a peracid salt that
acts as an antimicrobial agent. Other examples of active oxygen activators include
transition metals and their compounds, compounds that contain a carboxylic, nitrile, or
ester moiety, or other such compounds known in the art. In an embodiment, the
activator includes tetraacetylethylene diamine; transition metal; compound that includes
carboxylic, nitrile, amine, or ester moiety; or mixtures thereof.
In some embodiments, an activator component can include in the range of 0.001
to 75 % by wt. of the composition, about 0.01 to about 20, or about 0.05 to about 10%
by wt of the composition.


In other embodiments, the activator for the source of alkalinity combines with
the active oxygen to form an antimicrobial agent.
The solid composition typically remains stable even in the presence of activator
of the source of alkalinity. In many compositions would be expected to react with and
destabilize or change the form of the source of alkalinity. In contrast, in an embodiment
of the present invention, the composition remains solid; it does not swell, crack, or
enlarge as it would if the source of alkalinity were reacting with the activator.
In some embodiments, the composition includes a solid block, and an activator
material for the active oxygen is coupled to the solid block. The activator can be
coupled to the solid block by any of a variety of methods for coupling one solid
cleaning composition to another. For example, the activator can be in the form of a
solid that is bound, affixed, glued or otherwise adhered to the solid block.
Alternatively, the solid activator can be formed around and encasing the block. By way
of further example, the solid activator can be coupled to the solid block by the container
or package for the cleaning composition, such as by a plastic or shrink wrap or film.
Rinse Aid Functional Materials
Functional materials for use in the compositions of the invention can include a
formulated rinse aid composition containing a wetting or sheeting agent combined with
other optional ingredients in a solid made using the complex of the invention. The rinse
aid component of the present invention can include a water soluble or dispersible low
foaming organic material capable of reducing the surface tension of the rinse water to
promote sheeting action and to prevent spotting or streaking caused by beaded water
after rinsing is completed. This is often used in warewashing processes. Such sheeting
agents are typically organic surfactant-like materials having a characteristic cloud point.
The cloud point of the surfactant rinse or sheeting agent is defined as the temperature at
which a 1 wt-% aqueous solution of the surfactant turns cloudy when warmed.
There are two general types of rinse cycles in commercial warewashing
machines, a first type generally considered a sanitizing rinse cycle uses rinse water at a


temperature of about 180°F, about 80°C or higher. A second type of non-sanitizing
machines uses a lower temperature non-sanitizing rinse, typically at a temperature of
about 125°F, about 50°C or higher. Surfactants useful in these applications are aqueous
rinses having a cloud point greater than the available hot service water. Accordingly,
the lowest useful cloud point measured for the surfactants of the invention is
approximately 40°C. The cloud point can also be 60°C or higher, 70°C or higher, 80°C
or higher, etc., depending on the use locus hot water temperature and the temperature
and type of rinse cycle.
Suitable sheeting agents, typically include a polyether compound prepared from
ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or a mixture in a homopolymer or block or heteric
copolymer structure. Such polyether compounds are known as polyalkylene oxide
polymers, polyoxyalkylene polymers or polyalkylene glycol polymers. Such sheeting
agents require a region of relative hydrophobicity and a region of relative hydrophilicity
to provide surfactant properties to the molecule. Such sheeting agents have a molecular
weight in the range of about 500 to 15,000. Certain types of (PO)(EO) polymeric rinse
aids have been found to be useful containing at least one block of poly(PO) and at least
one block of poly(EO) in the polymer molecule. Additional blocks of poly(EO), poly
PO or random polymerized regions can be formed in the molecule.
Particularly useful polyoxypropylene polyoxyethylene block copolymers are
those including a center block of polyoxypropylene units and blocks of polyoxyethylene
units to each side of the center block. Such polymers have the formula shown below:
(EO)n-(PO)m-(EO)n
wherein n is an integer of 20 to 60, each end is independently an integer of 10 to 130.
Another useful block copolymer are block copolymers having a center block of
polyoxyethylene units and blocks of polyoxypropylene to each side of the center block.
Such copolymers have the formula:
(PO)n-(EO)m-(PO)n
wherein m is an integer of 15 to 175 and each end arc independently integers of about
10 to 30. The solid functional materials of the invention can often use a hydrotrope to


aid in maintaining the solubility of sheeting or wetting agents. Hydrotropes can be used
to modify the aqueous solution creating increased solubility for the organic material.
Suitable hydrotropes are low molecular weight aromatic sulfonate materials such as
xylene sulfonates and dialkyldiphenyl oxide sulfonate materials.
In some embodiments, compositions according to the present invention provide
desirable rinsing properties in ware washing without employing a separate rinse agent
in the rinse cycle. For example, good rinsing occurs using such compositions in the
wash cycle when rinsing employs just soft water.
Additional Bleaching Agents
Additional bleaching agents for use in inventive formulations for lightening or
whitening a substrate, include bleaching compounds capable of liberating an active
halogen species, such as Cl2, Br2,I2, ClO2, BrO2,IO2, -OCl-, -OBr- and/or, -OI-, under
conditions typically encountered during the cleansing process. Suitable bleaching
agents for use in the present cleaning compositions include, for example, chlorine-
containing compounds such as a chlorite, a hypochlorite, chloramine. Suitable halogen-
releasing compounds include the alkali metal dichloroisocyanurates, chlorinated
trisodium phosphate, the alkali metal hypochlorites, alkali metal chlorites,
monochloramine and dichloramine, and the like, and mixtures thereof. Encapsulated
chlorine sources may also be used to enhance the stability of the chlorine source in the
composition (see, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,618,914 and 4,830,773, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein). A bleaching agent may also
be an additional peroxygen or active oxygen source such as hydrogen peroxide,
perborates, for example sodium perborate mono and tetrahydrate, sodium carbonate
peroxyhydrate, phosphate peroxyhydrates, and potassium permonosulfate, with and
without activators such as tetraacetylethylene diamine, and the like, as discussed above.
A cleaning composition may include a minor but effective additional amount of
a bleaching agent above that already available from the stabilized source of alkalinity,
e.g., about 0.1-10 wt-% or about 1-6 wt-%. The present solid compositions can include


bleaching agent in an amount of about 0.1 to about 60 wt-%, about 1 to about 20 wt-%,
about 3 to about 8 wt-%, or about 3 to about 6 wt-%.
Secondary Hardening Agents/Solubility Modifiers.
The present compositions may include a minor but effective amount of a
secondary hardening agent, as for example, an amide such stearic monoethanolamide or
lauric diethanolamide, or an alkylamide, and the like; a solid polyethylene glycol, or a
solid EO/PO block copolymer, and the like; starches that have been made water-soluble
through an acid or alkaline treatment process; various inorganics that impart solidifying
properties to a heated composition upon cooling, and the like. Such compounds may
also vary the solubility of the composition in an aqueous medium during use such that
the cleaning agent and/or other active ingredients may be dispensed from the solid
composition over an extended period of time. The composition may include a
secondary hardening agent in an amount of about 5-20 wt-% or about 10-15 wt-%.
Detergent Fillers
A cleaning composition may include an effective amount of one or more of a
detergent filler which does not perform as a cleaning agent per se, but cooperates with
the cleaning agent to enhance the overall processability of the composition. Examples
of fillers suitable for use in the present cleaning compositions include sodium sulfate,
sodium chloride, starch, sugars, C1-C10 alkylene glycols such as propylene glycol, and
the like. A filler such as a sugar (e.g. sucrose) can aid dissolution of a solid
composition by acting as a disintegrant. A detergent filler can be included in an amount
up to about 50 wt-%, of about 1 to about 20 wt-%, about 3 to about 15 wt-%, about 1 to
about 30 wt-%, or about 1.5 to about 25 wt-%.
Defoaming Agents
An effective amount of a defoaming agent for reducing the stability of foam may
also be included in the present cleaning compositions. The cleaning composition can


include about 0.0001-5 wt-% of a defoaming agent, e.g., about 0.01-3 wt-%. The
defoaming agent can be provided in an amount of about 0.0001% to about 10 wt-%,
about 0.001% to about 5 wt-%, or about 0.01% to about 1.0 wt-%.
Examples of defoaming agents suitable for use in the present compositions
include silicone compounds such as silica dispersed in polydimethylsiloxane, EO/PO
block copolymers, alcohol alkoxylates, fatty amides, hydrocarbon waxes, fatty acids,
fatty esters, fatty alcohols, fatty acid soaps, ethoxylates, mineral oils, polyethylene
glycol esters, alkyl phosphate esters such as monostearyl phosphate, and the like. A
discussion of defoaming agents may be found, for example, in U.S. Patent No.
3,048,548 to Martin et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,334,147 to Bruneile et al., and U.S. Patent
No. 3,442,242 to Rue et al,, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference
herein.
Anti-redeposition Agents
A cleaning composition may also include an anti-redeposition agent capable of
facilitating sustained suspension of soils in a cleaning solution and preventing the
removed soils from being redeposited onto the substrate being cleaned. Examples of
suitable anti-redeposition agents include fatty acid amides, fluorocarbon surfactants,
complex phosphate esters, styrene maleic anhydride copolymers, and cellulosic
derivatives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and the like. A
cleaning composition may include about 0.5 to about 10 wt-%, e.g., about 1 to about
5 wt-%, of an anti-redeposition agent.
Optical Brighteners
Optical brightener is also referred to as fluorescent whitening agents or
fluorescent brightening agents provide optical compensation for the yellow cast in
fabric substrates. With optical brighteners yellowing is replaced by light emitted from
optical brighteners present in the area commensurate in scope with yellow color. The
violet to blue light supplied by the optical brighteners combines with other light


reflected from the location to provide a substantially complete or enhanced bright white
appearance. This additional light is produced by the brightener through fluorescence.
Optical brighteners absorb light in the ultraviolet range 275 through 400 nm. and emit
light in the ultraviolet blue spectrum 400-500 nm.
Fluorescent compounds belonging to the optical brightener family are typically
aromatic or aromatic heterocyclic materials often containing condensed ring system.
An important feature of these compounds is the presence of an uninterrupted chain of
conjugated double bonds associated with an aromatic ring. The number of such
conjugated double bonds is dependent on substituents as well as the planarity of the
fluorescent part of the molecule. Most brightener compounds are derivatives of stilbene
or 4,4'-diamino stilbene, biphenyl, five membered heterocycles (triazoles, oxazoles,
imidazoles, etc.) or six membered heterocycles (cumarins, naphthalamides, triazines,
etc.). The choice of optical brighteners for use in cleaning compositions will depend
upon a number of factors, such as the type of detergent, the nature of other components
present in the cleaning composition, the temperature of the wash water, the degree of
agitation, and the ratio of the material washed to the tub size. The brightener selection
is also dependent upon the type of material to be cleaned, e.g., cottons, synthetics, etc.
Since most laundry cleaning products are used to clean a variety of fabrics, the cleaning
compositions should contain a mixture of brighteners which are effective for a variety
of fabrics. It is of course necessary that the individual components of such a brightener
mixture be compatible.
Optical brighteners useful in the present invention are commercially available
and will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Commercial optical brighteners
which may be useful in the present invention can be classified into subgroups, which
include, but are not necessarily limited to, derivatives of stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin,
carboxylic acid, methinecyanines, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide, azoles, 5- and 6-
membered-ring heterocycles and other miscellaneous agents. Examples of these types
of brighteners are disclosed in "The Production and Application of Fluorescent

Brightening Agents", M. Zahradnik, Published by John Wiley & Sons, New York
(1982), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Stilbene derivatives which may be useful in the present invention include, but
are not necessarily limited to, derivatives of bis(triazinyl)amino-stilbene; bisacylamino
derivatives of stilbene; triazole derivatives of stilbene; oxadiazole derivatives of
stilbene; oxazole derivatives of stilbene; and styryl derivatives of stilbene.
For laundry cleaning or sanitizing compositions, suitable optical brighteners
include stilbene derivatives, which can be employed at concentrations of up to 1 wt-%.
Stabilizing Agents
The solid cleaning composition may also include a stabilizing agent. Examples
of suitable stabilizing agents include, but are not limited to: borate, calcium/magnesium
ions, propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. The composition need not include a
stabilizing agent, but when the composition includes a stabilizing agent, it can be
included in an amount that provides the desired level of stability of the composition.
Suitable ranges of the stabilizing agent include up to about 20 wt-%, about 0.5 to about
15 wt-%, or about 2 to about 10 wt-%.
Dispersants
The solid cleaning composition may also include a dispersant. Examples of
suitable dispersants that can be used in the solid cleaning composition include, but are
not limited to: maleic acid/olefin copolymers, polyacrylic acid, and mixtures thereof.
The composition need not include a dispersant, but when a dispersant is included it can
be included in an amount that provides the desired dispersant properties. Suitable
ranges of the dispersant in the composition can be up to about 20 wt-%, about 0.5 to
about 15 wt-%, or about 2 to about 9 wt-%.


Thickeners
The solid cleaning compositions can include a rheology modifier or a thickener.
The rheology modifier may provide the following functions: increasing the viscosity of
the compositions; increasing the particle size of liquid use solutions when dispensed
through a spray nozzle; providing the use solutions with vertical cling to surfaces;
providing particle suspension within the use solutions; or reducing the evaporation rate
of the use solutions.
The rheology modifier may provide a use composition that is pseudo plastic, in
other words the use composition or material when left undisturbed (in a shear mode),
retains a high viscosity. However, when sheared, the viscosity of the material is
substantially but reversibly reduced. After the shear action is removed, the viscosity
returns. These properties permit the application of the material through a spray head.
When sprayed through a nozzle, the material undergoes shear as it is drawn up a feed
tube into a spray head under the influence of pressure and is sheared by the action of a
pump in a pump action sprayer. In either case, the viscosity can drop to a point such
that substantial quantities of the material can be applied using the spray devices used to
apply the material to a soiled surface. However, once the material comes to rest on a
soiled surface, the materials can regain high viscosity to ensure that the material
remains in place on the soil. Preferably, the material can be applied to a surface
resulting in a substantial coating of the material that provides the cleaning components
in sufficient concentration to result in lifting and removal of the hardened or baked-on
soil. While in contact with the soil on vertical or inclined surfaces, the thickeners in
conjunction with the other components of the cleaner minimize dripping, sagging,
slumping or other movement of the material under the effects of gravity. The material
should be formulated such that the viscosity of the material is adequate to maintain
contact substantial quantities of the film of the material with the soil for at least a
minute, five minutes or more.
Examples of suitable thickeners or rheology modifiers are polymeric thickeners
including, but not limited to: polymers or natural polymers or gums derived from plant


or animal sources. Such materials may be polysaccharides such as large polysaccharide
molecules having substantial thickening capacity. Thickeners or rheology modifiers
also include clays.
A substantially soluble polymeric thickener can be used to provide increased
viscosity or increased conductivity to the use compositions. Examples of polymeric
thickeners for the aqueous compositions of the invention include, but are not limited to:
carboxylated vinyl polymers such as polyacrylic acids and sodium salts thereof,
ethoxylated cellulose, polyacrylamide thickeners, cross-linked, xanthan compositions,
sodium alginate and algin products, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose,
and other similar aqueous thickeners that have some substantial proportion of water
solubility. Examples of suitable commercially available thickeners include, but are not
limited to: Acusol, available from Rohm & Haas Company, Philadelphia, PA; and
Carbopol, available from B.F. Goodrich, Charlotte, NC.
Examples of suitable polymeric thickeners include, but not limited to:
polysaccharides. An example of a suitable commercially available polysaccharide
includes, but is not limited to, Diutan, available from Kelco Division of Merck, San
Diego, CA. Thickeners for use in the solid cleaning compositions further include
polyvinyl alcohol thickeners, such as, fully hydrolyzed (greater than 98.5 mol acetate
replaced with the -OH function).
An example of a suitable polysaccharide includes, but is not limited to,
xanthans. Such xanthan polymers are preferred due to their high water solubility, and
great thickening power. Xanthan is an extracellular polysaccharide of Xanthomonas
campestras. Xanthan may be made by fermentation based on corn sugar or other corn
sweetener by-products. Xanthan includes a poly beta-(1-4)-D-Glucopyranosyl
backbone chain, similar to that found in cellulose. Aqueous dispersions of xanthan gum
and its derivatives exhibit novel and remarkable rheological properties. Low
concentrations of the gum have relatively high viscosities which permit it to be used
economically. Xanthan gum solutions exhibit high pseudo plasticity, i.e. over a wide
range of concentrations, rapid shear thinning occurs that is generally understood to be

instantaneously reversible. Non-sheared materials have viscosities that appear to be
independent of the pH and independent of temperature over wide ranges. Preferred
xanthan materials include crosslinked xanthan materials. Xanthan polymers can be
crosslinked with a variety of known covalent reacting crosslinking agents reactive with
the hydroxyl functionality of large polysaccharide molecules and can also be
crosslinked using divalent, trivalent or polyvalent metal ions. Such crosslinked xanthan
gels are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,782,901, which is herein incorporated by
reference. Suitable crosslinking agents for xanthan materials include, but are not
limited to: metal cations such as A1+3, Fe+3, Sb+3, Zr+4 and other transition metals.
Examples of suitable commercially available xanthans include, but are not limited to:
KELTROL®, KELZAN® AR, KELZAN® D35, KELZAN® S, KELZAN® XZ,
available from Kelco Division of Merck, San Diego, CA. Known organic crosslinking
agents can also be used. A preferred crosslinked xanthan is KELZAN® AR, which
provides a pseudo plastic use solution that can produce large particle size mist or
aerosol when sprayed.
Dves/Odorants
Various dyes, odorants including perfumes, and other aesthetic enhancing agents
may also be included in the composition. Dyes may be included to alter the appearance
of the composition, as for example, Direct Blue 86 (Miles), Fastusol Blue (Mobay
Chemical Corp.), Acid Orange 7 (American Cyanamid), Basic Violet 10 (Sandoz), Acid
Yellow 23 (GAF), Acid Yellow 17 (Sigma Chemical), Sap Green (Keyston Analine and
Chemical), Metanil Yellow (Keystone Analine and Chemical), Acid Blue 9 (Hilton
Davis), Sandolan Blue/Acid Blue 182 (Sandoz), Hisol Fast Red (Capitol Color and
Chemical), Fluorescein (Capitol Color and Chemical), Acid Green 25 (Ciba-Geigy),
and the like.
Fragrances or perfumes that may be included in the compositions include, for
example, terpenoids such as citronellol, aldehydes such as amyl cinnamaldehyde, a
jasmine such as CIS-jasmine or jasmal, vanillin, and the like.


Surfactants
The cleaning compositions of the invention can include a surfactant or surfactant
admixture. Surfactants suitable for use in the compositions can be selected from water
soluble or water dispersible nonionic, semi-polar nonionic, anionic, cationic,
amphoteric, or zwitterionic surface-active agents; or any combination thereof. The
particular surfactant or surfactant mixture chosen for use in the process and products of
this invention can depend on the conditions of final utility, including method of
manufacture, physical product form, use pH, use temperature, foam control, and soil
type.
Surfactants incorporated into the cleaning compositions of the present invention
can be enzyme compatible, not substrates for enzymes in the composition, and not
inhibitors or inactivators of any enzyme present. For example, when proteases and
amylases are employed in the present solid compositions, the surfactant is preferably
free of peptide and glycosidic bonds. In addition, certain cationic surfactants are known
to decrease enzyme effectiveness.
Generally, the concentration of surfactant or surfactant mixture useful in
cleaning compositions of the present invention fall in the range of from about 0.5% to
about 40% by weight of the composition, preferably about 2% to about 10%, preferably
about 5% to about 8%. These percentages can refer to percentages of the commercially
available surfactant composition, which can contain solvents, dyes, odorants, and the
like in addition to the actual surfactant. In this case, the percentage of the actual
surfactant chemical can be less than the percentages listed. These percentages can refer
to the percentage of the actual surfactant chemical.
Anionic Surfactants
Also useful in the present invention are surface active substances which are
categorized as anionics because the charge on the hydrophobe is negative; or surfactants
in which the hydrophobic section of the molecule carries no charge unless the pH is

elevated to neutrality or above (e.g. carboxylic acids). Carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate
and phosphate are the polar (hydrophilic) solubilizing groups found in anionic
surfactants. Of the cations (counter ions) associated with these polar groups, sodium,
lithium and potassium impart water solubility; ammonium and substituted ammonium
ions provide both water and oil solubility; and, calcium, barium, and magnesium
promote oil solubility.
Anionics are excellent detersive surfactants and are therefore, favored additions
to heavy duty cleaning compositions. Generally, however, anionics have high foam
profiles which limit their use alone or at high concentration levels in cleaning systems
such as CIP circuits that require strict foam control. Further, anionic surface active
compounds can impart special chemical or physical properties other than detergency
within the composition. Anionics can be employed as gelling agents or as part of a
gelling or thickening system. Anionics are excellent solubilizers and can be used for
hydrotropic effect and cloud point control.
The majority of large volume commercial anionic surfactants can be subdivided
into five major chemical classes and additional sub-groups, which are described in
"Surfactant Encyclopedia", Cosmetics & Toiletries. Vol. 104 (2) 71-86 (1989). The
first class includes acylamino acids (and salts), such as acylgluamates, acyl peptides,
sarcosinates (e.g. N-acyl sarcosinates), taurates (e.g. N-acyl taurates and fatty acid
amides of methyl tauride), and the like. The second class includes carboxylic acids
(and salts), such as alkanoic acids (and alkanoates), ester carboxylic acids (e.g. alkyl
succinates), ether carboxylic acids, and the like. The third class includes phosphoric
acid esters and their salts. The fourth class includes sulfonic acids (and salts), such as
isethionates (e.g. acyl isethionates), alkylaryl sulfonates, alkyl sulfonates,
sulfosuccinates (e.g. monoesters and diesters of sulfosuccinate), and the like. The fifth
class includes sulfuric acid esters (and salts), such as alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates,
and the like. Although each of these classes of anionic surfactants can be employed in
the present solid compositions, it should be noted that certain of these anionic
surfactants may be incompatible with the enzymes. For example, the acyl-amino acids

and salts may be incompatible with proteolytic enzymes because of their peptide
structure.
Anionic sulfate surfactants suitable for use in the present solid compositions
include the linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, alkyl
ethoxysulfates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates,
the C5 -C17 acyl-N-(C1 -C4 alkyl) and -N-(C1 -C2 hydroxyalkyl) glucamine sulfates, and
sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic
nonsulfated compounds being described herein).
Examples of suitable synthetic, water soluble anionic detergent compounds
include the ammonium and substituted ammonium (such as mono-, di- and
triethanolamine) and alkali metal (such as sodium, lithium and potassium) salts of the
alkyl mononuclear aromatic sulfonates such as the alkyl benzene sulfonates containing
from about 5 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group in a straight or branched
chain, e.g., the salts of alkyl benzene sulfonates or of alkyl toluene, xylene, cumene and
phenol sulfonates; alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, diamyl naphthalene sulfonate, and
dinonyl naphthalene sulfonate and alkoxylated derivatives.
Anionic carboxylate surfactants suitable for use in the present solid
compositions include the alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, the alkyl polyethoxy
polycarboxylate surfactants and the soaps (e.g. alkyl carboxyls). Secondary soap
surfactants (e.g. alkyl carboxyl surfactants) useful in the present solid compositions
include those which contain a carboxyl unit connected to a secondary carbon. The
secondary carbon can be in a ring structure, e.g. as in p-octyl benzoic acid, or as in
alkyl-substituted cyclohexyl carboxylates. The secondary soap surfactants typically
contain no ether linkages, no ester linkages and no hydroxyl groups. Further, they
typically lack nitrogen atoms in the head-group (amphiphilic portion). Suitable
secondary soap surfactants typically contain 11-13 total carbon atoms, although more
carbons atoms (e.g., up to 16) can be present.
Other anionic detergents suitable for use in the present solid compositions
include olefin sulfonates, such as long chain alkene sulfonates, long chain


hydroxyalkane sulfonates or mixtures of alkenesulfonates and hydroxyalkane-
sulfonates. Also included are the alkyl sulfates, alkyl poly(ethyleneoxy) ether sulfates
and aromatic poly(ethyleneoxy) sulfates such as the sulfates or condensation products
of ethylene oxide and nonyl phenol (usually having 1 to 6 oxyethylene groups per
molecule. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as rosin,
hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids present in or derived
from tallow oil.
The particular salts will be suitably selected depending upon the particular
formulation and the needs therein.
Further examples of suitable anionic surfactants are given in "Surface Active
Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such
surfactants are also generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, issued Dec. 30,1975
to Laughlin, et al. at Column 23, line 58 through Column 29, line 23.
In some embodiments, the present solid composition includes alkyl or alkyl aryl
sulfonates or substituted sulfates and sulfated products. In certain embodiments, the
present solid composition includes linear alkane sulfonate, linear alkylbenzene
sulfonates, alphaolefln sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, secondary alkane sulfates or
sulfonates, or sulfosuccinates.
In certain embodiments, the composition can include about 0.003 to about 35
wt-% anionic surfactant, for example, about 5 to about 30 wt-% anionic surfactant. The
anionic surfactant can include linear alkyl benzene sulfonate; alpha olefin sulfonate;
alkyl sulfate; secondary alkane sulfonate; sulfosuccinate; or mixtures thereof. The
anionic surfactant can include alkanol ammonium alkyl benzene sulfonate. The anionic
surfactant can include monoethanol ammonium alkyl benzene sulfonate.
Nonionic Surfactant
Nonionic surfactants useful in the invention are generally characterized by the
presence of an organic hydrophobic group and an organic hydrophilic group and are
typically produced by the condensation of an organic aliphatic, alkyl aromatic or


polyoxyalkylene hydrophobic compound with a hydrophilic alkaline oxide moiety
which in common practice is ethylene oxide or a polyhydration product thereof,
polyethylene glycol. Practically any hydrophobic compound having a hydroxyl,
carboxyl, amino, or amido group with a reactive hydrogen atom can be condensed with
ethylene oxide, or its polyhydration adducts, or its mixtures with alkoxylenes such as
propylene oxide to form a nonionic surface-active agent. The length of the hydrophilic
polyoxyalkylene moiety which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic compound
can be readily adjusted to yield a water dispersible or water soluble compound having
the desired degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties.
In an embodiment, the present cleaning composition includes solidification
agent; spore, bacteria or fungus; and boric acid salt, e.g., alkanol amine borate. In
certain embodiments, the composition can also include about 0.003 to about 35 wt-%
nonionic surfactant, for example, about 5 to about 20 wt-% nonionic surfactant. The
nonionic surfactant can include noniomc block copolymer comprising of at least
(EO)y(PO)z, wherein y and z are independently between 2 and 100; C6-24 alkyl phenol
alkoxylate having 2 to 15 moles of ethylene oxide; C6-24 alcohol alkoxylate having 2 to
15 moles of ethylene oxide; alkoxylated amine having 2-20 moles of ethylene oxide; or
mixtures thereof.
EO/PO Nonionic Surfactant
An example of useful nonionic surfactants used with the silicone surfactants are
polyether compounds prepared from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, in a graft moiety
homopolymer or a block or heteric copolymer. Such polyether compounds are known
as polyalkylene oxide polymers, polyoxyalkylene polymers, or polyalkylene glycol
polymers. Such nonionic surfactants have a molecular weight in the range of about 500
to about 15,000. Certain types of polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene glycol polymer
nonionic surfactants have been found to be particularly useful. Surfactants including at
least one block of a polyoxypropylene and having at least one other block of
polyoxyethylene attached to the polyoxypropylene block can be used. Additional

blocks of polyoxyethylene or polyoxypropylene can be present in a molecule. These
materials having an average molecular weight in the range of about 500 to about 15,000
are commonly available as PLURONIC® manufactured by the BASF Corporation and
available under a variety of other trademarks of their chemical suppliers. In addition

PLURONIC® R (reverse PLURONIC structure) are also useful in the compositions of
the invention. Additionally, alkylene oxide groups used with an alcohol and an alkyl
phenol, a fatty acid or other such group can be useful. A useful surfactant can include a
capped polyalkoxylated C6-24 linear alcohol. The surfactants can be made with
polyoxyethylene or polyoxypropylene units and can be capped with common agents
forming an ether end group. A useful species of this surfactant is a (PO)x compound or
benzyl ether compound polyethoxylated C12-14 linear alcohol; see U.S. Patent No.
3,444,247. Particularly useful polyoxypropylene polyoxyethylene block polymers are
those including a center block of polyoxypropylene units and blocks of polyoxyethylene
units to each side of the center block.
These copolymers have the formula shown below:

wherein m is an integer of 21 to 54; n is an integer of 7 to 128. Additional useful block
copolymers are block polymers having a center block of polyoxyethylene units and
blocks of polyoxypropylene units to each side of the center block. The copolymers
have the formula as shown below:

wherein m is an integer of 14 to 164 and n is an integer of 9 to 22.
One suitable nonionic surfactant for use in the compositions of the invention
include an alkyl phenol alkoxylate of the formula:

wherein R' includes a C2-24 aliphatic group and AO represents an ethylene oxide group,
a propylene oxide group, an heteric mixed EOPO group or a block EO-PO, PO-EO,

EOPOEO or POEOPO group, and Z represents H or an (AO), Benzyl or other cap. A
suitable nonionic surfactant includes an alkyl phenol ethoxylate of the formula:

wherein R1 includes a C6-18 aliphatic group, preferably a C6-12 aliphatic group and n is
an integer of about 2 to about 24. A primary example of such a surfactant is a nonyl
phenol ethoxylate having 2.5 to 14.5 moles of EO in the ethoxylate group. The
ethoxylate group can be capped with a (PO)x group when x is 2.5 to 12.5 or a benzyl
moiety.
Alkoxylated Amines
The present solid compositions can include any of a variety of alkoxylated
amines. In an embodiment, the alkoxylated amine has general Formula I:
N(R1)(R2)(R3)(R4), in which at least one of R1, R2, or R3 includes an alkoxylate or ether
moiety. R4 can be hydrogen, straight or branched alkyl, or straight or branched alkyl
aryl. The alkoxylated amine can be a primary, secondary, or tertiary amine. In an
embodiment, the alkoxylated amine is a tertiary amine. In certain embodiments, each of
R2 and R3 includes an alkoxylate moiety, e.g., one or more ethoxylate moieties, one or
more propoxylate moieties, or combinations thereof, and R4 is hydrogen. For example,
one of R1, R2, or R3 can include an ether moiety and the other two can include one or
more ethoxylate moieties, one or more propoxylate moieties, or combinations thereof.
By way of further example, an alkoxylated amine can be represented by general
Formulae IIa, IIb, or IIc, respectively:

in which R5 can be an alkyl, alkenyl or other aliphatic group, or an alkyl-aryl group of
from 8 to 20 or from 12 to 14 carbon atoms, EO is oxyethylene, PO is oxypropylene, s

is 1-20, 2-12, or 2 to 5, t is 1-20, 1-10, 2-12, or 2-5, and u is 1-20, 1-10, 2-12, or 2-5.
Other variations on the scope of these compounds can be represented by formula IId:
R5.. (PO)v-N[(EO)wH][(EO)zH]
in which R5 is as defined above, v is 1 to 20 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4 or, in an embodiment, 2),
and w and z are independently 1-20,1-10, 2-12, or 2-5.
In some embodiments, the alkoxylated amine is an ether amine alkoxylate. An
ether amine alkoxylate can have Formula III:

In Formula III, R1 can be a straight or branched alkyl or alkylaryl; R2 can independently
in each occurrence be hydrogen or alkyl from 1 to 6 carbons; R can independently in
each occurrence be hydrogen or alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbons; m can average from about
1 to about 20; x and y can each independently average from 1 to about 20; and x+y can
average from about 2 to about 40.
In some embodiments, in Formula III, R1 can be: alkyl of from 8 to 24 carbon
atoms, alkylaryl and contain from about 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or alkylaryl (e.g.,
alkylaryl disubstituted with alkyl groups); R2 can contain 1 or 2 carbon atoms or can be
hydrogen; R3 can be hydrogen, alkyl containing 1 or 2 carbons; and x+y can range from
about 1 to about 3.
Such ether amine alkoxylates are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,060,625 and
6,063,145.
In some embodiments, in Formula III, R1 can be: alkyl of from 6 to 24 carbon
atoms, alkylaryl and contain from about 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or alkylaryl (e.g.,
alkylaryl disubstituted with alkyl groups); R2 can contain 1 or 2 carbon atoms or can be
hydrogen; R3 can be hydrogen, alkyl containing 1 or 2 carbons; and x+y can range from
about 1 to about 20.
In some embodiments, in Formula III, m can be 0 to about 20 and x and y can
each independently average from 0 to about 20. In certain embodiments, the alkoxy


moieties can be capped or terminated with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or butylene
oxide units.
In some embodiments, in Formula III, R1 can be C6-C20 alkyl or C9-C13 alkyl,
e.g., linear alkyl; R2 can be CH3; m can be about 1 to about 10; R3 can be hydrogen; and
x+y can range from about 5 to about 12.
In some embodiments, in Formula III, R1 can be C6-C14 alkyl or C7-C4 alkyl,
e.g., linear alkyl; R2 can be CH3; m can be about 1 to about 10; R3 can be hydrogen; and
x+y can range from about 2 to about 12. In an embodiment, such an ether amine
alkoxylate can include alkoxylate moieties terminated with propylene oxide or butylene
oxide units, which can provide low foam compositions.
In some embodiments, in Formula III, R1 can be C6-C14 alkyl, e.g., linear alkyl;
R2 can be CH3; m can be about 1 to about 10; R3 can be hydrogen; and x+y can range
from about 2 to about 20.
In some embodiments, the alkoxylated amine can be a C12 to C14 propoxy amine
ethoxylate in which, in Formula III, R1 can be C12-C14 alkyl, e.g., linear alkyl; R2 can
be CH3; m can be about 10; R3 can be hydrogen; x can be about 2.5, and y can be about
2.5.
In some embodiments, the alkoxylated amine can be a C12 to C14 propoxy amine
ethoxylate in which, in Formula III, R1 can be C12-C14 alkyl, e.g., linear alkyl; R2 can
be CH3; m can be about 5; R3 can be hydrogen; x can be about 2.5, and y can be about
2.5.
In some embodiments, the alkoxylated amine can be a C12 to C14 propoxy amine
ethoxylate in which, in Formula III, R1 can be C12-C14 alkyl, e.g., linear alkyl; R2 can
be CH3; m can be about 2; R3 can be hydrogen; x can be about 2.5, and y can be about
2.5.
In some embodiments, in Formula III, R1 can be branched C10 alkyl; R2 can be
CH2; m can be 1; R3 can be hydrogen; and x+y can be about 5. Such an alkoxylated
amine can be a tertiary ethoxylated amine known as poly (5) oxyethylene
isodecyloxypropylamine.

In some embodiments, the alkoxylated amine can be a secondary ethoxylated
amine that can be described by the formula: R-(PO)-N-(EO)x where x = 1 to 7 moles of
ethylene oxide.
In some embodiments, the alkoxylated amine can be a diamine that can be
described by the formula R-O-CH2CH2CH2N(H)(CH2CH2CH2NH2) in which R is,
for example, branched C10 alkyl.
In some embodiments, the ether amine alkoxylate of Formula III is an ether
amine ethoxylate propoxylate of Formula IV:

In Formula IV, R6 can be a straight or branched alkyl or alkylaryl; a can average from
about 1 to about 20; x and y can each independently average from 0 to about 10; and
x+y can average from about 1 to about 20. Such an ether amine alkoxylate can be
referred to as an ether amine ethoxylate propoxylate. In certain embodiments, the
alkoxy moieties can be capped or terminated with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or
butylene oxide units.
In some embodiments, the alkoxylated amine can be a C12 to Cu propoxy amine
ethoxylate that can be described by the formula: R-(PO)2N[EO]2.5 -H[EO]2.5-H. In an
embodiment, the alkoxylated amine can be a C12 to C14 propoxy amine ethoxylate that
can be described by the formula: R-(PO)10N[EO]2.5 -H[EO]2.5-H. In an embodiment,
the alkoxylated amine can be a C12 to C14 propoxy amine ethoxylate that can be
described by the formula: R-(PO)5N[EO]2.5 -H[EO]2.5-H. In an embodiment, the
alkoxylated amine can be a tertiary ethoxylated amine known as poly (5) oxyethylene
isodecyloxypropylamine, which has a branched C10H21 alkyl group off the ether
oxygen. In an embodiment, the alkoxylated amine can be a diamine that can be
described by the formula R-O-CH2CH2CH2N(H)(CH2CH2CH2NH2) in which R is
branched C10 alkyl. In an embodiment, the alkoxylated amine can be a tertiary
ethoxylated amine known as iso-(2-hydroxyethyl) isodecyloxypropylamine, which has a
branched C10H21 alkyl group off the ether oxygen.

Ether amine alkoxylates are commercially available, for example, under
tradenames such as Surfonic (Huntsman Chemical) or Tomah Ether or Ethoxylated
Amines.
In some embodiments, the alkoxylated amine is an alkyl amine alkoxylate. A
suitable alkyl amine alkoxylate can have Formula V:

In Formula V, R1 can be a straight or branched alkyl or alkylaryl; R3 can independently
in each occurrence be hydrogen or alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbons; x and y can each
independently average from 0 to about 25; and x+y can average from about 1 to about
50. In an embodiment, in Formula V, x and y can each independently average from 0 to
about 10; and x+y can average from about 1 to about 20. In an embodiment, the alkoxy
moieties can be capped or terminated with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or butylene
oxide units.
In some embodiments, the alkyl amine alkoxylate of Formula V is an alkyl
amine ethoxylate propoxylate of Formula VI:

In Formula VI, R6 can be a straight or branched alkyl or alkylaryl (e.g., C18 alkyl); x
and y can each independently average from 0 to about 25; and x+y can average from
about 1 to about 50. In an embodiment, in Formula VI, x and y can each independently
average from 0 to about 10 or 20; and x+y can average from about 1 to about 20 or 40.
Such an ether amine alkoxylate can be referred to as an amine ethoxylate propoxylate.
One such alkyl amine ethoxylate propoxylate can be described by the chemical
names N,N-bis-2(omega-hydroxypolyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene)ethyl alkylamine
or N,N-Bis(polyoxyethylene/propylene) tallowalkylamine, by CAS number 68213-26-
3, and/or by chemical formula C64H130O18.


Alkyl amine alkoxylates are commercially available, for example, under
tradenames such as Armoblen (Akzo Nobel). Armoblen 600 is called an alkylamine
ethoxylate propoxylate.
In some embodiments, the alkoxylated amine is an ether amine. Suitable ether
amines can have general Formula VII: N(R1)(R2)(R3), in which at least one of R1, R2,
or R3 includes an ether moiety. In an embodiment, R1 includes an ether moiety and R2,
and R3 are hydrogen. Such an ether amine can have Formula VIII:
R4O(R5)NH2
In Formula VIII, R4 can be C1 to C13 arylaikyl or alkyl, straight or branched chain and
R5 can be C1 to C6 alkyl, straight or branched chain.
Ether amines are commercially available, for example, from Tomah3 Products.
Suitable alkoxylated amines can include amines known as ethoxylated amine,
propoxylated amine, ethoxylated propoxylated amine, alkoxylated alkyl amine,
ethoxylated alkyl amine, propoxylated alkyl amine, ethoxylated propoxylated alkyl
amine, ethoxylated propoxylated quaternary ammonium compound, ether amine
(primary, secondary, or tertiary), ether amine alkoxylate, ether amine ethoxylate, ether
amine propoxylate, alkoxylated ether amine, alkyl ether amine alkoxylate, alkyl
propoxyamine alkoxylate, alkylalkoxy ether amine alkoxylate, and the like.
Additional Nonionic Surfactants
Additional useful nonionic surfactants in the present invention include:
Condensation products of one mole of saturated or unsaturated, straight or
branched chain carboxylic acid having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms with
from about 6 to about 50 moles of ethylene oxide. The acid moiety can consist of
mixtures of acids in the above defined carbon atoms range or it can consist of an acid
having a specific number of carbon atoms within the range. Examples of commercial
compounds of this chemistry are available on the market under the trade names
Nopalcol® manufactured by Henkel Corporation and Lipopeg® manufactured by Lipo
Chemicals, Inc.


In addition to ethoxylated carboxylic acids, commonly called polyethylene
glycol esters, other alkanoic acid esters formed by reaction with glycerides, glycerin,
and polyhydric (saccharide or sorbitan/sorbitol) alcohols have application in this
invention for specialized embodiments, particularly indirect food additive applications.
All of these ester moieties have one or more reactive hydrogen sites on their molecule
which can undergo further acylation or ethylene oxide (alkoxide) addition to control the
hydrophilicity of these substances. Care must be exercised when adding these fatty
ester or acylated carbohydrates to compositions of the present invention containing
amylase and/or lipase enzymes because of potential incompatibility.
Examples of nonionic low foaming surfactants include nonionic surfactants
described above that are modified by "capping" or "end blocking" the terminal hydroxy
group or groups (of multi-functional moieties) to reduce foaming by reaction with a
small hydrophobic molecule such as propylene oxide, butylene oxide, benzyl chloride;
and, short chain fatty acids, alcohols or alkyl halides containing from 1 to about 5
carbon atoms; and mixtures thereof. Also included are reactants such as thionyl
chloride which convert terminal hydroxy groups to a chloride group. Such
modifications to the terminal hydroxy group may lead to all-block, block-heteric,
heteric-block or all-heteric nonionics.
Polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants suitable for use in the present solid
compositions include those having the structural formula R2CONR1Z in which: Rl is H,
C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, ethoxy, propoxy group, or a
mixture thereof; R2 is a C5 -C31 hydrocarbyl, which can be straight-chain; and Z is a
polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls
directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or
propoxylated) thereof. Z can be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination
reaction; such as a glycityl moiety.
Suitable nonionic alkylpolysaccharide surfactants, particularly for use in the
present solid compositions include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,647, Llenado,
issued Jan. 21, 1986. These surfactants include a hydrophobic group containing from


about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g., a polyglycoside,
hydrophilic group containing from about 1.3 to about 10 saccharide units. Any
reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g., glucose, galactose
and galactosyl moieties can be substituted for the glucosyl moieties. (Optionally the
hydrophobic group is attached at the 2-, 3-, 4-, etc. positions thus giving a glucose or
galactose as opposed to a glucoside or galactoside.) The intersaccharide bonds can be,
e.g., between the one position of the additional saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-,
and/or 6-positions on the preceding saccharide units.
Fatty acid amide surfactants suitable for use the present solid compositions
include those having the formula: R6CON(R7)2 in which R6 is an alkyl group containing
from 7 to 21 carbon atoms and each R7 is independently hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4
hydroxyalkyl, or -(C2H4O)XH, where x is in the range of from 1 to 3.
The treatise Nonionic Surfactants, edited by Schick, M.J., Vol. 1 of the
Surfactant Science Series, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1983 is an excellent
reference on the wide variety of nonionic compounds generally employed in the
practice of the present invention. A typical listing of nonionic classes, and species of
these surfactants, is given in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 issued to Laughlin and Heuring on
Dec. 30, 1975. Further examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents"
(Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch).
Semi-Polar Nonionic Surfactants
The semi-polar type of nonionic surface active agents are another class of
nonionic surfactant useful in compositions of the present invention. Generally, semi-
polar nonionics are high foamers and foam stabilizers, which can limit their application
in CIP systems. However, within compositional embodiments of this invention
designed for high foam cleaning methodology, semi-polar nonionics would have
immediate utility. The semi-polar nonionic surfactants include the amine oxides,
phosphine oxides, sulfoxides and their alkoxylated derivatives.
Amine oxides are tertiary amine oxides corresponding to the general formula:


wherein the arrow is a conventional representation of a semi-polar bond; and, R1, R2,
and R3 may be aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, alicyclic, or combinations thereof.
Generally, for amine oxides of detergent interest, R1 is an alkyl radical of from about 8
to about 24 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of 1-3 carbon atoms or a
mixture thereof; R2 and R3 can be attached to each other, e.g. through an oxygen or
nitrogen atom, to form a ring structure; R4 is an alkaline or a hydroxyalkylene group
containing 2 to 3 carbon atoms; and n ranges from 0 to about 20.
Useful water soluble amine oxide surfactants are selected from the coconut or
tallow alkyl di-(lower alkyl) amine oxides, specific examples of which are
dodecyldimethylamine oxide, tridecyldimethylamine oxide, etradecyldimethylamine
oxide, pentadecyldimethylamine oxide, hexadecyldimethylamine oxide,
heptadecyldimethylamine oxide, octadecyldimethylaine oxide, dodecyldipropylamine
oxide, tetradecyldipropylamine oxide, hexadecyldipropylamine oxide,
tetradecyldibutylamine oxide, octadecyldibutylamine oxide, bis(2-
hydroxyethyl)dodecylamine oxide, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-dodecoxy-1 -
hydroxypropylamine oxide, dimethyl-(2-hydroxydodecyl)amine oxide, 3,6,9-
trioctadecyldimethylamine oxide and 3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyldi-(2-
hydroxyethyl)amine oxide.
Useful semi-polar nonionic surfactants also include the water soluble phosphine
oxides having the following structure:

wherein the arrow is a conventional representation of a semi-polar bond; and, R1 is an
alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl moiety ranging from 10 to about 24 carbon atoms in

chain length; and, R2 and R3 are each alkyl moieties separately selected from alkyl or
hydroxyalkyl groups containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
Examples of useful phosphine oxides include dimethyldecylphosphine oxide,
dimethyltetradecylphosphine oxide, methylethyltetradecylphosphone oxide,
dimethylhexadecylphosphine oxide, diethyl-2-hydroxyoctyldecylphosphine oxide,
bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecylphosphine oxide, and
bis(hydroxymethyl)tetradecylphosphine oxide. Semi-polar nonionic surfactants
useful herein also include the water soluble sulfoxide compounds which have the
structure:

wherein the arrow is a conventional representation of a semi-polar bond; and, R1 is an
alkyl or hydroxyalkyl moiety of about 8 to about 28 carbon atoms, from 0 to about 5
ether linkages and from 0 to about 2 hydroxyl substituents; and R2 is an alkyl moiety
consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl groups having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
Useful examples of these sulfoxides include dodecyl methyl sulfoxide; 3-
hydroxy tridecyl methyl sulfoxide; 3-methoxy tridecyl methyl sulfoxide; and 3-
hydroxy-4-dodecoxybutyl methyl sulfoxide.
Preferred semi-polar nonionic surfactants for the compositions of the invention
include dimethyl amine oxides, such as lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, myristyl dimethyl
amine oxide, cetyl dimethyl amine oxide, combinations thereof, and the like.
Silicone Surfactant
The silicone surfactant can include a modified dialkyl, e.g., a dimethyl
polysiloxane. The polysiloxane hydrophobic group can be modified with one or more
pendent hydrophilic polyalkylene oxide group or groups. Such surfactants can provide
low surface tension, high wetting, high spreading, antifoaming and excellent stain

removal. The silicone surfactants of the invention include a polydialkyl siloxane, e.g., a
polydimethyl siloxane to which polyether, typically polyalkylene oxide, groups have
been grafted through a hydrosilation reaction. The process results in an alkyl pendent
(AP type) copolymer, in which the polyalkylene oxide groups are attached along the
siloxane backbone through a series of hydrolytically stable Si-C bond.
These nonionic substituted poly dialkyl siloxane products have the following
generic formula:

wherein PE represents a nonionic group, e.g., -CH2-(CH2)P-O-(EO)m(PO)n-Z, with EO
representing ethylene oxide, PO representing propylene oxide, x is a number that ranges
from about 0 to about 100, y is a number that ranges from about 1 to 100, m, n and p are
numbers that range from about 0 to about 50, m+n ≥1 and Z represents hydrogen or R
wherein each R independently represents a lower (C1-6) straight or branched alkyl.
Such surfactants have a molecular weight (Mn) of about 500 to 20,000.
Other silicone nonionic surfactants have the formula:

wherein x represent a number that ranges from about 0 to about 100, y represent a
number that ranges from about 1 to about 100, a and b represent numbers that
independently range from about 0 to about 60, a+b ≥ 1, and each R is independently H
or a lower straight or branched (C1-6) alkyl. A second class of nonionic silicone

surfactants is an alkoxy-end-blocked (AEB type) that are less preferred because the Si-
O- bond offers limited resistance to hydrolysis under neutral or slightly alkaline
conditions, but breaks down quickly in acidic environments.
Suitable surfactants are sold under the SILWET® tradename, the TEGOPREN®
trademark or under the ABIL® B trademark. One useful surfactant, SILWET® L77, has
the formula:
(CH3)3Si-O(CH3)Si(R1)O-Si(CH3)3
wherein R1 = -CH2CH2CH2-O-[CH2CH2O]zCH3; wherein z is 4 to 16 preferably 4 to
12, most preferably 7-9.
Other useful surfactants include TEGOPREN 5840® , ABIL B-8843®, ABIL B-
8852® and ABIL B-8863®.
In certain embodiments, the composition can also include about 0.0005 to about
35 wt-% silicone surfactant, for example, about 1 to about 20 wt-% silicone surfactant.
The silicone surfactant can include a silicone backbone and at least 1 pendant alkylene
oxide group having from about 2 to 100 moles of alkylene oxide. The pendant alkylene
oxide group can include (EO)n wherein n is 3 to 75.
Cationic Surfactants
Surface active substances are classified as cationic if the charge on the
hydrotrope portion of the molecule is positive. Surfactants in which the hydrotrope
carries no charge unless the pH is lowered close to neutrality or lower, but which are
then cationic (e.g. alkyl amines), are also included in this group. In theory, cationic
surfactants may be synthesized from any combination of elements containing an
"onium" structure RnX+Y- and could include compounds other than nitrogen
(ammonium) such as phosphorus (phosphonium) and sulfur (sulfonium). In practice,
the cationic surfactant field is dominated by nitrogen containing compounds, probably
because synthetic routes to nitrogenous cationics are simple and straightforward and
give high yields of product, which can make them less expensive.

Cationic surfactants preferably include, more preferably refer to, compounds
containing at least one long carbon chain hydrophobic group and at least one positively
charged nitrogen. The long carbon chain group may be attached directly to the nitrogen
atom by simple substitution; or more preferably indirectly by a bridging functional
group or groups in so-called interrupted alkylamines and amido amines. Such
functional groups can make the molecule more hydrophilic and/or more water
dispersible, more easily water solubilized by co-surfactant mixtures, and/or water
soluble. For increased water solubility, additional primary, secondary or tertiary amino
groups can be introduced or the amino nitrogen can be quaternized with low molecular
weight alkyl groups. Further, the nitrogen can be a part of branched or straight chain
moiety of varying degrees of unsaturation or of a saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic
ring. In addition, cationic surfactants may contain complex linkages having more than
one cationic nitrogen atom.
The surfactant compounds classified as amine oxides, amphoterics and
zwitterions are themselves typically cationic in near neutral to acidic pH solutions and
can overlap surfactant classifications. Polyoxyethylated cationic surfactants generally
behave like nonionic surfactants in alkaline solution and like cationic surfactants in
acidic solution.
The simplest cationic amines, amine salts and quaternary ammonium
compounds can be schematically drawn thus:

in which, R represents a long alkyl chain, R1, R", and R'" may be either long alkyl chains
or smaller alkyl or aryl groups or hydrogen and X represents an anion. The amine salts
and quaternary ammonium compounds can be useful due to their high degree of water
solubility.

The majority of large volume commercial cationic surfactants can be subdivided
into four major classes and additional sub-groups known to those or skill in the art and
described in "Surfactant Encyclopedia", Cosmetics & Toiletries. Vol. 104 (2) 86-96
(1989). The first class includes alkylamines and their salts. The second class includes
alkyl imidazolines. The third class includes ethoxylated amines. The fourth class
includes quaternaries, such as alkylbenzyldimethylammonium salts, alkyl benzene salts,
heterocyclic ammonium salts, tetra alkylammonium salts, and the like. Cationic
surfactants are known to have a variety of properties that can be beneficial in the
present solid compositions. These desirable properties can include detergency in
compositions of or below neutral pH, antimicrobial efficacy, thickening or gelling in
cooperation with other agents, and the like.
Cationic surfactants useful in the compositions of the present invention include
those having the formula R1 raR2xYLZ wherein each R1 is an organic group containing a
straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl group optionally substituted with up to three
phenyl or hydroxy groups and optionally interrupted by up to four of the following
structures:

or an isomer or mixture of these structures, and which contains from about 8 to 22
carbon atoms. The R1 groups can additionally contain up to 12 ethoxy groups, m is a
number from 1 to 3. Preferably, no more than one R1 group in a molecule has 16 or
more carbon atoms when m is 2 or more than 12 carbon atoms when m is 3. Each R2 is
an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group

with no more than one R2 in a molecule being benzyl, and x is a number from 0 to 11,
preferably from 0 to 6. The remainder of any carbon atom positions on the Y group are
filled by hydrogens.
Y is can be a group including, but not limited to:

or a mixture thereof. Preferably, L is 1 or 2, with the Y groups being separated by a
moiety selected from R1 and R2 analogs (preferably alkylene or alkenylene) having from
1 to about 22 carbon atoms and two free carbon single bonds when L is 2. Z is a water
soluble anion, such as a halide, sulfate, methylsulfate, hydroxide, or nitrate anion,


particularly preferred being chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate or methyl sulfate anions,
in a number to give electrical neutrality of the cationic component.
Amphoteric Surfactants
Amphoteric, or ampholytic, surfactants contain both a basic and an acidic
hydrophilic group and an organic hydrophobic group. These ionic entities may be any
of anionic or cationic groups described herein for other types of surfactants. A basic
nitrogen and an acidic carboxylate group are the typical functional groups employed as
the basic and acidic hydrophilic groups. In a few surfactants, sulfonate, sulfate,
phosphonate or phosphate provide the negative charge.
Amphoteric surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic
secondary and tertiary amines, in which the aliphatic radical may be straight chain or
branched and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to 18
carbon atoms and one contains an anionic water solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfo,
sulfato, phosphate, or phosphono. Amphoteric surfactants are subdivided into two
major classes known to those of skill in the art and described in "Surfactant
Encyclopedia" Cosmetics & Toiletries, Vol. 104 (2) 69-71 (1989). The first class
includes acyl/dialkyl ethylenediamine derivatives (e.g. 2-alkyl hydroxyethyl
imidazoline derivatives) and their salts. The second class includes N-alkylamino acids
and their salts. Some amphoteric surfactants can be envisioned as fitting into both
classes.
Amphoteric surfactants can be synthesized by methods known to those of skill
in the art. For example, 2-alkyl hydroxyethyl imidazoline is synthesized by
condensation and ring closure of a long chain carboxylic acid (or a derivative) with
dialkyl ethylenediamine. Commercial amphoteric surfactants are derivatized by
subsequent hydrolysis and ring-opening of the imidazoline ring by alkylation — for
example with chloroacetic acid or ethyl acetate. During alkylation, one or two carboxy-
alkyl groups react to form a tertiary amine and an ether linkage with differing alkylating
agents yielding different tertiary amines.

Long chain imidazole derivatives having application in the present invention
generally have the general formula:

wherein R is an acyclic hydrophobic group containing from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms
and M is a cation to neutralize the charge of the anion, generally sodium.
Commercially prominent imidazoline-derived amphoterics that can be employed in the
present solid compositions include for example: Cocoamphopropionate,
Cocoamphocarboxy-propionate, Cocoamphoglycinate, Cocoamphocarboxy-glycinate,
Cocoamphopropyl-sulfonate, and Cocoamphocarboxy-propionic acid. Preferred
amphocarboxylic acids are produced from fatty imidazolines in which the dicarboxylic
acid functionality of the amphodicarboxylic acid is diacetic acid and/or dipropionic
acid.
The carboxymethylated compounds (glycinates) described herein above
frequently are called betaines. Betaines are a special class of amphoteric discussed
herein below in the section entitled, Zwitterion Surfactants.
Long chain N-alkylamino acids are readily prepared by reaction RNH2, in which
R=C8-C18 straight or branched chain alkyl, fatty amines with halogenated carboxylic
acids. Alkylation of the primary amino groups of an amino acid leads to secondary and
tertiary amines. Alkyl substituents may have additional amino groups that provide
more than one reactive nitrogen center. Most commercial N-alkylamine acids are alkyl
derivatives of beta-alanine or beta-N(2-carboxyethyl) alanine. Examples of commercial
N-alkylamino acid ampholytes having application in this invention include alkyl beta-
amino dipropionates, RN(C2H4COOM)2 and RNHC2H4COOM. In these R is preferably


an acyclic hydrophobic group containing from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and M
is a cation to neutralize the charge of the anion.
Preferred amphoteric surfactants include those derived from coconut products
such as coconut oil or coconut fatty acid. The more preferred of these coconut derived
surfactants include as part of their structure an ethylenediamine moiety, an
alkanolamide moiety, an amino acid moiety, preferably glycine, or a combination
thereof; and an aliphatic substituent of from about 8 to 18 (preferably 12) carbon atoms.
Such a surfactant can also be considered an alkyl amphodicarboxylic acid. Disodium
cocoampho dipropionate is one most preferred amphoteric surfactant and is
commercially available under the tradename Miranol™ FBS from Rhodia Inc.,
Cranbury, N.J. Another most preferred coconut derived amphoteric surfactant with the
chemical name disodium cocoampho diacetate is sold under the tradename Miranol™
C2M-SF Cone, also from Rhodia Inc., Cranbury, N.J.
A typical listing of amphoteric classes, and species of these surfactants, is given
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 issued to Laughlin and Hewing on Dec. 30,1975. Further
examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by
Schwartz, Perry and Berch). .
Zwitterionic Surfactants
Zwitterionic surfactants can be thought of as a subset of the amphoteric
surfactants. Zwitterionic surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of
secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary
amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary
sulfonium compounds. Typically, a zwitterionic surfactant includes a positive charged
quaternary ammonium or, in some cases, a sulfonium or phosphonium ion; a negative
charged carboxyl group; and an alkyl group. Zwitterionics generally contain cationic
and anionic groups which ionize to a nearly equal degree in the isoelectric region of the
molecule and which can develop strong" inner-salt" attraction between positive-
negative charge centers. Examples of such zwitterionic synthetic surfactants include

derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and sulfonium
compounds, in which the aliphatic radicals can be straight chain or branched, and
wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and one
contains an anionic water solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate,
phosphate, or phosphonate. Betaine and sultaine surfactants are exemplary zwitterionic
surfactants for use herein.
A general formula for these compounds is:

wherein R1 contains an alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxyalkyl radical of from 8 to 18 carbon
atoms having from 0 to 10 ethylene oxide moieties and from 0 to 1 glyceryl moiety; Y
is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur atoms; R2 is an
alkyl or monohydroxy alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms; x is 1 when Y is a
sulfur atom and 2 when Y is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, R3 is an alkylene or
hydroxy alkylene or hydroxy alkylene of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and Z is a radical
selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphonate, and
phosphate groups.
Examples of zwitterionic surfactants having the structures listed above include:
4-[N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-octadecylammonio]-butane-l-carboxylate; 5-[S-3-
hydroxypropyl-S-hexadecylsulfonio]-3-hydroxypentane-l-sulfate; 3-[P,P-diethyl-P-
3,6,9-trioxatetracosanephosphonio]-2-hydroxypropane-l-phosphate; 3-[N,N-dipropyl-
N-3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyl-ammonio]-propane-l-phosphonate; 3-(N,N-dimethyl-
N-hexadecylammonio)-propane-l-sulfonate;3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonio)-
2-hydroxy-propane-l-sulfonate; 4-[N,N-di(2(2-hydroxyethyl)-N(2-
hydroxydodecyl)ammonio]-butane-1-carboxylate; 3-[S-ethyl-S-(3-dodecoxy-2-
hydroxypropyl)sulfonio]-propane-l-phosphate; 3-[P,P-dimethyl-P-dodecylphosphonio]-
propane-1 -phosphonate; and S [N,N-di(3-hydroxypropyl)-N-hexadecylammonio]-2-

hydroxy-pentane-1-sulfate. The alkyl groups contained in said detergent surfactants
can be straight or branched and saturated or unsaturated.
The zwitterionic surfactant suitable for use in the present solid compositions
includes a betaine of the general structure:

These surfactant betaines typically do not exhibit strong cationic or anionic characters
at pH extremes nor do they show reduced water solubility in their isoelectric range.
Unlike "external" quaternary ammonium salts, betaines are compatible with anionics.
Examples of suitable betaines include coconut acylamidopropyldimethyl betaine;
hexadecyl dimethyl betaine; C12-14 acylamidopropylbetaine; C8-14
acylamidohexyldiethyl betaine; 4-C14-16 acylmethylamidodiethylammonio-1-
carboxybutane; C16-18 acylamidodimethylbetaine; C12-16
acylamidopentanediethylbetaine; and C12-16 acylmethylamidodimethylbetaine.
Sultaines useful in the present invention include those compounds having the
formula (R(R1)2 N+ R2SO3-, in which R is a C6 -C18 hydrocarbyl group, each R1 is
typically independently C1-C3 alkyl, e.g. methyl, and R2 is a C1-C6 hydrocarbyl group,
e.g. a C1-C3 alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group.
A typical listing of zwitterionic classes, and species of these surfactants, is given
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 issued to Laughlin and Heuring on Dec. 30, 1975. Further
examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by
Schwartz, Perry and Berch).
Surfactant Compositions
The surfactants described hereinabove can be used singly or in combination in
the practice and utility of the present invention. In particular, the nonionics and
anionics can be used in combination. The semi-polar nonionic, cationic, amphoteric


and zwitterionic surfactants can be employed in combination with nonionics or
anionics. The above examples are merely specific illustrations of the numerous
surfactants which can find application within the scope of this invention. The foregoing
organic surfactant compounds can be formulated into any of the several commercially
desirable composition forms of this invention having disclosed utility. Said
compositions include washing treatments for soiled surfaces in concentrated form
which, when dispensed or dissolved in water, properly diluted by a proportionating
device, and delivered to the target surfaces as a solution, gel or foam will provide
cleaning. Said cleaning treatments consisting of one product; or, involving a two
product system wherein proportions of each are utilized. Said product is typically a
concentrate of liquid or emulsion.
A solid cleaning composition as used in the present disclosure encompasses a
variety of forms including, for example, solids, pellets, blocks, and tablets, but not waxy
powders. It should be understood that the term "solid" refers to the state of the cleaning
composition under the expected conditions of storage and use of the solid cleaning
composition. In general, it is expected that the cleaning composition will remain a solid
when provided at a temperature of up to about 100 °F or greater than 120 °F.
In certain embodiments, the solid cleaning composition is provided in the form
of a unit dose. A unit dose refers to a solid cleaning composition unit sized so that the
entire unit is used during a single washing cycle. When the solid cleaning composition
is provided as a unit dose, it can have a mass of about 1 g to about 50 g. In other
embodiments, the composition can be a solid, a pellet, or a tablet having a size of about
50 g to 250 g, of about 100 g or greater, or about 40 g to about 11,000 g.
In other embodiments, the solid cleaning composition is provided in the form of
a multiple-use solid, such as, a block or a plurality of pellets, and can be repeatedly
used to generate aqueous cleaning compositions for multiple washing cycles. In certain
embodiments, the solid cleaning composition is provided as a cast solid, an extruded
block, or a tablet having a mass of about 5 g to 10 kg. In certain embodiments, a
multiple-use form of the solid cleaning composition has a mass of about 1 to 10 kg. In


further embodiments, a multiple-use form of the solid cleaning composition has a mass
of about 5 kg to about 8 kg. In other embodiments, a multiple-use form of the solid
cleaning composition has a mass of about 5 g to about 1 kg, or about 5 g and to 500 g.
In some embodiments, the solids formed by the methods described herein
comprise a multi-part system. The solids can be a two-part, three-part, or four-part
system for example. In some embodiments, each part will include the same
composition. In other embodiments, each part will include different compositions. In
still yet other embodiments, some parts can include equivalent compositions and some
parts can include different compositions, e.g., a three part system where two of the parts
include the same composition and one of the parts includes a different composition.
The parts can be formed to provide the solid with a variety of desired
characteristics including, for example: multiple cleaning formulations (e.g., one part
includes an acidic cleaner, one part includes an alkaline cleaner, and a third optional
part includes a buffer, wherein the third part can be positioned between the first and
second parts); or solids designed to have different parts with different dissolution rates
(e.g., one part contains a fast dissolving solid, and one part contains a slower dissolving
solid).
Packaging System
In some embodiments, the solid composition can be packaged. The packaging
receptacle or container may be rigid or flexible, and composed of any material suitable
for containing the compositions produced according to the invention, as for example
glass, metal, plastic film or sheet, cardboard, cardboard composites, paper, and the like.
Advantageously, since the composition is processed at or near ambient
temperatures, the temperature of the processed mixture is low enough so that the
mixture may be formed directly in the container or other packaging system without
structurally damaging the material. As a result, a wider variety of materials may be used
to manufacture the container than those used for compositions that processed and
dispensed under molten conditions.

Suitable packaging used to contain the compositions is manufactured from a
flexible, easy opening film material.
In some embodiments, a solid composition formed according to the methods of
the present invention is packaged directly upon formation. That is, a solid composition
is formed in the packaging from which it will be stored or dispensed. In some
embodiments, the solid will be formed directly into a thin film plastic or a shrink
wrapper. The solid may be formed in an packaging suitable for storage and/or
dispensing of the solid.
Dispensing the Compositions
The cleaning composition made according to the present invention can be
dispensed in any suitable method generally known. The cleaning composition can be
dispensed from a spray-type dispenser such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos.
4,826,661, 4,690,305,4,687,121,4,426,362 and in U.S. Patent Nos. Re 32,763 and
32,818, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. Briefly, a spray-
type dispenser functions by impinging a water spray upon an exposed surface of the
solid composition to dissolve a portion of the composition, and then immediately
directing the concentrate solution including the composition out of the dispenser to a
storage reservoir or directly to a point of use. When used, the product is removed from
the package (e.g.) film and is inserted into the dispenser. The spray of water can be
made by a nozzle in a shape that conforms to the solid shape. The dispenser enclosure
can also closely fit the cleaning composition shape in a dispensing system that prevents
the introduction and dispensing of an incorrect cleaning composition. The aqueous
concentrate is generally directed to a use locus.
In some embodiments, the compositions hereof will be formulated such that
during use in aqueous cleaning operations the wash water will have a pH of between
about 1 and about 14, about 6.5 to about 11, or 7-10.5. Techniques for controlling pH
at recommended usage levels include the use of buffers, alkali, acids, etc., and are well
known to those skilled in the art.


In an embodiment, the present composition can be dispensed by immersing
either intermittently or continuously in water. The composition can then dissolve, for
example, at a controlled or predetermined rate. The rate can be effective to maintain a
concentration of dissolved cleaning agent that is effective for cleaning.
In an embodiment, the present composition can be dispensed by scraping solid
from the solid composition and contacting the scrapings with water. The scrapings can
be added to water to provide a concentration of dissolved cleaning agent that is
effective for cleaning.
Methods Employing the Solid Compositions
It is contemplated that the cleaning compositions of the invention can be used in
a broad variety of industrial, household, health care, vehicle care, and other such
applications. Some examples include surface disinfectant, ware cleaning, laundry
cleaning, laundry cleaning or sanitizing, vehicle cleaning, floor cleaning, surface
cleaning, pre-soaks, clean in place, and a broad variety of other such applications. The
present solid product can be configured, for example, as an air freshener, a urinal block,
a drain ring, or a laundry bar.
In some embodiments, an aqueous dispersion of the present solid composition is
directly applied to a heavy soil deposit, permitted to soften and promote soil removal.
Once the composition has been permitted to enhance the removability of the soil, the
cleaner and removed soil can be readily removed with a rinse step. Liquid containing
the compositions of the invention including an anionic surfactant can be directly
contacted with the hard surface for the removal of organic, oily or greasy soils.
Depending on substrate, such a composition can additionally include a chelating agent
to have a final formulation including an anionic surfactant and a chelating agent. These
compositions can be used on substantially non-corrosive surfaces such as plastics,
wood, coated wood, stainless steels, composite materials, fabrics, cement, and others.
In some embodiments, the present method includes a method of cleaning a hard
surface. The method can include applying to the surface a cleaning composition


including spore, bacteria, or enzyme; borate salt; and anionic surfactant. The method
can include applying the composition to a floor, a drain, or a combination thereof. In an
embodiment, the method omits rinsing. That is, an aqueous dispersion of the present
solid composition can be applied and the surface is not rinsed.
In some embodiments, the present method includes a method of cleaning a floor.
Such a method can include increasing the coefficient of friction of the floor. Such a
method can include cleaning the grout of a tile floor. Cleaning grout can include
allowing more of its natural color to show. The method includes applying a stabilized
spore composition according to the present invention to the floor. In some
embodiments, the method does not include (e.g., omits) rinsing. In some embodiments,
the present method can include effectively removing from flooring (e.g., tile) a slippery-
when-wet film. The method can include cleaning the flooring and increasing its
coefficient of friction.
In some embodiments, the present method of cleaning a hard surface can include
applying a liquid dispersion of the present solid composition to a bathroom surface,
such as a wall, floor, or fixture. The bathroom surface can be a shower wall or surface.
The bathroom surface can be a tiled wall. A composition for use on a vertical surface
can include a thickener, humectant, or foaming surfactant. Applying the composition to
the vertical surface can include foaming the composition. In some embodiments, the
present solid composition includes a thickener or humectant, which can assist in
retaining the composition on a horizontal or vertical surface. In other embodiments, the
present method of cleaning a hard surface can include applying a liquid dispersion of
the present solid composition to ware.
In some embodiments, the present method can include applying a liquid
dispersion of the present solid composition to a surface that has grease or oil on it.
Such surfaces include a floor, a parking lot, a drive through pad, a garage floor, a
parking ramp floor, and the like.
In some embodiments, the present method includes spraying or misting a surface
with a liquid dispersion of the present solid composition.


In some embodiments, the present method includes applying the stabilized
microbial composition to a surface and keeping the surface moist for an extended
period, such as one or two hours up to about eight to about 16 hours. Keeping the
surface moist can be accomplished by repeated application of the composition, such as
by misting. Keeping the surface moist can be accomplished by contacting the surface
with a sponge, rag, or mop wet with the composition for an extended period. Keeping
the surface moist can be accomplished by applying a persistent stable microbial
composition. A persistent stable microbial composition can remain on the surface and
keep the surface moist. For example, a thickened composition and certain foamed
compositions can remain on the surface and keep the surface moist. Extended presence
of the present solid composition can provide more rapid cleaning compared to a
composition that dries or evaporates.
Foaming
In an embodiment, the present solid composition can be mixed with diluent to
form a use composition that is used in a foamer. Foaming application can be
accomplished, for example, using a foam application device such as a tank foamer or an
aspirated wall mounted foamer, e.g., employing a foamer nozzle of a trigger sprayer.
Foaming application can be accomplished by placing the use composition in a fifteen
gallon foam application pressure vessel, such as a fifteen gallon capacity stainless steel
pressure vessel with mix propeller. The foaming composition can then be dispensed
through a foaming trigger sprayer. A wall mounted foamer can use air to expel foam
from a tank or line. In an embodiment, compressed air can be injected into the mixture,
then applied to the object through a foam application device such as a tank foamer or an
aspirated wall mounted foamer.
Mechanical foaming heads that can be used according to the invention to
provide foam generation include those heads that cause air and the foaming
composition to mix and create a foamed composition. That is, the mechanical foaming


head causes air and the foaming composition to mix in a mixing chamber and then pass
through an opening to create a foam.
Suitable mechanical foaming heads that can be used according to the invention
include those available from Airspray International, Inc. of Pompano Beach, Florida,
and from Zeller Plastik, a division of Crown Cork and Seal Co. Suitable mechanical
foaming heads that can be used according to the invention are described in, for
example, U.S. Patent No. D-452,822; U.S. Patent No. D-452,653; U.S. Patent No. D-
456,260; and U.S. Patent No. 6,053,364. Mechanical foaming heads that can be used
according to the invention includes those heads that are actuated or intended to be
actuated by application of finger pressure to a trigger that causes the foaming
composition and air to mix and create a foam. That is, a person's finger pressure can
cause the trigger to depress thereby drawing the foaming composition and air into the
head and causing the foaming composition and air to mix and create a foam.
The present invention can be better understood with reference to the following
examples. These examples are intended to be representative of specific embodiments of
the invention, and are not intended as limiting the scope of the invention.
EXAMPLES
Example 1 ■ - Making Pressed Solid Compositions
The following waxy solid composition were made by pressing the mixed
ingredients manually in a cup with a solid object sufficient to fill the cross section of the
cup and with a bench top press employing gentle pressing.
The waxy solidification agent is anionic surfactant in each of the compositions.
Compositions A and B include sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate as waxy solidification
agent. Composition C includes sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate, sodium laurel sulfate,
sodium laurel ether sulfate as waxy solidification agent.


The following solid compositions were also made. A sanitizer, acid floor
cleaner, alkaline floor cleaner and a rinse aid, were each made by pressing the mixed
ingredients. Urea was included as a waxy solidification agent in the acid floor cleaner.
The quaternary ammonium antimicrobial agent in the sanitizer composition acted as
both an antimicrobial agent and a waxy solidification agent, as the antimicrobial agent
was prepared on urea.
The Acid Floor Cleaner included urea, sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate and a
high melt alcohol ethoxylate as the waxy solidification agent. The Alkaline Floor
Cleaner included sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate, a high melt alcohol ethoxylate, and
an EO/PO polymer as the waxy solidification agent. For the rinse aid the waxy
solidification agent included a mixture of amide compounds, a polyethylene glycol
compound, sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate, alkyl polyglycoside and sodium sulfate,
and sodium lauryl ether sulfate.




WE CLAIM:
1. A method of making a stable solid cleaning composition comprising:
providing flowable waxy particles comprising solidification agent; and an
ingredient selected from the group consisting of alkalinity source, acidulant, stabilized
microbial or enzyme composition, surfactant, sequestrant, and mixtures thereof;
putting the flowable waxy particles in a drawer;
vibrating the flowable waxy particles in the drawer;
transferring the flowable waxy particles from the drawer into a form;
gently pressing the flowable waxy particles in the form to produce the stable
solid cleaning composition, vibrating the flowable waxy particles in the form to produce
the stable solid cleaning composition, or combination thereof;
removing the solid cleaning composition from the form.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein putting the flowable waxy particles in a
drawer comprises flowing the flowable waxy particles from a hopper into the drawer.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein vibrating the flowable waxy particles in
the drawer comprises vibrating while the flowable waxy particles is flowing into the
drawer.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the flowable waxy particles
from the drawer into the form comprises:
providing the drawer disposed above the form, the drawer comprising a panel
disposed between an interior of the drawer and the form;
laterally moving the panel to a position not between the interior of the drawer
and the form;
whereby the flowable waxy particles drops into the form.


5. The method of claim 4, wherein the form comprises a plurality of cavity
each cavity configured to produce a solid cleaning composition.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising pressing and vibrating.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein removing the composition from the
form comprises raising the form with the composition remaining on pallet that had
formed the bottom of the form.
8. The method of claim 6, further comprising moving the pallet
horizontally away from the drawer and form.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the drawer and form are components of
a concrete block machine; and
the concrete block machine:
vibrates the flowable waxy particles in the drawer;
transfers the flowable waxy particles from the drawer into a form;
gently presses the flowable waxy particles in the form to produce the
solid cleaning composition, vibrates the flowable waxy particles to produce the
solid cleaning composition, or combination thereof; and
removes the solid cleaning composition from the form.
10. The method of claim 1, comprising vibrating the drawer containing
flowable waxy particles for about 1 to about 10 sec at about 200 to about 6,000 rpm.
11. The method of claim 1, comprising vibrating the form containing
flowable waxy particles for about 1 to about 10 sec at about 200 to about 6,000 rpm.


12. The method of claim 8, comprising pressing on the flowable waxy
particles in the form with a weight of about 100 to about 2000 lb.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising mixing waxy solidification
agent; and alkalinity source, acidulant, stabilized microbial or enzyme composition,
surfactant, sequestrant, or mixture thereof to produce the flowable waxy particles.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising mixing additional cleaning
agents waxy solidification agent, alkalinity source, sequestrant, or mixture thereof.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein mixing employs a ribbon blender.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the waxy solidification agent comprises
a polyethylene glycol, an anionic surfactant, urea, or a mixture thereof.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises about 40 to
about 75 wt-% waxy solidification agent.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the composition comprises an alkali
metal carbonate, an aminocarboxylate, citric acid, amphoteric surfactant, nonionic
surfactant, or a mixture thereof.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises less than
about 0.5% phosphorous.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises less than
about 0.5% nitrilotriacetic acid.


21. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid composition expands less than
about 3% in any dimension when heated to 120 °F for one day.
22. The method of claim 1, wherein gently pressing, vibrating, or
combination thereof produces the solid composition, the solid composition comprising
the flowable waxy particles compressed to provide sufficient surface contact between
particles making up the flowable waxy particles that the solid composition solidifies
into a stable solid cleaning composition.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the flowable waxy particles comprise
waxy powder.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein flowable waxy particles further
comprises additional cleaning agents.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein the stable solid cleaning composition is
a multi-part cleaning composition.
26. A stable solid cleaning composition comprising:
waxy solidification agent; and an ingredient selected from the group consisting
of an alkalinity source, acidulant, stabilized microbial or enzyme composition,
surfactant, sequestrant, and mixtures thereof;
the stable solid cleaning composition comprising particles of cleaning
composition comprising an interior and a surface, the surface comprising binding agent;
the surfaces of adjacent particles contacting one another just enough to provide
sufficient contact of binding agent on the adjacent particles to provide a stable solid
cleaning composition.

27. The composition of claim 26, wherein the waxy solidification agent
comprises a polyethylene glycol, an anionic surfactant, urea, or a mixture thereof.
28. The composition of claim 26, comprising about 40 to about 75 wt-%
waxy solidification agent.
29. The composition of claim 28, comprising an alkali metal carbonate, an
ammocarboxylate, citric acid, amphoteric surfactant, nonionic surfactant, or a mixture
thereof.
30. A stable solid cleaning composition comprising:
waxy solidification agent; and an ingredient selected from the group consisting
of alkalinity source, acidulant, stabilized microbial or enzyme composition, surfactant,
sequestrant, and mixtures thereof;
the stable solid cleaning composition being produced by a method comprising:
providing flowable waxy particles comprising solidification agent; and
an ingredient selected from the group consisting of alkalinity source, acidulant,
stabilized microbial or enzyme composition, surfactant, sequestrant, and
mixtures thereof;
putting the flowable waxy particles in a hopper or a drawer of a concrete
block machine;
operating the concrete block machine to produce the stable solid
cleaning composition.


31. The method of claim 1, wherein the flowable waxy particles further comprise:
spore, bacteria, fungi, or enzyme;
alkanol amine borate; and
surfactant.
32. The composition of claim 26, wherein the flowable waxy particles
further comprise:
spore, bacteria, fungi, or enzyme;
alkanol amine borate; and
surfactant.
33. The composition of claim 30, further comprising:
spore, bacteria, fungi, or enzyme;
alkanol amine borate; and
surfactant.
34. A method of making a stable solid cleaning composition comprising:
providing flowable waxy particles comprising solidification agent; and an
ingredient selected from the group consisting of alkalinity source, acidulant, stabilized
microbial or enzyme composition, surfactant, sequestrant, and mixtures thereof;
transferring the flowable waxy particles to a holding hopper, wherein the
holding hopper comprises an agitation blade to prevent the waxy particles from
solidifying;
feeding the flowable waxy particles from the holding hopper into a run hopper,
wherein the run hopper comprises an agitation blade to prevent the waxy particles from
solidifying;
transferring the flowable waxy particles from the run hopper into a first cavity
on a load cell;
transferring the flowable waxy particles to a second cavity and gently pressing
to produce the stable solid;

removing the stable solid cleaning composition from the second cavity.
35. A method of making a stable solid cleaning composition comprising:
providing flowable waxy particles comprising solidification agent; and an
ingredient selected from the group consisting of alkalinity source, acidulant, stabilized
microbial or enzyme composition, surfactant, sequestrant, and mixtures thereof;
placing the flowable waxy particles into a form;
gently pressing the flowable waxy particles in the form to produce the stable
solid cleaning composition.


The present invention relates to a method of making a solid cleaning
composition. The method can include pressing and/or vibrating flowable
waxy particles of a waxy cleaning composition. For a waxy cleaning
composition, pressing and/or vibrating flowable waxy particles determines
the shape and density of the solid but is not required for forming a solid.
The method can employ a concrete block machine for pressing and/or
vibrating. The present invention also relates to a solid cleaning
composition made by the method and to solid cleaning compositions
including particles bound together by a binding agent.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=/mwBig2RB46IxjGbmW0OQA==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 272345
Indian Patent Application Number 1783/KOLNP/2010
PG Journal Number 14/2016
Publication Date 01-Apr-2016
Grant Date 30-Mar-2016
Date of Filing 17-May-2010
Name of Patentee ECOLAB INC.
Applicant Address 370 N. WABASHA STREET, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 DZIUK, MICHAEL, P. 7955 17TH STREET N., OAKDALE, MINNESOTA 55128, U.S.A.
2 MEINKE, MELISSA C. 3829 STANDISH AVE. MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55407, U.S.A.
3 PORTER, MATTHEW, C. 1256 OTTAWA AVE., WEST ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55118, U.S.A.
4 STOLTE, RICHARD L. 2528 SCHALLER DRIVE, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA 55119, U.S.A.
PCT International Classification Number C11D 3/386
PCT International Application Number PCT/IB2008/054290
PCT International Filing date 2008-10-17
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 60/980,919 2007-10-18 U.S.A.