Drain opener composition

A drain opening composition having superior ability to thoroughly and uniformly mix with the contents of a drain whereby any drainage constriction is attacked by the components of the composition to ensure free flow within the drain. The composition contains strong caustic in combination with an oxygen gas producing peroxy compound, particulate aluminum, potassium salts, a catalyst to promote the gas-forming reaction and a surfactant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Drain opening compositions in both the solid and liquid form are well known 
in the art. The solid forms are almost universally based upon strong 
caustics that generate heat upon addition to water in order to liquify 
fats and greases and to dissolve hair and soap curd most usually 
responsible for plugging up the drain. In addition the strong caustic 
attacks mold slime, food particles and the like to further aid in opening 
the drain. 
The liquid forms are based upon either strong caustics or strong acids and 
also contain strong oxidizing agents. However these liquid compositions 
upon addition to water are not capable of generating enough heat to 
liquify fats and greases as they have little or no heat of solution 
remaining due to the diluted form in which they are marketed. Consumer 
safety regulations prevent increase in solution concentrations. 
Although such prior art compositions have the ability to remove or dissolve 
many drain constrictions, a major problem with all such opener 
compositions is achieving physical and chemical contact between the 
constriction itself and the drain opener composition. For if actual 
contact cannot be achieved, the clearing action of the composition is 
greatly diluted or weakened, and the desired results, i.e., removal of the 
constrictions, are not achieved. 
In this regard, both the physical layout of the drain trap and the type of 
drain opener are principally to blame. All such traps are in the shape of 
a U wherein one of the arms is bent over at right angles on the downstream 
side thus: . If a constriction occurs on the side of the upright arm, 
that is, the side open to the sink, tub, etc., there is little difficulty 
in achieving actual contact between the constriction and the opener 
composition. Similarly, it is frequently easy to achieve contact where the 
constriction occurs at the bottom of the U, since the opener composition 
(being heavier than water) will naturally gravitate to the lowest position 
in the drain. However, in such instances, the use of solid drain openers 
results in high localized concentrations of caustic which tend to salt out 
the saponified fatty acids thereby reforming flow barriers and thus the 
constriction continues. Further, liquid opener compositions are diluted by 
the water present so as to decrease their immediate effectiveness. 
The greater difficulties result when the constriction occurs beyond the 
bottom of the U, i.e., at some point in the bent arm, and especially 
immediately before, at, or beyond (downstream) the right angled bend. 
Physical or chemical contact with such constrictions is especially 
difficult to achieve since the prior art formulations are heavier than 
water and therefore tend to remain at the bottom of the U and further are 
incapable of displacing or mixing with the water trapped between the drain 
opener composition and the blockage to any appreciable extent. 
In order to overcome this difficulty, compositions have been devised which 
attempt to achieve mixing with the water trapped within the drain. 
Typically, formulations have been devised that release a gas upon contact 
with water in the hope that the gas bubbles will force mixing of the drain 
opener composition with the trapped water. The most well known of solid 
drain opener compositions contains a strong caustic and aluminum 
particles, which, in the presence of water, releases hydrogen gas. Studies 
have indicated that these commercially available compositions are 
generally quite feeble in achieving a thorough mixing of the opener 
composition with the water trapped in the drain, especially where the 
constrictions are in the bent arm portion. These compositions are also 
known to form an insoluble "caustic heel" in the bottom of the U if the 
aluminum is not included in the composition or if the first attempt to 
open the drain is unsuccessful and successive applications of an aluminum 
containing composition are placed therein. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an improved drain opening composition and 
more particularly to a drain opening composition that releases oxygen gas 
over an extended period of time to effect thorough and uniform mixing of 
the components of the composition with the water contained in the drain. 
In brief, the drain opener composition of the invention comprises a major 
proportion of a strong caustic such as sodium hydroxide, a minor amount of 
aluminum metal, several potassium salts, a peroxy compound such as for 
instance sodium perborate and minor amounts of a catalyst and a 
surfactant. 
It is an object of this invention to provide a drain opening composition 
having a superior ability to mix with the water trapped in a clogged 
drain. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a drain opening 
composition that evolves oxygen gas over an extended period of time upon 
contact with water. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a drain opening 
composition that utilizes principally oxygen gas in order to effect 
thorough and uniform mixing of the composition components with the water 
trapped in a drain. 
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a drain opening 
composition including perborate compounds therein. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide a drain opening 
composition that is particularly effective in opening drains wherein the 
obstructing plug occurs in the vicinity of the bent arm portion of the 
trap. 
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon a 
review of the following specification and claims appended hereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The composition of the instant invention comprises principally a caustic 
alkali in combination with additional components which serve the purpose 
of (1) providing potassium ions for the purpose of forming soft soluble 
soaps with the greases and fats that normally comprise a major component 
of the constriction; (2) a surface active agent; (3) gas forming or gas 
promoting components that generate gases, the gases being utilized to 
effect thorough and uniform mixing of the other components in the 
composition; and (4) a catalyst to promote the evolution of gas when the 
composition is contacted with water. 
The principal component of the composition is a strong aggressive caustic, 
preferably sodium hydroxide which may be present in the form of small 
particles such as pellets, flakes or the like. The sodium hydroxide may be 
a commercial grade thereof which is universally available in commerce. The 
sodium hydroxide comprises the major component of the drain opening 
composition being present to an extent of greater than 50% by weight. This 
strong caustic serves several purposes in the composition. Firstly, it 
produces a considerable amount of heat upon dissolution in water, the heat 
of solution favoring the melting and liquification in localized areas of 
the greases and fats which most often form a major component of the plugs 
that clog drains. Secondly, it reacts chemically to saponify fats to soaps 
which, in turn, act as emulsifying agents to remove and dissolve other 
fats and greases. In addition, the strong caustic attacks protein 
materials such as hair, which quite often form a portion of the plugging 
material. Further, carbohydrate containing materials such as paper, food 
particles, cotton fabrics, sponge, etc., react with caustic to become limp 
or flexible, or even dissolve therein. 
A second component of the drain opening composition comprises aluminum 
metal usually in the form of shot, chips, turnings or the like and being 
present in an amount of somewhat less than 5% by weight of the drain 
opening composition. The aluminum particles serve the same purpose as the 
aluminum that has been found present in prior art compositions, i.e., upon 
contact with water, the aluminum in the presence of a strong caustic 
generates hydrogen gas which is effective in preventing "caustic heel" 
formation in the trap area of the drain. 
The third component of the drain opening composition of the invention 
consists of a peroxy compound, preferably sodium perborate monohydrate. 
This component comprises somewhat less than 10% by weight of the drain 
opening composition and is present therein for the purpose of generating 
oxygen gas over an extended period of time after the drain opening 
composition has been mixed with the water trapped in the drain. Other 
compounds which generate oxygen upon contact with water are also suitable 
for use in the place of the sodium perborate. For instance, percarbonate 
or perphosphate compounds may be substituted for the perborate. However, 
the perborate composition is preferred for use in the present invention. 
The fourth component of the drain opening composition of the invention 
comprises potassium salts that are present in appreciable amounts 
aggregating as much as 35% by weight of the total composition. A 
combination of potassium salts is preferred, particularly potassium 
chloride and potassium nitrate. Both of these salts are readily soluble in 
water and upon such solution furnish an appreciable quantity of potassium 
ion. The presence of potassium ion is highly desirable since these ions, 
upon contact with the saponified fats and greases, produce soft, highly 
soluble soaps which easily dissolve in the drain water thus helping to 
break-up and remove other substances often contributing to the 
constriction. 
The fifth component of the drain opening composition of the invention 
consists of a catalyst whose function is to assist and promote in the gas 
generation when the drain opening composition is contacted with water. 
Preferably a heavy metal salt such as cobalt carbonate in an amount of 
somewhat less than one-half of 1% is in the drain opening composition. A 
number of other salts such as those of copper, iron, nickel, silver and 
manganese are also useful in catalyzing the production of the gases 
necessary to effect mixing when the drain opening composition is contacted 
with water. Cobalt carbonate, however, has been found to be particularly 
effective for this purpose. 
The sixth and final component of the drain opening composition of the 
invention comprises a surface-active agent whose function is not entirely 
understood, but it is presumed that it promotes "wetting" of the surfaces 
within the drain and further assists in dissolving the fats and greases 
normally forming a portion thereof. In this regard, an anionic surfactant 
such as an alkyl phosphate ester of the type that is stable in a highly 
caustic environment in a concentration of approximately 0.01% by weight of 
the composition has been found to be effective. These preferred phosphate 
ester surfactants are commercially available from, for example, the 
General Aniline & Film Corporation of New York, N.Y. These surfactants are 
extremely stable in strong alkaline solutions and in addition have an 
excellent detergency. 
A typical formulation of the drain opening composition of the invention is 
as follows: 
______________________________________ 
Approximate Percent 
Component By Weight 
______________________________________ 
Aluminum Metal 2.5 
Sodium Hydroxide 
61.3 
Cobalt Carbonate 
0.14 
Anionic Phosphate 
Ester Surfactant 
0.01 
Sodium Perborate 
Monohydrate 9.3 
Potassium Chloride 
20.85 
Potassium Nitrate 
5.9 
______________________________________ 
The percentages of the components of the composition are set forth above, 
are only approximate, but they are in the preferred range of percentages. 
Some variation in relative amount of the various components may be made 
without adversely interfering with the effectiveness of the drain opening 
composition. 
It should be recognized that the perborate component of the drain opening 
composition tends to be rather unstable especially in the presence of 
strong caustic. It has therefore been found advantageous to package the 
drain opening composition of the invention in two compartments. 
Segregating the components prior to use increases the shelf life thereof 
to an acceptable length and does not interfere with the use of the 
composition since it is only necessary to pour both parts of the 
composition into the drain orifice simultaneously in order to produce an 
effective action. More specifically, it has been found advantageous to 
package the aluminum, sodium hydroxide, catalyst and surface active agent 
in one container while the sodium perborate and potassium salts are 
packaged in a second container. In use, of course, the two containers of 
the segregated components of the composition are combined as they are 
poured into the drain and the effective mixing and dissolving action 
occurs thereafter. 
In use the drain opening composition, which is packaged as a dry granulated 
or powdered material, is poured directly into the water that is left 
standing in a drain, whether obstructed or open. The composition is poured 
directly into the drain opening so that the particles will sink towards 
the bottom of the U-trap. As the components mix with the water standing in 
the clogged drain hydrogen gas is generated from the action of the 
aluminum metal in the presence of the strong caustic and water. 
Additionally oxygen is generated from the perborate compound also in the 
presence of the strong caustic and water. The evolution of these gases, 
and more particularly, the oxygen gas, produces a strong churning and 
mixing action within the drain. The generation of oxygen gas from the 
decomposition of the perborate continues at a rapid rate for an extended 
period of time, i.e., up to 20 minutes or longer. 
It has been found that this prolonged evolution of oxygen within the drain 
produces a complete mixing of the drain opener composition components with 
the water that is left standing therein. Tests have revealed that not only 
are the drain opener composition components thoroughly and uniformly mixed 
with the water standing in the sink side of the drain trap U, but in 
addition, the drain opener components are thoroughly and uniformly mixed 
with the water standing in the sewer side of the U. This thorough mixing 
of the drain opener composition components is particularly effective in 
attacking plugs that occur on the downstream side of the drain trap. 
The relative effectiveness of the composition of the present invention as 
compared with a typical heat generating prior art product comprising 
aluminum metal, sodium nitrate, sodium hydroxide and a catalyst was tested 
as follows: 
A sink basin with a 7 inch tailpiece extension was hooked to a standard 
P-trap. The downstream end of the P-trap was fitted to a 9 inch pipe 
extension. Throughout the drain system nine holes were bored and fitted 
with elastomeric septums. Hypodermic needles were inserted as required 
into the septums to withdraw samples at the various positions on the 
drainpipe extensions. Sampling points A, B and C were positioned 
approximately equally distant in sequence from the drainpipe junction with 
the sink downwardly to the bottom of the P-trap. Sampling position D 
coincided with the bottom of the P-trap. Sampling position E was 
approximately midway between the bottom of the P-trap and the right-angled 
bend of the P-trap as it extended towards the sewer line. Sampling 
position F was directly at the right-angled bend of the P-trap while 
sampling positions G, H and I were equally spaced in sequence between the 
right-angled bend of the P-trap and a rubber stopper which was inserted 
into the exit or sewer end of the extension pipe. Sampling Point I was 
immediately adjacent this rubber stopper which served to simulate a fully 
clogged drain. 
796 milliliters of water were added to the sink to fill the pipe level with 
the drain opening. Air was removed from the pipe system to insure 
uniformity for each test before adding the drain opening product. 
Equivalent quantities (sufficient to produce a concentration of 3-6% 
sodium hydroxide upon thorough mixing with the drain water) of the drain 
opener composition of the present invention and the prior art drain opener 
composition were introduced into the center of the drain orifice at the 
bottom of the sink. This procedure was repeated for every test. 
Samples from the various positions on the drain were withdrawn after 1 
minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes and 15 minutes for each 
composition. These samples were then analyzed and the sodium hydroxide 
concentration therein was calculated. Results of these tests were as 
follows: 
______________________________________ 
% Concentration of Sodium Hydroxide 
Blank Av. - 0.03 
TIME: 
(1).fwdarw. 
.fwdarw. 
.fwdarw. 
Sample: 1 MIN. 2 MIN. 3 MIN. 
5 MIN. 15 MIN. 
______________________________________ 
Composition 
of the 
invention 
A 2.51 2.55 3.03 3.50, 
3.47 3.37 
B 2.22 2.64 3.10 3.64, 
3.54 3.37 
C 2.36 2.75 3.25 3.77, 
3.68 3.37 
D 2.46 3.35 3.94 4.14, 
3.97 3.37 
E 2.70 3.18 3.98 4.26, 
3.95 3.43 
F 1.22 3.14 3.91 * 3.89 3.41 
G * 1.94 * * * 3.43 
H * 2.65 * 2.05, 
2.70 3.51 
I * 2.98 1.88 3.05, 
3.50 3.49 
Prior Art 
Composition 
A 0.67 0.62 0.66 1.27, 
1.19 1.22 
B 0.68 0.63 0.67 1.31, 
1.21 1.21 
C 0.70 0.64 0.66 1.33, 
1.21 1.21 
D 1.12 0.68 0.78 1.34, 
3.64 3.82 
E 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.05, 
0.03 0.09 
F 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.04, 
0.03 0.07 
G * * * 0.01 * 0.08 
H 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01, 
0.01 0.07 
I 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01, 
0.01 0.07 
______________________________________ 
(1)Time needed to effectively distribute composition of the invention: 2 
to 5 minutes. 
*Inadequate amount of sample available due to presence of gas/foam. 
From the above data is will be readily apparent that in a drain system 
completely plugged on the sewer side of the trap, the composition of the 
present invention was evenly distributed up to the very point of the plug 
within 2-5 minutes. In a similar time period, and even within 15 minutes, 
the prior art drain opening composition was essentially absent from all 
points in the drain downstream of the bottom of the U (sampling point D). 
Thus the prior art composition was entirely ineffective in mixing with the 
trapped drain water at any point downstream from the bottom of the U and 
thus it must be concluded that such prior art composition would be 
ineffective in removing a plug in any such position in the drain. On the 
other hand, the composition of the invention appears to fully mix with the 
trapped drain water right up to the very site of the plug in a short 
period of time. 
It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the 
exact details of operation or exact compositions shown and described since 
obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in 
the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of 
the claims appended hereto.