Patent Description:
A number of amine oxide, betaine, and sultaine surfactants are available only in liquid form. It is desirable to provide many such surfactants in solid form in order to make solid cleaning compositions. Because many of these surfactants are only available in liquid form, they cannot easily be incorporated into solid formulations or are limited in the active concentration capable of being included in the formulation.

Attempts have been made in the past to include certain liquid surfactants in solid form; however, these have been largely unsuccessful for a variety of reasons. There has been an inability to convert liquid amine oxides, betaines, and sultaines to solid surfactants while maintaining the surfactant efficacy. This has resulted in less desirable performance of the solid cleaning compositions. Another problem has been that solidified amine oxide, betaine, and sultaine surfactants have often been found to be tacky and thus suffer from caking, compaction and agglomeration, which has made packaging, storage, proper dosing and dispersion in a manufacturing process difficult. Additionally, some methods for solidifying liquid amine oxides, betaines, and sultaines have required substantial amounts of binder and/or carrier thereby reducing the active concentration of the surfactant in the ultimate product. Other efforts to solidify liquid surfactants have been through the use of compounds that are not sufficiently water soluble, for example, having a solubility of about <NUM>/L or less at <NUM>, such as fumed silica; this is problematic for both formulation and ultimate end-use which is typically in water. Thus, there is need for improvement.

<CIT> discloses that surfactant granulates containing <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % amine oxide, <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % carrier material and <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % binder can be manufactured by fluidized bed granulation and employed for upgrading a washing detergent or cleaning agent composition. The upgraded washing detergent or cleaning agent composition is characterized inter alia by an improved performance for the removal of fat-containing stains.

<CIT> disloses a high-density granular detergent composition having a bulk density of <NUM> to <NUM>/ml which comprises (a) an anionic surfactant and (b) an amidoamine oxide surfactant at a specific ratio.

<CIT> discloses a process for making a solid laundry detergent composition containing one or more amine oxide surfactants. The process comprises mixing an amine oxide component and an acid to form a premix; and mixing the premix, an anionic surfactant and an alkali salt. Further disclosed is a product made by the subject process. Further disclosed is a composition consisting essentially of an amine oxide component and an acid, for use in the subject process.

<CIT> discloses that dishes are cleaned by washing them with a cleaning implement which has been charged with the detergent in a solid block made from a formulation having a water-soluble alkali metal salt content of <NUM>-<NUM> % by weight and a surfactant content of <NUM>-<NUM> % by weight, said surfactant comprising <NUM>-<NUM> % by weight of at least one specific amine oxide.

<CIT> proposes new solid pourable preparations produced by simultaneously drying and granulating aqueous surfactant pastes together with abrasive bodies in a fluidized bed. The products can be used, for example, as powdered hand-soap and leave a pleasantly smooth feeling to the skin.

<CIT> discloses a method involving drying an at least <NUM> wt. % solids aqueous paste of a fatty acid polyglycol ester sulphate (I) in a horizontal thin-film evaporator with rotating units to below <NUM> wt. % water residue while simultaneously converting it to lumps, there being a decreasing temperature gradient from the inlet to the outlet and a countercurrent air flow, and the drying taking place exclusively on the heated wall.

<CIT> discloses that fabrics are laundered by washing in water at <NUM>-<NUM> °F which contains a composition comprising (a) a sultaine; and (b) as a detergency builder salt, an alkaline inorganic salt or an organic alkaline sequestrant salt; the weight ratio (a):(b) being <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>.

<CIT> discloses that improved cleaners for hard surfaces, cooking utensils, laundry and other substrates that can accumulate fatty soils can be cleaned using an aqueous cleaner made from a cast solid cleaning system. The cast solid system contains a carefully balanced formulation of cleaning ingredients that provide surprising animal or vegetable fat removing properties. The cleaning system can be manufactured in the form of a large bulk cast block. Such blocks are dispensed by spraying a dispensing spray of water onto the surface of the block creating an aqueous concentrate that can be directed to a cleaning site. The solid composition contains a unique blend of a specific amine oxide combined with anionic sulfonates in a solvent containing mass. These unique components cooperate to prove a substantial level of animal or vegetable fat removal in preferred cleaning protocols.

<CIT> discloses a solid, synthetic composition for cleaning and conditioning the hair and the skin. It contains (A) a major amount of a mixture of (<NUM>) strongly foaming anionic surfactant comprising a higher alkyl sulphonate or sulphate or single-ring aromatic sulphonate with a higher alkyl substituted, and (<NUM>) an amphoteric surfactant, and (B) less than <NUM> wt % of water-insoluble silicone with viscosity <NUM>,<NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM> cP. (A) (<NUM>) The component is a higher (<NUM>-22C) alkyl sulphate, esp. Na lauryl sulphate, a higher alkylbenzene sulphonate or a higher alkyl sulphonate. (<NUM>) The component is an amido betaine, esp. coco-fatty amido propyl betaine. (B) the silicone has viscosity <NUM>,<NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM> cP, is used in amount of <NUM>-<NUM> wt. %, and is a poly di hydrocarbon siloxane, esp. poly dimethylsiloxane. The composition is in the form of bars.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the claimed invention to develop solidified betaine, and/or sultaine compositions from liquid betaines, and/or sultaines.

A further object of the invention is to provide solidified betaine, and/or sultaine compositions that are free flowing.

A further object of the invention is to provide cleaning compositions that include a solidified betaine, and/or sultaine composition.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

The present invention is defined according to claim <NUM> and <NUM>.

The present disclosure relates to the solidification of liquid amine oxide, betaine, and/or sultaine surfactants with a carrier to form a solidified surfactant composition. The solidified surfactant compositions have many advantages over existing formulations including the same surfactants as those surfactants have been in liquid form, which has hindered or prohibited their use in certain types of solid formulations, including, but not limited to, pressed solids. For example, many amine oxides, betaines, and sultaines are found in liquid form and are currently limited by the solid actives commercially available. Conversion of liquid surfactants to solidified surfactant compositions enables their use in higher concentrations in solid compositions and expands their usefulness in solid formulations. Unexpectedly, it has been found that solidification of liquid amine oxide, betaine, and sultaine surfactants in the solidified surfactant compositions provides substantially similar performance with respect to foam and soil removal properties, which is an indicator of good overall surfactant performance. This demonstrates the usefulness of the solidified surfactant compositions in solid cleaning compositions, including, but not limited to, pressed solids. Additionally, as described herein, it has been found that solidified liquid surfactant compositions can be prepared with a carrier alone and without need for a binder. This can increase the concentration of the liquid surfactant.

So that the present invention may be more readily understood, certain terms are first defined.

The term "about," as used herein, refers to variation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring techniques and equipment, with respect to any quantifiable variable, including, but not limited to, mass, volume, time, and distance. Further, given solid and liquid handling procedures used in the real world, there is certain inadvertent error and variation that is likely through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients used 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. The term "about" also encompasses these variations.

As used herein, the term "alkyl" or "alkyl groups" refers to saturated hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms, including straight-chain alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, etc.), cyclic alkyl groups (or "cycloalkyl" or "alicyclic" or "carbocyclic" groups) (e.g., cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, etc.), branched-chain alkyl groups (e.g., isopropyl, tert-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, etc.), and alkyl-substituted alkyl groups (e.g., alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl groups and cycloalkyl-substituted alkyl groups).

Unless otherwise specified, the term "alkyl" includes both "unsubstituted alkyls" and "substituted alkyls. " As used herein, the term "substituted alkyls" refers to alkyl groups having substituents replacing one or more hydrogens on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone. Such substituents may include, for example, alkenyl, alkynyl, halogeno, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, amino (including alkyl amino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl and ureido), imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfates, alkylsulfinyl, sulfonates, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclic, alkylaryl, or aromatic (including heteroaromatic) groups.

In some embodiments, substituted alkyls can include a heterocyclic group. As used herein, the term "heterocyclic group" includes closed ring structures analogous to carbocyclic groups in which one or more of the carbon atoms in the ring is an element other than carbon, for example, nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen. Heterocyclic groups may be saturated or unsaturated. Exemplary heterocyclic groups include, but are not limited to, aziridine, ethylene oxide (epoxides, oxiranes), thiirane (episulfides), dioxirane, azetidine, oxetane, thietane, dioxetane, dithietane, dithiete, azolidine, pyrrolidine, pyrroline, oxolane, dihydrofuran, and furan.

An "antiredeposition agent" refers to a compound that helps keep suspended in water instead of redepositing onto the object being cleaned. Antiredeposition agents are useful in the present invention to assist in reducing redepositing of the removed soil onto the surface being cleaned.

As used herein, the term "cleaning" refers to a method used to facilitate or aid in soil removal, bleaching, microbial population reduction, and any combination thereof.

The term "laundry" refers to items or articles that are cleaned in a laundry washing machine. In general, laundry refers to any item or article made from or including textile materials, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, and knitted fabrics. The textile materials can include natural or synthetic fibers such as silk fibers, linen fibers, cotton fibers, polyester fibers, polyamide fibers such as nylon, acrylic fibers, acetate fibers, and blends thereof including cotton and polyester blends. The fibers can be treated or untreated. Exemplary treated fibers include those treated for flame retardancy. It should be understood that the term "linen" is often used to describe certain types of laundry items including bed sheets, pillow cases, towels, table linen, table cloth, bar mops and uniforms. The invention additionally provides a composition and method for treating non-laundry articles and surfaces including hard surfaces such as dishes, glasses, and other ware.

As used herein, the term "polymer" generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, such as for example, block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, and higher "x"mers, further including their derivatives, combinations, and blends thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term "polymer" shall include all possible isomeric configurations of the molecule, including, but are not limited to isotactic, syndiotactic and random symmetries, and combinations thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term "polymer" shall include all possible geometrical configurations of the molecule.

As used herein, the term "soil" or "stain" refers to a non-polar oily substance which may or may not contain particulate matter such as mineral clays, sand, natural mineral matter, carbon black, graphite, kaolin, environmental dust, etc..

As used herein, the term "substantially free" refers to compositions completely lacking the component or having such a small amount of the component that the component does not affect the performance of the composition. The component may be present as an impurity or as a contaminant and shall be less than <NUM> wt-%. In another embodiment, the amount of the component is less than <NUM> wt-% and in yet another embodiment, the amount of component is less than <NUM> wt-%.

The term "threshold agent" refers to a compound that inhibits crystallization of water hardness ions from solution, but that need not form a specific complex with the water hardness ion. Threshold agents include but are not limited to a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, an olefin/maleic copolymer, and the like.

As used herein, the term "ware" refers to items such as eating and cooking utensils, dishes, and other hard surfaces such as showers, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, countertops, windows, mirrors, transportation vehicles, and floors. As used herein, the term "warewashing" refers to washing, cleaning, or rinsing ware. Ware also refers to items made of plastic. Types of plastics that can be cleaned with the compositions according to the invention include but are not limited to, those that include polypropylene polymers (PP), polycarbonate polymers (PC), melamine formaldehyde resins or melamine resin (melamine), acrilonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers (ABS), and polysulfone polymers (PS). Other exemplary plastics that can be cleaned using the compounds and compositions of the invention include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polystyrene polyamide.

The terms "water soluble" and "water miscible" as used herein, means that the component (e.g., carrier or solvent) is soluble or dispersible in water at about <NUM> at a concentration greater than about <NUM>/L, preferably at about <NUM>/L or greater, more preferably at <NUM>/L or greater, and most preferably at about <NUM>/L or greater.

Drying as a process function is utilized to remove liquid from a liquid-solid system in order to produce a dry solid. While the liquid removed is generally water, other organic liquids may be removed via a drying process. Selection of a drying device and/or configuration is dependent on condition of the feed stream, the desired form of the product, temperature sensitivity of the feed in addition to general considerations of fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer, chemical kinetics, and gas-solid interactions. Selection of the equipment is dependent on material properties, drying characteristics of the material, product quality, and dust/solvent recovery.

Drying devices are typically categorized in three ways. First, the mode of operation of the drying device/system is classified as batch or continuous drying. Generally, batch drying is employed when required production rates are <NUM> (<NUM> pounds) of dried product per hour or less. Continuous drying is favorable when greater than <NUM> (<NUM> pounds) of dried product per hour is required. Second, drying devices are categorized by the mode of heat transfer for moisture removal. Direct-heat dryers (also known as adiabatic or convective dryers) contact the material with hot gas with evaporates and removes moisture. When utilized in a continuous operation mode, gas streams may be designed to be countercurrently, concurrently, or in crossflow to the material. Indirect-heat dryers (also known as nonadiabatic dryers) provide heat through conduction and/or radiation from a hot surface. These dryers may be operated under a vacuum to lower the temperature at which moisture is evaporated. Third, dryers can also be classified based on the degree of agitation of the material. The feed may be either stationary or fluidized. Successful drying devices provide a transition zone at the entrance to atomize the fluid, or to premix it with recycled solids to enhance flow. In the instance the heat sensitive solids are present, dryers with precise temperature control and/or vacuum conditions may be favorable. As one of skill in the art would appreciate, solidification of surfactants and other useful detergent chemicals requires careful consideration and weighing of processing variables in order to select the appropriate drying device.

In an embodiment, the drying device is, for example, a continuous tunnel dryer, rotary dryer, vacuum dryer, tower contractor, vibrating conveyor contractor, drum dryer, screw conveyor dryer, fluidized bed, spouted bed, pneumatic conveyor, spray dryer, or combinations thereof. Drying devices may be placed in parallel or series wherein a series would include one or more drying devices. A preferred drying device is a fluidized bed (also referred to as a fluid bed).

According to the invention, the solidified surfactant compositions contain less than <NUM> wt-% water, preferably less than about <NUM> wt-% water, and most preferably less than about <NUM> wt.

According to the invention, the claimed composition contains at least <NUM> wt. % active surfactant.

In a preferred embodiment, the solidification of the liquid amine oxide, betaine, and sultaine surfactants is performed using a fluidized bed, in which free-flowing moist particles are continuously dried via contact with hot gases. Without seeking to be limited by a particular configuration or theory, a fluidized-bed dryer comprises of a fluidizing chamber to in which wetted particles are fed and fluidized by hot gases that are blown through a heater and into a plenum chamber below the bed, then through a distributor plate fluidizing the particles above.

The fluidized bed can use an agglomerating process that includes a solid binder and/or carrier, or a granulating process that includes only liquid ingredients. The agglomerating process uses a powder feed to coat the drying material. A granulating process differs from the agglomerating process in that a powder feed is not required; rather the granulate process occurs by spraying a liquid coating continuously onto a seed material from the process to continually coat and dry the liquid to form solid granules of a desired size. Further, we have found that the process can be performed without a seed material or in fact without any material in the bed. In an embodiment where no material is in the bed at the start of the process, the process may begin by granulating to form a seed material and then can continue by agglomerating or further granulating.

The air velocity within the fluidized bed is dependent on starting material characteristics, drying rate and the desired particle size and typically ranges from about <NUM> to about <NUM> feet per second, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> (about <NUM> to about <NUM> feet) per second, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> (about <NUM> to about <NUM> feet) per second, and most preferably from <NUM> to <NUM> (about <NUM> to about <NUM> feet) per second.

Preferably, the liquid flow rate is between about <NUM>/min/kg of bed material and about <NUM>/min/kg of bed material (about <NUM> lb/min/lb of bed material and about <NUM> lb/min/lb of bed material), more preferably between about <NUM>/min/kg of bed material and about <NUM>/min/kg of bed material (about <NUM> lb/min/lb of bed material and about <NUM> lb/min/lb of bed material). In an embodiment, where the process begins without any starting material in the bed, including no seed material, it should be understood that the liquid flow rate on a mass per minute per mass of bed material initially is not calculable as there is zero starting bed material. However, there is bed material almost immediately after the process begins as material is added to the bed for the initial granulation. In such an embodiment, the ratio of added liquid to bed material is initially higher due to the lower amount of bed material. For example, a preferred liquid flow rate without any starting material in the bed is between about <NUM>/min/kg of bed material and about <NUM>/min/kg of bed material (about <NUM> lb/min/lb of bed material and about <NUM> lb/min/lb of bed material), more preferably between about <NUM>/min/kg of bed material and about <NUM>/min/kg of bed material (about <NUM> lb/min/lb of bed material and about <NUM> lb/min/lb of bed material).

Atomizing air pressure within the fluidized bed can be from <NUM> to <NUM> bar (about <NUM> to about <NUM> psig) per nozzle, preferably from <NUM> mbar to <NUM> bar (about <NUM> to about <NUM> psig) per nozzle, and more preferably from <NUM> mbar to <NUM> bar (about <NUM> to about <NUM> psig) per nozzle.

In a preferred embodiment, the solidification of the liquid amine oxide, betaine, and sultaine surfactants is performed using a spray dryer. Spray dryers are compatible with slurries or solutions feeds and provide desirable evaporation for heat-sensitive materials and light and porous products. Spray dryer configurations can require verification of pressure effects on the liquid feed and the solid product in order for drying to take place without damage to the product. In general, a liquid or slurry is feed to the dryer process unit and is then sprayed as fine droplets into a hot gas stream. As such, the feed composition must be able to withstand pressures required for droplet formation. Once in the spray dryer, liquid vaporization occurs rapidly, while temperature of the product remains relatively low. In selecting and designing a process, the interactions between the gas-solid must also be considered. In particular, inlet and exit conditions of the solid as well as the flow capacity and residence time should be designed with regard to diffusion and heat transfer rates.

In an embodiment, the inlet temperature of the inlet feed ranges from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and more preferably from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In a further embodiment, the outlet temperature, aspirator, and pump speed are dependent on the degradation of the surfactant while within the spray dryer.

The value of the outlet temperature can vary based on the degradation temperature of the components in the solidified surfactant composition. Thus, in certain embodiments, the temperature can be higher or lower than those set forth herein. However, in embodiments, the outlet temperature is less than about <NUM>, more preferably between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, most preferably between about <NUM> and about <NUM>.

A number of amine oxide, betaine and sultaine surfactants are available primarily in liquid form. It is desirable to provide many such surfactants in solid form. An embodiment is found in solidified amine oxide, betaine, and/or sultaine surfactant compositions. Another embodiment is found in methods of preparing solidified amine oxide, betaine and sultaine surfactants surfactant compositions. The solidified surfactant compositions comprise a liquid amine oxide, betaine and/or sultaine surfactant and a carrier, and optionally a co-surfactant which is preferably in a solid form. Additional components may be present dependent on the desired properties of the solidified surfactant composition.

In an aspect, a carrier is added to a drying device with a carrier to form a solidified surfactant composition. Liquid compositions fed to the selected drying device(s) comprise at least one liquid surfactant and a carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the solidified surfactant compositions are substantially free of a binder, preferably contain less than about <NUM> wt. % binder, more preferably less than about <NUM> wt. % binder, still more preferably less than about <NUM> wt. %, and most preferably do not contain any binder.

The solidified surfactant compositions are preferably a powder. Preferred powder forms, including, but are not limited to, agglomerated solids and granulated solids. Thus, in some embodiments, the solidified surfactant composition is an agglomerated solid or a granulated solid.

The solidified surfactant compositions can comprise carrier. Preferably, the carrier is a solid at room temperature. In embodiments employing a granulating process the carrier can be in liquid form and thus can be in a dissolved form. Suitable solid carriers include, but are not limited to, powder, granule, bead, and flake form. Preferred carriers can include, but are not limited to, anionic surfactants, organic salts, and inorganic salts. Preferably, the carrier is water soluble. In a most preferred embodiment, the carrier has a water solubility of about <NUM>/L or more at <NUM>. The carrier can be added to the liquid anionic surfactant alone or with a binder to form the solidified surfactant compositions.

Preferred anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, sulfonate surfactants, sulfate surfactants and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the anionic surfactant carrier is a solid. Most preferred anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alpha olefin sulfonate, linear alkyl sulfonate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl sulfate, and combinations thereof.

Preferred organic salts include, but are not limited to, alkali and alkaline metal carbonates (such as sodium carbonate and magnesium carbonate), alkali and alkaline metal acetates (such as sodium acetate and magnesium acetate), and combinations thereof.

Preferred inorganic salts include, but are not limited to, alkali and alkaline metal sulfates (such as sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate), sodium chloride, and combinations thereof.

The carrier and liquid surfactant can be added to the drying device in a suitable amount to achieve a solidified surfactant product. The amount of each ingredient may depend on the specific liquid surfactant being solidified, the carrier being used, and any other optional ingredients that may also be included in the solidified surfactant product. Preferably, the carrier and surfactant are in a ratio of active amount of between about <NUM>:<NUM> and about <NUM>:<NUM>; or between about <NUM>:<NUM> and about <NUM>:<NUM>; or between about <NUM>:<NUM> and about <NUM>:<NUM>, or between about <NUM>:<NUM> and about <NUM>:<NUM> actives.

As one of the goals of this invention is to be able to incorporate liquid surfactants into solid cleaning compositions in solid form, having a higher concentration or ratio of surfactant to carrier and other ingredients in the solidified surfactant composition is preferred. However, this is limited by desired physical characteristics of the solidified surfactant compositions. For example, in a preferred aspect of the invention the surfactant is a solidified granule and not a paste. In another preferred aspect of the invention, the solidified surfactant compositions have reduced tackiness or are not tacky, such that they are free flowing and do not cake, agglomerate or cake when stored.

A number of surfactants are available primarily in liquid form. It is desirable to provide many such surfactants in solid form. In an aspect, a liquid surfactant is added to a drying device with a carrier to form a solidified surfactant composition. Any suitable liquid surfactants can be included in the solidified surfactant compositions. Preferred liquid surfactants include, but are not limited to, amine oxides, betaines, sultaines, and combinations thereof.

Amine oxides are tertiary amine oxides corresponding to the general formula:
<CHM>
wherein the arrow is a conventional representation of a semi-polar bond; and, R<NUM>, R<NUM>, and R<NUM> may be aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, alicyclic, or combinations thereof. Generally, for amine oxides of detergent interest, R<NUM> is an alkyl radical of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> carbon atoms; R<NUM> and R<NUM> are alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of <NUM>-<NUM> carbon atoms or a mixture thereof; R<NUM> and R<NUM> can be attached to each other, e.g. through an oxygen or nitrogen atom, to form a ring structure; R<NUM> is an alkaline or a hydroxyalkylene group containing <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms; and n ranges from <NUM> to about <NUM>.

Suitable amine oxides can include those 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(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)dodecylamine oxide, bis(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)-<NUM>-dodecoxy-<NUM>-hydroxypropylamine oxide, dimethyl-(<NUM>-hydroxydodecyl)amine oxide, <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-trioctadecyldimethylamine oxide and <NUM>-dodecoxy-<NUM>-hydroxypropyldi-(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide.

Betaine and sultaine surfactants are exemplary zwitterionic surfactants for use herein. A general formula for these compounds is:
<CHM>
wherein R<NUM> contains an alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxyalkyl radical of from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms having from <NUM> to <NUM> ethylene oxide moieties and from <NUM> to <NUM> glyceryl moiety; Y is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur atoms; R<NUM> is an alkyl or monohydroxy alkyl group containing <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms; x is <NUM> when Y is a sulfur atom and <NUM> when Y is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, R<NUM> is an alkylene or hydroxy alkylene or hydroxy alkylene of from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms and Z is a radical selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphonate, and phosphate groups.

More specific betaine structures include:
<CHM>
wherein R' contains an alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxyalkyl radical of from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms having from <NUM> to <NUM> ethylene oxide moieties and from <NUM> to <NUM> glyceryl moiety; R" is an alkyl or monohydroxy alkyl group containing <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms; R‴ is an alkylene or hydroxy alkylene or hydroxy alkylene of from <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms. 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.

Suitable sultaines can include those compounds having the formula (R(R<NUM>)<NUM> N+ R<NUM>SO<NUM>-, in which R is a C<NUM> -C<NUM> hydrocarbyl group, each R<NUM> is typically independently C<NUM>-C<NUM> alkyl, e.g. methyl, and R<NUM> is a C<NUM>-C<NUM> hydrocarbyl group, e.g. a C<NUM>-C<NUM> alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group.

Many of the liquid surfactants are in an aqueous medium and contain water content. Preferable aqueous mediums include water, water miscible, hydrogen peroxide, and mixtures thereof. According to the invention, the solidified surfactant compositions contain less than <NUM> wt-% added water, still more preferably less than about <NUM> wt-% added water, and most preferably less than about <NUM> wt. % added water. Added water refers to the amount of water added to the compositions, it does not include the amount of water present in other ingredients, such as alkalinity sources or surfactants. The solidified surfactant compositions less than <NUM> wt-% total water, still more preferably less than about <NUM> wt-% total water, and most preferably less than about <NUM> wt. % total water. Total water refers to the water added to the composition and water present in other ingredients, such as alkalinity source or surfactants. It should be understood that the amount of added water and total water may depend on the type of solid composition being prepared as some methods require more water than others.

In another aspect, the methods provide at least about <NUM>% of the liquid feed resulting in the solidified surfactant compositions, preferably from at least about <NUM>%, more preferably at least about <NUM>%, and most preferably at least about <NUM>%. The liquid feed is the amount of liquid material added to the drying device by mass.

The solidified surfactant compositions of the invention can be included in solid cleaning compositions. Those cleaning compositions can include, but are not limited to, detergent compositions, including, for example warewash compositions and laundry compositions; rinse aids; and hard surface cleaning compositions. Exemplary embodiments of those compositions are provided in Tables <NUM>-<NUM> below. Such compositions are exemplary and not limiting, for example, other cleaning compositions can be prepared with the solidified surfactant compositions of this disclosure, and the cleaning compositions reflected below are offered as examples of preferred formulations.

In embodiments, additional ingredients can be included in the solid cleaning compositions. The additional ingredients provide desired properties and functionalities to the compositions. For the purpose of this application, the term "functional ingredient" includes a material that provides a beneficial property in a particular use. Some particular examples of functional materials are discussed in more detail below, although the particular materials discussed are given by way of example only, and that a broad variety of other functional ingredients may be used. For example, many of the functional materials discussed below relate to materials used in cleaning, specifically ware wash applications. However, other embodiments may include functional ingredients for use in other applications. Examples of such a functional material include chelating/sequestering agents; bleaching agents or activators; sanitizers/anti-microbial agents; builder or fillers; anti-redeposition agents; optical brighteners; dyes; odorants or perfumes; preservatives; stabilizers; processing aids; corrosion inhibitors; solidifiers; hardening agent; solubility modifiers; pH adjusting agents; humectants; hydrotropes; or a broad variety of other functional materials, depending upon the desired characteristics and/or functionality of the composition. In the context of some embodiments disclosed herein, the functional materials, or ingredients, are optionally included within the solid cleaning compositions for their functional properties. Some more particular examples of functional materials are discussed in more detail below, but it should be understood by those of skill in the art and others that the particular materials discussed are given by way of example only, and that a broad variety of other functional materials may be used.

In some embodiments, a cleaning composition can include an acid source. Suitable acid sources, can include, organic and/or inorganic acids. Examples of suitable organic acids include carboxylic acids such as but not limited to hydroxyacetic (glycolic) acid, citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, trichloroacetic acid, urea hydrochloride, and benzoic acid, among others. Organic dicarboxylic acids such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, gluconic acid, itaconic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, and terephthalic acid among others are also useful. Any combination of these organic acids may also be used intermixed or with other organic acids which allow adequate formation of the composition.

Inorganic acids useful include sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, methylsulfamic acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, and nitric acid among others. These acids may also be used in combination with other inorganic acids or with those organic acids mentioned above. In a preferred embodiment, the acid is an inorganic acid.

In some embodiments, a cleaning composition can have an acidic pH. In such an embodiment, the pH is preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>. In another aspect, the acid source can be included as a pH modifier or neutralizer in a basic composition to achieve a desired pH.

In some embodiments, a cleaning composition can have improved the antimicrobial activity or bleaching activity 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 up to about <NUM> % by wt. of the cleaning composition, in some embodiments, in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>% by wt. , or in some embodiments, in the range of about <NUM> to <NUM>% by wt. of the cleaning composition. In some embodiments, an activator for an active oxygen compound combines with the active oxygen to form an antimicrobial agent.

The activator can be coupled to solid cleaning compositions 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 cleaning composition. Alternatively, the solid activator can be formed around and encasing the solid cleaning composition. By way of further example, the solid activator can be coupled to the solid cleaning composition by the container or package for the composition, such as by a plastic or shrink wrap or film.

The cleaning compositions can include an effective amount of one or more alkalinity sources. An effective amount of one or more alkaline sources should be considered as an amount that provides a composition having a pH between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In a particular embodiment the cleaning compositions can have a pH of between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. During a wash cycle the use solution can have a pH between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In particular embodiments, the use solution can have a pH between about <NUM> and <NUM>. If the cleaning composition includes an enzyme composition, the pH may be modulated to provide the optimal pH range for the enzyme compositions effectiveness. In a particular embodiment incorporating an enzyme composition in the cleaning composition, the optimal pH is between about <NUM> and about <NUM>.

Examples of suitable alkaline sources of the cleaning composition include, but are not limited to carbonate-based alkalinity sources, including, for example, carbonate salts such as alkali metal carbonates; caustic-based alkalinity sources, including, for example, alkali metal hydroxides; other suitable alkalinity sources may include metal silicate, metal borate, and organic alkalinity sources. Exemplary alkali metal carbonates that can be used include, but are not limited to, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, and mixtures thereof. Exemplary alkali metal hydroxides that can be used include, but are not limited to sodium, lithium, or potassium hydroxide. Exemplary metal silicates that can be used include, but are not limited to, sodium or potassium silicate or metasilicate. Exemplary metal borates include, but are not limited to, sodium or potassium borate.

Organic alkalinity sources are often strong nitrogen bases including, for example, ammonia (ammonium hydroxide), amines, alkanolamines, and amino alcohols. Typical examples of amines include primary, secondary or tertiary amines and diamines carrying at least one nitrogen linked hydrocarbon group, which represents a saturated or unsaturated linear or branched alkyl group having at least <NUM> carbon atoms and preferably <NUM>-<NUM> carbon atoms, or an aryl, aralkyl, or alkaryl group containing up to <NUM> carbon atoms, and wherein the optional other nitrogen linked groups are formed by optionally substituted alkyl groups, aryl group or aralkyl groups or polyalkoxy groups. Typical examples of alkanolamines include monoethanolamine, monopropanolamine, diethanolamine, dipropanolamine, triethanolamine, tripropanolamine and the like. Typical examples of amino alcohols include <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>-propanol, <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-butanol, <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-methyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-ethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-propanediol, hydroxymethyl aminomethane, and the like.

In general, alkalinity sources are commonly available in either aqueous or powdered form. Preferably, the alkalinity source is in a solid form. The alkalinity can be added to the composition in any form known in the art, including as solid beads, granulated or particulate form, dissolved in an aqueous solution, or a combination thereof.

In general, it is expected that the cleaning compositions will include the alkalinity source in an amount between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% by weight. In some embodiments, the alkalinity source will be between about <NUM>% and about <NUM>% by weight of the total weight of the cleaning composition. When diluted to a use solution, the compositions can include between about <NUM> ppm and about <NUM>,<NUM> ppm of an alkalinity source.

The cleaning compositions can optionally include an anti-redeposition agent capable of facilitating sustained suspension of soils in a cleaning or rinse solution and preventing removed soils from being redeposited onto the substrate being cleaned and/or rinsed. Some examples of suitable anti-redeposition agents can 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 can include up to about <NUM> wt. %, and in some embodiments, in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM> wt. %, of an anti-redeposition agent.

The cleaning compositions can optionally include bleaching agent. Bleaching agent can be used for lightening or whitening a substrate, and can include bleaching compounds capable of liberating an active halogen species, such as Cl<NUM>, Br<NUM>, -OCl- and/or -OBr-, or the like, under conditions typically encountered during the cleansing process. Suitable bleaching agents for use can include, for example, chlorine-containing compounds such as a chlorine, a hypochlorite, chloramines, of the like. Some examples of halogen-releasing compounds include the alkali metal dichloroisocyanurates, chlorinated trisodium phosphate, the alkali metal hypochlorites, monochloramine and dichloroamine, and the like. Encapsulated chlorine sources may also be used to enhance the stability of the chlorine source in the composition (see, for example, <CIT> and <CIT>). A bleaching agent may also include an agent containing or acting as a source of active oxygen. The active oxygen compound acts to provide a source of active oxygen, for example, may release active oxygen in aqueous solutions. An active oxygen compound can be inorganic or organic, or can be a mixture thereof. Some examples of active oxygen compound include peroxygen compounds, or peroxygen compound adducts. Some examples of active oxygen compounds or sources include hydrogen peroxide, perborates, sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, phosphate peroxyhydrates, potassium permonosulfate, and sodium perborate mono and tetrahydrate, with and without activators such as tetraacetylethylene diamine, and the like. A cleaning composition may include a minor but effective amount of a bleaching agent, for example, in some embodiments, in the range of up to about <NUM> wt. %, and in some embodiments, in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM> wt.

The cleaning compositions may also include effective amounts of chelating/sequestering agents, also referred to as builders. In addition, the cleaning compositions may optionally include one or more additional builders as a functional ingredient. In general, a chelating agent is a molecule capable of coordinating (i.e., binding) the metal ions commonly found in water sources to prevent the metal ions from interfering with the action of the other ingredients of a rinse aid or other cleaning composition. The chelating/sequestering agent may also function as a water conditioning agent when included in an effective amount. In some embodiments, a cleaning composition can include in the range of up to about <NUM> wt. %, or in the range of about <NUM>-<NUM> wt. %, of a chelating/sequestering agent.

Often, the cleaning composition is also phosphate-free and/or sulfate-free. In embodiments of the solid cleaning composition that are phosphate-free, the additional functional materials, including builders exclude phosphorous-containing compounds such as condensed phosphates and phosphonates.

Suitable additional builders include aminocarboxylates and polycarboxylates. Some examples of aminocarboxylates useful as chelating/sequestering agents, include, N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and the like. Some examples of polymeric polycarboxylates suitable for use as sequestering agents include those having a pendant carboxylate (--CO<NUM>) groups and include, for example, polyacrylic acid, maleic/olefin copolymer, acrylic/maleic copolymer, polymethacrylic acid, acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, hydrolyzed polymethacrylamide, hydrolyzed polyamide-methacrylamide copolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed polymethacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-methacrylonitrile copolymers, and the like.

In embodiments of the solid cleaning composition which are not phosphate-free, added chelating/sequestering agents may include, for example a condensed phosphate, a phosphonate, and the like. Some examples of condensed phosphates include sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium and potassium pyrophosphate, sodium 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.

In embodiments of the solid cleaning composition which are not phosphate-free, the composition may include a phosphonate such as <NUM>-hydroxyethane-<NUM>,<NUM>-diphosphonic acid CH<NUM>C(OH)[PO(OH)<NUM> ]<NUM>; aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid) N[CH<NUM> PO(OH)<NUM> ]<NUM> ; aminotri(methylenephosphonate), sodium salt
<CHM>
<NUM>-hydroxyethyliminobis(methylenephosphonic acid) HOCH<NUM> CH<NUM> N[CH<NUM> PO(OH)<NUM> ]<NUM>; diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic acid) (HO)<NUM> POCH<NUM> N[CH<NUM> N[CH<NUM> PO(OH)<NUM>]<NUM> ]<NUM>; diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonate), sodium salt C<NUM> H(<NUM>-x) N<NUM> NaxO<NUM>P<NUM> (x=<NUM>); hexamethylenediamine(tetramethylenephosphonate), potassium salt C<NUM> H(<NUM>-x)N<NUM>KxO<NUM>P<NUM> (x=<NUM>); bis(hexamethylene)triamine(pentamethylenephosphonic acid) (HO<NUM>)POCH<NUM>N[(CH<NUM>)<NUM> N[CH<NUM> PO(OH)<NUM>]<NUM>]<NUM> ; and phosphorus acid H<NUM>PO<NUM>. In some embodiments, a phosphonate combination such as ATMP and DTPMP may be used. 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 can be used.

For a further discussion of chelating agents/sequestrants, see <NPL>.

Various dyes, odorants including perfumes, and other aesthetic enhancing agents may also be included in the solid cleaning compositions. Dyes may be included to alter the appearance of the composition, as for example, FD&C Blue <NUM> (Sigma Chemical), FD&C Yellow <NUM> (Sigma Chemical), Direct Blue <NUM> (Miles), Fastusol Blue (Mobay Chemical Corp. ), Acid Orange <NUM> (American Cyanamid), Basic Violet <NUM> (Sandoz), Acid Yellow <NUM> (GAF), Acid Yellow <NUM> (Sigma Chemical), Sap Green (Keyston Analine and Chemical), Metanil Yellow (Keystone Analine and Chemical), Acid Blue <NUM> (Hilton Davis), Sandolan Blue/Acid Blue <NUM> (Sandoz), Hisol Fast Red (Capitol Color and Chemical), Fluorescein (Capitol Color and Chemical), Acid Green <NUM> (Ciba-Geigy), and the like.

Fragrances or perfumes that may be included in the solid cleaning compositions include, for example, terpenoids such as citronellol, aldehydes such as amyl cinnamaldehyde, a jasmine such as C1S-jasmine or jasmal, vanillin, and the like.

The solid cleaning compositions can optionally include a minor but effective amount of one or more of a filler. Some examples of suitable fillers may include sodium chloride, starch, sugars, C<NUM> -C<NUM> alkylene glycols such as propylene glycol, sulfates, PEG, urea, sodium acetate, magnesium sulfate, sodium acetate, magnesium sulfate, sodium carbonate and the like. In some embodiments, a filler can be included in an amount in the range of up to about <NUM> wt. %, and in some embodiments, in the range of about <NUM>-<NUM> wt.

The solid cleaning composition can also optionally include one or more functional polydimethylsiloxones. For example, in some embodiments, a polyalkylene oxide-modified polydimethylsiloxane, nonionic surfactant or a polybetaine-modified polysiloxane amphoteric surfactant can be employed as an additive. Both, in some embodiments, are linear polysiloxane copolymers to which polyethers or polybetaines have been grafted through a hydrosilation reaction. Some examples of specific siloxane surfactants are known as SILWET® surfactants available from Union Carbide or ABIL® polyether or polybetaine polysiloxane copolymers available from Goldschmidt Chemical Corp. , and described in <CIT>. In some embodiments, the particular siloxanes used can be described as having, e.g., low surface tension, high wetting ability and excellent lubricity. For example, these surfactants are said to be among the few capable of wetting polytetrafluoroethylene surfaces. The siloxane surfactant employed as an additive can be used alone or in combination with a fluorochemical surfactant. In some embodiments, the fluorochemical surfactant employed as an additive optionally in combination with a silane, can be, for example, a nonionic fluorohydrocarbon, for example, fluorinated alkyl polyoxyethylene ethanols, fluorinated alkyl alkoxylate and fluorinated alkyl esters.

Further description of such functional polydimethylsiloxones and/or fluorochemical surfactants are described in <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>. We have found, for example, that the use of certain polysiloxane copolymers in a mixture with hydrocarbon surfactants provides excellent rinse aids on plastic ware. We have also found that the combination of certain silicone polysiloxane copolymers and fluorocarbon surfactants with conventional hydrocarbon surfactants also provide excellent rinse aids on plastic ware. This combination has been found to be better than the individual components except with certain polyalkylene oxide-modified polydimethylsiloxanes and polybetaine polysiloxane copolymers, where the effectiveness is about equivalent. Therefore, some embodiments encompass the polysiloxane copolymers alone and the combination with the fluorocarbon surfactant can involve polyether polysiloxanes, the nonionic siloxane surfactants. The amphoteric siloxane surfactants, the polybetaine polysiloxane copolymers may be employed alone as the additive in cleaning compositions to provide the same results.

In some embodiments, the composition may include functional polydimethylsiloxones in an amount in the range of up to about <NUM> wt. For example, some embodiments may include in the range of about <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of a polyalkylene oxide-modified polydimethylsiloxane or a polybetaine-modified polysiloxane, optionally in combination with about <NUM> to <NUM> wt. % of a fluorinated hydrocarbon nonionic surfactant.

In some embodiments, one or more solidification agents may be included in the cleaning composition. Examples of hardening agents include urea, an amide such stearic monoethanolamide or lauric diethanolamide or an alkylamide, and the like; sulfate salts or sulfated surfactants, and aromatic sulfonates, 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 active ingredients may be dispensed from the solid composition over an extended period of time.

Suitable aromatic sulfonates include, but are not limited to, sodium xylene sulfonate, sodium toluene sulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, potassium toluene sulfonate, ammonium xylene sulfonate, calcium xylene sulfonate, sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, and/or sodium butyl naphthalene. Preferred aromatic sulfonates include sodium xylene sulfonate and sodium cumene sulfonate.

The amount of solidification agent included in a cleaning composition can be dictated by the desired effect. In general, an effective amount of solidification agent is considered an amount that acts with or without other materials to solidify the cleaning composition. Typically, for solid embodiments, the amount of solidification agent in a cleaning composition is in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>% by weight of the cleaning composition, preferably in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>% by weight more preferably in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>% by weight of the cleaning composition. In an aspect, the solidification agent is substantially free of sulfate. For example, the cleaning composition may have less than <NUM> wt. % sulfate, preferably less than <NUM> wt. %, more preferably less than <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment the cleaning composition is free of sulfate.

In certain embodiments it can be desirable to have a secondary solidification agent. In compositions containing secondary solidification the composition may include a secondary solidification agent in an amount in the range of up to about <NUM> wt. In some embodiments, secondary hardening agents are may be present in an amount in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM> wt. %, often in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM> wt. %, and sometimes in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM> wt.

In some embodiments, one or more additional hardening agents may be included in the solid cleaning composition if desired. Examples of hardening agents include 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 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 in the range of up to about <NUM> wt. In some embodiments, secondary hardening agents are may be present in an amount in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM> wt. %, often in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM> wt. %, and sometimes in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM> wt.

The solid cleaning composition can also optionally include one or more humectants. A humectant is a substance having an affinity for water. The humectant can be provided in an amount sufficient to aid in reducing the visibility of a film on the substrate surface. The visibility of a film on substrate surface is a particular concern when the rinse water contains in excess of <NUM> ppm total dissolved solids. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the humectant is provided in an amount sufficient to reduce the visibility of a film on a substrate surface when the rinse water contains in excess of <NUM> ppm total dissolved solids compared to a rinse agent composition not containing the humectant. The terms "water solids filming" or "filming" refer to the presence of a visible, continuous layer of matter on a substrate surface that gives the appearance that the substrate surface is not clean.

Some example humectants that can be used include those materials that contain greater than <NUM> wt. % water (based on dry humectant) equilibrated at <NUM>% relative humidity and room temperature. Exemplary humectants that can be used include glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, alkyl polyglycosides, polybetaine polysiloxanes, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the rinse agent composition can include humectant in an amount in the range of up to about <NUM>% based on the total composition, and in some embodiments, in the range of about <NUM> wt. % to about <NUM> wt. % based on the weight of the composition.

The solid cleaning compositions can optionally comprise at least one hydratable salt. In an embodiment the hydratable salt is sodium carbonate (aka soda ash or ash) and/or potassium carbonate (aka potash). In a preferred aspect, the hydratable salt is sodium carbonate and excludes potassium carbonate. The hydratable salt can be provided in the ranges from between approximately <NUM>% and approximately <NUM>% by weight, preferably between approximately <NUM>% and approximately <NUM>% by weight, and more preferably between approximately <NUM>% and approximately <NUM>% by weight hydratable salt, such as sodium carbonate. Those skilled in the art will appreciate other suitable component concentration ranges for obtaining comparable properties of the solidification matrix.

In other embodiments, the hydratable salt may be combined with other solidification agents. For example, the hydratable salt may be used with additional solidification agents that are inorganic in nature and may also act optionally as a source of alkalinity. In certain embodiments, the secondary solidification agent may include, but are not limited to: additional alkali metal hydroxides, anhydrous sodium carbonate, anhydrous sodium sulfate, anhydrous sodium acetate, and other known hydratable compounds or combinations thereof. According to a preferred embodiment, the secondary hydratable salt comprises sodium metasilicate and/or anhydrous sodium metasilicate. The amount of secondary solidifying agent necessary to achieve solidification depends upon several factors, including the exact solidifying agent employed, the amount of water in the composition, and the hydration capacity of the other cleaning composition components. In certain embodiments, the secondary solidifying agent may also serve as an additional alkaline source.

The cleaning compositions can include a polymer or a polymer system comprised of at least one polycarboxylic acid polymer, copolymer, and/or terpolymer. Particularly suitable polycarboxylic acid polymers, include, but are not limited to, polymaleic acid homopolymers, polyacrylic acid copolymers, and maleic anhydride/olefin copolymers.

Polymaleic acid (C<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>)x or hydrolyzed polymaleic anhydride or cis-<NUM>-butenedioic acid homopolymer, has the structural formula:
<CHM>
where n and m are any integer. Examples of polymaleic acid homopolymers, copolymers, and/or terpolymers (and salts thereof) which may be used are particularly preferred are those with a molecular weight of about <NUM> and about <NUM>, more preferably between about <NUM> and about <NUM> (can you confirm these MWs). Commercially available polymaleic acid homopolymers include the Belclene <NUM> series of maleic acid homopolymers from BWA™ Water Additives, <NUM> Lakeside Parkway, Suite <NUM> Tucker, GA <NUM>, USA and Aquatreat AR-<NUM> available from AkzoNobel. The polymaleic acid homopolymers, copolymers, and/or terpolymers may be present in cleaning compositions from about <NUM> wt. % to about <NUM> wt.

The cleaning compositions can use polyacrylic acid polymers, copolymers, and/or terpolymers. Poly acrylic acids have the following structural formula:
<CHM>
where n is any integer. Examples of suitable polyacrylic acid polymers, copolymers, and/or terpolymers, include but are not limited to, the polymers, copolymers, and/or terpolymers of polyacrylic acids, (C<NUM>H<NUM>O<NUM>)n or <NUM>-Propenoic acid, acrylic acid, polyacrylic acid, propenoic acid.

In an embodiment, particularly suitable acrylic acid polymers, copolymers, and/or terpolymers have a molecular weight between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>, in a preferred embodiment between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, in an even more preferred embodiment between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, and in a most preferred embodiment between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. Examples of polyacrylic acid polymers, copolymers, and/or terpolymers (or salts thereof) which may be used include, but are not limited to, Acusol <NUM> and Acusol <NUM> from The Dow Chemical Company, Wilmington Delaware, USA. In particular embodiments it may be desirable to have acrylic acid polymers (and salts thereof) with molecular weights greater than about <NUM>,<NUM>. Examples, include but are not limited to, Acusol <NUM> (<NUM>,<NUM> MW) and Acumer <NUM> (<NUM>,<NUM> MW) both also available from Dow Chemical, AQUATREAT AR-<NUM> (<NUM>,<NUM> MW) from AkzoNobel Strawinskylaan <NUM><NUM> ZZ Amsterdam Postbus <NUM><NUM> AS Amsterdam. The polyacrylic acid polymer, copolymer, and/or terpolymer may be present in the compositions from about may be present in cleaning compositions from about <NUM> wt. % to about <NUM> wt.

Maleic anhydride/olefin copolymers are copolymers of polymaleic anhydrides and olefins. Maleic anhydride (C<NUM>H<NUM>(CO)<NUM>O has the following structure:
<CHM>.

A part of the maleic anhydride can be replaced by maleimide, N-alkyl(C<NUM>-<NUM>) maleimides, N-phenyl-maleimide, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, aconitic acid, crotonic acid, cinnamic <NUM> acid, alkyl (C<NUM>-<NUM>) esters of the foregoing acids, cycloalkyl(C<NUM>-<NUM>) esters of the foregoing acids, sulfated castor oil, or the like.

At least <NUM> wt% of the maleic anhydride polymers, copolymers, or terpolymers have a number average molecular weight of in the range between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>, preferably between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>.

A variety of linear and branched chain alpha-olefins can be used. Particularly useful alpha-olefins are dienes containing <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms, such as butadiene, chloroprene, isoprene, and <NUM>-methyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-hexadiene; <NUM>-alkenes containing <NUM> to <NUM> carbon atoms, preferably C<NUM>-<NUM>, such as isobutylene, <NUM>-butene, <NUM>-hexene, <NUM>-octene, and the like.

In an embodiment, particularly suitable maleic anhydride/olefin copolymers have a molecular weight between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>, in a preferred embodiment between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>, and in a most preferred embodiment between about <NUM> and about <NUM>,<NUM>. Examples of maleic anhydride/olefin copolymers which may be used include, but are not limited to, Acusol 460N from The Dow Chemical Company, Wilmington Delaware, USA. The maleic anhydride/olefin copolymer may be present in cleaning compositions from about <NUM> wt. % to about <NUM> wt.

The cleaning compositions can optionally include a sanitizing agent. Sanitizing agents also known as antimicrobial agents are chemical compositions that can be used in a solid functional material to prevent microbial contamination and deterioration of material systems, surfaces, etc. Generally, 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.

It should also be understood that active oxygen compounds, such as those discussed above in the bleaching agents section, may also act as antimicrobial agents, and can even provide sanitizing activity. In fact, in some embodiments, the ability of the active oxygen compound to act as an antimicrobial agent reduces the need for additional antimicrobial agents within the composition. For example, percarbonate compositions have been demonstrated to provide excellent antimicrobial action. Nonetheless, some embodiments incorporate additional antimicrobial agents.

The given antimicrobial agent, depending on chemical composition and concentration, may simply limit further proliferation of numbers of the microbe or may destroy all or a portion of the microbial population. The terms "microbes" and "microorganisms" typically refer primarily to bacteria, virus, yeast, spores, and fungus microorganisms. In use, the antimicrobial agents are typically formed into a solid functional material that when diluted and dispensed, optionally, for example, using an aqueous stream forms an aqueous disinfectant or sanitizer composition that can be contacted with a variety of surfaces resulting in prevention of growth or the killing of a portion of the microbial population. A three log reduction of the microbial population results in a sanitizer composition. The antimicrobial agent can be encapsulated, for example, to improve its stability.

Some examples of 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 <NUM>-bromo-<NUM>-nitropropane-<NUM>,<NUM>-diol, and quaternary antimicrobial agents such as benzalkonium chloride, didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, choline diiodochloride, tetramethyl phosphonium tribromide. Other antimicrobial compositions such as hexahydro-<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-tris(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)-s- -triazine, dithiocarbamates such as sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate, and a variety of other materials are known in the art for their antimicrobial properties.

In embodiments of the solid cleaning composition which are phosphate-free, and/or sulfate-free, and also include an anti-microbial agent, the anti-microbial is selected to meet those requirements. Embodiments of the solid cleaning composition which include only GRAS ingredients, may exclude or omit anti-microbial agents described in this section.

In some embodiments, the cleaning composition comprises, an antimicrobial component in the range of up to about <NUM> % by wt. of the composition, in some embodiments in the range of up to about <NUM> wt. %, or in some embodiments, in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM> wt. %, or in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>% by wt. of the composition.

The solidified surfactant compositions of the invention can be included in various cleaning compositions. Preferably, the cleaning compositions are solid compositions. Suitable solid cleaning compositions, include, but are not limited to granular and pelletized solid compositions, powders, solid block compositions, cast solid block compositions, extruded solid block composition, pressed solid compositions, and others. Preferably, the cleaning compositions are pressed solids.

Solid particulate cleaning compositions can be made by merely blending the dry solid ingredients formed according to the invention in appropriate ratios or agglomerating the materials in appropriate agglomeration systems. Pelletized materials can be manufactured by compressing the solid granular or agglomerated materials in appropriate pelletizing equipment to result in appropriately sized pelletized materials. Solid block and cast solid block materials can be made by introducing into a container either a prehardened block of material or a castable liquid that hardens into a solid block within a container. Preferred containers include disposable plastic containers or water soluble film containers. Other suitable packaging for the composition includes flexible bags, packets, shrink wrap, and water soluble film such as polyvinyl alcohol.

The solid cleaning compositions may be formed using a batch or continuous mixing system. In an exemplary embodiment, a single- or twin-screw extruder is used to combine and mix one or more components at high shear to form a homogeneous mixture. In some embodiments, the processing temperature is at or below the melting temperature of the components. The processed mixture may be dispensed from the mixer by forming, casting or other suitable means, whereupon the cleaning composition hardens to a solid form. The structure of the matrix may be characterized according to its hardness, melting point, material distribution, crystal structure, and other like properties according to known methods in the art. Generally, a solid cleaning composition processed according to the disclosed method is substantially homogeneous with regard to the distribution of ingredients throughout its mass and is dimensionally stable.

In an extrusion process, the liquid and solid components are introduced into final mixing system and are continuously mixed until the components form a substantially homogeneous semi-solid mixture in which the components are distributed throughout its mass. The mixture is then discharged from the mixing system into, or through, a die or other shaping means. The product is then packaged. In an exemplary embodiment, the formed composition begins to harden to a solid form in between approximately <NUM> minute and approximately <NUM> hours. Particularly, the formed composition begins to harden to a solid form in between approximately <NUM> minute and approximately <NUM> hours. More particularly, the formed composition begins to harden to a solid form in between approximately <NUM> minute and approximately <NUM> minutes.

In a casting process, the liquid and solid components are introduced into the final mixing system and are continuously mixed until the components form a substantially homogeneous liquid mixture in which the components are distributed throughout its mass. In an exemplary embodiment, the components are mixed in the mixing system for at least approximately <NUM> seconds. Once the mixing is complete, the product is transferred to a packaging container where solidification takes place. In an exemplary embodiment, the cast composition begins to harden to a solid form in between approximately <NUM> minute and approximately <NUM> hours. Particularly, the cast composition begins to harden to a solid form in between approximately <NUM> minute and approximately <NUM> hours. More particularly, the cast composition begins to harden to a solid form in between approximately <NUM> minute and approximately <NUM> minutes.

In a pressed solid process, a flowable solid, such as granular solids or other particle solids are combined under pressure. In a pressed solid process, flowable solids of the compositions are placed into a form (e.g., a mold or container). The method can include gently pressing the flowable solid in the form to produce the solid cleaning composition. Pressure may be applied by a block machine or a turntable press, or the like. Pressure may be applied at <NUM> mbar to <NUM> bar (about <NUM> to about <NUM> psi), <NUM> mbar to <NUM> bar (about <NUM> to about <NUM> psi), or <NUM> mbar to <NUM> bar (about <NUM> psi to about <NUM> psi). As used herein, the term "psi" or "pounds per square inch" refers to the actual pressure applied to the flowable solid being pressed and does not refer to the gauge or hydraulic pressure measured at a point in the apparatus doing the pressing. The method can include a curing step to produce the solid cleaning composition. As referred to herein, an uncured composition including the flowable solid is compressed to provide sufficient surface contact between particles making up the flowable solid that the uncured composition will solidify into a stable solid cleaning composition. 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. Inclusion of an optional curing step may include allowing the pressed solid to solidify for a period of time, such as a few hours, or about <NUM> day (or longer). In additional aspects, the methods could include vibrating the flowable solid in the form or mold, such as the methods disclosed in <CIT>.

The use of pressed solids provide numerous benefits over conventional solid block or tablet compositions requiring high pressure in a tablet press, or casting requiring the melting of a composition consuming significant amounts of energy, and/or by extrusion requiring expensive equipment and advanced technical know-how. Pressed solids overcome such various limitations of other solid formulations for which there is a need for making solid cleaning compositions. Moreover, pressed solid compositions retain its shape under conditions in which the composition may be stored or handled.

By the term "solid", it is meant that the hardened composition will not flow and will substantially retain its shape under moderate stress or pressure or mere gravity. A solid may be in various forms such as a powder, a flake, a granule, a pellet, a tablet, a lozenge, a puck, a briquette, a brick, a solid block, a unit dose, or another solid form known to those of skill in the art. The degree of hardness of the solid cast composition and/or a pressed solid composition may range from that of a fused solid product which is relatively dense and hard, for example, like concrete, to a consistency characterized as being a hardened paste. 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 approximately <NUM> (<NUM>°F) and particularly up to approximately (<NUM>) <NUM>°F.

The resulting solid cleaning composition may take forms including, but not limited to: a cast solid product; an extruded, molded or formed solid pellet, block, tablet, powder, granule, flake; pressed solid; or the formed solid can thereafter be ground or formed into a powder, granule, or flake. In an exemplary embodiment, extruded pellet materials formed by the solidification matrix have a weight of between approximately <NUM> grams and approximately <NUM> grams, extruded solids formed by the composition have a weight of approximately <NUM> grams or greater, and solid block detergents formed by the composition have a mass of between approximately <NUM> and approximately <NUM> kilograms. The solid compositions provide for a stabilized source of functional materials. In some embodiments, the solid composition may be dissolved, for example, in an aqueous or other medium, to create a concentrated and/or use solution. The solution may be directed to a storage reservoir for later use and/or dilution, or may be applied directly to a point of use.

The following patents disclose various combinations of solidification, binding and/or hardening agents that can be utilized in the solid cleaning compositions of the present invention: <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

Liquid compositions can typically be made by forming the ingredients in an aqueous liquid or aqueous liquid solvent system. Such systems are typically made by dissolving or suspending the active ingredients in water or in compatible solvent and then diluting the product to an appropriate concentration, either to form a concentrate or a use solution thereof. Gelled compositions can be made similarly by dissolving or suspending the active ingredients in a compatible aqueous, aqueous liquid or mixed aqueous organic system including a gelling agent at an appropriate concentration. All publications and patent applications in this specification are indicative of the level of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

The materials used in the following Examples are provided herein:.

Exemplary liquid betaine, and sultaine surfactants were solidified with solid NaCl carrier pursuant to the methods described herein. These formulations are shown in Table <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A solidified liquid surfactant composition consisting of:
- a liquid surfactant being one or more of a betaine and a sultaine;
- a NaCl carrier; and
- less than <NUM> wt-% water,
wherein the carrier and the liquid surfactant are in a ratio of between <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM> by actives;
wherein the composition is a solid and the liquid surfactant is solidified in the composition, wherein the solidified surfactant composition contains at least <NUM> wt.% active surfactant.