Claims
- 1. A method for manufacturing a molded detergent composition, the method comprising steps of:
(a) mixing a hydrated component and a hydratable component to provide a mixture:
(i) the hydrated component having a melting point below about 100° C. and comprising a transhydration product of an anhydrous material and water of hydration, the anhydrous material having a melting point greater than about 300° C.; (ii) the hydratable component comprising water, if present at all, at a level of less than about 2 wt. % based on the weight of the hydratable component; (iii) the hydratable component being a component which successfully competes with the hydrated component for at least a portion of the water of hydration; and (iv) the hydrated component being provided in a solid state during the step of mixing; and (b) molding the mixture to provide a molded detergent composition having a melting point greater than about 30° C.
- 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrated component comprises a hydrated salt.
- 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the hydrated salt comprises a hydrate of at least one of sodium silicate, lithium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium metasilicate, sodium phosphate, calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium bisulfate, sodium thiosulfate, sodium percarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
- 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hydratable component comprises at least one of nonionic surfactant, anionic surfactant, and mixture thereof.
- 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of mixing further comprises mixing butoxy ethanol with the hydrated component and the hydratable component.
- 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the hydrated component to the hydratable component is between about 5:1 and about 20:1 based on an anhydrous weight of each component.
- 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the hydrated component to the hydratable component is between about 8:1 and about 15:1 based on an anhydrous weight of each component.
- 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of molding comprises extruding the mixture.
- 9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of molding comprises casting the mixture.
- 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of mixing comprises mixing an effective cleaning amount of an enzyme in the mixture.
- 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the enzyme is present in an amount of between about 0.01 wt. % and about 10 wt. % based on the weight of the mixture.
- 12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the enzyme comprises at least one of protease, lipase, amylase, cellulase, and mixtures thereof.
- 13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the enzyme comprises a mixture of protease and cellulase.
- 14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture comprises at least one of a material sensitive to heat.
- 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the material sensitive to heat comprises at least one of fragrances, dyes, preservatives, and enzymes.
- 16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture provided during the step of mixing is provided at a temperature of less than about 50° C.
- 17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture provided during the step of mixing is provided at a temperature of less than about 40° C.
- 18. A molded detergent composition comprising:
a result of mixing and molding a composition comprising:
(a) hydrated component and a hydratable component; (b) the hydrated component having a melting point below about 100° C. and comprising a transhydration product of an anhydrous material and water of hydration, the anhydrous material having a melting point greater than about 300° C; (c) the hydrated component being provided in a solid state during the mixing and molding; (d) the hydratable component comprising water, if present at all, at a level of less than about 2 wt. % based on the weight of the hydratable component; (e) the hydratable component being a component which successfully competes with the hydrated component for at least a portion of the water of hydration; and (f) the molded detergent composition having a melting point greater than about 30° C.
- 19. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, said molded detergent composition being provided in the form of block.
- 20. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, said molded detergent composition being provided in the form of pellets.
- 21. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, wherein the hydrated component comprises a hydrated salt.
- 22. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, wherein the hydrated salt comprises at least one of sodium silicate, lithium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium metasilicate, sodium phosphate, calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium bisulfate, sodium thiosulfate, sodium percarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
- 23. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, further comprising about 1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of an antimicrobial agent selected from at least one of quaternary ammonium compounds, phenolic derivatives, active halogen containing compounds, and mixtures thereof.
- 24. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, wherein the hydratable component comprises at least one of nonionic surfactant, anionic surfactant, and mixture thereof.
- 25. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, further comprising glycol ether.
- 26. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, further comprising butoxy ethanol.
- 27. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, wherein the weight ratio of the hydrated component to the hydratable component is between about 5:1 and about 20:1 based on an anhydrous weight of each component.
- 28. A molded detergent composition according to claim 18, wherein the weight ratio of the hydrated component to the hydratable component is between about 8:1 and about 15:1 based on an anhydrous weight of each component.
- 29. A method for washing an article, the method comprising steps of:
(a) generating an aqueous use solution from a molded detergent composition, the molded detergent composition comprising a result of mixing and molding a composition comprising:
(i) hydrated component and a hydratable component; (ii) the hydrated component having a melting point below about 100° C. and comprising a transhydration product of an anhydrous material and water of hydration, the anhydrous material having a melting point greater than about 300° C.; (iii) the hydrated component being provided in a solid state during the mixing and molding; (iv) the hydratable component comprising water, if present at all, at a level of less than about 2 wt. % based on the weight of the hydratable component; (v) the hydratable component being a component which successfully competes with the hydrated component for at least a portion of the water of hydration; and (vi) the molded detergent composition having a melting point greater than about 30° C.; and (b) washing an article with the use solution.
- 30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the article comprises at least one of laundry, carpet, ware, and hard surface.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/585,009 that was filed on Jun. 1, 2000. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/585,009 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09585009 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
09999072 |
Nov 2001 |
US |