Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/06—Powder; Flakes; Free-flowing mixtures; Sheets
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D11/00—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents
  • C11D11/0082—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents one or more of the detergent ingredients being in a liquefied state, e.g. slurry, paste or melt, and the process resulting in solid detergent particles such as granules, powders or beads
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/02—Inorganic compounds ; Elemental compounds
  • C11D3/04—Water-soluble compounds
  • C11D3/046—Salts
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
  • C11D3/40—Dyes ; Pigments

Definitions

• This description refers, as its title indicates, to new, improved coloured particles for detergents and their production process.
• These particles essentially contain a mixture of sodium sulfate and bentonite which are characterised by being fast-dissolving and having a low apparent density, in the range of 0.8 to 1.1 kg/l.
• These coloured particles are obtained using a production process that hitherto has not been described.
• the invention is applicable as a distinguishing element in the manufacture of powdered detergents.
• coloured particles also known as "speckles”
• spekles are well known in the market, as a component of a commercial nature in powdered detergent formulations.
• the said particles are used to give the powdered detergent a visually distinguishing element that is associated with the improved efficacy of the powdered detergent.
• the particles are solely based on sodium sulfate and a colouring agent although there are also other options that use exclusively carbonates or bentonites together with colouring agents.
• the said coloured particles that exist in the market present one or more of the following drawbacks and problems for use:
• bentonite in the field of detergents is well known in the industry for its softening effect, and is not relevant to the invention described herein. It is documented in numerous patents, such as for example US19850711796 " Bentonite-sulfate fabric softening particulate agglomerate, processes for manufacture and use thereof, and detergent compositions containing it ", GB2172311 " Clay-salt fabric softening particulate agglomerate, for detergent compositions” and ES2056643 "Spray-dried brightening additive for washing agents", but in none of them is the colouring or pigmentation of the particles described.
• the said patent describes the possibility of dividing one of the solids into 2 parts, including a 4th step in which the 2nd part of the solid is added. As can be seen, it is a process of 3 or 4 steps of adding and mixing two solids in which not even a pigment/dye is added for colouring.
• the present description refers to coloured particles for detergents and the process to obtain them, which resolves the problems that currently exist with the production of coloured particles.
• These coloured particles for detergents comprise bentonite, preferably in a light colour or white, as the binding agent, in a proportion of between 5% and 45% by weight in relation to the total weight of solids used (bentonite and sodium sulfate), sodium sulfate, in a proportion of between 55% and 95% by weight in relation to the total weight of solids used (bentonite and sodium sulfate), water, as a binder, in a proportion of between 5% and 15% by weight in relation to the total weight of solids used (bentonite and sodium sulfate), and a pigment or liquid dye, as the colouring agent, in a proportion of between 0.3% and 5% by weight in relation to the total weight of solids used (bentonite and sodium sulfate).
• Bentonite is the name given to a clay with a high content (typically more than 60-70%) of montmorillonite.
• Montmorillonite belongs to the group of smectites, a group that includes other clays.
• bentonite that are characterised by a high content of other clays from the smectite group (beidellite, hectorite, nontronite, saponite, sauconite and stevensite, amongst others).
• Bentonite is used as a binding agent as it endows the mixture with the necessary plastic properties to allow it to be granulated.
• clays such as kaolin, sepiolite, attapulgite, illite or other smectites etc. can be used as binders.
• bentonite is preferred due to its greater effectiveness and because it is accepted in the detergent industry.
• the characteristic production process comprises a phase of mixing the solids, a phase of metering the water and/or additives, and a granulating phase.
• the coloured particles for detergents that are presented are new since, prior to the present invention a product of this type that contains a mix of sodium sulfate and bentonite in the same particle has not been proposed. The process of obtaining the new coloured particles for detergents has not been described previously either.
• the coloured particles for detergents that are presented overcome the drawbacks of the coloured particles for detergents described to date and/or present in the market.
• the coloured particles for detergents described herein are much faster-dissolving than other commercial products, even in cold water.
• the process described in this invention simplifies the process with respect to known particle manufacturing processes, as it reduces it to just two phases of adding materials even when more ingredients are added, such as pigment/dye and other additives to improve the physical or mechanical characteristics of the product obtained.
• the coloured particles for detergents that are the subject matter of the invention consist of a mixture of sodium sulfate and bentonite. Both elements are well known and commonly used for other functions in the field of detergents.
• the bentonite used is of a light colour, preferably white, to foster a greater intensity of the final colour of the new coloured particles.
• Bentonite is provided in a proportion of between 5% and 45% by weight in relation to the total weight of solids used (bentonite and sodium sulfate), preferably between 15% and 25%.
• the sodium sulfate used has a grain size of between 70 and 450 ⁇ m, preferably between 70 and 250 ⁇ m, and it is provided in a proportion of between 55% and 95% by weight in relation to the total weight of solids used (bentonite and sodium sulfate), preferably between 75% and 85%.
• Water is used as the binder of the mixture of sodium sulfate and bentonite, as it is more economical and the desired results are achieved with the process employed. It is added in a proportion of 5% to 15% by weight in relation to the total weight of the solids used (bentonite and sodium sulfate).
• Liquid dyes and pigments are added to the mixture of sodium sulfate and bentonite as colouring agents. With the process described herein they are added at the same time as the water, thus simplifying the process and making it quicker.
• the percentage of pigment or ink added is between 0.3% and 5% in relation to the total weight of the solids used (bentonite and sodium sulfate), preferably between 0.7% and 1.5%.
• PVA polyvinyl alcohol
• CMC carboxymethylcellulose
• sodium silicate materials that are well known by any person skilled in the art and accepted in the detergent industry. They can be added without increasing the steps in the production process, both in solid and liquid state. When they are solids they are added in the initial mixing of solids. When they are liquids they are added together with the granulating water.
• the percentage of these additives used is between 0% and 3% in relation to the total weight of the solids used (bentonite and sodium sulfate)
• the apparent density of the coloured particles obtained is between 0.8 and 1.4 kg/l, preferably between 0.9 and 1.1 kg/l.
• the grain size of the coloured particles is between 200 and 2,000 ⁇ m, more preferably between 600 and 1.200 ⁇ m
• an intensive type mixer such as an EIRICH type mixer is used, although there are other industrial mixers such as L ⁇ DIGE, BÜHLER, etc. It comprises two main elements: the pan where granulating is carried out and a granulating tool.
• the pan rotates on its axis to help granulation and to shorten the total duration of process.
• the granulating tool consists of rotating blades which produce a vortex that granulates the product.
• the production process comprises 3 distinct sequential phases. These 3 phases take place consecutively in the same intensive type mixer with granulating tool.
• Phase 1 the solids (sodium sulfate, bentonite and other solid additives, where appropriate) are added to the granulating pan and are mixed for between 20 and 90 seconds to obtain a good dispersion of the bentonite in the sodium sulfate and ensure a homogeneous mix.
• This step is critical, since if an adequate mix is not obtained, a certain number of sodium sulfate particles will not be capable of subsequent granulation in phase 3, due to not being in contact with the water and bentonite at the same time, since they do not have plastic properties to form granules by themselves.
• phase 2 commences, in which the mix of liquids that contains water and pigment is added.
• liquids such as binders and bulking agents are added, they are added together with the water.
• a constant addition flow is maintained, although adding the amount of liquids required takes between 45 and 80 seconds.
• the granulating agent is water which, when added to the solid mixture transforms the material, endowing it with a larger particle size and, at the same time, a lower apparent density than would be obtained if the bentonite and sodium sulfate were combined in dry conditions.
• Phase 3 the pan's granulating tool is used for a period of 1 to 15 minutes, preferably 3 minutes.
• This phase is characterised by the growth of the grain when it comes into contact with the water and the plastic material in optimized operating conditions.
• the phase is considered to have ended when a certain time has elapsed, which will correspond to the most suitable granulometric distribution for the type of product to be then processed. If the operating time in this phase is less then there will be a significant amount of particles that will not reach a sufficient particle size. Likewise, increasing time beyond the optimum period will result in a higher rejected or even broken fraction due to excessive granulating.
• the product After granulation is achieved in phase 3 the product undergoes screening to the required particle size range. Following this, it goes to the dryer where excess moisture is eliminated, preventing the formation of clumps of the finished product, since it is a hygroscopic material. Rejected fractions of the product are reutilised and returned to the start of the process where the material is reused, avoiding waste management costs.
• Example 1 the procedure described in patent EP 2009086B1 is followed to produce a coloured sodium sulfate.
• Granular sodium sulfate is placed in a reactor and sodium silicate and pigment are added under stirring. It is then dried. Particles with a diameter of 900 ⁇ m and an apparent density of 1.5 kg/1 are obtained. This density is higher than that of powdered detergents.
• Example 2 in the granulator, a mixture of sodium sulfate and bentonite is added in a percentage of 85% sodium sulfate and 15% bentonite (% by weight in relation to the total weight of the mixture). It is mixed for 30 seconds to homogenise it and the mixture of water and colouring agent is added. It is mixed for 2 minutes and a granulated product of a homogeneous appearance is obtained, with a mean particle size of 800 ⁇ m and density of 0.9 kg/l. It is a product that is apt for the powdered detergent market since it has suitable particle size, colouring and apparent density.
• Example 3 to a commercial detergent with a density of 0.8 kg/l, the granulate that is the subject matter of this invention (example 2) and another commercial coloured product (example 1) are added.
• the product is shaken, simulating transportation conditions, a percentage of the coloured sulfate particles of example 1 (apparent density 1.5 kg/l), falls to the bottom of the package and the desired effect upon opening the box of detergent is not achieved.
• the apparent density is much lower (0.9 kg/l compared to 1.5 kg/l)
• transportation conditions are simulated the new coloured particles remain evenly distributed in the detergent.
• Example 4 in this example the dissolution of different colour particles (example 2 and example 1) is studied and compared using methods that are known and accepted in the detergent industry.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
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• Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)

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Citations (7)

• 2016
  • 2016-11-04 EP EP16020434.3A patent/EP3318622B1/de active Active
  • 2016-11-04 ES ES16020434T patent/ES2953916T3/es active Active

Patent Citations (10)

Non-Patent Citations (3)

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