Water soluble magnesium compounds as cleaning agents and methods of using them

a technology of water soluble magnesium and cleaning agents, applied in detergent compounding agents, water softening, inorganic non-surface active detergent compositions, etc., can solve the problems of hard water spotting, filming, staining or soap scum left on the surface, lack of other materials commonly used in cleaning compositions, etc., to reduce or prevent the effect of reducing the formation of lime scal

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-11-06
ECOLAB USA INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention departs from generally held beliefs that complicated formulae are necessary to overcome the deleterious and undesirable effects associated with hard water. When cleaning or rinsing hard surfaces, the use of hard water often results in hard water spotting, filming, staining, or soap scum left on the surface. Hard water spotting, staining, filming, and scale are particularly apparent when washing dishes in an automatic warewashing machine, cleaning basins or countertops or other hard surfaces in a kitchen or bathroom, or when washing vehicles. The present invention includes simpler compositions that overcome the stated undesirable effects of hard water. The present invention comprises methods and compositions employing a water soluble magnesium salt to counter the undesirable effects of calcium ion in hard water. In fact, one embodiment of the present methods and compositions employ nothing more than water soluble magnesium salt and hard water to this end. The present compositions and methods can reduce or prevent the formation of lime scale along with other deleterious effects associated with the use of hard water for cleaning hard surfaces. The present invention may be used to prepare presoaks or prewashes, cleaning agents, or rinse agents. The present invention relates to compositions and methods employing a water soluble magnesium compound. In certain embodiments, the composition includes water and water soluble magnesium compound, but lacks other materials commonly used in cleaning compositions. The methods and compositions can provide magnesium ion at predefined ratios to calcium ion in water, such as magnesium ion in a molar amount equal to or in excess over a molar amount of calcium ion. The water soluble magnesium salt has an associated anion that can exchange with the carbonate associated with the calcium ion. It is preferred that the calcium anion product has the highest possible solubility, but is not required. These compositions can be used for reducing lime scale or precipitate formation from hard water, removing soap scum, or the like.

Problems solved by technology

When cleaning or rinsing hard surfaces, the use of hard water often results in hard water spotting, filming, staining, or soap scum left on the surface.
In certain embodiments, the composition includes water and water soluble magnesium compound, but lacks other materials commonly used in cleaning compositions.

Method used

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  • Water soluble magnesium compounds as cleaning agents and methods of using them
  • Water soluble magnesium compounds as cleaning agents and methods of using them
  • Water soluble magnesium compounds as cleaning agents and methods of using them

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

Water Soluble Magnesium Compounds Reduce Precipitation of Calcium Salts from Hard Water

[0105]This Example demonstrates that adding a hardness ion (Mg2+) to water worked as well as a conventional chelating agent or sequestrant (sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP)) at preventing precipitation of calcium salts.

Materials and Methods

[0106]Formation of a precipitate in water reduces the transmission of visible light through the water. A transmittance of 100% indicates that no precipitate formed, while a transmittance of 0% indicates that so much precipitate formed that light no longer passed through the sample. Transmittance was measured for water containing either MgCl2 (present invention) or STPP (comparative example) at pH values of about 8, about 10, and about 12, and at temperatures of about 20° C., about 45° C., and about 70° C. Temperatures were chosen in an attempt to reflect room temperature (20° C.), general laundry temperature (45° C.) and general automatic warewashing temperature (...

example 2

Water Soluble Magnesium Compounds Reduce Formation of Scale from Hard Water

[0117]This Example demonstrates that adding a hardness ion (Mg2+) to water reduced formation of lime scale from hard water.

Materials and Methods

[0118]Tap water with 17 grain hardness and a 2:1 Ca:Mg weight ratio was spiked with various levels of magnesium chloride and then incubated in glass bottles in a 140° F. oven for about two weeks. The bottles were then visually evaluated for lime scale build-up.

Results

[0119]The results are presented in the table below.

Scale onMagnesium Chloride Added (wt-%)Bottle0present0.007present0.067present0.48none2.4none7.2none14none

[0120]The data clearly shows the benefit of adding water soluble magnesium salt to the tap water. In particular, when 0.48 wt-% or more of magnesium chloride was added, no lime scale build-up was observed on the surface of the glass bottle. By contrast, when either no magnesium was present, or when less magnesium chloride was added, lime scale build-up...

example 3

Injecting Water Soluble Magnesium Compounds for Rinse Cycle Reduced Formation of Scale from Hard Water in Warewashing Machine

[0121]This Example demonstrates that, injecting only a hardness ion (Mg2+) into rinse water reduced formation of lime scale from hard water on a dishwasher.

Materials and Methods

[0122]A dishwashing machine was run for 100 cycles using 17 grain hard water for the wash and rinse cycles with no added rinse agent. A dishwashing machine was run for 100 cycles using 17 grain hard water and with water soluble magnesium compound, magnesium sulfate, introduced as the sole rinse agent. The magnesium sulfate was introduced at a molar ratio of magnesium ion to calcium ion of 1:1. No detergent was used in any of the wash cycles.

Results

[0123]FIGS. 7 and 8 are photographs of interiors of dishwashing machines after 100 cycles run using 17 grain hard water only or using 17 grain hard water and with water soluble magnesium compound, magnesium sulfate, introduced as the sole rins...

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Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods employing a water soluble magnesium compound. In certain embodiments, the composition includes water and water soluble magnesium compound, but lacks other materials commonly used in cleaning compositions. The methods and compositions can provide magnesium ion at predefined ratios to calcium ion in water, such as magnesium ion in a molar amount equal to or in excess over a molar amount of calcium ion. A water soluble magnesium salt including an anion of a water soluble calcium salt is more effective than a magnesium salt with an anion of a water insoluble calcium salt. These compositions can be used for reducing lime scale or precipitate formation from hard water, removing soap scum, or the like.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 927,575 filed on May 4, 2007 and entitled “Compositions Containing Magnesium Salt and Methods of Using”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.[0002]This application is also related to: U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Cleaning Compositions with Water Insoluble Conversion Agents and Methods of Making and Using Them” (Attorney Docket No. 2454USU1); U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled, “In Situ Generation of Nanoparticles Under Alkaline Conditions” (Attorney Docket No. 2437USU1); U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Water Treatment System and Downstream Cleaning Methods” (Attorney Docket No. 2428USU1); U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Cleaning Compositions Containing Water Soluble Magnesium Compounds and Methods of Using Them” (Attorney Docket No. 2488USU1); U.S. patent applicatio...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C11D3/20
CPCC11D3/046C11D7/10C11D11/0023C02F2303/22C02F5/06C02F2303/14C02F5/02C23F11/08C23F11/124C23F11/18C23G1/20C23G1/22C11D3/044C11D3/10C11D3/04
Inventor SMITH, KIM R.BESSE, MICHAEL E.TJELTA, BRENDA L.SANDERS, LISA M.OLSON, KEITH E.
Owner ECOLAB USA INC
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