Acid-containing composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an acid-containing composition, a raw material mixture for the preparation of such a composition, a composition prepared using the process, and the use of the composition.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for preparing an acid-containing composition, a mixture of raw materials for preparing such a composition, a composition prepared by the method, and the use of the composition. Background Technology

[0002] In equipment or industrial installations used to provide or guide hot water, the problem of scale buildup or deposits due to temperature is common. This similarly involves components such as rinse media, on which scale can deposit during contact with hot water.

[0003] Various surfactants, descaling agents, or rinsing agents based on different active substances are known on the market. They are typically in liquid or powder form. Generally, these descaling agents or rinsing agents consist of rinsing components combined with so-called salt substitutes. These components are mostly specialized nonionic surfactants and polymers with adhesion properties on hard surfaces.

[0004] Industrial or commercial descaling or rinsing processes are often designed with active ingredients primarily used in automated cleaning procedures that operate without human intervention after being programmed. Therefore, descaling or rinsing agents must withstand adverse conditions (high humidity, high temperature) for several hours after opening the packaging without losing their usability and effectiveness. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a temperature and humidity stable composition that exhibits improved consistency and very good efficacy during descaling or rinsing, and to provide the use of the composition in industrial and commercial fields.

[0006] The objectives described herein are achieved, in part, by a method for preparing a composition according to claim 1, a mixture of raw materials for preparation according to claim 5, a composition according to claim 9, and the use of a composition according to claim 15.

[0007] This method for preparing the composition according to the present invention includes the following steps: (i) Providing a mixture of raw materials comprising at least one acid, wherein at least a portion of the acid is selected from acid anhydrides, and the at least one acid is preferably selected from organic acids. (ii) Optionally, other additives may be added, preferably selected from surfactants and / or other acids and / or auxiliaries. (iii) Optionally, the raw material mixture may be heated to a predetermined minimum temperature. (iv) Add water to form a mixture. (v) Optional addition of other additives, (vi) Cool the mixture to room temperature.

[0008] Here, "provide" can be understood as both on-site preparation and supplying a mixture of raw materials including at least one acid.

[0009] Preferably, the at least one acid is selected from organic acids. According to the invention, at least a portion of the acid is selected from acid anhydrides. Preferably, the acid anhydride accounts for more than 90% by weight, particularly preferably more than 95% by weight, particularly more than 99% by weight, and particularly preferably 100% by weight.

[0010] The present invention also relates to a raw material mixture used in the method of the present invention, comprising: - At least one acid, wherein the at least one acid is preferably selected from organic acids, wherein at least a portion of the acid is selected from acid anhydrides. - Optional other additives, preferably selected from surfactants and / or other acids and / or auxiliaries.

[0011] Preferably, these organic acids are selected from dicarboxylic acids and / or tricarboxylic acids.

[0012] Preferably, the raw material mixture includes a negligible water content, preferably less than 0.1% by weight.

[0013] In the preparation of the compositions of the present invention, other additives may be added, preferably one or more surfactants and / or other acids and / or auxiliaries. Other additives may also be provided as premixes, i.e., those without anhydride portions.

[0014] Here, additives can be added in principle before optional heating (according to step (iii) above) and / or before adding water (according to step (iv)) and / or before cooling the mixture (according to step (vi)). However, it is preferable to add one or more additives during the cooling process according to step (vi).

[0015] Optionally, the raw material mixture can be heated to a predetermined minimum temperature, for example, to a temperature of about 25°C to about 80°C, wherein the temperature range may depend on existing equipment or setup. Advantageously, such heating can melt the acid anhydride.

[0016] In the next step, water can be added to form a mixture, thereby initiating an exothermic reaction in which the proportion of dissolved acid can be advantageously increased as the temperature preferably rises to at least 80°C, preferably at least 85°C, particularly at least 90°C and / or up to a maximum of 135°C, and the acid anhydride can be converted substantially completely, i.e., close to 100%, to acid, thereby consuming excess water.

[0017] Therefore, according to the present invention, the proportion of acid anhydride in the final composition (compared to the raw material mixture) is significantly reduced, i.e., the acid anhydride is almost completely converted into acid. By converting the acid anhydride into acid and removing water from the mixture, it is possible to maintain the water content in the final composition at a low level, thereby improving the stability of the composition. Such a step can be carried out, for example, preferably under stirring in a mixing vessel equipped with a stirrer (e.g., a conical mixing and drying reactor).

[0018] Therefore, the advantage of the method of the present invention is that a sufficiently high water content can be maintained at the beginning of the process to dissolve the acid.

[0019] The exothermic reaction also causes a temperature increase, which can preferably increase the proportion of dissolved acid by 1.5 to 2 times.

[0020] Furthermore, the increased temperature favorably causes the mixture to liquefy, which makes it easy to further process the mixture, i.e., fill it into a container in the liquid state and then solidify it to form a solid consistency.

[0021] Finally, the method of the present invention includes the step of cooling the mixture to room temperature (i.e., ambient temperature, for example, in the range of 15°C to 30°C). This step produces the composition of the present invention, preferably in the form of a supersaturated suspension, forming crystalline and / or amorphous, particularly preferably crystalline, solid material.

[0022] Therefore, the present invention also relates to a composition comprising: -At least one acid, - A certain percentage of water, preferably at most 10% by weight, particularly at most 2% by weight and / or at least 0.1% by weight, - Optional additives, preferably selected from surfactants and / or other acids and / or auxiliaries.

[0023] Preferably, the composition is a single-phase or multi-phase composition, wherein at least one phase is a solid phase and is soluble in an aqueous environment and exhibits appropriate solubility.

[0024] If the composition of the present invention includes a residual proportion of water, then the residual proportion is at most 10% by weight, preferably at most 2% by weight and / or at least 0.1% by weight. Preferably, other acids or components can be dissolved by the residual proportion of water where appropriate.

[0025] Advantageously, compositions having a residual water content of up to 2% by weight and / or at least 0.1% by weight exhibit improved temperature stability.

[0026] In the course of the method of the present invention, the preparation of the composition of the present invention can be carried out, for example, at a temperature of 60°C. Advantageously, by the preparation method of the present invention, particularly by processing at a high temperature preferably above about 80°C, the composition of the present invention can be stabilized, making it feasible to store the composition at temperatures up to 80°C without liquefaction. Such a high storage temperature is necessary for maritime transport in near-equatorial regions and for truck transport in warm regions (e.g., Southern Europe, Africa, desert regions of the United States, Southeast Asia, Australia, etc.). Furthermore, such temperature stability is also necessary, particularly when the composition of the present invention is intended for use in apparatus or equipment where heating occurs.

[0027] Furthermore, the compositions of the present invention maintain shape stability even at elevated temperatures (up to 80°C) and advantageously possess improved consistency.

[0028] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an surfactant product that can, in principle, be constructed in various forms, such as discs, cylinders, blocks, or similar forms. Therefore, the composition can be filled into any mold, for example, and the solidified block can subsequently be removed from the mold again. Preferably, the composition is in block form and / or preferably filled into a container, preferably a cartridge, and has a solid, waxy, or gel-like consistency, preferably cut-stable. Hereinafter, the term "cut-stable" is understood to mean that a cut made in the composition with a knife remains visible. When the mixture is filled into a container (e.g., a container later used for metering), the solid block typically conforms to the inner contour of the container.

[0029] Preferably, the surfactant product is a cartridge containing a composition therein, which can preferably be prepared by the method described above. During composition preparation, the conversion of acid anhydrides can be advantageously utilized, resulting in less material expansion. Therefore, the composition, still in a liquid state, can be filled into the cartridge, and undesirable pressure exerted on the cartridge from the inside is not necessarily generated during the curing process. This advantageously prevents the possibility of cartridge deformation. Overall, it is therefore possible for the product to be shape-stable not only during storage but also at the time of preparation or filling.

[0030] The compositions of the present invention can exist in a water-soluble phase and are advantageously substantially completely soluble in water. “Substantially completely” means that the composition dissolves to a sufficient degree, i.e., neither too quickly nor too slowly, thereby exhibiting solubility characteristics or dissolution rate suitable for efficient action.

[0031] On the other hand, the present invention relates to compositions or active agent products, preferably bathroom cleaners, rinsers or descaling agents, for use in hot water guiding objects, machines and (industrial) devices, or for objects such as rinsed items, or for machines and (industrial) devices in which water is heated or heated water is heated, preferably hot water systems such as heating rods, hot water boilers, (fully) automatic coffee machines, electric kettles, (commercial) dishwashers, commercial cooking and baking equipment such as convection ovens and large-capacity cooking containers and washing machines, or for objects located in these machines or devices as rinsed items, such as cutlery, cutlery and glasses, for cleaning, rinsing and descaling.

[0032] The specific application depends on the conditions of the equipment itself. Some equipment is equipped with specialized metering or injection devices for their respective purposes, while in other equipment, the composition or surfactant product is introduced directly or in a water-soluble manner into the space to be treated.

[0033] In commercial installations or equipment, a challenge, for example, lies in introducing the composition or surfactant product in such a way that the composition only dissolves at a specific temperature. Due to its high temperature stability, the compositions of the present invention can advantageously be introduced into commercial installations or equipment in the form of a rinsing agent or descaling agent, for example, in the form of a rinsing agent block (preferably also in a container), before, for example, a (automatic) cleaning process begins.

[0034] When the composition of the present invention is used as a rinsing agent, it can be used separately from the detergent and essentially functions as a rinsing agent during the rinsing process. For example, the rinsing agent is located in a drum in this case, and the drum opening is mounted in a commercial dishwasher or cooking or baking appliance at a slightly downward angle (e.g., about 15°). The commercial dishwasher or cooking or baking appliance may therefore have one or more specially designed supports.

[0035] However, rinsing agents can also be used in combination with cleaning agents. For this purpose, the rinsing agent can be integrated into the cleaning agent system, for example, in the form of a solid block. "Integration" in this sense means that the rinsing agent advantageously exists in a separate phase or a separate compartment, but is detachably or permanently connected to the cleaning agent system in a ready-to-use state (thus forming a so-called "2-in-1" system with at least two phases, solid-solid, solid-liquid, or solid-gel, with a solid shell or a coating in the form of a covering layer, where appropriate). Separate compartments or units can be implemented, for example, in combined products where components for the cleaning agent system (such as alkaline cleaning agent sheets) and rinsing agent blocks are pressed or manufactured separately and then combined together. Alternatively, the first phase, such as the cleaning agent, can be first cast into a mold, and then the rinsing agent composition can be applied on top of it. Where appropriate, the rinsing agent can also be surrounded by the cleaning agent. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to separately meter and add the rinsing agent. This simplifies the use of the rinsing agent, especially in automated methods.

[0036] Other particularly advantageous designs and modifications of the invention are derived from the dependent claims and the description below, wherein the claims of one class of claims may also be modified in a manner similar to the claims and description of another class of claims, and in particular, features of different embodiments or variations may be combined to form new embodiments or variations, even if the corresponding combinations are not explicitly mentioned.

[0037] According to a preferred method for preparing an advantageous composition, water is added in an amount of up to 20% by weight, preferably up to 15% by weight, particularly preferably up to 12% by weight, to form or obtain a mixture according to step (iv). At least 3.5% by weight of water is added. In this case, the amount of water is advantageous for processability.

[0038] As described above, in this principle, the mixture can be filled into a container, preferably a barrel, before heating or after heating and before cooling, thereby forming a solid material, preferably a solid block, in the container.

[0039] A mixture of raw materials for preparing a favorable composition preferably comprises at least two or at least three organic acids, wherein at least two organic acids are selected from dicarboxylic acids. Preferably, the other organic acid is selected from tricarboxylic acids, and more preferably from saturated tricarboxylic acids.

[0040] Specifically, the raw material mixture includes one or more dicarboxylic acids, which are selected from: -Saturated dicarboxylic acids, such as adipic acid, malic acid, glutaric acid, succinic acid, oxalic acid, and / or malonic acid. and / or - Unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, such as fumaric acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid and / or citraconic acid.

[0041] Preferably, these dicarboxylic acids are selected from at least one saturated dicarboxylic acid and at least one unsaturated dicarboxylic acid. Preferably, the dicarboxylic acid, especially the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, is selected from acid anhydrides.

[0042] As described above, the raw material mixture or mixture may include other acids, such as those selected from sulfonic acids, such as aminosulfonic acid, toluenesulfonic acid, cumenesulfonic acid and / or xylenesulfonic acid.

[0043] In addition, a favorable mixture of raw materials or mixtures may include at least one surfactant.

[0044] The composition prepared by the method of the present invention preferably comprises at least one acid in an amount greater than 88% by weight, preferably greater than 95% by weight, particularly preferably greater than 96% by weight, particularly greater than 97% by weight, and particularly preferably greater than 98% by weight. The content of this at least one acid is at most 99.5% by weight, preferably at most 99% by weight. The proportion of acid in this case is determined by the sum of all acids present in the composition. Advantageously, with such a proportion of acid, a significantly improved descaling or rinsing efficiency is obtained.

[0045] Advantageously, the preferred composition, when dissolved in water, has an acidic pH value in at least 1% aqueous solution, i.e., a pH value lower than 7, preferably lower than 4, particularly preferably lower than 3, particularly lower than 2.5, particularly preferably lower than 2 and at least 1.5.

[0046] Further preferred compositions include at least 0.1% by weight, particularly preferably at least 9% by weight, and especially at least 10% by weight of saturated dicarboxylic acids. Preferred compositions include at most 20% by weight, particularly preferably at most 12% by weight, and especially at most 11% by weight of saturated dicarboxylic acids.

[0047] According to a further preferred composition, the proportion of unsaturated dicarboxylic acid is at least 20% by weight, preferably at least 55% by weight, particularly at least 60% by weight; the proportion of unsaturated dicarboxylic acid is at most 90% by weight, preferably at most 70% by weight, particularly at most 65% by weight.

[0048] If the preferred composition contains a tricarboxylic acid, the tricarboxylic acid shall be at least 10% by weight, preferably at least 22% by weight, particularly 24% by weight; the tricarboxylic acid shall be at most 95% by weight, preferably at most 28% by weight, particularly at most 26% by weight.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment, the rinsing agent system includes at least three organic acids, wherein preferably, two organic acids are selected from dicarboxylic acids, and the third organic acid is preferably selected from tricarboxylic acids, more preferably saturated tricarboxylic acids.

[0050] In a particularly preferred composition, the saturated dicarboxylic acid is selected from bisaccharide, the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid is selected from maleic acid, and the optional tricarboxylic acid is selected from citric acid.

[0051] The advantage of adding citric acid is that, as a complexing agent, it can bind polyvalent metal ions and prevent their redeposition.

[0052] According to a further preferred embodiment, the composition comprises dicarboxylic acids selected from: -Saturated dicarboxylic acids, such as adipic acid, malic acid, glutaric acid, succinic acid, oxalic acid, and / or malonic acid. and / or - Unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, such as fumaric acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid and / or citraconic acid.

[0053] Preferably, these dicarboxylic acids are selected from at least one saturated dicarboxylic acid and at least one unsaturated dicarboxylic acid. Preferably, the saturated dicarboxylic acid is selected from bisaccharide; the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid is preferably selected from maleic acid.

[0054] It is further shown that the solubility of the composition can be adjusted by the solubility and proportion of different acids, so that the composition dissolves quickly enough but not too quickly according to its respective needs, thereby achieving the most efficient effect possible.

[0055] If the composition is used as a descaling agent or rinsing agent, it can be metered using a conductivity probe. Advantageously, the conductivity can be adjusted, in particular, by means of the proportion of maleic acid.

[0056] According to a further preferred embodiment, the preferred composition or preferred descaling agent or rinsing agent includes at least one surfactant. In the preferred composition, this surfactant preferably has a proportion of at least 0.05% by weight and / or at most 5% by weight. Advantageously, by preferably adding a surfactant, the surface tension of the composition is reduced during, for example, descaling or rinsing, thereby achieving better wetting of the descaling agent or rinsing agent.

[0057] For this purpose, a nonionic surfactant based on ethoxylated fatty alcohol can preferably be used in an amount of 0.05% to 10% by weight, particularly 0.1% to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.1% to 4% by weight, and most preferably about 0.1% by weight. Examples of this are Dehypon E 124 (a product of Cognis), BASF's Plurafac SLF 180 and Plurafac LF 431, 300, 303, 401, 220 and 802, and Nouryon's Ethylan 1003.

[0058] The matrix of the composition may also contain a slow-release agent or a solubilizer / dissolution accelerator, which delays or accelerates dissolution, thereby allowing the composition or active agent product to exert its optimal effect. This time delay can be suitably controlled by the solubility of the active ingredient or in a temperature-dependent manner, such that the active ingredient component of the composition only dissolves significantly at elevated temperatures. To delay the solubility of the composition, according to a preferred embodiment, a hydrophobic substance is used. These substances can be incorporated into the matrix or applied as a coating or layer to the surface of the composition.

[0059] Examples of such hydrophobic substances are waxes or similar sustained-release agents. Substances with sustained-release properties include stearates, such as glyceryl monostearate, also known under the trade name Cutina (Cognis), or magnesium stearate, and fatty acid alkanolamides, also known under the trade name Comperlan (Cognis). However, sustained-release can also be achieved by using substances that form a gel during dissolution, where appropriate. These substances include, for example, carboxymethyl cellulose, gelatin, starch, or fumed silica.

[0060] If the composition (preferably a descaling agent or rinsing agent) is present in combination with a cleaning agent (e.g., a cleaning tablet), an adhesive can be used to detachably bond the composition and the cleaning tablet together. For example, polyethylene glycol can be used for this purpose. During preparation, polyethylene glycol can be introduced, for example, in molten form into the grooves of the cleaning tablet, and the composition can be distributed into the grooves of the cleaning agent (e.g., the cleaning tablet) by pressing the composition together (e.g., in the form of a cleaning block).

[0061] As described above, the composition is preferably in the form of blocks, more preferably in the form of rinsing agent blocks. These rinsing agent blocks can preferably be individually located in cartridges. When used in a device, the cartridges can be preferably inserted into the device in such a way that the agent can easily flow out or be flushed away. For this purpose, the cartridge openings can be inserted, for example, horizontally at a slight downward angle or vertically into commercial equipment, and the rinsing agent can be flushed away after the cleaning process according to an automated cleaning procedure. In each case, it is particularly preferred that each rinsing agent block be individually packaged in a cartridge, as this prevents harm to the user from the ingredients. Preferably, this type of cartridge can contain an amount of rinsing agent sufficient for more than one rinsing cycle.

[0062] The composition can also be further modified by additional, and where appropriate, functional compartments or substances. Thus, the composition may, for example, additionally contain sulfonated polystyrene and sulfonated polystyrene-maleic acid copolymer, preferably with a molecular weight of 15,000 g / mol to 1,000,000 g / mol, in an amount of 0.1 wt% to 5.0 wt%. This polymer system prevents the deposition of calcium salts formed due to water hardness by finely dispersing them and keeping them suspended during rinse water replacement. Furthermore, advantageous compositions may contain (partially neutralized) polyacrylic acid, acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymer, or polycarboxylate.

[0063] In addition, special layers or regions can be provided, for example, provided that they are stable in the (acidic) environment of the composition, or correspondingly shielded relative to the (acidic) environment.

[0064] The framework formulation for the compositions of the present invention (preferably in the form of a descaling agent or rinsing agent block) can be exemplary as follows: .

[0065] Preferably, the composition comprises the following components: .

[0066] Particularly preferably, the composition comprises the following components: .

[0067] Specifically, the composition comprises the following components: .

[0068] Advantageously, the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid is selected from maleic acid, which is specifically formed from an anhydride.

[0069] Additionally, the composition may include auxiliaries, which ideally total no more than 20% by weight of the composition.

[0070] Other features of the invention are described below in conjunction with the embodiments of the claims. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the implementation of the described embodiments, but is defined by the scope of the appended claims. In particular, in embodiments of the invention, the various features may be implemented in combinations different from those shown in the examples below. Detailed Implementation

[0071] Preparation of the composition of the present invention: Prepare the raw material mixtures (see Table 1) or compositions (see Table 2) described in Table 1 or Table 2 (see below) according to formulations (A to R): The data (in weight percentage) of the embodiments of the present invention are each based on the total amount of the raw material mixtures or the prepared compositions. In this example, a rinsing agent block was prepared. However, the compositions can of course also be used in suitable forms in other rinsing or descaling processes in commercial and industrial installations.

[0072] As described above, it is conceivable to use acids at almost any concentration, which in this invention are organic acids, preferably dicarboxylic acids and tricarboxylic acids. Other acids may also be added as described above.

[0073] Table 1: Examples of the raw material mixture of the present invention by the amount of raw materials used (by weight percentage). Table 2: Examples of compositions of the present invention. Components are expressed in weight percent. To prepare the composition of the present invention, an acid is prepared in advance and heated under stirring in a heated mixing vessel equipped with a stirring mechanism (in this example, an Amixon conical mixing and drying reactor, AMT). During heating, water is sprayed in under stirring. After reaching the target temperature (between 80°C and 135°C, preferably between 90°C and 120°C, depending on the formulation), a surfactant is sprayed in to homogenize the mixture, and the mixture is filled into cartridges at a temperature above 80°C, and in this example, above 95°C.

[0074] The first evaluation focused on the consistency of the block composition. The results showed that even at an elevated temperature of 80°C, the composition could not be noticeably pressed in with fingers or deformed by hand.

[0075] The block-shaped composition (rinsing agent in this case) filled in a canister was tested in a commercial dishwasher with an automatic cleaning program. For this purpose, the rinsing agent canister was fixed at a 15° angle (opening downwards) in a bracket provided for this purpose in the commercial dishwasher.

[0076] To determine the dissolution rate, the following method, also commonly used to determine the dissolution time of tablets, is used: A cube with a side length of 1 cm is placed on a perforated plate (orifice diameter = 1.8 mm, orifice spacing = 2.4 mm) and immersed in a beaker containing 1 L of tap water at 20°C. After a certain time, the cube disintegrates within a few seconds, and the material of the cube (i.e., the composition) falls through the perforated plate. The time point at which the cube has substantially completely disintegrated and the composition falls through the perforated plate is measured. This measured time is normalized to a pre-determined weight.

[0077] The evaluation of the rinsing efficiency (rinsing and descaling) of the rinsing agent system of the present invention based on the above composition is obtained by comparing it with conventional rinsing agents (in this example, with the prior art rinsing agent tablet Miele GP DC CX 0061 T (Table 3, column X)): Table 3: Comparison of physicochemical parameters of exemplary compositions of the present invention (rinsing agent canister form from Table 1) with conventional rinsing agents (X). The results clearly demonstrate that the efficiency of the rinsing agent system of the present invention is significantly improved compared to the conventional Miele GP DC CX 0061 T rinsing agent.

[0078] Stability evaluation compared to existing rinsing agents: The composition of the present invention (in the form of a rinsing agent canister) was stored at 80°C with the opening slightly tilted downwards (tilt angle approximately 15°), and any possible liquid leakage or liquefaction of the contents was observed. Lainox Solid Cal was used as a comparative product. During the one-week storage period, only negligible liquid leakage (<20 mL out of a total volume of 560 mL) was permitted.

[0079] The results show that the composition of the present invention has a temperature stability of at least 80°C. In contrast, the competing product, Lainox SolidCal, is only stable below about 50°C.

[0080] Since the rinsing agent system described in the foregoing detailed description is merely an example of an embodiment, those skilled in the art can make extensive modifications to it in a conventional manner without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the specific design of the rinsing agent system may exist in a form different from that described herein. Similarly, those skilled in the art can modify the formulation of the rinsing agent system in the sense of the specific embodiments described above. Those skilled in the art also know how to adjust the various weight proportions according to the corresponding requirements within the framework of the solution according to the invention. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not preclude the possibility that the relevant feature may be present multiple times.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a composition, comprising the following steps: (i) Providing a mixture of raw materials comprising at least one acid, wherein at least a portion of said acid is selected from acid anhydrides, and said at least one acid is preferably selected from organic acids. (ii) Optionally, other additives may be added, preferably selected from surfactants and / or other acids and / or auxiliaries. (iii) Optionally, the raw material mixture may be heated to a predetermined minimum temperature. (iv) Add water to form a mixture. (v) Optional addition of other additives, (vi) Cool the mixture to room temperature.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more additives are added during the cooling process according to step (vi).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein water is added in an amount of up to 20% by weight, preferably up to 15% by weight, particularly preferably up to 12% by weight, and / or wherein water is added in an amount of at least 3.5% by weight.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixture is filled into a container, preferably a barrel, before the cooling.

5. A raw material mixture for use in the method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: At least one acid, wherein the at least one acid is preferably selected from organic acids, and wherein at least a portion of the acid is selected from acid anhydrides. Optional other additives, preferably selected from surfactants and / or other acids and / or auxiliaries, The acid is preferably selected from dicarboxylic acids and / or tricarboxylic acids.

6. The raw material mixture according to claim 5, comprising at least two or at least three organic acids, wherein at least two organic acids are selected from dicarboxylic acids, and / or the other organic acid is preferably selected from tricarboxylic acids, preferably saturated tricarboxylic acids.

7. The raw material mixture according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the dicarboxylic acid is selected from: Saturated dicarboxylic acids, such as adipic acid, malic acid, glutaric acid, succinic acid, oxalic acid, and / or malonic acid. and / or Unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, such as fumaric acid, maleic acid, itaconic acid, and / or citraconic acid.

8. The raw material mixture according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the dicarboxylic acid, particularly the unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, is selected from acid anhydrides.

9. A composition comprising: At least one acid, A certain percentage of water, preferably at most 10% by weight, particularly at most 2% by weight, and / or at least 0.1% by weight. Optional additives, preferably selected from surfactants and / or other acids and / or auxiliaries.

10. The composition according to claim 9, wherein the content of the at least one acid is preferably greater than 88% by weight, more preferably greater than 95% by weight, particularly preferably greater than 96% by weight, particularly greater than 97% by weight, and particularly preferably greater than 98% by weight. The content of the at least one acid is up to 99.5% by weight, preferably up to 99% by weight.

11. The composition according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the composition has a pH value of less than 4, preferably less than 3, particularly preferably less than 2.5, particularly less than 2, and at least 1.5 in at least 1% aqueous solution.

12. The composition according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the composition is in block form and / or preferably filled in a container, preferably a cartridge.

13. The composition according to any one of claims 9 to 12, Among them, saturated dicarboxylic acids are selected from bisaccharides. The unsaturated dicarboxylic acid is selected from maleic acid. and The tricarboxylic acid that can be selected is citric acid.

14. An active agent product, preferably in a container, having therein the composition according to any one of claims 9 to 13.

15. Use of a composition according to any one of claims 9 to 13 or an surfactant product according to claim 14, wherein the composition or surfactant product is preferably a bathroom cleaner, rinse aid, or descaling agent, the use being for cleaning, rinsing, and descaling rinsed items, hot water guiding objects, machines and (industrial) installations, or objects, machines and (industrial) installations in which water is heated or heated water is heated, preferably hot water systems, such as heating rods, hot water boilers, (fully) automatic coffee machines, electric kettles, dishwashers, commercial cooking and baking equipment such as convection ovens and large-capacity cooking containers, and washing machines.

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