Surfactant stabilization of hygroscopic species

Abstract

To provide a stabilized solid composition containing a water conditioning agent and an ionic and / or amphoteric surfactant.SOLUTION: The invention provides stable solid compositions employing a water conditioning agent, including hygroscopic or non-hygroscopic species. Particularly disclosed are solid compositions combining an ionic surfactant or amphoteric surfactant with a water conditioning agent, preferably a polyacrylate water conditioning agent. The ionic surfactant or amphoteric surfactant beneficially stabilizes a polymer and / or chelate water conditioning agent, preferably a polyacrylate water conditioning agent, to permit formulation into a solid composition and provide stability under harsh conditions, including humid environments. Applications of using the stable solid compositions are also disclosed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Provisional Application No. 62 / 868,058, filed June 28, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, including without limitation the specification, claims, and abstract, as well as any figures, tables, or examples thereof.

[0002] The present invention relates to stabilized solid compositions using water conditioners, including hygroscopic species water conditioners, and ionic or amphoteric surfactants. In particular, solid compositions are disclosed that combine ionic or amphoteric surfactants with polymeric and / or chelating hygroscopic species, preferably polyacrylate water conditioners. The ionic or amphoteric surfactants advantageously stabilize the polymeric and / or chelating water conditioners, enabling their incorporation into solid compositions and providing stability under harsh conditions, including humid environments. Uses of the stabilized solid compositions containing the water conditioners are also provided. [Background technology]

[0003] Water-conditioning polymers, including hygroscopic water-conditioning materials, can be difficult to incorporate into solid compositions. For example, hygroscopic materials are known to absorb and retain moisture when exposed to moisture, such as humidity. Generally, upon absorption of water or atmospheric humidity during storage, the material forms a hydrate. To the detriment of maintaining a stable solid composition, a hygroscopic material will, in extreme cases, absorb enough moisture to cause the composition to become liquid. A less hygroscopic material will absorb enough moisture to soften the solid, thereby losing its structural integrity (also measured by the dimensional stability of the solid). These difficulties in formulating hygroscopic materials into solid compositions present significant challenges in formulating some types of solids required for various cleaning, disinfecting, water treatment, and other applications.

[0004] Certain water-conditioning polymers, such as polyacrylates, are highly hygroscopic and therefore have traditionally been difficult to incorporate into solid compositions that are stable in humid environments. Furthermore, non-hygroscopic water-conditioning polymers are also difficult to incorporate into solid compositions at high levels (as opposed to all-in-one or other detergents that incorporate water-conditioning polymers at low levels where they are not the primary component of the composition). This has hindered the use of such polyacrylates in solid compositions, limiting the options for consumers who prefer solid compositions.

[0005] Thus, there is a continuing need and consumer demand for solid compositions that can incorporate water-conditioning polymers, including hygroscopic water conditioners such as polyacrylate water conditioners. For example, liquid products containing these materials can contain as much as 90% to approximately 95% water. These products require large amounts of packaging, heavy shipping weights (leading to high shipping costs), and significant shelf space at retailers. While liquid concentrate compositions are available, significant water content remains in liquid compositions. Furthermore, any liquid formulation will have a shorter shelf life than an equivalent stable solid composition. Therefore, there is a need and demand for improved, stable solid compositions to take advantage of these advantages: compactness of the composition for shipping, reduced shipping costs, reduced packaging, more readily disposable containers available, reduced potential for troublesome spills, and reduced shelf space required at retailers. Solid formulations are also more stable under storage and extreme temperatures. Despite these many advantages of solid compositions, developing solid formulations containing hygroscopic materials remains challenging. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] It is therefore an object herein to provide a stabilized solid composition containing a water conditioner and an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant.

[0007] Another object herein is to provide a stabilized solid composition containing a hygroscopic water conditioner and an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant.

[0008] It is yet another object herein to provide such a solid composition that can be exposed to temperature and humidity while maintaining dimensional stability.

[0009] It is yet another object herein to provide solid compositions containing polyacrylate water conditioners that do not swell more than 3%, 4%, or 5% and / or have a dimensional stability of at least 5%, preferably 3%, during typical storage and shipping temperatures.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and features will become apparent from the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] An advantage of solid compositions using anionic or amine oxide surfactants to stabilize hygroscopic species, such as water conditioners, is that the stabilized solid composition overcomes the storage, transportation, and stability limitations of such hygroscopic species, which traditionally take up moisture content and result in unstable solids.

[0012] In one embodiment, a stabilized solid composition comprises at least about 40% or more water balancing polymer and / or chelating agent and an effective amount of surfactant, including ionic surfactant and / or amphoteric surfactant, wherein the solid composition has a dimensional stability of less than about 5% as measured by growth index.

[0013] In a further embodiment, a stabilized solid composition comprises a hygroscopic material comprising a water-regulating polymer and an effective amount of a stabilizing surfactant comprising an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant, wherein the solid composition has a ratio of hygroscopic material to stabilizing surfactant of about 2:1 to about 10:1, and wherein the solid composition has a dimensional stability as measured by a growth index of less than about 5%.

[0014] In yet another embodiment, a method for stabilizing a water conditioner into a solid composition comprises combining a water conditioner with an effective amount of a stabilizing surfactant, comprising an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant, to form a solid, wherein the solid composition either (A) has a ratio of water conditioner to stabilizing surfactant of from about 2:1 to about 10:1, or (B) comprises at least about 40% by weight of the water conditioner, and wherein the solid is pressed, cast, or extruded, and wherein the solid composition has a dimensional stability of less than about 5% as measured by a growth index.

[0015] While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] Comparative images of solid compositions with various degrees of blooming are shown for reference, including examples of a solid with good stability (Figure 1A), mild blooming (Figure 1B), moderate blooming (Figure 1C), severe blooming (Figure 1D), and a liquid (Figure 1E). [Figure 2] A comparison of Formulation A, which does not contain an amine oxide surfactant, and Formulation B, which does contain an amine oxide surfactant, and how the surfactant affected the stability of each formulation is shown. [Figure 3] 1 shows a graph of the dimensional stability of Formulation B as measured by swelling ratio over a 4 week period at a temperature of 40° C. and 65% humidity. [Figure 4] A comparison of stability between formulation C (Figure 4A, 5% amine oxide), formulation D (Figure 4B, 7.5% amine oxide), and formulation B (Figure 4C, 10% amine oxide) is shown as it relates to the concentration of amine oxide surfactant contained in each formulation. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B show a stability comparison between formulations of Example 3 containing a hygroscopic water conditioner and a surfactant at a 5:1 ratio, showing mild blooming with SLS (FIG. 5A) and AOS (FIG. 5B), and severe blooming with an amine oxide (FIG. 5C) and a quaternary ammonium compound (FIG. 5D).

[0017] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention. The figures shown herein do not limit the various embodiments, nor do they limit the scope of the invention. The figures shown herein are presented for illustrative purposes only, and do not limit the various embodiments according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The embodiments are not limited to specific solid compositions containing high concentrations of water conditioners in combination with ionic and / or amphoteric surfactants, methods of making, and / or methods of use, which may vary and are understood by those skilled in the art. It should be further understood that all terminology used herein is solely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and is not intended to be limiting in any manner or scope. For example, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" may include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, all units, prefixes, and symbols may be expressed in their SI-recognized form. Numerical ranges recited herein include numbers within the defined range. Throughout this disclosure, various aspects are presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges and individual numerical values ​​within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, and 5).

[0019] In order to make the present invention more readily understandable, certain terms are first defined. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments of the present invention pertain. Many methods and materials similar, modified, or equivalent to those described herein can be used to practice the embodiments of the present invention without undue experimentation, and preferred materials and methods are described herein. In describing and claiming the embodiments, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forth below.

[0020] The term "about," as used herein, refers to variations in numerical quantities that may occur, for example, due to typical measuring and liquid handling procedures used in making concentrates or use solutions in the real world; inadvertent errors in those procedures; differences in the make, source, or purity of ingredients used to make the compositions or carry out the methods; etc. The term "about" also encompasses amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions for compositions resulting from a particular initial mixture. Whether modified by the term "about," the claims include the equivalent of the amount.

[0021] The terms "actives" or "actives rate" or "weight percent actives" or "actives concentration" are used interchangeably herein and refer to the concentration of those ingredients involved in cleaning or fabric softening, expressed as a percentage minus inactive ingredients such as water or salt. As one skilled in the art will recognize, many laundry components are sold as emulsions, and the percentage of active ingredients is included by manufacture. By way of example only, if 100% of the final composition consists of emulsion X, and emulsion X contains 60% active component X, then the final composition would be said to contain 60% active component X.

[0022] As used herein, the term "alkyl" or "alkyl group" refers to a saturated hydrocarbon having one or more carbon atoms, and includes straight-chain alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, etc.), cycloalkyl 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 alkyl" and "substituted alkyl." As used herein, the term "substituted alkyl" refers to an alkyl group having substituents replacing one or more hydrogens on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone. Examples of such substituents include alkenyl, alkynyl, halogeno, hydroxyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkoxycarbonyloxy, aryloxy, aryloxycarbonyloxy, carboxylate, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, dialkylaminocarbonyl, alkylthiocarbonyl, alkoxyl, phosphate, phosphonato, phosphinato, cyano, methyl ... The substituents may include nitro, amino (including alkylamino, dialkylamino, arylamino, diarylamino, and alkylarylamino), acylamino (including alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, carbamoyl, and ureido), imino, sulfhydryl, alkylthio, arylthio, thiocarboxylate, sulfate, alkylsulfinyl, sulfonate, sulfamoyl, sulfonamido, nitro, trifluoromethyl, cyano, azido, heterocyclic, alkylaryl, or aromatic (including heteroaromatic) groups.

[0023] In some embodiments, substituted alkyls can include heterocyclic groups. As used herein, the term "heterocyclic group" includes closed ring structures similar to carbocyclic groups in which one or more carbon atoms in the ring is an element other than carbon, such as nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen. Heterocyclic groups can be saturated or unsaturated. Exemplary heterocyclic groups include, but are not limited to, aziridine, ethylene oxide (epoxide, oxirane), thiirane (episulfide), dioxirane, azetidine, oxetane, thietane, dioxetane, dithietane, dithiete, azolidine, pyrrolidine, pyrroline, oxolane, dihydrofuran, and furan.

[0024] As used herein, the terms "dimensional stability" and "dimensionally stable" refer to a solid product having a growth index of less than about 5%, or preferably less than about 3%. Swelling of a solid product after solidification can cause various problems, including, but not limited to, loss of density, integrity, and appearance, as well as the inability to dispense or package the solid product. Generally, a solid product is considered dimensionally stable if it has a growth index of less than about 5%, or preferably less than about 3%. The growth index refers to the growth or swelling rate of a product over a period of time, such as 7 or 14 days, after solidification under normal shipping / storage conditions. Because normal shipping / storage conditions often subject the composition to high temperatures, the growth index of a solid product can be determined by measuring one or more dimensions of the product before and after heating at about 100°F to 122°F. The measured dimension(s) depend on the shape of the solid product and how it swells. For tablets, the change in both diameter and height is typically measured, and each measurement must have a growth index less than the defined measurement to meet the growth index and dimensional stability thresholds. In the case of capsules, typically only the diameter is measured.

[0025] As used herein, the term "hygroscopic" refers to the ability of a material to absorb and retain moisture. As referred to herein, "non-hygroscopic" or "not hygroscopic" refers to a material or composition containing this material that does not absorb water in an amount that would cause the material or composition to become liquid when exposed to moisture, such as humidity. Hygroscopic materials cause solids to absorb moisture, which can cause dimensional changes.

[0026] As used herein, the terms "laundry," "linen," "fabric," and / or "textile" refer to items or articles that are cleaned in a washing machine. Generally, laundry refers to any item or article made from or including textile materials, woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, and knitted fabrics. 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. 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 refer to specific types of laundry items, including bed sheets, pillowcases, towels, table linens, tablecloths, bar mops, and uniforms.

[0027] As used herein, the term "polymer" generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, such as block, graft, random, and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, and higher order "x"-mers, and further includes derivatives, combinations, and blends thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term "polymer" is intended to include all possible isomeric configurations of the molecule, including, but not limited to, isotactic, syndiotactic, and random symmetries, and combinations thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term "polymer" is intended to include all possible geometric configurations of the molecule.

[0028] As used herein, the term "crumb" refers to the shedding or flaking of large pieces or chunks of material from a solid composition during dispensing when a portion of the solid composition is placed in an aqueous solution using water for dispensing. When a solid composition is softened by the dispensing of water, pieces or chunks of solid material fall off the solid in an unintentional and / or uncontrolled manner during or between dispensing.

[0029] The term "solid" refers to a composition in a form that is generally shape-stable under expected storage conditions, e.g., a free-flowing powder, particle, agglomerate, flake, granule, pellet, tablet, lozenge, puck, briquette, brick, or block that is a unit dose or a portion from which a measured unit dose can be drawn. Solids may have varying degrees of shape stability, but generally will not appreciably flow and will substantially retain their shape under moderate stress, pressure, or simple gravity, e.g., when a molded solid is removed from a mold or an extruded solid exits an extruder. Solids may have varying degrees of surface hardness, ranging, for example, from that of a fused solid block, the surface of which is relatively dense and hard, resembling concrete, to a consistency characterized as less hard. In a preferred embodiment, the solid composition is a solid block and not a loose or free-flowing powder.

[0030] The term "water-soluble" refers to a compound that can be dissolved in water at a concentration of 2% by weight or greater.

[0031] The terms "weight percent," "wt-%," "percent by weight," "% by weight," and variations thereof, as used herein, refer to the concentration of a substance as the weight of that substance divided by the total weight of the composition multiplied by 100. As used herein, it is understood that "percent," "%," and the like are intended to be synonymous with "weight percent," "wt%," and the like.

[0032] The compositions and methods described herein may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of the components and ingredients described herein, as well as other components described herein. As used herein, "consisting essentially of" means that the compositions and methods may include additional steps, components, or ingredients, provided that the additional steps, components, or ingredients do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed compositions and methods. It should be noted that, as used herein and in the appended claims, the term "composed of" describes a system, device, or other structure that is constructed or configured to perform a particular task or conform to a particular configuration. The term "composed of" may be used interchangeably with other similar phrases, such as arranged and configured, constructed and arranged, adapted and configured, and adapted, constructed, manufactured, and arranged.

[0033] Stabilized solid composition The stabilized solid composition according to the present disclosure comprises, consists of, and / or consists essentially of a water conditioning package (i.e., a water conditioning polymer and / or a chelating agent) and an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant. In certain embodiments, the stabilized solid composition comprises, consists of, and / or consists essentially of a hygroscopic water conditioning package (i.e., a water conditioning polymer) and an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant. The stabilized solid composition may also comprise additional functional ingredients depending on the intended use of the stabilized solid composition. In an exemplary embodiment, the stabilized solid water conditioning composition may further comprise a chelating agent, a thickener or solidifying agent, and other additional functional ingredients.

[0034] In embodiments, the stabilized solid composition has a ratio of hygroscopic solid to stabilizing surfactant active ranging from about 2:1 to about 10:1, 3:1 to about 10:1, 4:1 to about 10:1, about 5:1 to about 10:1, about 6:1 to about 10:1, about 7:1 to about 10:1, about 8:1 to about 10:1, about 9:1 to about 10:1, or any range therebetween.

[0035] Water conditioner The stabilized solid compositions described herein include at least one water conditioning agent that requires stabilization to form a stable solid. As referred to herein, water conditioning agents include polymers and / or chelating agents, as well as both hygroscopic and non-hygroscopic materials. In certain embodiments, the stabilized solid compositions described herein include at least one hygroscopic material that requires stabilization to form a stable solid.

[0036] Polycarboxylic acid polymer Exemplary water-regulating polymers or polymer systems (both hygroscopic and non-hygroscopic) include polycarboxylic acid polymers, copolymers, and / or terpolymers. Salts of each of the polycarboxylic acid polymers, copolymers, and / or terpolymers may also be used.

[0037] In one embodiment, the hygroscopic material is a polycarboxylic acid polymer (or salt thereof), including polyacrylic acid copolymers, polyacrylic acid polymers modified with fatty acid end groups ("modified polyacrylic acid polymers"), polymaleic acid homopolymers, polyacrylic / sulfonic acid copolymers, maleic acid / diisobutylene copolymers, polymethacrylates, polyitaconic acid, and maleic anhydride / olefin copolymers. Non-limiting examples of polycarboxylic acid polymer salts include polyacrylate salts and derivatives, such as water-soluble acrylic polymers. Such polymers include, but are not limited to, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, acrylic acid, acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymers, polymaleic acid, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, hydrolyzed methacrylamide, hydrolyzed acrylamide-methacrylamide copolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed polymethacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-methacrylonitrile copolymers, and the like, or combinations or copolymers thereof. Water-soluble salts or partial salts of these polymers, such as their respective alkali metal (eg, sodium, potassium, or combinations thereof) or ammonium salts, may also be used.

[0038] Examples of particularly suitable commercially available polyacrylic acid polymers and their salts and derivatives include, but are not limited to, Acusol 445ND available from Rohm & Haas LLC. Examples of particularly suitable commercially available modified polyacrylic acid polymers include, but are not limited to, Alcosperse 325 available from Alco Chemical. Examples of particularly suitable commercially available polymaleic acid polymers include, but are not limited to, Belclene 200 available from Houghton Chemical Corporation and Aquatreat AR-801 available from Alco Chemical.

[0039] Polyacrylic acid polymers, copolymers, and / or terpolymers (or salts thereof) are preferred hygroscopic materials in the solid composition. Polyacrylic acid has the following structural formula: [ka] where n is any integer. Examples of suitable polyacrylic acid polymers, copolymers, and / or terpolymers include polyacrylic acid, (C3H4O2) n Examples of suitable polyacrylic acid polymers include, but are not limited to, polymers, copolymers, and / or terpolymers of 2-propenoic acid, acrylic acid, polyacrylic acid, and propenoic acid. Examples of particularly suitable polyacrylic acid polymers and modified polyacrylic acid polymers, and their salts and derivatives, include those having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 100,000 g / mol, or about 1,000 to about 25,000 g / mol. In an alternative embodiment, the solid composition may include at least two polyacrylic acid polymers having different molecular weights.

[0040] In one embodiment, suitable acrylic acid polymers, copolymers, and / or terpolymers have a molecular weight (MW in g / mol) of about 100 to about 10,000, and in preferred embodiments, about 500 to about 7000, 1000 to about 5000, or about 1500 to about 3500. Examples of polyacrylic acid polymers, copolymers, and / or terpolymers (or salts thereof) that can be used include, but are not limited to, Acusol 448 and Acusol 425 from The Dow Chemical Company. Additional embodiments include acrylic acid polymers (and salts thereof) having a molecular weight greater than about 10,000. Examples include, but are not limited to, Acusol 929 (10,000 MW) and Acumer 1510 (60,000 MW), both available from Dow Chemical, and AQUATREAT AR-6 (100,000 MW) from AkzoNobel.

[0041] Polymaleic acid (C4H2O3)x or hydrolyzed polymaleic anhydride, or cis-2-butenedioic acid homopolymer, has the following structural formula: [ka] where n and m are any integers. Specific examples of polymaleic acid homopolymers, copolymers, and / or terpolymers (and salts thereof) that can be used in the present invention are those having molecular weights of about 0 to about 5000, more preferably about 200 to about 2000 (these MWs may be confirmed). Commercially available polymaleic acid homopolymers include Belclene 200 series maleic acid homopolymers from BWA™ Water Additives and Aquatreat AR-801 available from AkzoNobel.

[0042] Maleic anhydride / olefin copolymer is a copolymer of polymaleic anhydride and an olefin. Maleic anhydride (C2H2(CO)2O) has the following structure: [ka] Some maleic anhydride derivatives are maleimides, N-alkyl (C 1~4 ) Maleimide, N-phenyl-maleimide, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, aconitic acid, crotonic acid, cinnamic acid, alkyl of the aforementioned acids (C 1~18 ) esters of the aforementioned acids, cycloalkyl (C 3~8 ) esters, sulfated castor oil, and the like. At least 95% by weight of the maleic anhydride polymer, copolymer, or terpolymer has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 700 to about 20,000, or from about 1000 to about 100,000. A variety of straight-chain and branched-chain alpha-olefins can be used. Particularly useful alpha-olefins are dienes containing 4 to 18 carbon atoms, such as butadiene, chloroprene, isoprene, and 2-methyl-1,5-hexadiene; olefins containing 4 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably C, such as isobutylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, and the like; 4~10Particularly suitable maleic anhydride / olefin copolymers have a molecular weight of about 1000 to about 50,000, about 5000 to about 20,000, or about 7500 to about 12,500. Examples of maleic anhydride / olefin copolymers include, but are not limited to, Acusol 460N from The Dow Chemical Company.

[0043] Phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymers having the following structures are also suitable polycarboxylic acid polymers: [ka] wherein R1 is a phosphino (-PH(=O)(OH)) or phosphono (-P(=O)(OH)2) end group. The molecular weight is about 1,000 to about 50,000 g / mol, and the ratio of m:n is about 1:50 to about 2:5. In one embodiment, the phosphino or phosphono end groups comprise about 0.1 wt % to about 12 wt % of the polycarboxylic acid copolymer. In certain aspects, R1 is PO2H2 or PO3H2. In additional aspects, m is an integer greater than or equal to 0, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The value of maleic acid groups (m) of the phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer can be zero for the homopolymer. The value of acrylic groups (n) of the phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer can be at least 2. For copolymers, in one embodiment of the invention, the sum of m+n is from about 5 to 180, and the molecular weight range of the polymer is from about 1,000 to 50,000.

[0044] As used herein, the term "phosphono end group" refers to a phosphono functional group according to the formula: [ka] wherein each M is independently H or a cation, preferably both M are H. Any reference to a phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or a phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer should be understood to equally incorporate and include the phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer shown in the formula above. In some embodiments, the polyacrylic phosphono-terminated polymer or acrylic-maleic phosphono-terminated copolymer has the following general formula (as shown above): HP-(CH-CHCOOH)(CHCOOH-CHCOOH). In some aspects, n is an integer greater than 0 and m is an integer of 0 (for polyacrylic polymers) or greater (for acrylic-maleic copolymers). In the case of polyacrylates, m is zero. In some embodiments, n and m are integers independently selected to provide a polymer molecular weight of about 500-200,000 g / mol, preferably 500-100,000 g / mol, and more preferably 1,000-25,000 g / mol. In some embodiments, suitable polycarboxylates with phosphono end groups are copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid with phosphono end groups, and homopolymers of acrylic acid with phosphono end groups. Examples of preferred modified polycarboxylates are copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid with phosphonic acid / phosphono end groups according to the general formula: [ka] It has a variable molecular weight, where n is from about 10 mol % to 90 mol %, preferably from about 80 mol %, and m is from about 10 mol % to 90 mol %, preferably from about 20 mol %.

[0045] Phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymers are low-phosphorus, non-nitrogenous, and environmentally friendly agents and can be synthesized as combinations of phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymers of various chain lengths. Phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymers can have polymers of various chain lengths and, therefore, various molecular weights. Examples of suitable commercially available phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers include Acusol 425N, available from Rohm & Haas. Acusol 425N is a low molecular weight (1900 MW) acrylic / maleic (80 / 20) copolymer with phosphono end groups (approximately 1.6-1.7 wt. % phosphorus) and 50% activity. In some embodiments, low molecular weight phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymers, such as polymers with a molecular weight of less than about 2000 grams / mole, are preferred.

[0046] The polymer containing phosphorus end groups can be present in a fully or partially neutralized form. In some embodiments, the phosphonocarboxylic acid copolymer or phosphonopolyacrylic acid homopolymer is neutralized.

[0047] Additional description of exemplary polycarboxylates and polyacrylates is provided in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,537,705 and 3,887,806. For a further discussion of water-regulating polymers, see Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, volume 5, pages 339-366 and volume 23, pages 319-320, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0048] Chelating agent Water conditioner Exemplary water conditioning chelants can include phosphonate and / or non-phosphonate chelants, such as aminocarboxylic acid chelants. Exemplary aminocarboxylic acid materials include, but are not limited to, N-hydroxyethylaminodiacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), hydroxyethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid and methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid-diacetic acid (GLDA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDA), hydroxyiminodisuccinic acid, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), aspartic acid-diacetic acid, and salts thereof.

[0049] Additional Water-Regulating Polymers Additional exemplary water-regulating polymers may include water-soluble or water-insoluble substances whose primary function is to bind calcium and magnesium ions. These may include alkali metal citrates, particularly anhydrous trisodium citrate or trisodium citrate dihydrate, alkali metal succinates, alkali metal malonates, fatty acid sulfonates, oxydisuccinates, alkyl or alkenyl disuccinates, gluconic acid, oxadiacetates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, tartrate monosuccinates, tartrate disuccinates, tartrate monoacetates, tartrate diacetates, and low molecular weight carboxylic acids such as α-hydroxypropionic acid, and salts thereof.

[0050] In one embodiment, the water regulating polymer is included in the solid composition in an amount of about 40% to about 80%, about 40% to about 70%, or about 40% to about 60% by weight of the solid composition.

[0051] In a further embodiment, the water conditioning polymer is a hygroscopic material, preferably a polycarboxylic acid polymer, copolymer, and / or terpolymer (or salt thereof), and is included in the solid composition in an amount of about 20% to about 80%, about 20% to about 60%, about 25% to about 60%, preferably about 25% to about 55% by weight of the solid composition.

[0052] stabilizing surfactant The stabilized solid compositions described herein include at least one stabilizing surfactant. The stabilizing surfactant may be an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant to formulate a stable solid with a hygroscopic material. The stabilizing surfactant concentration in the solid composition may range from about 1% to about 40% by weight, from about 5% to about 33% by weight, from about 5% to about 25% by weight, from about 7.5% to about 20% by weight, from about 10% to about 20% by weight, or greater than about 7.5% by weight.

[0053] Anionic surfactants Anionic surfactants are those in which the charge of the hydrophobic substance is negative, or the hydrophobic portion of the molecule is uncharged unless the pH is neutral or higher (e.g., carboxylic acid).Carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate, and phosphate are polar (hydrophilic) solubilizing groups found in anionic surfactants.Of the cations (counterions) associated with these polar groups, sodium, lithium, and potassium impart water solubility, ammonium and substituted ammonium ions provide both water and oil solubility, and calcium, barium, and magnesium promote oil solubility.

[0054] Anionic sulfate surfactants suitable for use as stabilizing surfactants for hygroscopic materials include alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, alkyl ethoxy sulfates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkylphenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, C5-C17 acyl-N-(C1-C4 alkyl) and -N-(C1-C2 hydroxyalkyl) glucamine sulfates, and sulfates of alkyl polysaccharides, such as alkyl polyglucoside sulfates. Also included are alkyl sulfates, alkyl poly(ethyleneoxy) ether sulfates, and aromatic poly(ethyleneoxy) sulfates, such as sulfates or condensation products of ethylene oxide and nonylphenol (usually containing 1 to 6 oxyethylene groups per molecule). Suitable anionic sulfate surfactants also include alkyl sulfonates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfonates, and aromatic sulfonates, with or without substituents.

[0055] Additional suitable anionic sulfate surfactants include carboxylic acids (and salts), such as alkanoic acids (and alkanoates), ester carboxylic acids (e.g., alkyl succinic acids), ether carboxylic acids, and sulfonated fatty acids, such as sulfonated oleic acid. Such carboxylates include alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, alkylaryl ethoxy carboxylates, alkyl polyethoxy polycarboxylate surfactants, and soaps (e.g., alkyl carboxyls). Secondary carboxylates useful in the present compositions include those containing a carboxyl unit attached to a secondary carbon. The secondary carbon can be in a ring structure, as in p-octyl benzoic acid or alkyl-substituted cyclohexyl carboxylates. Secondary carboxylate surfactants generally lack ether linkages, ester linkages, and hydroxyl groups. Furthermore, they typically lack a nitrogen atom in the head group (amphiphilic portion). Suitable secondary soap surfactants typically contain 11 to 13 total carbon atoms, although more carbon atoms (e.g., up to 16) may be present. Suitable carboxylates also include acylamino acids (and salts) such as acylgluamates, acylpeptides, sarcosinates (e.g., N-acylsarcosinates), taurates (e.g., N-acyltaurates, and fatty acid amides of methyl tauride).

[0056] Suitable anionic surfactants include alkyl or alkylaryl ethoxy carboxylates of the formula: RO-(CH2CH2O) n (CH2) m -CO2X(3) In the formula, R is C8 to C 22 is an alkyl group, or [ka] , R 1 is C4~C 16In some embodiments, R is an alkyl group, n is an integer from 1 to 20, m is an integer from 1 to 3, and X is a counterion such as hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, or an amine salt such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, or triethanolamine. In some embodiments, n is an integer from 4 to 10, and m is 1. In some embodiments, R is a C8 to C6 16 In some embodiments, R is a C 12 ~C 14 It is an alkyl group, n is 4, and m is 1.

[0057] In other embodiments, R is [ka] and R 1 is C6~C 12 In yet another embodiment, R 1 is a C9 alkyl group, n is 10, and m is 1.

[0058] amphoteric surfactants Also useful in the composition is a surface-active substance classified as amphoteric surfactant.Amphoteric surfactants contain both basic and acidic hydrophilic groups and organic hydrophobic groups.These ionic entities can be either anionic or cationic groups as described herein for other types of surfactants.Basic nitrogen and acidic carboxylate groups are the typical functional groups used as basic and acidic hydrophilic groups.In some surfactants, sulfonate, sulfate, phosphonate, or phosphate provide negative charge.

[0059] Amphoteric surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of aliphatic secondary and tertiary amines, where the aliphatic radical can be linear or branched, and one of the aliphatic substituents contains approximately 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and one contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, such as carboxy, sulfo, sulfato, phosphato, or phosphono. Amphoteric surfactants are known to those skilled in the art and are subdivided into two major classes, as described in "Surfactant Encyclopedia" Cosmetics & Toiletries, Vol. 104(2)69-71 (1989), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The first class includes acyl / dialkylethylenediamine derivatives (e.g., 2-alkylhydroxyethylimidazoline derivatives) and their salts. The second class includes N-alkylamino acids and their salts. Some amphoteric surfactants can be considered to fall into both classes.

[0060] Amphoteric surfactants can be synthesized by methods known to those skilled in the art.For example, 2-alkylhydroxyethyl imidazoline is synthesized by condensation and ring closure of long-chain carboxylic acid (or derivative) with dialkylethylenediamine.Commercially available amphoteric surfactants are derivatized by subsequent hydrolysis and alkylation to open the imidazoline ring, for example, using chloroacetic acid or ethyl acetate.During alkylation, one or two carboxy-alkyl groups react to form tertiary amine and ether bond, and different alkylating agents produce different tertiary amines.

[0061] The amine oxide is a tertiary amine oxide corresponding to the general formula: [ka] where the arrow is a conventional representation of a semipolar bond and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 R can be aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, alicyclic, or a combination thereof. Generally, in detergent-related amine oxides, R 1is an alkyl radical of about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and R 2 and R 3 is alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof, and R 2 and R 3 can be bonded to each other, for example, through an oxygen or nitrogen atom, to form a ring structure, and R 4 is alkaline or a hydroxyalkylene group containing 2-3 carbon atoms; and n ranges from 0 to about 20.

[0062] Suitable amine oxides include those selected from coconut or tallow alkyl di-(lower alkyl)amine oxides, specific examples of which include dodecyldimethylamine oxide, tridecyldimethylamine oxide, etradecyldimethylamine oxide, pentadecyldimethylamine oxide, hexadecyldimethylamine oxide, heptadecyldimethylamine oxide, octadecyldimethylamine oxide, and the like. oxide), dodecyldipropylamine oxide, tetradecyldipropylamine oxide, hexadecyldipropylamine oxide, tetradecyldibutylamine oxide, octadecyldibutylamine oxide, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dodecylamine oxide, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-dodecoxy-1-hydroxypropylamine oxide, dimethyl-(2-hydroxydodecyl)amine oxide, 3,6,9-trioctadecyldimethylamine oxide, and 3-dodecoxy-2-hydroxypropyldi-(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide. An exemplary commercially available coco amine oxide surfactant is BARLOX 12, available from Lonza.

[0063] Suitable long chain imidazole derivatives may generally have the general formula: [ka] In the formula, R is an acyclic hydrophobic group containing about 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and M is a cation, typically sodium, to neutralize the charge of the anion. Commercially known imidazoline-derived amphoteric compounds that can be used in the present composition include, for example, cocoamphopropionate, cocoamphocarboxypropionate, cocoamphoglycinate, cocoamphocarboxyglycinate, cocoamphopropylsulfonate, and cocoamphocarboxypropionic acid. Amphocarboxylic acids can be generated from aliphatic imidazolines, where the dicarboxylic acid functional group of the amphodicarboxylic acid is diacetic acid and / or dipropionic acid.

[0064] The carboxymethylated compounds (glycinates) described herein above are often referred to as betaines. Betaines are a special class of amphoteric compounds described herein below in the section entitled Zwitterionic Surfactants.

[0065] Long-chain N-alkyl amino acids are readily prepared by the reaction RNH2, where R = C8-C 18 These are aliphatic amines with straight-chain or branched alkyl or halogenated carboxylic acids. Alkylation of the primary amino group of an amino acid results in secondary and tertiary amines. The alkyl substituent may have two or more amino groups, providing multiple reactive nitrogen centers. Most commercially available N-alkylamine acids are alkyl derivatives of beta-alanine or beta-N(2-carboxyethyl)alanine. Examples of suitable commercial N-alkylamino acid ampholytes include alkyl beta-aminodipropionates, RN(C2H4COOM)2, and RNHC2H4COOM. In one embodiment, R can be an acyclic hydrophobic group containing about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and M is a cation to neutralize the charge of the anion.

[0066] Suitable amphoteric surfactants include those derived from coconut products such as coconut oil or coconut fatty acids. Additional suitable coconut-derived surfactants include, as part of their structure, an ethylenediamine moiety, an alkanolamide moiety, an amino acid moiety such as glycine, or a combination thereof, and an aliphatic substituent of about 8 to 18 (e.g., 12) carbon atoms. Such surfactants may also be considered alkyl amphodicarboxylic acids. These amphoteric surfactants include C 12 -Alkyl-C(O)-NH-CH2-CH2-N + (CH2-CH2-CO2Na)2-CH2-CH2-OH or C 12 -Alkyl-C(O)-N(H)-CH2-CH2-N + The amphoteric surfactant may include a chemical structure represented as (CH2-CO2Na)2-CH2-CH2-OH. Disodium cocoamphodipropionate is one suitable amphoteric surfactant, commercially available from Rhodia Inc., Cranberry, New Jersey, under the trade name Miranol™ FBS. Another suitable coconut-derived amphoteric surfactant, having the chemical name disodium cocoamphodiacetate, is sold under the trade name Mirataine™ JCHA, also from Rhodia Inc., Cranberry, New Jersey. A typical listing of amphoteric classes and species of these surfactants is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975, to Laughlin and Heuring. Further examples are provided in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vols. I and II by Schwartz, Perry, and Berch), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0067] Cationic surfactants Also useful in the composition are surface-active substances classified as cationic surfactants when the charge on the hydrotrope portion of the molecule is positive. Surfactants (e.g., alkylamines) whose hydrotropes are uncharged until the pH is near neutral or below, but then become cationic, are also included in this group. In theory, cationic surfactants can be synthesized from any combination of elements containing the "onium" structure RnX+Y--, and can include compounds other than nitrogen (ammonium), such as phosphorus (phosphonium) and sulfur (sulfonium). In practice, the cationic surfactant field is likely dominated by nitrogen-containing compounds, because the synthetic route to nitrogenous cationic materials is simple and easy, and produces high product yields, which can make them less expensive.

[0068] Cationic surfactants preferably include, and more preferably refer to, compounds containing at least one long-carbon-chain hydrophobic group and at least one positively charged nitrogen. The long-carbon-chain group can be directly attached to the nitrogen atom by simple substitution, or more preferably, indirectly attached through a bridging functional group in so-called interrupted alkylamines and amidoamines. Such functional groups can make the molecule more hydrophilic and / or more water-dispersible, more easily dissolved in water by co-surfactant mixtures, and / or water-soluble. To increase water solubility, additional primary, secondary, or tertiary amino groups can be introduced, or the amino nitrogen can be quaternized with a low-molecular-weight alkyl group. Furthermore, the nitrogen can be part of a branched or linear moiety with various degrees of unsaturation, or part of a saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic ring. In addition, cationic surfactants can contain complex bonds with two or more cationic nitrogen atoms.

[0069] The simplest cationic amines, amine salts and quaternary ammonium compounds are depicted schematically as follows: [ka] where R represents an alkyl chain, R', R'', and R''' can be either an alkyl chain or an aryl group or hydrogen, and X represents an anion.

[0070] The majority of commercially available cationic surfactants can be subdivided into four major classes and additional subgroups known to those skilled in the art and described in "Surfactant Encyclopedia," Cosmetics & Toiletries, Vol. 104(2) 86-96 (1989). The first class includes alkylamines and their salts. The second class includes alkylimidazolines. The third class includes ethoxylated amines. The fourth class includes quaternaries such as alkylbenzyldimethylammonium salts, alkylbenzene salts, heterocyclic ammonium salts, and tetraalkylammonium salts.

[0071] Cationic surfactants useful in the composition include those of formula R1 m R 2 x Y L Z, wherein each R 1 is an organic group containing a straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl group optionally substituted with up to three phenyl or hydroxy groups and optionally interrupted by up to four of the following structures, or isomers or mixtures of these structures, which is: [ka] Contains about 8 to 22 carbon atoms. 1 The group may further contain up to 12 ethoxy groups. m is a number from 1 to 3. Preferably, there is no more than one R 1 The group has 16 or more carbon atoms when m is 2, or more than 12 carbon atoms when m is 3. R 2 are each alkyl or hydroxyalkyl groups containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group, and there is not more than one R 2is benzyl, and x is a number from 0 to 11, preferably from 0 to 6. The remainder of any carbon atom positions on the Y group are filled with hydrogen.

[0072] Y is [ka] or a group containing a mixture thereof, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, L is 1 or 2, and when L is 2, the Y group is an R group having 1 to about 22 carbon atoms and two free carbon single bonds. 1 and R 2 Z is a water-soluble anion such as a halide, sulfate, methyl sulfate, hydroxide, or nitrate, with chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, or methyl sulfate being preferred in numbers that provide electroneutrality of the cationic component.

[0073] Additional Functional Ingredients The components of the stabilized solid composition can be further combined with various functional components suitable for use in a variety of applications, including laundry softening and / or detergent compositions, water treatment compositions, rinse aid applications, disinfecting compositions, and the like. In some embodiments, additional functional components are included in compositions such as the exemplary compositions set forth in Tables 1A-1C. The functional component provides desired properties and functionality to the composition. For purposes of this application, the term "functional component" includes materials that, when dispersed or dissolved in a use solution and / or concentrated solution, e.g., an aqueous solution or suspension, provide beneficial properties related to the use of the intended application and / or maintaining stability, as well as suitable processing and / or dispensing of the solid composition. Some specific examples of functional materials are discussed in more detail below, although the specific materials discussed are provided by way of example only, and a variety of other functional components may be used.

[0074] In certain embodiments, additional functional ingredients include sequestering agents and / or chelating agents, binders, setting aids, corrosion inhibitors, salts including salts for conductivity, fillers, defoamers, anti-redeposition agents, solubility modifiers, processing aids, dispersants, additional stabilizers, additional surfactants, anti-wrinkle agents, optical brighteners, fragrances and / or dyes, rheology modifiers or thickeners, hydrotropes or couplers, buffers, solvents, enzymes, soil release agents, dye scavengers, disinfectants / fungicides, disinfectants and components for residual protection, soil release agents, and the like.

[0075] Chelating Agents / Sequestering Agents The stabilized solid composition may also include an effective amount of a chelating / sequestering agent, also referred to as a builder. Generally, a chelating agent is a molecule capable of coordinating (i.e., binding) metal ions commonly found in water sources to prevent the metal ions from interfering with the operation of other components of the rinse aid or other cleaning compositions. When included in an effective amount, the chelating / sequestering agent can also function as a water conditioner. In some embodiments, the solid composition may include up to about 70% by weight, about 1-60% by weight, about 1-50% by weight, or 10-50% by weight of the chelating / sequestering agent.

[0076] Exemplary chelating agents include aminocarboxylates and polycarboxylates. Some examples of aminocarboxylates useful as chelating / sequestering agents include N-hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), methyl-glycine-diacetic acid (MGDA), and the like. Some examples of polymeric polycarboxylates suitable for use as sequestering agents include those having pendant carboxylate (--CO) groups, such as polyacrylic acid, maleic / olefin copolymers, acrylic / maleic copolymers, polymethacrylic acid, acrylic-methacrylic acid copolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, hydrolyzed polymethacrylamide, hydrolyzed polyamide-methacrylamide copolymers, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed polymethacrylonitrile, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile-methacrylonitrile copolymers, and the like.

[0077] In many cases, the cleaning composition also does not contain phosphates and / or sulfates. In phosphate-free solid composition embodiments, the additional functional materials, including builders, exclude phosphorus-containing compounds such as condensed phosphates and phosphonates. In phosphate-containing solid composition embodiments, the added chelating / sequestering agents may include, for example, condensed phosphates, phosphonates, and the like. Some examples of condensed phosphates include sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium and potassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and the like. Condensed phosphates can also assist, to a limited extent, in solidifying the composition by fixing free water present in the composition as water of hydration.

[0078] In an embodiment of a solid composition comprising a phosphate, the composition comprises 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid CHC(OH)[PO(OH)], aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid) N[CHPO(OH)], aminotri(methylenephosphonate), sodium salt [ka] 2-Hydroxyethyliminobis(methylenephosphonic acid) HOCH2CH2N[CH2PO(OH)2] 2、 Diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic acid) (HO)2POCH2N[CH2N[CH2PO(OH)2]2] 2、 Diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonate), sodium salt CH (28-x) N3Na x O 15 P5(x=7), hexamethylenediamine(tetramethylenephosphonate), potassium salt C 10 H (28-x) N2K x O 12 Examples of suitable phosphonates include P4 (x=6), bis(hexamethylene)triamine(pentamethylenephosphonic acid) (HO2)POCH2N[(CH2)6N[CH2PO(OH)2]2]2, and phosphoric acid H3PO3. In some embodiments, a combination of phosphonates such as ATMP and DTPMP can be used. Neutralized or alkaline phosphonates, or combinations of phosphonates and alkalinity sources prior to addition to the mixture, can be used so that there is little or no heat or gas generated by the neutralization reaction when the phosphonate is added.

[0079] For a further discussion of chelating / sequestering agents, see Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, volume 5, pages 339-366 and volume 23, pages 319-320, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0080] salt The stabilized solid composition may also contain an effective amount of salt, preferably a water-soluble salt, to aid in the solidification matrix. Salts, including water-soluble salts, may be either organic or inorganic. Examples of water-soluble salts include salts of polycarboxylic acids, such as citrates, which are acids having more than one carboxylate group, including diacids and triacids. Examples of water-soluble salts include salts of carboxylic acids (aliphatic, acetic, formic), aromatic (benzoic, salicylic), or dicarboxylic acids, such as oxalic, phthalic, sebacic, adipic, and glutaric acids; tricarboxylic acids, such as citric acid; carboxylic acids, such as aliphatic (oleic, palmitic, stearic) or aromatic (phenylstearic) acids; or even water-soluble amino acids, or salts with sodium, potassium, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, ammonium, triethanolamine, diethanolamine, and / or monoethanolamine as the cation. Examples of salts may include neutral salts, such as sulfates. Preferred salts of acids are sodium citrate and / or monosodium citrate.

[0081] In embodiments in which a salt is included in the stabilized solid composition, the salt is present at a level ranging from about 0% to about 50% by weight, from about 5% to about 50% by weight, from about 5% to about 50% by weight, from about 5% to about 50% by weight, from about 10% to about 50% by weight, preferably from about 15% to about 50% by weight, or preferably from about 20% to about 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the solid composition.

[0082] Filler The solid composition may optionally contain a small but effective amount of one or more fillers. Some examples of suitable fillers include C1-C6 fillers such as sodium chloride, starch, sugars, and propylene glycol. 10These may include alkylene glycols, sulfates, PEG, urea, sodium acetate, magnesium sulfate, sodium acetate, magnesium sulfate, sodium carbonate, etc. In some embodiments, fillers may be included in amounts ranging up to about 50% by weight, and in some embodiments, in amounts ranging from about 1-15% by weight.

[0083] Hardener / Solidifier / Solubility Adjuster In some embodiments, one or more solidifying agents may be included in the solid composition. Examples of hardening agents include urea, amides, such as stearic acid monoethanolamide or lauric acid diethanolamide or alkylamides, sulfates or sulfated surfactants, and aromatic sulfonates, solid polyethylene glycols, or solid EO / PO block copolymers, starches that have been rendered water-soluble through acid or alkali treatment processes, and various inorganic substances that impart solidifying properties to heated compositions upon cooling. Such compounds can also change the solubility of the composition in aqueous media during use, allowing the active ingredient to be dispensed from the solid composition over a long period of time.

[0084] 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 sulfonate. Preferred aromatic sulfonates include sodium xylene sulfonate and sodium cumene sulfonate.

[0085] The amount of solidifying agent included in the solid composition can be influenced by the desired effect. Generally, an effective amount of solidifying agent is considered to be an amount that acts to solidify the cleaning composition, with or without other ingredients. Typically, for solid embodiments, the amount of solidifying agent in the composition ranges from about 10 to about 80% by weight of the solid composition, preferably from about 20 to about 75% by weight, and more preferably from about 20 to about 70% by weight of the solid composition.

[0086] Processing aids The solid composition may contain an effective amount of a processing aid. Suitable processing aids for providing a flowable powder composition and / or reducing aeration of the cast solid composition include organic solvents. Exemplary organic solvent processing aids include methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, 2-ethylhexanol, hexanol, octanol, decanol, 2-butoxyethanol, methylene glycol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol dibutyl ether, pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, heptane, decane, dodecane, diesel, toluene, xylene, heavy aromatic naphtha, cyclohexanone, diisobutyl ketone, diethyl ether, propylene carbonate, N-methylpyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylformamide, or any combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, propylene glycol is a processing aid for the powdered solid composition. In a preferred embodiment, hexylene glycol is a processing aid for the powdered solid composition.

[0087] Additional processing aids for dispensing and processing may include carboxylic acids. Suitable carboxylic acids may be saturated or unsaturated, but saturated carboxylic acids are preferred. These carboxylic acids have at least 6 carbon atoms, or from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, in the alkyl or alkenyl chain and are either linear or branched; preferred carboxylic acids have at least 6 carbon atoms, or from about 12 to about 22 carbon atoms, in a linear configuration. Non-limiting examples of useful carboxylic acids include lauric acid (C12), stearic acid (C18), palmitic acid (C16), or behenic acid (C22). Further examples include long-chain fatty acids, such as stearic acid, palmitic acid, coco fatty acid, stearin monoethanolamide, and coco monoethanolamide, or their salts. Without being limited to a particular mechanism or theory of action of the present invention, C6-C22 alkyl chains of carboxylic acid stabilizers are preferred because they readily form hard, low-melting urea occlusion complexes and are compatible with quaternary ammonium compounds. Additional processing aids may include LMEA (lauric acid monoethanolamide), SMEA (stearin monoethanolamide), and the like.

[0088] When included in a solid composition, the processing aid is present at a level of from about 0.1% to about 10.0% by weight, preferably from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0089] Salt for conductivity The solid composition may also contain at least one additional salt as an additional processing aid. In one embodiment, the additional salt is a salt for conductivity and / or an inorganic anion or a non-sequestering organic anion to enable standard measurement of the conductivity of the wash liquor. While sodium chloride is preferably used, a wide variety of ionizable salts may be used. Examples of suitable salts are halides and acetates of metals from Group IA of the Periodic Table of the Elements, such as lithium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, calcium bromide, sodium iodide, potassium iodide, sodium acetate, potassium acetate, or mixtures thereof. Sodium chloride is preferred. Ionizable salts are particularly useful during the process of mixing the ingredients to form the compositions herein to achieve the desired conductivity for later measuring the dispersion rate of the softening composition. The amount of ionizable salt used depends on the amount of active ingredient used in the composition and can be adjusted according to the needs of the formulator. In a preferred embodiment, the conductivity salt included in the solid composition preferably has a solubility of at least about 5 ppm at 45°C.

[0090] Salts for conductivity, such as sodium chloride, may be present at levels of from about 0% to about 60% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, preferably from about 1% to about 50% by weight based on the total weight of the solid laundry softening composition.

[0091] Dispersants Dispersants may be included to aid in the removal of soil and microorganisms from articles and surfaces. Examples of dispersants include, but are not limited to, water-soluble polymers, surfactants, hydrotropes, and wetting agents. In a preferred embodiment, the dispersant is an anionic surfactant. The composition need not include a dispersant, but if included, it may be included in an amount that provides the desired dispersing properties. Suitable ranges of dispersant in the composition may be up to about 20% by weight, about 0.5 to about 15% by weight, or about 2 to about 9% by weight.

[0092] preservatives The solid composition may also contain an effective amount of a preservative. Preferred preservatives for use include, but are not limited to, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, pyrithione derivatives and salts, glutaraldehyde, or mixtures thereof. A preferred blend of methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone is available from Dow Chemical under the trade name KATHON™ CG. A preferred pyrithione salt is sodium pyrithione. When a preservative is included in the solid composition, it may be present in an amount of about 0.01 to about 5% by weight, preferably about 0.01 to about 3% by weight, more preferably about 0.05 to about 2% by weight, and even more preferably about 0.05 to about 1% by weight.

[0093] Cleaning Agents / Antimicrobial Agents The solid composition can optionally contain a bactericide. Bactericides, also known as antimicrobial agents, are chemical compositions that can be used in solid functional materials to prevent microbial contamination and deterioration of material systems, surfaces, etc. Generally, these materials are classified into specific classes, including phenols, halogen compounds, quaternary ammonium compounds, metal derivatives, amines, alkanolamines, nitro derivatives, analides, organic sulfur and sulfur-nitrogen compounds, and other compounds. It should also be understood that active oxygen compounds may also act as antimicrobial agents. For example, percarbonate compositions have been demonstrated to provide excellent antimicrobial activity.

[0094] Examples of common antimicrobial agents include phenolic antimicrobial agents such as pentachlorophenol, orthophenylphenol, chloro-p-benzylphenol, and p-chloro-m-xylenol. Halogen containing antimicrobial agents include bromine compounds such as sodium trichloroisocyanurate, sodium dichloroisocyanurate (anhydrous or dihydrate), iodo-poly(vinylpyrolidinone) complex, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and quaternary antimicrobial agents such as benzalkonium chloride, didecyldimethylammonium chloride, choline diiodochloride, and tetramethylphosphonium tribromide. Other antimicrobial compositions such as hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine, dithiocarbamates such as sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate, and various other materials are known in the art for their antimicrobial properties.

[0095] In some embodiments, the solid composition comprises an antimicrobial component in the range of up to about 10% by weight of the composition, in some embodiments up to about 5% by weight, or in some embodiments, in the range of about 0.01 to about 3% by weight, or in the range of 0.05 to 1% by weight of the composition.

[0096] Exemplary Stabilized Solid Compositions Exemplary stabilized solids for various applications are listed in Table 1. [Table 1]

[0097] Stabilized solid composition The stabilized solid composition is preferably a multi-purpose solid composition formed by combining the components in the weight percentages and ratios disclosed herein. The solid composition is provided as a solid, and the use solution, when a use solution is a suspension, is formed during the dispensing and / or laundering process. The solid composition is substantially homogeneous with respect to the distribution of ingredients throughout its mass and is dimensionally stable.

[0098] The solid composition may be a pressed, cast, or extruded solid. The resulting solid may take the form of, but is not limited to, flakes, granules, pellets, tablets, lozenges, pucks, briquettes, bricks, or another solid form known to those skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the solid is a solid block that exhibits less than 5% dimensional stability, or less than 3% dimensional stability, as measured by a growth index when heated to a temperature of 40° C., taking into account any dimensional changes in the solid composition.

[0099] The solid block can be provided in the form of a unit dose or a multi-purpose solid. A unit dose refers to a unit of solid detergent composition sized so that the entire unit is used in one wash cycle. When the solid composition is provided as a unit dose, it can have a size of about 1 gram to about 50 grams. Alternatively, a solid tablet can have a size of about 50 grams to about 250 grams. A solid block, including a multi-purpose block, can weigh about 250 grams or more. In some embodiments, the solid block has a mass of about 250 grams to 10 kilograms, preferably about 1 pound to about 10 pounds.

[0100] In some embodiments, the solid compositions may be dissolved, for example, in an aqueous or other medium, to produce a concentrated solution and / or a use solution. This solution may be directed to a storage container for later use and / or dilution, or may be applied directly at the time of use in laundry applications. Solid compositions are advantageously designed as multi-purpose solids, such as blocks, that can be reused for multiple cycles or applications.

[0101] How to use The stabilized solid compositions are suitable for consumer and industrial applications requiring water conditioners. According to embodiments described herein, single-use and multi-use solid compositions can be provided.

[0102] The solid composition can be dispensed into a cleaning cycle or into a system that needs to contact a surface and generate a use solution for cleaning. The solid composition is provided at a desired "dispense rate," which refers to the amount of solid mass provided via a dispensing unit or, preferably, directly into the system and exposed to water via a dispenser mechanism for a period of time. The solid contacts water at a specific temperature and pressure, dissolving the powder or solid block composition for cleaning applications into a use solution. Various dispensers are suitable for dispensing the solid cleaning blocks disclosed herein. Dispensers can be designed to use blocks of specific dimensions and shapes and to deliver water at specific temperatures and pressures. In preferred embodiments, a dispenser is not required for use of the solid cleaning composition. In certain embodiments, the user dispenses (or provides) the solid directly into the system that needs cleaning and applies water at the desired temperature and pressure to the solid in the system.

[0103] In other embodiments, a solid composition can be first used to create an aqueous solution or suspension for delivery to a hard surface for cleaning, after which the use solution is applied to the interior surface of the device, for example, through the use of a spray nozzle and / or spray jet.

[0104] In either embodiment, using a dispenser or a solid composition placed directly into the system requiring cleaning, the user controls the rate of dispensing of the solid via the water source and how it is applied (such as through a nozzle and dispensing plate) at a specific temperature and pressure. When water contacts the solid composition, it dissolves the block or powder components into a use solution. In exemplary applications, the solid composition can be contacted and used with water at temperatures of at least about 90°F, at least about 115°F, or at least about 140°F. Water pressures of at least 20 psi, 35 psi, or 50 psi, respectively, can also be used. In preferred embodiments, the water temperature range is typically from about 50°F to about 160°F, and the water pressure range is from about 20 psi to about 100 psi, preferably from about 90°F to about 140°F and from about 20 psi to about 60 psi. Various types of water can be used. In some embodiments, tap water or municipal water with 0, 5, 17, or more grains per gallon (gpg) is used. [Example]

[0105] Embodiments of the present invention are further defined in the following non-limiting examples. It should be understood that these examples, while illustrating specific embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration only. From the above description and these examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential features of the present invention and can make various changes and modifications to the embodiments of the present invention to adapt them to various uses and conditions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, various modifications of the embodiments of the present invention, in addition to those shown and described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0106] In the examples listed, the following materials were used: Water Conditioning Polymer A: Neutralized homopolymer of acrylic acid, available from Rohm and Haas Company. Water conditioning polymer B: carboxylated polyelectrolye copolymer, available from Rohm and Haas Company. Copolymer A: acrylic acid maleic acid copolymer, solid form, available from Rohm and Haas Company. Copolymer B: Maleic acrylic acid copolymer, granular form, available from BASF. Quaternary ammonium compound: A blend of double-stranded quaternary ammonium compound and alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, available from Lonza. Amine oxide: Cocoamine oxide amphoteric surfactant, available from Lonza. AOS: Alpha olefin sulfonic acid anionic surfactant, available from Stepan Company. SLS: Anionic sulfate surfactant. Nonionic surfactant: C12-14 linear alcohol ethoxylate, available from Huntsman. Trisodium salt of methylglycine diacetic acid (Na3MGDA, MGDA), available from BASF Corporation. Alkyl polyglucoside surfactant, available from Dow Chemicals. Commercially available quaternary carboxylates: cocoamidopropyl betaine (amphoteric), sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium citrate dihydrate, sodium lauryl sulfate.

[0107] Example 1 Water conditioner stability test Charged hygroscopic solids (water conditioners) were prepared and tested in combination with various types of surfactants to test the surfactants' ability to stabilize the hygroscopic solid compositions. Table 2 shows the formulations of hygroscopic solid premixes containing a combination of a charged hygroscopic solid (polyacrylate) and a chelating agent. [Table 2]

[0108] For Experiments 1-8, various surfactants were added at 10 wt% of the formulation, with 90 wt% of the applicable premix, for a total composition of 100 wt%. All experiments were performed with Premix 1, except for Experiment 9, which used Premix 2 (high chelator). The various experiments performed, along with the surfactants used, are listed in Table 3. Experiments 9 and 10 both contained no surfactant; instead, the surfactant was replaced with 5 wt% water (95 wt% premix). Experiment 9 contained Premix 2 as the high chelator composition, while Experiment 10 contained Premix 1, which served as the control. The solid compositions were stored at 40°C in a humidity chamber at 65% humidity for one week. In addition to the mass gain calculated by the percent mass gain, the extent of blooming of the solid compositions was evaluated. These experiments served as an initial screening evaluation of types of surfactants capable of stabilizing ionic hydroscopic species. Therefore, there is no threshold percent increase in mass required for stabilization, as evidenced by low or moderate blooming in the sample; instead, the lowest percent increase in mass is a successful outcome. For reference, visual depictions and examples of various degrees of blooming are shown in Figure 1: good stability / no blooming (Figure 1A), mild blooming (Figure 1B), moderate blooming (Figure 1C), severe blooming (Figure 1D), and poor stability / liquid (Figure 1E). As shown in Figure 1, the more severe the blooming, the less stable the solid composition. Stability results for the hygroscopic solid compositions are shown in Table 3. [Table 3]

[0109] As shown in Table 3, anionic and amphoteric surfactants demonstrated improved stabilization of hygroscopic solid compositions compared to other surfactants, with the anionic and amphoteric surfactants preventing the hygroscopic solid from turning into a liquid. Without being bound by a particular mechanism of action or theory of the present invention, the stabilization is believed to be due to charge stabilization of the surfactants, and therefore, anionic and amphoteric surfactants are used as stabilizers. Thus, the results demonstrate that ionic (cationic and anionic) and amphoteric surfactants are more effective than nonionic surfactants in stabilizing hygroscopic solid compositions.

[0110] The high chelator control (Run 9) also performed well without surfactant. Because polyacrylate is hygroscopic and chelators are less hygroscopic, reducing the amount of polyacrylate reduces the water absorption of the block. Note that adding surfactant (such as an anionic sulfonate surfactant) resulted in comparable water absorption and better swelling than the high chelator control, which had 20% more water-regulating polymer.

[0111] Example 2 Water conditioner stability test Water conditioner formulations containing hygroscopic materials were combined with amine oxide surfactants to evaluate the ability of the amine oxide surfactants to stabilize the formulations based on the test in Example 1. Water conditioner formulations were prepared according to Table 4. Table 4 also shows dimensional stability measurements (percent swelling of each formulation after 2 weeks at 40° C. in a humidity chamber at 65% humidity). Dimensional stability measurements are preferred stability measurements compared to percent weight change in Example 1.

[0112] Formulation A contained no amine oxide surfactant, while Formulations B, C, and D contained 10 wt%, 5 wt%, and 7.5 wt% amine oxide surfactant (30%), respectively, on a weight percent basis (not actives basis). Figure 2 shows a comparison of the solid water conditioner formulations of Formulation A vs. Formulation B after two weeks, with Formulation B demonstrating visually detectable improved stability due to the lack of leaching or liquefaction of the solid composition. [Table 4]

[0113] Based on the significant improvement in compositional stability seen in Formulation B at two weeks, the dimensional stability of Formulation B was tested over a four-week period. Figure 3 shows a graphical representation of the dimensional stability of Formulation B by measuring the swelling ratio over a four-week period at 40°C and 65% humidity. For commercial dimensional stability, a swelling of 5% or less is required, preferably 3% or less, and Formulation B met both criteria as the swelling ratio did not exceed 1%.

[0114] As shown in Table 4, compared to Formulation A at 40% water conditioner, which contained no amine oxide surfactant but instead contained 5 wt. % water and was very hygroscopic, Formulation B, a 40% polyacrylate formulation with 10 wt. % amine oxide surfactant, reduced swelling to less than 1% after 2 and 4 weeks.

[0115] Furthermore, the results show that the higher the concentration of amine oxide surfactant present, the lower the swelling ratio, a dramatic difference when compared to 5, 7.5, and 10 wt% amine oxide. The results indicate that amine oxide concentrations above 7.5 wt% can beneficially stabilize hygroscopic materials, providing dimensionally stable solids. These results demonstrate that, without the amine oxide surfactant, compositions containing materials such as polyacrylates become highly hygroscopic, whereas the inclusion of an amine oxide surfactant significantly reduces swelling and enhances the stability of the water conditioner formulation.

[0116] To evaluate the dimensional stability of the amine oxide surfactant independent of the water present within the surfactant, the water-adjusted formulations were further compared to each other. Formulations B, C, and D in Table 3 were compared to each other. Figures 4A-4C show a comparison at two weeks between formulations B (Figure 4C), C (Figure 4A), and D (Figure 4B), as indicated by the weight percent amine oxide surfactant contained in each formulation. Photographs from the fourth week were not included because formulations C and D failed after two weeks.

[0117] As shown in Table 4, as the concentration of amine oxide surfactant increases, for example, from 5 wt. % to 10 wt. %, the swelling ratio decreases from nearly 87% to less than 1% in two weeks. This demonstrates that the amine oxide surfactant itself, rather than the water in the surfactant stock (as illustrated by 5 wt. % water, no surfactant) as illustrated in Formulation A in Table 4, is responsible for stabilizing the formulation. This is further demonstrated by the reduction in swelling with higher concentrations of amine oxide surfactant. Thus, these results demonstrate the effectiveness of amine oxide surfactant concentrations greater than 7.5 wt. % in stabilizing highly hygroscopic solid compositions, such as water conditioner compositions.

[0118] Example 3 Stability testing of water conditioners at various surfactant / polymer ratios Additional water conditioner formulations containing hygroscopic materials in combination with surfactants in various ratios were evaluated for their effect on solids stabilization using the method described in Example 1. The premix formulations in Table 5 were evaluated with various surfactants and the results are summarized in Table 6. [Table 5] [Table 6]

[0119] At two weeks, there was sufficient failure to remove the samples from the oven. AOS and SLS demonstrated mild blooming, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, while severe blooming was observed with the amine oxide, as shown in Figure 5C, and the quaternary carboxylate, as shown in Figure 5D.

[0120] These results show that increasing the surfactant ratio generally decreases the water absorption of hygroscopic surfactants (i.e., the AOS, SLS, and amphoteric surfactants tested). The evaluated formulations contain a high polymer concentration of 40%, making them challenging solidification compositions. Furthermore, although the tests were performed after two weeks (rather than one week), the water absorption of the hygroscopic surfactants evaluated for the water-conditioning polymers was comparable to or lower than that of the hygroscopic surfactants. For surfactants that do not reduce hygroscopicity (i.e., nonionics, alkyl polyglucosides), no further reduction was observed, even at higher surfactant dosages. The results demonstrate that ionic (cationic and anionic) and amphoteric surfactants are more effective than nonionic surfactants in stabilizing hygroscopic solid compositions. While some ionic results showed severe blooming, these challenging conditions demonstrate improved performance compared to nonionics.

[0121] Example 4 Dimensional stability test of water conditioner After testing Examples 1-3 for solid state stability, assessing the degree of blooming and percent mass change, various water conditioner formulations containing the stabilized solid compositions described herein were tested for dimensional stability. Initial testing used very challenging conditions, including high concentrations of hygroscopic water conditioners, making dimensional stability difficult to measure. Because these very challenging formulations absorb such large amounts of water, blooming is an indicator of the final stability of the solid composition. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the percentage of mass gain indicates how well a solid composition performs when tested for dimensional stability. A lower percent mass change indicates reduced moisture absorption by the formulations evaluated herein.

[0122] Measurement of dimensional stability to ensure that the growth index of the solid is less than about 5%, for example, ensures that the solid can be dispensed from a dispenser without clogging or jamming the dispenser due to growth in height and / or width. Solids that were assessed as having mild or significant blooming and mass change rates were used to further evaluate dimensional stability.

[0123] Formulations less challenging than those of Examples 2 and 3 are shown in Table 7. Formulations 1, 2, and 3 were pressed into tablets, which were then placed in a chamber set at 122°F and 45% humidity for one month, after which they were removed and left in an ambient environment at room temperature for six months. At the end of six months, the tablets were placed in an oven at 122°F for 24 hours and the final height and diameter were recorded. [Table 7]

[0124] As shown in Table 7, formulations 1 and 3, which contain polymers and / or copolymers in combination with the anionic surfactant AOS, all show less than 5% change in diameter and thickness. Formulation 2, which contains a nonionic surfactant in combination with AOS, shows a larger increase in thickness and diameter change.

[0125]

[0033] Having thus described various embodiments, it will be apparent that they may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. The above specification provides a description of the manufacture and use of the disclosed compositions and methods. Since many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims. Examples of embodiments of the present disclosure are listed in the following items [1] to

[25] . [1] at least about 40% by weight or more of a water conditioning polymer and / or chelating agent; an effective amount of a surfactant, including an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant; 1. A stabilized solid composition comprising: A stabilized solid composition, wherein said solid composition has a dimensional stability as measured by a growth index of less than about 5%. [2] The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water conditioning polymer and / or chelating agent comprises a polycarboxylic acid polymer, copolymer, and / or terpolymer (or salts thereof), preferably a polyacrylic acid copolymer or polyacrylate. [3] 3. The composition of claim 1 or 2, wherein the ionic surfactant comprises anionic alkyl sulfonates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfonates, aromatic sulfonates with or without substituents, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, or combinations thereof, and / or the amphoteric surfactant comprises an amine oxide. [4] 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the water conditioner to the surfactant is from about 2:1 to about 10:1. [5] 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the solid composition is a multi-purpose composition of at least 250 grams. [6] 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the solid is pressed, cast, or extruded in a dimensionally stable state, and the solid is a capsule, tablet, puck, brick, or block. [7] 7. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional functional ingredient. [8] a moisture-absorbing material comprising a water-regulating polymer; an effective amount of a stabilizing surfactant, including an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant; 1. A stabilized solid composition comprising: the solid composition has a ratio of the hygroscopic material to the stabilizing surfactant of about 2:1 to about 10:1; A stabilized solid composition, wherein said solid composition has a dimensional stability as measured by a growth index of less than about 5%. [9] The composition of claim 8 , wherein the water conditioning polymer comprises a polycarboxylic acid polymer, copolymer, and / or terpolymer (or salts thereof).

[10] 10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the polycarboxylic acid polymer, copolymer, and / or terpolymer (or salt thereof) is a polyacrylic acid copolymer or polyacrylate.

[11] 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the polyacrylic acid copolymer or polyacrylate has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 100,000 g / mol, or about 1,000 to about 25,000 g / mol.

[12] 12. The composition of claim 8, wherein the anionic surfactant comprises alkyl sulfonates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfonates, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic sulfonates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, or combinations thereof.

[13] 12. The composition of claim 8, wherein the amine oxide surfactant comprises a coconut or tallow alkyl di-(lower alkyl) amine oxide.

[14] 14. The composition of claim 13, wherein the amine oxide surfactant is cocoamine oxide.

[15] 15. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the ratio of the hygroscopic material to the stabilizing surfactant is about 3:1 to about 10:1, 4:1 to about 10:1, 5:1 to about 10:1, 6:1 to about 10:1, about 7:1 to about 10:1, about 8:1 to about 10:1, or about 9:1 to about 10:1.

[16] 16. The composition of claim 8, further comprising an aminocarboxylate chelating agent.

[17] 17. The composition of claim 8, wherein the composition comprises about 20% to about 80% by weight of the hygroscopic material and more than about 7.5% by weight of the stabilizing surfactant, or about 10% to about 20% by weight of the stabilizing surfactant.

[18] 18. The composition of any one of claims 8 to 17, wherein the solid composition is a multi-purpose composition of at least 250 grams, the solid is pressed, molded, or extruded, and the solid is a capsule, tablet, puck, brick, or block.

[19] 19. The composition of any one of claims 8 to 18, further comprising at least one additional functional ingredient.

[20] 1. A method for stabilizing a water conditioner in a solid composition, the method comprising: combining a water conditioner with an effective amount of a stabilizing surfactant, including an ionic surfactant and / or an amphoteric surfactant, to form a solid, wherein the solid composition either (A) has a ratio of the water conditioner to the stabilizing surfactant of from about 2:1 to about 10:1, or (B) comprises at least about 40% by weight of the water conditioner; the solid is pressed, cast, or extruded; The method, wherein the solid composition has a dimensional stability as measured by a growth index of less than about 5%.

[21] 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the water conditioner comprises a polycarboxylic acid polymer, copolymer, and / or terpolymer (or salts thereof).

[22] 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the polycarboxylic acid polymer, copolymer, and / or terpolymer (or salt thereof) is a polyacrylic acid copolymer or polyacrylate having a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 100,000 g / mol, or about 1,000 to about 25,000 g / mol.

[23] 23. The method of any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the ionic surfactant comprises an anionic surfactant that is one or more of alkyl sulfonates, linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfonates, aromatic sulfonates with or without substituents, alkyl ether sulfates, alkyl sulfates, and / or linear and branched primary and secondary alkyl sulfates.

[24] 23. The method of any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the amine oxide surfactant comprises a coconut or tallow alkyl di-(lower alkyl) amine oxide.

[25] 25. The method of claim 20, wherein the ratio of the hygroscopic material to the stabilizing surfactant is about 3:1 to about 10:1, 4:1 to about 10:1, 5:1 to about 10:1, 6:1 to about 10:1, about 7:1 to about 10:1, about 8:1 to about 10:1, or about 9:1 to about 10:1.

Claims

1. a moisture-absorbing material comprising a water-regulating polymer comprising a polycarboxylic acid polymer, a polycarboxylic acid copolymer, a polycarboxylic acid terpolymer, a salt thereof, or a combination thereof; an effective amount of a stabilizing surfactant, including an amphoteric surfactant; Sodium chloride, starch, sugars, C １ ~C １０ up to 15 wt. % of one or more fillers comprising alkylene glycol, sulfate, PEG, urea, sodium acetate, magnesium sulfate, sodium acetate, magnesium sulfate, sodium carbonate, or a combination thereof; 1. A stabilized solid composition comprising: the solid composition has a ratio of the hygroscopic material to the stabilizing surfactant of 2:1 to 10:1; the solid composition exhibits less than 5% change in diameter and thickness when heated to a temperature of 40°C at 65% humidity for 2 weeks; A stabilized solid composition wherein the amphoteric surfactant comprises an amine oxide.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water balancing polymer is a polyacrylic acid copolymer or a polyacrylate.

3. 3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the polyacrylic acid copolymer or polyacrylate has a molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000 g / mol.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the amine oxide comprises a coconut or tallow alkyl di-(lower alkyl) amine oxide.

5. 5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the amine oxide is cocoamine oxide.

6. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the ratio of said hygroscopic material to said stabilizing surfactant is from 3:1 to 10:

1.

7. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an aminocarboxylate chelating agent.

8. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the composition comprises 20% to 80% by weight of the hygroscopic material and greater than 7.5% by weight of the stabilizing surfactant.

9. 9. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the solid composition is a multi-purpose composition of at least 250 grams, wherein the solid is pressed, molded, or extruded, and wherein the solid is a capsule, tablet, puck, brick, or block.

10. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising at least one additional functional ingredient.

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