WO1996023864A1 - Nonionic surfactants with enhanced aqueous dissolution rates - Google Patents

Nonionic surfactants with enhanced aqueous dissolution rates Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1996023864A1
WO1996023864A1 PCT/US1996/001236 US9601236W WO9623864A1 WO 1996023864 A1 WO1996023864 A1 WO 1996023864A1 US 9601236 W US9601236 W US 9601236W WO 9623864 A1 WO9623864 A1 WO 9623864A1
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Prior art keywords
formula
composition
independently
weight percent
ethoxylates
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PCT/US1996/001236
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French (fr)
Inventor
William Kenneth Denton
Mark David Einziger
James Lyle Hazen
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Bayer CropScience Inc USA
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Rhone Poulenc Inc
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Priority to DE69627312T priority Critical patent/DE69627312T2/en
Priority to EP96905280A priority patent/EP0807162B1/en
Priority to AT96905280T priority patent/ATE236972T1/en
Priority to AU49086/96A priority patent/AU716210B2/en
Priority to CA002211693A priority patent/CA2211693C/en
Priority to BR9607561-9A priority patent/BR9607561A/en
Publication of WO1996023864A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996023864A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/02—Inorganic compounds ; Elemental compounds
    • C11D3/04—Water-soluble compounds
    • C11D3/046—Salts
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
    • C05G—MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS; FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM
    • C05G3/00—Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
    • C05G—MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS; FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM
    • C05G3/00—Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity
    • C05G3/50—Surfactants; Emulsifiers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D11/00—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents
    • C11D11/0082—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents one or more of the detergent ingredients being in a liquefied state, e.g. slurry, paste or melt, and the process resulting in solid detergent particles such as granules, powders or beads
    • C11D11/0088—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents one or more of the detergent ingredients being in a liquefied state, e.g. slurry, paste or melt, and the process resulting in solid detergent particles such as granules, powders or beads the liquefied ingredients being sprayed or adsorbed onto solid particles
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
    • C11D17/0039—Coated compositions or coated components in the compositions, (micro)capsules

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a process for the preparation of solid nonionic surfactant compositions and the compositions produced thereby which have dissolution rates in water much higher than the surfactants alone.
  • Surfactants have many end-use applications well known to those in the art wherein it is desirable to be able to alter and/or control the dissolution rate of the surfactant once it is intimately admixed with water. In certain situations, it becomes desirable to slow the rate at which the surfactants solubilize, for example, when used in toilet bowl cleaning cakes. More often, it is desired to increase the rate at which the solid surfactant dissolves into the aqueous medium. This enhanced rate of dissolution would be desirable, for example, in dishwashing or laundry powdered detergent situations.
  • Extrusion processing to prepare melt-admixed granules such as is taught in EP 501,798A1 has the disadvantage of always intimately admixing all of the components thus inherently placing a restriction on the individual components that can be utilized in such a process, i.e., they must be compatible. Furthermore, initially all of the material components will be exposed to the aqueous medium simultaneously, i.e., one cannot program for differing dissolution rates.
  • Granule-type products i.e., multi-component particles are desirable in many end-use applications for they are more stable during storage and transport than mere physical mixtures of the dry individual components.
  • spray-coated is meant that the solid surfactant is melted and coated upon the sulfate while still in the molten state. This is done by spraying the molten surfactant onto the diammonium sulfate particles in a coating blender.
  • Complete coating of the sulfate particles is not always necessary but, rather, the degree of completeness of the coating is often determined by specific requirements such as the need to isolate the diammonium sulfate from other added incompatible adjuvants.
  • the sprayed material while still in a tacky state, is then continuously tumbled to partially agglomerate or granulate the individual particles so as to yield dry flowable granules.
  • nonionic surfactants whose dissolution rate can be enhanced by the processes of this invention are those known in the art which are solid or of a hard, nontacky wax consistency at room temperature.
  • nonionics are the following:
  • R' and R" each can be -H, -CH 2 CH 2 OH, or
  • esters such as:
  • thoxylates such as:
  • R is a fatty alkyl group, preferably a C 6 - C 22 fatty alkyl group, most preferably a C 8 - C 18 fatty alkyl group;
  • R 1 is -H or a fatty alkyl group, preferably -H or a C 6 - C 22 fatty alkyl group, most preferably -
  • x, x', y, y' and n are each independently moles of ethylene oxide preferably 1 to 300; most preferably 1 to 150; and
  • n, m', l and l' are each independently moles of propylene oxide, preferably 1 to 300; most preferably 1 to 150;
  • the surfactant composition is a solid at room temperature (24oC), preferably a solid at 50oC.
  • Mixtures of the above surfactants are acceptable and, in fact, mixtures of the above surfactants with other nonionics that alone are liquid even at room temperature may be acceptable provided that the amount or nature of the liquid surfactant is such that the final particulate product does not exhibit tackiness at room temperature. Preferably, tackiness is not exhibited even at 50oC.
  • the solid, nonionic surfactant compositions of the instant invention should be present from greater than 30 to about 99 weight percent, preferably from about 50 to about 97 weight percent, said percent based on the total spray-coated formulation.
  • the more preferred solid nonionic surfactants are the aforedescribed alkyl alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates.
  • the most preferred solid nonionic surfactant is dinonylphenol ethoxylate ( ⁇ 100 EO) for it has been discovered that this compound possesses the ability to provide excellent wetting characteristics together with a high melting point. Furthermore, the material exhibits an ability to dissolve in aqueous medium without formation of a gel phase.
  • the amount of diammonium sulfate to be spray-coated by the solid nonionic composition can be from about 1 to less than 70 weight percent, preferably from about 3 to about 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the final spray-coated composition.
  • the essence of the instant invention lies in the discovery that if solid nonionic surfactant compositions are spray-coated upon diammonium sulfate, the dissolution rate of the dry surfactant particulate composition in aqueous solution is greatly enhanced. It is also hypothesized that in addition to the action of the ammonium sulfate per se upon the dissolution rate of the solid, nonionic surfactant composition, the coating process tends to entrap air within the coated granules thereby increasing the surface area ultimately exposed to the aqueous medium which increases the dissolution rate (as opposed to compaction and extrusion processes which tend to compress air out of the particles). Also, the pockets of entrapped air function as flotation aids which assist in keeping the coated granules from settling.
  • the preferred process of the instant spray-coating invention comprises the steps of:
  • the diammonium sulfate is initially blended for at least 10 minutes before the spraying step to ensure that the initial crystal sizes are uniformly distributed throughout the batch.
  • the preferred spray blender-mixers are those of the Mark VI design manufactured by Continental Rollo or an equivalent.
  • the mixture should continue to be blended for at least three additional minutes after the spraying has ceased.
  • the additional components adhere to the surface of the coated granules, e.g., if an additional additive is a fine powder and one desires to reduce dusting in the final product, the material can be added while the coated granules are still tacky to obtain adherence, i.e., the material can be added before the coated material is completely cooled.
  • additional components include anti-foam agents, flow agents, anti-caking agents, stabilizers, inert fillers, gas-generating agents, dyes, and/or any adjuvants particular to the specific end-use application of the resulting product.
  • Optional adjuvants can be added from about 0 to about 20 weight percent of the granular composition.
  • Inert ingredients can be present from about 0 to about 80 weight percent.
  • One of the distinct advantages of the instant spray-coated, i.e., multi-layered particle is that it frees the preparer from many of the restrictions normally imposed upon multi-component systems manufacturers. For example, additional adjuvant components which normally would be incompatible with the diammonium sulfate can be made a part of the coated particle by introducing the component after the coating process is completed, but while the multi-layered material is still tacky so that the adjuvant can be adhered to the outer surface, i.e., the component would only be in contact with the nonionic composition layer.
  • Another advantage realized by this adherence contact procedure is that since it allows material to be placed on the outside of the spray-coated particle, it gives the adhered material preferential or advanced exposure to the aqueous media. Thus, one can also selectively sequence the exposure times of certain components of the particle.
  • the diammonium sulfate of the instant process preferably should be of a coarse grade; most preferably 95 weight percent of the material should be in the average particle size diameter of from about 200 to about 600 microns, i.e. 95 weight percent should pass through a 30 mesh (U. S. Standard) screen and not pass through a 70 mesh (U. S. Standard) screen. Elimination of fines is preferred to minimize compaction or undesirable agglomeration of the diammonium sulfate particles during the coating process.
  • the coated composition may be used as is or, if preferred, screened to a desired particle size.
  • a flaked dinonylphenol ethoxylate ( ⁇ 100 EO) (sold under the Rhone-Poulenc trademark Igepal DM-970 FLK) is blended with a sufficient amount of a liquid isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate (4 EO) (sold under the Rhone-Poulenc trademark Rhodasurf DA-530) to produce a non-tacky, solid mixture with an 85:15 respectively weight ratio surfactant Composition A (said nonionic surfactant composition blend also sold under the Rhone-Poulenc trademark AgRHô DS 420).
  • isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate has an adverse effect on the melting point of the solid dinonylphenol ethoxylated surfactant, its presence is useful for the improved wetting characteristic it provides, i.e., the lower surface tension realized in the final aqueous solution as a result of its incorporation.
  • dry diammonium sulfate is added to the dry Composition A prepared above in a Sigma Blade Mixer in a weight ratio of approximately 85:15 weight percent sulfate to surfactant. Blending is unable to be accomplished because the materials compress together and cake.
  • the test is run again utilizing solely the flaked dinonylphenol ethoxylate ( ⁇ 100 EO), i.e., Igepal DM-970 FLK in lieu of Composition A. Again, the blending is unsuccessful because, even at room temperature, the surfactant and diammonium sulfate compact to form cakes.
  • Diammonium sulfate is charged into a Continental Rollo mixer Mark VI blender. The sulfate is rotationally blended for about 10 minutes.
  • a solid nonionic surfactant composition comprising dinonylphenol ethoxylate ( ⁇ 100 EO) (Igepal DM 970) and isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate (4 EO) (Igepal DA 530) respectively, (said nonionic surfactant composition blend sold under the Rhone-Poulenc trademark AgRH ⁇ DS 420) is heated at a temperature of about 85o C until the surfactant composition is melted. The molten surfactant is then sprayed onto the rotating diammonium sulfate through fine sized 8008E spray tips. The mixture is blended continuously for three additional minutes to ensure uniform coating and granulation.
  • the mixture is then cooled to about 45o C at which time an antifoam agent is blended into the mixture for three minutes.
  • the coated granular product is collected through a #8 (U. S.
  • the resulting dissolution times of the solid nonionic surfactant compositions indicate the significantly enhanced dissolution rates that can be unexpectedly realized by this invention, i . e . , by the intimate spray-coating of diammonium sulfate with the surfactant .
  • the coated products of this invention also realize a very uniform particle size together with excellent attrition resistance. Serendipitously, the process is significantly less energy intensive and more capital cost effective than other melt-admixing processes, e.g., extrusion processes of the prior art.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Cosmetics (AREA)
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Abstract

A method for enhancing solid, nonionic surfactant aqueous dissolution rates by spray-coating from about 1 to less than 70 weight percent of diammonium sulfate with the surfactants and the compositions produced thereby.

Description

NONIONIC SURFACTANTS WITH ENHANCED AQUEOUS DISSOLUTION RATES Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of solid nonionic surfactant compositions and the compositions produced thereby which have dissolution rates in water much higher than the surfactants alone.
Background of the Invention
Surfactants have many end-use applications well known to those in the art wherein it is desirable to be able to alter and/or control the dissolution rate of the surfactant once it is intimately admixed with water. In certain situations, it becomes desirable to slow the rate at which the surfactants solubilize, for example, when used in toilet bowl cleaning cakes. More often, it is desired to increase the rate at which the solid surfactant dissolves into the aqueous medium. This enhanced rate of dissolution would be desirable, for example, in dishwashing or laundry powdered detergent situations. Heretofore, attempts to control the times of solid surfactant solubilization have taken various forms, such as using incorporated binders, extrusion granulation, membrane encapsulation, or tableting, i.e., compression of the surfactant-containing compositions all of which possess attendant disadvantages. For example, encapsulation is highly dependent upon the quality of the encapsulating material and may release the compositions in discrete packages. The compaction process is an extremely difficult way to control the release of surfactant material for slight variations in composition properties, e.g., tackiness, particle size, etc. can have dramatic impact on the dissolution rate even under fixed, uniform compacting pressure.
Extrusion processing to prepare melt-admixed granules, such as is taught in EP 501,798A1 has the disadvantage of always intimately admixing all of the components thus inherently placing a restriction on the individual components that can be utilized in such a process, i.e., they must be compatible. Furthermore, initially all of the material components will be exposed to the aqueous medium simultaneously, i.e., one cannot program for differing dissolution rates.
Granule-type products, i.e., multi-component particles are desirable in many end-use applications for they are more stable during storage and transport than mere physical mixtures of the dry individual components.
It would be advantageous if a process means relatively insensitive to minor process or product variations were available to avoid the above-identified problems of the prior art and to not only increase the rate at which nonionic solid surfactants dissolve in aqueous medium, but also permit i) incompatible components to be incorporated into a single particle and ii) preferential or sequential exposure of selected components to the aqueous media.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to realize a process for preparing solid nonionic surfactant compositions with significantly enhanced and easily predictable and controllable aqueous dissolution rates. This is accomplished by spray-coating diammonium sulfate crystals with the molten surfactant composition.
Detailed Description of the Invention It has been discovered that the time for complete dissolution in water of certain solid, nonionic surfactants and surfactant compositions can be significantly reduced when the solids are spray-coated onto diammonium sulfate.
By "spray-coated" is meant that the solid surfactant is melted and coated upon the sulfate while still in the molten state. This is done by spraying the molten surfactant onto the diammonium sulfate particles in a coating blender.
Complete coating of the sulfate particles is not always necessary but, rather, the degree of completeness of the coating is often determined by specific requirements such as the need to isolate the diammonium sulfate from other added incompatible adjuvants. The sprayed material, while still in a tacky state, is then continuously tumbled to partially agglomerate or granulate the individual particles so as to yield dry flowable granules.
The nonionic surfactants whose dissolution rate can be enhanced by the processes of this invention are those known in the art which are solid or of a hard, nontacky wax consistency at room temperature.
Among the preferred nonionics are the following:
A) Amides such as :
i) Alkanolamides of the formula -
Figure imgf000006_0001
wherein R' and R" each can be -H, -CH2CH2OH, or
Figure imgf000006_0002
ii) ethoxylated alkanolamides of the formula -
and
Figure imgf000006_0003
iii) ethylene bisamides of the formula -
Figure imgf000006_0004
B) Esters such as:
i) fatty acid esters of the formula -
Figure imgf000006_0005
ii) glycerol esters of the formula -
Figure imgf000007_0001
iii) ethoxylated fatty acid glycol and polyethylene glycol esters of the formula -
Figure imgf000007_0002
iv) sorbitan esters of the formula -
and
Figure imgf000007_0003
v) ethoxylated sorbitan esters of the formula -
Figure imgf000007_0004
thoxylates such as:
i) alkylphenol ethoxylates of the formula -
Figure imgf000007_0005
ii) alcohol ethoxylates of the formula -
R - O - (CH2CH2O)nH; iii) tristyrylphenol ethoxylates of the formula -
; and
Figure imgf000008_0001
iv) mercaptan ethoxylates of the formula - R - S - (CH2CH2O)nH
D) End-capped and EO/PO block copolymers such as:
i) alcohol alkoxylates of the formula -
Figure imgf000008_0002
ii) ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers of the formula -
Figure imgf000008_0003
iii) reverse copolymers of the formula -
iv) chlorine capped ethoxylates of the formula - R - (OCH2CH2)xCl; and v) tetra-functional block copolymers of the formula -
Figure imgf000009_0001
or
Figure imgf000009_0002
wherein
R is a fatty alkyl group, preferably a C6 - C22 fatty alkyl group, most preferably a C8 - C18 fatty alkyl group;
R1 is -H or a fatty alkyl group, preferably -H or a C6 - C22 fatty alkyl group, most preferably -
H or a C9 - C19 fatty alkyl group;
x, x', y, y' and n are each independently moles of ethylene oxide preferably 1 to 300; most preferably 1 to 150; and
m, m', l and l' are each independently moles of propylene oxide, preferably 1 to 300; most preferably 1 to 150;
with the proviso that the fatty alkyl group and/or the number or arrangement of the ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide units are such that the surfactant composition is a solid at room temperature (24ºC), preferably a solid at 50ºC.
Mixtures of the above surfactants are acceptable and, in fact, mixtures of the above surfactants with other nonionics that alone are liquid even at room temperature may be acceptable provided that the amount or nature of the liquid surfactant is such that the final particulate product does not exhibit tackiness at room temperature. Preferably, tackiness is not exhibited even at 50ºC.
The solid, nonionic surfactant compositions of the instant invention should be present from greater than 30 to about 99 weight percent, preferably from about 50 to about 97 weight percent, said percent based on the total spray-coated formulation.
The more preferred solid nonionic surfactants are the aforedescribed alkyl alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates.
The most preferred solid nonionic surfactant is dinonylphenol ethoxylate (〉 100 EO) for it has been discovered that this compound possesses the ability to provide excellent wetting characteristics together with a high melting point. Furthermore, the material exhibits an ability to dissolve in aqueous medium without formation of a gel phase.
The amount of diammonium sulfate to be spray-coated by the solid nonionic composition can be from about 1 to less than 70 weight percent, preferably from about 3 to about 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the final spray-coated composition.
The essence of the instant invention lies in the discovery that if solid nonionic surfactant compositions are spray-coated upon diammonium sulfate, the dissolution rate of the dry surfactant particulate composition in aqueous solution is greatly enhanced. It is also hypothesized that in addition to the action of the ammonium sulfate per se upon the dissolution rate of the solid, nonionic surfactant composition, the coating process tends to entrap air within the coated granules thereby increasing the surface area ultimately exposed to the aqueous medium which increases the dissolution rate (as opposed to compaction and extrusion processes which tend to compress air out of the particles). Also, the pockets of entrapped air function as flotation aids which assist in keeping the coated granules from settling.
The preferred process of the instant spray-coating invention comprises the steps of:
a) adding diammonium sulfate to a blender chamber; b) mixing said diammonium sulfate to ensure uniform distribution;
c) melting the initially solid nonionic surfactant composition, preferably at a temperature of from about 65º to about 95'C. (149 - 203ºF);
d) spraying the molten surfactant composition onto the diammonium sulfate in said blender chamber with continuous blending to effect a coating and granulation of the sulfate particles; and e) cooling the coated granules, preferably to less than 50ºC (122ºF).
Preferably, the diammonium sulfate is initially blended for at least 10 minutes before the spraying step to ensure that the initial crystal sizes are uniformly distributed throughout the batch. The preferred spray blender-mixers are those of the Mark VI design manufactured by Continental Rollo or an equivalent.
Preferably, to aid in providing a uniform coating and also to avoid undesirable agglomeration, the mixture should continue to be blended for at least three additional minutes after the spraying has ceased. If it is desired to have any of the additional components adhere to the surface of the coated granules, e.g., if an additional additive is a fine powder and one desires to reduce dusting in the final product, the material can be added while the coated granules are still tacky to obtain adherence, i.e., the material can be added before the coated material is completely cooled. Examples of such optional additional components include anti-foam agents, flow agents, anti-caking agents, stabilizers, inert fillers, gas-generating agents, dyes, and/or any adjuvants particular to the specific end-use application of the resulting product.
Optional adjuvants can be added from about 0 to about 20 weight percent of the granular composition. Inert ingredients can be present from about 0 to about 80 weight percent.
One of the distinct advantages of the instant spray-coated, i.e., multi-layered particle is that it frees the preparer from many of the restrictions normally imposed upon multi-component systems manufacturers. For example, additional adjuvant components which normally would be incompatible with the diammonium sulfate can be made a part of the coated particle by introducing the component after the coating process is completed, but while the multi-layered material is still tacky so that the adjuvant can be adhered to the outer surface, i.e., the component would only be in contact with the nonionic composition layer.
Another advantage realized by this adherence contact procedure is that since it allows material to be placed on the outside of the spray-coated particle, it gives the adhered material preferential or advanced exposure to the aqueous media. Thus, one can also selectively sequence the exposure times of certain components of the particle.
The diammonium sulfate of the instant process preferably should be of a coarse grade; most preferably 95 weight percent of the material should be in the average particle size diameter of from about 200 to about 600 microns, i.e. 95 weight percent should pass through a 30 mesh (U. S. Standard) screen and not pass through a 70 mesh (U. S. Standard) screen. Elimination of fines is preferred to minimize compaction or undesirable agglomeration of the diammonium sulfate particles during the coating process.
The coated composition may be used as is or, if preferred, screened to a desired particle size.
The following specific examples are further illustrative of the present invention, but it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto. All amounts of various ingredients are by weight unless otherwise specified.
In all of the following Examples, the dissolution rates were determined as follows:
A calculated amount of product such that the surfactant weight remained at 2.0 grams is added into a 250 ml beaker filled with 98 ml of deionized water at room temperature while stirring with a magnetic stirrer set to a speed of about 30-50% full scale and a stopwatch started. When complete dissolution is observed, i.e., the solution becomes completely clear, the time is recorded. Examples I-II
A flaked dinonylphenol ethoxylate (〉100 EO) (sold under the Rhone-Poulenc trademark Igepal DM-970 FLK) is blended with a sufficient amount of a liquid isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate (4 EO) (sold under the Rhone-Poulenc trademark Rhodasurf DA-530) to produce a non-tacky, solid mixture with an 85:15 respectively weight ratio surfactant Composition A (said nonionic surfactant composition blend also sold under the Rhone-Poulenc trademark AgRHô DS 420). Although the isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate has an adverse effect on the melting point of the solid dinonylphenol ethoxylated surfactant, its presence is useful for the improved wetting characteristic it provides, i.e., the lower surface tension realized in the final aqueous solution as a result of its incorporation.
At room temperature, dry diammonium sulfate is added to the dry Composition A prepared above in a Sigma Blade Mixer in a weight ratio of approximately 85:15 weight percent sulfate to surfactant. Blending is unable to be accomplished because the materials compress together and cake.
The test is run again utilizing solely the flaked dinonylphenol ethoxylate (〉100 EO), i.e., Igepal DM-970 FLK in lieu of Composition A. Again, the blending is unsuccessful because, even at room temperature, the surfactant and diammonium sulfate compact to form cakes.
Examples III - VI
Diammonium sulfate is charged into a Continental Rollo mixer Mark VI blender. The sulfate is rotationally blended for about 10 minutes. A solid nonionic surfactant composition comprising dinonylphenol ethoxylate (〉 100 EO) (Igepal DM 970) and isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate (4 EO) (Igepal DA 530) respectively, (said nonionic surfactant composition blend sold under the Rhone-Poulenc trademark AgRHδ DS 420) is heated at a temperature of about 85º C until the surfactant composition is melted. The molten surfactant is then sprayed onto the rotating diammonium sulfate through fine sized 8008E spray tips. The mixture is blended continuously for three additional minutes to ensure uniform coating and granulation.
The mixture is then cooled to about 45º C at which time an antifoam agent is blended into the mixture for three minutes.
The coated granular product is collected through a #8 (U. S.
Standard) mesh screen. In these and the following examples, the weight percentages as indicated are based on the total weight of the final formulation.
Figure imgf000016_0001
The resulting dissolution times of the solid nonionic surfactant compositions indicate the significantly enhanced dissolution rates that can be unexpectedly realized by this invention, i . e . , by the intimate spray-coating of diammonium sulfate with the surfactant .
In addition to the aforementioned enhanced dissolution ; incompatibility avoidance ; and preferential dissolution advantages , the coated products of this invention also realize a very uniform particle size together with excellent attrition resistance. Serendipitously, the process is significantly less energy intensive and more capital cost effective than other melt-admixing processes, e.g., extrusion processes of the prior art.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific examples, it is understood that modifications and variations of composition and procedure are contemplated within the scope of the following claims:

Claims

We claim:
1. A method for enhancing the aqueous dissolution rates of solid, nonionic surfactant compositions comprising spray- coating from about 1 to less than 70 weight percent diammonium sulfate with said solid, nonionic surfactant composition; the weight percentage based on the total weight of the spray-coated composition.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the diammonium sulfate is present from about 3 to about 50 weight percent of the total spray-coated composition.
3. A method of enhancing the aqueous dissolution rates of solid, nonionic surfactant compositions comprising spray- coating from about 1 to less than 70 weight percent (based on the total spray-coated composition) diammonium sulfate with a solid, nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of:
i) alkanolamides of the formula
Figure imgf000018_0001
wherein R' and R" each can be -H, -CH2CH2OH, or
Figure imgf000018_0002
ii) ethoxylated alkanolamides of the formula
Figure imgf000018_0003
iii) ethylene bisamides of the formula
Figure imgf000019_0001
iv) fatty acid esters of the formula
Figure imgf000019_0002
v) glycerol esters of the formula
Figure imgf000019_0003
vi) ethoxylated fatty acid glycol and polyethylene glycol esters of the formula
Figure imgf000019_0004
vii) sorbitan esters of the formula
Figure imgf000019_0005
viii) ethoxylated sorbitan esters of the formula
Figure imgf000019_0006
ix) alkylphenol ethoxylates of the formula
Figure imgf000020_0001
x) alcohol ethoxylates of the formula
R - O - (CH2CH2O)nH;
xi) tristyrylphenol ethoxylates of the formula
;
Figure imgf000020_0002
xii) mercaptan ethoxylates of the formula
R - S - (CH2CH2O)nH;
xiii) alcohol alkoxylates of the formula
Figure imgf000020_0003
xiv) ethvleneoxide/propyleneoxide block copolymers of the formula
Figure imgf000020_0004
xv) reverse copolymers of the formula
Figure imgf000020_0005
xvi) chlorine capped ethoxylates of the formula
R - (OCH2CH2)xCl; xvii) tetra-functional block copolymers of the formula -
Figure imgf000021_0001
xviii) mixtures thereof
wherein
R is a fatty alkyl group;
R1 is -H or a fatty alkyl group;
x, x', y, y' and n are each independently moles of ethyleneoxide; and
m, m', l and l' are each independently moles of propyleneoxide; and
with the proviso that the fatty alkyl group and/or the number or arrangement of the ethyleneoxide and/or propyleneoxide units are such that the surfactant composition is solid at 24ºC.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein
R fatty alkyl groups are from C6 to C22;
R1 is H or the fatty alkyl groups are from C6 to C22; x, x', y , y ' , and n are each independently from 1 to 300; and
m, m', l, and l' are each independently from 1 to 300.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein
R is C8 to C18 alkyl;
R1 is H or C8 to C18 alkyl;
x, x' y, y' and n are each independently from 1 to 200;
m, m', l, and l' are each independently from 1 to
200.
6. A method for enhancing the aqueous dissolution rates of solid, nonionic surfactant compositions comprising:
a) mixing diammonium sulfate in a blending chamber; b) melting nonionic surfactant;
c) spraying the molten surfactant onto the diammonium sulfate with continuous blending to achieve coating and granulation of the sulfate particles; and d) cooling the coated particles; wherein said diammonium sulfate comprises from about 1 to less than 70 weight percent of the coated composition (the weight percent based on the total weight of the spray-coated composition).
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the ammonium sulfate is present from about 3 to about 50 weight percent of the coated composition.
8. A method for enhancing the aqueous dissolution rates of solid, nonionic surfactant compositions comprising a) mixing diammonium sulfate in a blending chamber; b) melting a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of
i) alkanolamides
Figure imgf000023_0001
wherein R' and R" each can be -H, -CH2CH2OH, or
Figure imgf000023_0002
ii) ethoxylated alkanolamides of the formula
Figure imgf000023_0003
iii) ethylene bisamides of the formula
Figure imgf000023_0004
iv) fatty acid esters of the formula
Figure imgf000023_0005
v) glycerol esters of the formula
Figure imgf000024_0001
vi) ethoxylated fatty acid glycol and polyethylene glycol esters of the formula
Figure imgf000024_0002
vii) sorbitan esters of the formula
Figure imgf000024_0003
viii) ethoxylated sorbitan esters of the formula
Figure imgf000024_0004
ix ) alkylphenol ethoxylates of the formula
Figure imgf000024_0005
x) alcohol ethoxylates of the formula
R - O - (CH2CH2O)nH; xi) tristyrylphenol ethoxylates of the formula
;
Figure imgf000025_0001
xii) mercaptan ethoxylates of the formula
R - S - (CH2CH2O)nH; xiii) alcohol alkoxylates of the formula
Figure imgf000025_0002
xiv) ethyleneoxide/propyleneoxide block copolymers of the formula
Figure imgf000025_0003
xv) reverse copolymers of the formula
Figure imgf000025_0004
xvi) chlorine capped ethoxylates of the formula
R - (OCH2CH2)xCl; xvii) tetra-functional block copolymers of the formula -
Figure imgf000026_0001
or
Figure imgf000026_0002
xviii) mixtures thereof
wherein
R is a fatty alkyl group;
R1 is -H or a fatty alkyl group;
x, x', y, y', and n are each independently moles of ethyleneoxide; and
m, m', l, and l' are each independently moles of propyleneoxide; and
with the proviso that the fatty alkyl group and/or the number or arrangement of the ethyleneoxide and/or propyleneoxide units are such that the surfactant composition is solid at 24ºC.
c) spraying the molten surfactant onto the diammonium sulfate with continuous blending to achieve coating and granulation of the sulfate particles; and d) cooling the coated particles wherein said diammonium sulfate comprises from about 1 to less than 70 weight percent of the coated composition (the weight percent based on the total weight of the spray- coated composition).
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the diammonium sulfate is present from about 3 to about 50 weight percent based on the coated composition.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein
R fatty alkyl groups are from C6 to C22
R1 is -H or the fatty alkyl groups are from C6 to C22; x, x', y, y', and n are each independently 1 to 300; and
m, m', l, and l' are each independently 1 to 300.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein
R is C8 - C18 alkyl;
R1 is -A or C8 - C18 alkyl;
x, x', y, y' , and n are each independently from 1 to 200; and
m, m', l, and l' are each independently from 1 to 200.
12. The method of claim 6 wherein
i) the nonionic surfactant is melted at from about 65º C to about 95º C; and
ii) the coated particles are cooled to less than about 50º C.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein
i) the nonionic surfactant is melted at from about 65º C to about 95º C; and
ii) the cooled particles are cooled to less than about
50º C.
14. Coated particle surfactant compositions comprising
a) diammonium sulfate particles with
b) a solid, nonionic surfactant partial or complete outer coating
wherein the diammonium sulfate is present from about 1 to less than 70 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition (the weight percent based on the total weight of the spray-coated composition).
15. The coated particle surfactant composition of claim 14 wherein the diammonium sulfate is present from about 3 to about 50 weight percent.
16. Coated particle surfactant compositions comprising
a) from about 1 to less than 70 weight percent (based on the total composition weight) of diammonium sulfate particles with
b) a solid, nonionic surfactant partial or complete outer coating selected from the group consisting of i) alkanolamides of the formula
Figure imgf000028_0001
wherein R' and R" each can be -H, -CH2CH2OH, or
Figure imgf000029_0001
ii) ethoxylated alkanolamides of the formula
Figure imgf000029_0002
iii) ethylene bisamides of the formula
Figure imgf000029_0003
iv) fatty acid esters of the formula
Figure imgf000029_0004
v) glycerol esters of the formula
Figure imgf000029_0005
vi) ethoxylated fatty acid glycol and polyethylene glycol esters of the formula
Figure imgf000029_0006
vii) sorbitan esters of the formula
Figure imgf000030_0001
viii) ethoxylated sorbitan esters of the formula
Figure imgf000030_0002
ix) alkylphenol ethoxylates of the formula
Figure imgf000030_0003
x) alcohol ethoxylates of the formula
R - O - (CH2CH2O)nH;
xi) tristyrylphenol ethoxylates of the formula
;
Figure imgf000030_0004
xii) mercaptan ethoxylates of the formula
R - S - (CH2CH2O)nH;
xiii) alcohol alkoxylates of the formula
Figure imgf000030_0005
xiv) ethyleneoxide/propyleneoxide block copolymers of the formula
Figure imgf000031_0001
xv) reverse copolymers of the formula
Figure imgf000031_0002
xvi) chlorine capped ethoxylates of the formula
R - (OCH2CH2)xCl;
xvii) tetra-functional block copolymers of the formula -
Figure imgf000031_0003
or
Figure imgf000031_0004
xviii) mixtures thereof
wherein
R is a fatty alkyl group;
R1 is -H or a fatty alkyl group;
x, x', y, y' , and n are each independently moles of ethyleneoxide; and
m, m', l anl l' are each independently moles of propyleneoxide; and
with the proviso that the fatty alkyl group and/or the number or arrangement of the ethyleneoxide and/or propyleneoxide units are such that the surfactant composition is solid at 24ºC (the weight percent based on the total weight of the spray-coated composition).
17. The composition of claim 16 wherein the diammonium sulfate is present from about 3 to about 50 weight percent.
18. The composition of claim 17 wherein
R fatty alkyl groups are from C6 to C22;
R1 is H or the fatty alkyl groups are from C6 to C22; x, x', y, y' , and n are each independently from 1 to 300; and
m, m', l, and l' are each independently from 1 to
300.
19. The composition of claim 18 wherein
R is C8 to C18 alkyl;
R1 is H or C8 to C18 alkyl;
x, x', y, y' , and n are each independently from 1 to
200;
m, m', l, and l' are each independently from 1 to 200.
PCT/US1996/001236 1995-01-31 1996-01-31 Nonionic surfactants with enhanced aqueous dissolution rates Ceased WO1996023864A1 (en)

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AT96905280T ATE236972T1 (en) 1995-01-31 1996-01-31 NON-IONIC SURFACTANTS WITH IMPROVED AQUEOUS DISSOLUTION RATE
AU49086/96A AU716210B2 (en) 1995-01-31 1996-01-31 Nonionic surfactants with enhanced aqueous dissolution rates
CA002211693A CA2211693C (en) 1995-01-31 1996-01-31 Nonionic surfactants with enhanced aqueous dissolution rates
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ATE236972T1 (en) 2003-04-15
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