Buffered lubricant for conveyor system
View Patent ↗A method of lubricating a moving surface is herein described wherein the lubricant composition contains a fatty acid, a neutralization agent, a pH buffer, and a carrier. Also described are compositions in both concentrate and dilute form. The compositions may also comprise additional functional ingredients.
1. A method of lubricating a moving surface in the presence of an acidic beverage, the method comprising:
a) providing a concentrate lubricant composition comprising
i) a fatty acid;
ii) a neutralization agent; and
iii) a soluble pH buffer selected from the group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate, citrate, amine selected from the group consisting of urea and morpholine, and mixtures thereof;
b) mixing the concentrate with a carrier to form a dilute lubricant composition; and
c) applying the dilute lubricant composition to a moving surface.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a) the fatty acid is present in the concentrate at about 0.5 to about 99 wt. % of the total weight;
b) the neutralization agent is present in the concentrate at about 0.1 to about 26 wt. % of the total weight; and
c) the pH buffer is present in the concentrate at about 0.1 to about 20 wt. % of the total weight.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid, neutralization agent, and pH buffer are food additives.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbonate is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sesquicarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is water.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentrate further comprises an additional functional ingredient.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the additional functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene glycol polymer, a surfactant, a stabilizing agent, a coupling agent, an antimicrobial agent, a viscosity modifier, a sequestrant, and mixtures thereof.
8. A dilute lubricant composition comprising:
a) a fatty acid;
b) a neutralization agent;
c) a soluble pH buffer selected from the group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate, citrate, amine selected from the group consisting of urea and morpholine, and mixtures thereof; and
d) a carrier.
9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the fatty acid, neutralization agent, and pH buffer are food additives.
10. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the carbonate is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sesquicarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
11. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the carrier is water.
12. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the composition further comprises an additional functional ingredient.
13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the additional functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene glycol polymer, a surfactant, a stabilizing agent, a coupling agent, an antimicrobial agent, a viscosity modifier, a sequestrant, and mixtures thereof.
14. A concentrate lubricant composition comprising:
a) a fatty acid;
b) a neutralization agent; and
c) a soluble pH buffer selected from the group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate, citrate, amine selected from the group consisting of urea and morpholine, and mixtures thereof.
15. A composition of claim 14 , wherein the fatty acid, neutralization agent, and pH buffer are food additives.
16. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the carbonate is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sesquicarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
17. The composition of claim 14 , further comprising a carrier.
18. The composition of claim 17 , wherein the carrier is water.
19. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises an additional functional ingredient.
20. The composition of claim 19 , wherein the additional functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene glycol polymer, a surfactant, a stabilizing agent, a coupling agent, an antimicrobial agent, a viscosity modifier, a sequestrant, and mixtures thereof.
21. A method of lubricating a moving surface in the presence of an acidic beverage, the method comprising: applying a dilute lubricant composition to a moving surface, the dilute lubricant composition comprising:
a) a fatty acid;
b) a neutralization agent; and
c) a soluble pH buffer selected from the group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate, citrate, amine selected from the group consisting of urea and morpholine, and mixtures thereof; and
d) a carrier.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the fatty acid, neutralization agent, and pH buffer are food additives.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the carbonate is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sesquicarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the carrier is water.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the dilute lubricant composition further comprises an additional functional ingredient.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the additional functional ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene glycol polymer, a surfactant, a stabilizing agent, a coupling agent, an antimicrobial agent, a viscosity modifier, a sequestrant, and mixtures thereof.