Phenolate-containing formulation with low freezing point

1. An aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation, comprising:

a) 50-80% by wt. of one or more phenolates;

b) 0.1-10% by wt. of at least one crystallization inhibitor;

c) water; and

d) optionally a balance of at least one other component having a biocidal effect and/or promoting a biocidal effect of said one or more phenolates;

wherein:

the aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation has a solidification point of less than or equal to −10° C; and

the one or more phenolates are neutralized with 1.03-1.15 mols of at least one alkali hydroxide per mol of phenolates.

2. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises as said one or more phenolates a member selected from the group consisting of salts of phenol, phenolates having one or more aliphatic substituents, phenolates having one or more aromatic substituents and mixtures thereof.

3. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises as said one or more phenolates a member selected from the group consisting of o-phenylphenolates, halogenated phenolates, cresol salts, salts of halogenated cresols, resorcinol salts and mixtures thereof.

4. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 3 , which comprises as the cresol salts a member selected from the group consisting of salts of o-cresol, salts of m-cresol, salts of p-cresol, salts of isopropyl o-cresol, salts of 4-isopropyl m-cresol, halogenated cresols, and

as the resorcinol salts a member selected from the group consisting of salts of 4-n-hexyl resorcinol.

5. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises one or more phenolates in an amount of 50-75% by wt.

6. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises said at least one crystallization inhibitor in an amount of 0.5-5% by wt.

7. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , said formulation containing as the crystallization inhibitor a member selected from the group consisting of one or more aliphatic glycol compound(s), one or more aliphatic alcohol(s), one or more aromatic alcohol(s), and mixtures thereof.

8. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises a member selected from the group consisting of organometal compounds, quaternary ammonium compounds and mixtures thereof, and/or a member selected from the group consisting of chelating agents, antioxidants and mixtures thereof.

9. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises a member selected from the group consisting of dicocomethylbenzylammonium chloride, tributyl tin benzoate, N-tallow-1,3-diaminopropane and mixtures thereof.

10. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises 0.05-1% by wt. based on the formulation of a member selected from the group consisting of NTA, EDTA, DTPA, 2-phosphono- 1,2,4-butanetricarboxylic acid and mixtures thereof.

11. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises

a) 50-80% by wt. of at least one phenolate; and

b) 20-50% by wt. of a solvent system comprising 90-99% by wt. water and 0.1-10.0% by wt. of at least one crystallization inhibitor;

wherein a proportion of 1.0-4.9% by wt. of said formulation may be replaced by additional microbicidal agents and/or components promoting these agents.

12. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more phenolates are present in a form selected from the group consisting of a potassium salt, a sodium salt, a lithium salt and mixtures thereof.

13. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , wherein the crystallization inhibitors are present in an amount of 1-3% by wt. in a formulation containing 60-70% by wt. of one or more phenolates.

14. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 4 , wherein said halogenated cresol is chlorinated cresols.

15. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises one or more phenolates in an amount of 55-70% by wt.

16. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises one or more phenolates in an amount of 60-70% by wt.

17. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises one or more phenolates in an amount of 62-67% by wt.

18. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 , which comprises the crystallization inhibitors in an amount of 1-3% by wt.

19. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more aliphatic glycol compound(s) are a member selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, monopropylene glycol, diethylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

20. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more aliphatic alcohol(s) are a member selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, isomers of butanol, isomers of pentanol and mixtures thereof.

21. The aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more aromatic alcohol(s) are a member selected from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethane-1-ol, 3-phenylpropane-1-ol, 1 -phenylpropane-2-ol and mixtures thereof.

22. An aqueous suspension or dispersion, comprising:

a member selected from the group consisting of minerals, fillers, pigments, natural organic binders, synthetic organic binders, cooling lubricants and mixtures thereof; and

the aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 .

23. The aqueous suspension or dispersion according to claim 22 , wherein said aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation is present in an amount of 100 g/ton to 2500 g/ton of the suspension or dispersion.

24. A preservative and/or mordant, comprising: the aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation according to claim 1 .

25. A method for the preparation of an aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation comprising:

placing water and a neutralizing agent in a vessel;

dissolving a phenol compound in an amount sufficient to provide 50-80% by wt. of phenolates in the formulation; and

adding a crystallization inhibitor in an amount sufficient to provide 0.1-10% by wt. of crystallization inhibitor in the formulation;

wherein:

the formulation has a solidification point of less than or equal to −10° C.; and

the neutralizing agent comprises at least one alkali hydroxide;

the neutralizing agent is present in an amount of from 1.03-1.15 mols per mol of phenolates.

26. The method according to claim 25 , comprising:

placing the crystallization inhibitor together with the water and the neutralizing agent in a vessel, and afterwards dissolving the phenol compound therein.

27. The method according to claim 25 , wherein a temperature during dissolving is 5-80° C.

28. An aqueous suspension or dispersion, comprising:

a member selected from the group consisting of minerals, fillers, pigments, natural organic binders, synthetic organic binders, cooling lubricants and mixtures thereof; and

an aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation, comprising: a) 50-80% by wt. of one or more phenolates; b) 0.1-10% by wt. of at least one crystallization inhibitor; c) water; and d) optionally a balance of at least one other component having a biocidal effect and/or promoting a biocidal effect of said one or more phenolates; wherein the aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation has a solidification point of less than or equal to −10° C.;

wherein the aqueous, phenolate-containing liquid formulation is present in an amount of 100 g/ton to 2500 g/ton of the suspension or dispersion.