IP Library Granted Patent US 12,630,786
Granted Patent B2
US 12,630,786 · App. 18/606,225 · Granted May 19, 2026

Solid composition comprising benzyloxide, sulfonate carrier, and non-hygroscopic acid, and its use in cleaning compositions

Inventors: Erik C. Olson (Saint Paul, MN); Austin Peterson (Saint Paul, MN); Wendy Lo (Saint Paul, MN)
Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
C11D3/2082C11D1/002C11D3/1213C11D3/168C11D13/10C11D13/20C11D17/0047C11D17/06C11D2111/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,630,786
App. No.
18/606,225
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Solid alkali metal benzyl oxide compositions providing flowable solids, namely flowable powders and flowable granulates, and solid compositions containing the alkali metal benzyl oxide compositions in combination with additional components are disclosed. Methods of making the solid compositions and using the solid compositions are also provided. The solid compositions are particularly useful for making solid cleaning compositions, including degreasing compositions, that beneficially are PPE-free providing safety improvements over liquid formulations.

Claims (29)

1 . A solid composition comprising:

an alkali metal benzyl oxide;

a sulfonate carrier; and

a non-hygroscopic solid acid;

wherein the solid is tablet, block, powder or granulate, wherein the solid is a dimensionally stable solid or a flowable solid, and wherein the solid does not require personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling.

2 . The solid composition of claim 1 , wherein the alkali metal benzyl oxide comprises sodium benzyl oxide.

3 . The solid composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonate carrier is a short chain alkyl benzene or alkyl naphthalene hydrotrope.

4 . The solid composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonate carrier comprises one or more of sodium xylene sulfonate, sodium toluene sulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, potassium toluene sulfonate, ammonium xylene sulfonate, calcium xylene sulfonate, sodium alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, and sodium butyl naphthalene sulfonate.

5 . The solid composition of claim 1 , wherein the non-hygroscopic solid acid is an acid EDTA and/or glutamic acid, and optionally wherein the non-hygroscopic solid acid is acid is further combined with an additional solid acid.

6 . The solid composition of claim 5 , wherein the additional solid acid is an additional non-hygroscopic solid acid.

7 . The solid composition of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following is true:

(a) the alkali metal benzyl oxide comprises from about 10-60 wt-% of the composition, the sulfonate carrier comprises from about 5-40 wt-% of the composition, and the non-hygroscopic solid acid comprises from about 20-60 wt-% of the composition;

(b) the alkali metal benzyl oxide comprises from about 20-50 wt-% of the composition, the sulfonate carrier comprises from about 10-30 wt-% of the composition, and the non-hygroscopic solid acid comprises from about 25-50 wt-% of the composition;

(c) the alkali metal benzyl oxide and the sulfonate carrier are provided in a premix comprising from about 40-80 wt-% of the composition, and the non-hygroscopic solid acid comprises from about 20-60 wt-% of the composition; or

(d) the alkali metal benzyl oxide and the sulfonate carrier are provided in a premix comprising from about 50-70 wt-% of the composition, and the non-hygroscopic solid acid comprises from about 30-50 wt-% of the composition.

8 . The solid composition of claim 1 , wherein the solid consists of the alkali metal benzyl oxide, optionally alkali metal hydroxide, the sulfonate carrier and the non-hygroscopic solid acid and is substantially free of water, or free of water.

9 . The solid composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional functional ingredient suitable for a solid cleaning and/or degreasing composition.

10 . A method of making the solid composition of claim 1 comprising:

combining a premix comprising an alkali metal benzyl oxide and a sulfonate carrier with a non-hygroscopic solid acid, wherein the solid is tablet, block, powder, or granulate and wherein the solid is a dimensionally stable solid or a flowable solid.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising a spray drying step and/or granulation step.

12 . A method of using a solid cleaning composition comprising:

generating a use solution of the cleaning composition according to claim 1 or the composition made by the method of claim 10 ; and

contacting a surface or article in need of cleaning, degreasing and/or stripping with the use solution; and

removing soils from the surface,

wherein the use solution pH is from about 8 to less than about 11 for non-personal protective equipment (PPE) applications.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the surface is a hard surface or article soiled with a polymerized fat soil.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the dilution range of the use solution is from about 5-20%, or about 10-15%.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the contacting of the surface is for an amount of time from about one second to about 24 hours, or from about one minute to about 2 hours.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein no additional mechanical force is required for removal of the soil.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2024
From: OLSON, ERIK C.; PETERSON, AUSTIN; LO, WENDY
To: ECOLAB USA INC.
Reel/Frame 066785/0738 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63491981 · Mar 24, 2023
Related Publication 20240318100A1 · Sep 26, 2024
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