# US 11,028,341 B2 · Cleaning and rinse aid compositions and emulsions or microemulsions employing optimized extended chain nonionic surfactants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,341 B2 - Document ID: US11028341B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/460,136 - Filed: 2019-07-02 - Published: 2019-10-31 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-20 - Assignees: Ecolab USA Inc. - Applicants: Ecolab USA Inc. - Inventors: Victor Fuk-Pong Man; Derrick Richard Anderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028341B2 ## CPC - C11D 1/66: Non-ionic compounds {(C11D1/002, C11D1/004, C11D1/008 take precedence)} - C11D 1/722: Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols having mixed oxyalkylene groups; {Polyalkoxylated fatty alcohols or polyalkoxylated alkylaryl alcohols with mixed oxyalkylele groups (C11D1/721 takes precedence)} - C11D 1/8255: {containing a combination of compounds differently alcoxylised or with differently alkylated chains} - C11D 3/0026: {Low foaming or foam regulating compositions} - C11D 3/2068: {Ethers} - C11D 3/3707: {Polyethers, e.g. polyalkyleneoxides} - C11D 2111/14: Hard surfaces - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL ## Abstract The invention discloses synergistic combinations of extended chain surfactants which can form microemulsions without the need for a linker/co-surfactant. In certain embodiments a surfactant system is disclosed which includes extended nonionic surfactants, with an internal PO linker having a chain length of about 5 to 8, may be capped, or include a Guerbet alcohol hydrophobe. This system forms stable emulsions or microemulsions with oils, including non-trans fats proteins, and fatty acids. The invention also includes cleaning compositions, such as hard surface cleaners, warewash detergents, rinse aids and the like which incorporate the same. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is C8-20 linear hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The composition of claim 4 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The composition of claim 3 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10. ### Claim 7 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is C8-20 branched hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The composition of claim 7 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The composition of claim 7 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The composition of claim 7 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The composition of claim 10 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10. ### Claim 13 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is C8-20 saturated hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, a x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The composition of claim 13 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The composition of claim 13 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The composition of claim 13 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The composition of claim 16 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The composition of claim 15 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10. ### Claim 19 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is C8-20 unsaturated hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The composition of claim 19 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The composition of claim 19 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The composition of claim 19 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The composition of claim 22 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The composition of claim 21 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10. ### Claim 25 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is C8-20 substituted hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The composition of claim 25 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The composition of claim 25 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The composition of claim 25 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The composition of claim 28 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The composition of claim 27 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10. ### Claim 31 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is C8-20 unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The composition of claim 31 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The composition of claim 31 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The composition of claim 31 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The composition of claim 34 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The composition of claim 33 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10. ### Claim 37 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is C8-20 aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The composition of claim 37 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The composition of claim 37 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The composition of claim 37 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The composition of claim 40 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The composition of claim 39 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10. ### Claim 43 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is C8-20 aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms, x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The composition of claim 43 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The composition of claim 43 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 46 (depends on 43) The composition of claim 43 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The composition of claim 46 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 48 (depends on 45) The composition of claim 45 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10. ### Claim 49 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is a tridecyl alcohol, x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The composition of claim 49 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 51 (depends on 49) The composition of claim 49 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 52 (depends on 49) The composition of claim 49 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The composition of claim 52 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 54 (depends on 51) The composition of claim 51 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10. ### Claim 55 A cleaning composition/rinse aid capable of forming microemulsions comprising: an extended chain nonionic surfactant of the following formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y where R is a Guerbet alcohol, x is 4-8; y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 2 to 20, wherein the cleaning composition/rinse aid forms the microemulsion without the need for linker or other cosurfactants. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The composition of claim 55 wherein R is C12 or greater. ### Claim 57 (depends on 55) The composition of claim 55 wherein x is from about 5 to about 8. ### Claim 58 (depends on 55) The composition of claim 55 wherein said nonionic surfactant has the formula: R—[PO]x-[EO]y-N wherein N is POz where z is 1-5, or an alkyl group. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) The composition of claim 58 wherein said alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, or benzyl. ### Claim 60 (depends on 57) The composition of claim 57 wherein x is 8 and y is 3, 6, 8, or 10.