# US 2008/0188397 A1 · Use of a Quaternary Ammonium Compound as a Hydrotrope and a Composition Containing the Quaternary Ammonium Compound

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- Number: US 2008/0188397 A1
- Document ID: US20080188397A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/795,003
- Filed: 2006-01-18
- Published: 2008-08-07
- Earliest claimed: 2005-01-25
- Assignees: Akzo Nobel N.V.
- Inventors: Mahnaz Company; Kornelis Overkempe; Andrianus Marinus Groenewegen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080188397A1

## CPC

- C11D 1/835: Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds
- C11D 1/62: Quaternary ammonium compounds
- C11D 1/72: Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL

## Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of an alkyl di(lower alkyl) mono(polyoxyethylene) quaternary ammonium compound as a hydrotrope in 5 aqueous solutions for a nonionic surfactant, preferably a C8-C18-alcohol alkoxylate containing 1-20 ethyleneoxy units and 0-5 propyleneoxy units. It also relates to a composition comprising said quaternary ammonium compound and said nonionic surfactant. The cationic surfactant has the formula 10 R2+R (1) N (CH2CH2O)n H X R1 wherein R=C6-C22 alkyl; R1 and R2 are independently a C1-C4 alkyl group; n=8-25; and X— is an anion. The compositions may be used for the cleaning of hard surfaces, for example for vehicle cleaning or machine dishwashing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of increasing the solubility of a nonionic surfactant in an aqueous media, said method comprising adding to said nonionic surfactant and/or aqueous media a hydrotrope for said nonionic surfactant, said hydrotrope comprising cationic surfactant having the formula
wherein R=C6- C22 alkyl; R1 and R2 independently are a C1-C4 alkyl group; n=8-25; and X− is an anion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein R1 and R2 are methyl and X− is a halide ion or a methylsulfate ion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein n=10-17.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein an alcohol alkoxylate is present of the formula
R3O—(PO)x(EO)y(PO)zH (2)
wherein R3 is a C8 to C18 alkyl group, PO is a propyleneoxy unit, EO is an ethyleneoxy unit, x=0-4, y=1-20, and z=0-4.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An aqueous composition comprising
a) a nonionic surfactant, and
b) a cationic hydrotrope having the formula (1) as defined in claim 1, with the proviso that if any anionic and/or amphoteric surfactant is present in the composition, then the molar amount of the cationic hydrotrope is greater than the molar amount of any anionic groups in the anionic and/or the amphoteric surfactant.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A composition according to claim 5 comprising an anionic and/or amphoteric surfactant, wherein the molar ratio of anionic groups in the anionic and/or the amphoteric surfactant to cationic hydrotrope is less than 1:1.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A composition according to claim 5 comprising the anionic and/or the amphoteric surfactant, wherein the molar ratio of anionic groups in the anionic and/or the amphoteric surfactant to cationic hydrotrope is less than 1:2.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A composition according to claim 5 comprising the anionic and/or the amphoteric surfactant, wherein the molar ratio of anionic groups to cationic hydrotrope is less than 1:3.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

A composition according to claim 5 where the composition is free of anionic and amphoteric surfactants.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

A composition according to claim 5 further comprising
c) alkali hydroxides, alkaline builders and/or alkaline complexing agents.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

A composition according to claim 5 comprising
a) 0.05-20% by weight of the alcohol alkoxylate and
b) 0.02-20% by weight of the cationic hydrotrope.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A composition according to claim 11 where the alcohol alkoxylate has the formula (2)
R3O—(PO)x(EO)y(PO)zH (2)
wherein R3 is a C8 to C18 alkyl group, PO is a propyleneoxy unit, EO is an ethyleneoxy unit, x=0-4, y=1-20, and z=0.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

A composition according to claim 11, further comprising
c) 0.05-40% by weight of alkali hydroxides, alkaline builders and/or alkaline complexing agents

### Claim 14 (depends on 19)

A method of cleaning hard surfaces which comprises applying to said surfaces a cleaning effective amount of the composition of claim 19.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said nonionic surfactant is a nonionic alkylene oxide adduct.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein said alkylene oxide adduct is selected from a C8-C18-alcohol alkoxylate containing 1-20 ethyleneoxy units and 0-5 propyleneoxy units and combinations and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 5)

The composition of claim 5 wherein said nonionic surfactant is a nonionic alkylene oxide adduct.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The composition of claim 17 wherein said alkylene oxide adduct is selected from a C8-C18-alcohol alkoxylate containing 1-20 ethyleneoxy units and 0-5 propyleneoxy units and combinations and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 19 (depends on 5)

A cleaning formulation comprising the aqueous composition of claim 5.