# US 2010/0167976 A1 · Composition

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- Number: US 2010/0167976 A1
- Document ID: US20100167976A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/444,612
- Filed: 2007-10-12
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2006-10-14
- Assignees: Reckitt Benckiser N.V.
- Inventors: Fabio Costiniti; Nassimo Pavan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167976A1

## CPC

- C02F 5/083: {Mineral agents}
- C02F 1/42: by ion-exchange (ion-exchange in general B01J)
- C02F 2305/14: Additives which dissolves or releases substances when predefined environmental conditions are reached, e.g. pH or temperature
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)

## Abstract

A solid zeolite free soluble water softening composition comprises an effervescent system including an organic acid and an alkali which react together upon dissolution in water.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A solid, zeolite free soluble water softening composition comprising an effervescent system including an organic acid and an alkali which react together upon dissolution in water.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A composition according to claim 1, wherein the acid is present in an amount of at least about 5%.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A composition according to claim 2, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of: citric, phosphoric, sulphamic, acetic, formic, glycolic and oxalic acid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A composition according to claim 1 wherein the alkali is present in an amount of at least about 10%.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition has a pH of (at 1% solution) of 5.5. to 9.5.

### Claim 6

A method of removing and preventing the deposit of limescale in a clothes washing machine comprising the step of:
providing a composition comprising a solid zeolite free soluble water softening composition which comprises an effervescent system including an organic acid and an alkali which react together upon dissolution in water to the clothes washing machine.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A method according to claim 6, wherein the composition additionally comprises a water-softening agent selected from an ion exchange agent, and ion capture agent or an anti-nucleating agent, or a mixture thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A method according to claim 6, wherein the composition is added into the fabric softening dispensing drawer of a clothes washing machine.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

A composition according to claim 2, wherein the alkali is present in an amount of at least about 10%.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

A composition according to claim 3, wherein the alkali is present in an amount of at least about 10%.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

A composition according to claim 2, wherein the composition has a pH of (at 1% solution) of 5.5. to 9.5.

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

A composition according to claim 3, wherein the composition has a pH of (at 1% solution) of 5.5. to 9.5.

### Claim 13 (depends on 4)

A composition according to claim 4, wherein the composition has a pH of (at 1% solution) of 5.5. to 9.5.