# US 2019/0169545 A1 · Alkaline detergent composition containing a carboxylic acid terpolymer for hard water scale control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169545 A1 - Document ID: US20190169545A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/267,037 - Filed: 2019-02-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-09 - Assignees: Ecolab USA Inc.; BASF SE - Applicants: Ecolab USA Inc.; BASF SE - Inventors: CARTER M. SILVERNAIL; ERIK C. OLSON; KERRIE E. WALTERS; JUERGEN DETERING; AREND JOUKE KINGMA; JAMES S. DAILEY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169545A1 ## CPC - C11D 3/3757: {(Co)polymerised carboxylic acids, -anhydrides, -esters in solid and liquid compositions} - C02F 1/683: {by addition of complex-forming compounds} - C02F 5/08: Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents - C11D 3/044: {Hydroxides or bases} - C11D 3/3707: {Polyethers, e.g. polyalkyleneoxides} - C11D 3/3761: {in solid compositions} - C11D 3/3765: {in liquid compositions} - C11D 3/378: {(Co)polymerised monomers containing sulfur, e.g. sulfonate} - C11D 7/06: Hydroxides - C11D 17/0008: {aqueous liquid non soap compositions (C11D3/0015, C11D3/3947, C11D3/3956 take precedence)} - C11D 17/0052: {Cast detergent compositions} - C11D 17/0073: {Tablets} - C11D 17/0086: {Laundry tablets} - C11D 17/0091: {Dishwashing tablets} - C02F 2303/22: Eliminating or preventing deposits, scale removal, scale prevention (C02F1/042, C02F1/4602, C02F5/00 take precedence) - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL - 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 highly alkaline detergent is described which includes the use of a carboxylic acid terpolymer in combination with an alkali metal hydroxide. The detergent maintains cleaning functions and also prevents hard water scaling at application temperatures, for example at temperatures of between about 145-180 degrees Fahrenheit and, for example, at a pH of 9.5 to about 13. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-19. (canceled) ### Claim at position 2 20: A method of dispensing a detergent composition comprising: contacting a detergent composition with a water source to form a use solution, wherein the detergent composition comprises at least 55 wt-% of alkali metal hydroxide; and at least one carboxylic acid terpolymer comprising in copolymerized form from 30 to 90% by weight of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated C3-C8-carboxylic acid, or an anhydride or salt thereof, from 3 to 60% by weight of at least one monomer comprising a sulfo group, and from 3 to 20% by weight of at least one nonionic monomer of the formula I H2C═C(R1)(CH2)xO[R2—O]y—R3 (I) in which R1 is hydrogen or methyl, R2 are identical or different, linear or branched C2-C6-alkylene wherein R2—O may be arranged in blocks or randomly, and R3 is hydrogen or a straight-chain or branched C1-C4-alkyl, x is 0, 1 or 2 and y is a number from 3 to 50; and wherein the detergent composition is free of phosphate; dispensing the use solution to an application; wherein the use solution reduces the formation, precipitation and/or deposition of hard water scale on a surface. ### Claim at position 3 (depends on 20) 21: The method of claim 20, wherein the contacting is performed by spraying the water source. ### Claim at position 4 (depends on 20) 22: The method of claim 20, wherein the detergent composition comprises from about 55 wt-% to about 90 wt-% of the alkali metal hydroxide, and from about 10 wt-% to about 40 wt-% of the carboxylic acid terpolymer. ### Claim at position 5 (depends on 20) 23: The method of claim 20, wherein the detergent composition further comprises from 1 wt-% to 20 wt-% of an additional polymer selected from the group consisting of: polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polymaleic acid homopolymers, copolymers of acrylic methacrylic or maleic acids, terpolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and maleic acid and combinations thereof. ### Claim at position 6 (depends on 20) 24: The method of claim 20, wherein y in formula (I) is >5, x in formula (I) is 1, and R1 in formula (I) is H. ### Claim at position 7 (depends on 20) 25: The method of claim 20, wherein y in formula (I) is >5, x in formula (I) is 2, and R1 in formula (I) is methyl. ### Claim at position 8 (depends on 20) 26: The method of claim 20, wherein the carboxylic acid terpolymer comprises from about 40 to 90% by weight of the monoethylenically unsaturated C3-C8 carboxylic acid monomer, anhydride or salt thereof, from about 4 to 40% by weight of the monomer comprising a sulfo group, and from about 4 to 40% by weight of the nonionic monomer of the formula (I). ### Claim at position 9 (depends on 20) 27: The method of claim 20, wherein the R2 is selected from CH2CH2 and CH2CH(CH3), and y is in the range of from 8 to 40, wherein the monomer comprising a sulfo group is allylsulfonic acid or 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, and/or wherein the carboxylic acid monomer, anhydride or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and salts thereof. ### Claim at position 10 (depends on 20) 28: The method of claim 20, wherein the detergent composition further comprises a phosphonate and/or at least one functional ingredient selected from the group consisting of: chelating agents, sequestering agents, alkaline sources, water conditioners, surfactants, hardening agents, bleaching agents, sanitizers, activators, detergent builders, fillers, defoaming agents, anti-redeposition agents, optical brighteners, dyes, odorants, stabilizing agents, dispersants, enzymes, corrosion inhibitors, thickeners and solubility modifiers. ### Claim at position 11 (depends on 20) 29: The method of claim 20, wherein the dispensing step is performed by gravity dripping. ### Claim at position 12 (depends on 20) 30: The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of inserting the detergent composition into a dispensing apparatus prior to the contacting step. ### Claim at position 13 (depends on 20) 31: The method of claim 20, wherein the detergent composition is a cast, pressed, or extruded solid. ### Claim at position 14 (depends on 20) 32: The method of claim 20, wherein the use solution comprises from 1 to 1500 ppm of the alkali metal hydroxide; and from 5 to 500 ppm of the carboxylic acid terpolymer. ### Claim at position 15 (depends on 32) 33: The method of claim 32, wherein the use solution further comprises 5-250 ppm of an additional polymer selected from one or more of the following: polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polymaleic acid homopolymers, copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic and/or maleic acid, terpolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and maleic acid, and combinations thereof. ### Claim at position 16 (depends on 32) 34: The method of claim 32, wherein the use solution further comprises a phosphonate and/or at least one functional ingredient selected from the group consisting of: chelating agents, sequestering agents, alkaline sources, water conditioners, surfactants, hardening agents, bleaching agents, sanitizers, activators, detergent builders, fillers, defoaming agents, anti-redeposition agents, optical brighteners, dyes, odorants, stabilizing agents, dispersants, enzymes, corrosion inhibitors, thickeners and solubility modifiers. ### Claim at position 17 (depends on 32) 35: The method of claim 32, wherein the application is a laundry application, a dish machine, a warewash application, a clean-in-place application, or a clean-out-of-place application. ### Claim at position 18 (depends on 32) 36: The method of claim 32, wherein yin formula (I) is >5, x in formula (I) is 1, and R1 in formula (I) is H, or wherein y in formula (I) is >5, x in formula (I) is 2, and R1 in formula (I) is methyl. ### Claim at position 19 (depends on 32) 37: The method of claim 32, wherein the carboxylic acid terpolymer comprises from about 40 to 90% by weight of the carboxylic acid monomer, anhydride or salt thereof, from about 4 to 40% by weight of the monomer comprising a sulfo group, and from about 4 to 40% by weight of the nonionic monomer of the formula (I). ### Claim at position 20 (depends on 32) 38: The method of claim 32, wherein R2 is selected from CH2CH2 and CH2CH(CH3), and y is in the range of from 8 to 40, and/or wherein the carboxylic acid monomer, or anhydride or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and salts thereof. ### Claim at position 21 (depends on 35) 39: The method of claim 35, wherein the surface comprises a glass, a plate, and/or silverware.