# US 9,040,473 B1 · Low foam media cleaning detergent with nonionic surfactants

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- Number: US 9,040,473 B1
- Document ID: US9040473B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 12/841,121
- Filed: 2010-07-21
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2010-07-21
- Assignees: WD Media, LLC
- Applicants: EE Boon Quah; Kwai Cheang Wong; Ming Yean Liew; Chung Lieh Chua; Yasuhiro Suzuki
- Inventors: EE Boon Quah; Kwai Cheang Wong; Ming Yean Liew; Chung Lieh Chua; Yasuhiro Suzuki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040473B1

## CPC

- C11D 3/361: {Phosphonates, phosphinates or phosphonites}
- C11D 1/72: Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
- C11D 3/044: {Hydroxides or bases}
- C11D 3/046: {Salts}
- C11D 3/3707: {Polyethers, e.g. polyalkyleneoxides}
- C11D 3/3765: {in liquid compositions}
- C11D 2111/22: Electronic devices, e.g. PCBs or semiconductors
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL

## Abstract

A detergent for cleaning media is provided. The detergent comprises deionized water, between about 1% and about 5% by weight of a nonionic surfactant having an hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) value between about 10 and about 20, and an ethoxylation level between about 5 and about 20, between about 1% and about 5% by weight of a dispersing agent, between about 3% and about 10% by weight of a chelating agent comprising phosphonic acid, and between about 2% and about 6% by weight of an inorganic salt.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A detergent for cleaning media, comprising:
water;
between about 1% and about 5% by weight of a nonionic surfactant having an hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) value between about 10 and about 20, and an ethoxylation level between about 5 and about 20, wherein the nonionic surfactant is amine-free and comprises a surfactant having the chemical formula R—(OCH2CH2)n—OH, where R is an alkyl group of a parent alcohol, and n is a positive integer;
between about 1% and about 5% by weight of a dispersing agent;
between about 3% and about 10% by weight of a chelating agent comprising phosphonic acid; and
between about 2% and about 6% by weight of an inorganic salt,
wherein the detergent is substantially free of amine compounds and substantially free of anionic and cationic surfactants, and has a pH level of greater than 11, and
wherein the chelating agent comprises hydroxyethylene diphosphonic acid (HEDP).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The detergent according to claim 1, wherein the nonionic surfactant has a molecular weight below about 1200.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The detergent according to claim 1, further comprising a defoaming agent having the chemical formula RO(C2H4O)nH, where R is a phenyl group, and n is a positive integer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The detergent according to claim 1, wherein the dispersing agent comprises a polycarboxylic acid with a molecular weight above about 9000.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The detergent according to claim 1, wherein the phosphonic acid has a molecular weight of between 200 and 220.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The detergent according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic salt comprises potassium hydroxide.

### Claim 7

A method of cleaning media, comprising:
providing a detergent comprising
water;
between about 1% and about 5% by weight of a nonionic surfactant having an hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) value between about 10 and about 20, and an ethoxylation level between about 5 and about 20, wherein the nonionic surfactant is amine-free and comprises a surfactant having the chemical formula R—(OCH2CH2)n—OH, where R is an alkyl group of a parent alcohol, and n is a positive integer;
between about 1% and about 5% by weight of a dispersing agent;
between about 3% and about 10% by weight of a chelating agent comprising phosphoric acid; and
between about 2% and about 6% by weight of an inorganic salt; and
washing the media with the detergent to remove contaminants therefrom,
wherein the detergent is substantially free of amine compounds and substantially free of anionic and cationic surfactants, and has a pH level of greater than 11, and
wherein the chelating agent comprises hydroxyethylene diphosphonic acid (HEDP).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the nonionic surfactant has a molecular weight below about 1200.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The detergent according to claim 7, further comprising a defoaming agent having the chemical formula RO(C2H4O)nH, where R is a phenyl group, and n is a positive integer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the dispersing agent comprises a polycarboxylic acid with a molecular weight above about 9000.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the phosphonic acid has a molecular weight of between 200 and 220.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the inorganic salt comprises potassium hydroxide.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein the detergent is maintained at a temperature below about 60° C. during the washing of the media.