ACUSOL™ 505N Detergent Polymer for Industrial and Institutional Laundry

Description Rohm and Haas Company offers ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer for soil removal and superior soil anti-redeposition in industrial and institutional laundry detergent formulations. This high sequestering, caustic soluble, chlorine-stable copolymer complements the existing line of ACUSOL polycarboxylates. Environmental awareness and wastewater discharge concerns have put demands on formulators to develop lower built formulations for the laundry market. Scientists at Rohm and Haas have explored many chemistries to develop polymers to help regain performance lost when moving to less alkaline or lower built formulations. In order to get a realistic idea of how ACUSOL polymers perform, field trial evaluations were done using background ballasts, wash formulas, and realistic stains typically found in industrial and institutional settings. (Details are given in the Appendix.) ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer can be used to overcome the shortcomings of non-phosphate formulations. ACUSOL 505N removes soil, prevents particulate soil redeposition and fabric greying incrustation. ACUSOL 505N is most beneficial in low-built detergent formulations, in 35- and 600-pound machines, where bath to fabric ratios are typically low. ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer is soluble up to 5% polymer solids in up to 35% caustic solids to give clear solutions. Benefits ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer gives you a commercial laundry formulation that delivers:

superior whiteness retention/soil anti-redeposition in hard water improved soil removal on linen rental type soils reduced fabric harshness/fabric encrustation

ACUSOL 505N works by:

dispersing soils facilitating soil removal sequestration of hard water ions

Starting Point Formulations

Table 1. Commercial Low-Built Laundry Detergents

Ingredients One-Shot LiquidMulti-Component System

Detergent Break

Water Nonionic Surfactant ACUSOL 505N (35%) Sodium N silicate (37.6%) Sodium hydroxide (50%)

77.0 2.0 1.0 8.8 11.2

79.0 –

1.0 8.8 11.2

Formulation Physical Properties

% Solids (150°C/1 hr) pH Brookfield Viscosity, cps (12 rpm/#2 spindle)

11.4 13.4 <10

12.6 13.4 <10

Appearance turbid slight haze

Formulating Tips

When working with a multi-component system, put the polymer in the break. ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer has limited solubility in high-surfactant systems. For slurry systems, ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer should be added to the water before insoluble builders to aid in solid suspension/anti-redeposition.

Performance Benefits Soil Removal (field trials) ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer can be formulated with the sodium form of alkalies and builders, such as sodium hydroxide and silicates, to produce a cost-effective formulation. Figures 1 through 4 demonstrate the superior soil removal performance of ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer (in the 600-lb. and 35-lb. washer/extractor) on polyester, cotton, and polyester/cotton blends soiled with typical industrial and institutional stains.

Figure l. Soil Removal vs. Stain Type (600-lb. washer/extractor)

Detergent Polymers Evaluated Include

Mw

Acrylic Acid Homopolymer, PAA 4,500

ACUSOL 505N (Acrylic/Maleic Acid Copolymer, AA/MAL) 40,000

Figure 2. Soil Removal vs. Stain Type (35-lb. washer/extractor)

Figure 3. Soil Removal vs. Stain Type (35-lb. washer/extractor)

Figure 4. Soil Removal vs. Stain Type (600-lb. washer/extractor)

Figure 5 shows the cleaning improvement of lipstick on polyester fabric as the level of ACUSOL 505N polymer is increased. The level of polymer needed to clean particular stains will vary depending on the stain and fabric.

Figure 5. Soil Removal vs. Polymer Wash Bath Concentration (600-lb. washer/extractor)

Anti-Redeposition Performance (laboratory evaluations) ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer is more effective than the 4500 Mw PAA homopolymer at preventing anti-redeposition of stains on fabric in the 10 cycle mini-wash test as shown in Figure 6. Figure 7 shows the superior anti-redeposition performance of ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer as the water hardness is increased above the builder capacity used. The builder capacity used for this work can handle up to 7 grains of hardness (125 ppm). (See Appendix for complete formulation.) Higher water hardness will require higher detergent levels.

Figure 6. Anti-redeposition Performance vs. Stain Type (Mini-Washer)

Figure 7. Anti-redeposition Performance vs. Water Hardness

Chlorine Stability The excellent oxidation stability of ACUSOL 505N detergent polymer in a hypochlorite solution is compared to that of a conventional AA/Maleic and PAA homopolymer in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Oxidation Stability of Polycarboxylate Polymers

Conditions: 10% NaOH/2% NaOCL/2% active polymer or phosphonate, at room temperature.

Caustic Solubility ACUSOL 505N polymer has superior caustic solubility compared to other copolymers and similar caustic solubility to that of PAA (Mw-4500) homopolymer, as shown in Figure 9. In general, the ACUSOL 505N polymer is soluble in up to 35% active caustic. When formulationg into mixed systems containing mixed alkalis the solubility will vary.

Figure 9. Solubility of ACUSOL 505N Copolymer in Aqueous Sodium Hydroxide

Determined at room temperature

Table 2. Typical Physical Properties These properties are typical but do not constitute specifications.

Appearance Colorless to straw

Percent Solids 35

Specific Gravity, @ 25°C 1.25

Density, lb/gal 10.4

pH (as supplied) 7.5

Viscosity, cps @ 25°C, (as supplied)

500 max

Sequestration Capacity (mg CaCO3/gm., @ pH 10)

425

Stability Constant (Ca2+; log K) 4.2

Appendix

Material Safety Data Sheets

Rohm and Haas Company maintains Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on all of its products. These contain important information that you may need to protect your employees and customers against any known health and safety hazards associated with our products. We recommend you obtain copies of MSDS for our products from your local Rohm and Haas technical representative or the Rohm and Haas Company. In addition, we recommend you obtain copies of MSDS from your suppliers of other raw materials used with our products.

Test Method and Field Test Conditions

Fabric: Polyester; Cotton; 50:50 Polyester/Cotton

Linen Industrial

Ballast Table Cloth and Napkins Uniforms

Stains Used Cooking Oil Salad Oil Lipstick Tea Blood Particulate Oil Cocoa Blood/Milk/Ink

Used Motor Oil New Motor Oil Transmission Fluid Charcoal

Wash Chemicals

Machine Size Alkalinity

Nonionic Surfactant

(PPM, Active) Polymer

(PPM, Active)

600 lb. 2500 ppm Na2O/SiO2=2/1

800 50-125

35 lb. 2500 ppm Na2O/SiO2=2/1

400 50-100

4 lb. (Mini-washer)

1200 ppm Na2O/SiO2=2/1

400 50-100

Wash Formulas

Industrial Operation* Chemical Added

Break Surfactant, Caustic Silicate, Polymer

Carry Over Warm Rinse Cold Rinse Cold Rinse Extract

Sour, Softener

Linen Operation Chemical Added

Break Surfactant, Silicate Caustic, Polymer

Carry Over Warm Rinse Cold Rinse Cold Rinse Cold Rinse Cold Rinse Extract Cold Starch Cold Sour

*600-lb. washer/extractor, bath/fabric = 1.8/1, softened water

Under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, workers must have access to and understand MSDS on all hazardous substances to which they are exposed. Thus, it is important that appropriate training and information be provided to all employees and that MSDS be available on any hazardous products in their workplace. Rohm and Haas Company sends MSDS on non-OSHA hazardous as well as OSHA-hazardous products to both "bill-to" and "ship-to" locations of all our customers upon initial shipment (including samples) of all of our products. Updated MSDS are sent upon revison to all customers of record. In addition, MSDS are sent annually to all customers of record.

ACUSOL is a trademark of Rohm and Haas Company, or of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

These suggestions and data are based on information we believe to be reliable. They are offered in good faith, but without guarantee, as conditions and methods of use of our products are beyond our control. We recommend that the prospective user determine the suitability of our materials and suggestions before adopting them on a commercial scale.

Suggestions for uses of our products or the inclusion of descriptive material from patents and the citation of specific patents in this publication should not be understood as recommending the use of our products in violation of any patent or as permission or license to use any patents of the Rohm and Haas Company.

For further details, please contact your local Account Manager or local Business Representative.

©Rohm and Haas, 2008. All rights reserved. 1999 FC-161a