Conveyor lubricants for use in the food and beverage industries

Abstract

A lubricant concentrate comprising an effective lubricating amount of at least one ether carboxylate and at least one foam destabilizer, and methods of using the same. The lubricant concentrate may be diluted with water prior to use.

1 . A lubricant concentrate comprising an effective lubricating amount of at least one ether carboxylate and at least one defoamer.  
     
     
         2 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1  wherein said at least one ether carboxylate has the following general formula: 
       R—(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n —OCH 2 COO—X 
       where X is an alkali metal, amine, alkanolamine, ether diamine, ammonium salt or H (free acid), R═C 8 -C 20  and n is about 6 to about 18.  
     
     
         3 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1  wherein said at least one ether carboxylate is a C 12  to C 18  ether carboxylate.  
     
     
         4 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1  wherein said at least one ether carboxylate is a C 16  to C 18  ether carboxylate.  
     
     
         5 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1  wherein said at least one foam destabilizer is an alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         6 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 5  wherein said at least one foam destabilizer is a C 8  to C 16  alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         7 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 5  wherein said at least one foam destabilizer is a C 9  to C 11  alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         8 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 5  wherein said at least one foam destabilizer is propoxylated.  
     
     
         9 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1 , said ether carboxylate having about 3 to about 20 moles ethoxylation.  
     
     
         10 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1 , said ether carboxylate having about 5 to about 15 moles ethoxylation.  
     
     
         11 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1  wherein said ether carboxylate has 10 moles of ethoxylation.  
     
     
         12 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1 , said ether carboxylate having about 3 to about 20 moles propoxylation.  
     
     
         13 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1 , said ether carboxylate having about 2 to about 10 moles propoxylation.  
     
     
         14 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1 , said ether carboxylate having about 5 to about 15 moles ethoxylation and about 2 to about 10 moles propoxylation.  
     
     
         15 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1  wherein said ether carboxylate is present at a concentration of about 0.1 wt-% to about 75 wt-%.  
     
     
         16 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein said ether carboxylate is present at a concentration of about 0.25 to 50 wt-%.  
     
     
         17 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1 , wherein said ether carboxylate is present at a concentration of about .5 wt-% to about 15 wt-%.  
     
     
         18 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1  further comprising at least one corrosion inhibitor.  
     
     
         19 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 18  wherein said at least one corrosion inhibitor which is an ether diamine, a dicarboxylic acid or salt thereof, at least one amine oxide, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 19  wherein said ether diamine is selected from the group consisting of 
       R 1 —O—R 2 —NH 2   
       and 
       R 1 —O—R 2 —NH—R 3 —NH 2   
       and mixtures thereof, wherein R 1  may be linear C 6 -C 18 , R 2  may be a linear or branched C 1 -C 8  alkyl, and R 3  is a linear or branched C 1 -C 8  alkyl group.  
     
     
         21 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 19  wherein said at least one ether diamine is selected from the group consisting of isododecyloxypropyl-1,3-diamino propane, dodecyloxypropyl-1,3-diamino propane, tetradecyloxypropyl-1,3-diamino propane, isotridecyloxypropyl-1,3-diaminopropane and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 19  wherein said at least one ether diamine is a mixture of dodecyloxypropyl-1,3-diaminopropane and tetradecyloxypropyl-1,3-diaminopropane.  
     
     
         23 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 19  wherein said dicarboxylic acid or salt thereof has the following general formula: 
       HOOC—R—COOH 
       where R is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 8 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         24 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 23  further in combination with an ether amine or diamine having the following general formula: 
       R 1 —O—R 2 —NH 2   
       and 
       R 1 —O—R 2 —NH—R 3 —NH 2   
       and mixtures thereof, where R 1  is linear C 6 -C 18 , R 2  is linear or branched C 1 -C 8  alkyl, and R 3  is linear or branched C 1 -C 8  alkyl group.  
     
     
         25 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 24  further comprising at least one phosphonated amine oxide.  
     
     
         26 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1  further comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of surfactants, hydrotropes, antimicrobial agents, viscosity modifiers, soil anti-redeposition agents, preservatives, dyes, fragrances, anti-foaming agents, soil suspension agents, solubilizing agents, penetrants, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1 , further diluted with water to a concentration of about 0.1 wt-% to about 10 wt-% of said concentrate in water.  
     
     
         28 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 1 , further diluted with water to a concentration of about 0.4 wt-% to about 10 wt-% of said concentrate in water.  
     
     
         29 . A lubricated conveyor or container, having a lubricant coating on a container-contacting surface of the conveyor or on a conveyor-contacting surface of the container, wherein the coating comprises the lubricant composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         30 . An aqueous conveyor lubricant composition comprising from about 0.1 wt-% to about 50 wt-% of at least one ether carboxylate having the following general formula: 
       R—(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n —OCH 2 COO—X 
       where X is an alkali metal, amine, alkanolamine, ether diamine, ammonium salt or H (free acid), R═C 12 -C 18 , and n is about 6 to about 1, and at least one foam destabilizer.  
     
     
         31 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 30  wherein R═C 16 -C 18 .  
     
     
         32 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 30  wherein said at least one foam destabilizer is an alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         33 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 32  wherein said at least one foam destabilizer is a C 8  to C 16  alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         34 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 32  wherein said at least one foam destabilizer is a C 9  to C 11  alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         35 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 30 , said ether carboxylate having about 3 to about 20 moles alkoxylation.  
     
     
         36 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 30 , said ether carboxylate having about 5 to about 15 moles alkoxylation.  
     
     
         37 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 36 , said ether carboxylate having ethoxylation, propoxylation or both.  
     
     
         38 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 30  wherein said ether carboxylate has 10 moles of ethoxylation.  
     
     
         39 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 30  comprising 0.5 wt-% to 15 wt-% of said ether carboxylate.  
     
     
         40 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 30  further comprising at least one corrosion inhibitor.  
     
     
         41 . The aqueous conveyor belt lubricant composition of  claim 40 , said at least one corrosion inhibitor is an ether diamine, a dicarboxylic acid or salt thereof, an amine oxide, or mixture thereof.  
     
     
         42 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 30  further comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of preservatives, surfactants, hydrotropes, antimicrobial agents, viscosity modifiers, soil anti-redeposition agents, dyes, fragrances, soil suspension agents, solubilizing agents, penetrants, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         43 . The aqueous conveyor lubricant of  claim 30  further diluted with water to a concentration of about 0.1 wt-% to about 10 wt-% of said lubricant in water.  
     
     
         44 . A method of lubricating the interface between a container and a moving conveyor surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a lubricant composition comprising at least one ether carboxylate lubricant and at least one foam destabilizer; and    b) applying said lubricant composition to said conveyor surface.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said applying step comprises applying said lubricant composition to said conveyor by means of a plurality of spray nozzles spaced along said conveyor system.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said lubricant composition is in the form of a concentrate.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising the step of diluting said concentrate with water at a ratio of about 1 to about 1000 parts water to 1 part concentrate.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising the step of diluting said concentrate water at a ratio of about 1 to about 500 parts water to about 1 part concentrate.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , said ether carboxylate having the following general formula: 
       R—(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n —OCH 2 COO—X 
       where X is an alkali metal, amine, alkanolamine, ether diamine, ammonium salt or H (free acid), R═C 12 -C 18 , and n is about 6 to about 1, and at least one foam destabilizer.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein R═C 16 -C 18 .  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , said ether carboxylate present at a concentration of about 0.5 wt-% to about 15 wt-%.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , said at least one foam destabilizer is an alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein said at least one foam destabilizer is a C 8  to C 16  alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52  wherein said at least one foam destabilizer is a C 9  to C 11  alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52 , said at least one foam destabilizer is propoxylated.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said lubricant composition further comprises at least one ether diamine, at least one dicarboxylic acid or salt thereof, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         57 . A method of lubricating a conveyor system comprising the steps of: 
 a) diluting a lubricant concentrate with water to form an aqueous lubricant use-solution comprising an effective lubricating amount of at least one ether carboxylate and foam destabilizer; and    b) applying said lubricant use-solution composition to the intended surface of use.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , said ether carboxylate having the following general formula: 
       R—(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n —OCH 2 COO—X 
       where X is an alkali metal, amine, alkanolamine, ether diamine, ammonium salt or H (free acid), R═C 12 -C 18 , and n is about 6 to about 1.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein R═C 16 -C 18 .  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , said foam destabilizer is an alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , said at least one foam destabilizer is a C 8  to C 16  alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , said at least one foam destabilizer is a C 9  to C 11  alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         63 . The lubricant concentrate of  claim 60 , said at least one foam destabilizer is propoxylated.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 57 , said lubricant concentrate further comprising at least one corrosion inhibitor.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , said corrosion inhibitor comprising at least one ether diamine, at least one dicarboxylic acid or salt thereof, amine oxide or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 57  further comprising the step of diluting said lubricant concentrate with water to a concentration of about 0.1 to about 10 wt-% of said lubricant concentrate in water.  
     
     
         67 . A method for lubricating a continuously-moving conveyor system for transporting packages said conveyor system is wetted with an aqueous lubricant composition comprising at least one ether carboxylate lubricant and at least one foam destabilizer.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , said foam destabilizer is an alkoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67  further comprising at least one corrosion inhibitor.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , said corrosion inhibitor comprising at least one ether diamine, at least one dicarboxylic acid or salt thereof, amine oxide or mixtures thereof.