Composition for the protection of glassware in a dishwashing process

Abstract

The present invention provides a composition. The composition comprises zinc and bismuth. The composition is for use in the protection of glassware in an automatic dishwashing process.

1 . A composition selected from a rinse aid formulation and a detergent formulation comprising zinc and bismuth for use in the protection of glassware in an automatic dishwashing process, wherein the mass ratio of zinc to bismuth in the composition is from 1:100 to 100:1. 
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of zinc to bismuth in the composition (by mass) is from 1:10 to 10:1, more preferably from 1:5 to 5:1 and most preferably about 1:1. 
   
   
       4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the zinc or bismuth are in metallic form. 
   
   
       5 . A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the metallic form is an alloy of zinc and bismuth. 
   
   
       6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the zinc or bismuth are present as a salt or compound. 
   
   
       7 . A composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the salt or compound is a nitrate, oxide, sulphate, phosphate, halide, carbonate or carboxylate salt. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the bismuth and zinc comprise from 0.002 wt % to 6 wt % based on the weight of both metals of the detergent formulation. 
   
   
       10 . A composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the bismuth and zinc comprise from 0.01 to 3 wt % of the detergent formulation. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the bismuth and zinc comprise from 0.03 wt % to 30 wt % based on the weight of both metals of the rinse aid formulation 
   
   
       13 . A composition according to any one of  claims 1 , wherein the composition comprises a soluble ceramic/glass formulation. 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A soluble glass/ceramic formulation comprising zinc and bismuth for use in the protection of glassware in an automatic dishwashing process. 
   
   
       19 . A soluble glass/ceramic formulation according to  claim 18  comprising at least one of a silica, an alkali/alkaline metal oxide and phosphorous oxide. 
   
   
       20 . A composition selected from a rinse aid formulation and a detergent formulation comprising zinc citrate and bismuth citrate, wherein the mass ratio of zinc to bismuth in the composition is from 1:10 to 10:1. 
   
   
       21 . A composition selected from a rinse aid formulation and a detergent formulation comprising metallic zinc and metallic bismuth, wherein the mass ratio of zinc to bismuth in the composition is from about 1:10 to 10:1. 
   
   
       22 . A composition according to  claim 20  wherein the mass ratio of zinc to bismuth and the composition is from 1:1. 
   
   
       23 . A composition according to  claim 22  wherein the mass ratio of zinc to bismuth and the composition is from 1:1.