Sustainable laundry sour compositions with iron control

Abstract

Linen treatment compositions and linen processes are disclosed which help to prevent iron deposition from wash water, and/or redeposition after iron containing stain (such as blood) removal by alkaline detergents. The linen treatment composition is a combination of a hydroxycarboxylic acid and an acid source, which may be organic or inorganic. The invention provides for effective iron control in a phosphorus-free formula that is also free of toxic or hazardous chemicals and includes sustainable, environmentally friendly ingredients, while still providing effective iron control.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating linen, to reduce or eliminate iron deposition/redeposition comprising;
 washing the linen with a detergent at an alkaline pH in a washing machine,   rinsing said linen, and   applying a linen treatment composition comprising: a hydroxycarboxylic acid, and an acid source of an inorganic or organic acid, to said linen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said linen treatment composition comprises between about 25% and about 45% weight percent of a hydroxycarboxylic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said hydroxycarboxylic acid includes one or more of: glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, hydroacrylic acid, α-hydroxybutyric acid, glyceric acid, tartronic acid and like aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acids, and salicylic acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, mandelic acid and gluconic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said linen treatment composition comprises between about 12% and about 18% of an inorganic or organic acid source. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said acid source is a combination of sulfuric acid and urea. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said acid source is hydroxyacetic (glycolic) acid, citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, gluconic acid, itaconic acid, trichloroacetic acid, urea hydrochloride, and benzoic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, and terephthalic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, methylsulfamic acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, and nitric acid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said linen treatment composition further comprises a carboxylate polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said carboxylate polymer is a polyacrylic acid salt. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said carboxylate polymer is a polymaleic acid salt. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said linen treatment composition is applied prior to washing said linen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said linen treatment composition is applied after washing said linen. 
     
     
         12 . A linen sour treatment/prespot composition with iron control comprising:
 a hydroxycarboxylic acid, and   an acid source of an inorganic or organic acid.   
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  comprising between about 25% and about 45% weight percent of a hydroxycarboxylic acid. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein said hydroxycarboxylic acid includes one or more of: glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, hydroacrylic acid, α-hydroxybutyric acid, glyceric acid, tartronic acid and like aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acids, and salicylic acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, mandelic acid and gluconic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 12  comprising between about 12% and about 18% of an inorganic or organic acid source. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein said acid source is a combination of sulfuric acid and urea to form urea sulfate. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein said acid source is one or more of hydroxyacetic (glycolic) acid, citric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, gluconic acid, itaconic acid, trichloroacetic acid, urea hydrochloride, and benzoic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, and terephthalic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, methylsulfamic acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, and nitric acid. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein said acid is gluconic acid. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 12  comprising a chelant. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 14  wherein said hydroxycarboxylic acid is selected form the group consisting of citric, or gluconic, said inorganic or organic acid is selected from the group consisting of formic, or sulfuric and urea sulfate, and said polyacrylic acid salt is sodium polyacrylate.