Abstract: A polyacetal carboxylate is provided having the following empirical formula: ##STR1## where M is selected from the group consisting of akali metal, ammonium, tetra-alkyl ammonium groups and alkanol ammonium groups, and n averages at least 4. Such polyacetal carboxylates can be used as complexing agents and detergency builders.

Abstract: Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate containing a sufficient amount of trimagnesium phosphate and/or tetrasodium pyrophosphate to inhibit spontaneous hydrolysis and/or decomposition of the dicalcium phosphate dihydrate is widely used as a dental polishing agent with and without added fluoride. Now it has been found that dicalcium phosphate dihydrate containing a sufficient amount of pyrophosphate to provide hydrolytic stability to the dicalcium phosphate can have improved fluoride stability when about 0.1 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of trimagnesium phosphate, and about 0.1 weight percent to about 3 weight percent of at least one pharmaceutically acceptable condensed phosphate salt is added to the formulation. In the preferred embodiment less than 2 percent sodium tripolyphosphate provides satisfactory results.

Abstract: Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate containing a sufficient amount of trimagnesium phosphate and/or tetrasodium pyrophosphate to inhibit spontaneous hydrolysis and/or decomposition of the dicalcium phosphate dihydrate is widely used as a dental polishing agent with and without added fluoride. Now it has been found that dicalcium phosphate dihydrate containing a sufficient amount of pyrophosphate to provide hydrolytic stability to the dicalcium phosphate can have improved soluble fluoride stability when at least 0.1 weight percent of trimagnesium phosphate and a pharmaceutically acceptable polyphosphate salt are each added to the formulation. In the preferred embodiment, less than 2 percent pentasodium tripolyphosphate provides satisfactory results.

Abstract: The alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol amine salts of polymeric acetal carboxylates are stable detergent builders and chelating agents. Now, in the improved process of the present invention for preparing an acetal carboxylate polymer wherein a glyoxylate ester and a polymerization initiator are brought together under polymerization conditions and a chemically stable end group is added to the termini of the resulting polymer to stabilize the polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, the improvement comprises contacting the resulting polymer in the presence of an acid catalyst with a sufficient amount of an acetal having 3 to 20 carbon atoms to stabilize the resulting polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, and an agent to remove liberated alcohol.

Abstract: The alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol amine salts of polymeric acetal carboxylates are stable detergent builders under laundry use conditions, but depolymerize in acid media, making the polymer fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams. Now, in the improved process of the present invention for preparing an acetal carboxylate polymer wherein an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator are brought together under polymerization conditions and a chemically stable end group is added to the termini of the resulting polymer to stabilize the polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, the improvement comprises adding to the resulting polymer a sufficient amount of an alkali metal hydride, preferably sodium hydride, and a dialkyl sulfate having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms in each alkyl group, preferably dimethyl sulfate, to add to the termini of the resulting polymer an alkyl group derived from the dialkyl sulfate.

Abstract: A substantially stable, crystalline dipotassium N-chloroimidodisulfate is useful as a bleach to remove stains from soiled fabrics when dissolved in an aqueous solution.

Abstract: Compounds having the formula ##STR1## wherein M is an alkali metal or ammonium, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen, methyl or ethyl and R.sub.3 is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or COOM are useful sequestrants and detergency builders. Lower alkyl esters and acids of such compounds are useful intermediates for their production.

Abstract: The alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol ammonium salts of polymeric acetal carboxylates are stable detergent builders under laundry use conditions but depolymerize in acid media, making the polymer fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams.

Abstract: The alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol ammonium salts of polymeric acetal carboxylates are stable detergent builders under laundry use conditions but depolymerize at lower pH, making the polymer fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams. Such polymeric acetal carboxylates can now be made by an improved process which includes the steps of bringing together in a reaction zone under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator, and adding an alkyl vinyl ether to the resulting polymer in the presence of a solvent having a dielectric constant of at least 15, such as an alkyl nitrile and a haloacetic acid catalyst, such as trifluoroacetic acid, to stabilize the polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution. The preferred solvent is acetonitrile.

Abstract: The alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol ammonium salts of polymeric acetal carboxylates are stable detergent builders under laundry use conditions but depolymerize in mildly acidic media, making the polymer fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams. Such polymeric acetal carboxylates can now be made by a process which comprises bringing together in a reaction zone under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator, and adding to the resulting polymer an alkyl vinyl ether and an organoaluminum compound to stabilize the resulting polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution. The preferred alkyl vinyl ether is ethyl vinyl ether, and the preferred organoaluminum compounds are alkyl aluminum halides and trialkyl aluminum.

Abstract: The alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol ammonium salts of polymeric acetal carboxylates are stable detergent builders under laundry use conditions but depolymerize in acid media, making the polymer fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams. Such polymeric acetal carboxylates can now be made by a process which comprises bringing together in a reaction zone under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic acid and a molecular sieve, and adding an alkyl vinyl ether to the resulting polymer in the presence of the molecular sieve to stabilize the polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution. The preferred alkyl vinyl ether is ethyl vinyl ether.

Abstract: Ether carboxylates represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing up to 20 carbon atoms, and M.sup.1, M.sup.2 and M.sup.3 are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing up to about 4 carbon atoms, are useful as intermediates to prepare the corresponding acid or alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol amine salts, which are useful as chelants, sequestrants and detergent builders.

Abstract: A detergent composition is provided which comprises at least 5 percent by weight of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, ampholytic and amphoteric surfactants; and at least 1 weight percent of a copolymer having the following general formula ##STR1## where Y is one or more comonomers selected from the group consisting of olefins and aldehydes having from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; n averages at least 2; p is at least 1; and M is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol ammonium groups having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are individually any chemically stable group which stabilize the polymer against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution. The copolymers are stable under laundry use conditions, but depolymerize in acid media, making the fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams.

Abstract: Copolymers of acetal carboxylates are provided which have the following empirical formula ##STR1## where Y is one or more comonomers randomly distributed in the copolymer; the product of n and q averages at least 4; p is at least 1; and M is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium, alkyl groups having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and alkanol ammonium groups having 1 to about 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Such copolymers are useful as detergent builders to replace sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) in detergent formulations. The copolymers are stable under laundry use conditions, but depolymerize in acid media, making the fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams.

Abstract: A fabric bleaching composition is provided which consists essentially of water and a bleach selected from the group consisting of disodium chloroimidodisulfate, dipotassium chloroimidodisulfate and mixtures thereof. The fabric bleaching composition can also contain a detergent, a buffering agent and other ingredients in a detergent formulation. The fabric bleaching composition is intermediate in strength between peroxide-type fabric bleaches and alkali metal hypochlorite fabric bleaches.

Abstract: Ether and acetal carboxylates useful as detergent builders to replace sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) in detergent formulations are known to the art. Certain polymeric polycarboxylates are also known to the art but all of these products suffer from either having poor builder properties or they are not readily biodegradable. According to the present invention, a method is provided for preparing new and novel polymeric acetal carboxylates which are stable under laundry use conditions, but depolymerize in acid media, making the polymer fragments more readily biodegradable in waste streams.

Abstract: Impure "wet process" phosphoric acid is purified by solvent extraction in an improved process which uses a solvent composition which comprises an aliphatic nitrile.

Abstract: Organic compounds having a substituent represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein M is alkali metal or ammonium are useful complexing agents for metal and/or alkaline earth metal ions.

Abstract: A machine dishwashing composition is provided which comprises the following: (a) from 5 to 90 percent by weight of a compound corresponding to the formula ##STR1## wherein M is alkali metal or ammonium and wherein n is a number from 1 through 3, and wherein R is selected from an alkyl radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkynyl radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloalkane radical having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkanol radical having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, an ether radical having at least 3 carbon atoms, an aryl radical having at least 6 carbon atoms, a substituted aryl radical having at least 6 carbon atoms wherein the substituents are halogen, nitro, amide or carboxyalkyl substituents, aralkyl radicals having at least 7 carbon atoms and arylether radicals having at least 7 carbon atoms, and (b) from 0 to 5 percent by weight of a low-foaming anionic or nonionic surfactant, (c) a chlorine-providing material in an amount sufficie

Abstract: Ether carboxylates represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing up to 20 carbon atoms and M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 are individually selected from the group consisting of alkyl containing up to about 4 carbon atoms, are useful as intermediates to prepare the corresponding acid or alkali metal, ammonium and alkanol amine salts, which are useful as chelants, sequestrants and detergent builders.