Use of biodegradable alcoxylation products for cleaning boreholes, boring instruments or borings

US6289989A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien · DE

Inventors

• Heinz Mueller · Monheim, DE
• Claus-Peter Herold · Mettmann, DE
• Berthold Schreck · Goldkronach, DE
• Stefan Podubrin · Wiesloch, DE
• Andreas Heidbreder · Goldkronach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 2, 1999
• Grant date: Sep 18, 2001
• Expiry date: Jul 2, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C11D2111/20
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for cleaning boreholes, drilling equipment and drill cuttings is presented involving the application of a cleaning composition to surfaces and the subsequent removal of the cleaning composition and soils. The cleaning composition contains a cleaning additive having alkoxylation products obtained by the reaction of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide or mixtures thereof with an OH-containing C.sub.10-22 carboxylic acid or derivative thereof, where structural units corresponding to formula (I): ##STR1## comprise one or both of the 9/10 or 13/14 positions, wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, an OH group or a OR.sup.2 group, R.sup.2 is an alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms or a group corresponding to formula (II): ##STR2## where R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group containing 1 to 21 carbon atoms or an alkylene group containing 2 to 21 carbon atoms. The cleaning composition is biodegradable.