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J European Patent Office

© Publication number: 0 4A1+ a9 8o 5c n0 w%n
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

© Date of publication of patent specification: 18.01.95 © Int. CI.6: A61 L 9/01

© Application number: 90116109.1

@ Date of filing: 22.08.90

© Air freshener composition.

© Priority: 23.08.89 US 397806 © Proprietor: S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC.

1525 Howe Street
@ Date of publication of application: Racine,
03.04.91 Bulletin 91/14 Wisconsin 53403-5011 (US)

© Publication of the grant of the patent: @ Inventor: Dlckerson, Lyndel

18.01.95 Bulletin 95/03 6300 Marshall Road
Centervllle, OH 45459 (US)
© Designated Contracting States: Inventor: Cashman, Donald
DE FR GB IT SE 5490 Romilda Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45238 (US)
© References cited: Inventor: Ferguson, John A.
EP-A- 0 031 455 EP-A- 0 164 818 619 Carriage Lane
EP-A- 0 231 084 EP-A- 0 305 561 Cincinnati, OH 45242 (US)
US-A- 4 261 849 US-A- 4 285 905

© Representative: Klnzebach, Werner, Dr. et al

Patentanwalte
Reltstotter, Klnzebach und Partner
Postfach 86 06 49
D-81633 Munchen (DE)

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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person
®
may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition
CL shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee
LU has been paid (Art. 99(1) European patent convention).
Rank Xerox (UK) Business Services
(3. 10/3.09/3.3.3)
 EP 0 419 850 B1

Description

The invention relates to an aqueous air freshener composition, a method of stabilizing a hydroalcoholic
air freshener composition and a method of controlling weight loss of such composition.
5 Air freshener compositions containing substantial amounts of water, ie., aqueous air fresheners, are
known compositions.
Air freshening compositions may be disseminated into the environment by controlled volatilization of the
composition from a reservoir via an emanating source. Any number of emanator designs may be utilized so
long as sufficient surface area and pore size is maintained to permit an effective mass transport of the
io composition to the emanator for volatilization into the environment. In practice, the emanator serves as the
metering device or rate determining mechanism step for the evaporation of the disclosed composition. As
the composition volatilizes, the low volatile and/or nonvolatile materials collect on the emanator surface.
Generally the evaporations rate is significantly affected when the pore volume (pore volume defined as the
void area in the emanator surface) decreases below 50 %. In some extreme cases, build up of nonvolatile
75 or low volatile materials will actually clog the emanator surface and render the product nonfunctional. Thus,
a desirable feature of an aqueous air freshening composition would be the maintenance of a uniform rate of
volatilization over the product life.
EP-A-305 561 discloses a liquid composition for use as household or industrial cleaners or deodorants.
The composition contains a detergent mixture of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, isooctylphenylpolyethox-
20 yethanol, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, lauric diethanolamide, monoethanolamide superamide, and
water. The composition further contains sodium bicarbonate, which produces along with the detergent
mixture (particularly the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate components thereof) sufficient viscosity of the
deodorant formulation so that the fragrance is properly held.
EP-A-231 084 discloses an air deodorizer comprising an aerosol of a solution containing about 2 to 25
25 % of a non-toxic, non-oxidizing deodorizing agent. Suitable deodorizing agents include, among others, alkali
metal bicarbonates, carbonates, or borates.
Accordingly, the invention relates to an aqueous air freshener composition containing by weight of the
total composition:
(a) 1 to 20 % of a fragrance component;
30 (b) 2 to 15 % of a phosphate ester emulsifier having the general formula:

R(OCH2CH2)kOP03H2

wherein R is an alkylphenol moiety and x is an integer of from 3 to 15, preferably 8 to 11;

35 (c) 0.01 to 0.5 % of at least one alkali metal or alkaline earth metal halide, sulfate, nitrate, carbonate,
bicarbonate or phosphate;
(d) solvent containing at least one C2-12 monohydroxy alcohol, the solvent being present in an amount
sufficient to solubilize the fragrance component, and
(e) water sufficient to yield 100 %.
40 Further, the invention relates to a method of stabilizing and of controlling weight loss of a hydroalcoholic
air freshener composition containing (by weight of the total composition) 1 to 20 % of a fragrance, 2 to 15
% of a phosphate ester emulsifier, having the general formula: R(OCH2CH2)xOP03H2 wherein R is an
alkylphenol moiety and x is an integer of from 3-15, at least one C2-12 monohydroxy alcohol in an amount
sufficient to solubilize the fragrance, and water, against phase separation which comprises adding thereto
45 0.01 to 0.5 wt. % of at least one alkali metal or alkaline earth metal halide, sulfate, nitrate, carbonate,
bicarbonate or phosphate.

THE INVENTION

50 It has been found that the addition of a small amount of an inorganic salt to an aqueous air freshener
composition, which composition is disseminated into the atmosphere by a controlled volatilization from an
emanator pad, lengthens the useful life of the air freshener.
In other words, applicant has found that the inclusion of 0.002 to 0.010 M of a nonvolatile, weakly
solvated salt in the perfumed composition produces a more uniform evaporation rate of an effective quantity
55 of the organoleptic perfume. This is measured by an increase in the time it takes for the total composition
to volatilize from the emanator pad without losing effectiveness as an air freshener.
The organic additive(s) inhibit or retard weight loss, so that the evaporation rate of the freshener is
slowed. In a preferred embodiment, from about 0.1 to about 0.2 wt % of sodium chloride is added to an

2
 EP 0 419 850 B1

aqueous air freshener compositions. The resultant compositions evaporate at slower rates, so that their
useful lives are extended for about one to about three weeks.

ADVANTAGES
5
The composition and methods of the invention have several advantages over known formulations and
methods. The compositions of the invention have significantly longer useful life due to the presence of the
salts described herein.
In addition, the salts assist in inhibiting phase separation in the formulations.
io Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the
following description and claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

is The invention is based upon the discovery that certain inorganic salts, when added to aqueous
emulsion air fresheners, produce stabilizing effects -- that is, the emulsion is more stable (phase separation
is inhibited) and the useful life is extended (the amount of time needed for loss of volatile fragrance
components increases).
The compositions of the invention may contain eight components:
20 A. A salt
B. A volatile solvent
C. An emulsifier, with optional neutralizer
D. An optional co-solvent
E. A fragrance
25 F. Water
G. A colorant
H. Other excipients.

DRAWING
30
The Figure is a plot of three curves, showing percentage weight loss over a period of days using the
samples and testing methods described in the Example. It could be entitled "Air Freshener Weight Loss vs.
Time".

35 A. SALTS

The salts useful to produce the beneficial results described herein are generally inorganic metal salts.
They contain Group IA (alkali metal) or Group II A (alkaline earth metal) cations. The preferred metals are:
Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Be. Na and Mg are highly preferred.
40 The anionic portion of the salt molecules is a halide, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, carbonate or
bicarbonate. Halides and sulfates are preferred.
Magnesium and sodium chloride and sodium sulfate are highly preferred. Sodium chloride is most
preferred.
Mixtures are operable.
45
B. SOLVENT

The solvent in the compositions of the invention contains at least one alcohol material. By "alcohol" is
meant mono-hydric alkanols containing from about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms and having straight, cyclic
50 or branched character. C3-5 monoalcohols are preferred. Propyl alcohols are more preferred. Isopropyl
alcohol is highly preferred. Mixtures are operable.
The solvent component solubilizes the fragrance and is believed to aid in controlling the formulation's
evaporation.

55 C. EMULSIFIER

The emulsifier component is at least one of a group of phosphate ester emulsifiers. Also termed
"hydroxyphosphoric acids", these compounds conform to the general formula:

3
 EP 0 419 850 B1

R (OCH2CH2)xOP03H2

wherein R is an alkylphenol moiety, preferably nonylphenol, and x is an integer between about 3 and about
5 15, preferably about 8 to about 11.
One highly preferred material is Monafax 785™ a product of Mona Industries, Inc. of Paterson, N.J.),
the exact formula of which is proprietary. It is believed to be a poly-(oxy-1 ,2-ethandiyl) alpha-nonylphenol
omega-hydroxy phosphoric acid, typically referred to as a phosphate ester emulsifier (see McCutcheon's
Emulsifiers and Detergents, North American Edition, 1984, page 198).
io Monafax 786 ™ (from Mona Industries) is also highly preferred. It is a nonoxynol-6 phosphate and is
described at page 55 of the CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, J.M. Whelan, ed., 3rd ed. Supp. (1985)
Another commercial phosphate ester emulsifier suitable for use in this invention is available as
Phosphorester 610 from the Sandoz Chemicals Corporation of Charlotte, N.C. In Sandoz bulletin #7-477/83,
it is described as having exceptional solubility and as being an excellent emulsifier, even in high
is concentrations of alkali and salts. The manufacturer described it as a solubilizer of nonionic surfactants and
as an emulsifier for aromatic and chlorinated solvents.
The emulsifier components of the inventive compositions may contain optional neutralizers, eg.,
aqueous or non-aqueous base(s), to bring them to about pH 7.

20 D. FRAGRANCE

It is well known that the fragrant materials of air fresheners include a significant amount of one or more
volatile perfume ingredient(s) in various proportion. Typically, the perfumes incorporated in the composi-
tions used in air fresheners are mixtures of organic compounds admixed so that the combined odors of the
25 individual components produce a pleasant or desired fragrance. While perfumes are generally mixtures of
various materials, individual compounds may also be used as the perfume ingredient. Typical compounds
for use, in mixtures or individually, include methyl salicylate, d-limonene and the like.
The perfume compositions generally contain several "notes," each having different volatility rate and
therefore being subject to the process of chromatography which may result in a differential distribution of
30 the notes at various times. The various notes include a main note or the "bouquet" of the perfume
composition, modifiers which round off and accompany the main note, fixatives including odorous sub-
stances that lend a particular note to the perfume throughout each of the stages of evaporation, substances
which retard evaporation, and top notes which are usually low-boiling, fresh-smelling materials.
Perfumery raw materials may be divided into three main groups: (1) the essential oils and products
35 isolated from these oils; (2) products of animal origin; and (3) synthetic chemicals. Many of these materials
include such substituent groups as the carbonyl group in aldehydes and ketones; the hydroxyl groups in
alcohols; the acyl group in esters; the C = 0 groups in lactones; nitrile groups, and the oxy moiety in ethers.
The essential oils consist of complex mixtures of volatile liquid and solid chemicals found in various
parts of plants. Mention may be made of oils found in flowers, e.g., jasmine, rose, mimosa, and orange
40 blossom; flowers and leaves, e.g., lavender and rosemary; leaves and stems, e.g., geranium, patchouli, and
petitgrain; barks, e.g., cinnamon; woods, e.g., sandalwood and rosewood; roots, e.g., angelica; rhizomes,
e.g., ginger; fruits, e.g., orange, lemon, and bergamot; seeds, e.g., aniseed and nutmeg; and resinous
exudations, e.g., myrrh. These essential oils consist of a complex mixture of chemicals, the major portion
thereof being terpenes, including hydrocarbons of the formula (C5H8)n and their oxygenated derivatives.
45 Hydrocarbons such as these give rise to a large number of oxygenated derivatives, e.g., alcohols and their
esters, aldehydes and ketones. Some of the more important of these are geraniol, citronellol and terpineol,
citral and citronellal, and camphor. Other constituents include aliphatic aldehydes and also aromatic
compounds including phenols such as eugenol.
In some instances, specific compounds may be isolated from the essential oils, usually by distillation in
50 a commercially pure state, for example, geraniol and citronellal from citronella oil; citral from lemon-grass
oil; eugenol from clove oil; linalool from rosewood oil; and safrole from sassafras oil. The natural isolates
may also be chemically modified as in the case of citronellal to hydroxy citronellal, citral to ionone, eugenol
to vanillin, linalool to linalyl acetate, and safrol to heliotropin.
Animal products used in perfumes include musk, ambergris, civet and castoreum, and are generally
55 provided as alcoholic tinctures.
The synthetic chemicals include not only the synthetically made and the naturally occurring isolates
mentioned above, but also include their derivatives and compounds unknown in nature, e.g., isoamyl-
salicylate, amylcinnamic aldehyde, cyclaman aldehyde, heliotropin, ionone, phenylethyl alcohol, terpineol,

4
 EP 0 419 850 B1

undecalactone, and gamma nonyl lactone.

Perfume compositions as received from the perfumery house may be provided as an aqueous or
organically solvated composition, and may include as a hydrotrope or emulsifier a surface active agent,
typically an anionic or nonionic surfactant, in minor amount. The perfume compositions are quite usually
5 proprietary blends of many different fragrance compounds to achieve a particular odoriferous effect.
Typically, perfume compositions contain an effective fragrancing amount of 0 to 100% by weight of the
fragrance ingredient. Generally, perfume ingredient(s) are used in air fresheners at concentrations of about
0.01 to 75 wt. %, with solvents, emulsifiers, water, etc. making up the balance.

w E. WATER

The water component used herein may be commercially available, or laboratory-prepared, deionized or
demineralized water. Deionized water is preferred.
Softened water can be used. If softened water is used, the presence of the softening salts must be
75 considered and the quantity of additional salt appropriately reduced.
In Table I, the term "q.s. to 100%" means a quantity of water sufficient to yield 100% by weight of the
total composition.

F. CO-SOLVENT
20
The co-solvent is an optional ingredient. When used, the co-solvents are generally polyalkylene glycol
monoalkyl ethers.
Dialkylene glycol monoalkyl ethers are preferred. Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ie., "Carbitol" is
highly preferred. Mixtures can be used.
25 One particularly useful material of this type is the ethoxydiglycol product sold as Dowanol DE™ by
Dow Chemical (Midland, Michigan) or Carbitol, Low Gravity ™, as sold by Union Carbide Corp. of Danbury,
CT. The latter compound can also be called 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethanol.
This component of the composition functions as an auxiliary solubilizer and also as a volatile non-
organoleptic diluent which attenuates fragrance intensity.
30
G. COLORANT

The colorants used in the formulations herein are commercially available dyes, preferably water soluble
dyes.
35 Useful colorants include, but are not limited to, Azure Blue (Hilton-Davis Chemical), Erio Orange Dye
(Ciba-Giegy), Rhodamine EB, and E-2GL from Sandoz Corporation. Mixtures may be used.

H. OTHER EXCIPIENTS

40 The air freshener compositions of the invention may contain a wide variety of excipients. Along with
water, co-solvents, and other diluents, they may also contain at least one other conventional ingredient, in
addition to the fragrances, colorants, neutralizers, and the like described herein. The use of fillers,
thickeners, and the like, in suitable quantities appropriate to their functions, is contemplated.

45 AMOUNTS OF INGREDIENTS

Table I gives approximate weight percentage ranges for the ingredients used in the compositions of the
invention. A skilled artisan can extrapolate from the values given in order to tailor a composition to his
specific needs.
50 The ingredients in Section H are optional, and are not shown in Table I.
Unless otherwise stated, all percentages recited in the specification are weight percentages based on
total composition weight. The terms "wt. %," "weight %," and "wt percent" are used interchangeably
herein.

55

5
 EP 0 419 850 B1

TABLE I

Amounts of Ingredients
COMPONENT WEIGHT PERCENT
BROAD PREFERRED HIGHLY PREFERRED
Salt 0.01 - 0.50 0.01 - 0.03 0.1 - 0.2
Solvent (principal) 3.0 - 15.0 7.0 - 10.0 8.0
Emulsifier 2.0 - 15.0 4.0 - 7.5 6.0
Neutralized 0.01 - 2.0 0.48 - 0.84 0.72
Fragrance 1.0 - 20.0 3.5 - 6.0 6.0
Co-Solvent 0 - 15.0 0 - 7.5 5.0
Colorant 0.0001 - 0.005 0.0001-0.003 0.0024
Water q.s. to 100% q.s. to 100% q.s. to 100%
'The example shows compositions containing 50% aqueous solution of NaOH.

As used herein the phrases "suitable amount", "useful amount", "suitable quantity", and the like refer
20 to amounts of an ingredient which are appropriate to its function in the final composition. Thus, a "suitable
stabilizing quantity" or "stabilizing amount" of a salt would be an amount sufficient to produce the
stabilizing effects, ie., inhibition of phase separation and/or extension of the useful life of the air freshener
via decrease of the rate of evaporation.

25 EXAMPLES:

The following example illustrates the invention.

Preparation of formula:
30
Monafax 785, ispropyl alcohol, and fragrance oil are mixed until a clear solution is obtained. The water
is added to this solution slowly with stirring. This results in a clear microemulsion. Dowanol DE (cosolvent)
is then added with stirring followed by the sodium chloride. The following formulae were prepared.
Each of these formulations is the same except for the quantity of sodium chloride and water. Levels of
35 sodium chloride shown here are 0.0, 0.1 and 0.2% respectively.

FORMULATION A
RAW MATERIAL % WEIGHT
Deionized Water 76.279
Ispopropyl Alcohol 8.000
Dowanol DE 5.000
Monafax 785 6.000
Fragrance Oil 4.000
NaOH (50% solution) 0.720
NaCI 0.000
Dye (Sandoz E-2GL) 0.001
100.000

55

6
 EP 0 419 850 B1

FORMULATION B
RAW MATERIAL % WEIGHT
Deionized Water 76.179
Ispopropyl Alcohol 8.000
Dowanol DE 5.000
Monafax 785 6.000
Fragrance Oil 4.000
NaOH (50% solution) 0.720
NaCI 0.100
Dye (Sandoz E-2GL) 0.001
100.000

FORMULATION C

RAW MATERIAL % WEIGHT

Deionized Water 76.079
Ispopropyl Alcohol 8.000
Dowanol DE 5.000
Monafax 785 6.000
Fragrance Oil 4.000
NaOH (50% solution) 0.720
NaCI 0.200
Dye (Sandoz E-2GL) 0.001
100.000

Five samples were prepared from each formulation and each delivery system contained 65.0 grams of
formula. Each liquid samples was then placed in a container in an environment which had air flow between
8-20 2,44-6,1 m/min (linear feet/minute), temperature 22.2+1.7 °C (72+3 °F), and relative humidity of
50+10%
Samples were removed from this environment once each week and weighed on an analytical balance.
The samples were weighed each week until there was no visible liquid left in the container. The percent
weight loss was calculated by the following formula:
% wt. loss = 1-(fw-(ow-cw))/fw
fw = fill weight
ow = original weight of the package with formula
cw = weight at some time t (t was measured in days)
As Figure 1 shows, the composition of the example produced significantly slower cooperation rates
when 0.1% and 0.2% NaCI were added.
Table II sets out the fragrance weight loss of Formulations A-C when tested as described above. The
compositions tested are the same lemon air fresheners shown in the Figure.

50

55

7
 EP 0 419 850 B1

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It should be understood that reasonable variations, modifications and improvements, may be made by
those skilled in the art in the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. An aqueous air freshener composition containing by weight of the total composition:

8
 EP 0 419 850 B1

(a) 1 to 20 % of a fragrance component;

(b) 2 to 15 % of at least one of a phosphate ester emulsifier having the general formula:

R(OCH2CH2)kOP03H2
5
wherein R is an alkylphenol moiety and x is an integer of from 3 to 15;
(c) 0.01 to 0.5 % of at least one alkali metal or alkaline earth metal halide, sulfate, nitrate, carbonate,
bicarbonate or phosphate;
(d) solvent containing at least one C2-12 monohydroxy alcohol, the solvent being present in an
10 amount sufficient to solubilize the fragrance component, and
(e) water sufficient to yield 100 %.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein component (c) is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal halide or
sulfate.
15
3. The composition of claim 1 or 2 wherein the solvent is a monohydroxy alcohol having 2 to 5 carbon
atoms and being present in an amount of 3 to 15 %.

4. The composition of any one of the preceding claims wherein x is an integer from 8 to 11 and R is
20 nonylphenol.

5. The composition of any one of the preceding claims further containing 0.0001 to 0.005 % colorant.

6. The composition of any one of the preceding claims wherein the solvent is ethyl alcohol or isopropyl
25 alcohol.

7. The composition of any one of the preceding claims wherein component (c) is sodium chloride.

8. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the inhibition agent is magnesium sulfate.
30
9. A method of stabilizing a hydroalcoholic air freshener composition containing (by weight of the total
composition) 1 to 20% of a fragrance, 2 to 15% of at least one of a phosphate ester emulsifier having
the general formula: R(OCH2CH2)xOP03H2 wherein R is an alkylphenol moiety and x is an integer of
from 3-15, at least one C2-12 monohydroxy alcohol in an amount sufficient to solubilize the fragrance,
35 and water, against phase separation which comprises adding thereto 0.01 to 0.5 wt.% of at least one
alkali metal or alkaline earth metal halide, sulfate, nitrate, carbonate, bicarbonate or phosphate.

10. A method of controlling weight loss of a hydroalcoholic air freshener composition containing (by weight
of the total composition) 1 to 20% of a fragrance, 2 to 15% of at least one of a phosphate ester
40 emulsifier having the general formula: R(OCH2CH2)xOP03H2 wherein R is an alkylphenol moiety and x
is an integer of from 3-15, at least one C2-12 monohydroxy alcohol in an amount sufficient to solubilize
the fragrance, and water which comprises adding thereto 0.01 to 0.5% of at least one alkali or alkaline
earth metal halide, sulfate, nitrate, carbonate, bicarbonate, or phospate.

45 11. The method of claim 9 or 10 wherein the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal is a halide or sulfate salt.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the salt is sodium chloride.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the salt is sodium sulfate.

50
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the salt is magnesium chloride.

15. An air freshener device comprising an air freshener composition according to any one of claims 1 to
14.
55

9
 EP 0 419 850 B1

Patentanspruche

1. WaBrige Luftverbesserungszusammensetzung, enthaltend, bezogen auf das Gesamtgewicht der Zu-

sammensetzung:
5 (a) 1 bis 20 % einer Duftstoffkomponente;
(b) 2 bis 15 % wenigstens eines Phosphatester-Emulgators der allgemeinen Formel:

R(OCH2CH2)kOP03H2

io worin R fur eine Alkylphenoleinheit steht und x fur eine ganze Zahl von 3 bis 15 steht;
(c) 0,01 bis 0,5 % wenigstens eines Alkalimetall- oder Erdalkalimetallhalogenids, -sulfats, -nitrats,
-carbonats, -bicarbonats oder -phosphats;
(d) ein Losungsmittel, das wenigstens einen C2-i2-Monohydroxy-Alkohol enthalt, wobei das L6-
sungsmittel in einer Menge vorhanden ist, die ausreicht, urn die Duftstoffkomponente zu solubilisie-
15 ren, und
(e) genug Wasser, urn 100 % zu ergeben.

2. Zusammensetzung nach Anspruch 1, wobei es sich bei der Komponente (c) urn ein Alkalimetall- oder
Erdalkalimetallhalogenid oder -sulfat handelt.
20
3. Zusammensetzung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei es sich bei dem Losungsmittel urn einen Monoh-
ydroxy-Alkohol handelt, der 2 bis 5 Kohlenstoffatome aufweist und der in einer Menge von 3 bis 15 %
vorhanden ist.

25 4. Zusammensetzung nach einem der vorhergehenden Anspruche, worin x fur eine ganze Zahl von 8 bis
11 steht und R fur Nonylphenol steht.

5. Zusammensetzung nach einem der vorhergehenden Anspruche, die auBerdem 0,0001 bis 0,005 %
eines Farbstoffs enthalt.
30
6. Zusammensetzung nach einem der vorhergehenden Anspruche, wobei es sich bei dem Losungsmittel
urn Ethylalkohol oder Isopropylalkohol handelt.

7. Zusammensetzung nach einem der vorhergehenden Anspruche, wobei es sich bei der Komponente (c)
35 urn Natriumchlorid handelt.

8. Zusammensetzung nach einem der Anspruche 1 bis 6, wobei es sich bei dem Inhibierungsmittel urn
Magnesiumsulfat handelt.

40 9. Verfahren zur Stabilisierung einer waBrig-alkoholischen Luftverbesserungszusammensetzung, die (bezo-

gen auf das Gesamtgewicht der Zusammensetzung) 1 bis 20 % eines Duftstoffes, 2 bis 15 %
wenigstens eines Phosphatester-Emulgators der allgemeinen Formel R(OCH2CH2)xOP03H2, worin R fur
eine Alkylphenoleinheit steht und x fur eine ganze Zahl von 3 bis 15 steht, wenigstens einen C2-12-
Monohydroxy-Alkohol in einer Menge, die ausreicht, urn den Duftstoff zu solubilisieren, und Wasser
45 enthalt, gegen Phasentrennung, wobei man 0,01 bis 0,5 Gew.-% wenigstens eines Alkalimetall- oder
Erdalkalimetallhalogenids, -sulfats, -nitrats, -carbonats, -bicarbonats oder -phosphats zugibt.

10. Verfahren zur Kontrolle des Gewichtsverlustes einer waBrig-alkoholischen Luftverbesserungszusammen-

setzung, die (bezogen auf das Gesamtgewicht der Zusammensetzung) 1 bis 20 % eines Duftstoffes, 2
50 bis 15 % wenigstens eines Phosphatester-Emulgators der allgemeinen Formel R(OCH2CH2)xOP03H2,
worin R fur eine Alkylphenoleinheit steht und x fur eine ganze Zahl von 3 bis 15 steht, wenigstens
einen C2-i2-Monohydroxy-Alkohol in einer Menge, die ausreicht, urn den Duftstoff zu solubilisieren,
und Wasser enthalt,
wobei man 0,01 bis 0,5 % wenigstens eines Alkalimetall- oder Erdalkalimetallhalogenids, -sulfats,
55 -nitrats, -carbonats, -bicarbonats oder -phosphats zugibt.

11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9 oder 10, wobei es sich bei dem Alkalimetall oder Erdalkalimetall urn ein
Halogenid- oder ein Sulfatsalz handelt.

10
 EP 0 419 850 B1

12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei es sich bei dem Salz urn Natriumchlorid handelt.

13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei es sich bei dem Salz urn Natriumsulfat handelt.

5 14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei es sich bei dem Salz urn Magnesiumchlorid handelt.

15. Luftverbesserungsvorrichtung, die eine Luftverbesserungszusammensetzung nach einem der Anspru-

che 1 bis 14 umfaBt.

w Revendicatlons

1. Composition qui est un rafraTchissant aqueux de I'air contenant, par rapport a la masse de la
composition totale :
(a) entre 1 et 20 % d'un composant qui est un parfum,
is (b) entre 2 et 15 % d'au moins un emulsifiant qui est un ester de type phosphate ayant la formule
generale :

R(OCH2CH2)kOP03H2

20 dans laquelle R est une fraction alkylphenol et x est un nombre entier compris entre 3 et 15,
(c) entre 0,01 et 0,5 % d'au moins un halogenure, un sulfate, un nitrate, un carbonate, un
bicarbonate ou un phosphate de metal alcalin ou de metal alcalino-terreux,
(d) un solvant contenant au moins un alcool monohydroxyle en C2-C12, le solvant etant present en
une quantite suffisante pour solubiliser le composant qui est un parfum et
25 (e) de I'eau en quantite suffisante pour obtenir 100 %.

2. Composition selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle le composant (c) est un halogenure ou un sulfate
de metal alcalin ou de metal alcalinoterreux.

30 3. Composition selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans laquelle le solvant est un alcool

monohydroxyle ayant entre 2 et 5 atomes de carbone et etant present a raison de 3 a 15 %.

4. Composition selon I'une quelconque des revendications precedentes, dans laquelle x est un nombre
entier compris entre 8 a 11 et R est un nonylphenol.
35
5. Composition selon I'une quelconque des revendications precedentes, contenant de plus entre 0,0001 et
0,005 % de colorant.

6. Composition selon I'une quelconque des revendications precedentes, dans laquelle le solvant est de
40 I'alcool ethylique ou de I'alcool isopropylique.

7. Composition selon I'une quelconque des revendications precedentes, dans laquelle le composant (c)
est du chlorure de sodium.

45 8. Composition selon I'une quelconque des revendications 1 a 6, dans laquelle I'agent d'inhibition est du
sulfate de magnesium.

9. Procede de stabilisation d'une composition qui est un rafraTchissant hydro-alcoolique de I'air, contenant
(par rapport a la masse de la composition totale) entre 1 et 20 % d'un parfum, entre 2 et 15 % d'au
50 moins un emulsifiant qui est un ester de type phosphate ayant la formule generale : R(OCH2CH2)-
xOP03H2 dans laquelle R est une fraction alkylphenol et x est un nombre entier compris entre 3 et 15,
au moins un alcool monohydroxyle en C2-C12 en une quantite suffisante pour solubiliser le parfum,
ainsi que de I'eau, vis-a-vis d'une separation de phase, lequel procede comprend I'ajout de 0,01 a 0,5
% en masse d'au moins un halogenure, un sulfate, un nitrate, un carbonate, un bicarbonate ou un
55 phosphate de metal alcalin ou de metal alcalino-terreux.

10. Procede de controle de la perte de masse d'une composition qui est un rafraTchissant hydro-alcoolique
de I'air, contenant (par rapport a la masse de la composition totale) entre 1 et 20 % d'un parfum, entre

11
 EP 0 419 850 B1

2 et 15 % d'au moins un emulsifiant qui est un ester de type phosphate ayant la formule generale : R-
(OCH2CH2)xOP03H2 dans laquelle R est une fraction alkylphenol et x est un nombre entier compris
entre 3 et 15, au moins un alcool monohydroxyle en C2-C12 en une quantite suffisante pour solubiliser
le parfum, ainsi que de I'eau, lequel procede comprend I'ajout de 0,01 a 0,5 % d'au moins un
halogenure, un sulfate, un nitrate, un carbonate, un bicarbonate ou un phosphate de metal alcalin ou de
metal alcalino-terreux.

11. Procede selon la revendication 9 ou la revendication 10, dans lequel le metal alcalin ou le metal
alcalino-terreux est un sel d'halogenure ou de sulfate.
70
12. Procede selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le sel est du chlorure de sodium.

13. Procede selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le sel est du sulfate de sodium.

75 14. Procede selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le sel est du chlorure de magnesium.

15. Dispositif du type rafraTchissant de I'air comprenant une composition qui est un rafraTchissant de I'air
selon I'une quelconque des revendications 1 a 14.

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

12
 EP 0 419 850 B1

100

Time (days)
o 0.0% Salt + 0.1% Salt o 0.2% S a l t

13