AU2021106526A4 - A solid concentrate - Google Patents

Abstract

Described herein are solid concentrate compositions, formulations and methods of use. More specifically, household and personal care product formulations derived from a solid bar or powdered concentrate comprising at least one viscosity agent where upon dilution with a liquid such as water, a resultant solution with the requisite viscosity enables the product to be utilised and/or stored in a receptacle. Uses of the solid concentrate and methods of manufacture are also described.

Description

A SOLID CONCENTRATE TECHNICAL FIELD

Described herein are solid concentrate compositions, formulations and methods of use. More

specifically, household and personal care product formulations derived from a solid bar or powdered

concentrate comprising at least one viscosity agent where upon dilution with a liquid such as water, a

resultant solution with the requisite viscosity enables the product to be utilised and/or stored in a

receptacle. Uses of the solid concentrate and methods of manufacture are also described.

BACKGROUND ART

Plastic production has become an integral part of our society where the planet has accumulated 9.2

billion tons of plastic, which breaks down to 1.3 tons for every man, woman and child on Earth. Globally,

less than one fifth of all plastic gets recycled and in some countries the number is less than 10 percent.

Single-use plastic bottles are a major factor in the plastic problem. According to recently published

studies, the world has produced more plastic than it did in the previous 50 years with other studies

indicating that by 2050, the ocean will contain more plastic by weight than fish.

The issue with plastic is multi-faceted. It comes down to how it is manufactured, how it is disposed of

and what occurs to it afterwards. Plastic production has an enormous carbon footprint and is

manufactured using massive amounts of oil or natural gas and energy. On average, the initial production

process produces about 6 kg of CO 2 per 1 kg of plastic.

The process also places enormous demands on our limited global supply of accessible and usable water.

We can use only 0.3% of all water on Earth, yet one HDPE 350 ml bottle - the size of a typical bottle from

the supermarket - requires 700 ml of water to make. As will be appreciated across 6.5 million bottles, the

amount that can be saved from entering landfill, equates to over 16,250,000 Litres of water. That is

enough to fill more than 6 Olympic swimming pools.

Furthermore, that water wasted does not include that contained in the typical list of formulation

ingredients. For example, the average bottle of shampoo is diluted with up to 60% water. For

conditioner, it is around 90%.

Once the product has been used, that plastic bottle must go somewhere. As above, a fraction of plastic is

recycled worldwide and we produce about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Each year, wash

off from landfill or improper disposal means 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean.

Even in ideal conditions, a plastic shampoo bottle will take hundreds and hundreds of years to begin to

degrade. The most conservative estimates predict it will break up (not down) after 400 years into

something that is arguably even worse. These are microplastics - minute fragments of plastic and they are ubiquitous - as aforementioned oceans and almost all species of fish have been found to contain traces. The synthetic debris has even made its way into our water supply.

From the above, it can be seen that we need to abandon or at least significantly reduce single-use,

disposable plastic especially where the vast majority of personal care and household cleaning products

are sold in plastic bottles as ready-made products. This significantly contributes to the plastic issues

affecting the global environment. As water can make up to 97 % w/v. of some of these products, this

seems absurd when considering the weight, plastic packaging and preservatives required for that

product to remain shelf stable.

It's becoming easier to eliminate single-use plastic. When you go grocery shopping, use a nylon tote bag.

Instead of buying plastic water bottles, use water filters at home and carry a reusable water bottle when

you go out. To wash your hair and brush your teeth, use shampoo bars and mouthwash tablets.

Blueland are a company that values both a cleaner home and a cleaner planet. They have developed a

system that involves dissolvable cleaning tablets and reusable bottles. For example, a Blueland's Clean

Essentials kit comprises three bottles, a soap dispenser, and cleansing tablets. Blueland provides three

sturdy bottles made from acrylic and are all labelled for different uses: e.g. multi-surface, glass and

mirror, and bathroom. It also includes a soap dispenser constructed with the same acrylic material. Then

you have three cleaning tablets, one for each purpose as aforementioned. The tablets make

approximately 0.5 kg of solution each while the soap tablet makes approximately 0.25 kg of solution. To

make the cleaning solution, you fill the bottle up to the designated line with warm water, then drop the

corresponding tablet in the bottle. Within a few seconds, the cleaning solution is ready to use, with no

additional shaking or stirring necessary. However, a disadvantage of the products of these formulations

is that they have low viscosity i.e. resulting products are watery thin and are generally only suitable for

use as a spray cleaner. The products are based on the same principle as a bath bomb, an alkali and an

acid tablet, which result in the presence of water to dissolve into the spray product.

Unilever have launched their Cif ecorefill, a new at-home technology that allows consumers to refill and

reuse their Cif spray bottles for life. Cif utilises a twist and click refill design where the bottles are

manufactured from 75% less plastic. The Cif ecorefill attaches to the current Cif Power and Shine bottles

where it releases the super-concentrated product into the bottle, which is filled with water at home. The

ecorefill contains a 10 x concentrated formula, where the ecorefills are 100% recyclable once the plastic

sleeves are removed. However, again a disadvantage of the product of this formulation is that it has low

viscosity i.e. the resulting product is watery thin and is generally only suitable for use as a spray cleaner.

From the above, it would be useful to have a composition or formulation for use in household and

personal care products that have the requisite viscosity for multiple applications yet are environmentally

friendly, reduces the use of single-use plastic packaging or to at least provide the public with a useful

choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the composition/formulation, method and application of usage thereof will become apparent from the ensuing description that is given byway of example only.

SUMMARY

Described herein are solid concentrate compositions, formulations and methods of use. More

specifically, household and personal care product formulations derived from a solid bar or powdered

concentrate comprising at least one viscosity agent where upon dilution with a liquid such as water, a

resultant solution with the requisite viscosity enables the product to be utilised and/or stored in a

receptacle. Uses of the solid concentrate and methods of manufacture are also described.

In a first aspect, there is provided a solid concentrate formulated for use as a household and/or personal

care product comprising an effective amount of at least one viscosity agent for modifying viscosity of the

concentrate when in solution, the concentrate comprising:

at least one or more surfactants;

optionally at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing properties;

optionally at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant properties;

optionally at least one emulsifier;

optionally at least one preservative compound;

optionally at least one active; and

optionally at least one fragrance q.s; and

wherein the at least one viscosity agent within the solid concentrate reacts in the presence of a diluent

compound to form a viscous solution.

In a second aspect, there is provided a solid concentrate formulated for use as a household and/or

personal care product comprising an effective amount of at least one gelling agent for modifying

viscosity of the concentrate when in solution, the concentrate comprising:

at least one or more surfactants;

at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing properties;

at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant properties;

optionally at least one emulsifier;

optionally at least one preservative compound; and

optionally at least one fragrance q.s; and

wherein the at least one gelling agent within the solid concentrate reacts in the presence of a diluent

compound to form a viscous solution greater than 10 Cp at room temperature.

In a third aspect, there is provided a solid concentrate formulated for use as a household and/or personal care product comprising an effective amount of at least one viscosity agent for modifying viscosity of the concentrate when in solution, the concentrate comprising:

1-80% by weight of at least one or more surfactants;

optionally 1-10% by weight of at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing

properties;

optionally 1-80% by weight of at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant

properties;

optionally at least one emulsifier;

optionally at least one preservative compound;

optionally 1-20% by weight of at least one active; and

optionally at least one fragrance added to volume q.s; and

wherein the at least one viscosity agent within the solid concentrate reacts in the presence of a diluent

compound to form a viscous solution.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method of utilising a solid concentrate as a household and/or

personal care product comprising an effective amount of at least one viscosity agent for modifying

viscosity of the concentrate, the concentrate comprising:

at least one or more surfactants;

optionally at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing properties;

optionally at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant properties;

optionally at least one emulsifier;

optionally at least one preservative compound;

optionally at least one active; and

optionally at least one fragrance q.s,

the method comprising the step of reacting the solid concentrate in the presence of a diluent compound

to form a viscous solution.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing a solid concentrate as a household and/or

personal care product comprising an effective amount of at least one viscosity agent for modifying

viscosity of the concentrate when in solution, the method comprising the steps:

a) preparing a solid concentrate comprising:

at least one or more surfactants;

optionally at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing properties; optionally at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant properties; b) optionally selecting at least one emulsifier; c) optionally selecting at least one preservative compound; d) optionally selecting at least one fragrance q.s.; e) optionally selecting at least one active; and f) melting the above and moulding into a solid bar or forming a powdered concentrate.

Selected advantages of the above solid concentrate include meeting or exceeding design expectations

around the viscosity when in solution with selected viscosity and gelling agents. It was found that typical

gelling agents are not as effective as when they are hydrated, they form an immiscible solution that

clumps together that must be utilised in two separate stages. This can make the product less user

friendly requiring a three step process where the solid concentrate would need to be dissolved, cooled

and then an additional thickener added. Advantageously, the inventor has found the use of natural

gelling agents with the relevant %wt. only requires a simple one step process of dissolving the solid bar

with water to form a solution with the requisite viscosity.

The solid bar concentrate was found to effectively preserve the active cleaning agents while maintaining

the actives at the required viscosity when in solution more than expected. This rapid rate dissolving of

the solid by the water may be useful for a variety of reasons such as to rapidly release the actives at the

required viscosity while preserving the actives when in solid form.

As aforementioned, the use of gelling agents in the concentrate appears to significantly improve the

hydration properties of the solution and active agents present in the solution can be effectively utilised

without additional thickeners being added when altering the physical state of the concentrate from solid

to liquid.

Through the use of a specific combination of components, it is possible to manufacture a solid bar or

powdered concentrate that can not only be used to deliver cleaning actives when dissolved in water, but

also to reduce the use of plastic packaging compared to art household and personal care products.

Further, one solid bar or powdered concentrate may be used to deliver many different household and

personal care products with actives and active combinations.

Other advantages are described below in more detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted above, described herein are solid concentrate compositions, formulations and methods of use.

More specifically, household and personal care product formulations derived from a solid bar or

powdered concentrate comprising at least one viscosity agent where upon dilution with a liquid such as

water, a resultant solution with the requisite viscosity enables the product to be utilised and/or stored in

a receptacle. Uses of the solid concentrate and methods of manufacture are also described.

For the purposes of this specification, the term 'about' or 'approximately' and grammatical variations

thereof mean a quantity, level, degree, value, number, frequency, percentage, dimension, size, amount,

weight or length that varies by as much as 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1% to a reference

quantity, level, degree, value, number, frequency, percentage, dimension, size, amount, weight or

length.

The term 'substantially' or grammatical variations thereof refers to at least about 50%, for example 75%,

85%,95% or 98%.

The term 'comprise'and grammatical variations thereof shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will

be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other

non-specified components or elements.

The term 'solid concentrate' or grammatical variations thereof refers to a substance, compound or group

of compounds in which an active agent or agents are present in a solid. For example, an active cleaning

agent compound bound in a solid bar or powder which may be dissolved in water and added to the

solvent system.

The term 'solution' or grammatical variations thereof as used herein refers to a liquid substantially

absent of any solid and/or undissolved particles therein.

The terms 'non-aqueous' and/or 'anhydrous' or grammatical variations thereof refer to the formulation

contains one or more solvents and is substantially free of or completely free of water.

The term 'suspension' or 'emulsion' or grammatical variations thereof refers to particles suspended in a

liquid solution.

The term 'humectant' or grammatical variations thereof refer to a hygroscopic substance that attracts

and retains moisture via absorption.

The term 'natural gelling agent' or grammatical variations thereof refers to a thickening agent or

thickener substance derived from an animal or plant source which increases the viscosity of a liquid

without substantially changing its other properties. The thickeners may also improve the suspension of

other ingredients or emulsions which increases the stability of the product.

In a first aspect, there is provided a solid concentrate formulated for use as a household and/or personal

care product comprising an effective amount of at least one viscosity agent for modifying viscosity of the

concentrate when in solution, the concentrate comprising:

at least one or more surfactants;

optionally at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing properties;

optionally at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant properties;

optionally at least one emulsifier; optionally at least one preservative compound; optionally at least one active; and optionally at least one fragrance q.s; and wherein the at least one viscosity agent within the solid concentrate reacts in the presence of a diluent compound to form a viscous solution.

The solid concentrate may be formulated for use, but not be seen as limited to shampoo, bodywash,

handwash, conditioner, body lotion, cream cleanser, dishwashing liquid, and spray & wipe and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the viscosity or thickening agent may be a gelling agent (gellants), forming a

gel, dissolving in the liquid phase as a colloid mixture that forms a weakly cohesive internal structure.

Others may act as mechanical thixotropic additives with discrete particles adhering or interlocking to

resist strain.

In other embodiments, an emulsifier may act as the viscosity agent as it may be in sufficient

concentration to provide the requisite viscosity without an additional viscosity agent such as a gellant.

The gelling agents may include, but should not be seen as limited to natural gums, starches, pectins,

agar-agar and gelatin. The gelling agents may be based on polysaccharides or proteins. Some exemplary

examples are: alginic acid (E400), sodium alginate (E401), potassium alginate (E402), ammonium alginate

(E403), calcium alginate (E404) - polysaccharides from brown algae, agar (E406, a polysaccharide

obtained from red algae), carrageenan (E407, a polysaccharide obtained from red seaweeds), locust

bean gum (E410, a natural gum polysaccharide from the seeds of the carob tree), pectin (E440, a

polysaccharide obtained from apple or citrus-fruit) and gelatin (E441, manufactured by partial hydrolysis

of animal collagen).

In preferred embodiments, the gelling agent may be gellan gum (E418, a water-soluble anionic

polysaccharide produced by the bacterium Sphingomonas elodea).

The inventor has unexpectedly found that typical gelling agents do not work compared to for example

gellan gum as when they are hydrated they coagulate and must be used in separate stages. This can

make products less user friendly where a three step process would be required to initially dissolve the

solid bar concentrate, cool then requiring an additional thickener. However, the inventor's solid

concentrate formulation only requires a one-step process i.e. dissolving in water to produce a solution

with actives at the requisite viscosity.

In selected embodiments, the gelling agent may be added at a concentration of approximately 1, or 5, or

6, or 7, or 8, or 9, 10, or 11, or 12, or 13, or 14, or 15, or 16, or 17, or 18, or 19, or 20% by weight.

Furthermore, the inventor has unexpectedly found a range for the concentration of gelling agent that is

not commercially viable outside a certain range. For example, outside the range can result in a

formulation that as above can coagulate during hydration, or the resulting solution is too watery or

viscous for the desired application.

Whilst not essential, the solid bar or powder concentrate formulation may further include one or more

excipients.

Examples of non-limiting excipients that may be added comprises: emollients, humectants, diluents,

surfactants, anti-oxidants, plant extracts, activated charcoal, oils, vitamins, minerals and combinations

thereof.

Excipients may aid with selected properties of the concentrate such as for example, solution and/or

solvent system stability and improved skin effects on administration.

Humectants, emollients, diluents and surfactants are described further below.

The antioxidant is optional. In one embodiment, the antioxidant may be Butylated hydroxytoluene

(BHT). A naturally occurring anti-oxidant found in household and personal care products.

The humectant if used in the base formulation, may be selected based on the humectant also having

solvent properties and being physiologically acceptable with human and/or animal skin. The humectant

may also have emollient properties.

The humectant or humectants may be added to the base solution to volumeq.s.

In selected embodiments, the humectant or humectants may be added at a concentration of

approximately 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, 10, or 11, or 12, or 13, or 14, or 15, or 16, or 17, or 18, or 19, or

greater than 20% by weight.

In one embodiment 5 to 20%, or 6 to 15%, or 8 to 12% by weight humectant is present in the solid

concentrate.

The choice of humectant or humectant used may be in part governed by their humectant properties but

also by their safety for handling as well as compatibility to humans to which the solution is administered

or utilised. Generally recognised as safe (GRAS) approved humectant may be particularly useful.

In selected embodiments, the at least one humectant may be selected from: propylene glycol, hexylene

glycol, butylene glycol, at least one sugar alcohol compound, and combinations thereof.

The sugar alcohol may be selected from: glycerine, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, and combinations thereof.

In selected embodiments, the at least one humectant may be a mixture of propylene glycol and either

sorbitol or glycerine at a ratio (propylene glycol to sorbitol/glycerine) of approximately 10:1 to 6:1 w/w.

In one embodiment, the humectant may be propylene glycol. In this base solution contact, propylene

glycol may have a variety of useful properties beyond just humectant properties including: acting as

solvent, acting as a preservative and being GRAS approved.

The above solid concentrate may further comprise: 0.25, or 0.5, or 0.75, or 1.0, or 1.25, or 1.5% or

greater than 50% by weight of at least one surfactant and/or wetting agent.

In one embodiment, the surfactant/wetting agent may be present at a concentration from 0.25 to 15%, or from 5 to 50% by weight.

Non-limiting examples of surfactant/wetting agents that may be used comprise: polysorbate, EO/PO

block copolymers, sodium cocyl isethionate and combinations thereof. For example, Pluronic PE 6200 or

Antarox L64 may be used.

The solid concentrate may further comprise the use of at least one diluent.

The diluent may be added to volume (q.v.) and does not require any specific concentration, but for

example may be present at a concentration in the solution of: 5, or 10, or 15, or 20, or 25, or 30, or 35, or

40, or 45, or 50% w/v. The diluent may be present at a concentration of 5 to 50% w/v, or 15 to 40% w/v.

In preferred embodiments, the diluent may be water.

The solid bar or powder concentrate when hydrated has a viscosity that remains at a level that is

sufficiently low to allow absorption of the active(s) on administration, plus a viscosity that allows use in

the required application. Further, the viscosity is not so low that the formulation runs off or is too

watery for the desired application.

The anticipated viscosity of the formulation is likely to be subject to wide variation as the formulation

components may influence viscosity and also, environmental temperatures may also influence viscosity.

In one embodiment, the viscosity may be approximately: 1.0, or 2.5, or 5.0, or 7.5, or 10, or 25, or 50, or

75,or100,or150,or200,or250,or300,or350,or400,or450,or500,or550,or600,or650,or700,or

750,or800,or850,or900,or950,or1000,or1250,or1500,or1750,or2000,or2250,or2500,or

2750,or3000,or4000cP,or5000cP.

In one embodiment, the viscosity may range from 1.0 to 2500cP, or be less than 2000cP, or be less than

1000cP, or be less than 500cP.

With respect to stability, the above described solid bar or powdered concentrate when hydrated were

tested and found to remain stable for prolonged periods of time in challenging accelerated aging

temperatures and humidity.

The inventor found that the formulation may be stable at accelerated aging conditions of 54°C and 50%

humidity for at least two weeks and at 40°C and 60% humidity for at least 12 months. Hence, it is

envisaged that the solution may be stored for an extended period of time (for example, 12 months)

without risk of separation or other changes (chemical and/or physical) to the solution that might impact

on stability or efficacy.

The inventor has found that the solid bar or powder concentrate described herein is simple and

inexpensive to manufacture. There are no special steps required such as micronizing or vigorous mixing.

And it can be manufactured by a simple melt and mould process or powder process.

As may be appreciated form the above description, the solid bar or powder concentrate, solution and

related methods provide a number of advantages. In no particular order and not intending to be exhaustive, advantages may be as follows:

- The solid bar or powder concentrate composition or formulation for use in household and

personal care products has the requisite viscosity for multiple applications yet is

environmentally friendly, and reduces the use of single-use plastic packaging;

- The solid bar or powder is a concentrate with many active household and personal care

agents and active agent combinations avoid stability issues that can be caused by active

agent properties and avoiding active agent deterioration while in the hydrated form when

stored over time. The ability to provide multiple active household and personal care agents

in one solid bar concentrate formulation is versatile where only the active agents be

substituted in the formulation depending on application; - The solid bar or powder concentrate is relatively low cost to manufacture and does not

require any costly processing steps during manufacture such as micronizing of particles, use

of expensive solvents or use of extensive heating during manufacture; - The solid bar or powder concentrate upon hydration has desirable viscosity that avoids run

off but is not so viscous as to cause handling issues during, pouring or use. - The use of natural gelling agents in a commercially viable concentration avoids coagulation

upon hydration. Therefore, the solid concentrate formulation only requires a one-step

process i.e. dissolving in water to produce a solution with actives at the requisite viscosity.

The embodiments described above may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and

features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and

any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features.

Further, where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which

the embodiments relate, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually

set forth.

WORKING EXAMPLES

The above described formulation/composition, methods and uses are now described by reference to

specific examples.

EXAMPLE 1

Shampoo/Bodywash/Handwash Concentrate

A 50 g solid bar or tablet is formulated to make 350 ml of shampoo when hydrated with water. The base

formulation is modified to include one or more hydrating oils or other actives depending on the different

hair/skin types.

The formulation comprises 50 %wt. surfactants, 9 %wt. natural gelling agents, 20 %wt. emollients and

further fragrance, actives to q.s.

The manufacturing is a simple melt and mould process to form a solid bar concentrate.

As aforementioned, it has been found that typical gelling agents don't work as when they are hydrated

they coagulate and must be used in separate stages. This can make products less user friendly where a

three step process would be required to initially dissolve the solid bar concentrate, cool then requiring

an additional thickener.

However, the inventor's solid concentrate formulation only requires a one-step process as outlined

below i.e. dissolving in water to produce a solution with actives at the requisite viscosity.

To use:

An entire 50 g bar comprising triangular shape indentations to indicate where to snap and break up the

bar. The triangular pieces of the bar are placed into a jug and 300 ml of just boiled water is placed into

the jug over the bar pieces.

The water is mixed gently until all of the bar pieces have melted and dissolved into solution. The solution

is left to slightly cool. Upon cooling, the solution thickens to the required viscosity and is poured into a

recycled bottle or the like and used as per a regular liquid product. The preservatives will enable the

product to last for at least twelve months, once diluted.

EXAMPLE 2

Conditioner/Body lotion/Face cream Concentrate

A 25 g solid bar or tablet is formulated to make 350 ml of lotion, cream or conditioner when hydrated

with water. The base formulation is modified to include one or more hydrating oils or other actives

depending on the different hair/skin types.

The formulation comprises 77 %wt. surfactants, 1 %wt. natural gelling agents, and further fragrance,

actives to q.s.

The manufacturing is a simple melt and mould process to form a solid bar concentrate.

As aforementioned, it has been found that typical gelling agents don't work as when they are hydrated

they coagulate and must be used in separate stages. This can make products less user friendly where a

three step process would be required to initially dissolve the solid bar concentrate, cool then requiring

an additional thickener.

However, the inventor's solid concentrate formulation only requires a one-step process as outlined

below i.e. dissolving in water to produce a solution with actives at the requisite viscosity.

To use:

An entire 50 g bar comprising triangular shape indentations to indicate where to snap and break up the

bar. The triangular pieces of the bar are placed into a jug and 325 ml of just boiled water is placed into

the jug over the bar pieces.

The water is mixed gently until all of the bar pieces have melted and dissolved into solution. The solution

is left to slightly cool. Upon cooling, the solution thickens to the required viscosity and is poured into a

recycled bottle or the like and used as per a regular liquid product. The preservatives will enable the

product to last for at least twelve months, once diluted.

EXAMPLE 3

Non-gelledformulationfor Solid conditioners/moisturisers

In addition to the gelled formulations described above, the inventor has formulated solid

conditioners/moisturisers that comprises a cationic emulsifier, with emollients and viscosity agents that

are used in the same way as the aforementioned bar concentrates. However, these formulations do not

contain the gelling component, as the emulsifier is in sufficient concentration as to provide the requisite

viscosity.

An exemplary formulation for a hydrating conditioner or moisturising lotion comprises:

40% cationic surfactant;

40% emollient (oil); and

20% actives, preservative and vitamins.

EXAMPLE 4

Powder Concentrate for Cleansing Product

In addition to solid bar concentrates, powder concentrates have been formulated with surfactants and a

gelling agent to increase the viscosity as per the bar formulations.

An exemplary powder concentrate for a cleansing product comprises:

80% powdered surfactant;

5% sugar;

11-13% actives; and

2-4% gelling agents

The key distinction from prior art powder formulas, is that these formulations are formulated to be

diluted with water to produce a liquid product with the requisite viscosity and are therefore formulated

differently to other powder products in the art.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be

appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of

the claims herein.

EDITORIAL NOTE

2021106526

THERE ARE TWO PAGES OF CLAIMS ONLY

Claims (5)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A solid concentrate formulated for use as a household and/or personal care product

comprising an effective amount of at least one viscosity agent for modifying viscosity of the

concentrate when in solution, the concentrate comprising:

at least one or more surfactants;

optionally at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing properties;

optionally at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant properties;

optionally at least one emulsifier;

optionally at least one preservative compound;

optionally at least one active; and

optionally at least one fragrance q.s; and

wherein the at least one viscosity agent within the solid concentrate reacts in the presence

of a diluent compound to form a viscous solution.

2. A solid concentrate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one gelling agent for

modifying viscosity of the concentrate when in solution reacts in the presence of a diluent

compound to form a viscous solution greater than 10 Cp at room temperature.

3. A solid concentrate as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, comprising:

1-80% by weight of at least one or more surfactants;

optionally 1-10% by weight of at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing

properties;

optionally 1-80% by weight of at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant

properties;

optionally at least one emulsifier;

optionally at least one preservative compound;

optionally 1-20% by weight of at least one active; and

optionally at least one fragrance added to volume q.s; and

wherein the at least one viscosity agent within the solid concentrate reacts in the presence

of a diluent compound to form a viscous solution.

4. A method of utilising a solid concentrate as a household and/or personal care product

comprising an effective amount of at least one viscosity agent for modifying viscosity of the

concentrate, the concentrate comprising:

at least one or more surfactants;

optionally at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing properties;

optionally at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant properties;

optionally at least one emulsifier;

optionally at least one preservative compound;

optionally at least one active; and

optionally at least one fragrance q.s;

the method comprising the step of reacting the solid concentrate in the presence of a diluent

compound to form a viscous solution.

5. A method of manufacturing a solid concentrate as a household and/or personal care product

comprising an effective amount of at least one viscosity agent for modifying viscosity of the

concentrate when in solution, the method comprising the steps:

a) preparing a solid concentrate comprising:

at least one or more surfactants;

optionally at least one natural gelling agent having viscosity enhancing properties;

optionally at least one compound with emollient and/or humectant properties;

b) optionally selecting at least one emulsifier;

c) optionally selecting at least one preservative compound;

d) optionally selecting at least one fragrance q.s.;

e) optionally selecting at least one active; and

f) melting the above and moulding into a solid bar or forming a powdered concentrate.