CA1050378A - Controlled sudsing detergent compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

CONTROLLED SUDSING DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS
Ronald Edward Atkinson ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A detergent composition is provided which comprises a nonionic polyethoxy surface active agent with an HLB value of 11 to 14.5, a nonionic ethoxylated alcohol surface active agent in which 40% to 60% of the alcohol is a secondary alcohol and the average degree of ethoxylation is from 2.5 to 4, and a water soluble electrolyte.

Description

The present invention relates to detergent compositions and especially to a nonionic detergent composition having an im-10 proved combination of sudsing behaviour and of cleaning performance,particularly with regard to greasy and oily stains.
Detergent compositions presently finding wide-spread use normally contain a water-soluble organic anionic detergent as the principal soil-removal component. Such detergent compositions find 15 utility in removing a wide range of stains. ~owever, their ability to remove grease and oil stains is somewhat limited. Such a deficiency is especially apparen! when polyester fabrics which have been soiled with various grease and oil stains are laundered in aqueous laundry baths. Attempts at formulating anionic deter-20 gent compositions containing specific grease and oil removaladditives, e.g. enzymes, have not been fully satisfactory.
Water-soluble organic nonionic detergents are known .o be especially good at removing grease and oil stainsO While these nonionic detergents perform reasonably well in this respect, 25 detergent compositions containing ~hem as the major soil-removal - ' ~

. ~LI[~50375!~
agent have not been significan~ly commercialized. Various draw-backs relating to processing and perf'orman~e have hindered the introduction of a nonionic detergent-based composition. For example, certain nonionic organic detergen~s are composed of rela-S tively volatile components; aqueous slurries c,ontaining such com-- ponents in a significant amount create when spray-dried an unaccept-able stack-emission problem. Elaborate processing techniques such as the use of inorganic carriers for the nonionic organic deter-gents eliminate the need for including the detergent in the spray-~0 dryLng process; however, these processing technigues are not with-'out ~heir own special problems.
The suds pattern of a water-soluble organic nonionic deter-gent-containing detergent composition is also unacceptable under certain washing conditions, e.g. European conditions where drum 15 washing machines are used. As a general rule, a copious amount of suds is desired only when the detergent composition is used for washing by hand. ~or other uses, e.g. drum-machine washing in Europe, a small degree of sudsing throughout the washing process is desired. Modifying the suds pattern of a water-soluble organic 20 nonionic detergent-containing detergent composition has been an arduous task. This fact, together with the heretofore discussed problems associated with the water-soluble organic detergents, has tended to offset the nonionic detergents primary attribute, i.e.
their good grease and oil stain removal property.
Heretofore, the nonionic organic detergents that have been used in detergent compositions have been of the water-soluble type.
It has always been assumed that an organic detergent could pro-perly perform its soil-remo~al function only if in water solution.
The use of water-insoluble detergents has been mainly limited to 30 solvent-based compositions intended for use in the dry-cleaning industry. Water-insoluble organic nonionic detergents that have ilOi5~ 371~
been used in detergent compositions have been used only in conjunction ~ith relatively large amount o~ a water-soluble anionic or nonionic detergent. For example, sritish atent specification 716,641 discloses the use of a water-insoluble organic nonionic detergent as part of a mixture at a level of from 10~ to 70~, the remaining portion of the mixture being a water-soluble organic nonionic detergent. Canadian Patent No. 860,898 and German patent specification 2,109,892 also con-tain disclosures of the utility of water-insoluble organic non-ionic deter~ents in detergent compositions, but not as a major portion of the total detergent system.
It has been discovered, as disclosed in our copending Canadian application no. 218,740 ~iled January 27, 1975, that a properly formulated detergent composition containing a water-insoluble organic nonionic detergent as the principal detergent can be made. Such a composition is especially adapted for removing grease and oil stains; additionally it is also feasible to produce such a composition via a spray-drying process.
The composition disclosed in Canadian application no. 218,740 is especially adapted for removal of grease and oil stains, and comprises (a) at least 6% of a water-insoluble polyalkoxy organic nonionic detergent having the formula RtOCXH2x)nOH, wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms or an alkylated or alkenylated phen~l group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms in the alkyl or alkenyl group, x is 2 or 3 and n is from 1 to 8, and having an HLB ~as hereinafter defined~ of less than 10.0;

~050378 (b) a water-soluble electrolyte in an amou~t sufficic~t to aid in the action of the water-insoluble ~onionic detergent, and . . .
(c) from 0 to 30%, by weight o'E the total organic ~eter-gent, of organic anionic~zwitterionic or ampholytic detergent.
~he aforesaid compositions may also contain a proportion of a water-soluble nonionic detergent having an HLB greater than 10.0 pr.ovided that the HIB of ~he mixed nonionic detergent 10 system is less than 10Ø
- It has now been discovered that, provided that a special ~arrowly defined class of poorly water soluble nonionic surfac-`tan~s is employed, certai~ specified mixtures of water-soluble .
nonionic detergent~ wi~h said poorly water-soluble surfactants, 15 even though the HLB of the mixtures is a little above 10.0, have especially advantageous ~ropertie5. These compositions have an improved co~bination of low sudsing in the wash - especially in `
the wash at temperatures from 60C, and more especially from 80 C, to the boil - and excellent clea~ing both of average.soiling 20 and of greasy or oily soiling. Thus they may clean as well as prior-art compositions and provide better suds control in the wash, or they may clean better and provide similar suds control, or they may both clean better and control suds better.
In particular, the present invention provides a aetergent 25 composition co~prising (A) a nonionic polyethoxy surfactant ha~ing an HLB, as hereindefined, in the range from 11 to 14.~;
(B) a compound of the gener~l formula ~ C~cH2o(cH2cH2o)nH ~I) ~ ' . . .

~)S0378 wherein Rl is a straight chained alkyl group, R2 is H or -C~3, the total number of car~on atoms in Rl and R2 is from 10 to 13, R2 is CH3 in from 40%
to 60%by weight of the unethoxylated alcohols having the formula ., , Rl , , ' `
~ CHCH O~
R2 .
l and the average degree of ethoxylation n is from 2.5 to 4; and (C) a water-soluble electrolyte in an amount suficient to aid in the action of the water~insoluble nonionic detergent;
there being present from 6~ tQ 30% by weight of components (A) and ~B) together, the weight ratio of component (A~ to component (B) being from ~ 4 to 4,:1.- _ the composition containing not 15 more than 15~ of anionic surfactant by weight of components (A~
and (B~ together.
Preferably the weight ratio of components (A) and tB) together to component ~C) is from 1:15 to 1:2, but when insoluble builders as described hereinafter are employed, lower levels of 20 soluble electrolyte may be used extending the abo~e range to 2:1, and especially from 1:4 to 2:1.
It is surprising that the combination of a polye~hoxy non~
ionic surfactant wi~h the particular branched-chain compounds ~B), in the specified proportions, has advantages ovex corresponding compositions wherein the components ~A) and (B) are present in different proportions, or wherein the component (B) is replaced by nonionic surfactants of similar HLB but of different constitu~
tion, such as ethoxylated linear primary or secondary alcohols.

A ..

~1~35~37~

The polyethox~v nonionic surfactants of comPonent (~) of the com~osition o the present invention have the formula RO(CH2CHzO~mH (III) wherein R is a hydrocarbyl grou~ and m is such that the sur-factant has the specified HLB value.
The hydrocarbyl portion of the above-described mater-ials gives rise to their lipophilic characteristics, whereas the ethylene oxide portion determines their hydrophilic charac-teristics. The overall hydrophilic-lipophilic characteristics for a given hydrocarbyl-alkylene oxide condensate are reflected in the balance of these two factors, i.e. the hydrophilic-lipo-philic balance (HLB). The HLB of the ethoxylated nonionics of this invention can be experimentally determined in known fashion or calculated. They are calculated in the manner set forth in Becker, "Fmulsions Theory and Practice" Reinhold Publi~hing Co., pages 233 and 248. For example, the equation HLB = B/5 wherein B is the weight percentage of oxyethylene content, is used to calculate the HLB of the fatty alcohol ethoxylates employed herein.

All manner of hydrocarbyl materials, such as branched~
chain and straight-chain alcohols and alkylphenols, primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols, olefinic alcohols and the like, having the requisite number of carbon atoms may be used to pre-pare the ethoxylated detergents. Glycols and polyols may also be used, but monohydric alcoholic and monohydric alkyl phenolic ethoxylates are preferred.
The alkyl phenol ethoxylates most suitable are those having 6 to 12, preferably 8 or 9 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Though effective, the alkyl phenol derivatives are less réadily biodegradable than the alkyl derivatives. The alkyl ethoxylates may be derived ~rom primary or secondary, branched or unbranched l~S~;~78 monohydric alcohols having lO to ~0 carbon atoms. It is pre-ferred that a major proportion, for instance over 60% by weight,should have 13 to 15 carbon atoms, with a low level particularly of C12 or lower alcohols. Primary alcohols, branched or un-branched, are generally preferred to secondary alcohols. Par-~ ticularly preferred are alkyl ethoxylates of the general formula R . ..
1~ . ,.
~ ~ ( 2CH2 )m ~. ' ... . .
wherein Rl, R2 and m are -as defined above. It is further pre-:.;- ferred thzt R2 be CH3 in from 20% to 26% by weight of the unethoxy-lated alcohois. Commercially available materials of this type aresold under the trade marks "Dobanol" (Shell Chemicals~ and ~Lutensol" (BASF).
Examples of other polyethoxy nonionic suractants are ~he products of the condensation of the appropriate proportion of ethylene oxide, to obtain the proper HLB value, in linear primary alcohols, such as those rom natural fats~ e.g. coconut oilt palm kernel oil, tallow and the li~e, or on linear primary alcohols derived synthetically, as by ~he Ziegler process. "Tergitolsn (trade mark), e.gO the "Tergitoll' 15-S series, are examples of ethoxylated linear secondary alcohols. Primary and secondary alkenyl alcohols, e.g. dodecenol or oleyl alcohol, may be used~
and branched-chain saturated alcohols, optionally more highly branched than the most Rreferred group described above, for instance derived by the well known OXO process, are also suitable.
The ~Synperonics" (trade mark) marketed by I.C.I. Limited are of this class and are believed to have the general formula (IV) above wherein R2 ïs CH3 in from 40 to 60% by weight of the unethoxylated alcohols.

10~iO378 The component (B~ of the compositions is already nar-rowly defined. ~ost preferred are compounds wherein R2 is CH3 in from 45 to 55% by weight of the unethoxylated alcohols, the alcohols consist essentially of a mixture of Cl3 and C15 alcohols (i.e. Rl and R2 have a total of ll and 13 carbon atoms), and n is about 3. The remainder of the alkyl groups should be linear, apart from the small amounts of more highly branched groups to be expected in commercial products. A commercial source of suitable surfactants is found in the "synperonics"

(trade mark), expecially "synperonic-E-3", marketed by I.C.I.
Limited.
It is preferred that the ratio, by weight, of compo-nent (A) to component (B) should be in the range of from 3:7 to 1:1.
It is generally preferred that the compositions should contain little or no anionic (soap or non-soap) surfactant, but often small quantities not over 15%, preferably not over 10~, by weight of the total nonionics components (A) and (B) together are added to facilitate manufacture of the compositions, as more fully described below.
The amount of nonionic detergent (A) plus (B) is from 6% to 30%, preferably 10% to 20% by weight.
The electrolyte used in the composition of this inven-tion may be any of several known compounds capable of dissociat-ing into ions when added to water. Such compounds are necessary for use with the organic nonionic detergent mixture to obtain proper cleaning performance. It is theorizèd that the electro-lyte (1) prevents a gel-like phase formation when the present compositions are added to water and~or (2) aids in dispersing the water-insoluble nonionic detergent in water, especially at low temperatures. Regardless of the mechanism by which the electro-lyte aids in the proper performance of the nonionic detergent, 37~
its presence i5 necessary. The electrolyte is also needed for the role it plays in the physical form of the detergent composi-tion. That is, in solid forms of the present com~ositions, it provides a crystalline structure to absorb the liquid nonionic detergent. Suitable electrolytes are selected from the water-soluble alkali metal and alkaline earth metal phosphates, car-bonates, carboxylates, sulfates and chlorides. Examples o~
sàlts of this type are sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium acetate, potassium acetate, sodium .
citrate, sodlum propionate, sodium nitrilotriacetate, sodium oleate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate~ and trisodium sulfosuccinate. It should be understood that the foregoing list is merely illustrative and not limiting of the electrolytes that are useful in the context of this invention.
Preferred compositions of the invention are the granule-type detergent compositions intended for heavy-dutv laundering. Such compositions generally contain a water-soluble alkaline detergency builder. It should be understood that certain of the above-mentioned electrolytes also possess builder properties. These electrolytes are preferred when the composi-tion is formulated for heavy-duty laundry purposes. Such pre-ferred heavy-duty detergent compositions have a content of elec-trolyte within the range of 10% to 80%, preferably 20% to 50%.
However, electrolytes not possessing builder properties may be used in heavy duty detergent compositions provided a builder is also included.
As is well known in the detergency art, builders are included in detergent compositions for sequestering water hard-ness ions. The builder used in the heavy duty detergent compo-sitions of this invention may be any of several well known and commercially available organic and inorganic builder salts.

g _ 1~15037~
Suitable alkaline, inorganic builder salts are alkali metal carbonates~ aluminates~ phosphates, polyphosphates and silicates.
Specific examples of these salts are sodium or potassium tri-polyphosphates, aluminates, carbonates, phosphates and hexameta-phosphates, optionally in the presence of certain crystalliza-tion seeds, for example forms of calcium carbonate, as described in selgian patent specification 798,856. Suitable organic builder salts are the alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyphosphonates, polyacetates, and polycarboxylates.
The polyphosphonates specifically include the sodium and potassium salts of ethylene diphosphonic acid, the sodium and potassium salts of ethane-l-hydroxy-l,l-diphosphonic acid and the sodium and potassium salts of ethane-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid. Other examples are the water-soluble salts (e.g. those with sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted ammonium, such as mono-, di-, and triethanolammonium, cations) of ethane-2-carboxy-l,l-diphosphonic acid, hydroxymethanediphosPhonic acid, carbonyldiphosphonic acid, èthane-lOhydroxy-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid, ethane-2-hydroxy-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid, propane-1,1,3, 3-tetraphosphonic acid, propane-1,1,2-3-tetraphosphonic acid.
Examples of these polyphosphonic compounds are disclosed in British patents 1,026,366; 1,035,913; 1,129,687; 1,136,619 and 1,410,980.
Polyacetate builder salts suitable for use herein in-clude the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N-(2-hydrox-ethyl)-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-nitri-lQdiacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acld, 1,2-diamin-ocyclohexanetetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid. The trisodium salts of the above acids are generally preferred.
The polycarboxylate builder salts suitable for use herein consist of water-soluble salts of polymeric aliphatic 3~8 polycarboxylic acids as, or examp:Le, described in U.S.
Patent 3,308,067.
Other deter~ent builder salts for use in the composi-tions o~ the present invention include the water-soluble salts of (1) amino polycarboxylates; (2) ether polycarboxylates;
(3? citric acid; and (4~ aromatic polycarboxylates derived from benzene.
The water-soluble amino polycarboxylate compounds have the general formula R - N

where R is selected from:

-CH2 COOM; -CH2cH2H; and -CH2CH2N ~ R' where R' is -CH2CH2OH; -CH2COOM; or 20 -CH2CH2N \

and each M is hydrogen or a salt-forming cation.
These materials include the water-soluble aminopolycar-boxylates, e.g. sodium and potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetates, nitrilotriacetates and N-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-nitrilodiacetates.
Especially preferred are water-soluble salts of nitriloacetic acid.
The water-soluble "ether polycarboxylates" have the general formula:
R

~ R2 1~5~37~3 wherein Rl is selected from -CH2COOM: -CH2CH2 cooM:

COO~ COOM COO~I COOM
- C ~ C - ; and - CH - CH - ;
and R2 ~s selected from:

-CH2COOM; -CH2CH2COOM; - CH - CH2 COOM COOM

COOM COOM COOM ('OOM COOM
-CH< ; - C-~ = C ~-3 and -CH - CH - ;
COOM
whereby Rl and R2 form a closed ring structure in the event that they are selected from COOM COOM COOM COOM
, , i - C = C -; and -CH - CH -; and each M is hydrogen or a salt-forming cation.
Specific examples of this class of carboxylate builders include the water-soluble salts of oxydiacetic acid having the formula O\

oxydisuccinic acid having the formula COOM COOM
~. .
~ CH - CH2 O\

CQO~ COOM

~05037~
carboxymeth~l oxysuccinic acid having the formula COOM COOM

furan tetracarboxylic acid of the formula COOM COOM
C C
O~ ~ i ~f~ C
COOM COO~
and tetrahydrofuran tetracarboxylic acid having the formula COOM COOM
CH - CH

CH - CH
COOM COOM

The salt-forming cation M can be, for examPle, an alkali metal cation such as potassium, lithium or sodium, or ammonium or an ammonium derivative.
Water-soluble polycarboxylate builder salts deri*ed from citric acid constitute another class of a preferred builder for use herein. Citric acid, also known as 2-hydroxy-propane-1,

2,3-tricarboxylic acid, has the formula CH2.COOH
C(OH) .COOH

CH2.COOH
Citric acid occurs in a free state in nature; large quantiti~es of it are produced, for example, as a by-product of sugar obtained from sugar beets. For use in the compositions of this invention, it can be desirable to use the acid and partially neutralized species whereby the neutralizing cation is preferably selected from alkali metal ions, such as sodium, potassium and lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium.

~S037~
Certain zeolites or aluminosilicates, which are insoluble in water, can àlso be used as a builder.
One such aluminosilicate which is useful in the com-positions of the invention is an amorphous water-insoluble hy drated compound of the ~ormula Na~txAlO2.ySiO2), wherein x has a value of from 1 to 1.2 and y is 1, said amorphous material being further characterized by a P~g~ exchange capacity of from about 50 mg eq. CaCO3/g to about 150 mg eq. CaCO3/g. This ion e~change builder is more fully described in Canadian patent application 204,480, B.L. Madison et al, filed July 10, 1974.
A second water-insoluble synthetic aluminosilicate ion exchange material useful herein has the formula Naz~(AlO2)z.(SiO2)y]x~2O, wherein z and ~ are integers of at least 6; the molar ratio of z to y is in the range from 1.0 to about 0.5, and x is an integer from about 15 to about 264; sald aluminosilicate ion exchange material having a particle size diameter from about 0.1 micron to about 100 microns, preferably to about 15 microns, a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least about 200 mg eq/g;
and a calcium ion exchange rate of at least about 2 grains/
gallon/minute gram described in Belgian Patent 814,874 and in copending Canadian patent application 199,507 ~iled P~ay 10,1974.
The above described aluminosilicates are employed at levels of from about 1% to about 40%, preferably about 5% to about 25% by weight.
The ratio of organic nonionic detergent mixture, com-ponents (A) and (B), to electrolyte is from 1:15 to 1:2, pre-ferably from 1:9 to 1:4 for a solid-type product, e.g. granules and powder when not containing water insoluble builders, such as those described above.
The grease and oil stain-remo~al ability of the ~5~937~3 compositions of thls invention is superior to that of known anionic detergent compositions. Additionally, it has been found that the compositions of this invention are superlor to detergent compositions containing conventional water soluble organic nonlonic detergents at temperatures above which a phase change occurs (as more fully explained below) and equivalent to such compositions at lower temperatures in terms of grease and oil stain-removal. The reason for effective cleaning performance of the nonionic detergent containing compositions of this invention is not fully understood. It is theorized that at higher temperatures in the washing solution a separate phase containing the nonionic detergent is formed. Above this temperature (which is dependent on the specific detergent mixture) a very distinct phase is observed. It is believed that this very fluid detergent phase is responsible for the high stain removal performance. At lo~er temperatures, such a phase is not noticed. Instead, a cloudy suspension is ob-served. However, satisfactory cleaning performance is observed at the lower temperatures also.
The detergent compositions may be manufactured by any known method. For example, the nonionic detergents may be simply mixed with the electrolyte, as by spraying thereon, or they may be sorbed on a carrier and thereafter mixed with the electrolyte. One convenient method is to prepare spray dried granules comprising some or all of the solid components of the composition, including the electrolyte, and to use these as a carrier for the nonionic mixture. Often it is desirable to include a little anionic surfactant in the slurry to be spray dried to facilitate the drying ~OS~371~
process and to control the ~u1k density of the dried granules.
Alternatively the built heavy duty compositions of this invention may be produced by a spray drying process. An aqueous sl~rry of the water insolu~le nonlonic detergent, electrolyte ana builder (if the electrolyte does not possess builder proper-ties) is initially formed. Usually the aqueous slurry comprises from 20% to 45% water with the remainder being the nonionic organic detergent, electrolyte, builder and optional components.
The temperature of the a~ueous slurry may be from 40C to 100C.
~0 Therea~ er, the sluxry is sprayed into a spray-drying tower.
In one method of spray drying, the hot air, i.e. air having a temperature between 100C and 380C, is introduced at the base of the tower. As the atomized particles contact the heated air, water is driven off and the dried granules are collected at the }5 bottom of the tower. The water-laden air exits at the top of the tower. In another ~ethod of spray drying, the hot air is introduced along with the atomized droplets at the same end of the tower.
Preferably, the hydrophobic portion of the organic deter-gents used in such a drying process contains little C12 andlower carbon atom chains. These compounds are especially use-ful for processes wherein stack emission is a concern.
Other detergent composition additives can be included in the compositions of this invention; for example, brighteners, enzymes, soil suspending agents, perfumes and bleaches can be included in ihe present compositions in the customary amounts.
The compositions of this invention are used in a conven-tional laundering process. Thus, 30 to 200 grams of the compo-sition is gënerally added to the washing machine as well as the soiled laundry and from 15 litres to 80 litxes of water. The ~05(~3~

temperature of the washing process can vary from 20C to boiling. However, especially good stain removal performance from the compositions of this invention is observed at a tem-perature above which phase separation occurs and, for this reason, it is preferred that such a temperature be employed.
The invention is therefore particularly valuable in washing at from 80 to 95C.
The following examples illustrate the present invention.
Examples 1 - 3 Detergent compositions were prepared of the general composition:
Surfactant mixture ("Active") as stated below Sodium tripolyphosphate 34-32 Sodium silicate 56-7 Sodium sulphate 12 Sodium perborate 26 Mo.~sture 6.5 Miscellaneous minor components, and impurities 2.9 Enzyme (protease) present Specific compositions tested had "active" surfactant mixtures as follows:
Examples 1 - 3 Detergent compositions were pre~red of the general composition:
Surfactant mixture ("Active") as stated below Sodium tripolyphosphate 34-32 Sodium silicate 56-7 Sodium sulphate 12 Sodium perborate 26 ~ U15~37~
Moisture 6.5 Miscellaneous minor components, and impurities 2.9 Enzyme (protease) present Specific compositions tested had "active" surfactant mixtures as follows:
Composition A Linear dodecyl benzene sulphonate (LAS) 8.0 Nonionic (Tallow alkyl Ell) 3.1 P (C16-20) 4.0 Composition B "Dobanol 45-E-7" 3.9 ~!5ynperonic E-3" 7.8 LAS o.g Composition C "Dobanol 45-E-7" 3.9 "Dobanol 45-E-4" 7.8 Composition D "Dobanol 45-E-7" 10.8 "Synperonic E-3" 1.9 LAS o.g Composition E "Tergitol 15-S-3" 7.8 "Dobanol 45-E-7" 3.9 LAS o.g ~05~3~
"Dobanols" (trade mark) are primary alcohols having 14-15 carbon atoms with about 25~ 2-methyl branching, condensed with an average of the indicated number (~ or 7) ethoxy groups.
"Syperonic E-3" is the product of t:he condensation of one mole 2:1 C13/C15 primary alcohols, with 51% 2-methyl branching, per 3 moles ethylene oxide.
"Tergitol 15-S-3l' is a mixture of linear secondary alcohols having 11-15 carbon atoms condensed with an average of 3 ethoxy groups.
Example 1 ~ omposition B was compared with Compositi~n C (which is according to oux copending Canadian patent application No. 224,341 filed April 10, 1975, and with Composition A.
The cleaning of Compositions B and C were substantially equal and better than that of Composition A on fabrics stained with dirty motor oil, ballpoint ink, lipstick,etc In similar tests, using 0.43% product concentration in soft water (2 hard), the sudsing of Compositions B and C was compared.

RunsOversudsing Full Porthole (without over-sudsing Composition B 10 0 0 Composition C 1~ 0 0 Composition D 10 6 0 Desirably there should be no occasion when oversudsing or even suds fully covering ~he porthole of the machine is observed.
Example 3 In similar tests using 0.43% product concentration in 18 hard water/ the following cleaning ratings were obtained. These compositions had satisfa~tory sudsing behaviou~ in the wash.

Composition B E
Fabric/Soil ~ ~5~37~
Cotton - Motor oil Better Polyester Cotton - Motor Oil Cotton - Red Lipstick n Polyester Cotton - Red Lipstick n Nylon - Red Lipstick n Cotton - Brown Eye Shadow n Polyester Cotton - Brown Eye Shadow n 10 Nylon - Brown Eye Shadow "
Cotton - "Pan Stick"**
Polyester Cotton - "Pan Stick'l n Nylon - "Pan Stick" ~ -Cotton - Krefeld n Notes: In the foregoing Examples, the soils were as follows:
Lipstick Rimmel "truly red"
"Pan Stick" Max Factor "deep olive"
Brown Eye Shadow Miners brown Boot Polish "Kiwi"* black Ballpoint ink "Bicnl/red/blue/green/black Krefeld soil contains kaolin 86%, lampblack 8.0% iron oxide ~316) 4.0%, and iron oxide ~920) 2 0~. Wool grease is added at a ratio of 7:1 wood grease: pigment and spread evenly on the fabric ~3.4%
of finished cloth weigh~ is grease).
*Trademark **Trademark 1~ Trademark A

Claims (15)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A detergent composition comprising (A) a nonionic polyethoxy surfactant having an HLB
in the range from 11 to 14.5;.
(B) a compound of the general formula (I) wherein R1 is a straight-chained alkyl group, R2 is H or -CH3, the total number of carbon atoms in R1 and R2 is from 10 to 13, R2 is CH3 in from 40%
to 60% by weight of the corresponding unethoxylated alcohols having the formula (II) and the average degree of ethoxylation n is from 2.5 to 4; and (C) a water soluble electrolyte in an amount sufficient to aid in the action of the water insoluble nonionic deter-gent;
there being present from 6% to 30% by weight of components (A) and (B) together, the weight ratio of component (A) to compo-nent (B) being from 1:4 to 4:1, the composition containing not more than 15% of-anionic surfactant by weight of compo-nents (A) and (B) together.

2. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the HLB value of component (A) is from 11.5 to 13.

3. A composition according to. Claim 1 wherein the surfactant of component (A) is an ethoxylated alcohol having 10 to 20 car-bon atoms, at least 30% by weight thereof having 13 to 15 carbon atoms.

4. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the surfactant of component (A) has the formula (IV) wherein R1 and R2 have the meanings given in Claim 1 and m is such that the surfactant has an HLB of from 11 to 14.5

5. A composition according to Claim 4, wherein R2 is CH3 in 20% to 26% by weight of the unethoxylated alcohols from which the nonionic component (A) of the formula (IV) is derived.

6. A composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein R2 in component (B) is CH3 in from 45% to 55% by weight of the unethoxylated alcohols.

7. A composition according to claim 1, 2, or 3 which contains from 10% to 20% by weight of components (A) plus (B).

8. A composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the weight ratio of component (A) to component (B) is from 3:7 to 1:1.

9. A composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the content of anionic surfactant is not more than 10% by weight of components (A) and (B) together.

10. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of components (A) and (B) together to component (C) is from 1:15 to 1:2.

11. A composition according to Claim 10 wherein the weight ratio of components (A) and (B) together to component (C) is from 1:9 to 1:4.

12. A composition according to claim 10 or 11 wherein component (C) comprises one or more inorganic or organic detergency builder salts.

13. A composition according to Claim 1 which contains from 1 to 40% by weight of a water insoluble builder and wherein the weight ratio of components (A) and (B) together to component (C) is from 1:4 to 2:1.

14. A composition according to Claim 13 which contains from 5 to 25% by weight of said insoluble builder.

15. A composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein component (C) comprises one or more inorganic or organic detergency builder salts.