CA1322824C - Softening and bleaching detergent compositions containing amide softening agent - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Bleaching detergent compositions containing a peroxyacid bleaching compound and a narrowly defined amide softening agent are disclosed. The compositions of the invention are capable of providing various fabric care benefits, inclusive of softeness, independently from and in presence of peroxyacid bleaching agents.

Description

~2g2f~

SOFTENING ~N~ 8LE~CHING DE~ERGENT COMPOSITIONS
CONT~INING ~MIDE SOFTENING ~ENT

Hans Raemdonck Alfred Busch Frederick E. Hardy ~ n~ C

The present invention rela~es to softening ~eteryent compositions containing a peroxyacid-bleaching compound, and a narrowly-defin0d amide softening agent.

The composttions herein, in addition to providing good cleaning per~rmance, exhibit excellen~ through-the-wash softening properties, and pro~ide additton~l fabric-care bene~its such as ~nti-static, anti-wrinkling, ease-of-ironing, color stability, independently from and in presence of peroxyacid bleaching agents.

, ' ~

.

13~82~

8ackqround of the ln~ention Formulators of fabric treatment compositions have long sought means For simultaneously washing and soFtening fabrics. ~ong the ~arious approaches suggest~d ~re methods employing clay softeners, or amine materlals, or both ingr~dients in combination, such as described in ~.g.:
G~rman Patents 29.64.114, 28.57.~S, ~.39.541, ~3.34.899 and European Pat~nts 0 026 528 ~nd 0 028 432.

Qmines ha~e been used in combination wlth soaps (U.K.
patent 1 514 276~ fatty acids (published E.P.~. 0 133 804) or phosphate esters (published E.P.~. 0 168 ~89) as through-the-wash softeners.

It has been ~ound, howeuer, that the presence of peroxyacid-bleach compounds in softening detergent compositions is often detrimental to the stability of the amine softening agent. ~s a consequ~nce, the utilization of peroxyacid bl~aching agents, inclusiue of peroxygen bleach-activator combinations, was in such compositlons oft~n limit~d in quantity, ~nd optimum performance could th~refore no~ be obta~ned. In a~dition, the softenlng amine is not well-compatlble ~ith peroxy~clds, and becomes deacti~a~ed as a softener~

Carboxy-amides have been used as antistatie agents in industrlal textil~ treatm~nt ~Garman pa~ent 30 43 618) and N-alkyl isostearamides as ~ntistatic agents in laundry application (French patent 2,531,447~.

Japanese patent JS 8144-175-~ discloses the industrial treatment of textll~ by ca~ionic softening agen~ ~nd ethoxylat~d fatty ~cid amides.

` :~322~

~ lkyoxylated f atty amides are known as surfactants (published ~P~ O 000 595) and as viscosity control agents (published EPA O 112 719). Published German Pat~nt Application 19 59 007 discloses the use as softening agent oE a monoethanolamide. Published German Patent Application 33 10 417 discloses the use o Eatty acicls diethallolamides as antistat.ic/non-yellowing agents.

It ls ~n ob~ect of the pres~nt lnuention to provide d~tergent compositions capable of prouiding excellent cleaning, softenlng, and f~bric-car~ properties.

It is another ob~ect of the in~ention to formulate pero~yacid-containing detergent compositions cap~ble of pro~iding si~ultaneous cleaning and softening benefits.

It has now been disco~ered that the ob~ects set forth abo~e can be met by using certain amides as softening agents to thereby auoid interaction with peroxyacid bleaching agents and thus prouide excellent results in both cleaning and so~tening of fabric, as well as other "fabric care"
beneflts.

Summary of the ln~ention Th~ pr~s~nt in~ention r~lates ts detergent compositions capable of gi~ng through-the-wash ~abrlc-care benefits inclusive of softeness, cont~ining ~ ~urfact~nt, a nitrogen-con~ining fabric softener, ~ bleaching compound and, if desired detersi~e additives, and are ch~racterized ln that :

a) the nltrogen-contalning softener is an amide ha~ing the formula:

`I
A

.

.

~3~2~2l~

~ ~ 3 ..

wherein R1 and R2 are, sQlected independently, C1 8 alk~n~yl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl, or alkyl~aryl groups, R3 is hydrog~n, or a C~_22 alktQn)Yl~
aryl or ~lkyl-aryl group, 0-~4, wherein R~ is a Cl 22 ~lk~en)yl, aryl or alkyl-~ryl group, R3 and R4 possibly containing functional groups, sQlected from hydroxy, ester, ether, amide and amine groups, Rl, R2, R3 each containing from O to 10 ethylen~ oxlde units; the ~ryl group~ can possibly be deri~ed from hetero-cyclic compounds; with the pro~iso that the sum of carbon atoms in Rl + R2 +
R3 ~s equal to or greater than 1~;
(ii) R - NH ~ C - R' O
wherein R and R' are straight chain alk(en)yl ~ryl, or alkyl-aryl group, e~ch containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms;

the ble~ching compound is represen~ed by a peroxyacid bleaching agent.
i Detailed Description of_the In~ention The amid~ softenlnq ~q~nt - The amide softenlng agents for use in the present lnuention can be represented by ~h~
formula:

(~ Rl N - C - R
~2 ~ o 3 .. . _ ... . , _ _ _ _ _ _ ... . . ..

~3~2~2~

wherein Rl and R2 ~r~ selected independently, cl a ~lk~en)yl, hydroxy-alkyl, ~ryl, or alkyl aryl groups, R3 is hydrogen, or a Cl_22 alk(Qn)yl, aryl or alkyl-aryl group, 0-R4, wherQin R4 is a Cl 22 alktan~yl, ~ryl or alkyl-aryl group; R3 and R4 possibly containlng functional groups, sel~cted from hydroxy, ester, ether, amide and aminQ groups;
Rl, R2, R3 each cont~inlng from 0 to 10 j ethylene oxide units; the aryl groups can possibly be deri~ed from het~ro-cycl~c compounds; wtth thQ
prouiso that the sum of carbon atoms in Rl + R2 R3 is equal to or gre~ter than 14; or (ii) R - NH - C - R' wh~rein R and R' are straight chain alk(en~yl, aryl, or alkyl aryl groups contalning from 8 to 22 rarbon atoms .

Preferred amides of the formula (i) ontain more tha~ 8 carbon atoms in th~ R3 group.
Specific ~xamples of preferr~d specles of formula ~i) include N,N-dimethyl tallowam~d~, N,~-dimethyl lauramide, N,N-dime~hyl pal~itamide, N,N-d~methyl stear~mide, N,N-diethyl tallowamide, N,N-dimethyl cocoalkylamide, N,N-di-ethyl cocoalkylamide, ~,~-di~thanol cocoalkylamidQ, N-N-diethanol lauramide, polyoxysthylated stearamide, poly~hoxyethylated tallowamide.
Most pr~erred are N,N-di~Qthylt~llowamide, N-N-dl-ethylt~llowamide, N-N-di~ethyl cocoalkylamide, N-N-diethyl cocoalkylamide, N-N-diethanoltallowamide.
Preferred amides of the formula ~i~) in~lud~ N-cocoalkyl stearamide, N-d~cyl stearamide, N-coco31kyl laur~mlge, N-tallow t~llowamid~, N-decyl tallowam~d~.
The amide softening agent is used at levels of ~ro~ 0.1 to 15~ by we~ght, preferably form 1 to 10~ by weight o$ the detergen~ ~omposition, most prsferably from 3% to 6~.

.

- 6 ~ 2~

In ~ highly preferred embodi~ent of the present in~entlon, the amide softening agent is pre-mixed with a dispersing agent, and the r~sulting mixture is then added to the rest of the composition.

~ ny con~entio~al dispersing agent with a suitable HL~
~alue can be used herein. Examples are nonionic surfactants result-lng ~rom the condensation of primary or secondary aliphatic alcohols or alkyl phenol, with polyethylene oxide. Specific examples includ~ the condensation products of tallow alcohol with 5 to 12 ethylene oxide units in the molecule.

Suitable as dispersiny agents are also phosphate esters described in published EPA O l68 889, such as those oE the formula: R'-O(CH2-CH20)mPo(oH)2l with R'=Cl2 14 and m=1-5, sold under the Trade ~lark "Servoxyl vpAæll~

Howe~er, it is a preferred embodiment of the present lnuentlon to use fatty acids as dispersing agents for the amide softening agent, Fatty aclds like lauric, myristic, p~lmit~c, stearlc, oleic ~cids and mixtures thereof c3n ad~antageously be used in the present cont~xt.

Especially preferred ls a mixtura of palmitlc and steartc acids.

Fatty acids dispersing agents are used most preferab~y in a weight ratio of 1/1 to 10/1 of amide softening agent to fatty acid.
.

~- ~ 3 2 ~ ~3 r I ~

Softener Cl~ - The ~mlde softenlng ~gent is preferred but not llmited, ~or use in combination with a detergent-compatible clay softener. Such clay softeners are well-~known in the detergency patent l~terature and are in broad commercl~l use, both in Europe and in the United States. Included among such clay softeners are various ha~t-treated kaolins and varlous multl-layer smectites.
Pref~rraJ clay soft~ners are smectite softener clays that are describecl in FPo publ1ca~ion No. O l68 889 ancl in U.K. Patent 1.400.89~, which can be referred to for details. So~tener clays are used in the preferred compositi~ns at levels of at least 1X, generally 1~20%, preferably 2-lOX.

Detersiue surfactants - The compositlons of this in~ention wlll typically contain organic surfac~-actiue agents ("surfactants") to prouide the usual cleaning bene~lts associated with the use of such materials.

Detersiue surfact~nts useful herein include well-known synthetlc anionic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwittenionic surfactants. Typlcal of these are the alkyl benzene swlfonates, alkyl- and ~lkylether sulfates, paraf~in sulfonates, olefin sulfonates, alkoxylated (especially ethoxylated) alcohols and alkyl phenols, amine oxides, alpha-sulfonates of fatty ~cids and of fatty acid est¢rs, and the like, which are well-known From the detergency art.
In general, such detersive surFactants contain an alkyl group ln th~ Cg-Cl~ r~nge; the anionic det~rs~e surfactants can be used in the form of their sodium, potassium or trlethanolammonium salts; the nonlonics generally contain from about 5 ~o about 17 ethylene oxide groups. U.S. Patenk 4.111.855 contains detalled listlngs of such typical detersive surfactant~. C11-C16 alkyl benzene ~ul~onates, C12-C1~ paraffin-sulfonates and ~32~2~

alkyl sulfates, ~n~ the ethoxylat~d ~lcohols and alkyl phenols are especially pref~rred in the compositions of the present type.

~ lso useful herein as th~ surfactant are the wat~r-soluble ~oaps, e.g. the common sodium ~nd pot~ssium coconut ~r tallow soaps well-known in the art.

The surfactant component can comprise as little as 1~ of the composltlons her~in, but pref~rably the compositions will contain 5% to 40X, ~ore preferably 10~ to 30X, of surfactant, Mix~ures of the ethoxylated nonionics wlth anionlcs such a~ th2 alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl sulfates and paraffin sulfonates are pr~ferred for through-the-wash cleanslng of a broad spectrum of soil~ and stains from fabrics.

leachin~ comPound - The bleaching compound in the context of the present inven~ion is represented by a peracid bleaching agent. In the context of the present invention, peroxyacid bleaching agent encompassss both a peroxyacid per se and systems which are able to yield paroxyacid~ ln situ.

Per4xyactds '~per se" are meant h~re to include the alkaline and alk~lins-earth metal s~lts thereof.
Peroxyacids and dipero~yacids are commonly used; examples are diperoxydodecanoic acid SDPDQ) or peroxyphthalie acid.

Systems capabl~ of deliuering peracids in situ consist in a peroxygen bleaching agent ~nd an dctivator therefor.

The peroxygen bleaching agent~ are thos~ capable of yielding hydrogsn peroxide in an agueous solution; thoss compounds are well-known in the ~rt, and includ~ hydrog~n peroxide, alkali-met~l peroxides, organic peroxide blea~hing . ~

- 9 - ~ 3 2 2 ~ ~ ~

agents such as wrea peroxide, inorganic persalt bleaching agents such as the alkali metal perborates, percarbonates, perphosphat2s, persilicates, and the like.

Preferred ar~ sodium perborate, commercially a~ailable in the form of mono- and tetra-hydrates, sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, sodi~m pyrophosphat~ peroxyhydrate, urea peroxyhydra~e.

The llberated hydrogen peroxtde r~cts with ~he bleach acti~ator to form the peroxyacid bleach. Classes of bleach acti~ator~ include esters, lmides, imidazoles, oximes, and carbona~es. In those classes, preferred materials include methyl o-acetoxy benzoates; sodium-p-acetoxy benzene sulfonates such as sodium 4-nonanoxylo~ybenzene sulfonate;
sodtum-4-octanoyloxybenYene sulfonate, and sodium-4-decanoylo~ybenzenesulfonate: blophenol ~ diacetate;
tetra acetyl ethylene diamine; tetra acetyl hexamethylene diamine; tetra acetyl methylene dlamine.

Other highly preferred peroxygen bleach acti~ators which are disclosed in U.S Patents 4.483.778 and 4.539.130, ~re alpha-substi~uted alkyl or alkenyl es~ers, such as sodium-4~2-chlorooctanoyloxy~benzen~ sulfonate, sod~um 4-S3,5,5 trimethyl hexanoyloxy)benzane sulfonate. Suitable peroxyacids are also peroxyg~n bleach acti~tors such as describ~d in published European Patent ~pllcation N
O 166 571, i.e., eo~po~nds of ~he g~neral type RX~OOH and RX~L, wherein R is a hydroxcarbyl group, X is ~ het~ro-atom, is a carbonyl bridging group and ~ is A leau~ng group, especially oxybenzenesulfonat~.

Detersi~e_ag~ The compositions har~in can contain other ingredients which aid in their cleaning performance.
Through-the-wash detergent compositions contain a detergent , _ .

- 10- ~3~2~2fl builder and/or metal ion sequestrant. Compounds ~lasslfiable and well-known in the art as d~tergent builders include the nitrilotriAceta~es, polyc~rboxylates, c~tr~tes, water-soll~ble phosphat~s such ~s tri-polyphosphate ~nd sodium ortho- ~n~ pyro-phosph~te~, silic~tes, and mixtures th0rQof. Metal ion sequQstrants lnclude ~11 of th~ ~boue, plus matQrials lik~ ~thylenedialnin~tetr~acet~te, the amino-polyphosphonate~ ~nd phosphates (DEQUES~ ~nd a wide u~riety of othQr poly-functional organic acids ~nd salts too numerous to mention in d~tall here. SQe U.S. P~tent 3.579.454 for typical exarnplQs of the us~ of such mat~rials in uarious cleaning compositions. In general, t.h~
builder~sequ~strant will compri~e ~bout 0.5% to 45% of the composition. Th~ 1-10 micron siz~ zeolit~ (e.g. zeolite ~j builders disclosed in German Patent 24 22 655 are especially pref~rred for use in low-phosphate or non-phosphate compositlons.

The l*undry compositions h~rein also preferably contain enzymes to enh~nce their through-the-wash cleaning performance on ~ uariety of soils and ~tains, such as amyl~s~ & protease enzymes. A~Y1ASe ~nd protease enzymes suitable for use in detergents are well-known in the art and ln commerci~lly ~ilable liquid and granular d~tergents. ' Commercial d~tersiue ~nzymes (preferably a mixture of amyl~se ~nd protease) are ~ypically used ~t l~uels of 0.001%
to 2%, and higher, in the present compositions. Other highl~ d~lrabl~ d0terg~nt ingr~di~nts ~or use in th~
de~erg~nt composltlons of the pres~nt inuention are quaternary ~mmonium compounds of the form R4R3R6R7N X , wh~rain R4 ls ~lkyl hauing from 10 to 20, pref~r~bly from 12-1~ carbon atoms, and R5,R6 ~nd R7 ar~ e~ch C1 to C~ alkyl preferably methyl: X~
is an anion, e.g. chlorld~. Examples of such guaternary ammonlum compounds includ~ C12-C14 ~lkyl trimathyl ammonium chlorlde and cocoalkyl trlm~thyl ammonium methosulfate, Th~ qu~tern~ry ammonlum compounds can be used ht l~vel~ from 0.5~ to 5~, preferably from 1X to 3~.

3~2~

Moreo~er, th~ co~positions herein can contain, in addition to ingredi~nts already mentioned, uarious other optlon~l ingr~dients typically used in commercial products to pro~lde ~esthetic or additional product perform~nce benefits. Typical ingr~dients includ~ pH regulants, per~um~s, dy~s, optical brighteners, soil ~uspendlng agents, hydrotropes ~nd gel-control agents, freeze-thaw stabilizers, bactericides, preseruatl~es, suds control a~ents, bleach stabilizing agents.

In a through-the-wash mode, the compositions are typically usQd at a concentration of at least 500 ppm, preferrably O.lOX to 1~5%, in an aquaous laundry bath at pH
7-11 to launder fabrics. The laundering can be carried out ouer the range from 5C to the boil, with excellent results.

Form and Preparation of the comPositions - The detergent composition~ of the presQnt in~ention can be in granular, liquid, or sheet-likQ ~orm. They may be prepared in any way, as appropriate to their physical form, as by mixing the components, co-agglomerating them, micro-encapsulating them, dispersing th~m in a liquid carrier, releasably adsorbing or coatlng th~m onto a no~-particulate su~strate, such as a non-wo~en or paper she~t.

Preferably, the composi~ions are ~n granular form.

~ highly preferred method of pr~paratlon of said granular composl~ions consists in preparing a mel~ of the disperslng agent and the amide, dispersing th~ molten mixture into a stirred, aqueous crutcher mix comprislng the balance of the detersiua ingredients, and spray-drylng in standard fashion. In ~lternat~ but much less pref~rred modes, the ~elt can b~ atomized onto the detergent granul~
or ~llowQd to solldify, ground ln ~ colloid mill, ~nd - 12 ~ ~32282~

dry-mixed w~th the balance of ~h0 detergent composition.
The compositions herein may ~lso be sprayed onto particles of, e.g., sodium perborate mono or tQtrahydrate, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonata, sodlum sllicate, sodium phosph~te, or clay of the type dascribed aboue.

Industrial ~pplication The following examples are typical of the preferred execution of the in~ention, but are not intended to limit the scope.

E~MPLE 1 N,N-dim~thyl tallowamide (total 6~ of complete formulation after spray-drying) and stearic acid (2% of complete formulation) are admixed, melted in a ~acketed batch and stirred until homogeneity. ~ standard aqueous crutcher mix comprising the following ingredi~nts is prepared ~percentages listed relate to percent ingredients in the complet~ formulation after spray-drying).
. ~ .

~3~2~

Ingredlents Percent C11-C12 alkyl benzene sulfonate 6.2 Tallow alcohol ~thoxylate tEO11) l.O
Sodium tripolypho~phate 2~.0 Sodlum sul~ate 15.0 Sodium sl'licate 8.0 Smectite cl~y * 6.5 Carboxymethyl cellulose 0.4 Polyacrylate (soil suspender) 1.7 Enzymes o,~
Optical brightener 0.23 Sulfonated z~nc phthalocyanine ** 25 ppm EDT~ 0.2 Perfumetcopper salts~minors 0.5 C12~C14 alkyl trimethylammonium chloride1.9 Moisture to 77X

The N-N-dimethyl tallowamide~stearic acid melt is poured into the crutcher mix (60-90C). The crutcher mix-plus-N,N-dimethyl tallowamid~stearic acid is then handled in entirely standard ~ashion, and spray-~ried to form the final compositio~. ~fter drying sodium perborate, ~20%) and bleach activator ~3% 3-5-5-trimethyl hexamaic acid, sulfapheryl es~er, sodium salt***) are dry-mtxed with the granul~s.

* ~atural smectite: ion exchange cap~city aboue 50 meq/100 9 clay *~ U.S. Patent 3.927.967 *** U.S. Patents 4.483.778 ~ 4.539.130.

~ he composition of Exampl~ 1 pro~ided better softeness and fabric-car~ benefits, compared to an identic~l compo~itlon which did not contain the N,N-dimethyl tallowamidet;tearic acid premix (reference).

~ - 14 - ~322~2~

EX~MPLE 2 The same composition as Exa~ple 1 was prepared, where-ln N,N-dimethyl tallowamide was replaced by N-tàllow tallowamide, premixed with st~aric acid in the same conditions as in Example 1. Uery 900d results were obtained tn soft~ness and fabric car~ bene~its, compar~d to the same refer~nce ~s in Example 1.

EX~MPLES 3_~ 4 The following low-phosphate detergent compositlons are also prepared.

Inqredients Percent Ex..3 Ex. 4 : Zeolit~l~ (1-10 microns) 26,0 26.0 Sodium nitrilotriacetate 5 0 5.0 Smect~te clay * 3,0 3.C
N,N-dimethyl tallowamide/stearic acid ** 5.0 N,N dl~thanol tallowamideJlauric acid ** - 5.0 C11-C12 alkyl ben2ene sulfonate 6~5 6.5 Tallow ethoxylate (EO 9-11) 0.5 0.5 Sodium perborate 4H~0 *** 20 20 Tetraacetyl ethylenediamine (T~ED~ ~** 3 3 Sodlum sillcate 8 8 ~ :~
CMC
Sodium sulfate 18 18 Enzymes (1:1 amylaseJprotease) *** 1.5 1~5 Optlcal brlghtener 0,5 o.5 Water, minors to 100 to 100 * ~s G~lwhite2GP (TM): CaC03 lon exchange cap~city :~:
70 MeqJ100 9 ** Prepared as in Example l *** Dry-mix~d wlth romposltlon. ::

Zeolite is a -trademark Gelwhite is a trademark `:

~ ~7 -- 132~32~i The composition of Examples 3 and 4 are prepared by spray-drying in aqueous crutcher mix, in ths manner describQd for Example ~. The composition of Examples 3 and 4 pro~ide better softeness ~han the composltion wherein the amlde~fatty acid premixes ha~a been repl~ced by additional sodium sulfate.

Claims (7)

1. A detergent composition containing surfactants, a nitrogen-containing fabric softener, a bleaching compound and, if desired, detersive additives, characterized in that - the nitrogen-containing softening agent is an amide having the formula:

(i) wherein R1 and R2 are, selected independently, C1-8 alk(en)yl, hydroxy alkyl, R3 is hydrogen, or a C1-22 alk(en)yl, aryl or alkyl-aryl group, or is O-R4, wherein R4 is a C1-22 alk(en)yl, aryl or alkyl-aryl group; R3 and R4 possibly containing functional groups, selected from hydroxy, ester, ether, amide and amine groups, R1, R2, R3 each contains from 0 to 10 ethylene oxide units; the aryl groups can possibly be derived from hetero-cyclic compounds; the sum of carbon atoms in R1 + R2 +
R3 is equal to or greater than 14; or (ii) wherein R and R' are straight chain alk(en)yl, aryl, or alkyl-aryl groups, each containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms;

- the bleaching compound is a peroxyacid bleaching agent.

2. A composition in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the amide softening agent is predispersed with a dispersing agent selected from:

- nonionic surfactants resulting from the condensation of primary or secondary aliphatic alcohols;
- phosphate esters having the formula R'-O(CH2-CH2O)mPO(OH)2, with R'=C12-C14 and m=1-5;
- fatty acids having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.

3. A composition in accordance with Claim 2 wherein the dispersing agent is a fatty acid having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain and is present in a weight ratio of amide softening agent to fatty acid of from 1:1 to 10:1.

4. A composition in accordance with Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the peroxyacid bleaching agent is comprised of a peroxygen bleaching compund and an activator therefor.

5. A composition in accordance with Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the amide softening agent is present at levels of from 0.1%
to 15% by weight.

6. A composition in accordance with Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the amide softening agent is selected from N-N-dimethyl tallowamide, N-N-dimethyl cocoalkylamide, N-N-diethyl cocoalkylamide, N-N-diethanol tallowamide, N-cocoalkyl stearamide, N-tallow tallowamide.

7. A composition in accordance with Claim 1, 2 or 3 which in addition contains a clay softener.