CA2055340A1 - Concentrated liquid detergent composition containing alkyl benzene sulfonate and magnesium - Google Patents

Abstract

CONCENTRATED LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITION
CONTAINING ALKYL BENZENE
SULFONATE AND MAGNESIUM

Abstract of the Disclosure A concentrated light duty liquid detergent composition is described. The composition, which offers superior grease cutting and foam mileage, contains a surfactant mixture of magnesium alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkyl ethoxy sulfate and optionally, alkyl sulfate. The composition also contains a magnesium ion source in an amount such that the molar ratio of total magnesium ion to alkylbenzene sulfonate ranges from about 0.65:1.0 to 1.0:1Ø

Description

l ~ 2~3l~

CONCENTR~TED LIQUID D~T~RG~NT COMPOSITION
CO~T~I~ING ALXYL BFNZBNF
¦ SULFONA~E AND MAGN~SIUM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fileld Of Tlle Invention:
This invention relates to aqueou~ liquid detergent compositions containing alkyl benzene sulfonate and added detergent boosting levels of magnesium ion~.
Description Of The Prior Art:
Light-duty liquid detergent compo~itions, such as those Ruitable for uRe in washing di~he~, are well known. Performance of such compositions is a measurement of both foam mileage, i.e.
number of dishe~ washed, and grease cutting ability. The liquid dishwashing detergent compo~itions pre~ently on the market are designed to remove oily/grea~y ~oils from glasses, dishes, and other tableware and kitchen uten~ils while maintaining an acceptable layer of ~uds.
Liquid detergent formulations containing magne~ium salts and magnesium surfactant~ show enhanced performance, a~ i8 disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,908,651 and 2,437,253. Certain combinations of active ingredients can also provide a range of enhanced detergent properties. An enhanced performance liquid detergent compo~ition, discloHed in U.S. Patent 4,435,317, contains (a) a Clo-cl6 alkyl sulfate~ (b) a C10-C16 alkyl ethoxy sulfate and (c) a linear Clo-C16 alkyl benzene ~ulfonate in a ratio of the total weight of (a) + ~b) to the weight of ~c) of le88 than or equal to 33:1, and containing magne~ium in a molar amount corresponding to 0.20x-0.70x where x is the number of moles of alkyl sulfate. The amount of magne~ium salts that can be added to the compositions di~clo~ed in U.S. Patent 4,435,317 I 2~sr s3~

is limited because the salts raise the temperatures at which inorganic salt crystal~ ~orm in the composition~ upon cooling.
Enhanced performance in relation to grea~e cutting a~ility and foam mileage are al~o achieved by increasing the concentration of surfactant active ingredients in the liquid detergent formulation. There are, however, several problem~
associated with the preparation of liquid detergent compositions cdntaining high proportions of active detergent materials in order to ~ati~fy the requirements of clarity, vi8c08ity and stability of the product.
Generally, it is necessary to add a fairly high proportion of hydrotrope to those detergent compositions that have a high concentration o active detergent materials.
Hydrotropes are fairly expensive and are generally inactive material~ and thus do not contribute to detergency but have the effect of rendering the active ingredients water soluble and the compo~ition homogeneous at those temperatures normally encountered in transport and storage. Hydrotropes generally lower the "cloud poi~t" of liquid detergent compositions, thus maintaining a clear liquid composition at temperatures at which a detergent composition lacking hydrotrope would become cloudy and unattractive in appearance. U.S. Patent 4,235,758 discloseR that t~e use of a magnesium alkylbenzene sulfonate derived from a linear Clo-C13 alkyl~enzene of average molecular weight of 220-250 significantly reduces the requirement for hydrotrope at anylevel of active detergent material.
The present invention provides compositions comprised of certain specific detergent active ingredients, in unique combinations and proportions, whlch are unexpectedly capable of ~ ~,! 2 ~ ~ ~ 3 i~ ~

~uperior performance to other liquid detergent~ in relation to both foam mileage and grease ~utting.
It i~, accordingly, an ob~ect of thi~ invention to provide physically stable liquid detergent compositions that offer superior grea~e cutting and foam mileage performance.
It is another object of this invention to provide detergent compositions containing magne~ium, alkylbenzene sulfonate and added detergency boosting level~ of magne~ium ions, which are e~pecially efficient in removing grea~y 80il8, and which have a reduced requirement for hydrotrope~ to maintain a suitable cloud point.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a concentrated detergent ba~e compo~ition containing detergency boo~ting level~ of magne6ium ions and alkyl benzene sulfonate which may be stored a~ a concentrated liquid base composition and which may be manufactured using conventional low shear liquid mixing equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided an aqueous liquid detergent composition e~peaially suitable for ~-se in dishwa~hing, and containing (A) from 20 to 70~, preferably 30 to 55%, of a . ~urfactant mixture of (a) from about 15 to about 35~ by weight of the magnesium salt of a Clo-Clg alkylbenzene ~ulfonic acid, ~b) from about 1 to 5% by weight of a magnes1um salt, in an amount such thut the molar ratio of total magne~ium ion to alkylbenzene sulfonate ranges from about 0.65~1.0 to 1.0:1.0, (c) from about 1 to about 20% by weight of a water-soluble Clo-C16 primary alkyl ethoxy sulfate containing an average of from about 1 to 6 ethylene oxide groups per alkyl group in the alkyl ether : :..', . . . -,. ':, -: ' .. . ..

2~3~ ~

sulfate and, (d) from about o to 20% by weight of a primary, ~econdary or tertiary amine or alkali metal salt of C10-Cl6 alkyl ~ulfate; and (B) from about 0.5 to about 8% by weight of a ~ud~
promoting agent selected from the group consi~ting of C10-Cl8 ethoxylated and non-ethoxylated mono- or di- Cl-C5 alkanolamide~ :
and C12-C14 alkyl amides condensed with up to about 15 mole~
ethylene oxide per mole of amide, and balance, primarily water.
In a preferred embodiment the composition may also include:
~ C) from about O to about 10% by weight of a low irritant organic solvent; and (D~ from about O to about lO~i by weight of a hydrotrope. The compositions may also include (~) other adjuvants, such as chelating agents, coloring agents, dyes, perfumes, bactericide~, fungicides, preservative~, sunscreening agents, pH modifiers or buffering agents, opacifier~, antioxidants, proteins, and the like.
The present invention also provides a pourable liquid detergent ba~e composition of concentrated light duty liquid detergents containing alkylbenzene sulfonic acid and detergency boosting levels of magnesium ions and which can be stored at ambient temperature for future use without gelling.

DET~ILED DESCRIPTION OF T~E INVENTION
Detergent compositions ~n accordance with the present invention comprise a mixture of two or three es~entlal anionia surfactant3 of defined constitution and proportions and have a pecified molar ratio of magnesium ion to alkylbenzene sulfonate ranging from 0.65:1.0 to l.Osl.O.
.

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The first essential surfactant ingredient i~ a water-soluble salt of alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, which may be linear or branched. The alkyl group preferably contain~ from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms, mo~t preferably from about 11 to 13, especially about 12 carbon atoms, pr~ferably in a linear chain configuration. The alkyl benzene sulfonate may ~e present a~ an alkali metal, amine, ammonium, or alkaline earth metal ~alt, preferably the ma~nesium salt. Thu~, the most preferred alkylbenzene sulfonate i8 the magnesium ~alt of linear dodecylbenzene 6ul fonate.
The acid form of alkylbenzene ~ulfonic acid can be converted to the magne~ium salt form either prior to admixture with the other detersive ingredient~ or thereafter. The conver~ion may be accomplished either by direct neutralization with magnesium oxide or hydroxide or by ion exchange between, for example, an alkali metal salt or the ammonium salt of alkylbenzene ~ulfonate and a water-soluble alkaline earth metal salt. Preferably, a source of magnesium ions i~ added to the detergent mixture to form the de~ired ~alt of alkylbenzene sulfonate. Magnesium chlorides, magnesium sulfate~, magnesium acetates or magnesium hydrGxides are examples of magnes3um sources. ~he preferred magnesium eources are magne~ium oxide~
or hydroxide~ and sulfates.
The alkylbenzene sulfonate component 3 8 present at a level of from about lS to 3S% by wffight of the composition, preferably in the range from about 15 to 22~, mo~t preferably in the range from about 19 to 21% by welght.
The point of attachment of the alkyl chain to the benzene nucleus, referred to as the phenyl isomer distribution, ' 2~3~

8 not critical but, preferably, les~ than 20% of the alkyl benzene of this invention comprises the 2~phenyl i~omer.
A second essential surfactant component of the present 1 omposition is a primary alkyl ethoxy sulfate derived from the ¦ ondensation product of a C1o-C16 alcohol with an average of rom about 1 to about 6 ethylene oxide groups, preferably about 2 to 4, especially 3 ethylene oxide groups per mole of alcohol.
The C10-C16 alcohols may be derived, for example, from natural fats or Ziegler olefin build-up or Oxo ~ynthesis. It i8 preferable to use alkyl ethoxy sulfates and alkyl sulfates of the same carbon chain length, preferably C12-C13. The level of alkyl ethoxy ~ulfate in the present composition to achieve the desired foam and deterRive propertie~ is about 1-30% by weight, preferably in the range from about 10-20~ by weight, based on the total compo~ition.
The surfactant system of the detergent of the present invention may optionally also include an amount ranging from 0-20% of the total composition, preferably 10-15~ by weight, of an alkali metal or ammonium or amine salt of a linear or branched Clo-Clg alkyl sulfate anionic surfa¢tant. The cationic counter-ion of the alkyl sulfate may be taken from the group consi~ting of alkali metals, ammonia and amines, e.g., triethylammonium, tr,iethanolamine ~TEA), diethanolamine or monoethanolamine, etc.
The alkali metal may be, for example, sodium or potassium, ~:
preferably sodium.
The composition of the present invent~on contains from about O.Q27 to about 0.064 moles of total magnesium ion.
Generally, 0.023 to about 0.053 moles of magnesium ~on are provided through the incorporation of the magne~ium alkylbenzene sulfonate. Additional magnesium may be added to the composition ' : ',.', . '. ' .; . ' ' - : .. ' :.- '' ' ~ 2 ~ 5 ~ J

in the form o~ a water-soluble compound, mo~t pre~erably a salt, such as, for example, magne3ium Rulfate or magne~ium chloride.
The preferred magne~ium ~ource i8 magneBium ~ulfate heptahydrate, added to the composition at about from 1 or 2 to 5% by weight, preferably from about 2.5 to 3.5% by weight, corre~ponding to 0.01 to 0.014 moles of added magnesium. The total magne~ium ion to alkylbenzene sulfonate in the composition i8 aontrolled to correspond to a molar ratio of from 0.65:1.0 to 1.0:1.0, preferably from 0.65:1.0 to 0.8:1Ø
The additional magnesium ion~ addet in ~alt form provide improved grease cutting performance and also lower the cloud point of the formula better than the more expensive hydrotropes. The additional magnesium ~alt also provides better phase stability to the composition. Uning magnenium to boost lS detergency is known in the art, however, when used in a molar ratio of total magnesium ion to alkylbenzene sulfonate in a range of 0.65:1.0 to 0.8:1.0, the exce~s magnesium salt not only enhances foam mileage but al~o increases fluidity, allowing for a decrease in hydrotrope and alcohol levels, thus lowering the concentration of inactive ingredients that do not boost detergency of the composition. This decrea~e in the level of inactive ingredients leaves room in the composition for an even higher level of detersive active ingredients.
The level of detersive active ~ngredients in the compositions of this inv~ntion ia in the range from 20-70% by weight, preferably from 30 to 55%. This increased level of aqtive ingredients results in enhanced foam mileage, thus providing a superior light duty liquid detergent. The usual problems of increased viscosity, decreased stability and product clouding is avoided by using an increased level of magnesium ions : ;. . , . , ' . ',' ,,:, . .
'-'' ~ '.'' . . , .'' .' . ' ' '; ' '' '.','' ",' ' 2 0 a ~ ,f~

fn a molar rati~ of magnesium ions to alkylbenzene sulfonate in the range of 0.65:1.0 to 1.0:1.0, preferably from to 0.8:1.0 and none or only a low concentration of hydrotrope. The additional magnesium ions in the compositions of this invention also boost~
detergency of the surfactant system.
In general, the consumer views sudsing ab~lity a~ a measure of cleaning ability. A suds promoting agent, such a~, for example, a mono- or di-alkanolamide, may, therefore, be added to the present composition at a level of from 0.5 to about 8~ by 10 weight, preferably about 1 to 6% and, more preferably about 1 to 5% by weight. The preferred suds promoting agent i8 a mixture of lauric and myristic monoethanolamides. Alternatively, the alkyl ~roup of the amide may be derived from coconut or palm kernel oil. Suitable alkanolamides include either mono or 15 dialkanolamides having a carbon chain distribution of Cl-Cs, preferably C1-C3, especially mono- or di-ethanolamide. The alkanolamide may be ethoxylated or may be a mixture of non-ethoxylated alkanolamide and ethoxylated alkanolamide in order to increase the solubility of the alkanolamide in the composition~
~lthough not essential, clarity and homogeneity of the invention compositions may be improved by inclusion of, for example, organic solvents or hydrotrope~ and these and other non-essential additives may be included in the compo~itions in amounts that do not adver~ely effect the desired properties.
25 Organic solvents may be included for their thinning effect, ability to lower the clear point and for solubilization.
Organic solvent~, ~uch as, for example i~opropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, propylene glycol or mixtures thereof may be included.
When used, the solvent level iB u~ually les~ than or equal to 10%
30 by weight, preferably less than 8~, more prefer~bly ln the range ' 8 ' ' '. , !' . ' . : ' . . .

2~55~'~u of 5 to 8% by weight. Ethanol i8 the preferred solvent. It i~
also cu~tomary to include a hydrotropic ~ubstance in the composition such a~, for example, urea, ~odium xylene sulfonate, potassium xylene ~ulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, and ammonium x~lene sulfonate, and the like in order to a~sist in solubilizing various components of the composition and maintaining a low clear point. Mixture~ of two or more hydrotropes may also be used. The hydrotrope, when used, is generally present in amounts below 8%, preferably below 6%, such as 1 to 6%, especially 2 to 5~ by weight.
Various other optional ingredient~ may also be included in the composition for their de~irable a~sthQtic or functional characteristics. Such ingredients include, for example, opacifying agents to make the composition appear pearly, such as behenic acid or ethylene glycol distearate; perfumes; heavy metal chelating agents such as EDTA; bactericide~ such as trichlorocarbanilide, tstrachloro~alicylanilide, hexachlorophene, or chlorobromo~alicylanilide; antioxidants;
thickeners such as guar gum, polyacrylates, polyacrylamide or I~i~h mo~s; dyes, water dispersible pigments; preservative~, such as formaldehyde or hydrogen peroxide; pH modifiers, etc. When u~ed, these optional adjuvants may be present in total amounts up to about 10~ by weight, preferably up to about 3~ by weight, based on the total compo~ition. The pH o~ the compositions mny be within the range from 6 to 8, preferably from about 6.5 to 7.5, and may be adjusted if nece~sary by add~tion of suitable acids or bases, such as HCll NaOH, and the l~ke. ~xcellent greasy soil removal i8 attained when an effective amount of the instant compositions is di~olved in an aqueous dishwa~hinq ~olu~ion. Typical use concentrations are usually at least about ""'.-'.' ' ' ' ' - ' " ' ' - . .: ' . '' . ' '.,.':,.. ,' ' 2 ~3 3 ,~

0.05~ by weight in water. of cour~e, thi~ can be adju~ted, depending on the soil level and type and desires of the user.
Currently, great commercial interest is ~hown in the more concentrated liquid detergent compositions. The advantages of highly concentrated liquids are evident, i.e., reduced transport and packaging costs and smaller quantitie~ of product needed by the consumer. The major disadvantage in developing compositions with high active ingredient levels i8 the difficulty in making the ~ormula due to the increased "solids"
concentrations. The word "solid~" is used herein to describe all those ingredients of the composition other than solvents, such as water or alcohol.
The compositions of the present invention employ high levels of anionic surfactants, which are, in general, less water-soluble than nonionic surfactants. The decreased solubility of the anionic ~urfactants coupled with the increased concentration of active lngredients often results in thick paste~
with very high viscosities, thereby necessitating the use of heavy duty or high shear mixing equipment. Accordingly, in a preferred mode for carrying out the present invention a non-conventional process is used for the manufacture of the compogition~ of the present invention.
According to this preferred method, a detergent ba~e comprising magnesium alkylbenzene sulfonate and amide foam 2S booster is preferably manufactured by a proce0~ wherein alkanolamide, in the specified amount, is added to an aqueous slurry containing magnesium oxide or hydroxide, hydrotropes, and any inorganic salts or organic solvents of the liquid detergent compositions of this invention, in the speoified amounts, and the alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, i8 added after the alkanolamide has :: . . .. .: . :.
' ." ' . ,'' . ,' . ' ,.: '. ' ' ' " ' . , ' . "' . ' . ,' ' " : ' " "' ' ' : ' ~ ~ 2 ~

been dissolved in the slurry. This procedure i~ de~cribed in greater detail in our copending application Serial No. _ , filed on the same date as the subject application under attorney~ docket IR-4863, titled "PROCESS FOR PRODUCING
CONCENT~ATED LIQUID DETERGENT BASE CONTAININ& MAGNESIUM
ALKYLBENZENE SULFONATE AND ALKANOLAMIDE", the disclo~ure of which iB incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. This method has the advantage of utilizing conventional liquids mixing equipment, while resulting in a composition with enhanced fluidity during neutralization and upon cooling.
The following representative non-limiting examples will illustrate the invention although applicants do not intend td be bound thereby.

2~5~3~

Example 1.
' The following composition~ are prepared with conventional low shear mixing equip~tent by mixing the materials in the proportion~ as listed.

Run No.

(Wt.~) Water, deionized 11.66 11.28 TEA lauryl sulfate (40% solution)28.75 - 28.75 Sodium alkyl ethoxy sulfate, 3E0 18.02(66.6S) 17.7(67.8%) Sodium xylene sulfonate (40% 801.) - 5.23 Sodium cumene sulfonate (93%~ 2.9 1.0 Magnesium oxide 1.16 1.16 l gS04 7H20 1.0 3.0 a,2S4 1.5 0.5 auric/myri~tic monoethanolamide(prill) - 3.49 Lauric/myristic monoethanolamide~sodium ylene ~ulfonate 5:3 blend 8.72 -thanol 5.5 7.5 Dodecylbetnzene sulfonic acid 18.75 18.87 Minor ingr~dients ~dye, perfume, etc.) 2.04 1.5 100% 100~
Molar ratio of Mg+2: Alkylbenzene 0.54sl.0 0.67sl.0 s sulfonate s Cloud point 6C 0C

The compo~ition of Run No. 2 is a physically stable liquid upon accelerated aging at elevated temperature. The composition of Run No. 1, while having a higher hydrotrope level, , 12 . : . . .,. , ... . ....

2~3~3~

was found to exhibit pha~e separation on aging~ Eaah of the compositiOns of Run~ 1 and 2 ar~ ~valuated by the following perEormance criteria:
(1) Grease Removal Test This te~t is used to measure grease removal of the composition at a concentration of 1% liquid detergent a~ 50 ppm water hardness, at 80F, with 600 dipping cycle~ at 60 rpm. For this te~t, 0.5 grams of lard at room temperature is evenly applied to a frosted gla~s micro~cope slide using a ~errated knife blade. The re~ults are calculated as milligrams of lard removed.
A modified version of-the Grea~e Removal test is uced to measure grea~e removal of a 0.05% solution of liquid detergent at 50 ppm water hardness and lQ8F, with 600 dipping cycles at 60 rpm. For this test, 0.1 + 0.02 grams of lard is applied to plastic test tubes by d~pping the pre-weighed tube~ in melted lard and blotting off any exces~ grease before it solidifies.
The tubes are then re-weighed and used the same day they are prepared.
Detergent compositions to be tested are prepared, warmed to the appropriate temperature and poured into 250 ml beakers. The de3ired temperature of the Bolution i8 maintained by a circulating water bath. The teBt compoBition iH agitated with a stirring rod until a layer of foam covers the top of each.
The beakers and ~oiled tubes are placed in the dipping apparatus which iB then run at 600 cycles at 60 rpm. Upon completion of the te~t cycle, the tub2s are removed, rinsed in deionized water at 77F, air dried overnight and weighed. The ~oil removal performance (percent cleaned) iB then calculated by the following formula:

"" '"''' i'''' '' " ' '''"' '';''''''' '''' ' ''' '"'' ;"" ''''"' ' "'' ' '' .' .' '~',' . ;':: -, ';,'. '-' ' ,;. ;'.), -20a53 ~

% cleaned = _ x 100,B-A
l where A = the weight of the tube, B ~ the weight of the ¦ tube plus soil, C = the weight of the tube after washing.
comparison of the average amount of greasy 80il removed by the composition of Run No. 2 with a be~t selling light duty dishwashing composition (Control 2) as determined by the l Grease Removal test at 0.05~ detergent concentration, 50 ppm ¦ water hardne~, 108F, 600 dipping cycle~ at 60 rpm is ~hown in l Table 1.
¦ (~) Hand Disll Washing Test Six liters of a diluted (0.1% or 0.075%) test solution l prepared using 50 ppm water at 120F is delivered to a dish pan ¦ from a separatory funnel suspended above the pan to generate a layer of foam. Plates soiled with 5.4 grams lard are washed to a foam end point. This test measures the total number of plates that can be wa~hed with the detergent composition until ths foam completely disappear6.
~C) Dynamic Yoam Stability Test:
This test i8 used to determine the dynamic foam stability of a liguid detergent composit~on at 50 ppm water hardness at 113P.
A diluted ~0.05 or 0.04%) test ~olution i8 titrated with constant delivery of mixed ~oil to a foam end point under constant agitation. The test mea~ures the amount of mixed soil reguired to deplete the sur~actants of the composition.
~D) Cylinder Foam Test:
I This te~t i~ used to determine ths Eudsing ability of a liquid detergent composition at 50 ppm water hardness at 113F.

100 mls of a 0.1% LOL test solution is placed in a 500 ml graduated cylinder. The cylinder i~ inverted 20 time~
and the amount of foam i5 meanured. Soil (0.01 gram~ added to the solution and the cylinder is again inverted 20 times. The decrease in foam level is then noted.
The resultg of the testing for the compo~ition~ of Run Nos. 1 and 2 and the re~ult~ of two different be~t selling commercial light duty di~hwasher compositions are ~hown in Table 2.

~53~

,Averaqe Soil Removal Run 2 50.9 Control 2 22.1 The resultB of this test indicate that the composition of Run No- 2 removes twicQ a~ much greasy ~oil at 108F than doe~
a leading commercial brand of hand dishwashing detergent containing ~imilar dQtersive active ingredionts but which has a molar ratio of magnesium ion to alkylbenzene sulfonate of 0.31:1Ø

~ 5~

Performance Te~t~-Set I Performance Te~ts-set II
Test Method Run. 1 Control 1 Ratio Run 2 Control 2 Ratio Hand Dish (1) 34.5 28.51.21 - - - - - - - - - -0.1% LDL
5.4g lard Hand Dish (1) - - - - - - - - - - 35-7 33-4 1~07 0.075% LDL
5.4g lard Grease Removal(2) 107 40 2.68 220 190 1.16 1% LDL
600 cycles 60 rpm lard ~oil Dynamic Foam Stability Test~31 1.21 1.09 1.11 1.37 1.28 1.07 Cvlinder Foam ~4~ 375/ 205/ 1.83/ 365/ 285/ 1.28/
0.1% LDL 342 165 2.07 335 265 1.26 20 cycles 30 rpm (0.01 mixed food 80il ) All tests use 50 ppm hardness water.
(1) Hand dish results are in plate count to foam end point.
(2) Grease Removal results are milligrams of lard removed.
t3) Dynamic Fo~m Stability results are foam performance ratio~
versus a standard liquid detergent composition containinq 34%
surfactant ingredients.
~4) Cyl;nder test results are CC~8 of foam (no soil/with soil)-' ,''; - - '. ~ . ., ~ -.'............................ :.
.. .. . ..

2 ~ ~ 5 3 ~ ~

Control 1: Leading commercial brand of hand dishwa~hing ~omposition containing 50% active ingxedients including 17% linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, 23%
alkyl ethoxy sulfate, 10% fatty acid mono-S ethanolamide and a total magnesium content of 0.70% .
~his composition has a molar ratio of magnesium to alkylbenzene sulfonate of 0.58:1Ø
Control 2: A second leading commercial brand of hand di~hwashing composition containing 56% active ~ ingredients including 24% linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, 22~ alkyl ethoxy ~ulfato-3EO, 10%
ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide and also containing 0.5% magnesium, corresponding to a molar ratio of magnesium to alkylbenzene sulfonate of 0.31:1Ø

, .,, ~ . ...... , ,, ,.,; ,,, , . . , ; ,, , . ;, ;, . . .

~;3~3'~

Exam~le 2.
A stable pourable liquid detergent composition i~
prepared by mixing the following ingredient~ u8ing ~ conventional low shear liquids mixing apparatu~. The proportion of each ingredient i8 a8 follows:

~ lWt-~Z
Water, deionized 22.1 17.6 ~EA lauryl ~ulfate - 12.0 Sodium alkyl ethoxy ~ulfate 3E0 14.0 15.2 Sodium xylene sulfonate (40% 801) 12.0 13.1 S~dium cumene sulfonate (45% ~ol.) 4.7 5.2 Magnesium oxide 1.8 1.1 MgS04-7H20 4.8 5.5 Na2S4 ~ 0~5 Lauric/myristic monoethanolamide (prill) 8.0 8.0 Propylene glycol 2.3 2.5 Dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid30.3 19.3 Total 100 100 Consistency at 25C Physically Phy~ically stable stable l~quid l~quld -, -, , , - .. , . : ...... . .

. .. - : . : . . :. . : -

Claims (6)

1. Claim 1. A liquid dishwashing detergent composition providing stable foaming characteristics and which is especially effective in removing greasy soils, said composition comprising:
   (A) from about 20 to about 70% by weight of a surfactant system comprising (a) from about 15 to about 35% by weight of the magnesium salt of a C10-C18 alkylbenzene sulfonic acid anionic surfactant;
   (b) from about 1 to about 5% by weight of a water soluble magnesium salt, in an amount such that the molar ratio of total magnesium ion to alkylbenzene sulfonate ranges from about 0.65:1.0 to 1.0:1.0, (c) from about 1 to about 20% by weight of a water-soluble C1-C16 primary alkyl ethoxy sulfate containing an average of from about 1 to about 6 ethylene oxide groups per alkyl group in the alkyl ether sulfate, and (d) from about 0 to about 20% by weight of a primary, secondary or tertiary amine or alkali metal salt of C10-C18 alkyl sulfate; and (B) from about 0.5 to about 8% by weight of a suds promoting agent selected from the group consisting of C10-C18 ethoxylated and non-ethoxylated mono- or di- C1-C5 alkanolamides and C12-C14 alkyl amides condensed with up to about 15 moles ethylene oxide per mole of amide;
   (C) from about 0 to about 10% by weight of a low irritant organic solvent;
   (D) from about 0 to about 10% by weight hydrotrope; and (E) from about 0 to about 10% by weight of one or more optional additive chosen from chelating agents, coloring agents, dyes, perfumes, bactericides, fungicides, preservatives, sunscreening agents, pH modifiers, pH buffering agents, opacifiers, antioxidants, proteins and (F) the balance, water.
2. Claim 2. The composition of Claim 1 that comprises (A) from about 30 to 55%;
   (B) from about 1 to 6%;
   (C) from about 5 to 8%;
   (D) from about 0 to 6%;
   (E) from 0 to about 3%; and (F) the balance, water.
3. Claim 3. The composition of Claim 1 wherein the surfactant system (A) comprises (a) from about 19 to 21% by weight of a magnesium salt of a C10-C18 alkylbenzene sulfonic acid; (b) an amount of a water-soluble magnesium salt such that the molar ratio of magnesium ion to alkylbenzene sulfonate is 0.65:1.0 to 0.8:1.0; (c) from about 10 to about 13% by weight of a C10-C16 alkyl ethoxy sulfate with 3 groups of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; and (d) from about 10 to about 15% by weight of a C10-C16 alkyl sulfate.
4. Claim 4. A physically stable liquid dishwashing detergent bass composition comprising:
   (A) from about 30 to about 70% by weight detersive active ingredients comprising (a) from about 10 to about 50% by weight of the magnesium salt of a C10-C18 alkylbenzene sulfonite acid;
   (b) from about 1 to about 5% by weight of a water-soluble magnesium salt, in an amount such that the molar ratio of total magnesium ion to alkylbenzene sulfonate ranges from about 0.65:1.0 to 1.0:1.0;
   
   (c) from about 1 to about 27% by weight of a water-soluble C10-C16 primary alkyl ethoxy sulfate salt containing an average of from about 1 to about 6 ethylene oxide groups per alkyl group;
   (d) from about 0 to about 27% by weight of a primary amine or alkali metal salt of a C10-C16 alkyl sulfate;
   and (B) from about 0.6 to about 11% by weight of a suds promoting agent selected from the group consisting of a C10-C16 mono- and di-C1-C5 alkanolamides and C12-C14 alkyl amides condensed with up to 15 moles ethylene oxide per mole of amide;
   (C) from about 0 to about 10% by weight of a low irritant organic solvent;
   (D) from about 0 to about 8% by weight of a hydrotrope;
   and (E) the balance, water.
5. Claim 5. The composition of Claim 4 that comprises:
   (A) from about 60 to 65%;
   (B) from about 1 to about 8%;
   (C) from about 2.5 to about 3.5%;
   (D) from about 1 to about 5%; and (E) the balance, water.
6. Claim 6. The composition of Claim 4 wherein the surfactant system (A) comprises a water-soluble magnesium salt in an amount sufficient to provide a molar ratio of total magesium ion to magnesium alkylbenzene sulfonate in the range of 0.65:1.0 to 0.8:1Ø