CA2191318A1 - Laundry detergent compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

Laundry detergent compositions are provided which are especially effective for removing greasy/oily soils and stains from fabrics during laundering operations. Such compositions essentially contain a surfactant mixture comprising oleoyl sarcosinate and certain cationic surfactants. Processes for laundering and pretreating fabrics using these compositions are also disclosed.

Description

0 9~/33033 2 ~ 9 1 3 1 8 ~ ''7~
~W ,~
LAUNDRY DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS

FTFT n QF T~F INVE~iTTnN
This invention relates to laundry detergent ~,~..,.I.r.~ l;. - which exhibit lo improved greasy and oily soil and body soil removal capabilities. The c.l. .l...~:l;..-- -are generally free of phosphate; ' ..G~ , they may contain low l~:vels of phosphate materials but not amounts in excess of about 20% by weight. These detergent c....,.~ provide an ~ . ~t ",y high level of greasy and oii soil (such as motor oii, triolein, animai fat and lipstick) removal, they also provide ls excellent removal of particulate soils, especially clay soils, as weii as fabric care benefits, such as fabric softening, static control, and dye transfer inhibition. B~(~RGROUND OF T~F. INVF~TION
Oleoyl sarcosinate is a known anionic surfactant which has been use~l as the detersive surfactant in fabric laundering: , Oleoyl sarcosinate has been described in the following patents and ~ ' ' U.S. 2,542,385; U.S. 3,402,990;
U.S. 3,639,568; U.S. 4,772,424; U.S. 5,186,855; European Patent Publication 505,129; British Patent Publication 1,211,545; Japanese Patent Publication 59/232194; Japanese Patent Pubiication 62/295997; Japanese Patent Pubiication 02/180811; and Chemicai Abstracts Service Abstracts Nos. 61:3244q, 70:58865x, and 83:181020p.
Cationic surfactants have aiso been used in detergent , - prirnarily to provide adjunct fabric care benefits and not for the purpose of enhancing cieaning.
Certain cationic surfactants provide a germicidai or s~rnitization benefit to washGd surfaces; see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,742,434, Koop, issued Apr. 17" 1956;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,539,520, Cantor et ai, issued Nov. 10, 1970; and U.S. P,lt. No.
3,965,026, Lancz, issued June 22, 1976. Other cationic surfactants, such as ~' " . " ~' ' ' ~' chioride, are included in detergent ~ to provide a fabric softening benefit, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,607,763, Saimem et ai, issued Sept. 21, 1971; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,644,203, Lamberti et ai, issued Feb.
3s 22, 1972. Such ~ are also used to control static, as weii as to soften laundered fabrics as, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,879, Wixon, issued A.pr. 20, Wos~133033 ~ 3 ~
1976; and U.S Pat. No. 3,959,157, Inamorato, issued May 25, 1976. All of these patents are ir~.u"uu.~Led herein by reference.
The .,.~ - of the present invention have outstanding cleaning capabilities. Such l.r~ can be very effective in removing some typical s greasy and oily soils in comparison with Cu~ iulldl ~aundry detergents, including - '`5 Li." ' ' heavy duty liquid detergents containing a high proportion of nonionic surfactants. These same detergent ~ with or without phosphate or other builder cul~.~,. , are also effective in removing clay soils at least as well, and in some instances, ' "~ better than fully-built cu..~ .;u.~al granular lo laundry detergent , , and, in addition provide a range of fabric care benefits, such as fabric softening, static control and dye transfer inhibition, to the laundered fabrics. Thus, the ~ r~ ~ of the present invention provide the user with a well-rounded cleaning and fabric care package. These are the result of a heretofore l~V~5.~.,~ cleaning potential provided by the c~ . of selected 15 anionic surfactants, i.e. oleoyl ~ueu~ e:~, and certain selected cationic surfactants.
It is an object of this invention to provide laundry detergent which yield outstanding greasy and oily soil and body soil removal.
It is amother object ofthis invention to provide laundry detergent ..~r..l,f~ l;.,..~
which have excellent particulate sûil removal p. '` e and fabric ' g benefits, in addition to outstanding greasy and oily soil and body soil removal p~ u., , in the presence or absence of builder c ----r ' It is a further object of this invention to provide detergent, ~ which may be used in a variety of physical forms, such as liquid, paste, granular, solid, powder, or in conjunction with a carrier such as a substrate.
It is a still fiurther object of this invention to provide a process for laundering fabrics to remove greasy and oily soil and body soil, as well as particulate soil, using certain anionic and cationic surfactant-containing ddergent . The I V-:~ also provide excellent color care for dyed fabrics and excellent skin mildness for hamdwash operations. These and other advantages of the present invention will be seen from the disclosures hereinafter.
SIJMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to laundry detergent . that comprise from about 5% to I ûO%, by weight, of a surfactant mixture comprising:
(A) an oleoyl sarcosinate of the formula:
3s C17H33C(O)N(CH3)CH2COOM
wherein M is hydrogen or a cationic moiety; and ~Wo 9sl33033 ~, ' (B) a spccific type of cationic surfactant which is fiee of },yl' groups. Such cationic surfactants have the formula RmlR~2YLZ wherein Rl is an organic group containing a straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl group optionally - substituted with up to 3 phenyl or hydroxy groups and optionally interrupted by up to 5 four structures selected from O O O ~Z
~3 and mixtures thereof, each Rl containing about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, and which may additionaDy contain up to about 12 ethylene oxide groups; m is ~I number from I to 3; each R2 is an alkyl or hydroxy alkyl group containing from I to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group, with no more than one R2 in a molecule being belnzyl; x is from 0 to 11, the remainder of any carbon atom positions being filled by hydrogens;
Y is selected from wo9s/33u33 P~lll 7~

2~I318 -4-",~ ,.
--N+~
~f-t+-- wherein p is from I to 12, ~ClH40)pH
(ClH40)pH
~+-- , wherein each p is from I to 12, (C~0)pH
f and mrstures thereof;
L is I or 2, the Y groups being separated by a moiety glected from Rl and R2 analogs having from one to about twenty-t~vo carbon atoms and 2 free carbon single bonds when L is 2, and Z is an anion in a number sufficient to give dectrica~
neutrality. These cationic surfactants should be at least ' ".~ water disperslble in admixhlre with the oleoyl sarcosinate surfact~nt.
These, . of this invention pro~ride a pH of at least about 6.~ in aqueous laundry solution. The ratio of oleoyl sarcosrnate surfactant to cationicsurfactant ranges from about 1:1 to 100 1.
o The present invention also relates to a process for cleaning fabrics soiled with greasy and/or oily soils. Such a process comprises contacting such soiled fabrics ~VO 95133033 - ' r~
r2r~
with an aqueous soiution containing water and from about 0.1% to 1% of the oleoyl a~ l,u,;lllLL~ i" surfactant ~ h~ described. Fabric processes are also provided.
DET~n Fn DESCRrPTION OF TF~F. i~VENTION
The ~ r ' of the detergent , herein, their preparation, '' and ~ p~-~;l;- use are described in detail as follo1~.rs. Ail and ratios are expressed on a weight basis uniess otherwise indicated.
(A) The Oleoyl Sarcosinate Comi~onent One essential component of the surfactant mixture employed in the detergent ~ herein is the anionic surfactant oleoyl sarcosinate in its acid and/or salt form. Preferabl~ the oleoyl sarcosinate will comprise from about ~.1% to about 80%, more preferably from about 1% to about 40%, and most preferably about2% to about 30% by weight of the ~ Oleoyl sarcosinate has the generai formula: C17H33C(O)N(CH3)CH2COOM wherein M is hydrogen or a cationic 5 moiety. The ~,cC~sul a~ of oleoyl ~., can be represented as foiiows ~ ~ ~C)M

Preferred M ~ I;h 1~ are hydrogen and alkali metai cations, es,pecially sodium and potassium. Oleoyl sarcosinate is . "~ avaiiable, for example as Hamposyl O marketed by W. R. C~race & Co.
In addition to the ~ ' ' ' oleoyl sarcosinate, oleoyl sarcosmate useful herein can aiso be prepared from the ester (preferably the methyl ester) or oleic acid and a sarcosine sait (preferably the sodium salt) under anhydrous reaction conditions in the presence of a base catalyst with a basicity equai to or greater than aikoxide cataiyst (preferably sodium methoxide). For example, the reaction may iiiustrated by the scheme:
A

Wo gsl33033 ~ 2~9131g +

H,N ONa NaOCH3(cat) ~ ~ ~ONa This salt may be optionally neutralized to form the oieoyi sarcosinate in its acid form.
The preferred method for preparing oleoyl sarcosinate is conducted at a s t~ ,.a~ from about gOcC to about 200C, especiaily from about I~OCC to about 200CC. It is preferred to conduct the reaction without solvent although alcohol solvents which have a boiling point of at least 100C and are stable to the reaction conditions ~I.e., glycerol is not acceptable) can be used. The reaction may proceed in about 85% yield with a molar ratio of methyl ester reactant to sarcosine salt reactant o to basic catalyst of about l: l :O.OS-0.2.
Methyl ester mixtures derived from high oleic content natural oiis (preferably having at least about 60%, more preferably at least about 75%, and most preferably at least about 90% oleic content) are especiaDy preferred as sta~ting materials.Examp~es include high-oleic sunfiower and r~C~Ilc - llo oil. In addition, a high-15 oleic methyl ester fraction derived from either palm kernel oil or taDow is acceptable.It is to be understood that such oils typicaDy will contain some levels of impurities, including some fatty acid impurities that may be converted to sarcosinate compounds by this synthesis method. For example, cornmodity ' '~ a~ J oil may comprise a majority of oleic acid, and a mixture of fatty acid impurities such as paimitic, 20 stearic, linoleic, linolenic andlor eicosenoic acid, some or all of which are corve}ted to the sarcosinate by this reaction method. If desired for formulation purposes, some or aD of such impurity materials may be excluded from the starting oii before preparing the oleoyl sarcosinate to be used in the present invention.

095133033 ~1913~8 ~ ,3r ---7~
~w -7-Finally, sarcosine remaining in the reaction mixture can be convert~:d to an amide by addition of maleic or acetic anhydride to the mixture, thereby minimizing the sarcosine content and any potential for formation of undesired nitrogen-containing impurities.
The synthesis of oleoyl sarcosinate may be carried out as follow to prepare the sodium oleoyl sarcosinate.
Syrth~cic of Oleoyl Amide of Sa S~7i~rn ~7t A 2 L, 3-neck round bottom flask is fitted with lh.. ~.. , Dean-Stark trap with condenser, mechanical stirring, and a gas in et adapter ~hrough which nitrogen is passed over the reaction lo mixture. The reaction vessel is charged with sarcosine (43.3 g, 0.476 mol), sodium methoxide 25% in methanol (97.7 g, 0.452 mol), and methanol (400 mL). The reaction mixture is refluxed 15 min. to neutra7ize the sarcosine and then met yl ester derived from Cargill regular high-oleyl sunf.ower oil (148.25 g, 0.5 mol) is; added.
After the methamol is removed with the Dean-Stark trap, reaction mixture i~; heated 15 to 170C for I hr. to drive offany water. The reaction is initiated by the ad~lition of sodium methoxide 25% in methanol (15.4 g, 0.0714 mol). The reaction mixture is kept at 170C for 2.5 hr. during which methanol is collected in the Dean-Sti7rk trap.
The reaction is a7.10wed to cool slightly, and then methanol (200 g) is added. Maleic anhydride (9.43 g, 0.095 mol) is added to the methanol solution, and the realction is 20 stirred at 60C for 0.5 hr. Then most of the methanol is removed by rotary c~r~lJvl~liull, amd acetone (2 L) is added to precipitate the product. The pr~duct is collected by suction fltration amd a7ilowed to air dry to give an off-whitç soid.
Analysis of the reaction mixture by GC indicates the majority of the product is oleoyl "." , with minor amounts of the following impurities: sarcosine, oleic acid, 25 and the ~,~ derived from pa mitic acid, stearic acid, and inoleic acid.
(B) The ~ lrf~rt~r~t Cr ~
The second essential component of the su&c7ant mixture employed helein is a certain type of cationic surfactant materia7.. Such cationics are those of the genera7.
formula RmlRX2Y~Z wherein the elements of this formula are as described 30 1~ ' '` r in the Summary of the invention sçction.
In preferred cationic materia s, Z is a water-soluble anion such as ha7iide, methyl su fate, suhfate, or nitrate ar~ion with particularly preferred arions being chloride, bromide, iodide, su fate, or methyl sulfate, in a number to give electrica7i neutl ality of the cationic component. A7iso in preferred cationic materials, L is equa. to 1, p is 35 from I to 12, preferably from I to 10, and Y is wossa3033 21gl37~ 8- r~
~ C-- (C2H40)pH
--N+----~ + _ ~ +--(C2H40)pH (C2H40)pH
or mixtures thereof However, L may be equal to two, thereby yielding cationic L-- r ' containing two cationic charge centers. An example of a di-cationic component is given below:
Z- CH3 CH3 Z~
Cl8H35 +1`~--CH2--CH2--CH2 ?1+--CH3 In preferred cationic materials, described above, where m is equal to 1, it is preferred that x is equal to 3, and R2 is a methyl group. Preferred ~ -- of tbis mono-long chain type include those in which Rl is a C1o to Clg aikyl group.Particularly preferred ~ r ' of this class include C16 (~ ' ~' " Yl) 0 Ll;~ J~ halide, tallowaikyl i ' ~' haiide and " yl L i..~L~.,' halide. In preferred systems, tallowaikyl L-;.l~hJ' ~ or " yl i ' ~' materials are combined with oleoyl sarcosinate in ~,~., 'u.liu.. c ratios offrom 1:1 tû 10:1, more preferably 5:1 to 9:1.
Another preferred surfactant mixture utilizes mono- long chain cationic S surfactants of the formula R' N+ It2 Z-, ,~2 wherein Rl, R2 and Z are as defined above, in ' with sarcosinate in ratios of from 5.1:1 tû 15:1.
Useful di- long chain cationics include those of the above formula wherein m is 20 2. When m is equal to 2, it is preferred that x is equal to 2, and that R2 is a methyl group. In this instance it is also preferred that R1 is a C1o to C20 alkyl group.
Particularly preferred cationic materials of the class include d yl (C12-~ 2 f ~ 1 3 ~L 8 C14) ~ J halide, ~ ' " yl (Clg) dime~ ' halide and yl (Cl6-CI8) ~ 'L~ halide materials.
Where tri-long chain materials are used (m=3), it is preferred that x is lequal to I and that R2 j5 a methyl group. In these ~",p..~ it is preferred that Rl is a Cg 5 to Cll alkyl group. Particularly preferred tri-long chain cationic materials include Llio.,l~' " yl (Cg) methyl ammonium halide and tridecyalkyl (Clo) methyl ammonium halide.
Another preferred type of cationic surfactant useful in the surfactant mixtures employed in the present invention is of the ' ' variety. A particularly o preferred surfactant of this type is one having the structural formula --C
C~3 ,~H2--CH2NH --R
~--~ .H2 R-Ç~N r wherein R is Clo to C20 alkyl, particularly C14 to C20 alkyl. These ' "
surfactants may be used alone as the cationic component in the . . of the present invention, or may be used in mixtures, together with other cationic 15 su&ctants, such as those described above. In these mixtures, it is preferred lthat the ratio of the ' ' ' surfactant to the other cationic surfactant is from about 4:1 to about 1:4. Particularly preferred mixtures of this type include the surfactant, shown above, together with l ' ~' " yl i ' ,' chloride or ~~ " yl i ' ,' chloride or a mixture of ~ " yl 20 1. illr~ ' chlorideand~ '"yli ',' chloride.
Another type of preferred cationic surfactant for use in the ~ o~ of the present invention are the alkoxylated alkyl ~ xamples c~f such compounds are given below:

Z~ R--~--(C2H40)pH and H(OC2H4~ 1 ~ (C2H~O)pEI Z~
R R
25 wherein each p is from I to 12, preferably from I to 10 (with the total ethylene oxide groups in a molecule not exceeding about 13), and each R is a Clo to C20 alkyl group It is preferred that these compounds contain no more than a total o:~ about 10, preferably no more than about 7, ethylene oxide groups in order to obtain the best removal of greasy and oily soils.
.

woss~33033 21~13i ~ lo- 1~l" ,~
The ~ of the present invention are pre&rably ' "!~ free of cationic compounds containing about 13 or more ethylene oxide groups. These compounds tend to be relatively non-l,;od~ ~,"..l-~ .l. do not enhance the cleaning or fabric, " g benef~ts provided by the ~... ,.~- ~;...,~ and may, in some s ~,u~ - , decrease the overall laundering p.,.ru~ provided by them It is to be noted thdt po~_.l.u~ ' cationic surfactants having relatively low levels of c~llu~yldtiu.., such as those described above, exhibit better l.;ùd~ y ..l.~.i..l~,;_l;.~ and may be adv _ 'y included in the ~ --- of the present invention.
o A particuiarly preferred type of cationic component, which is described in Letton; U.S. Patent 4,260,529; Issued April 7, 1981 (;..~,u.~. ' herein by reference) has the formula:
R2--(Zl)U (R3)" Z' (CE~ ~+--Rl X
wherein Rl is Cl to C4 aiicyl or h,~i~u~_" yl, R2 is Cs to C30 straight or branched 15 chain alkyl, alkenyl, alkyl phenyl, or t (CH2)s--;
R' wherein s is from 0 to S; R3 is Cl to C20 alkylene or aikenylene; a is 0 to 1, and n is I when a is l; m is from I tû 5; Zl and z2 are edch selected from the group consisting of ~ ~
~, ~ , O , 1~ ~~ ~ ~
H .H 0 ~--~Dd ~ ~ , and wherein at least one of said groups is an ester, reverse ter, amide or reverse amide; and X is an anion which makes the compound at least water-dispersible, ~WO 95133033 2 1 g 1 3 ~ g preferably selected from the group consisting of halide, methyl sulfate, sulfate, and nitrate, more preferably chloride, bromide, iodide, methyl sulfate amd sulfate.
In addition to the advantages of the other cationic surfactants disclosed herein, this particular cationic component is e.~ desirable, since it is s ~;v~ .alavle, yielding .,~ , acceptable ~ r ~, both in terrns of its long alkyl chain and its nitrogen-containing segment. These preferred cationic , , , when used in the, , of the present invention, are em~loyed in .surfactant mixtures which have sarcosinate to cationic surfactant ratios of from 5.1:1 to about 100:1, particularly from 5.1:1 to about 50:1 most preferably from about 6:1 o to 40:1, especially from about 6:1 to about 20:1.
Particularly preferred cationic surfactants of this type are the choline ester derivatives having the following fommula:
O CH
R2--C--O--CH2CH2~+--CH3 X~

as well as those compounds in which the ester linkage in the above folrmula is 15 replaced with a reverse ester, amide or reverse amide linkage.
Particularly preferred examples of this type of choline ester cationic s-lrfactant include stearoyl choline ester quatemary ammonium halides (R2=C17 alkyl), palmitoyl choline ester quatemary ammonium halides (R2=CIs alkyl), nnyristoyl choline ester quatemary ammonium halides (R2=CII alkyl), and tallowyl choline 20 ester quatemary ammonium halides (R2=CIs-Cl7 alkyl).
Additional preferred cationic ~ of the choline ester variety are given by the structural fommulas below, wherein p may be from 0 to 20.
~ T3 R1~--C--(CHI~C~CH~CH~--CH3 X-CH~
X- CH~-- --CH,--CH,~--C~CH,~C--~CH2~H~i--CH X
~H3 1H3 The prefemd choline-derivative cationic substances, discussed above, may be 2s prepared by the direct " of a fatty acid of the desired chain length with - ' 1, in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction product is then quaterni2ed with a methyl halide, forming the desired cationic material. The WQ ss/33033 2 ~ g I 3 ~ ~ - 12 - P~ ?~ ~
choline-derived cationic materials may also be prepared by the direct ~ of a long chain fatty acid of the desired chain length together with 2 ! ' - ' -1, in the presence of an acid catalyst material. The reaction product is then used to quaterni2e , forming the desired cationic component.
Another type of particularly preferred cationic material, described in the ,;.lb~ VI e: referenced U.S. 4,260,529, has the formula:
R2 Rl R3--o[(CHh~O]~(Z~ ZZ--(CH2)m ~ Rl X~
In the above formula, each Rl is a Cl to C4 alkyl or hJd~ " yl group, preferably a methyl group. Each R2 is either hydrogen or Cl to C3 alkyl, preferably o hydrogen. R3 is a C4 to C30 straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl, or alkylbenzyl groupl preferably a Cg to C 18 alkyl group, most preferably a C 12 alkyl group. R4 is a C1 to C1o alkylene or alkenylene group; n is from 2 to 4, preferably 2; y is from I
to 20, preferably from about I to 10, most preferably about 7; a may be 0 or 1, and t may be 0 or 1, but t is I when a is l; and m is from I to 5, preferably 2. z2 isselected from the group consisting Q O, ~ ,--O--, ~--O--, ~--, ~--C--,~ ~ and--~ ,.
zl is selected forln the group consisting of:
_c~.~ L
with at least one of z1 and z2 groups being ælected for~n the group consisting of ester, reverse ester, amide or reveræ amide. X is an anion which makes the compound at least water dispersible, and is selected from the group consisting of halides, methyl sulfate, sulfate, and nitrate, particularly chloride, bromide, iodide, methyl sulfate and sulfate. Mixtures of the above structures can also be used.
This particular type of cationic surfactant may be used in ~,.., ', 25 surfactant mixtures in the ~ .u- ~;.. - of the present invention in sarcosinate to cationic ratios of from 5.1:1 to about 100:1, preferably from 5.1:1 to about 50:1, most preferably from about 6:1 to about 40:1, especially from about 6:1 to about20:1. These surfactants, when used in the ~ -- of the present invention, ~wo 9S133D33 ~ T ~ r7 -- 1 3 . =
.
yield excellent particulate soil, body soil, and greasy and oil soil removal. In a~dition, the detergent c.~ control static and soften fabrics laundered therewith, and inhibit the transfer of dyes in the wash solution. Further, these cationic surfactants are c,..~;., ".~, desirable, since both their long chain alkyl segments alld their s nitrogen segments are ~ . r~.,.,1~1,1~
Preferred l ' of this type of cationic component are esters il1 which Rl is a methyl group and z2 is an ester or reverse ester group. Particular examplcs of these compounds are given below, in which t is 0 or I and y is from I to 20.

R3--O(CH2CH20)V(CH~ O CH.--CH2 ~l+--CH3X-R3--O(CH2CH20)y--C--CH~+--CH X~

CIH3 0 C~H3 R3--O(CHCH20)y--C--C~ ~+ CH3X-Cl H3 L C~H3 wo ss/33033 ~ A; P~ ~
2~f ~1~ 14-R3{)(CH2CH20)y--C~cH2)t--C ~) ~H 2CH2 ~+--CH3X-R3~(CH2CH2CH2CH20)y--C CH2~l+--CH X-CH

O, CH3 R3--O(CH2CH2CH2CH2O)y~CH2)t~ ~ ~H2CH2~+~H3X-~nd R3--O(CH2CH2O)y--C--C =C el ~ ~H 2CH2 ~+ ~H3X-The preferred derivatives, described above, may be prepared by the reaction of a long chain alkyl polyalkoxy (preferably ~ul~ u~.p) .,~l,u~' , having an alkyl chain of desired length, with ox~lyl chloride, to form the cu--~ r ' ~ acid chloride.
5 The acid chloride is then reacted with " b~' ' ' to form the appropriate amine ester, which is then quaterr~ized with a methyl halide to form the desired ester compound. Another way of preparing these compounds is by the direct; ~
of the appropriate long chain ethoxylated carboxylic acid together with 2 l ' ' or dimethyl ~ - ' l, in the presence of heat and an acid catalyst. The reaction 10 product formed is then quaternized with n.~LhJ" ' ' or used to quaternr~e ' ~' to form the desired ester compound.
(C) S ~ }~ ivllandrv~
Tbe c. ~ of the present invention comprise, by weight, from about 5%
to 100%, preferably from about lû% to about 95%, and most preferably from about 15 20% to about 90% of a mixture of the particularly defined sarcosinate and cationic surfactants described 1.~ in the ratios stated. It is preferred that the detergent f.~ ;.. contain at least about 1% of the cationic component;
otherwise, sufficient cationic surfactant may not be present in the wash solution to provide the desired cleaning and . ' results. Further, preferred 20 .,....~ - do not contain more than about Iû% of the cationic component, due to cost and commercial availability ~ullD;~e.~Liù.l~.

~ro 95133033 ~ ~. g 1 3 1 8 ~ lu r7~

ru~Lh~ ulc, the detergent .- herein, containing the l..,.~,;.lb.,fu~c described ~GI~ GtiUlUC surfactant mixtures, along with other optional detergent ~ . described hereinafter, are prefaably prepared in accordance with formulation criteria analogous to those such as the "clou~l point"
s and Reduced Monomer Cu~,c.~LlaL;ul~ (CR) CIIGI G~,i.,. ;~L;L~ of the cationic sulfactant, - as described in Murphy; U.S. 4,259,217; Issued March 31, 1981. This '217 i~atent is UI IJUI Gt~d herein by reference in its entirety.
(D) Optional Deter~ent Cnmr~itinn Components In addition to the oleoyl sarcosinate and cationic surfactants essentially utilized, 0 the detergent c.~ herein may also comprise a wide variety of lDptiOnal ingredients. Such optional ingredients include optional additional detersive surfactants, builders and other Cu.l._..i;u. GI detergent , adjuvants.
a) Optional Detersive Surfactants The detergent ~ herein may optionally comprise fTom about 5 1% to 80% by weight of an additional non-sarcosinate, non-cationic dletersive surfactant. Preferably such .. L~.J~ will comprise fTom about 5% to 50% by weight of this optional surfactant. Optional detersive surfactants utilized c~ln be of the anionic, nonionic, .. c, or ampholytic type or can comprise compatible mixtures of these surfactant types. Optional detersive surfactants useful helrein are described in U.S. Patent 3,6rJ4,961, Norris, issued May 23, 1972, U.S. Patent 3,919,678, Laughlin et al., issued Decamber 30, 1975, U.S. Patent 4,~.22,905, CockTeii, issued September 16, 1980, and in U.S. Patent 4,239,659, Murph~r, issued December 16, 1980. Ail of these patents are yu. G~cl herein by refaence.
Of these optional surfactants, anionics and nonionics are prefelTed and 2s ~ùl anionics are most preferTed. Such preferTed anionic surfactants can thamselves be of several different types. For example, water-soluble salts of the hjgher fatty acids, i.e., "soaps", are useful anionic surfactants in the r~- ~l - ';~---herein. This includes alkali metal soaps such as the sodium, potassium salts and the " ~' and " ' salts of higher fatty acids containing fTom about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, and preferably fTom about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms. Soaps can be made by direct ~r -r " of fats and oiis or by the of fTee fatty acids. PaTticulariy useful are the sodium and potassium saits of the mixtures of fatty acids derived from coconut oii and taiiow, i.e., sodium or potassium tallow and coconut soap. Soaps can aiso perform a buiider function in 3s the detergent ~ herein. Use of fatty acid soaps in the, , herein wiii generaily result in a diminution of sudsing. This effect should be taken into account by the formuiator.

Wo ss/33033 2 i 9 ~ r ~ l / L 5 ~

Additional non-sarcosinate anionic surfactants which suitable for use herein include the water-soluble salts7 preferably the alkali metal, : " y' and ~ " ' salts, or organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20s carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. ( Included in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl portion of acyl groups.) Examples of this group of synthetic surfactants are a) the sodium, potassium and ' ' alkyl sulfates7 especially those obtained by subfating the higher alcohols (Cg-CIg carbon atoms) such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; b) the sodium, 10 potassium and ~ ' ' - alkyl pGI~ u~~ . sulfates, particularly those in which the alkyl group contains from lû to 227 preferably from 12 to Ig carbon atoms7 and wherein the Ul~ lU7~lG~c chain contains from I to 157 preferably I to 6 ethoxylate moieties; and c) the sodium and potassium " yll,.,.~.,..., sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain fi~, , e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Patents 2,220,099 and 2,477,383. Especially valuable are linear straight chain "cjl~.,.~.,..~, sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 13, abbreviated as Cll l3 LAS.
Preferred optional nonionic surfactants are those of the formula Rl(OC2H4)nOH, wherein Rl is a Clo-C16 alkyl group or a Cg-C12 alkyl phenyl group, and n is from 3 to about 80. Particularly preferred are ' products of C 12-C 15 alcohols with from about 3 to about 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, e.g., C12-C 13 alcohol condensed with about 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
2s Additional suitable nonionic surfactants include pGI~JI~u~y fatty acid amides of the formula ( ) IR~
R--C--N--Z
wherein R is a Cg 17 alkyl or alkenyl, Rl is a preferably a methyl ûr 3-u~J group and Z is glycityl derived from a reduced sugar or alkoxylated derivative thereof. Examples are N-methyl N-l-J~,u~y~lu~,;lyl cocoamide and N-methyl N-l-d~,u~y~ ,;Irl oleamide and other C12-C1g N ' ~.g' ' See WO 9,206,154. Other sugar-derived surfactants include the N-aL1~oxy pulyhyLl~uf.y fatty acid amides, such as C1o-C1g N-(3 l~ v~ yl/~u~l) glucamide.
The N-propyl through N-hexyl C12-C1g glucamides can be used for low sudsirlg.
3s Processes for making pGl~ u~y fatty acid amides are known and can be found in ~WO 95/33033 2 1 9 1 3 1 g ~ t ~

Wilson, U.S. Patent 2,965,576 and Schwartz, U.S. Patent 2,703,798, the disclosures of which are ;--.,u. I,u. d~CI herein by reference.
b~ Detereent Builder The detergent ~ herein may also optionaDy compri~se from s about 0.1% to 80% by weight of a detergent builder. Preferably such ~
- in liquid form will comprise from about 1% to lû% by weight of the builderPreferably such ~ - in granular form will comprise from about 1% to 50% by weight of the builder component. Detergent builders are well known in the art and can comprise, for example, phosphate salts as well as various organic 0 and inorganic . ' . ' u~ builders.
Water-soluble, , ' -, ' u~ organic builders useful herein incllude the various aDkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium pu~
~,albUAyla~ pul~ albu~la~ andpbl~l.JIIu,..~sulfonates. Examplesofpol~yacetate and pulr~albu~ builders are the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammoni~lm, and substituted ammonium salts of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, - - acid, u,~yd;~.l..,;...., acid, mellitic acid, benzene puly~,alhu~l;., acids, and citric acid. Other suitable pul.~,albw~' for use herein are the polyacetal ~,albu~ desc.ribed in U.S. Patent 4,144,226, issued March 13, 1979 to Crutchfield et al., and U.S. Patent 4,246,495, issued March 27, 1979 to Crutchfidd et al., both of which are 20 ulcul~ula~cd herein by reference. Particularly preferred pol~_alhu~laLc builders are the u~l'i and the ether carboxylate builder , comFlrising a ' of tartrate and tartrate disuccinate described in U.S.
Patent 4,663,û71, Bush et al., issued May 5, 1987, the disclosure of ~hich is i.... ~,c,.~ ' herein by reference.
2s Examples of suitable, ,' ,' ... i., inorganic builders include the silicates, ' " , borates and carbonates. Particularly preferred are sodium and potassium carbonate, I,;w.L , ~ , tetraborate ~ ' , and silicates having a weight ratio of SiO2 to alkali metal oxide of from about û.5 to about 4.û, preferably from about l.û to about 2.4. Also preferred are ' ' including zeolites. such materials and their use as detergent builders are more fully discussed in CorkiD et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,605,509, the disclosure of which is I.u.~ herein by reference. Also, clystalline layered silicates: such asthose discussed in Corkill et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,605,509, ~,. ' }lerein by reference, are suitable for use in the detergent , of the invention.
3s c). Conventional Detergent C~ i Ingredients The detergent . u ~ of the present invention can also include any number of additional optional ingredients. These include, ._...iu..al cletergent WO 95~33033 2 1 9~ 1r 3 lr a such as suds boosters or suds suppressers, anti-tarnish and anti-corrosion agents, soil suspending agents, soil release agents, germicides, pH
adjusting agents, non-builder alkaGnity sources, chelating agents, smectite clays, hardness ions such as Ca~ and/or Mg~ cations, enzymes, enzyme-stabilizing s agents and perfumes. (See U.S. Patent 3,936,537, issued February 3, 1976 toBaskerville, Jr. et al., the disclosure of which is ~,u,_~.J herein by reference.) Dye transfer inhibiting agents and add optical brighteners may also be included.Chelating agents are described in U.S. Patent 4,663,071, Bush et al., from Column 17, line 54, through Column 18, line 68, ~Ju~d~d herein by reference. Suds modifiers are also optional ingredients and are described in U.S.
Patents 3,933,672, issued January 20, 1976, to Bartoletta et al., and 4,136,045,issued January 23,1979, to Gault et al., both ~Ju~a~cd herein by reference.
Suitable smectite clays for use herein are described in U.S. Patent 4,762,645, Tucker et al., issued August 9, 1988, column 6, line 3 through Column 7, Gne 24, IJul aL~;J herein by reference. A preferred 1~ l- chelator for use herein is ~:Lh~ '- disuccinate ("EDDS"), especiaDy the [S,S] isomer as described in U.S. Patent 4,704,233, November 3, 1987, to Hartman and Perkins.
The detergent - .~ herein may optionally contain bleaching agents or bleaching . containing a bleaching agent and one or more bleach activators. When present, bleaching agents will typically be at levels of from about 1% to about 30%, more typically from about 5% to about 20%, of the detergent .... especially for fabric laundering. If present, the amount of bleach activators will typically be from about 0.1% to about 60%, more typically from about 0.5% to about 40% of the bleaching ~ comprising the bleaching agent-2s plus-bleach activator.
While not essential to the detergent ~ ;- -- - of this invention, it is preferable to include an enzyme component. Suitable enzyme , are available from a wide variety of commercial sources. For example, suitable enzymes are available from NOVO Industries under product names T-~ . . TM and Savinase rM, and Gist-Brocades under product names MaxacallM and 1~
Included within the group of enzymes are proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases and mixtures thereo The enzyme preferably should be from about 0% to about 5%, more preferably from about 0.001% to about 2.5%, and most preferably from about 0.01% to about 2%. Typically, proteases are used at an Activity Unit (Anson Unit) level of from about 0.001 to about 0.05, most preferably from about0.002 to about 0.02, while amylases are used at an amylase unit level of from about 5 ~Wo 95/33033 2`~ 9 1 3 1 8 P~,ll. . s. ~-7~

to about 5000, most preferably from about 50 to about 500 per gram of dl tergent Suitable examples of proteases are the subtilisins which are obtained from particular strains of B subtilis and B. 1:..1....:r.... Another suitable protease is s obtained from a strain of Bacillus, having maximum activity throughout the pH range of 8-12, developed and sold by Novo Industries A/S under the registered trade name ESPERASE. The preparation of this enzyme and analogous enzymes is described in British Patent Sperifir~tinn No. 1,243,~84 of Novo. Proteolytic enzymes suitable for removing protein-based stains that are 1U~ available include those sold 0 under the tradenames ALCALASE and SAVINASE by Novo Industries A/S
(Denmark) and MAXATASE by I~Lc~ iU..dl Bio-Synthetics, Inc. (The N. ' ' ' ). Other proteases include Protease A (see European Patent Application 130,756, published January 9, 1985) and Protease B (see Europearl Patent Application Serial No. 87303761.8, filed April 28, 1987, and Europeall Patent Application 130,756, Bott et al, published January 9, 1985). Other proteaxe's include Protease A (see European Patent Application 130,756, published January ~9, 1985)and Protease B (see European Patent Application Serial No. 87303761.8, filled April 28, 1987, and European Patent Application 130,756, Bott et al, published January 9, 1985). Other proteases include Protease A (see European Patent Application 130,756, published January 9, 1985) and Protease B (see Europearl Patent Application Serial No. 87303761.8, filed April 28, 1987, and European Patent Application 130,756, Bott et al, published January 9, 1985). Most preferred is what is called herein "Protease C", which is a variant of an alkaline serine protease from Bacillus, particularly Bacillus lentus. in which arginine replaced Iysine at poxition 27, _s tyrosine replaced valine at position 104, serine replaced asparagine at posiltion 123, and alanine replaced threonine at position 274. Protease C is described in EP
90915958:4; U.S. Patent No. 5,185,250; and U.S. Patent No. 5,204,015. Also preferred are protease which are described in copending application U.S. Serial No.
08/136,797, entitled Protease-containing Cleaning C~ and copending Application U.S. Serial No. 08/136,626, entitled Bleaching C ~ - Comprising Protease Enzymes, which are IJu,~lcd herein by reference. Genetically modified variants, particularly of Proteaxe C, are also included herein.
- (E) Deter~eent C , rv~
The detergent c~ according to the present invention can be in liquid, 3s gel or granular forms. Such - , can be prepared by combining the essential and optional --- r in the requisite ~.o _ -1 Al;-- in any suitable ord~r and by an cu...~ ;u"d means.

WO9~/33033 2 ~ 91 ~ ~ 8 1~1,1 s ~ ~

Granular ~ . for example. are generally made by combining base granule ingredients (e.g. surfactants, builders, water, etc.) as a slurry, and spray drying the resulting slurry to a low level of residual moisture (5-12%). The remaining dry ingredients can be admixed in granular powder form with the spray 5 dried granules in a rotary mixing drum and the liquid ingredients (e.g. enzymes, binders and perrumes) can be sprayed onto the resulting granules to form the finished detergent ~ , Granular f~ according to the present invention can also be in "compact form", i.e. greater than about 600 BII In such case, thegranular detergent . according to the present invention wal contain a o lower amount of "inorganic filler salt", compared to LU..~ granular detergents; typical filler salts are alkali earth metal salts of sulfates and chlorides, typically sodium sulfate; "compact" detergents typically comprise not more than 10%
filler salt.
Liquid detergent , can be prepared by admi~ing the essential and 15 optional ingredients thereof in any desired order to provide c~ ,u- ~ containing ~----r ' in the requisite ~ Liquid ~ according to the present invention can also be in "compact form." In such case, the liquid detergent according to the present invention will contain a lower amount of water, compared to ..v.... ' liquid detergents.
r~o The , of the present invention are formulated so as to have a pH of at least about 6.5, preferably greater than about 7 in the laundry solution at cu...~ ' usage in order to optimize cleaning 1~, r on greasy and oily soils; acidic wash solution pH's tend to decrease p~ . ' on suchSOaS. Preferably, the ~ - herein are more alkaline in nature when placed in ~s the laundry solution and have a pH of greater than about 7.5. Some of the ~l;ù~fiJb~ systems of the present invention will attain optimum removal of greasy/oay soils at these higher pH's In such systems, overall ~..ru. may be improved by varying the wash solution pH during the laundering process.
The .<-~ :';- should generally be free of Oay ~J~uw~bu~ materials, such 30 as many dry cleaning solvents, mineral oil, paraffln oil and kerosene, because these materials (which are themselves oily in nature) load the washing liquor with excessive oily material, thereby diminishing the cleaning ~ . "..,., of the ~ ; --- of this invention.
The cationic component should also be free of ~J.' ' ' groups due to their 3s relatively high toxicity level which makes them unsuitable for use in the ~. ~l--~;~;--oftbis invention~

~W095/33033 _ 21 _ ~191318 r~
Preferred , contain sarcosinate to cationic surfactant ratios of îrom 5.1:1 10 about 50:1, preferably from about 6:1 to about 40:1, particuiarly from al~out 6:1 to about 20:1. Greasy and oii soil remoYai is greatly enhanced at ratios ben1veen about 8:1 to about 20:1, the , c,.. in l,..ru. generaily being most - s noticeabie as the amount of sarcosinate is increased so that the ratio of sarcosinale to cationic surfactant becomes greater than 5.1:1 and approaches 8:1.
(F) Fabric I ~nr~Prin~r An~ r~ " A~ prorrcc The present invention aiso provides a process for laundering fabrics soiled lhith greasy/oily stains or soil. Such a process employs contacting these fabrics witil an lo aqueous washing solution formed from an effective amount of the deter~ent c~,...l.c.~ - h~ b~ u~ described. Contacting of fabrics with washing solution will generally occur under conditions of agitation.
Agitation is preferably provided in a washing machine for good cleaning.
Washing is preferably followed by drying the wet fabric in a ,U...~ ;ul~di clothes 15 dryer. An effective amount of the iiquid or granular detergent 1, in the aqueous wash solution in the washing machine is preferably from about 500 to about lOOûO ppm, more preferably from about 1000 to 30ûO ppm.
The detergent r , ' herein may aiso be used to pretreat fab~ ics containing greasy/oily soiis or stains prior to washing such fabrics using Cu..~ ;ul~l 20 aqueous washing solutions. Such !,.ei.l involves the appiication of highiy 1 forms of the detergent ~ -. - herein directly onto the grerAsy or oily stains or soils found on the fabric to be cleaned. For I , ' herein in iiquid or gel form, this will generally involve the direct application of the as is to the stain/soil on the fabric. For detergent ~ . herein in granular 2s form, y~cllc involves the application of an aqueous paste formed from sulch granular products. Aqueous pastes of this type will generaily contain from about 1%
to 5û% water, preferably from about 5% to 20% water.
of greaSy/oily stains or soils will generaily occur for a period of from about 30 seconds to 24 hours prior to washing the pretreated ! " "`' ' 30 substrate in LU..~_...;U~I~d manner. More preferably, y.cl,~,,...~.., times will range from about I to 180 minutes.
ExAMpT F.~
The following examples alustrate the ~ u- :~ ;....~ of the present invention bult are not necessarily meant to limit or otherwise define the scope of the invention.
3s EXA~PT ~- I
, Several iiquid detergent r l,~ ;. are prepared. The fn~l~ irm for these ~ ~l c,~ - are set forth in Table 1.

W0 9~i/33a33 ~ 2:19~ 3 i ~ - 22 - r~l"~
T.ie~lirl Deter~ent Culllvua;~iu..~
Wt. %
Cûm-vonent ~ B C D
sOleoyl sarcosinate lû.0 9.0 3.0 10.0 P ' j' " yl ~,i.. ~h,' 5.0 - 2.3 ---chioride 2co; yl i , --- 4.0 --- 3.
0chioride C12-CIs Aikyl ethûxylated sulfate 13.0 14.0 14.0 15.0 C12-Cl4 N-methyl glucamide 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 C12-Cl4 Fatty alcohol ethoxylate 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 C12-Cl6 Fatty acid 9.0 6.8 14.0 14.0 15Citric acid anhydrûus 6.0 4.5 3.5 3 5 Diethylene triamine penta acetic 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 acid (DTPP) Mr~nn~ ' ~ 13.2 12.7 12.8 11.0 ~i r12.7 14.5 13.1 10.0 20Ethanol 1.8 1.8 4.7 5.4 Enzymes (protease, lipase, ceDulase) 2.4 2.4 2.0 2.0 Tc.~, ' ' ' -based polymer 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Boric acid 2.4 2.4 2.8 2.8 2-butyl-octanol 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2s3DC 3421 R 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 linopal UNPA-GX Brightener 0.075 0.21 -- ---Tinopal 5BM-GX Brightener -- -- 0.21 0.075 Water ~ minors ., to 10u3 30ICulllllr_~ "J available as ADOGEN 444.
2Cc,.,.,.,~ available as ADOGEN 461.
3DC 3421 is a silicone oil ~Ullb....l '1~ available from Dow Corning.
4Is a silicone glycol emulsifier availabie ~om Dow Corning.
The , described in Table I are suitable for laundering fabrics soiled 3s with grease or oil using aqueous washing solutions formed from such ~
The ..~ of Table I are aiso especially effective for pretreating fabrics with greasy or oily stains. To effect such ~l~Ll~aLl.~l~, greasy/oily stains and soiis on the -23 2191~18 .
fabrics are contacted with the full strength Table I liquid f.o...~ for 30 Ininutes prior to washing the fabrics in a CU..._.Il;u~l fabric laundering process.
C.~ having ' "~ similar greasy/oily soil removal E~ ~
properties are realized when in the above, . the cationic surfact21nts arereplaced with an equivalent amount of decylalkyl ~.;I.. _;I~J' chloride, decylalkyl i ',' ' hydroxide, C14 alkyl ~,;............ _~h,' clhloride,d;~ yl ~ ' chloride, I~;df~_~' " yl ',' ' chloride, a mixture of methyl (I) tallowalkyl amido ethyl (2) tallowalkyl ' ' ' '' methyl sulfate (VARISOFT 475) together with " yl ~ lIJ' f.,hloride (ADOGEN 461) in a ratio of VARISOFT to ADOGEN of about 1:1, 3:3, 3:1, 2:3, or 1:3, or a mixture of I ' '~J' " yl ~.i..,..l~.,: ' chloride with ~ ' " yl ~,;"._~h,' chloride in a ratio of palmityl to coconut compound of about 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3, or any surfactant ful~ to any of the following formulae:

wo ss/33033 . ~! 1 g I 3 i ~ 24 1~ r Cl8H37--C`+ f CH3 ClsH37 Cl H3 HOH4C2--N--C2H4OH--cr;
C12H2~

Cl7H3s--C--O--CH2CH2--N--CH3 13r~

Cl4H2g--O--C--CH2CH2--C--O--CH2CH2--111--CH3 cr;
Cl- CH:~H2--CH2~C~CH2)10l~--CH2CH2--1~+ CH3 cr;

Cl H3 Cl2H2s--O(CH2CH20)~CH2--C--O--CH2CH2--N--CH3 ~r or ~H3 CloH2,--O(CH2CH2O)lo--C--CH2--N--CH3 cr F~Ak~LE II
Seversl compsct grsnulsr detergent , are prepsred. The 0 I~ for these c.. ~ sre set forth in Tsble 11.
TABLE II
(` ' Deten~nt (~~", ,;"~
Wt.%
~, A ~ ~
15 Oleoyl ssrcosinate ~.8 6.1 10.2 F ' h, ' yl i , 1.0 ~ 1.0 SUBSTITUTE SHET (RULE 26) ~wos5/33033 -24/l-~ ,2~ ,3 ~ 8 chloride 2c~ . .. I j . ,, 1.2 chloride CII-C14Linearallylbenzenesulfonate 6.17 ---SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) WO95/33033 2191318 r~l,.x . ~

C12-C1s Alkyl alkoxylated sulfate 4.0 ~
C12-C14 N-methyl glucamide . --- -- 1.0 C4s alkyl sulfate ~ ~ 3.00 3.00 3.00 C4s alcohol 7 times ethoxylated 4.00 4.00 4.00 sTaUowalcohol 11 timesethoxylated 1 80 1.80 1.80 Dispersant 0.07 0.07 0.07 Silicone fluid 0.80 0.80 0.80 Trisodium citrate 14.00 14.00 14.00 Citric acid 3.00 3.00 3.00 10Zeolite 32.50 32.50 32.50 Maleic acid acrylic acid copolymer 5.00 5.00 5.00 Cellulase (active protein) 0.03 0.03 0.03 Alkalase/BAN 0.60 0.60 0.60 Lipase 0.36 0.36 0.36 sSodium silicate 2.00 2.00 2.00 Sodium sulfate 3.50 3.50 3.50 Brightener 0.20 0.20 0.20 Water & minors -------Balance to 100%-------ICu~ available as ADOGEN 444.
20 2C~ , available as ADOGEN 461.
The .,u,.,uc.,;Liu..~ described in Table TI are suitable for laundering fabrics soiled with grease or oil using aqueous washing solutions formed from such C~ , having ' '1~ similar greasy/oily soil removal I c~
properties are realized when m the above , ` the cationic surfactants are 2s replaced with an equivalent amount of decylalkyl i ~' chloride, decylalkyl i ~' hydroxide, C14 alkyl i `,' chloride, d;~ ' " yl .. ;.. ~,lhJ' chloride, I~ J~ '` yl ' ,' chloride, a mrxture of methyl (I) tallowalkyl amido ethyl (2) tallowalkyl ' " methyl sulfate (VARISOFT 475) together with ,,~. " yl i ' ,' chloride 30 (ADOGEN 461) in a ratio of VARISOFT to ADOGEN of about 1:1, 3:3, 3:1, 2:3, or 1:3, or a mixture of I ' ~' " yl i ' ~' chloride with ,u- " yl i ' ' J' ' chloride in a ratio of palmityl to coconut compound of about 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3, or any surfactant .,u.,~ -r ~- ~ to any of the following formulae:

~vo gsl33033 219 13 l ~ , .

Cl8H3,--C`+

CH3~ \C H

HOH4C2--N+ C2H4oH--Cl-Cl2H25 1l CH3 Cl7H35--C--O--CH2CH2--Nl--CH3 ~r ;
Cl4H29--O--C--CH2CH2--C--O--CH2CH2--Nl--CH3 cr;
Cl CH~--CH2--CH2~--C--(CH2)l0--C~--CH2CH2~--CH3 cr;

~p CH3 C12H25--O(CH2CH20)~CH2--C--O--CH2CH2--Nl--CH3 1~ and CloH21--O(CH2CH20)lo--C--CH2--N--CH3 cr

Claims (12)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A detergent composition especially useful for removing greasy/oil stains fromfabrics during fabric laundry operations, which composition comprises from 5% to 100%
of a surfactant mixture comprising:
(a) an oleoyl sarcosinate surfactant of the formula:
C17H33C(O)N(CH3)CH2COOM
wherein M is H or a cationic moiety; and (b) a cationic surfactant which is free of hydrazinium groups and which has the formula Rm1RxYLZ
wherein each R1 is an organic group containing a straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl group optionally substituted with up to 3 phenyl or hydroxy groups and optionally interrupted by up to 4 structures from and mixtures thereof, each R1 containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, and which may additionally contain up to 12 ethylene oxide groups; m is a number from 1 to 3;
each R is an alkyl or hydroxy alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group, with no more than one R in a molecule being benzyl; x is from 0 to 11, the remainder of any carbon atom positions being filled by hydrogens; Y is selected from , , , wherein p is from 1 to 12, , wherein each p is from 1 to 12, , and and mixtures thereof;
L is 1 or 2, the Y groups being separated by a moiety selected from R1 and R
analogs having from one to twenty-two carbon atoms and 2 free carbon single bonds when L is 2, and Z is an anion in a number sufficient to give electrical neutrality, wherein the ratio of oleoyl sarcosinate surfactant to cationic surfactant ranges from 1:1 to 100:1; and wherein said composition provides an aqueous washing solution pH of at least 6.5.

2. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein (a) in the formula for the oleoyl sarcosinate, M is selected from sodium and potassium;
and (b) in the formula for the cationic surfactant, L is equal to 1.

3. A composition according to either Claims 1 or 2 wherein (a) the sarcosinate/cationic surfactant mixture comprises from 10% to 95% of the composition; and (b) in the formula for the cationic surfactant, p is from 1 to 10 and Y is selected from , , and ; and (c) the ratio of sarcosinate to cationic surfactant ranges from 5.1:1 to 50:1.

4. A composition according to any of Claims 1-3 wherein in the formula for the cationic surfactant Y is .

5. A composition according to any of Claims 1-4 wherein in the formula for the cationic surfactant, m is 1; x is 3; R1 is a C10 to C18 alkyl group and each R2 is a methyl group.

6. A composition according to any of Claims 1-4 wherein in the formula for the cationic surfactant, m is 2; x is 2; each R1 is a C10 to C20 alkyl group and each R2 is a methyl group.

7. A composition according to any of Claims 1-3 wherein the cationic surfactant is a choline ester derivative of the formula:
wherein R2 is C5 to C30 straight or branched chain alkyl, alkenyl or alkylphenyl and x is an anion selected from halide, methylsulfate, sulfate and nitrate.

8. A composition according to Claim 7 wherein is selected from stearoyl, palmitoyl, myristoyl and tallowyl.

9. A detergent composition especially useful for removing greasy/oily stains from fabrics during fabric laundry operations, which composition comprises from 20% to 90%
of a surfactant mixture comprising:
(a) an oleoyl sarcosinate surfactant of the formula:
C17H33C(O)N(CH3)CH2COOM
wherein M is H or a cationic moiety; and (b) a cationic surfactant selected from coconutalkyl trimethylammonium chloride,palmitylalkyl trimethylammonium chloride, decylalkyl trimethylammonium chloride,decylalkyl trimethylammonium hydroxide, C14 alkyl trimethylammonium chloride, distearylalkyl dimethylammonium chloride, tridecylalkyl methylammonium chloride,mixtures of methyl (1) tallowalkyl amido ethyl (2) tallowalkyl imidazolinium methyl sulfate and coconutalkyl trimethylammonium chloride in a ratio of methyl sulfate to chloride of 1:1, 3:3, 3:1, 2:3, or 1:3, mixtures of palmitylalkyl trimethylammonium chloride with coconutalkyl trimethylammonium chloride in a ratio of palmityl to coconut compound of 3:1; 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, or 1:3, and any cationic surfactant corresponding to any of the following formulae:

;
;
;
;
;
and .
wherein the ratio of oleoyl sarcosinate surfactant to cationic surfactant range from about 5.1:1 to 50:1, and wherein said composition provide an aqueous washing solution pH of at least about 7.5.

10. A detergent composition according to Claim 9 which in addition to the sarcosinate/cationic surfactant mixture also comprises:

(a) from about 5% to 50% by weight of an additional detersive surfactant selected from i) sodium and potassium alkylpolyethoxylate sulfates wherein the allyl group contains from 10 to 22 carbon atoms and the polyethoxylate chain contains from 1 to 15 ethylene oxide moieties;
ii) sodium and potassium C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulfonates;
iii) sodium and potassium C8 to C18 alkyl sulfates;

iv) nonionic surfactants of the formula R1(OC2H4)nOH wherein R1 is a C10 - C16 alkyl group or a C8 - C12 alkylphenyl group and n is from 3 to 80;
v) polyhydroxy fatty acid amides of the formula wherein R is a C9-17 alkyl or alkenyl, R1 is a preferably a methyl or 3-methoxypropyl group and Z is glycityl derived from a reduced sugar or alkoxylated derivative thereof; and vi) combinations of these surfactants; and (b) from 1% to 50% by weight of a detergent builder selected from sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, crystalline layered silicates, aluminosilicates, oxydisuccinates and citrates.

11. A detergent composition according to any of Claims 1-10 which also comprisesfrom 0.001% to 5% by weight of an enzyme component selected from proteases, lipases, amylases, cellulases and combinations of said enzymes.

12. A composition according to any of Claims 1-11 which additionally contains up to 80% of the composition of one or more detergent composition adjuvants selected from suds boosters, suds supressors, anti-tarnish and anti-corrosion agents, soil suspending agents, soil release agents, germicides, pH adjustment agents, non-builder alkalinity sources, chelating agents, smectite clays, hardness ions, enzyme-stabilizing agents, hydrotropes, carrier liquids, perfumes, optical brighteners and dye transfer inhibition agents.