CN116194561A

CN116194561A - Detergent granule

Info

Publication number: CN116194561A
Application number: CN202080103352.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 徐丹; 赵玥
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 2020-09-01
Filing date: 2020-09-01
Publication date: 2023-05-30
Also published as: EP4208529A1; DE112020007575T5; GB2612482A; MX2023002188A; WO2022047604A1; GB202300779D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a detergent granule comprising from 30% to 95% by weight of the detergent granule of an alkyl sulphate having a branched or linear non-alkoxylated alkyl group comprising from 6 to 16 carbon atoms; and from about 2% to about 50% by weight of the detergent granule of amine oxide.

Description

Detergent granule

Technical Field

The present invention relates to detergent particles useful in the preparation of cleaning products, especially granular detergent products.

Background

Has been found to have C ₆ -C ₁₆ The branched or unbranched, non-alkoxylated alkyl group of the medium-cut alkyl sulfate (MCAS or AS) is effective in sudsing boosting when used AS a co-surfactant in cleaning compositions, especially dry laundry detergent compositions. For example, WO2009010911 discloses the use of MCAS for promoting suds in LAS-based surfactant systems and forming detergent compositions having reduced total surfactant content, but without significantly deteriorating the sudsing profile of the detergent composition. However, the more enhanced sudsing boosting effect is that of hand washing the fabricAs desired by the consumer. In particular, these consumers consider a large amount of suds in the wash as the primary and most desirable signal for cleaning. Thus, there remains a need for detergent compositions capable of generating more suds during washing.

Amine oxides (e.g., alkyl dimethyl amine oxides) are very widely used as co-surfactants in consumer products such as shampoos, conditioners, and detergent products to provide suds boosting benefits. However, amine oxides are mainly used in detergent products in liquid form, but are not generally used in dry detergent products. Although efforts have been made to incorporate amine oxides into dry detergent products, they have failed due to certain technical challenges. In particular, the spray drying process and agglomeration process are two main processes for preparing dry detergent products. Amine oxides have poor thermal stability and therefore lead to processing difficulties during spray drying. While during the agglomeration process, the amino oxide present in liquid/solution form may have negative interactions with other ingredients (e.g., LAS) in the dry detergent product and result in particles that have poor flowability and are difficult to handle.

Accordingly, there is a need to address the above-described problems of incorporating sudsing enhancing surfactants, such as amine oxides, into dry detergent compositions to provide advantageous or more desirable sudsing characteristics, but without simultaneously degrading the flowability of the detergent composition.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has surprisingly and unexpectedly found that by preparing detergent granules comprising MCAS and amine oxide, amine oxide can be successfully added to dry detergent products and the suds boosting effect is significantly enhanced. Furthermore, when such detergent particles comprise MCAS and amine oxide in a preferred weight ratio (e.g., about 20:1 to about 1:1), a more desirable sudsing boosting effect may be achieved.

It is expected that detergent particles comprising MCAS and amine oxide may provide comparable or even superior flowability compared to detergent particles without the addition of amine oxide.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a cleaning composition comprising from about 0.1% to about 50%, preferably from 0.2% to 30%, more preferably from 0.3% to 20% by weight of such cleaning composition of the above-described detergent particles.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the above cleaning composition for laundering fabrics.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention.

Detailed Description

The features and advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, which includes examples intended to give a broad representation of the specific embodiments of the invention. Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this description and from the practice of the invention. It is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific form disclosed, and that the invention cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

As used herein, articles such as "a" and "an" when used in the claims are understood to mean one or more of the substance being protected or described by the claims. The terms "comprising," "including," and "containing" are intended to be non-limiting.

As used herein, the term "particles" refers to minute amounts of solid matter, such as powders, granules, encapsulates, microcapsules, and/or prills. The particles of the present invention may be regular or irregular shaped spheres, rods, plates, tubes, cubes, discs, stars or flakes, but they are non-fibrous. The particles of the present invention may have a median particle size of about 2000 μm or less as measured according to the median particle size test described herein. Preferably, the particles of the present invention have a median particle size in the range of from about 1 μm to about 2000 μm, more preferably from about 10 μm to about 1800 μm, still more preferably from about 50 μm to about 1700 μm, yet more preferably from about 100 μm to about 1500 μm, yet more preferably from about 250 μm to about 1000 μm, most preferably from about 300 μm to about 800 μm, as measured according to the median particle size test described herein.

As used herein, the term "detergent granule" refers to a granule containing one or more detersive actives including, but not limited to, surfactants, bleaching agents, enzymes, polymers, chelating agents, and combinations thereof.

As used herein, unless otherwise indicated, the term "cleaning composition" includes multipurpose or "heavy duty" detergents in particulate or powder form, especially cleaning detergents for fabrics, as well as cleaning adjuvants such as bleaches, rinse aids, additives or pretreatment types; hand dishwashing detergents or light duty dishwashing detergents, especially those of the high sudsing type; machine dishwashing detergent; mouthwashes, denture cleaners, car or carpet cleaners, bathroom cleaners; hair shampoos and hair rinses; shower gels and foam baths and metal cleaners; and cleaning aids such as bleach additives or pre-treatments. In a preferred aspect, the cleaning composition is a solid laundry detergent composition, and more preferably is a free-flowing particulate laundry detergent composition (i.e., a particulate laundry detergent product).

As used herein, the term "median particle size" refers to the midpoint of the particle size distribution of the detergent particles, as measured by the screening test as disclosed herein.

As used herein, the term "aspect ratio" refers to the ratio of the largest diameter of an article to the smallest diameter of such an article that is orthogonal to the largest diameter.

As used herein, the term "water-soluble" refers to a solubility of greater than about 25 grams per liter (g/L) of deionized water measured at 20 ℃ and atmospheric pressure.

As used herein, the term "consisting essentially of …" means that the composition contains less than about 1%, preferably less than about 0.5%, of ingredients other than those listed.

Furthermore, the term "substantially free", "substantially free" or "substantially free" means that the indicated material is present in an amount of from 0 wt% to about 0.5 wt%, or preferably from 0 wt% to about 0.1 wt%, or more preferably from 0 wt% to about 0.01 wt%, and most preferably it is not present at an analytically detectable level. The term "substantially pure" or "substantially pure" means that the indicated material is present in an amount of from about 99.5 wt% to about 100 wt%, preferably from about 99.9 wt% to about 100 wt%, and more preferably from 99.99 wt% to about 100 wt%, and most preferably all other materials are present only as impurities below the analytically detectable level.

MCAS

The AS surfactants used in the detergent particles of the present invention comprise branched or straight chain non-alkoxylated alkyl groups containing from about 6 to about 18 carbon atoms and are therefore also referred to AS mid-cut AS or MCAS.

Preferably, AS has the general formula R-O-SO ₃ ^- M ⁺ Wherein R is a branched or straight chain non-alkoxylated C ₆ -C ₁₆ An alkyl group, and M is an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation, or an ammonium cation. More preferably, the R group of the AS surfactant contains from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms, and most preferably from about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms. R may be substituted or unsubstituted, and is preferably unsubstituted. R is essentially free of any degree of alkoxylation. M is preferably a sodium cation, a potassium cation, or a magnesium cation, and more preferably M is a sodium cation.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the detergent granules of the present invention contain C ₆ -C ₁₆ Mixtures of AS surfactants, wherein C ₈ -C ₁₄ The AS surfactant is present in an amount ranging from about 85% to about 100% by total weight of the mixture. The mixture may be referred to as "C-rich ₈ -C ₁₄ AS mixture). More preferably, such C-rich ₈ -C ₁₄ The AS mixture contains about 90 wt.% to about 100 wt.%, or 92 wt.% to about 98 wt.%, or about 94 wt.% to about 96 wt.%, or 100 wt.% (i.e., pure) C ₈ -C ₁₄ AS。

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detergent granule comprises a detergent composition having a weight of from about 30% to about 100% or from about 50% to about 99%, preferably from about 60% to about 95%,more preferably from about 65 wt% to about 90 wt%, and most preferably from about 70 wt% to about 80 wt% C ₁₂ C of AS ₆ -C ₁₆ Mixtures of AS surfactants. Furthermore, such C ₆ -C ₁₆ The mixture of AS surfactants may contain about 10 wt% to about 100 wt%, preferably 15 wt% to about 50 wt%, and more preferably 20 wt% to about 30 wt% C ₁₄ AS. The mixture may be referred to as "C-rich ₁₂ -C ₁₄ AS mixture).

In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the detergent granule comprises a detergent composition consisting essentially of C ₁₂ And/or C ₁₄ AS surfactants a mixture of AS surfactants. For example, a mixture of such AS surfactants may consist essentially of about 70 wt% to about 80 wt% C ₁₂ AS and 20 wt% to about 30 wt% C ₁₄ AS composition with little or no other surfactant. Such mixtures may also consist of substantially pure C ₁₂ AS, or alternatively substantially pure C ₁₄ AS composition.

Commercially available AS mixtures which are particularly suitable for carrying out the invention are

V95G from Cognis (Monheim, germany).

Furthermore, the detergent particles of the present invention may contain C ₆ -C ₁₆ Mixtures of AS surfactants comprising more than about 50 wt%, preferably more than about 60 wt%, more preferably more than 70 wt% or 80 wt%, and most preferably more than 90 wt% or even 100 wt% (i.e., substantially pure) of linear AS surfactants having an even number of carbon atoms, including, for example, C ₆ 、C ₈ 、C ₁₀ 、C ₁₂ 、C ₁₄ And C ₁₆ AS surfactants.

As described C ₆ -C ₁₆ Mixtures of AS surfactants can be readily obtained by sulphonating alcohols having the corresponding number of carbon atoms. The desired carbon chain length distribution can be obtained by using alcohols having a corresponding chain length distribution, which alcohols are subjected toSynthetic preparation or extraction/purification from natural sources, or by mixing the corresponding pure starting materials. For example, C ₆ -C ₁₆ Mixtures of AS surfactants may be derived from naturally occurring triglycerides (such AS those contained in palm kernel oil or coconut oil) AS follows: such triglycerides are chemically treated to form a mixture of long chain alcohols, which are then sulphonated to form AS surfactants. The mixture of alcohols derived from naturally occurring triglycerides typically contains greater than about 20% by weight of C ₁₆ -C ₁₆ An alcohol. To form the desired C as described above ₆ -C ₁₆ Mixtures of AS surfactants, which may be separated from the initial mixture prior to the sulfonation step, contain a relatively low proportion of C ₁₆ -C ₁₆ Mixtures of alcohols. Alternatively, desired C ₆ -C ₁₆ Mixtures of AS surfactants can be readily obtained by separating and purifying the AS mixture that has been formed. Suitable isolation and purification methods include, but are not limited to: distillation, centrifugation, recrystallization, and chromatographic separation.

The amount of AS surfactant present in the detergent particles of the present invention may range from about 50 wt% to about 95 wt%, and preferably from about 75 wt% to about 90 wt%, based on the total weight of the detergent particles. With this high level of one or more AS surfactants, the detergent particles of the present invention exhibit high detergency and very good dissolution characteristics. In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detergent granule comprises from about 75 wt% to about 90 wt%, preferably from about 80 wt% to about 86 wt% of an AS mixture consisting essentially of from about 70 wt% to about 80 wt% of C ₁₂ AS and 20 wt% to about 30 wt% C ₁₄ AS composition.

Amine oxide

Amine oxides are amphoteric/zwitterionic surfactants useful in detergent products. Typically, amine oxides are synthesized from long chain fatty molecules derived from, for example, lauric acid containing triglyceride oils, such as coconut oil or palm kernel oil. The amine oxide used in the detergent particles of the present invention may comprise an alkyl amine oxide. The amine oxides used in the detergent particles of the present invention may have the formula (I):

wherein R is ₁ Is C _8-22 Alkyl, C _8-22 Hydroxyalkyl, C _8-22 Alkylphenyl, or R ₄ -X-R ₅ -a group; wherein R is ₄ Is C _8-22 Alkyl group, R ₅ Is C _1-3 An alkylene group, and X is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of: aminocarbonyl, carbonylamino, carbonyloxy, oxycarbonyloxy, aminocarbonylamino, combinations and derivatives thereof; OY is an alkoxy moiety selected from the group consisting of: ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, and combinations thereof; m is 0 to 3; r is R ₂ And R is ₃ Independently selected from C _1-3 Alkyl group, C _1-3 Hydroxyalkyl groups, and combinations thereof.

Preferably, R in formula (I) ₁ Is C _10-18 Alkyl or R ₄ -X-R ₅ -a group wherein R ₄ Is C _10-18 Alkyl, R ₅ Is an ethylene or propylene group, and X is a carbonylamino group; OY is an ethoxy or propoxy group; m is 0 to 3; r is R ₂ And R is ₃ Independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 1-hydroxypropyl, 3-hydroxypropyl groups, and combinations thereof.

Preferably, the amine oxide used in the detergent particles of the present invention may be selected from C _10-18 Alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, C _8-16 Alkyl ethoxy dihydroxyethyl amine oxide, C _10-18 Alkylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide, and combinations thereof. More preferably, the amine oxide surfactant of the present invention is C _12-16 Alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, C _12-16 Alkylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide, or a combination thereof. More preferably, the amine oxide may be cocoalkyl dimethyl amine oxide, alkylamidopropylamine N-oxide, lauryl amine oxide, or any combination thereof.

The amine oxide is present in the detergent particle in a range of from about 2% to about 50% by weight, preferably from about 4% to about 40%, more preferably from about 5% to about 35%, based on the total weight of the detergent particle.

Detergent granule

The detergent particles of the present invention may comprise (a) from about 30% to about 95% of an Alkyl Sulfate (AS) having a branched or straight chain non-alkoxylated alkyl group comprising from 6 to 16 carbon atoms; and (b) from about 2% to about 50% amine oxide. Preferably, the weight ratio of the AS to the amine oxide is from about 20:1 to about 1:1. For example, the weight ratio of AS to amine oxide is from about 15:1 to about 1.5:1, alternatively from about 12:1 to about 1.8:1. Preferably, the weight ratio of AS to amine oxide in the detergent particles of the present invention is from about 10:1 to about 2:1, more preferably from about 9:1 to about 2.5:1, and most preferably from about 8:1 to about 3:1. In a preferred embodiment, the detergent granule comprises C ₁₀ -C ₁₄ Linear or branched non-alkoxylated Alkyl Sulphates (AS) and C ₁₀ -C ₁₆ Alkyl dimethylamine, N-oxide. In another preferred embodiment, the detergent granule comprises C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ Linear or branched non-alkoxylated Alkyl Sulphates (AS) and C ₁₀ -C ₁₆ Alkyl dimethylamine, N-oxide.

Water-soluble salt

The detergent particles of the present invention may further comprise from 0% to 30% of a water soluble salt. The water-soluble salt used in the detergent particles of the present invention may be selected from sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, sodium silicate, and combinations thereof. Preferably, the water soluble salt is selected from sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate or a combination thereof.

The amount of water-soluble salt present in the detergent particles of the present invention may range from about 0.5 wt% to about 20 wt%, preferably from about 1 wt% to 15 wt%, and more preferably from about 2 wt% to about 10 wt%. The addition of a water-soluble salt may help to improve the flowability of the particles, making them easy to handle during storage, transportation and manufacture. On the other hand, if the detergent particles contain too high an amount of water-soluble salt, it may be necessary to reduce the amount of MCAS and amine oxide surfactant in such detergent particles, which is undesirable.

Water content

The detergent particles of the present invention may contain from about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%, preferably from about 1.5 wt% to about 4 wt%, more preferably from about 2 wt% to about 3 wt% water. Too much water in the detergent granule can adversely affect its flowability and handleability.

Other ingredients

The detergent particles of the present invention may contain one or more other ingredients such as silica, zeolite, other surfactants, enzymes, bleach activators, chelants, perfumes, dyes, fluorescent materials and the like.

Preferably, the detergent particles of the present invention consist essentially of MCAS described above, amine oxide, water soluble salts and water. More preferably, the detergent particles of the present invention are substantially free of other ingredients.

Size and shape of detergent particles

The detergent particles of the present invention may be characterized by a median particle size in the range of about 20 μm to about 2000 μm, preferably about 200 μm to about 100 μm, more preferably about 250 μm to about 600 μm.

Furthermore, it may be characterized by an aspect ratio of not more than 2, preferably not more than 1.5, more preferably not more than 1.2, most preferably not more than 1.1. The detergent particles of the present invention preferably have a spherical or substantially spherical shape for further improving their flowability and handleability during storage and transportation.

Cleaning composition

The detergent particles of the present invention may be used alone for cleaning, but preferably they are combined with other particles to form a cleaning composition, such as a particulate laundry detergent product.

In one aspect, the detergent particles are typically present at about 0.1 wt% to about 50 wt%, preferably about 0.2 wt% to about 40 wt%, or about 0.3 wt% to about 30 wt%, alternatively about 0.5 wt% to about 20 wt%, or about 0.5 wt% to about 15 wt%, by weight of the cleaning composition; more preferably from about 0.5 wt% to about 10 wt%, or from about 0.8 wt% to about 8 wt% is added to the cleaning composition. Preferably, the cleaning composition is a granular detergent composition.

The detergent particles of the present invention may be combined with other particles such as: surfactant particles, such as anionic detersive surfactant particles (especially those containing LAS), including agglomerates and extrudates, nonionic detersive surfactant particles, including agglomerates or extrudates, and cationic detersive surfactant particles, including agglomerates and extrudates; enzyme particles; perfume particles, including agglomerates or extrudates of perfume microcapsules, and perfume encapsulates such as starch encapsulated perfume accord particles; polymer particles including soil release polymer particles, cellulose polymer particles; buffer particles, including carbonate and/or silicate particles, preferably particles comprising carbonate and silicate, such as sodium carbonate and sodium silicate co-particles, and particles and sodium bicarbonate; other spray-dried particles; fluorescent whitening particles; aesthetic particles, such as colored bars or needles or lamellar particles; bleaching particles such as percarbonate particles, in particular coated percarbonate particles, including carbonate and/or sulfate coated percarbonate, silicate coated percarbonate, borosilicate coated percarbonate, sodium perborate coated percarbonate; bleach catalyst particles, such as transition metal catalyst bleach particles and imine bleach boosting particles; preforming the peracid particles; hueing dye particles; and any mixtures thereof.

In addition to the detergent particles described above, the cleaning composition of the present invention may further comprise one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of: (1) a C10-C20 Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS); (2) A C10-C20 linear or branched Alkyl Alkoxylated Sulfate (AAS), (3) a nonionic surfactant, and (4) combinations thereof. In addition to the detergent granules described above, preference is given toThe cleaning composition of the present invention further comprises C ₁₀ -C ₂₀ Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates (LAS), and more preferably, such cleaning compositions also comprise fatty acids or salts thereof. The MCAS-containing detergent particles of the present invention can interact with such LAS and fatty acids/salts to provide improved sudsing profile.

It may also be particularly preferred that the cleaning composition comprises a low level of builder, or even is substantially free of builder. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning composition is free of builder.

Application method

The cleaning compositions are generally used for cleaning and/or treating a locus, especially a surface or fabric. As used herein, "surface" may include such surfaces as dishes, glass, and other cooking surfaces, hard surfaces, hair, or skin. Such a method comprises the steps of: an embodiment of the cleaning composition (either in pure form or diluted in a wash liquor) is contacted with at least a portion of a surface or fabric, and such surface or fabric is then optionally rinsed. The surface or fabric may be subjected to a washing step prior to the rinsing step described above. For the purposes of the present invention, "washing" includes, but is not limited to, scrubbing, wiping, and mechanical agitation.

The composition solution pH is selected to be most suitable for the target surface to be cleaned, from a wide range of pH spanning from about 5 to about 11. For personal care such as skin and hair cleansing, the pH of such compositions preferably has a pH of from about 5 to about 8, and for laundry cleaning compositions preferably has a pH of from about 8 to about 10. The composition is preferably used at a concentration of about 200ppm to about 10,000ppm in solution. The water temperature is preferably in the range of about 5 ℃ to about 100 ℃.

In one aspect, a method of laundering fabrics using the cleaning compositions of the present invention is disclosed. The method may comprise the step of contacting the fabric to be laundered with a cleaning composition or a wash liquor formed therefrom. The fabric may comprise any fabric that is capable of being laundered under normal consumer use conditions.

The cleaning compositions herein are particularly useful in a hand washing environment. It can also be used in beaten washing using top-loaded or front-loaded automatic washing machines.

The cleaning composition may be used at a concentration of about 500ppm to about 15,000ppm in solution, and more dilute wash conditions may optionally be used. Optionally, 50g or less, or 45g or less, or 40g or less, or 35g or less, or 30g or less, or 25g or less, or 20g or less, or even 15g or less, or even 10g or less of the cleaning composition is dissolved in water to form a wash liquor. The wash liquor preferably has a pH of about 8 to about 10.5. The wash liquor may comprise 40 litres or less of water, or 30 litres or less, or 20 litres or less, or 10 litres or less, or 8 litres or less, or even 6 litres or less of water. The wash liquor may comprise from above 0 litres to 15 litres, or 2 litres and to 12 litres, or even to 8 litres of water. In the case of dilute wash conditions, the wash liquor may comprise 150 liters or less of water, 100 liters or less of water, 60 liters or less of water, or 50 liters or less of water, especially for hand wash conditions, and may depend on the number of rinses. The ratio of water to fabric is typically from about 1:1 to about 30:1. Typically, between 0.01Kg and 2Kg of fabric per liter of wash liquor is dosed into the wash liquor.

Preferably, the cleaning composition is useful in hard water conditions wherein the water hardness is between about 17ppm to about 600 ppm; or about 34ppm to about 340ppm; or about 51ppm to about 300ppm of hard water ions such as Ca ²⁺ 、Mg ⁺ Etc., or such as Ca ²⁺ And Mg (magnesium) ²⁺ . It is also preferred that the cleaning composition be used at cold water temperatures, wherein the temperature is from about 5 ℃ to about 40 ℃, or from about 20 ℃ to about 30 ℃, or from about 15 ℃ to about 25 ℃, and all other combinations in the range of about 15 ℃ to about 35 ℃, and all ranges in the range of 10 ℃ to 40 ℃.

Test method

The following techniques must be used to determine the performance of the detergent particles and detergent compositions of the present invention so that the invention described and claimed herein may be fully understood.

Test 1: foam test

1. 300ml of Beijing city water was added to a mixer of about 700ml with an overhead stirrer attached to the lid.

2. Samples that can deliver the same amount of active surfactant were weighed out in each test.

3. After the sample was added to the municipal water, stirring was started and the time required for the foam to reach the top (in seconds) was recorded. Typically, it will take less than one minute for the foam to develop and rise to the top. The faster the foam reaches the top, the better the foaming characteristics.

4. After 1 minute of accurate mixing, the stirrer was stopped and the total volume of solution and foam in the mixer was recorded. If the time recorded in step 3 is less than 1 minute (i.e., the foam reaches the top), the volume recorded here is the total volume of the mixer.

5. The solution was allowed to stand on the bench for 2 minutes without stirring, and then the volumes of foam and water were recorded separately. The higher the foam volume, the better the foaming characteristics.

Test 2: fluidity method

Fluidity (ff) of detergent particles of each sample _c ) Is the ratio of σ1 (consolidation stress) to σc (unconfined yield strength) which is used to digitally characterize flowability: the larger ffc indicates better bulk solids flow. Fluidity (ff) _c ) The data were generated by Schulze ring shear tester RST-XS, and the detailed test procedure for the ring shear tester is described in detail in ASTM standard D-6773.

Specific operating conditions for Schulze ring shear tester RST-XS are described below. To run the flowability test, enough pre-conditioned detergent particles were first filled into the shear unit, and then the excess material was scraped off with a spatula to form a flat powder bed. The mass of the filled bottom ring was then weighed and recorded. The filled bottom ring was placed on the ring shear tester and the lid was placed concentrically with the bottom ring over the stack of solid samples. To perform the pre-shear, the bottom ring is rotated clockwise (as viewed from the top) to prevent the tie rod from rotating the cap. Setting the consolidation stress at pre-shear to 16000Pa, and five different other consolidation stresses (3200 Pa, 4800Pa, 6400Pa, 8000Pa and 9600 Pa) were also applied in the same test. The minimum shear stress required to shear the stack sample (shear to failure) at each consolidation stress was then measured to produce a yield track (see fig. 4.10 in d.schulze, powder and Bulk Solid: behavior, charcterization, storage and Flow, springer, 2008). Then, the yield track is used to calculate the consolidation stress σ1 and the unconfined yield strength σc; and the ratio of sigma 1 to sigma c is the fluidity ff _c 。

Examples

1: comparative examples and examples of the invention

Detergent granules according to the examples of the present invention, which contain MCAS and Amine Oxide (AO) in different mass ratios as shown in table 1 below, were prepared. Comparative examples containing MCAS alone and amine oxide alone were also prepared. The sample particles may be prepared by a drying process (refer to a conventional process for manufacturing MCAS) and a grinding process. The process may be intermittent or continuous. For example, to prepare inventive examples a to E, MCAS paste was preheated to 60-75 ℃ and sodium sulfate was added with stirring at 60-75 ℃, so amine oxide was added under the same conditions. The resulting composition paste was then dried on the board in an oven at 80-110 ℃ until the moisture reached <3%. After drying, the particles are milled (e.g., by a food mixer) to particles having a suitable size as described below. Other suitable processes may also be used to prepare the detergent particles of the present invention.

Table 1: comparative examples and examples of the invention

* MCAS is SLS 90/92 (containing most of C) from Shanghai Auway daily chemical company ₁₂ -C ₁₄ Alkyl sulphates and low levels of C ₁₆ Alkyl sulfate).

* AO is C ₁₀ -C ₁₆ Alkyl dimethyl amineN-oxide (Solvay ZhangJiaGang Specialty)

^# Comparative example Y is AO feedstock in 32% aqueous solution.

The particle size distribution is one of the key factors affecting the flowability of the particles. It is therefore important to ensure that all sample detergent particles have the same or substantially similar particle size distribution so as to minimize any potential impact of particle size distribution variation on the results of the mobility test. The same or substantially similar particle size distribution of all sample detergent particles can be obtained by sieving the sample with a clean set of dry sieves using a sieve shaker. For example, all inventive example particles tested herein were mixed with the following% in each size cut.

Size cutting, μm	1180	850	600	425	250	150	106	63	<63
										Weight percent	1.54	6.13	10.17	12.69	20.38	16.17	8.54	10.73	13.65

2: foam test

Foam testing of the comparative examples and inventive examples was performed according to the test method described in test 1 above. Table 2 below summarizes the amount of example used, the time the foam reached the top of the mixer, and the volume of foam after 2 minutes of rest.

Table 2: foam test results of comparative examples and inventive examples

* Indicating that the foam did not reach the top of the mixer during this test.

Note that in this foam test, the mass of each example was calculated and normalized so that the amount of active surfactant in each test sample was the same. The results show that the foaming benefit increases significantly with the addition of amine oxide to the particles. In particular, all inventive examples exhibited significantly better foam properties (e.g., higher foam volume) than comparative example X, which contained MCAS alone and no AO, at the same amount of total surfactant (mcas+ao). Notably, in examples B and C of the present invention, synergistic sudsing benefits were observed. That is, the granular composition containing both MCAS and AO shows significant suds boosting benefits.

3: flowability test

The flowability test of comparative example X and inventive examples B, C and D was performed according to the test method described in test 2 above. The following are the flowability test results of the sample detergent particles (table 3):

table 3: flowability test

As mentioned in the test method, (ff) _c ) The higher the value of (2), the better the flowability. The results show that inventive examples B, C and D with specific ratios of MCAS/AO show good/comparable or even better flowability compared to comparative example X where MCAS alone is present. That is, the mixing of the liquid amine oxide into the MCAS does not significantly affect the flowability of the particles, but rather, at a specific ratio, even better flowability.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Rather, unless otherwise indicated, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40mm" is intended to mean "about 40mm".

Each document cited herein, including any cross-referenced or related patent or patent application, and any patent application or patent for which this application claims priority or benefit from, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention, or that it is not entitled to any disclosed or claimed herein, or that it is prior art with respect to itself or any combination of one or more of these references. Furthermore, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A detergent granule comprising

a) From about 30% to about 95%, by weight of the detergent particle, of an Alkyl Sulfate (AS) having a branched or straight chain non-alkoxylated alkyl group containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms; and

b) From about 2% to about 50% by weight of the detergent granule of amine oxide.

2. The detergent particle according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the AS to the amine oxide is from 20:1 to 1:1, preferably from 15:1 to 1.5:1, more preferably from 10:1 to 2:1, still more preferably from 9:1 to 2.5:1, most preferably from 8:1 to 3:1.

3. A detergent particle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the branched or linear non-alkoxylated alkyl group of the AS comprises from 8 to 16, preferably from 10 to 14, more preferably from 12 to 14 carbon atoms.

4. A detergent particle according to any preceding claim wherein the amine oxide comprises a compound of the formula:

wherein R is ₁ Is C _8-22 Alkyl, C _8-22 Hydroxyalkyl, C _8-22 Alkylphenyl, or R ₄ -X-R ₅ -a group; wherein R is ₄ Is C _8-22 Alkyl group, R ₅ Is C _1-3 An alkylene group, anAnd X is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of: aminocarbonyl, carbonylamino, carbonyloxy, oxycarbonyloxy, aminocarbonylamino, combinations and derivatives thereof; OY is an alkoxy moiety selected from the group consisting of: ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, and combinations thereof; m is 0 to 3; r is R ₂ And R is ₃ Independently selected from C _1-3 Alkyl group, C _1-3 Hydroxyalkyl groups, and combinations thereof.

5. The detergent particle of claim 4 wherein R in formula (I) of the amine oxide ₁ Is C _10-18 Alkyl or R ₄ -X-R ₅ -a group wherein R ₄ Is C _10-18 Alkyl, R ₅ Is an ethylene or propylene group, and X is a carbonylamino group; OY is an ethoxy or propoxy group;

m is 0 to 3; r is R ₂ And R is ₃ Independently selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 1-hydroxypropyl, 3-hydroxypropyl groups, and combinations thereof.

6. The detergent particle of any preceding claim, wherein the amine oxide is selected from C _10-18 Alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, C _8-16 Alkyl ethoxy dihydroxyethyl amine oxide, C _10-18 Alkylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide, and combinations thereof, preferably, the amine oxide is C _10-16 Alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, C _10-16 Alkylamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide, or a combination thereof.

7. A cleaning composition comprising from 0.1% to 50% by weight of the cleaning composition of the detergent particles of any preceding claim.

8. The cleaning composition of claim 7, wherein the detergent particles are present in an amount ranging from 0.2% to 30%, preferably from 0.3% to 20% by weight of the cleaning composition.

9. The cleaning composition of claim 7 or 8, further comprising one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of: (1) C (C) ₁₀ -C ₂₀ Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates (LAS); (2) C (C) ₁₀ -C ₂₀ Linear or branched Alkyl Alkoxylated Sulfates (AAS), (3) nonionic surfactants, and (4) combinations thereof.

10. Use of a cleaning composition according to any one of claims 7 to 9 for laundering fabrics.