CN117716009A

CN117716009A - Composition for reducing off-flavors

Info

Publication number: CN117716009A
Application number: CN202280047662.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·阿帕沃; M·乔治; S·马哈帕特拉; S·V·梅德帕里; R·萨姆帕斯库马
Original assignee: Unilever IP Holdings BV
Current assignee: Unilever IP Holdings BV
Priority date: 2021-07-08
Filing date: 2022-06-24
Publication date: 2024-03-15
Also published as: WO2023280592A1; EP4367211A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to laundry treatment compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to a fabric conditioning composition which ensures that the fabric remains fresh and free of malodour even under slow drying conditions. This is ensured by combining specific polysaccharides with certain specific essential oils.

Description

Composition for reducing off-flavors

Technical Field

The present invention relates to laundry treatment compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to a fabric conditioning composition which ensures that fabrics remain fresh and free of malodour even under slow drying conditions.

Background

Washing fabrics, also known as washing clothes or simply laundry, constitutes one of the major household tasks that people are subjected to in daily life. For this reason, there has been a constant reliance on widely available detergent compositions. Typically, fabrics are laundered by contacting the fabrics with a detergent composition, in neat or diluted form, and rinsing the fabrics with water one or more times; finally, it is dried. In the washing step, the fabric is cleaned in a so-called hand washing method by mechanical agitation by hand and/or by using a suitable cleaning device (e.g. brush). Alternatively, in the so-called machine-washing method, the fabric is cleaned by mechanical agitation by a machine. In either case, the step of soaking the fabric in the neat or diluted detergent composition may be performed for a desired duration, for example, 30 to 60 minutes. The drying step may also be performed by using a machine; or simply exposing the fabric to air and, if possible, sunlight.

During the rinse step, it may be rinsed twice or three times with fresh water, typically with the laundry treatment composition added during the final rinse step in particular to provide various benefits such as anti-yellowing, fabric conditioning or antimicrobial benefits. Fabric conditioners are typically developed to provide some surface treatment to fabrics to ensure that the fabrics are soft, smooth and static free. The present invention relates to a composition that may be included in such a rinse step for providing the benefit of reducing wet odors.

Drying of the fabric may be carried out in a machine with a gas stream at elevated temperature (e.g., 50-80 c), in which case this step may be carried out for a period of from half an hour to about two hours. This is considered to be a rapid drying, in which case the high temperature ensures rapid water removal and inactivation of the microorganisms that cause the residual odor. Machine drying is energy intensive and popular only in cold and rainy countries where there is a continuous supply of electricity to run such machines. In hot countries, such as tropical regions with high insolation, the washed fabric is dried on a clothesline. This drying process typically takes several hours. Depending on the season, for example, rainy seasons or outdoor spaces are not available for drying fabrics in sunlight, the drying speed can be much slower, and sometimes two or three days may be required for drying. Under these dry conditions, the garment will have a wet smell. The inclusion of a fabric treatment composition (containing a significant amount of perfume) in the rinse step appears to not adequately address this problem. The inventors have appreciated that microorganisms such as Moraxella (Moraxella osloensis) and Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus hominis) are responsible for off-flavors when fabrics are exposed to these high humidity conditions.

In seeking to solve the above problems, the inventors have found by accident that when a specific polysaccharide is included in a composition for cleaning fabrics, in particular in the rinse phase, in combination with certain specific essential oils, this odor is reduced, even under extreme conditions. When included in a fabric conditioning composition, the composition was found to be very effective.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a laundry treatment composition which provides deodorant benefits to laundered fabrics, particularly when they are dried under slow drying conditions or only to high moisture levels.

Summary of The Invention

A first aspect of the invention relates to a composition for reducing malodour comprising

(i) One or more polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of algins and pectins, preferably pectins;

(ii) One or more substituted phenols selected from thymol, sec-butylphenol, carvacrol, eugenol and propylphenol; and

(iii) One or more unsaturated terpenes selected from limonene, alpha terpinene, terpinolene, cymene and phellandrene.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition of the first aspect which is a laundry detergent composition additionally comprising from 1 to 80 wt% of a laundry active.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition of the first aspect which is a fabric conditioning composition additionally comprising from 1 to 50% of a fabric softening active.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing odor on a fabric from a fabric for up to five days comprising the step of contacting a fabric pre-moistened with water with a composition of the present invention.

Detailed Description

For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be used in any other aspect of the present invention. The word "comprising" is intended to mean "including", but not necessarily "consisting of … …" or "consisting of … …". The term "comprising" is therefore not meant to be limited to any subsequently stated elements, but optionally also to unexplained elements having a major or minor functional significance. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. Whenever the words "including" or "having" are used, these terms are meant to be equivalent to "comprising" as defined above. Note that the embodiments given in the following description are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments themselves. Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about". Unless otherwise indicated, numerical ranges expressed in the "x to y" format are understood to include x and y. When describing a plurality of preferred ranges in an "x-to-y" format for a particular feature, it should be understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. Unless otherwise indicated, amounts used herein are expressed in weight percent, abbreviated as "wt%", based on the total weight of the composition.

The composition comprises one or more substituted phenols selected from thymol, sec-butylphenol, carvacrol, eugenol and propylphenol; and one or more unsaturated terpenes selected from limonene, alpha terpinene, terpinolene, cymene and phellandrene. The substituted phenols are preferably selected from one or more of thymol and sec-butylphenol.

The amount of the one or more substituted phenols is preferably in the range of 0.01 to 5 wt%, more preferably 0.02 to 2.5 wt%, still more preferably 0.05 to 2 wt%, even more preferably 0.075 to 1.5 wt%, yet more preferably 0.1 to 1.0 wt%, and most preferably 0.5 to 1.0 wt%.

Most preferably the substituted phenol is thymol. Structural isomers of thymol (carvacrol) may also be preferably used.

Preferably, the composition comprises 0.01 to 5 wt%, more preferably 0.02 to 2.5 wt%, even more preferably 0.05 to 2 wt%, still more preferably 0.075 to 1.5 wt%, yet more preferably 0.1 to 1.0 wt%, most preferably 0.5 to 1.0 wt% thymol.

The composition of the present invention further comprises one or more unsaturated terpenes selected from the group consisting of limonene, alpha terpinene, terpinolene, cymene and phellandrene. In the meaning of the present application, "unsaturated terpene" preferably means that the terpene does contain unsaturated (carbon-carbon) bonds and does not contain hydroxyl groups.

Preferred unsaturated terpenes for inclusion in the compositions of the present invention are one or more of limonene and terpinolene. The composition comprises from 0.01 to 5 wt%, more preferably from 0.02 to 2.5 wt%, even more preferably from 0.025 to 1.0 wt%, yet more preferably from 0.05 to 0.75 wt%, even more preferably from 0.1 to 0.5 wt% of one or more unsaturated terpenes.

Preferably, the unsaturated terpene is limonene. The structure of limonene is shown below:

the composition preferably further comprises one or more aliphatic terpene alcohols selected from menthol, isopulegol, neomenthol and neoisopulegol. In the meaning of the present application, "aliphatic terpene" preferably means that the terpene does not contain unsaturated (carbon-carbon) bonds.

The terpene alcohols may be (+) or (-) stereoisomers, for example, (+) -menthol, (+) -isomenthol, (+) -neomenthol, (+) -neoisomenthol, (-) -menthol, (-) -isomenthol, (-) -neomenthol, (-) -neoisomenthol.

Preferably, the composition comprises from 0.01 to 5 wt%, more preferably from 0.02 to 2.5 wt%, even more preferably from 0.025 to 1.0 wt%, yet more preferably from 0.05 to 0.75 wt%, even more preferably from 0.1 to 0.5 wt% terpene alcohol.

The most preferred aliphatic terpene alcohol for inclusion in the compositions of the present invention is menthol. The structure of menthol is shown below:

a very preferred aspect of the invention provides a composition wherein the substituted phenol is thymol and the unsaturated terpene is limonene. When included, the aliphatic terpene alcohol is preferably menthol.

According to a particularly preferred aspect of the invention, the composition comprises thymol, menthol and limonene. Preferably, the composition comprises 0.05 to 2% by weight thymol, 0.025 to 1% by weight menthol, 0.025 to 2% by weight limonene.

The composition preferably comprises 0.1 to 10 wt%, preferably 1 to 9 wt%, more preferably 2 to 8 wt%, most preferably 3 to 7 wt% of a substituted phenol, an aliphatic terpene alcohol, an unsaturated terpene or a mixture thereof.

Most preferably, the substituted phenol, the aliphatic terpene alcohol and the unsaturated terpene are present in a ratio of 1:0.5:0.5.

Very suitable compositions of the invention comprise:

a) 0.01 to 5% by weight of one or more substituted phenols selected from thymol, sec-butylphenol, carvacrol, eugenol and propylphenol, preferably thymol,

b) 0.01 to 5% by weight of one or more aliphatic terpene alcohols selected from menthol, isopulegol, neomenthol and neoisopulegol, preferably menthol; and

c) 0.01 to 5% by weight of one or more unsaturated terpenes selected from limonene, alpha terpinene, terpinolene, cymene and phellandrene, preferably limonene.

The composition of the present invention comprises one or more polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of algins and pectins.

Alginic acid, also known as algin, is a polysaccharide widely distributed in the cell wall of brown algae, which is hydrophilic and forms a viscous gum upon hydration. Alginic acid is a linear copolymer having homo-blocks of respectively (1- > 4) -linked beta-D-mannuronic acid (M) and alpha-L-guluronic acid (G) residues covalently linked together in different sequences or blocks. The monomers may be present in successive G-residues (G-blocks), successive M-residues (M-blocks) or in homo-blocks of alternating M and G-residues (MG-blocks). alpha-L-guluronic acid is the C-5 epimer of beta-D-mannuronic acid. The alginate is refined from brown seaweed. Throughout the world, many brown seaweeds of the Phaeophyceae class are harvested for processing and conversion to sodium alginate and alginic acid.

Pectin is a structural acidic heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary and middle layers and cell walls of terrestrial plants. The main component is galacturonic acid and sugar acid derived from galactose. It is commercially produced as a white to light brown powder extracted mainly from citrus fruits and used as a gelling agent in foods, especially in jams and jellies. It is also used in dessert fillings, pharmaceuticals, desserts, as a stabilizer in fruit juices and milk beverages, and as a source of dietary fiber. Pectin, also known as pectic polysaccharide, is rich in galacturonic acid. Several different polysaccharides have been identified and characterized in the pectin group. Homogalacturonic acid is a linear chain of α - (1-4) -linked D-galacturonic acid. The substituted polygalacturonic acid is characterized by the presence of sugar-flanking residues branching from the main chain of the D-galacturonic acid residues (e.g. D-xylose or D-apiose in the respective cases of xylopolygalacturonic acid and apigenin acid). Rhamnogalacturonan pectin (RG-1) contains a backbone of repeating disaccharides: 4) - α -D-galacturonic acid- (1, 2) - α -L-rhamnose- (1). The side chains of various neutral sugars branch off from many rhamnose residues. Neutral sugars are mainly D-galactose, L-arabinose and D-xylose, the type and proportion of which vary with the source of pectin. Another structural type of pectin is rhamnogalacturonate II (RG-II), a less common, complex, highly branched polysaccharide.

Among the polysaccharides, pectin is preferably included in the composition of the invention. When included, the pectin is preferably derived from one or more fruits selected from the group consisting of pears, apples, guava, plums, gooseberries, oranges, or any other citrus fruit, preferably citrus fruit. Preferably from apples or citrus fruits.

The composition preferably comprises the polysaccharide in a concentration of 0.1 to 20% by weight of the composition, preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight.

The composition may be delivered as a laundry detergent composition comprising, in addition to the essential ingredients of the invention, from 1 to 80% of a surfactant. The laundry detergent composition may be delivered in solid form or in liquid form, with liquid form being more preferred.

The solid laundry compositions herein may take a variety of physical solid forms including forms such as powders, granules, ribbons, strips, pastes, tablets, flakes, lozenges and bars, and preferably the compositions are in the form of powders, granules or bars.

The compositions according to the present invention may be prepared by a variety of conventional methods known in the art, including dry blending, compaction (e.g., coalescing, extrusion, tabletting) or spray drying of the various compounds contained in the detergent components, or a combination of these techniques. The density of the powder or particle composition is preferably greater than 350 g/l, more preferably greater than 450 g/l or even greater than 570 g/l.

Typical solid laundry detergent compositions comprise one or more surfactants selected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, cationic, amphoteric, preferably anionic. These solid form compositions typically comprise from 2 to 30 wt% surfactant. They may also contain other adjuvants to provide benefits to the fabric being laundered, for example, soil release polymers and anti-redeposition polymers, which together may be contained in an amount of from 0 to 5% by weight of the composition. Adjuvants are generally included, in particular to counteract the adverse effects of the hardness of the water used to wash the fabrics, and these constitute up to 50%, typically 10 to 30% by weight of the composition. Other fabric benefit agents such as shading dyes and optical brighteners can be included up to 1% by weight of the composition. Bleaching agents may sometimes be included and when included, comprise up to 10% by weight of the composition, and fillers typically comprise up to 40% by weight of the composition.

The solid laundry detergent composition according to the invention preferably has a pH of from 7.0 to 10.5, preferably from 7.0 to 10.2, more preferably from 8.5 to 10.2, when measured as a 1 wt% dilution in deionized water at25 ℃. The composition may preferably comprise a buffer.

Wherein the laundry detergent compositions of the present invention may be delivered in liquid form. The term liquid may include emulsions, suspensions and compositions having a flowable but more viscous consistency, known as gels or pastes. The pourable liquid detergent composition preferably has a viscosity of 200 to 1,500mpa.s, preferably 200 to 700 mpa.s. Such compositions typically have a continuous aqueous phase. Preferably, the composition comprises at least 50% by weight water, more preferably at least 70% by weight water. The water is generally present in an amount of from 20% to 99.9%, preferably from 40% to 80% by weight of the composition.

Liquid laundry detergent compositions typically comprise from 5 to 60 wt%, preferably from 10 to 40 wt%, of one or more surfactants. Surfactants are typically anionic in nature. Preferred anionic surfactants are organic sulfate and sulfonate surfactants having an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term "alkyl" being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl groups. Examples of such materials include alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkylaryl sulfonates, alpha olefin sulfonates, and mixtures thereof. The alkyl group preferably contains 10 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. The alkyl ether sulphates may contain from 1 to 10 ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule, preferably from 1 to 3 ethylene oxide units per molecule. The counter ion of the anionic surfactant is typically an alkali metal, such as sodium or potassium; or an ammonia counterion, such as Monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), or Triethanolamine (TEA). Mixtures of these counterions can also be used. Sodium and potassium are preferred.

The most preferred surfactants are the alkylbenzene sulfonate types, especially Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates (LAS) having an alkyl chain length of 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Some alkyl sulfate surfactants (PAS) may be used, such as non-ethoxylated primary and secondary alkyl sulfates having alkyl chain lengths of 10 to 18.

Preferably, the composition comprises 5 to 20 wt% nonionic surfactant based on the total weight of the composition. One preferred class of nonionic surfactants for use in the present invention includes aliphatic C ₈ -C ₁₈ More preferably C ₁₂ -C ₁₅ Linear primary alcohol ethoxylates have an average of from 3 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 10, moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Preferred nonionic surfactants are C16/18 alcohol ethoxylates.

In addition to the ingredients described above, liquid laundry detergent compositions typically comprise agents such as soil release polymers, hydrotropes, cosurfactants, builders, polymeric thickeners and shading dyes. Soil Release Polymers (SRPs) help improve the release of soil from fabrics by altering the surface of the fabric during the wash process.

The SRP structure may also contain end capping groups to control molecular weight or to alter polymer properties, such as surface activity. Preferred SRPs for use in the present invention include copolyesters formed by the condensation of terephthalates and diols, preferably 1, 2-propanediol, and also contain end-caps formed from alkylene oxide repeat units end-capped with an alkyl group. When included, the SRP may range from 0.1 to 10%, desirably from 0.3 to 7%, more preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition.

The compositions of the present invention may be incorporated into non-aqueous carriers such as hydrotropes, co-solvents and phase stabilizers. These materials are typically low molecular weight, water-soluble or water-miscible organic liquids such as C1 to C5 monohydric alcohols (e.g., ethanol and n-propanol or isopropanol); c2 to C6 diols (such as monopropylene glycol and dipropylene glycol); c3 to C9 triols (such as glycerol); weight average molecular weight (M) _w ) Polyethylene glycol in the range of about 200 to 600; c1 to C3 alkanolamines such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; and alkylaryl sulfonates having up to 3 carbon atoms in the lower alkyl group (such as sodium and potassium salts of xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene and cumene (cumene) sulfonic acids). When included, the non-aqueous carrier may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 3%, preferably 0.5-1% by weight of the composition. Preferred hydrotropes are monopropylene glycol and glycerol.

In addition to the non-soap anionic and/or nonionic detersive surfactants described above, the liquid laundry detergent compositions of the present invention may comprise one or more co-surfactants (e.g., amphoteric (zwitterionic) and/or cationic surfactants). When included, such cosurfactants may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composition.

The liquid laundry detergent composition may optionally also contain relatively low levels of organic detergent builder or chelant material. Examples include alkali metal citrates, succinates, malonates, carboxymethyl succinates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates, aminocarboxylates and polyacetylcarboxylates. If used, the organic builder material may comprise from about 0.5% to 20% by weight of the composition, preferably from 1% to 10% by weight.

The compositions of the present invention are most preferably delivered as fabric conditioning compositions which also comprise from 1 to 50% of a fabric softening active.

Fabric softening actives:

fabric conditioner compositions are also known as fabric softeners. Fabric conditioners comprise an active that softens or conditions fabrics. Examples of suitable fabric softening actives include: quaternary ammonium compounds, silicone polymers, polysaccharides, clays, amines, fatty esters, dispersible polyolefins, polymer latices, and mixtures thereof. The fabric softening active is one or more selected from quaternary ammonium compounds and silicone polymers, preferably quaternary ammonium compounds.

The fabric softening compound may preferably be cationic or nonionic. Preferably, the fabric softening compounds of the present invention are cationic. Suitable cationic fabric softening compounds are described below.

The fabric conditioning composition used according to the present invention may be diluted or concentrated. The diluted product will typically contain up to about 6% by weight of the composition of softening compound, typically about 1 to 5% by weight, while the concentrated product may contain up to about 50% by weight of the composition of softening compound, preferably about 5 to about 50% by weight, more preferably 6 to 25% by weight. In general, the product of the invention may comprise from 1 to 50% by weight of the composition of softening compound, preferably from 2 to 25% by weight, more preferably from 2 to 20% by weight.

The preferred softening compound for use in the fabric conditioner compositions of the present invention is a Quaternary Ammonium Compound (QAC).

The QAC preferably comprises at least one chain derived from fatty acids, more preferably at least two chains derived from fatty acids. In general, fatty acids are defined as aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having a chain of 4 to 28 carbons. Preferably, the fatty acid chain is a palm fatty acid or a tallow fatty acid. Preferably, the fatty acid chains of the QAC comprise 10 to 50% by weight saturated C18 chains and 5 to 40% by weight monounsaturated C18 chains, based on the total fatty acid chain weight. In a further preferred embodiment, the fatty acid chains of the QAC comprise 20 to 40% by weight, preferably 25 to 35% by weight, of saturated C18 chains and 10 to 35% by weight, preferably 15 to 30% by weight, of monounsaturated C18 chains, based on the total fatty acid chains.

Preferred quaternary ammonium fabric softening compounds for use in the compositions of the present invention are the so-called "esterquats". Particularly preferred materials are ester-linked Triethanolamine (TEA) quaternary ammonium compounds, which comprise a mixture of monoester, diester, and triester-linked components.

Typically, TEA-based fabric softening compounds comprise a mixture of mono-, di-and tri-ester forms of the compound, wherein the diester-linked component comprises no more than 70% by weight, preferably no more than 60% by weight, for example no more than 55% or even no more than 45% and at least 10% by weight of the monoester-linked component of the fabric softening compound.

A first group of ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds suitable for use in the present invention are represented by formula (I):

wherein each R is independently selected from C5-C35 alkyl or alkenyl; r1 represents a C1 to C4 alkyl group, a C2 to C4 alkenyl group or a C1 to C4 hydroxyalkyl group; t may be O-CO (i.e., an ester group bonded to R through its carbon atom) or may be CO-O (i.e., an ester group bonded to R through its oxygen atom); n is a number selected from 1 to 4; m is a number selected from 1,2 or 3; x-is an anionic counterion such as a halide or alkylsulfate, e.g., chloride or methylsulfate. Diester variants of formula I (i.e., m=2) are preferred and typically have monoester and triester analogs associated therewith. These materials are particularly suitable for use in the present invention.

Suitable actives include soft quaternary ammonium actives such as Stepantex VT90, rewoquat WE18 (from Evonik) and tetrayl L1/90N, tetrayl L190 SP and tetrayl L190S (all from Kao).

Active substances rich in diesters of triethanolamine methylsulfate are also suitable, otherwise known as "TEA ester quats".

Commercial examples include Preapagen ^TM TQL (from Clariant) and Tetranyl ^TM AHT-1 (from Kao) (two- [ hardened tallow esters, both of which are triethanolamine methylsulfate)]) AT-1 (Di- [ tallow ester of triethanolamine methylsulfate)]) And L5/90 (Di- [ palmityl ester of triethanolamine methylsulfate)]) (all from Kao) and Rewoquat ^TM WE15 (diester of triethanolamine methylsulfate with fatty acyl residues derived from C10-C20 and C16-C18 unsaturated fatty acids) (from Evonik).

A second group of ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds suitable for use in the present invention are represented by formula (II):

wherein each R1 group is independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or C2 to C4 alkenyl; and wherein each R2 group is independently selected from C8 to C28 alkyl or alkenyl; and wherein n, T and X-are as defined above.

Preferred materials of this second group include 1, 2-bis [ tallowyloxy ] -3-trimethylpropane ammonium chloride, 1, 2-bis [ hardened tallowyloxy ] -3-trimethylpropane ammonium chloride, 1, 2-bis [ oleoyloxy ] -3-trimethylpropane ammonium chloride, and 1, 2-bis [ stearyloxy ] -3-trimethylpropane ammonium chloride. Such materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,180 (Lever Brothers). Preferably, these materials also contain a certain amount of the corresponding monoester.

A third group of ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds QACs suitable for use in the present invention are represented by formula (III):

(R ¹ ) ₂ -N ^* -[(CH ₂ ) _n -T-R ² ] ₂ X ^- (III)

wherein each R1 group is independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl or C2 to C4 alkenyl; and wherein each R2 group is independently selected from C8 to C28 alkyl or alkenyl; and n, T and X-are as defined above. Preferred materials of this third group include bis (2-tallowyloxyethyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride, partially hardened and hardened forms thereof.

Specific examples of the third group of ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds are represented by formula (IV):

a fourth group of ester-linked quaternary ammonium compounds suitable for use in the present invention are represented by formula (V)

R1 and R2 are independently selected from C10 to C22 alkyl or alkenyl groups, preferably C14 to C20 alkyl or alkenyl groups. X-is as defined above.

The iodine value of the ester-linked quaternary ammonium fabric conditioning material is preferably from 0 to 80, more preferably from 0 to 60, most preferably from 0 to 45. The iodine value may be appropriately selected. Substantially saturated materials having an iodine value of from 0 to 5, preferably from 0 to 1, may be used in the compositions of the present invention. Such materials are known as "hardened" quaternary ammonium compounds.

Further preferred ranges of iodine values are from 20 to 60, preferably from 25 to 50, more preferably from 30 to 45. This type of material is a "soft" triethanolamine quaternary ammonium compound, preferably triethanolamine dialkyl ester methyl sulfate. Such ester-linked triethanolamine quaternary ammonium compounds contain unsaturated fatty chains.

Nonionic surfactant:

the fabric conditioning composition may further comprise a nonionic surfactant. Typically, these may be included for the purpose of stabilizing the composition. Suitable nonionic surfactants include the addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines. Any of the specific types of alkoxylated materials described below may be used as the nonionic surfactant.

Suitable surfactants are substantially water-soluble surfactants of the general formula (VII):

R-Y-(C ₂ H ₄ O) _z -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -OH(VII)

wherein R is selected from primary, secondary and branched alkyl and/or acyl hydrocarbyl groups; primary, secondary and branched alkenyl hydrocarbon groups; and primary, secondary and branched alkenyl-substituted phenolic hydrocarbyl groups; the hydrocarbyl group has a chain length of 8 to about 25, preferably 10 to 20, for example 14 to 18 carbon atoms.

In the general formula of the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, Y is typically:

-O-, -C (O) N (R) -or-C (O) N (R) R-

Wherein R has the meaning given above for formula (VII) or may be hydrogen; and Z is at least about 8, preferably at least about 10 or 11.

Preferably, the nonionic surfactant has an HLB of from about 7 to about 20, more preferably from 10 to 18, for example from 12 to 16. Genapol based on coco chain and 20 EO groups ^TM C200 (Clariant) is an example of a suitable nonionic surfactant.

The nonionic surfactant, if present, is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 10 wt%, more preferably from 0.1 to 5 wt%, based on the total weight of the composition.

One preferred class of nonionic surfactants includes the addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines. These are preferably selected from the addition products of (a) alkoxides selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof with (b) fatty substances selected from the group consisting of fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines.

Suitable surfactants are substantially water-soluble surfactants of the general formula (VIII):

R-Y-(C ₂ H ₄ O) _z -CH ₂ -CH ₂ -OH (VIII)

wherein R is selected from primary, secondary and branched alkyl and/or acyl hydrocarbon groups (when y= -C (O) O, r+noteqacyl hydrocarbon groups); primary, secondary, and branched alkenyl hydrocarbyl groups; and primary, secondary and branched alkenyl-substituted phenolic hydrocarbyl groups; the chain length of the hydrocarbyl group is 10 to 60, preferably 10 to 25, for example 14 to 20 carbon atoms.

In the general formula of the ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, Y is typically:

-O-, -C (O) N (R) -or-C (O) N (R) R-

Wherein R has the meaning given above for formula (VIII) or can be hydrogen; and Z is at least about 6, preferably at least about 10 or 11.

Lutensol based on C16:18 chains and 25 EO groups ^TM AT25 (BASF) is an example of a suitable nonionic surfactant. Other suitable watchesSurfactants include Renex 36 (Trideceth-6) from Croda; tergitol 15-S3 from Dow Chemical Co; dihydrol LT7 from Thai Ethoxylate ltd; cremophor CO40 from BASF and Neodol 91-8 from Shell.

Thus, the fabric conditioning compositions of the present invention preferably comprise from 0.1 to 5 wt% of a nonionic surfactant, preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate.

Co-softener and fatty complexing agent:

co-softeners are useful in fabric conditioning compositions. When used, they are generally present in an amount of from 0.1 to 20% by weight, and in particular from 0.5 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. Preferred co-softeners include fatty esters and fatty N-oxides. Fatty esters that may be used include fatty monoesters such as glycerol monostearate, fatty sugar esters such as those disclosed in WO 01/46361 (Unilever).

The compositions of the present invention may comprise a fatty complexing agent.

Particularly suitable fatty complexing agents include fatty alcohols and fatty acids. Among them, fatty alcohols are most preferable.

Preferred fatty acids include tallow fatty acid or vegetable fatty acid, particularly preferred are hardened tallow fatty acid or hardened vegetable fatty acid (available under the trade name Pristerene ^TM Obtained from Croda). Preferred fatty alcohols include tallow alcohol or vegetable alcohols, with hardened tallow alcohol or hardened vegetable alcohols (available under the trade name Stenol ^TM And hydroenol ^TM Obtained from BASF and Laurex ^TM CS from Huntsman).

The fatty complexing agent is preferably present in an amount of from greater than 0.3 to 5 wt%, based on the total weight of the composition. More preferably, the fat component is present in an amount of 0.4 to 4 wt%. The weight ratio of monoester component to fatty complexing agent of the quaternary ammonium fabric softening material is preferably from 5:1 to 1:5, more preferably from 4:1 to 1:4, most preferably from 3:1 to 1:3, for example from 2:1 to 1:2.

Preferably, the composition of the invention comprises from 0.5 to 20% by weight of the composition of a perfume material, more preferably from 1 to 15% by weight of the perfume material, most preferably from 2 to 10% by weight of the perfume material.

Cationic polymer/deposition polymer:

the fabric conditioner compositions of the present invention may comprise cationic polymers. This refers to polymers having an overall positive charge at neutral pH (pH 7). The cationic polymer provides increased viscosity.

The cationic polymer may be naturally derived or synthetic. Examples of suitable cationic polymers include: acrylate polymers, cationic amino resins, cationic urea resins, and cationic polysaccharides, including: cationic cellulose, cationic guar gum, and cationic starch.

Preferably, the cationic polymer is selected from: cationic polysaccharides and acrylate polymers. More preferably, the cationic polymer is a cationic acrylate polymer.

The molecular weight of the cationic polymer is preferably greater than 20000 g/mol, more preferably greater than 25000 g/mol. The molecular weight is preferably less than 2000000 g/mol, more preferably less than 1000000 g/mol.

The composition according to the invention preferably comprises from 0.25 to 10% by weight of the composition, preferably from 0.35 to 7.5% by weight of the composition, more preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition of cationic polymer.

The composition may comprise other ingredients of fabric conditioner liquids known to those skilled in the art. Among these, mention may be made of: defoamers, insect repellents, shading or shading dyes, preservatives (e.g., bactericides), pH buffers, perfume carriers, hydrotropes, antiredeposition agents, soil release agents, polyelectrolytes, shrinkage inhibitors, anti-wrinkle agents, antioxidants, dyes, colorants, sunscreens, preservatives, drape imparting agents, antistatic agents, chelating agents, and ironing aids. The products of the invention may contain pearlescing and/or opacifying agents. The preferred chelating agent is HEDP, which is an abbreviation for hydroxyethylphosphonic acid or 1-hydroxyethane 1, 1-diphosphonic acid.

The fabric conditioner composition is preferably in aqueous form. The composition preferably comprises 75 to 95 wt% water.

The fabric conditioning composition may be used to treat fabrics during hand or machine washing. Preferably, the fabric conditioner is used in the rinse phase of the wash process.

Preferably, for a laundry load of 4 to 7 kg, the laundry is treated with a dose of 10 to 100 ml of fabric conditioner. More preferably, the laundry load is 10 to 80 ml for 4 to 7 kg. The compositions of the present invention, whether they are laundry detergent compositions or fabric conditioning compositions, are typically used in such a way that they are diluted with water in a ratio of from 1:10 to 1:400, preferably from 1:20 to 1:200, before use.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing odor on a fabric for up to five days comprising the step of contacting a fabric pre-moistened with water with a composition of the present invention.

The invention will now be illustrated by means of the following non-limiting examples.

Examples

The materials used in the examples of the present invention are commercially available and are purchased from suppliers shown below. Thymol was from Ronak Fine Industries, menthol was from Sigma Aldrich, and limonene was from cutrack. The above three materials were prepared synthetically by the corresponding suppliers. Phycocolloids and pectins are derived from CP Kelco, united Kingdom.

Examples a-D, 1: reduction of wet off-flavors measured with sniff test.

The samples shown in Table-1 were taken and the odor generated was measured using the following protocol.

In vitro sniffing off-flavor or wet off-flavor assay:

moraxella (Moraxella osloensis) and Staphylococcus hominis (Staphylococcus hominis), which respectively caused a moist off-flavor and body odor, were added to the autoclaved polyester fabric and incubated with the culture medium and active ingredient in a sterile container at 37℃for 48 hours. After incubation, the samples were sniffed by panelists according to a score of 0 to 5 for odor scoring, where "0" indicates no odor and "5" indicates maximum odor. The data are averages of 5 panelists. The data are summarized in table 1 below:

table 1:

the concentrations of the various components in the above table are the concentrations at the time of use, i.e. after dilution of the composition according to the invention with water in a ratio of 1:100.

TL above refers to a 1:1 weight ratio of thymol to limonene mixture.

The data in the above table show that the combination of the claimed ingredients of the present invention (pectin together with limonene and thymol) provides synergistic anti-malodour benefits in a wet malodour assay over a long period of time.

FIC (fractional inhibitory concentration) is a well-known method of quantifying the synergistic interaction between two or more components. The methods used herein have been modified from the following references:

reference is made to: this Use of Essential Oils and Their Components against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria M.L.Faleiro, M.G.Miguel, in Fighting Multidrug Resistance with Herbal Extracts, essential Oils and Their Components,2013

In this set of experiments, FIC was measured to confirm synergistic interactions using the following procedure.

Partial inhibition concentration

Combinations of antimicrobial agents may have different types of effects, including inert (inert), additive, synergistic, and antagonistic effects. An inert effect is observed when the blend of antimicrobial agent or combination of antimicrobial agent and inactive substance has the same effect as the most active ingredient.

An additive effect occurs when the mixture of antimicrobial agents has an effect equal to the sum of the effects of each component.

Synergistic effects are observed when the combination of antimicrobial agents has a greater effect than the additive effect of each component.

Antagonism of the therapeutic combination occurs when reduced activity is observed relative to the effect of the most potent individual component.

These effects can be quantified by applying a mathematical expression: partial inhibition concentration (FIC) and partial sterilization concentration (FBC)

For two antimicrobial agents a and B acting alone or in combination:

the FIC index is FIC _A And FIC _B And (3) summing. The FIC index can be similarly determined by simply replacing the MIC value with the minimum bactericidal concentration value. FIC index<0.5 represents the synergistic effect of the two,>0.5-1 represents an additive effect,>1 to 1<2 represents inertness,. Gtoreq.2 is considered antagonistic.

The minimum odor-inhibiting concentration of all compounds was calculated using this method.

The data using this method are summarized in table 2 below:

table-2:

FIC index calculation	MIC-odor
		MIC A-pectin	0.50％
MIC B-TL	0.01％
		Working concentration of pectin in A-synergy	0.05
Working concentration of TL in B-synergy	0.001％
		FIC index calculation	FIC
0.001% TL+0.05% pectin	0.2

The data in the above table show that pectin synergistically interacts with a combination of thymol and limonene to obtain the desired benefits.

Examples E-I,2,3: reduction of wet off-flavors measured with sniff test.

Samples as shown in table-3 were removed and the off-flavors generated were measured using the in vitro odor Wen Chaoshi off-flavor assay protocol described above. The data are summarized in table 3 below:

table 3:

the above TML refers to a mixture of thymol, menthol and limonene in a weight ratio of 1.0:0.5:0.4.

The data in the above table show that the combination of the claimed ingredients of the present invention (pectin or algin together with a combination of limonene, menthol and thymol) provides a synergistic anti-malodour benefit in a wet malodour assay over an extended period of time.

FIC (fractional inhibitory concentration) was measured using the same procedure as described above to confirm synergistic interactions:

the data using this method are summarized in table 4 below:

table-4:

FIC index calculation	MIC-odor
		MIC A-pectin	0.50％
MIC-TML	0.01％
		A-working concentration in combination with pectin	0.05
Working concentration of B-TML	0.001％
		FIC index calculation	FIC
0.001% TML+0.05% pectin	0.2

The data in the above table show that pectin synergistically interacts with a combination of thymol, menthol and limonene to obtain the desired benefits.

Claims

1. A composition for reducing malodour comprising:

(i) One or more polysaccharides selected from the group consisting of algin or pectin, preferably pectin;

2. The composition of claim 1, additionally comprising one or more aliphatic terpene alcohols selected from menthol, isopulegol, neomenthol, and neoisopulegol.

3. The composition of claim 1 or 2, wherein the substituted phenol is one or more selected from thymol and sec-butylphenol.

4. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the unsaturated terpene is one or more selected from limonene and terpinolene.

5. The composition of any one of the preceding claims 2-4, wherein the substituted phenol is thymol, wherein the aliphatic terpene alcohol is menthol, and wherein the unsaturated terpene is limonene.

6. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the substituted phenol is present at a concentration of 0.01 to 5 weight percent, and the aliphatic terpene alcohol is present at a concentration of 0.01 to 5 weight percent, and the unsaturated terpene is present at a concentration of 0.01 to 5 weight percent, based on the weight of the total composition.

7. The composition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polysaccharide is present at a concentration of 0.1 to 20% by weight of the composition.

8. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pectin is derived from one or more fruits selected from the group consisting of: pears, apples, guava, plums, gooseberries, oranges and any other citrus fruit, preferably citrus fruit.

9. A composition according to any preceding claim which is a laundry detergent composition additionally comprising from 1 to 80 wt% of a surfactant.

10. A laundry detergent composition according to claim 9 comprising from 5 to 60 wt% anionic surfactant.

11. A laundry detergent composition according to claims 9 and 10 comprising from 5 to 20% nonionic surfactant.

12. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 which is a fabric conditioning composition additionally comprising from 1 to 50% of a fabric softening active.

13. A fabric conditioning composition according to claim 12 wherein the fabric softening active is one or more selected from quaternary ammonium compounds and silicone polymers, preferably quaternary ammonium compounds.

14. A fabric conditioning composition according to claim 12 or 13 which additionally comprises from 0.1 to 5 wt% of a nonionic surfactant, preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate.

15. A method of reducing odor on a fabric for up to five days comprising the step of contacting a water pre-moistened fabric with the composition of any of the preceding claims.