DK154347B - DETERGENT AND PROCEDURE FOR PREPARING THEREOF - Google Patents

Description

1 DK 154347 B

The invention relates to an improved detergent and, more particularly, to a detergent capable of being formed into a water-soluble, soft, advantageous, mold-stable, solid and optionally transparent detergent article, articles made from such material, and methods of making such materials and objects.

Transparent soaps and their processes have been well known and available for many years. Since such soaps are more expensive to produce, they have generally been considered ^ as luxury items, and their transparent properties have been betra + a sr> m Anshfi +: vdAndA food Ήσι-ΐ ranT-tad ner ηΑπ + .ηηΙ ΐ + -. A +:. Sådanna

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products have been used almost exclusively in the toilet articles area, i.e. for bathing and washing hands and face etc. However, together with opaque soaps, they are not entirely satisfactory, especially with regard to their cleansing efficiency in hard water 5 and / or with respect to some of the synthetic fiber materials and / or with respect to light manufacture. etc.

U.S. Patent No. 3,562,167 discloses a material which is said to be suitable for forming transparent detergent bars and 10 pieces useful in hard water. Such materials, rods and pieces as well as the methods of their manufacture have been found to suffer from a number of disadvantages. More specifically, the products are highly hygroscopic, whereby the resulting rods and pieces readily absorb moisture from the atmosphere, especially under 15 conditions of high relative humidity, become sticky and lose their transparency. Obviously, tackiness is disadvantageous in the materials of the present invention. Furthermore, the products are inferior in terms of water solubility, purity and stain removal which are of course important properties of a detergent, especially a detergent detergent piece.

Stain-cleaning detergent pieces are also known, but similarly suffer from a number of disadvantages. U.S. Patent No. 3,417,023 thus discloses a spot-cleaning piece made of a material 25 containing volatile solvents which tends to evaporate rapidly from the detergent piece to eventually leave a hard, shriveled product which is unable to disperse locally on contaminated fibrous or other material unless first wetted with water. The resultant detergent piece is further insufficiently soluble, especially in hard water, and insufficiently effective to purify certain types of synthetic fiber materials, dirt and water-insoluble stains, such as ballpoint ink, motor oil, body oils, lipstick and / or shoe ink and the like. Furthermore, this patent does not concern products which are transparent.

U.S. Patent No. 3,664,962 discloses a stain-removing piece but similarly does not aim at products that are transparent. It also involves the use of high-molecular-weight high-molecular-weight sodium stearate soap only and uses too low a quantity of 3

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synthetic detergent and polyhydric alcohol, which has been shown to result in deficiencies in cleaning performance.

The object of the present invention is to provide detergents, 5 detergent articles and methods of making them which will not suffer from one or more of the above disadvantages.

According to the invention, an improved material has been obtained which is capable of being formed into a water-soluble, soft, advantageous, but form-stable solid, shaped detergent article, such as a detergent piece, which is particularly useful as a prewash spot cleaner.

Furthermore, such an object which is transparent is obtained.

Finally, according to the invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of such materials, which avoids the need to dissolve a fatty acid soap in hot organic solvent.

A further advantage of the invention is to provide a detergent as well as soft, advantageous, but moldable, solid, shaped detergent articles which have improved cleaning effects on many different types of dirt and stains and against many different types of surfaces, especially artificial surfaces such as textiles, or which can be adjusted for improved efficiency for cleaning particular types of dirt, stains and surfaces.

30 Other advantages will be apparent from the following description.

The attainment of one or more of the above-mentioned advantages is made possible by the invention, which comprises the indication of a detergent which is characterized by the characteristic part of claim 1. The following quantities are by weight I. a matrix comprising A. soap component 2-25% of one or more alkali metal, soil

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fatty acids with an average of 6-30 carbon atoms per molecule which provides the soap component in the matrix at a maximum of 6% ^ 22 ~ g of higher soaps, preferably at most 4.5% and most preferably at most 3%, at most 8% C2Q and higher soaps, preferably at most 6% and most preferably at most 4% , at most 20% C-lq and higher soaps, preferably at most 18% and 5 most preferably at most 15%, with the proviso that each of said percentages may be increased by 2% for each percent of soap used, in the event that the soap is in the form of a potassium soap, and the soap used further has a weighted average carbon content of at least C-, which carbon content, for unsaturated 10 parts, is calculated on the basis of the actual carbon content minus 6, B. as synthetic detergent component 5% to 88% of at least one anionic organic sulfonate, anionic organic phosphate, anionic alcohol sulfate, anionic ether sulfate or nonionic aliphatic detergent, 15 and C. as solvent component 10-70% of at least one normally liquid, substantially non-volatile organic solvent with a boiling point of at least approx. 100 ° C, as defined below, and II. a water component (D) constituting 0.1 to 35 parts per 100 parts of said matrix, which matrix and the water component are adapted to obtain water-soluble, form-stable, soft, advantageous, 25 solid-form detergent articles.

The matrix compositions of the invention are set forth in FIG. 1, wherein the area bounded by lines connecting points A, B, C and D represents such compositions, and the area bounded by lines connecting points E, F, G and H represents preferred matrix compositions.

Obtaining such is also possible according to another feature of the invention which includes disclosing a process for preparing the above-mentioned material by melting the free fatty acids contained in component A, mixing the molten fatty acids with component C to form a homogeneous liquid and admixture therein at a temperature above the melting point of said free fatty acids and in the presence of components B and D of sufficient amounts

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alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or amine salt forming bases for saponifying and neutralizing said fatty acids, thereby forming their alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or amine salts in situ.

The materials of the invention are preferably formed, generally by pouring the molten material into a removable form or the packaging or container in which the material is to be dispensed and / or used, and by allowing the material to cool and solidify therein to form a piece of any desired size and cross-sectional shape, e.g. circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, etc. However, any other shape may be provided which may be particularly suitable for a contemplated application. It can e.g. be asymmetrical or symmetrical, spherical, cube-shaped, egg-shaped, disc-shaped with a circumference of any desired shape, etc. Used here and in the following claims, the term "piece" should, therefore, include the above-mentioned shapes and in fact any shape of a transparent, water-soluble, soft, advantageous, solid, shaped detergent article. The term "soft" is intended to include articles usually considered hard or hard surface, referring instead to a solid consistency with a fairly soft surface, which is easily transferred to the site on the contaminated surface, generally a textile surface. Specific parameters and methods for determining "plasticizers" and "advantageous" will be set forth below, since the materials and pieces of the invention also contain a significant amount of water-insoluble solvents, It is understood that the term "water soluble" is used herein to mean that the web or layer of such material applied locally to the contaminated textile area 30 or the like is as easy to disperse in the then aqueous detergent bath or system as if it was effectively water soluble. By the term "shape stable" is meant the physical state of stability of the shape under the ambient condition looks (e.g. 0 ° C to approx. 40 ° C, relative humidity from 0% to 100%), whereby the product does not shrink, expand, deform or flow to any significant degree.

In addition to enabling the highly desirable aesthetic attraction, which involves clear, colorless or colored transparency,

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the detergent pieces of the invention have improved properties with respect to water solubility, cleanability, solubilization and / or loosening of stains, debris and other foreign, undesirable material on the surface being treated, and / or stability and resistance to changes in texture, shape , transparency and surface softness, usually caused by ambient conditions in the form of heat and moisture, loss of volatile components by evaporation, etc.

They are exceptionally effective as prewash stain removers, i.e. for application to locally contaminated areas of the textile, plastic or other article that is cleaned prior to washing the entire article in any desired aqueous hot or cold detergent bath or system. In fact, they may be useful as prior dry-cleaning stain removers, especially given the relatively high content of organic water-insoluble solvent they may contain.

The materials of the invention are further particularly suitable for molding to the desired pieces, being composed to obtain optimum fluidity or viscosity properties when melted prior to the molding step of the pieces, and to enable rapid solidification to the piece shape considered necessary for achieving the desired transparency. The process of the invention for preparing such materials is relatively simpler and quicker, especially using the more soluble lower molecular weight fatty acids, which acids are neutralized or saponified in situ.

Regarding the limitations mentioned below, the fatty acids used to prepare the soaps in component A may contain about 30 6-30 or more, preferably 8-22 carbon atoms and being of animal, vegetable, mineral or synthetic origin and being saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon carboxylic acids with straight or mono or poly branched chain. Just as examples of such acids can be mentioned capric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, eicosanoic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, isostearic acid, palmitic acid, undecylenic acid, tridecylenic acid, lower pentadecylenic acid, 2-lower acid such as 2-methyltridecanoic acid, 2-methylpentadecanoic acid or 2-methylheptadecanoic acid) or other saturated or saturated fatty acids. Dicarboxylic acids may also be used, such as dimerized linolenic acid. Other higher molecular weight acids,

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such as rosin or tall oil acids, for example abietic acid, may be used.

In order to obtain optimum solubility, product consistency, viscosity, melting and solidification properties, mixtures or mixtures of the above and other types of fatty acids are preferably used, which mixtures contain no more than approx. 15% unsaturated fatty acids, not more than 5% fatty acids containing more than 18 carbon atoms, and preferably at least approx. 5%, but no more than approx. 70% fatty acids with 18 carbon atoms, preferably 10 stearic acid. A preferred class of fatty acid mixtures may e.g. contain approx. 0-5% Cg, 0-10% C1Q, 0-50% C12, 0-20% Cl4, 10-50% 0χ6 and 5-70% C ^ g-saturated fatty acids. Easily available commercially available mixtures and mixtures of such mixtures to obtain the most suitable distribution of fatty acids which may be used include 15 distilled palm and palm kernel fatty acids, distilled coconut oil fatty acids, hydrogenated tallow fatty acids and commercially available stearic acid. The fatty acid content is given in parts by weight of several such mixtures, as well as mixtures thereof, illustrated in the following table.

Table I

abcdefgh C8 - 4.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 1.5 2.7 C10 - 5.0 8.6 1.5 ~ 1.5 1.0 2.0 C12 - 45.0 66.2 22.5 - 22.5 15.0 50.1

Cl4 5.0 19.0 25.0 11.0 - 9.5 8.5 13.7

Cl6 30.0 11.0 - 20.5 50 + 5 30.5 25.7 17.4 30 C18 65.0 4.0 - 54.5 45 + 4 25.5 44.6 24.5

Mcix

Unsaturated. 2.0 12.0 - 7.0 4.0 8.0 5.0 8.7 In the above table, 35 mixture a = commercial hydrogenated saturated fatty acids b = commercial distilled coconut oil fatty acids c = commercial synthetic fatty acids d = 1: 1 mixture of a and be = commercial stearic acid f = 1: 1 mixture of b and oak = 2: 1 mixture of a and b

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For the in situ saponification of these fatty acids by the process of the invention, any alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or amine salt forming base can be used, e.g. sodium, potassium, magnesium or ammonium hydroxides, mono-di or triethanol or 5-propanolamines or any other such rabbit which results in a water-soluble salt or soap of the fatty acid being saponified. The base is preferably in the form of a concentrated aqueous solution or dispersion, e.g. with a concentration of approx. 20-49%, and at approx. the temperature of the molten fatty acid when mixed with it. An approximately stoichiometric base amount is preferably used unless a product containing small amounts of excess fatty acid or base is desired.

In addition to the known cleaning function, component A soap imparts body, firmness and non-adhesive properties to the detergents of the invention. However, using an excessive amount of component A to produce the products of the invention may increase the melting or fluidization temperature (to about 110 ° C or more), the viscosity of the hot, molten fluid, and the rate of solidification thereof too much, thereby properly prevent the operation of the piece-making process, and there is a tendency to greatly reduce the transparency and dissolution rate of the resulting piece. Using too low an amount of component A, on the other hand, reduces the viscosity of the hot, molten fluid and its solidification rate too much, in addition to resulting in pieces that are too soft and sticky at any amount of components B and C.

The detergents and detergent pieces of the invention may contain approx. 2-25%, preferably approx. 4 to less than 15% and most preferably about 6-12% of component A, of which at least approx. 40% preferably are or are equivalent to the alkali metal salts of hydrogenated tallow fatty acids.

As component B, substantially any water-soluble synthetic organic detergent, or mixtures thereof, of the cationic or amphoteric or anionic sulfonate and sulfate or nonionic aliphatic type, suitable description of which can be found in McCutcheon's "Detergents and Emulsifiers", vintage 1969, and in "Surface Active Agents" by Schwartz, Perry and

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Berch, "Volume 11, 1958 (Interscience Publishers), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Suitable cationic detergents generally include the quaternary ammonium compounds which may be described as containing, in addition to the usual halide (chloride, bromide, iodide, etc.), sulfate, phosphate or other anion, aliphatic and / or alicyclic groups. , preferably alkyl and / or aralkyl, which via carbon atoms therein is bonded to the other four available bonding positions of the nitrogen atom, two or three of said groups being linked to form a heterocyclic ring with the nitrogen atom and at least one of the these groups are aliphatic with at least 8 and up to 22 or more carbon atoms. Examples of such cationic detergents include distearyldimethylammonium chloride, stearyl dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, coconut alkyldimethylbenzyl = ammonium chloride, dicoconutalkyldimethylammonium bromide, cetylpyri = dinium iodide and cetylpyridium

Suitable amphoteric detergents which combine potentially anionic and cationic groups in one molecule include alkyl-β-iminodipropionates and iminopropionates as well as long chain imidazole derivatives. Illustrative examples include the disodium salt of lauroyl-cycloimidinium-1-ethoxyethionic acid-2-ethionic acid, dodecyl β -alanine, the inner salt of 2-trimethylaminolauric acid and as zwitterionic compounds the substituted betaines such as alkyl dimethylammonium acetates. Several examples of this class of zwitterionic compounds are disclosed in Canadian Patent Specification No. 696,355.

Suitable anionic water-soluble detergents include the alkylaryl sulfonates, especially the higher (e.g., 10-20 or more carbon atoms) alkylbenzenesulfonate salts, preferably the alkylbenzenesulfonates, wherein the alkyl group contains 10-16 carbon atoms. The alkyl group is preferably linear, and particularly preferred are those compounds which have average alkyl chain lengths of about, 11-13 or 14 carbon atoms, such as the linear dodecylbenzenesulfonate salts.

Preferably, the alkylbenzenesulfonate also has a high content of the 3-alkylphenyl isomer and a correspondingly low content (somewhat below 30%) of the 2- and 4-alkylphenyl isomers. Such an appropriate detergent type

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Typical examples of useful anionic detergents are also the olefin sulfonate salts. Generally, they contain long chain alkenyl sulfonates or long chain hydroxyalkanesulfonates (with the OH group located at a carbon atom not directly attached to the carbon atom bearing the -SO 2 group). Usually, the olefin sulph = 5 phonate detergent comprises a mixture of these two compound types in varying amounts, often in association with long chain disulfonates or sulfate sulfonates. Such olefin sulfonates are disclosed in many patents, such as U.S. Patent Nos. 2,061,618, 3,409,637 to 3,332,880, 3,420,875, 3,428,654 and 3,506,580, and in British Patent No. 1,139,158 and in U.S. Pat. an article by Baumann et al. in Fette-Seifen-Anstrichmittel, Vol. 72, No. 4 on pages 247-253 (I970).

All the above-mentioned literature sites are incorporated herein by reference thereto. As mentioned in these patents and in the published literature, the olefin sulfonates can be prepared from straight-chain α-olefins, internal olefins, olefins in which the unsaturation is found in a vinylidene side chain (e.g. dimers of α-olefin), etc., or more usually mixtures of such compounds, wherein the oc-olefin is usually the main constituent. The sulfonation is usually carried out with sulfur trioxide under low partial pressure, e.g. SO 2 which is heavily diluted with an inert gas such as air and nitrogen or under vacuum. This reaction generally results in an alkenylsulfonic acid, often with a sultone. The resulting acidic material is generally then made alkaline and treated to open the sultone ring to form the corresponding hydroxy = alkanesulfonate and / or alkenyl sulfonate. The number of carbon atoms in the olefin is usually in the range of approx. 10 to 25, more commonly from ca. 2 to 20, e.g. a mixture of mainly C 12, Cl 4 and C 14 carbon atoms, or a mixture of mainly Cl 4, C 16 carbon atoms.

Another class of water-soluble synthetic organic anionic detergents includes the higher (e.g., 10 to 20 carbon atoms) paraffin sulfonates. These may be the primary paraffin sulfonates,

35 produced by reaction of long chain α-olefins with bisulfite, e.g. sodium bisulfite, or paraffin sulfonates having the sulfonate groups distributed along the paraffin chain, such as the products produced by the reaction of long-chain paraffin with sulfur dioxide and oxygen under ultraviolet light followed by neutralization with NaOH

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or another suitable base (such as in United States patents 2,503,280, 2,507,088, 3,260,741 and 3,372,188; and in German patent no.

735,096). The hydrocarbon substituent of the paraffin sulfonate preferably contains approx. 13-17 carbon atoms and the paraffin sulfonate will normally be a monosulfonate, but may, if desired, be a di-, tri- or higher sulfonate. A paraffin disulfonate can typically be used in admixture with the corresponding monosulfonate, e.g. in the form of a mixture of mono- and di-sulfonates containing up to ca. 30% of the disulfonate.

1 o

The hydrocarbon substituent in the paraffin sulfonate will usually be linear, but branched chain paraffin sulfonates can also be used. The paraffin sulfonate used may be end-sulfonated, or the sulfonate substituent may be attached to the 2-carbon atom or another carbon atom in the chain. Similarly, any di- or higher sulfonate may be used which has the sulfonate groups distributed over different carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon chain.

Additional water-soluble anionic detergents include the higher acyl sarcosinates · (e.g. sodium lauryl sarcosinate), the acyl esters e.g. oleic acid esters, of isethionates and acyl-N-methyltaurides, e.g., potassium N-methyllauryl or oleyltaurides. Another type of anionic detergent is a higher alkyl phenol sulfonate, e.g. a higher alkyl phenol disulfonate, such as one having an alkyl group of 12 to 25 carbon atoms, preferably a linear alkyl group of approx. 16-22 carbon atoms, which disulfonate can be prepared by sulfonating the corresponding alkyl phenol to a product containing in excess 1.6, preferably oyer 1.8, e.g. 1.8 to 1.9 or 1.95 SO 2 H groups per alkylphenolmolekyle. The disulfonate may be one whose phenolic hydroxyl group is blocked, such as by etherification or esterification, and thus the H atom of the phenolic OH group may be replaced by an alkyl group, e.g. an ethyl group, or hydroxyalkoxyalkyl, e.g. a - (C 1 -C 2 O 2 H group wherein x is 1 or more, such as 3, 6 or 10, and the resulting alcoholic OH group may be esterified to form, for example, a sulfate, e.g. .ex. -SO ^ Na.

Other suitable anionic detergents are C 2 -C 10 alkyl sulfates such as lauryl sulfate, tallow alcohol sulfate, and oc- or w-methoxyoctadecyl = en-PaH-, __-al Iranmrl mnnn «. ner rli crl vnsri rlanl · Ρη + · .η · η ner —sul f'nna'hpr ».

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Other suitable anionic detergents are the sulfate esters of nonionic detergents, i.e. the reaction products of ca. 1-20 moles of a C₂2_ alkylene oxide, preferably ethylene oxide, with 1 mole of hydrogen-containing Cq₂24 "reactive compound including aliphatic and alicyclic alcohols such as lauryl, tallow, oxotridecyl, coconut oil and abietyl alcohols, aliphatic aliphatic aliphatic aliphatic alcohols such as polyoxypropylene ethylene and propylene glycols, diamines and dithiols, aliphatic and alicyclic carboxylic acids such as stearic acid and abietic acid, aliphatic mercaptans such as dodecyl mercaptan, aliphatic and alicyclic amines such as stearylamine and rosin amine, rosin amine, rosin amine, and dinonylphenol.

Although the above-mentioned structural types of organic carboxylates, sulfates and sulfonates are generally preferred, the corresponding organic carboxylates are phosphates (see, e.g., U.S. Pat.

(3,535,968) and phosphonates also suitable as anionic detergents.

Generally, the anionic detergents are salts of alkali metals, such as potassium and especially sodium, although salts of alkaline earth metals, ammonium cations and substituted ammonium cations derived from lower (2-4 carbon atoms) alkanolamines, e.g. triethanolamine, tri-propanolamine and diethanol monopropanolamine, and of lower (1-4 carbon atoms) alkylamines, e.g. methylamine, ethylamine, sec-butylamine, dimethylamine, tripropylamine and triisopropylamine can also be used.

Of the anionic detergents, the alkali metal salts of sulfated and sulfonated moieties are preferred over the carboxylic, phosphoric and phosphonic acid compounds.

Aliphatic non-ionic detergents acting as or in component B can be described as reaction products of ca. 2-50 moles of a C₂ / j alkylene oxide, preferably ethylene oxide, with 1 mole of a Cg_24_ reactive hydrogen-containing aliphatic compound and examples of such aliphatic compounds are the reactive hydrogen-containing compounds referred to hereinafter as precursors for sulfate esters. of nonionic detergents which are aliphatic.

Preferred nonionic surfactants are the compounds of the formula:

R0 (C2H40) nH

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wherein R represents the residue of a saturated, straight-chain or branched aliphatic alcohol, preferably a primary alkanol of about 8-20, preferably approx. 12-18 carbon atoms and n is an integer from ca. 2 to 50, preferably approx. 5 to 20.

Typical commercially available nonionic surfactants suitable for use in the invention include an ethoxylation product having an average of 11 ethylene oxide units of a fatty alcohol having 14-15 carbon atoms in the carbon chain, a fatty alcohol having 12-15 carbon atoms ethoxylated with an average of 7 1 ° ethylene oxide units, a 16-18 carbon alkanol etoxylated with an average of 10-11 ethylene oxide units, and such products which are different or substantially equivalent to the reaction products of 11 mole of ethylene oxide (EO) with 1 mole of a primary alkanol or 1 mole of a ^ primary alkanol, of 7 moles of EO

15 with 1 mole of a C2-225 primary alkanol and 3: 1 to 1: 3 mixtures of the reaction product of 20-50 moles of E.O. with 1 mole of a C ^ g_ primary alkanol and of 3-5 moles of E.O. with 1 mole of Cg_ Q Q alkanol.

Other suitable nonionic aliphatic detergents include the liquid and semi-solid reaction products of 3-20 moles of E.O. with 1 mol

R

Cn_15 secondary alkanols "Piuronics" and the reaction products of 5-7 moles of E.O. with 1 mole of C ^^ g g alkanediols.

Further suitable aliphatic non-ionic detergents are those of the polar type that may also serve to enhance the foaming properties and cleaning properties of other detergent types, especially anionic detergents. In a polar type of nonionic detergent, the hydrophilic group contains a semi-polar bond directly between two atoms, e.g. N - 0, P—> 0, As—> 0, and S— * 0, the arrow being the conventional indication of a semi-polar bond. There is a charge separation between the two directly bonded atoms, but the molecule has no net charge and does not dissociate into ions. Illustrative types are amine oxides of the formula R-LR R 1 -NO and phosphine oxides of the formula R 1 R 2 R 2 P-M), wherein R 2 is C 1-6 alkyl, alkenyl or alkanol, and r Is independently of each other C C - alkyl alkyl or alkanol, e.g.

35 dodecyldimethylamine and phosphine oxides.

As stated above, mixtures of the detergents described above can be used as component B. A preferred embodiment

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form consists of using at least approx. 40% and up to 100% of the nonionic reaction product of approx. 2-50, preferably approx. 5-15 moles of ethylene oxide, with 1 mole of ethylene oxide, together with 1 mole of a saturated aliphatic alcohol, preferably a primary alkanol, of approx. 8-20, preferably about 11-16 carbon atoms, as or in component B.

The detergents of component B contribute to improved hard water solubility as well as improved cleaning performance of the detergents and detergent pieces of the invention, especially in hard water and / or with respect to the synthetic fiber materials such as nylon, polyesters such as Dacron, and polyacrylonitriles such as Orlon and Acrilan. . They also increase the water solubility and velocities at which such materials and pieces are wetted and dissolved. Component B should contain a small amount or no mineral salts which are a fairly common component of commercially available detergents, in order to minimize the effects on the transparency properties of the products, and the component can be used in the detergents and detergent pieces of the invention in quantities from approx. 5 to 88%, preferably approx. 25-76% by weight, most preferably 55-65%.

20

A greater proportion (= 50%) and preferably from 75 to 100% of the component C solvent should normally be liquid, i.e. with a solidification point (S.P.) below ca. 40 ° C, preferably below room temperature, and having a boiling point of at least approx. 100 ° C, preferably at least 120 ° C and up to approx. 400 ° C. It should be substantially non-volatile and have a negligible vapor pressure at room temperature as well as be subject to negligible loss by evaporation by aging or storage. Thus, particularly good low volatility is indicated by a weight loss of 5% or less after 2 hours at 105 ° C or after 10 hours at 43 ° C for a 30 20 g sample of the solvent in a container having an evaporation surface of about 50 ° C. 46.5 cm, which container is placed in an oven through which an air flow passes.

Of said non-volatile portion of component C, at least 10% is water-insoluble (e.g., benzyl alcohol) with a view to obtaining 10% thereof in component (C) and preferably at least 25% and up to 100%. . One or more substantially water-soluble organic solvents, such as propylene glycol, may constitute a portion of the non-volatile fraction in an amount of not more than about 100%. 90%, preferably not more than 75% and most preferably not more than approx. 50% by weight of said fraction.

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The preferred water-soluble solvent should contain a divalent alcohol such as propylene glycol.

As essentially water-insoluble organic solvent, benzyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol or terpineol is preferred, but as examples of other such solvents which may be used in or as component C, any such liquid which is more water insoluble may be mentioned. than benzyl alcohol, generally including any substantially water-insoluble aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic liquid hydrocarbon, halogenated (iodine, bromine or preferably chlorine) hydrocarbon, hydroxylated hydrocarbon, ether, ester or the like having the above-described properties, eg. octane, hexadecane, chlorohexane, chloro and dichloro = benzene, heptyl, oxotridecyl and hexadecyl alcohols, abietyl alcohol, octanediol, phenethyl alcohol, mono- and di-C1-10 alkylphenols, phenyl = ether, benzyl ether, 1,2-dibutoxy ether 2-benzyloxyethanol, butyl ether, diethyl and dibutyl phthalates, benzyl propionate, isorpopyl myristate, palmitate and stearate and the like. Benzyl alcohol is also excellent (along with others) to impart body and shape stability to the matrix products.

20

As a rule of thumb, the substantially water-soluble solvent in or as component C may similarly be any such solvent that is more water-soluble than benzyl alcohol. It may be of any chemical type, but is generally a monovalent or polyhydric alcohol, ether alcohol or amine such as the 1,7-heptanediol, the mono- and polyethylene and -propylene glycols having a molecular weight of up to approx. 4000, and the mono-C ^^ alkyl alkyl ethers thereof, sorbitol, glycerol, glucose, diglycerol, sucrose, lactose, dextrose, 2-pentanol, 1-butanol, mono-, di- and triethanolamine, 2-amino-1-buta = 30 noles and the like, especially the polyhydric alcohols and alkanolamines.

As stated, the solubility of benzyl alcohol (listed 4 g per 100 ml of water at 170 ° C) is considered as a general guideline for the selection of water-soluble and water-insoluble solvents. As a further clue, a solvent can be considered water-insoluble if its solubility in water at 20 ° C is less than ca. 10% by weight and preferably less than ca. 5% by weight.

Applicable relationships between water-insoluble and water-soluble solvents

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agents will range from 10: 1 to 1:10, preferably 10: 1 to 1: 5 and most preferably 8: 1 to 1: 3. Other preferred ratios are 5: 1 to 1: 3 and 4: 1 to 1: 2.

The solvent component C is essential for the preparation of 5 pieces which are transparent and further act as a unifying or reciprocal solvent for component A soap and its fatty acid precursor as well as for component B detergent. It also fluidizes the melt and facilitates its shaping into pieces which solidify rapidly upon cooling, alleviating the process of the invention. It further enhances the surface softness and solubility of the product pieces. The use of substantially exclusively water-soluble solvents in Component C, but good interconnecting or pooling solvents for Components A and B, as well as good water solubilizers for the piece products, tends to greatly increase the softness, tackiness and hygroscopicity thereof, especially the solvents of the type of polyhydric alcohol, during storage and use. Such trends are controlled according to the invention by limiting the amounts of water-soluble solvents and by using water-insoluble solvents in component C as described above, in addition to such insoluble solvents performing the other functions. However, it should be noted that a controlled degree of hygroscopicity in the products thus formed may be beneficial in preventing such products from drying out, shrinking and cracking during storage and use. Of course, component C, like component B, should also be stable or resistant to the effect of the basic or alkaline material used in the preparation of component A soap in situ by the process of the invention.

Component C should generally not exceed approx. 70%, preferably at most etc. 30 60% and most advantageously less than approx. 50% of the material and core according to the invention in order to avoid excessive reduction of the cleaning properties thereof as a result of the resulting smaller amounts of components A and B and to avoid excessive increase of the sweating (liquid leaking), hygroscopy-35 the city, softness and stickiness of the pieces. In general, the materials and pieces of the invention may contain approx. 10-70 wt%, preferably 20-60 wt% and most advantageously from 20 to less than 50 wt% of component C.

17 DK 154347 B

Water component contributes to lowering the viscosity of the present materials to the fluid or molten state and facilitates neutralization of the fatty acid precursors of component A soaps in the process of making the pieces and materials of the invention, as well as solubilizing the Components A and B. Also, if not all of the water is suitably introduced in the form of an aqueous solution of the basic or alkaline material used in the in situ neutralization or saponification of the fatty acid precursors of component A soap. Water also increases the water solubility and transparency of the pieces according to the invention, and the partial loss thereof from the pieces by evaporation during aging and storage, especially from the outer layers of the socks, is offset by the hygroscopic tendency of other components, especially polyhydric alcohols in component C. Too low a quantity of water adversely affects the workability of the materials in question and the transparency of the resulting pieces. Too high an amount excessively reduces the rate at which these materials solidify to form pieces and increases their tackiness and softness too much.

In general, the materials and pieces of the invention should contain approx. 1-25 parts by weight, preferably 5-15 parts by weight and most preferably 5- 20% by weight, of the water component d, and they may further contain minor amounts, e.g. total from 0 to approx. 5 or 10% of conventional additives including coloring materials such as dyes, clearances or optical dyes, preservatives, UV absorbers, stabilizers, perfumes, disinfectants, foaming agents, enzymes, fillers, sequestering agents, dirt suspending agents, repellents and the like. Fillers and builders may similarly be added .1 any suitable amounts (e.g., 1-85%). Sodium sulphate is a usual filler along with phosphates, carbonates, borates and silicates as examples of inorganic builders. Of the latter, sodium tripolyphosphate is usually preferred. Organic builders such as trisodium nitrilotriacetate, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, sodium salts, citrates, gluconates and the like are useful. Polyelectrolytes and sequestering agents can also be used in any desired amount.

In the process of preparing the materials of the invention, it is preferred to melt the free fatty acids corresponding to the soaps 18

DK 154347 B

in component A of a heated vessel, mixing of components B and C and gently stirring the mixture at a temperature above, but preferably no more than ca. 30 ° C above and most preferably approx. 2-15 ° C above melting points for said fatty acids (usually about 70-580 ° C) until a homogeneous liquid is obtained. A solution of the selected salt-forming base in the water component D, preferably at the temperature of said homogeneous liquid, is then admixed therein, preferably gradually and / or in small amounts, to obtain lumps and superheat until the in situ neutralization and / or saponification of 10 the fatty acids in said liquid are complete. If desired, an approximately stoichiometric amount of the base is used to avoid excess base or fatty acids in the product. Neutralization of the product may e.g. determined by periodic testing with phenolphthalein indicator. If desired, detergent component B can first be dissolved in the heated solution component C and the resulting solution filtered for removal of mineral salts and any other undissolved material before the B and C component in the form of the resulting hot, clear solution is mixed in the molten acids. .

After all of the base has been added and the resulting hot liquid product has been sufficiently mixed until it is determined that the acids have been neutralized, any desired minor amount of the known detergent additives described above may be admixed, if desired with any desired additional amount of the water component D. Some of the water component D may alternatively be added together with the detergent components B and / or the solvent component C.

In some instances, it may be desirable and within the scope of the invention to replace up to approx. 75% or more of the initially melted free fatty acids with their corresponding soaps or salts, e.g. pure soap or kettle soap, which of course occurs with a corresponding reduction in the amount of soap or salt-forming base which is then mixed into the hot melt to neutralize or saponify the free fatty acids therein.

When, according to a further embodiment of the invention, a product is prepared containing a heat sensitive, anionic, organic sulfate or alcohol sulfate detergent as or in component B, such a detergent is not mixed with the molten fatty acids prior to it.

19 DK 154347 B

exothermic neutralization reaction thereof with the base, but instead is then mixed in or with the previously neutralized and cooled liquid just above the solidification point of said liquid containing the soap or fatty acid salt component A, solvent component C and any residual detergent amount of component B.

The hot melted liquid material of the invention prepared as described above can be cooled and solidified in one portion or any other desired form if desired. According to a further feature of the invention, such cooled and solidified material is melted, but more preferably, said hot liquid material is used without such intermediate cooling, solidifying and re-melting steps with accompanying possible loss of components by decomposition and / or evaporation, and poured. instead directly in molds, packages or containers of the desired shape and size, e.g. pieces, and cooled below the solidification point. The improved water-soluble, soft, advantageous, solid and optionally transparent detergent pieces of the invention are thereby produced and, if desired, aged a short time to achieve equilibrium with the surroundings.

20

The matrix products of the invention have a unique combination of both physical and chemical properties. As stated above, they are generally transparent, stable, soft, advantageous, solid, form-stable materials that exhibit excellent cleaning performance in a laundry washing process and have excellent solubility properties, especially in a washing machine.

The products of the invention generally have a dirt removal capability which is comparable to if not superior to currently used laundry detergents. The cleaning performance is conveniently measured by means of both the standard tergotometer test (US Testing Company, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA) and with practical machine washing. In the tergotometer test, an aqueous solution of the detergent (0.1-0.5 # concentration) is stirred with contaminated cloth samples (and usually with pure 35 cloth samples also for re-deposition efficiency), and the purity is then appropriately determined by "before" and "after" readings on a "Color Difference meter (e.g., a" Gardner Color Difference Meter). The test can be carried out at any temperature (generally room temperature until boiling) with stirring at r \ ___a · - -i - __l τζ ΟΛ 1Λ 20

DK 154347 B

nuts) at water hardnesses from 0 to 300 ppm or more (such as CaCO 2). Prior to the "after-island readings," the cleaned clothing samples are rinsed for a few minutes in water of the same hardness used during the washing step, and then dried and evaluated.

5

The products of the invention are also excellent for use against various stains, e.g. grease, oily dirt, lipstick, ballpoint ink, etc. The dissolution rate of the products of the invention is measured in water from room temperature to boiling (generally and conveniently at 40 ° C). The method generally consists of adding 2 g of the product to 500 ml of water at a certain temperature and stirring at selected standard conditions until all the product has dissolved. In detail, the procedure consists of using a 600 ml beaker which is 12 cm high and 8.5 cm in diameter (very flat bottom) 15 and is graded for each 50 ml. 500 ml of water is placed in the beaker, the temperature is adjusted, 2 g of product is added, "and stirred. Stirring is carried out by means of a magnetic stirrer, which is a cylindrical rod with a 1 mm plastic coating. The total dimensions of the rod are 12 mm in diameter and 6 The rotational speed is set to obtain a vortex whose tip lies at the 300 ml pitch of the beaker.

The products of the invention have dissolution rates of% to 5 minutes at 40 ° C when measured as described above.

2 5

The penetration hardness of the products of the invention can be measured by the ASTM method D217-52T (Richardson method). Values obtained for the matrix products of the invention range from approx. 70 to approx. 120 (tenths of a millimeter).

30

The product tackiness (also the advantage and transferability of rubbing) is determined by rubbing under a 2 kg weight of a shaped 1 "cylinder of the product on a standard cotton cloth (10 cm long) and measuring the amount of product released by friction when the cloth is pulled under the loaded cylinder.

Suitable products have friction values (translucency factors) of approx. 100 mg to approx. 300 mg of product per 10 cm strip of cotton cloth. Preferred products have transfer factors from over 150 to less than approx. 300th

21 DK 154347 B

The product transparency is conveniently measured by a lamp / photocell / galvanometer system while reading the percentage of transmitted light after a zero setting. Spectro-colorimeters can also be used. Essentially complete transparency (i.e.> 95%) can be achieved with the products of the invention.

Other: relevant parameters for the products of the invention are the solidification temperature (S.P.) and the viscosity of the product in the fluid state, as these are important factors in processing the materials in question, especially for the molded shapes described above. These parameters have a direct effect on the production rate, size, and handling of such shaped shapes (e.g., pieces) and affect the transparency and tackiness of the final product. In general, the solidification point 15 of the matrix products according to the invention ranges from approx. 40 ° C to 100 ° C, and the viscosity, measured by a falling ball visometer, may be from 50 cps to 3000 cps, the most suitable values being in the range of approx. 1000 to 2000 cps.

The following examples are not limiting, but are merely examples of preferred embodiments of the invention. All amounts and parts herein are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example 1 25

Composition In Parts

Hydrogenated tallow fatty acids 12.5

Benzyl alcohol 20.0

Propylene Glycol 30.0 3 ° Nonionic Calcanools + 11 E.O. * 28.0

Composition II

Deionized water 5.0 35 38% low chloride aqueous NaOH 4.1

Composition III

22 ^. .

DK 154347B

* Reaction product of 1 mole of C 1-6 alkanols with 11 moles of ethylene oxide.

The ingredients of Compositions I and II are heated separately to 80-85 ° C in a well-stirred mixing tank until homogeneity is reached and Compound II is slowly stirred into Composition I. A few drops of phenolphthalein indicator are then added. the mixture, and if the mixture is still colorless, add small amounts of the NaOH solution until the mixture just turns pink. Composition III is then mixed and the mixture is kept at about 71 ° C while pouring it into molds to form The strengths are strengthened by careful and slow cooling to ensure the transparency of the pieces.

The resulting transparent, water-soluble, easily dispensable detergent pieces are particularly effective in removing stains from ballpoint pens, cuff and collar stains, etc. when the stained or contaminated areas are rubbed or rubbed with the pieces and then washed in an aqueous detergent bath. The pieces are stable to varying conditions in the surroundings for extended periods of time.

20

Example 2

The procedure of Example 1 is repeated with the following compositions, the results thereof being almost the same:

Composition In Parts

Hydrogenated tallow fatty acids 10.00

Benzyl Alcohol 28.65 30

Propylene glycol 28.65

Nonionic C - ^ _- ^ - alkanols + 11 E.O. 28.00

Composition II 35

Deionized water 4.50 35% aqueous NaOH 4.40

23 DK 154347 B

composition; III Parts 1% aqueous "Pigmasol Blue 5G ,, _: Dissolution 0.10" Optiblanc BT11 "* 0.10" Optiblanc 2MG "* 0.10 5

3C

6% solution of each optical brightener liberated from mineral salts in 1: 1 benzyl alcohol: propylene glycol.

Example 5 10

Examples 1 and 2 are repeated except that the nonionic detergent of composition I is replaced by the same amount of the following detergents: (A) Cationic distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (B) 1: 1 mixture of (A) and C alkanols + 11 E »Q *.

(C) Anionic sodium C C ^ par paraffin insulphate (100% active, pure, desalted)?

(D) 1: 1 mixture of (C) and% 4-15 alkanols + H

20

2C

Added as a 66.5% solution in 1: 1 benzyl alcohol syrupylene glycol.

The results are similar to those of Examples 1 and 2. When (C) is used, this component can alternatively be incorporated into Composition III instead of Composition I.

In the following examples listed in Table XI, the number of parts of the constituents is listed and the identification thereof is given in Table I. The procedure of Example I is followed in preparing η n each of the materials.

Table 1 - Ingredients Component A

35 Al Hydrogenated tallow fatty acids A2 Distilled coconut oil fatty acids A3 Distilled tallow fatty acids A4 Synthetic C ^^ in ^ fatty acids A5 C00 fatty acids 24

DK 154347 B

A7 Clean Soap (15:85 A2 Soap: A3 Soap + 33% Water) A8 Soap Noodles (85/15 tallow coconut + 12% water)

Corneal B

B1 Nonionic reaction product of 1 mole of C-primary alkanols with approx. 11 moles of ethylene oxide (+ 11 E.O.) B2 Non-ionic C

B3 Non-ionic alkanols + 7 E.O.

B4 Non-ionic Cg_-j η -primary alkanols + 5-E.O.

B6 Non-ionic C-Q ^^ - secondary alkanol + 3 E.O.

10 B7 Non-ionic C 1-6 alkanediol (omega omega) + 5 E.O.

B8 Anionic sodium C10_1Z (- (residual dodecyl) alkylbenzenesulfonate B9 Anionic sodium sulfate of lauryl alcohol + 3 E.O.

BIO Anionic sodium C - ^ _ ^ - pairs of f insulphate

Car Anionic sodium lauryl sulfate 1 5 B12 Non-ionic Cg primary alcohol + 2 E.O.

B13 Non-ionic C- ^ 2_24 ~ Primary Alcohol + 2 E.O.

B14 "Pluronic L-6l" ® B15 Nonylphenol +9.5 E.O.

B16 C ^ g_ ^ g-olefin sulfonate B17 Non-ionic C - ^ _ ^ - secondary alcohol + 5 E.O.

B18 Non-ionic C ^^ i ^ -secondary alcohol + 7 E.O.

B19 Non-ionic C ^ - ^ - ^ - secondary alcohol + 9 E.O.

Component C

C1 Benzyl alcohol C2 Lauryl alcohol C3 Terpineol C4 Diethyl phthalate C5 Phenethyl alcohol C6 Propylene glycol C7 Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether C8 Diethylene glycol C9 Triethylene glycol CIO Polyethylene glycol with molecular weight 3000 Cll Triethanolamine C12 Glycerol

DK 154347 B

25

Component T)

Dl 35% aqueous solution of caustic soda D2 Deionized water D3 49% aqueous solution of caustic soda 5 D4 50% aqueous KOH solution

Additives E

El Optical dye, e.g.

E2 Dye, e.g. "Pigmasol Blue 5G" E3 Perfume

Table II - Example 15 Components - parts by weight

Examples in -; -——- A B C D Additives 4 15Al 15B1,; 20C1 5D2 I 20B17 in 20C6 4.9D3 20 5 in 10 Al 20B1 20C1 5.D2 in 20B18! 2006 3.3D3 6 i 8.5A1 26.5BA1 23.501 10D2 I 123.5010 2.9D3 7! L0.6Al 27B19! 23,501 10D2 I 123,5010 3.2D3 25! · 9,4012 7A! 10Al 20B4 1 1501 1.7D2 I 20B14 I 506 3.3D3 I 15C10 8 8A6 20B1! 2001 2D2 30 20B18 I 2006 2.7D3 9 i 10A1 35B1 S 2501 3D2 0.003E2 I 2306 3,303 10 i 10A1 28B10 28,601 4.4D3 0.004E2 28,606 35 11 12.5A1 15B1 j 22,501 6D2 0.004E2: 20B8 I 22.506 4.1D3 12 10A1 30B1! 5601 2D2 I 4.1D3 13 IpAl 35B1 | 2001 5D2 26

Table II - Examples (cont.) 154j47B

Components - parts by weight

Examples ------ A B C. D Additives 14 7Al 16B1 25C1 5D2 5 7A2 5B12 25C6 5D3 5B15 5011 15 11A1 45,2B10 11,401 10,5D3 11,4C6 16 11A1 45,2B1 11,401 10,5D3 11A2 11,4C6 1 o '17 11A1 45 f2B8 11,4C1 10 , 5D3 11A2 11.4C6 18 11A1 35.2B1 11,401 10.5D3 11A2 10B8 11,406 15 '19 7A6 18B1 26,701 2D2 0.002E2 16B10 26,706 3D3 0.02E1 20 8Al 16B 6 19.3d 3.6D1 0.004E2 13.3B10 19,306 0.12E1 21 9Al 25B9 27.901 3.2D1 0.02E1 n 27.906 0.004E2 d 0.3E3 22 8A6 35B2 2501 2D2 0.002E2 2508 2.8D3 23 3.5A1 33B1 2601 5.1D1 3.5A2 26c6 3.5A3 25 24 3Al 28B1 2601 1.2D1 15A7 2606 25 3.5A1 33B1 2001 5D1 3,5A2 12B10 2006 3,5A3 30 26 8A6 48B2 2001 2.8D2 0.005E1 2006 2D3 0.001E2 0.3 E3 27 8A6 48B2 2001 2.8D2 0.005 E1 2006 2D3 0.001E2 507 1D4 0.03E3 35 28 8A6 20B2 1501 4D1 20B13 1006 1D4 10B10 1507 29 8A6 20B2 1501 4D1 10B10 1006 5D2 20B13 1507 1D4 27

Table II - Examples (cont.) 154347 B

Components - parts by weight

Examples ---- ABCD Additives 30 7Al 5B1 37,501 7D1 5 7A2 5B8 37., 506 31 10A1 14B1 24,601 4.4D1 0.002E1 14B10 20.806 2.4D2 0.001E2 0.3E3 32 10 Al 28B2 28., 602 3.2D1 Ο , ΟΟΙΕΙ 28,606 0, 004E2 10 ° ^ E3 33 10A8 50B2 2001, 5D1 2006 34 4A6 50B2 2001 2.7D1 0.005E1 5A8 2006 0.003E2

Oy35E3 15 35 10A8 50B2 2001, 5D1 0.005E1 806 0.003E2 12C13 36 6a6 20B2 2801 8D1 0.004E1 10A4 2806 0.002E2 20 0.35E3 37 6a6 20B2 ·· 1401 8D1 0.004E1 1404 0.002E2 2806 0.35E2 381 0.004E1 10B16: 3006 7D2 0.002E2 25 '0.35E3 39 5A5 65B1 1301 1.7D1 1506 40 10A5 50B1 2005 3.3D4 5B11 1506 30 41 12A1 40B3 2203 6D2 15B7 1509 4D3 42 12.5Al 28B1 2001 4D1 3006' 5D2 0 43 3A6 70B1 2001 1.3D1 35 1A5 606 2D2 44 5Al 37.5B1 1501 1.7D1 37.5B19 506 2.5D2 45 10Al 70B2 1501 5.1D1 506 2D2

Claims (16)

Example 46 Examples 1, 2 and 3 are repeated with similar results when the 5 hydrogenated tallow fatty acids in composition I are replaced by (A) Distilled coconut oil fatty acids (B) 1: 1 mixture of (A) and hydrogenated tallow fatty acids (C) I trade of stearic acids 10 (D) 1: 1 mixture of (A) and (C) (E) P'almi tartaric acid e (F) 1: 1 mixture of (E) and hydrogenated saturated fatty acids Example 47 1 5 Examples 1-4 are repeated. with similar results when the benzyl alcohol is replaced by an equivalent amount of phenethyl alcohol and the propylene glycol is replaced by an equivalent amount of polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 3000. The products of the previous examples are acceptable, most being excellent if not excellent. The invention has been explained with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, and it will be appreciated that modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art, which modifications and variations will be incorporated under the spirit and intent of the application and the scope of the appended claims. 30 PATENT REQUIREMENTS A water-soluble, soft, advantageous, as well as mold-stable and solidly shaped detergent article, characterized in that it comprises I. a matrix of (A) soap, (B) sintered, and (C) solvent component, the sieve component (A) constituting from 2 to 25% of the matrix and comprises an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or amine salt of a C Cg Q fatty acid, which soap component of the matrix provides at most about 14% salts of fatty acids having 20 or more carbon atoms and not more than 20% salts of C ^g or higher fatty acids, with the proviso that said amounts can be doubled when the soap is in the potassium salt form and in which the soap has a weighted average carbon content of at least C14, the synthetic detergent component (B) constitutes from 5 to 88% by weight of the matrix and comprises at least one soluble member of the group comprising anionic organic sulfonates, anionic alcohol sulfates, anionic ether sulfates, anionic ether phosphates and nonionic aliphatic detergents, but a maximum of 50% when said synthetic detergent component (B) is composed mainly of only anionic organic sulphanates or anionic alcohol sulfates or mixtures thereof, and the solvent component (C) constitutes from 10 to 70% by weight of the matrix and comprises a normal liquid, substantially non-volatile organic solvent 15 q with a boiling point of at least approx. 100 C, at least 10% thereof being water insoluble and constituting at least 10% of solvent component '(C), wherein said non-volatile solvent comprises at most about 90% of a water-soluble solvent including a sufficient amount of divalent alcohol to obtain 10% in the 20 volatile component when a water-soluble component is present, and II. a water component (D) comprising from 1 to 35 parts per 100 parts of said matrix I. 25 Detergent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the matrix contains approx. 4 to 15% of component, (A), approx. 25 to 76% of component (C) and the detergent contains approx. 1 to 15% water as component D. 30 Detergent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the fatty acids have an average of at least 12 carbon atoms per minute. molecule. 35 Detergent article according to claim 3, characterized in that component (A) comprises the alkali metal salts of mixtures of palmitic and stearic acid. DK 154347 B Detergent article according to claim 1, characterized in that at least approx. 40% of component (B) is an aliphatic non-ionic de tergent. Detergent article according to claim 5, characterized in that said aliphatic non-ionic detergent is a reaction product of approx. 2 to 50 moles of ethylene oxide with 1 mole of saturated C 2 O 2 aliphatic alcohol. 1 ° Detergent article according to claim 1, characterized in that at least approx. 40% of component (B) is an anionic alkali metal, ammonium or amine salt of an alkylarylsulfonic acid, an alpha-olefinic sulfonic acid, a paraffinic sulfonic acid, an alcohol sulfate or a sulfate ester in the form of the reaction product of ca. 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide with 1 mole of a reactive hydrogen-containing compound having about 8 to 24 carbon atoms. Detergent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the substantially water-insoluble part of component (C) comprises benzyl alcohol and the water-soluble part of component (C) comprises propylene glycol. Detergent article according to claim 8, characterized in that it contains approx. equal amounts of said water-insoluble and said water-soluble parts of component (C). Detergent article according to claim 9, characterized in that at least 40% of component (, A) are alkali metal salts of hydrogenated sebaceous fatty acids and that at least approx. 40% of component (B) is the 30 nonionic reaction product of ca. 2 to 50 moles of ethylene oxide with 1 mole of a saturated C 2 O 2 aliphatic alcohol. Detergent article according to claim 1, characterized in that the matrix contains approx. 0.8 to 5.7 parts of component (B) <all component (A), approx. 1 to 8.6 parts of component (C) per part component (A) and approx. 0.53 to 6.8 parts of component (C) per part component (B). . DK 154347 B 12. Detergent article according to claim 1, wherein it further contains from about 0.1 to about 0.1. 5% by weight of a free alkali metal hydroxide. Process for the preparation of a detergent article according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises melting the free fatty acids contained in component (A), mixing the molten fatty acids with component (C) to form a homogeneous liquid and admixture therein at a temperature above the melting point 10 of the free fatty acids and in the presence of component (B) and (D) of a sufficient amount of alkali metal, ammonium or amine salt forming bases to neutralize the fatty acids, whereby these alloy metal, ammonium or amine salts are formed in situ as well as forming the resulting agent for said article Method according to claim 13, characterized in that at least approx. 40% of component (B) is an aliphatic non-ionic detergent and said salt-forming base is an alkali methate hydroxide. Process for the preparation of a detergent article according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises melting of the free fatty acids contained in component (A), mixing the molten fatty acids with component (C) and any non-heat-sensitive B-components at a temperature above the solidification point of the mixture, admixture therein at said temperature and in the presence of component (D) of a sufficient amount of alkali metal, ammonium or amine salt-forming base to neutralize the fatty acids, thereby forming these alkali metal, ammonium or amine salts cooling the resulting liquid to just above the point of solidification of said salt and then admixing therein of any heat sensitive B components as well as forming the resulting agent for said article. Process according to claim 15, characterized in that the salt-forming base is an alkali metal hydroxide. 35