EP0534525B1 - Detergent powders and process for preparing them - Google Patents
Detergent powders and process for preparing them Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0534525B1 EP0534525B1 EP92202764A EP92202764A EP0534525B1 EP 0534525 B1 EP0534525 B1 EP 0534525B1 EP 92202764 A EP92202764 A EP 92202764A EP 92202764 A EP92202764 A EP 92202764A EP 0534525 B1 EP0534525 B1 EP 0534525B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- composition
- citric acid
- weight
- composition according
- detergent
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
- C11D3/02—Inorganic compounds ; Elemental compounds
- C11D3/04—Water-soluble compounds
- C11D3/10—Carbonates ; Bicarbonates
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
- C11D17/06—Powder; Flakes; Free-flowing mixtures; Sheets
- C11D17/065—High-density particulate detergent compositions
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
- C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
- C11D3/16—Organic compounds
- C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
- C11D3/2075—Carboxylic acids-salts thereof
- C11D3/2086—Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof
Definitions
- the present invention relates to detergent powders intended for use in drum-type fabric washing machines.
- the invention is of especial applicability to detergent powders containing no, or reduced levels of, phosphate builders and to powders of high bulk density, which have a tendency to dispense poorly.
- the invention also relates to a process for preparing these detergent powders.
- US-A-4,414,130 discloses detergent compositions comprising an effervescent material which promotes dissolution and dispersion of the detergent particles.
- the detergent particles may comprise sodium carbonate or bicarbonate and that the balance of the composition may include citric acid.
- the present invention provides a granular detergent composition having a bulk density of from 650 to 1100 kg/m 3 and comprising anionic and/or nonionic surfactants, from 5 to 30% by weight of sodium carbonate and/or -bicarbonate and/or sesquicarbonate, other builder material, and from 1 to 15% by weight of particulate citric acid, whereby more than 80% by weight of the citric acid has a particle size which is in the range of from 350 to 1500 ⁇ m.
- the invention also provides a process for preparing this composition, wherein the citric acid is added as a separate granular component to a granular detergent base composition.
- the first aspect of the invention is a granular detergent composition having a bulk density of from 650 to 1100 kg/m 3 , preferably from 700 to 1100 kg/m 3 .
- the composition comprises a base composition to which particulate citric acid, and optionally a foam depressing agent, has been added.
- the base composition may be prepared by spray-drying and dry-mixing/agglomeration. For obtaining high bulk densities, it is preferably prepared by dry-mixing/agglomeration.
- the base composition contains one or more anionic and/or nonionic surfactants, and builder material.
- the base composition preferably also comprises sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate and/or sodium sesquicarbonate.
- the granular composition of the invention may further contain any of the materials conventionally included in detergent compositions. These are described in more detail below.
- the surfactant component is the surfactant component
- the total amount of surfactant present in the composition of the invention will generally range from 5 to 40 % by weight, more preferably from 10 to 30% by weight, and especially from 12 to 20% by weight. These figures are typical for fully formulated detergent compositions, and as a spray-dried or dry-mixed/agglomerated base forms only part of such a composition the surfactant content of that base, as a percentage, may of course be higher.
- the invention is of especial applicability to compositions containing anionic and nonionic surfactants.
- the amount of anionic surfactant present is desirably at least 3% by weight, and may suitably be in the range of from 3 to 30% by weight, these figures again being based on the fully formulated composition.
- Anionic surfactants are well known to those skilled in the art. Examples of suitable anionic surfactants include alkylbenzene sulphonates,particularly sodium linear alkylbenzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C 8 -C 15 ; primary and secondary alkyl sulphates, particularly sodium C 12 -C 15 primary alkyl sulphates; sodium salts of fatty acids (i.e. soaps); olefin sulphonates; alkane sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates.
- Suitable nonionic surfactants include, in particular, the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene oxide.
- Specific nonionic surfactants are alkyl (C 6 -C 22 ) phenols-ethylene oxide condensates, generally with 5 to 25 units of ethylene oxide (i.e.: 5-25 EO) per molecule, and the condensation products of aliphatic ( C 8 -C 18 ) primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, generally 3-40 EO.
- alkyl polyglycosides and glucose ethers and esters may be effectively used as nonionic surfactants.
- the sodium carbonate and/or bicarbonate and/or - sesquicarbonate may be added to the base composition but is preferably present in it.
- the amount of this material present in the composition of the invention is in the range of from 5 to 30% by weight based on a fully formulated detergent composition. In zeolite built detergent powder according to the invention this amount is preferably in the range of from 5 to 15% by weight, whereas in detergent powder including a calcite/sodium carbonate builder system this amount is preferably in the range of from 15 to 30% by weight.
- the citric acid is a separate granular component and needs to be added to the base composition.
- the amount of particulate citric acid needed to obtain the desired good dispensing characteristics and storage stability is in the range of from 1 to 15% by weight, preferably from 2 to 12% by weight, more preferably from 3 to 10% by weight, based on a fully formulated composition.
- more than 80% by weight of the particulate citric acid has a particle size of from 350 to 1500 ⁇ m, preferably from 350 to 1000 ⁇ m, a particle size range of 350-750 ⁇ m being most preferred.
- the composition according to the invention includes at least one further builder material capable of reducing the level of free calcium ions in the wash liquor and preferably providing the composition with other beneficial properties such as the generation of an alkaline pH and the suspension of soil removed from the fabric.
- the total level of the detergency builder may be from 10% to 70% by weight, preferably from 25% to 50% by weight of the detergent composition.
- Preferred builders are ion exchange builders such as the crystalline (zeolite) or amorphous alkali metal alumino-silicates.
- organic and inorganic polymers may be present, for example, polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates, acrylic-maleic copolymers such as SOKALAN types of polymers may be present.
- polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates
- acrylic-maleic copolymers such as SOKALAN types of polymers
- Other preferred builder systems are precipitant builders such as those containing calcite and sodium carbonate as described in EP-A-267,042.
- the detergent composition according to the invention is preferably essentially free of phosphates-containing builders such as orthophosphates and alkali metal tripolyphosphates.
- citric acid and sodium (bi)carbonate and/or sodium sesquicarbonate preferably results in a reduction in the residue of at least 10 percentage points, most preferably at least 20 percentage points.
- an improvement of this magnitude can only be observed if the control powder exhibits poor dispensing properties.
- the present invention is therefore especially applicable to powders which, without citric acid and sodium (bi)carbonate and/or -sesquicarbonate, give dispenser residues of at least 20% by weight.
- the powder is a zero-phosphate composition built with amorphous or crystalline (zeolite) sodium alumino-silicate; and/or if it has a bulk density of at least 650, preferably of at least 700 kg/m 3 .
- zeolite amorphous or crystalline sodium alumino-silicate
- the granular detergent composition of the invention preferably also contains one or more foam depressing agents.
- Silicone oil based compositions containing high or low viscosity silicone oil, particularly high viscosity silicone oil, may be effectively used as antifoaming agents.
- bleaches are the oxygen bleaches, for example in the form of an inorganic persalt, preferably with a precursor, or as a peroxy acid compound. From an environmental point of view, the most preferred bleach compound is percarbonate. Effective amounts of these bleach compounds present in the detergent composition of the invention range from 5 to 20% by weight, preferably from 10 to 20% by weight.
- the powder of the invention may contain sodium silicate.
- High levels of silicate can in themselves have a beneficial effect on dispensing, as well as on powder structure and prevention of machine corrosion, but are undesirable in powders containing alumino-silicate because the two components react together to form insoluble siliceous species.
- the present invention enables the dispensing behaviour of zeolite-built powders to be improved without a corresponding increase in the level of insoluble material. Accordingly, the invention is of especial applicability to powders containing less than 10% by weight, more especially less than 5% by weight, of sodium silicate.
- fluorescers include fluorescers, antiredeposition agents, inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate, enzymes, bleach activators, and bleach stabilizers. These may be included in the spray-dried base powder or postdosed according to their known suitability for undergoing spray-drying processes and their compatibility with other slurry ingredients.
- a phosphate-free detergent base powder was prepared, by slurry-making, spray-drying and subsequently densifying in a Lödige "Recycler/ploughshare", as described in EP-A-367,339, to form the following nominal composition: Parts LAS 8.3 Nonionic EO 6.7 Soap 1.8 Zeolite 4A 28.0 Sokalan CP5 4.5 Carbonate 8.5 Minor ingredients + moisture 14.8 To this base powder, the following components were postdosed: Parts Silicone 0.4 Percarbonate 20.0 TAED 5.0 Carbonate 2.0 The bulk density of the detergent powder obtained was 850 kg/m 3 .
- citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a particle size in the range of 350-1000 ⁇ m was added at four different levels.
- the dispensing properties of the thus obtained compositions were tested in a Philips (trade mark) AWB 126 washing machine using 100 g powder, and 5 litres of water at 20°C flowing in over a period of 1 minute.
- Other samples were stored during 6 weeks in wax-laminated cartons at 28 °C and 70% RH, and thereafter tested in the Philips washing machine.
- Table 1 shows the resulting dispenser residues. TABLE 1 1 2 3 4 Parts citric acid added 0 1 2 3 Dispenser Residue (%) 80 50 0 0 Dispenser Residue after After storage for 6 weeks 80 65 10 0
- the bulk density of the detergent powder obtained was 850 kg/m 3 .
- citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a particle size in the range of 350-1000 ⁇ m was added at four different levels.
- Samples of the thus obtained compositions were tested in a Philips (trade mark) AWB 126 washing machine, as described above. Other samples were stored during 6 weeks in wax-laminated cartons at 28°C and 70% RH, and thereafter tested in the Philips washing machine.
- Table 2 shows the resulting dispenser residues. TABLE 2 5 6 7 8 9 Parts citric acid added 0 2 4 6 8 Dispenser Residue (%) 80 70 40 0 0 Dispenser Residue after Storage for 6 weeks (%) 80 70 40 10 0
- citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a particle size in the range of 50-100 ⁇ m was added at several levels. Samples of the thus obtained compositions were tested in a Philips (trade mark) AWB 126 washing machine, as described above. Other samples were stored during 4 weeks in wax laminated cartons at 37°C and 70% RH, and thereafter tested in the Philips washing machine. Table 3 shows the resulting dispenser residues. TABLE 3 A B C D E Parts citric acid added 0 0.5 1 2 4 Dispenser Residue (%) 80 15 0 0 0 Dispenser Residue after Storage for 4 weeks (%) 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80 80
- citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a particle size in the range of 1500-2000 ⁇ m was added at several levels. Samples of the thus obtained compositions were tested as described above for Comparative Examples A-E. Table 4 shows the resulting dispenser residues. TABLE 4 F G H I Parts citric acid added 0 2 4 8 Dispenser residue (%) 80 70 53 35 Dispenser residue after Storage for 4 weeks (%) 80 80 80 80 80 80
- particulate citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a larger partical size than according to the present invention is not very effective at improving dispensing, neither immediately after preparation of the detergent powder nor after storage for 4 weeks.
Description
- The present invention relates to detergent powders intended for use in drum-type fabric washing machines. The invention is of especial applicability to detergent powders containing no, or reduced levels of, phosphate builders and to powders of high bulk density, which have a tendency to dispense poorly. The invention also relates to a process for preparing these detergent powders.
- In recent years the trend in detergent compositions has been towards reducing or eliminating phosphate builders. The replacement of sodium tripolyphosphate as a builder in detergent powders by its most popular zero-phosphate substitute, crystalline aluminosilicate (zeolite), has led to a number of difficulties with the structure and physical properties of the powder. One such problem that has been encountered is the tendency of zeolite-built powders to dispense less well in automatic washing machines than do their phosphate-built counterparts; a higher proportion of the powder dosed into the washing machine is left behind in the dispenser, leading to product wastage and clogging. The problem is especially marked at low water inlet temperatures.
- The tendency towards poor dispensing has been exacerbated by the recent trend in the detergents industry towards higher bulk density powders. Detergent powders of high bulk densities ranging from 650 to 1100 kg/m3, preferably ranging from 700 to 1100 kg/m3, are attractive to the customer. A difficulty, however, with these high bulk density powders is that they are not easily flushed from the dispenser drawer of the washing machine: when the powder is wetted by the water flowing through the dispenser, the detergent particles may become stuck together resulting in considerable residues of wetted and adhering powder left behind in the drawer. Similar problems are encountered when applying a detergent dosing device as described in EP-A-253,419, for in-drum dosing of this type of high density detergent powders. From EP-A-329,538 it is known that dispensing from out of an afore-mentioned in-drum dosing device may be improved by incorporating citric acid and sodium bicarbonate in the powder formulation.
- The use of mixtures of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid to promote dissolution of pharmaceutical preparations is well known. In order to ensure a uniform distribution of these effervescent materials in these preparations it is essential to utilize sodium bicarbonate and citric acid in the form of fine powders. Furthermore, it is usually necessary to incorporate considerable proportions of these effervescent materials in the preparations in order to obtain the desired effect. A major issue with these mixtures is the poor storage stability when exposed to humid ambient temperatures. Consequently, protective packaging in the form of sealed containers or moisture proof packs is essential.
- The idea of using effervescence to promote the dispersion or dissolution of a granular detergent composition is also known. For example, US-A-4,414,130 (Colgate) discloses detergent compositions comprising an effervescent material which promotes dissolution and dispersion of the detergent particles. In this respect it is mentioned that the detergent particles may comprise sodium carbonate or bicarbonate and that the balance of the composition may include citric acid.
- We have found that the major problem with such mixtures of citric acid and sodium (bi-)carbonate is that on storage of the detergent powder containing these mixtures deactivation with regard to the effervescent potential occurs. This deactivation is catalysed either by moisture present within the detergent powder or by moisture absorbed from a humid ambient atmosphere.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide detergent compositions with high bulk density which dispense well and of which the good dispensing characteristics are not reduced or lost during storage.
It was surprisingly found that a low level of citric acid material is effective in improving dispensing characteristics of the detergent powder and also that good storage stability in respect of the dispensing potential can be obtained provided that the granular detergent composition comprises sodium carbonate and/or -bicarbonate and/or -sesquicarbonate and that the citric acid is a separate granular component with a closely specified particle size range. - The present invention provides a granular detergent composition having a bulk density of from 650 to 1100 kg/m3 and comprising anionic and/or nonionic surfactants, from 5 to 30% by weight of sodium carbonate and/or -bicarbonate and/or sesquicarbonate, other builder material, and from 1 to 15% by weight of particulate citric acid, whereby more than 80% by weight of the citric acid has a particle size which is in the range of from 350 to 1500 µm. The invention also provides a process for preparing this composition, wherein the citric acid is added as a separate granular component to a granular detergent base composition.
- The first aspect of the invention is a granular detergent composition having a bulk density of from 650 to 1100 kg/m3, preferably from 700 to 1100 kg/m3. The composition comprises a base composition to which particulate citric acid, and optionally a foam depressing agent, has been added. The base composition may be prepared by spray-drying and dry-mixing/agglomeration. For obtaining high bulk densities, it is preferably prepared by dry-mixing/agglomeration.
- As essential ingredients,the base composition contains one or more anionic and/or nonionic surfactants, and builder material. The base composition preferably also comprises sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate and/or sodium sesquicarbonate.
The granular composition of the invention may further contain any of the materials conventionally included in detergent compositions. These are described in more detail below. - The total amount of surfactant present in the composition of the invention will generally range from 5 to 40 % by weight, more preferably from 10 to 30% by weight, and especially from 12 to 20% by weight. These figures are typical for fully formulated detergent compositions, and as a spray-dried or dry-mixed/agglomerated base forms only part of such a composition the surfactant content of that base, as a percentage, may of course be higher.
- The invention is of especial applicability to compositions containing anionic and nonionic surfactants.
The amount of anionic surfactant present is desirably at least 3% by weight, and may suitably be in the range of from 3 to 30% by weight, these figures again being based on the fully formulated composition. Anionic surfactants are well known to those skilled in the art. Examples of suitable anionic surfactants include alkylbenzene sulphonates,particularly sodium linear alkylbenzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C8-C15; primary and secondary alkyl sulphates, particularly sodium C12-C15 primary alkyl sulphates; sodium salts of fatty acids (i.e. soaps); olefin sulphonates; alkane sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates. - Suitable nonionic surfactants that may be used include, in particular, the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene oxide. Specific nonionic surfactants are alkyl (C6-C22) phenols-ethylene oxide condensates, generally with 5 to 25 units of ethylene oxide (i.e.: 5-25 EO) per molecule, and the condensation products of aliphatic ( C8-C18) primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, generally 3-40 EO. Furthermore, alkyl polyglycosides and glucose ethers and esters may be effectively used as nonionic surfactants.
- The sodium carbonate and/or bicarbonate and/or - sesquicarbonate may be added to the base composition but is preferably present in it.
The amount of this material present in the composition of the invention is in the range of from 5 to 30% by weight based on a fully formulated detergent composition. In zeolite built detergent powder according to the invention this amount is preferably in the range of from 5 to 15% by weight, whereas in detergent powder including a calcite/sodium carbonate builder system this amount is preferably in the range of from 15 to 30% by weight. - The citric acid is a separate granular component and needs to be added to the base composition.
The amount of particulate citric acid needed to obtain the desired good dispensing characteristics and storage stability is in the range of from 1 to 15% by weight, preferably from 2 to 12% by weight, more preferably from 3 to 10% by weight, based on a fully formulated composition.
For the same purpose, more than 80% by weight of the particulate citric acid has a particle size of from 350 to 1500 µm, preferably from 350 to 1000 µm, a particle size range of 350-750 µm being most preferred. - In addition to the above-mentioned sodium (bi)carbonate and/or -sesquicarbonate, the composition according to the invention includes at least one further builder material capable of reducing the level of free calcium ions in the wash liquor and preferably providing the composition with other beneficial properties such as the generation of an alkaline pH and the suspension of soil removed from the fabric. The total level of the detergency builder may be from 10% to 70% by weight, preferably from 25% to 50% by weight of the detergent composition.
Preferred builders are ion exchange builders such as the crystalline (zeolite) or amorphous alkali metal alumino-silicates. Optionally, organic and inorganic polymers may be present, for example, polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates, acrylic-maleic copolymers such as SOKALAN types of polymers may be present. Other preferred builder systems are precipitant builders such as those containing calcite and sodium carbonate as described in EP-A-267,042.
The detergent composition according to the invention is preferably essentially free of phosphates-containing builders such as orthophosphates and alkali metal tripolyphosphates. - It is an essential feature of the detergent powder of the invention that the incorporation as specified above of citric acid and sodium (bi)carbonate and/or sodium sesquicarbonate should bring about an improvement in dispensing behaviour. Dispensing is assessed by means of a standard test using a Philips (Trade Mark) AWB 126 washing machine using a 100 gram powder dose and a water fill of 5 litres at 20°C flowing in over a period of 1 minute. The dry weight of powder remaining in the dispenser, in grams, then represents the weight percentage of powder not dispensed into the machine (the residue).
It will be appreciated that this test is stringent, using a low water inlet temperature and flow rate, and a machine with a drawer-type dispenser which is particularly vulnerable to high residues and clogging. - The incorporation of citric acid and sodium (bi)carbonate and/or sodium sesquicarbonate preferably results in a reduction in the residue of at least 10 percentage points, most preferably at least 20 percentage points. Clearly, an improvement of this magnitude can only be observed if the control powder exhibits poor dispensing properties. The present invention is therefore especially applicable to powders which, without citric acid and sodium (bi)carbonate and/or -sesquicarbonate, give dispenser residues of at least 20% by weight. That is especially likely to be the case if the powder is a zero-phosphate composition built with amorphous or crystalline (zeolite) sodium alumino-silicate; and/or if it has a bulk density of at least 650, preferably of at least 700 kg/m3.
- The granular detergent composition of the invention preferably also contains one or more foam depressing agents. Silicone oil based compositions containing high or low viscosity silicone oil, particularly high viscosity silicone oil, may be effectively used as antifoaming agents.
- Preferably, there is also a bleach present in the composition of the invention. Preferred bleaches are the oxygen bleaches, for example in the form of an inorganic persalt, preferably with a precursor, or as a peroxy acid compound. From an environmental point of view, the most preferred bleach compound is percarbonate.
Effective amounts of these bleach compounds present in the detergent composition of the invention range from 5 to 20% by weight, preferably from 10 to 20% by weight. - If desired, the powder of the invention may contain sodium silicate. High levels of silicate can in themselves have a beneficial effect on dispensing, as well as on powder structure and prevention of machine corrosion, but are undesirable in powders containing alumino-silicate because the two components react together to form insoluble siliceous species. The present invention enables the dispensing behaviour of zeolite-built powders to be improved without a corresponding increase in the level of insoluble material. Accordingly, the invention is of especial applicability to powders containing less than 10% by weight, more especially less than 5% by weight, of sodium silicate.
- Other materials that may be present in the powder of the invention include fluorescers, antiredeposition agents, inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate, enzymes, bleach activators, and bleach stabilizers. These may be included in the spray-dried base powder or postdosed according to their known suitability for undergoing spray-drying processes and their compatibility with other slurry ingredients.
- The invention is further illustrated by the following Examples, in which parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise stated. In the Examples the following abbreviations are used:
- LAS:
- sodium C12-C15 alkyl benzene sulphonate, ex Manro Products Ltd, England
- Nonionic EO :
- Nonionic surfactant (ethoxylated alcohol), 1.7:1 mixture of Synperonic A3 and A7 (containing 3 and 7 EO groups), ex ICI
- Soap :
- sodium salt of fatty acids
- Zeolite 4A :
- amorphous alumino-silicate, Wessalith A4 (trade mark) ex Degussa
- Sokalan CP5 :
- Copolymer of maleic and acrylic acid having a molecular weight of 70,000, ex BASF
- Carbonate :
- Sodium carbonate
- Percarbonate :
- Sodium percarbonate, ex Interox
- Perborate :
- Sodium perborate tetrahydrate
- Silicone :
- DB 100 poly dimethyl siloxane, ex Dow
- TAED :
- Tetra acetyl ethylene diamine
- A phosphate-free detergent base powder was prepared, by slurry-making, spray-drying and subsequently densifying in a Lödige "Recycler/ploughshare", as described in EP-A-367,339, to form the following nominal composition:
Parts LAS 8.3 Nonionic EO 6.7 Soap 1.8 Zeolite 4A 28.0 Sokalan CP5 4.5 Carbonate 8.5 Minor ingredients + moisture 14.8 Parts Silicone 0.4 Percarbonate 20.0 TAED 5.0 Carbonate 2.0
To 100 parts of this densified powder, citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a particle size in the range of 350-1000 µm was added at four different levels. The dispensing properties of the thus obtained compositions were tested in a Philips (trade mark) AWB 126 washing machine using 100 g powder, and 5 litres of water at 20°C flowing in over a period of 1 minute. Other samples were stored during 6 weeks in wax-laminated cartons at 28 °C and 70% RH, and thereafter tested in the Philips washing machine.
Table 1 shows the resulting dispenser residues.TABLE 1 1 2 3 4 Parts citric acid added 0 1 2 3 Dispenser Residue (%) 80 50 0 0 Dispenser Residue after
After storage for 6 weeks80 65 10 0 - It can be seen that the incorporation of the above-described type of citric acid effectively reduces the level of dispenser residue. Furthermore, the incorporation of 3 parts or more of this citric acid in the detergent powder appeared to be effective at eliminating dispenser residues.
- To the base powder of Examples 1-4, the following components were postdosed:
Parts Silicone 0.4 Perborate 20.0 TAED 5.0 Carbonate 2.0 - The bulk density of the detergent powder obtained was 850 kg/m3.
To 100 parts of the above mixed powder, citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a particle size in the range of 350-1000 µm was added at four different levels. Samples of the thus obtained compositions were tested in a Philips (trade mark) AWB 126 washing machine, as described above. Other samples were stored during 6 weeks in wax-laminated cartons at 28°C and 70% RH, and thereafter tested in the Philips washing machine. - Table 2 shows the resulting dispenser residues.
TABLE 2 5 6 7 8 9 Parts citric acid added 0 2 4 6 8 Dispenser Residue (%) 80 70 40 0 0 Dispenser Residue after
Storage for 6 weeks (%)80 70 40 10 0 - It can be seen that addition of 6 parts or more of citric acid resulted in acceptable dispenser residues.
- To 100 parts of the detergent powder of Examples 1-4 (having a bulk density of 850 kg/m3), citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a particle size in the range of 50-100 µm was added at several levels. Samples of the thus obtained compositions were tested in a Philips (trade mark) AWB 126 washing machine, as described above. Other samples were stored during 4 weeks in wax laminated cartons at 37°C and 70% RH, and thereafter tested in the Philips washing machine. Table 3 shows the resulting dispenser residues.
TABLE 3 A B C D E Parts citric acid added 0 0.5 1 2 4 Dispenser Residue (%) 80 15 0 0 0 Dispenser Residue after
Storage for 4 weeks (%)80 80 80 80 80 - From the results shown in table 3 it can be concluded that particulate citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a smaller particle size than according to the present invention, is very effective at improving dispensing immediately after the detergent powder has been prepared. However, it can also be concluded that the storage stability in respect of the dispensing properties particularly with regard to storage of the detergent powder at high humidity, is poor when this type of citric acid is incorporated in the detergent powder.
- To 100 parts of the detergent powder of Examples 1-4 (having a bulk density of 850 kg/m3), citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a particle size in the range of 1500-2000 µm was added at several levels. Samples of the thus obtained compositions were tested as described above for Comparative Examples A-E. Table 4 shows the resulting dispenser residues.
TABLE 4 F G H I Parts citric acid added 0 2 4 8 Dispenser residue (%) 80 70 53 35 Dispenser residue after
Storage for 4 weeks (%)80 80 80 80 - From these results it can be derived that particulate citric acid of which more than 80% by weight has a larger partical size than according to the present invention, is not very effective at improving dispensing, neither immediately after preparation of the detergent powder nor after storage for 4 weeks.
Claims (10)
- Granular detergent composition having a bulk density of from 650 to 1100 kg/m3 and comprising anionic and/or nonionic surfactants, from 5 to 30% by weight of sodium carbonate and/or -bicarbonate and/or -sesquicarbonate, other builder material, and from 1 to 15% by weight of particulate citric acid, whereby more than 80% by weight of the citric acid has a particle size which is in the range of from 350 to 1500 µm.
- Composition according to claim 1, wherein more than 80% by volume of the citric acid has a particle size which is in the range of from 350 to 1000 µm.
- Composition according to claim 2, wherein more than 80% by weight of the citric acid has a particle size which is in the range of from 350 to 750 µm.
- Composition according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the composition comprises a foam depressing agent.
- Composition according to claim 4, wherein the foam depressing agent is a high viscosity silicone oil.
- Composition according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the composition comprises a bleach component.
- Composition according to claim 6, wherein the bleach component is sodium percarbonate.
- Composition according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the other builder material comprises sodium alumino-silicate.
- Composition according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the composition is essentially free of phosphates.
- Process for preparing the composition of claim 1, wherein the citric acid is added as a separate granular component to a granular detergent base composition.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB919120657A GB9120657D0 (en) | 1991-09-27 | 1991-09-27 | Detergent powders and process for preparing them |
GB9120657 | 1991-09-27 |
Publications (4)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP0534525A2 EP0534525A2 (en) | 1993-03-31 |
EP0534525A3 EP0534525A3 (en) | 1993-09-01 |
EP0534525B1 true EP0534525B1 (en) | 1996-12-27 |
EP0534525B2 EP0534525B2 (en) | 2007-10-10 |
Family
ID=10702133
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP92202764A Expired - Lifetime EP0534525B2 (en) | 1991-09-27 | 1992-09-11 | Detergent powders and process for preparing them |
Country Status (9)
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EP (1) | EP0534525B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH05202398A (en) |
AU (1) | AU651732B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR9203769A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2078718C (en) |
DE (1) | DE69216191T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2097860T3 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9120657D0 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA927383B (en) |
Families Citing this family (30)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2107218T5 (en) † | 1993-05-26 | 2006-02-16 | Unilever N.V. | DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS. |
PL179903B1 (en) * | 1993-11-24 | 2000-11-30 | Unilever Nv | Detergent compositions |
GB9324129D0 (en) * | 1993-11-24 | 1994-01-12 | Unilever Plc | Detergent compositions and process for preparing them |
WO1997024423A1 (en) * | 1995-12-28 | 1997-07-10 | Rhone-Poulenc Surfactants & Specialties, L.P. | Processes for producing solid surfactant compositions with enhanced dissolution rates |
GB9600547D0 (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1996-03-13 | Reckitt & Colman Inc | Improved compositions containing organic compounds |
DE19603760A1 (en) * | 1996-02-02 | 1997-08-07 | Henkel Kgaa | Solid detergent preparations |
ID16215A (en) † | 1996-03-11 | 1997-09-11 | Kao Corp | DETERGENT COMPOSITION TO WASH CLOTHING |
ATE223472T1 (en) * | 1996-03-15 | 2002-09-15 | Amway Corp | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A FREE-FLOWING AGGLOMERISED DETERGENT CONTAINING NIOSUTENSIDS |
GB2315761A (en) * | 1996-07-31 | 1998-02-11 | Procter & Gamble | Detergent composition comprising a particulate acid source and an alkaline source |
CZ371898A3 (en) * | 1996-05-17 | 1999-03-17 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Detergent composition |
GB2315763A (en) * | 1996-07-31 | 1998-02-11 | Procter & Gamble | Preparation of an agglomerated detergent composition comprising a surfactant a an acid source |
US6162784A (en) * | 1996-07-31 | 2000-12-19 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process and composition for detergents |
DE19704229A1 (en) * | 1997-02-06 | 1998-08-13 | Henkel Kgaa | Cobuilder-containing additive for detergents or cleaning agents |
GB2323384A (en) * | 1997-03-20 | 1998-09-23 | Procter & Gamble | A detergent composition |
EP0872544A1 (en) † | 1997-04-14 | 1998-10-21 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Dry effervescent granules and granular compositions comprising the same |
GB9711359D0 (en) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-07-30 | Unilever Plc | Detergent powder composition |
GB9711350D0 (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 1997-07-30 | Unilever Plc | Granular detergent compositions and their production |
GB9711356D0 (en) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-07-30 | Unilever Plc | Particulate detergent composition |
ID29296A (en) | 1997-05-30 | 2001-08-16 | Unilever Nv | SOFT FREE FLOW DETERGENT COMPOSITION |
DE19723616A1 (en) * | 1997-06-05 | 1998-12-10 | Henkel Kgaa | Granular detergent |
DE69930738T2 (en) * | 1998-06-04 | 2007-01-04 | Kao Corporation | SURFACE ACTIVE COMPOSITION |
DE19847281A1 (en) * | 1998-10-14 | 2000-04-20 | Henkel Kgaa | Detergent tablets, especially for use in domestic washing machines, contain rapidly dissolving coarse oligocarboxylic acid particles |
DE19854083A1 (en) * | 1998-11-24 | 2000-05-25 | Henkel Kgaa | Detergent containing citric acid |
GB2344597A (en) * | 1998-12-08 | 2000-06-14 | Procter & Gamble | Effervescence components |
US6683043B1 (en) | 1998-12-08 | 2004-01-27 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Process for manufacturing effervescence components |
AU2001241632A1 (en) * | 2000-02-28 | 2001-09-12 | The Procter And Gamble Company | Acidic antimicrobial compositions for treating food and food contact surfaces and methods of use thereof |
GB0006037D0 (en) | 2000-03-13 | 2000-05-03 | Unilever Plc | Detergent composition |
GB0115552D0 (en) | 2001-05-16 | 2001-08-15 | Unilever Plc | Particulate laundry detergent composition containing zeolite |
GB0125212D0 (en) | 2001-10-19 | 2001-12-12 | Unilever Plc | Detergent compositions |
DE10163603B4 (en) * | 2001-12-21 | 2006-05-04 | Henkel Kgaa | Process for the preparation of builder-containing surfactant granules |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1374105A (en) * | 1970-12-03 | 1974-11-13 | Scherico Ltd | Effervescent compositions |
GB1515299A (en) * | 1974-08-28 | 1978-06-21 | Unilever Ltd | Stabilisation of sodium percarbonate |
US4231887A (en) * | 1979-06-26 | 1980-11-04 | Union Carbide Corporation | Zeolite agglomerates for detergent formulations |
US4414130A (en) * | 1976-08-17 | 1983-11-08 | Colgate Palmolive Company | Readily disintegrable agglomerates of insoluble detergent builders and detergent compositions containing them |
EP0367339A2 (en) * | 1988-11-02 | 1990-05-09 | Unilever N.V. | Process for preparing a high bulk density granular detergent composition |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3653914A (en) * | 1970-03-20 | 1972-04-04 | Alberto Culver Co | Production of tablets |
JPS5438122B1 (en) * | 1971-04-27 | 1979-11-19 | ||
US4028262A (en) * | 1972-10-16 | 1977-06-07 | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Citrate-carbonate built detergent |
US3920586A (en) * | 1972-10-16 | 1975-11-18 | Procter & Gamble | Detergent compositions |
US4129526A (en) * | 1977-07-14 | 1978-12-12 | The Lion Fat & Oil Co., Ltd. | Granular detergent compositions and a process for producing same |
AU582519B2 (en) * | 1985-10-09 | 1989-03-23 | Procter & Gamble Company, The | Granular detergent compositions having improved solubility |
GB8918984D0 (en) * | 1989-08-21 | 1989-10-04 | Unilever Plc | Detergent compositions |
ES2090229T3 (en) * | 1990-05-08 | 1996-10-16 | Procter & Gamble | LOW PH GRANULAR LAUNDRY DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING ALUMINOSILICATE, CITRIC ACID AND CARBONATE DETERGENCE ENHANCERS. |
-
1991
- 1991-09-27 GB GB919120657A patent/GB9120657D0/en active Pending
-
1992
- 1992-09-11 ES ES92202764T patent/ES2097860T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-09-11 EP EP92202764A patent/EP0534525B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-09-11 DE DE69216191T patent/DE69216191T3/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-09-21 CA CA002078718A patent/CA2078718C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-09-21 JP JP4251218A patent/JPH05202398A/en active Pending
- 1992-09-25 BR BR929203769A patent/BR9203769A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-09-25 ZA ZA927383A patent/ZA927383B/en unknown
- 1992-09-25 AU AU25355/92A patent/AU651732B2/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1374105A (en) * | 1970-12-03 | 1974-11-13 | Scherico Ltd | Effervescent compositions |
GB1515299A (en) * | 1974-08-28 | 1978-06-21 | Unilever Ltd | Stabilisation of sodium percarbonate |
US4414130A (en) * | 1976-08-17 | 1983-11-08 | Colgate Palmolive Company | Readily disintegrable agglomerates of insoluble detergent builders and detergent compositions containing them |
US4231887A (en) * | 1979-06-26 | 1980-11-04 | Union Carbide Corporation | Zeolite agglomerates for detergent formulations |
EP0367339A2 (en) * | 1988-11-02 | 1990-05-09 | Unilever N.V. | Process for preparing a high bulk density granular detergent composition |
Non-Patent Citations (6)
Title |
---|
"Proceedings of the second World Conference on Detergents, American Oil Chemists'Society,1987,p.177-180 * |
Hoffman la Roche sales brochure on citric acid on the market in 1988; Jungbunzlauer sales brochure on citric acid on the market before 1991 ADM sales brochure on citric acid, confirmed by ADM to be of essentially the same specification as the citric acid on the market before 1991; and CEH market research report on citric acid,of 1996, * |
Ind.Enp.Chem.Process Des-Der,Vol.9,n°3,pp363-367(1970) * |
JP-62-62889(published 19 March 1987), and translation into English. * |
prior use evidence of Ariel Ultra D product * |
prior use evidence of Cheer ZM product * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ES2097860T3 (en) | 1997-04-16 |
BR9203769A (en) | 1993-04-20 |
CA2078718A1 (en) | 1993-03-28 |
ZA927383B (en) | 1994-03-25 |
EP0534525A3 (en) | 1993-09-01 |
AU651732B2 (en) | 1994-07-28 |
EP0534525A2 (en) | 1993-03-31 |
CA2078718C (en) | 2003-12-09 |
AU2535592A (en) | 1993-04-01 |
DE69216191T2 (en) | 1997-06-05 |
EP0534525B2 (en) | 2007-10-10 |
GB9120657D0 (en) | 1991-11-06 |
DE69216191T3 (en) | 2008-03-13 |
DE69216191D1 (en) | 1997-02-06 |
JPH05202398A (en) | 1993-08-10 |
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