Technical field
The present invention relates to a liquid bleaching composition which is suitable
both for laundry and household applications. Compositions herein are
particularly suitable in laundry applications, as a pre-wash bleaching
composition.
Background of the invention
Liquid bleaching compositions are well known in the art. Amongst the different
bleaching compositions available, those relying on bleaching by hypochlorite
are often preferred, mainly for performance reasons. These hypochlorite-based
compositions are typically used in dilute form and are suitable both for laundry
and household applications. However a major drawback associated with
chlorine-based compositions is the malodor they generate during and after use.
Indeed, not only does the composition itself smell chlorine bleach, but the
malodor remains noticeable on fabrics or surfaces which have been treated
with said compositions, as well as on the skin of the user of the composition,
even after the bleaching composition has been thoroughly rinsed away.
Formulators have tried to solve that problem by designing perfumed chlorine-based
bleaching compositions. However, this has proved difficult mainly for
two reasons. Firstly, only a few perfume components are available which are
stable in a strong oxidative environment such as a chlorine-based bleaching
composition, resulting in limited flexibility in designing perfumes for such
compositions. Secondly, chlorine bleach odor is strong and therefore difficult to
mask even when perfumes are present.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a chlorine bleaching
composition wherein the chlorine odor is reduced during and after use.
Various solutions to this problem have been discussed in the art. See for
instance JP 63108099, where sulphamates were proposed to diminish chlorine
odor. See also ES 8800652 which proposes a process for packaging chlorine
bleach where perfume is injected into the container just before the container is
closed. See also JP62205200 which proposes certain perfume ingredients in
combination with certain surfactants.
Our invention proposes a simple solution to this problem. We have now found
that a chlorine-based bleaching composition suitable for use in diluted form
could be formulated, which exhibits a reduced chlorine odor upon use, by
adding a buffering means, i.e., a carbonate salt at a level of 0.2% to 5% by
weight of a total composition and/or a silicate salt at a level of 0.02% to 3% by
weight to an aqueous bleaching composition comprising an alkali metal
hypochlorite (2%-10%) and a bleach stable perfume and being formulated at a
pH of from 11.5 to 14.
WO 88/05461, discloses a bleaching composition comprising sodium
hypochlorite, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide
US 4 287 079 discloses aqueous cleaning compositions to be applied from
squirt bottle comprising a particulate abrasive, a two part thickener consisting
essentially of a mixture of fumed silicon dioxide and smectite clay, an aqueous
hypohalite bleach solution, an alkaline builder and perfume like
isobornylacetate. Said compositions are suitable for cleaning hard surfaces, no
laundry application is disclosed.
GB-A-2 076 010 discloses thickened aqueous bleach compositions comprising
an alkali metal hypochlorite, one or more carboxylated surfactants, metal
hydroxide, electrolytes such as calcium carbonate and perfume. Said
compositions are suitable for cleaning vertical and inclined surfaces, no laundry
application is disclosed.
EP-A-30 401 discloses liquid thickened chlorine bleaching compositions having
a pH of from 10 to 12.5 and comprising hypochlorite, a buffering means like
alkali metal salts of carbonic acid and of silicilic acid, perfume and a thickening
system, i.e. a mixture of two different detergent active compounds. Said
compositions are useful for bleaching hard surfaces, no laundry application is
disclosed.
EP-A-204 472 discloses a thickened aqueous cleaning composition comprising
a specific tertiary amino oxide and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal mono-or
polyalkylated benzene or naphthalene sulphonate in which the alkyl groups
contain from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Said compositions may further comprise
hypochlorite, metal hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate and perfume like
isobornylacetate dihydroter pincol, dihydroterpinyl acetate and isoborneol.
Alkali metal carbonate may be present as a contaminant of commercially
available hypochlorite solution at a level of from 0.01% to 0.1% by weight of the
hypochlorite solution. Said compositions are suitable for cleaning non-horizontal
structural surfaces, no laundry application is disclosed.
US 4 235 732 discloses alkaline aqueous hypochlorite cleaning compositions
containing paraffin sulphonate surfactant, an inorganic colloid-forming clay,
insoluble particulate abrasive, an inorganic alkaline salt capable of maintaining
the composition pH within the range of from about 10 to 14 and perfume.
Different bleaching applications are disclosed including bleaching of textiles.
US 3 876 551 discloses aqueous perfumed compositions (pH 12 to 13.5)
containing an alkali metal hypochlorite, a stable perfume oil and a surface
active agent consisting solely of an amine oxide composition which consists
essentially of one or more morpholine and/or dimethyl C11-C13 straight chain
alkyl amine oxides. No pH buffering means are disclosed. Said compositions
are suitable for laundry and domestic bleaching.
EP-A-186 386 discloses an aqueous composition and having a pH above 12,
comprising sodium hypochlorite, perfume, optical brighteners and amine
oxides. No pH buffering means are disclosed. Said compositions are suitable
for laundry applications.
Summary of the invention
The present invention encompasses an aqueous liquid bleaching composition
suitable for use in diluted form, said composition having a pH as is of from 11.5
to 14 and comprising:
- a bleach stable perfume, whereby said perfume causes no more than
10 % AvCl2 loss in 5 days at 50°c,
- from 2% to 10% by weight of the total composition of an alkali metal
hypochlorite,
- from 0.2% to 5% by weight of the total composition of a carbonate salt
and/or from 0.02% to 3% by weight of a silicate salt,
and wherein said bleach stable perfume is selected from the group
consisting of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-octahydro 2,3,8,8- tetramethyl -2 acetal
naphtalene, octane 1,1-dimethoxy acetal, 1,3-dioxane 2,4,6-trimethyl 4-phenyl
acetal, 1,3-dioxolane 2-hexyl acetal, phenylacetaldehyde dimethyl
acetal, aldehyde dimethyl acetal, citral diethyl acetal, acetaldehyde,
phenyl ethyl propyl acetal, dihydro terpinyl acetate, iso bornyl acetate,
tetrahydro linalyl acetate, benzene propanoltrimethyl acetate, ortho tertiary
butyl cyclohexanol acetate, ortho tertiary amyl cyclohexanyl acetate,
Fenchyl acetate, styrallyl acetate, 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol, dihydro
terpineol, tetrahydro geraniol, tetrahydro myrcenol, tetrahydro linaleol,
Fenchyl alcohol, dimethyl octanol, 2,5-dimethyl heptan-2-ol, phenyl methyl
ethyl carbinol, dimethyl benzyl carbinol, dimethyl phenyl ethyl carbinol,
Menthone, Iso menthone racemic, dimethyl octanone, Fenchone-1,1,3-trimethyl
bicyclo-1,2,2-heptanone 2, benzophenone, monoterpenes and
cyclic monoterpenes ethers, diphenyl oxide, iso amyl phenyl ethyl ether,
paracrasyl methyl ether, phenyl ethyl methyl ether, beta naphtol methyl
ether, methyl diphenyl ether, 3-cyclopentane 2,2,3-trimethyl 1-acetonitrile,
bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2 carbonitrile, 5-phenyl-3-methyl-pentaneacid
nitrile, dodecanenitrile, tetrahydro geranyl nitrile, para cymene and
terpinolene, eucalyptol, 2,4,6-trinitro-3,5-dimethyl-tert-butyl benzene,
essential oils and resins including eucalyptus oil, cistus oil and patchouli
oil, or mixtures thereof.
The present invention further encompasses a method of bleaching and washing
fabrics or surfaces, when said fabrics or surfaces are contacted with a
composition according to the present invention.
Detailed Description of the invention
The compositions according to the present invention are aqueous bleaching
compositions. Thus they comprise hypochlorite in an aqueous matrix. Various
forms of alkali metal hypochlorite are commercially available and, although this
is not critical for the present invention, it is preferred herein to use sodium
hypochlorite. Compositions according to the present invention comprise a
bleaching amount of alkali metal hypochlorite, which represents from 2% to
10% by weight of the total composition, based on active chlorine, of alkali metal
hypochlorite. Preferred compositions herein comprise from 3% to 6% of alkali
metal hypochlorite.
As a second essential feature, the compositions according to the present
invention have a pH as is of from 11.5 to 14, preferably from 12.5 to 14.
Suitable means to achieve such a pH value include potassium and sodium
hydroxide.
The compositions according to the present invention are suitable for use in
diluted form. The expression "use in diluted form" herein includes dilution by
the user, which occurs for instance in household application or hand laundry
applications, as well as dilution by other means, such as in a washing machine.
Typical dilution levels are of from 0.5% to 20% for hand laundry application,
0.1% to 10% in a washing machine, and 0.5 to 20% for household application.
As the composition according to the present invention is diluted, the pH of the
composition as is changes, i.e. decreases, to a certain pH value which is
hereinafter referred to as the pH of the diluted composition. For the purpose of
the present invention, it is essential that the pH of the diluted composition is
buffered to a substantially constant value throughout use, i.e. from the moment
the dilution is completed and until the hypochlorite bleaching composition is
started to be rinsed away.
Therefore, as a third essential feature, the composition according to the present
invention comprise pH buffering means whereby the pH of the diluted
composition remains constant throughout use.
In order to achieve a proper buffering of the pH within the present invention, the
pH buffering mean used herein is silicate salt at a level of from 0.02% to 3%
and/or carbonate salt at a level of from 0.2% to 5% by weight of the total
composition. Particularly useful are alkali metal salts of silicate and carbonate,
preferably sodium silicate and sodium carbonate, both of which are
commercially available, or mixtures thereof. Preferred compositions herein use
a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium silicate. Preferred composition
herein comprise from 0.2% to 5% by weight of the total composition of sodium
carbonate, preferably from 0.5% to 3%, and from 0.02% to 3% by weight of the
total composition of sodium silicate, preferably from 0.04% to 3%.
As a fourth essential ingredient, the compositions according to the present
invention comprise a bleach stable perfume, whereby said perfume causes no
more than 10% loss of available chlorine in 5 days at 50°c, preferably not more
than 8% loss of available chlorine. Indeed, it is well known that most perfume
ingredients are incompatible for use in a strong oxidizing environment such as
hypochlorite bleaching compositions. In such compositions, the hypochlorite
attacks the perfume, resulting not only in the degradation of the perfume but
also in the loss of available chlorine, thus bleaching power. Perfumes useful for
use herein do not cause loss of available chlorine outside the limits described
hereinabove. The capacity of a perfume to meet this criteria is evaluated by
comparing a composition with the perfume to a composition without, to account
for the loss of available chlorine which is not due to the perfume.
In both, the available chlorine is measured in the fresh compositions, i.e. just
after they are made, and in the same compositions after 5 days storage at 50
°c, using the method described for instance in "Analyses des Eaux et Extraits
de Javel" by La chambre syndicale nationale de L'eau de Javel et des produits
connexes, Pages 9-10 (1984). The % loss of available chlorine is then
calculated.
By perfume, it is meant herein individual perfume components as well as
mixtures thereof. Bleach stable perfumes for use herein are components in the
class of acetals, aldehydes, esters, alcohols, ketones, ethers, nitriles, terpenes,
as well as miscellaneous materials, including materials of natural origin. More
specifically, suitable acetals components include 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-octahydro
2,3,8,8- tetramethyl -2 acetal naphtalene, available from IFF under the trade
name Iso E Super®, octane 1,1-dimethoxy acetal, commercially available from
Dragoco under the trade name Resedyl Acetal®, 1,3-dioxane 2,4,6-trimethyl 4-phenyl
acetal, commercially available from Dragoco under the trade name
Vertacetal®, 1,3-dioxolane 2-hexyl acetal, commercially available from Dragoco
under the trade name Ylamone®, phenylacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal,
aldehyde dimethyl acetal, citral diethyl acetal, and acetaldehyde phenyl ethyl
propyl acetal. Suitable perfume components within the class of esters include
dihydro terpinyl acetate, tetrahydro linalyl acetate, benzene propanoltrimethyl
acetate, commercially available from Dragoco under the trade name Vetikol
Acetate®, ortho tertiary butyl cyclohexanol acetate, ortho tertiary amyl
cyclohexanyl acetate, Fenchyl acetate, Iso bomyl acetate, styrallyl acetate.
Suitable perfume components within the class of alcohols are 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol,
dihydro terpineol, tetrahydro geraniol, tetrahydro myrcenol,
tetrahydro linaleol, fenchyl alcohol, dimethyl octanol, 2,5-dimethyl heptan-2-ol,
commercially available from IFF under the trade name Dimetol®, phenyl methyl
ethyl carbinol, dimethyl benzyl carbinol, dimethyl phenyl ethyl carbinol. Suitable
perfume components from the class of ketones are Menthone, Iso menthone
racemic, dimethyl octanone, Fenchone-1,1,3-trimethyl bicyclo-1,2,2-heptanone
2, benzophenone. Suitable perfume components from the class of ehters
include monoterpenes and cyclic monoterpenes ethers, commercially available
from Givaudan Roure under the trade name Lime Oxide®, diphenyl oxide, iso
amyl phenyl ethyl ether, paracrasyl methyl ether, phenyl ethyl methyl ether,
beta naphtol methyl ether, methyl diphenyl ether.
Suitable perfume components in the class of nitriles are 3-cyclopentane 2,2,3-trimethyl
1-acetonitrile, commercially available from Dragoco under the trade
name Cantryl®, bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2 carbonitrile, commercially available
from Dragoco under the trade name Romaryl®, 5-phenyl-3-methyl-pentaneacid
nitrile, dodecanenitrile, tetrahydro geranyl nitrile. Suitable terpenes as perfume
components herein are para cymene and terpinolene. Suitable materials of
natural origin include essential oils and resins such as eucalyptus oil, cistus oil,
patchouli oil. Finally, suitable miscellaneous materials are eucalyptol and 2,4,6-trinitro-3,5-dimethyl-tert-butyl
benzene. The compositions according to the
present invention typically comprise from 0.000002% to 2% by weight of the
total composition of said perfume, preferably from 0.000005% to 0.5 %.
As a highly preferred ingredient, the compositions according to the present
invention further comprise a bleach-stable perfume solubilizer, i.e. a surface
active ingredient which helps the homogeneization or solubilization of the
perfume in the composition. Suitable bleach-stable perfume solubilizers include
amine oxides, alkyl ethoxy methyl carboxylates, alkyl phenyl ethoxy methyl
carboxylates, diphenyl oxide sulphonates, sarcosinates, taurates, betaines,
quaternary ammonium salts, sulphates, sulphonates, and mixtures thereof.
Preferred for use herein are amine oxides, alkyl ethoxy methyl carboxylates,
alkyl phenyl ehtoxy methyl carboxylates, diphenyl oxides and mixtures thereof.
The compositions according to the present invention typically comprise from
0.000001% to 20% by weight of the total composition of a perfume solubilizer,
preferably from 0.000002% to 5%.
The present invention further encompasses a method of bleaching fabrics
which comprises the steps of first contacting said fabrics with an aqueous liquid
bleaching composition suitable for use in diluted form, having a pH as is of from
11.5 to 14 and comprising:
- a bleach stable perfume, whereby said perfume causes no more
than 10 % AvCl2 loss in 5 days at 50°c,
- from 2% to 10% by weight of the total composition of an alkali metal
hypochlorite,
- from 0.2% to 5% by weight of the total composition of a carbonate
salt and/or from 0.02% to 3% by weight of a silicate salt,
and wherein said bleach stable perfume is selected from the group consisting of
1,2,3,4,6,7,8-octahydro 2,3,8,8- tetramethyl -2 acetal naphtalene, octane 1,1-dimethoxy
acetal, 1,3-dioxane 2,4,6-trimethyl 4-phenyl acetal, 1,3-dioxolane 2-hexyl
acetal, phenylacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal, aldehyde dimethyl acetal,
citral diethyl acetal, acetaldehyde phenyl ethyl propyl acetal, dihydro terpinyl
acetate, iso bornyl acetate, tetrahydro linalyl acetate, benzene
propanoltrimethyl acetate, ortho tertiary butyl cyclohexanol acetate, ortho
tertiary amyl cyclohexanyl acetate, Fenchyl acetate, styrallyl acetate, 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol,
dihydro terpineol, tetrahydro geraniol, tetrahydro myrcenol,
tetrahydro linaleol, Fenchyl alcohol, dimethyl octanol, 2,5-dimethyl heptan-2-ol,
phenyl methyl ethyl carbinol, dimethyl benzyl carbinol, dimethyl phenyl ethyl
carbinol, Menthone, Iso menthone racemic, dimethyl octanone, Fenchone-1,1,3-trimethyl
bicyclo-1,2,2-heptanone 2, benzophenone, monoterpenes and
cyclic monoterpenes ethers, diphenyl oxide, iso amyl phenyl ethyl ether,
paracrasyl methyl ether, phenyl ethyl methyl ether, beta naphtol methyl ether,
methyl diphenyl ether, 3-cyclopentane 2,2,3-trimethyl 1-acetonitrile, bicyclo
[2.2.1] heptane-2 carbonitrile, 5-phenyl-3-methyl-pentaneacid nitrile,
dodecanenitrile, tetrahydro geranyl nitrile, para cymene and terpinolene,
eucalyptol, 2,4,6-trinitro-3,5-dimethyl-tert-butyl benzene, essential oils and
resins including eucalyptus oil, cistus oil and patchouli oil, and mixtures thereof,
then allowing said fabrics to remain in contact with said composition for a period
of time sufficient to bleach said fabrics, typically 5 to 60 minutes, preferably 5 to
30 minutes, then rinsing said fabrics in water to remove said composition. If
said fabrics are to be washed, i.e. with a conventional composition comprising
at least one surface active agent, it is preferred to perform the method herein
before said fabrics are washed. Indeed, it has been observed that bleaching
said fabrics with the compositions according to the present invention prior to
washing them with a detergent composition provides superior whitenesss and
stain removal with less energy and detergent than if said fabrics are washed
first, then bleached. Accordingly, said method according to the present
invention further comprises a subsequent step where said fabrics are washed
with a detergent composition comprising at least one surface active agent.
The present invention will be further illustrated by the following examples.
Example 1
A composition of pH 13.1 is prepared which contains 5% available chlorine,
0.7% sodium hydroxide, 1% sodium carbonate, 0.02% benzophenone, 0.02%
nonyl phenyl ethoxy(7) methyl carboxylate and water up to 100%. In said
composition, the loss of available chlorine is the same with and without
benzophenone and amounts to about 14% loss of available chlorine in 5 days
at 50°c.
Example 2
A composition of pH 13.2 is prepared which contains 5% available chlorine,
0.7% sodium hydroxide, 1% sodium carbonate, 1.0% sodium silicate, 0.03%
tetrahydromyrcenol, 0.04% nonyl phenyl ethoxy(7) methyl carboxylate, and
water up to 100%. In said composition, the loss of available chlorine is the
same with and without tetrahydromercenol and amounts to about 14% loss of
available chlorine in 5 days at 50°c.
Example 3
A composition of pH 13.2 is prepared which contains 5% available chlorine,
0.8% sodium hydroxide, 1% sodium carbonate, 0.03% tetrahydrolynalool,
0.07% nonyl ethoxy(5) methyl carboxylate and water up to 100%. In said
composition, the loss of available chlorine is the same with and without
tetrahydrolynalool and amounts to about 16% loss of available chlorine in 5
days at 50°c.
Example 4
A composition of pH 13.0 is prepared which contains 5% available chlorine,
0.7% sodium hydroxide, 1% sodium silicate, 0.03% fenchylacetate, 0.08%
nonyl ethoxy(5) methyl carboxylate, and water up to 100%. In said composition,
the loss of available chlorine is the same with and without fenchylacetate and
amounts to about 16% loss of available chlorine in 5 days at 50°c.
Example 5
A composition of pH 13.2 is prepared which contains 5% available chlorine,
0.8% sodium hydroxide, 1% sodium carbonate, 0.03% ortho tertiary amyl
cyclohexanyl acetate, 0.1% diphenyl oxide, and water up to 100%. In said
composition, the loss of available chlorine is the same with and without
fenchylacetate and amounts to about 16% loss of available chlorine in 5 days at
50°c.
Example 6
A composition of pH 13.0 is prepared which contains 5% available chlorine,
0.7% sodium hydroxide, 1% sodium silicate, 0.03% eucaliptol, 0.04% nonyl
phenyl ethoxy(7) methyl carboxylate, and water up to 100%. In said
composition, the loss of available chlorine is the same with and without
fenchylacetate and amounts to about 16% loss of available chlorine in 5 days at
50°c.