EP1115837B1 - Compositions de detergent granulaires comportant des particules homogenes et procede de production de celles-ci - Google Patents

Compositions de detergent granulaires comportant des particules homogenes et procede de production de celles-ci Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1115837B1
EP1115837B1 EP99949919A EP99949919A EP1115837B1 EP 1115837 B1 EP1115837 B1 EP 1115837B1 EP 99949919 A EP99949919 A EP 99949919A EP 99949919 A EP99949919 A EP 99949919A EP 1115837 B1 EP1115837 B1 EP 1115837B1
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EP
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Prior art keywords
detergent
particles
ingredient
detergent composition
particle
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1115837A1 (fr
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Scott William Capeci
Mark William Ridyard
Raul R. Mort, Iii
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Procter and Gamble Co
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Procter and Gamble Co
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Priority claimed from PCT/US1998/020223 external-priority patent/WO2000018874A1/fr
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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
    • C11D11/00—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents ; Methods for using cleaning compositions
    • C11D11/0082—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents ; Methods for using cleaning compositions one or more of the detergent ingredients being in a liquefied state, e.g. slurry, paste or melt, and the process resulting in solid detergent particles such as granules, powders or beads
    • 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
    • C11D11/00—Special methods for preparing compositions containing mixtures of detergents ; Methods for using cleaning compositions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improved granular detergent compositions of homogeneous particles which have superior solubility, especially in cold temperature laundering solutions (i.e., less than about 30°C), and excellent flowability.
  • this clumping phenomenon can contribute to the incomplete dispensing of detergent in washing machines equipped with dispenser drawers or in other dispensing devices, such as a granulette.
  • the undesired result is undissolved detergent residue in the dispensing device.
  • inorganic salts In addition to the viscous surfactant "bridging" effect, inorganic salts have a tendency to hydrate which can also cause “bridging” of particles which linked together via hydration. In particular, inorganic salts hydrate with one another to form a cage structure which exhibits poor dissolution and ultimately ends up as a "clump" after the washing cycle. It would therefore be desirable to have a detergent composition which does not experience the dissolution problems identified above so as to result in improved cleaning performance.
  • the present invention meets the aformentioned needs by providing a detergent composition which has a controlled scale of heterogeneity C' 11 -C' 18 alkyl benzene sulfonate which in turn provides the improved solubility or dissolution in laundering solutions, especially in solutions kept at cold temperatures (i.e., less than about 30°C), and has improved flowability of the as-packaged granules for ease of handling and scooping by the consumer.
  • the selected detergent ingredient upon which the homogeneity number is based is C' 11 -C' 18 alkyl benzene sulfonate concentration. More preferably, the homogeneity number is based is C' 11
  • the detergent composition comprises at least about 50% by weight of particles having a geometric mean particle diameter of from 400 microns to 1500 microns with a geometric standard deviation of from 1 to 2, wherein at least a portion of the particles contain a detersive surfactant and a detergent builder.
  • a process for producing the aformentioned detergent composition comprises providing a granular feed stream selected from detergent particles being selected from at least two of the group consisting of spray-dried granules, wet agglomerates, dry agglomerates, detergent adjunct ingredients and mixtures thereof, passing the feed stream through at least one mixer selected from high speed, moderate speed, low speed, and low shear mixers to produce a detergent composition.
  • particles means the entire size range of a detergent final product or component or the entire size range of discrete particles, agglomerates, or granules in a final detergent product or component admixture. It specifically does not refer to a size fraction (i.e., representing less than 100% of the entire size range) of any of these types of particles unless the size fraction represents 100% of a discrete particle in an admixture of particles.
  • a size fraction i.e., representing less than 100% of the entire size range
  • the entire size range of discrete particles of that type have the same or substantially similar composition regardless of whether the particles are in contact with other particles.
  • the agglomerates themselves are considered as discrete particles and each discrete particle may be comprised of a composite of smaller agglomerates, primary particles and binder compositions.
  • geometric mean particle diameter means the geometric mass median diameter of a set of discrete particles as measured by any standard mass-based particle size measurement technique, preferably by dry sieving.
  • the phrase "geometric standard deviation" or “span” of a particle size distribution means the geometric breadth of the best-fitted log-normal function to the above-mentioned particle size data which can be accomplished by the ratio of the diameter of the 84.13 percentile divided by the diameter of the 50° percentile of the cumulative distribution (D 84.13 /D 50 ); See Gotoh et al, Powder Technology Handbook, pp. 6-11, Meral Dekker 1997 ..
  • the phrase “builder” means any inorganic material having “builder” performance in the detergency context, and specifically, organic or inorganic material capable of removing water hardness from washing solutions.
  • the term “bulk density” refers to the uncompressed, untapped powder bulk density, as measured by pouring an excess of powder sample through a funnel into a smooth metal vessel (e.g., a 500 ml volume cylinder), scraping off the excess from the heap above the rim of the vessel, measuring the remaining mass of powder and dividing the mass by the volume of the vessel.
  • the granular detergent composition of the present invention achieves the desired benefits of solubility, and flowability via providing a homogeneous detergent composition wherein the homogeneous detergent contributes to the aforementioned benefits.
  • the homogeneity number describes the distribution of ingredients within specific particles and between particles in a composition.
  • detergent composition would consist of a uniform type of particle made up of a combination of detergent ingredients , such as spray-dried detergent ingredients and had significant solubility drawbacks.
  • detergent compositions have consisted of differing particles of dual or multi-particle systems. While these multi-particle systems, e.g. spray-dried granules and agglomerates, may differ in form and/or composition between particle types, these detergent products also experience solubility drawbacks.
  • the present invention is directed toward the surprising discovery that specific distributions of C' 11 -C' 18 alkyl benzene sulfonate, either between particulate admixture components or within a defined domain microstructure of a specific particulate component, improve many product attributes such as solubility and physical attributes such as flowability, etc.
  • the present invention is directed toward a detergent composition that has a homogeneity number of greater than 1.0, more preferably, greater than 1.25 and most preferably greater than about 1.5.
  • X bulk is the ratio of the concentration of the selected ingredient in the particle with the lowest non-zero level of that ingredient to the concentration of the selected ingredient in the particle with the highest level of the selected ingredient
  • X part is the ratio of the concentration in the discrete volume with the lowest amount of the selected ingredient to the concentration in the discrete volume of the particle having the highest amounts of the selected ingredient.
  • X bulk is the ratio of the concentration of a selected detergent ingredient such as C' 11 -C' 18 alkyl benzene sulfonate in particulate component with the lowest non-zero level of the selected ingredient to the concentration of the selected ingredient in the particulate component with the highest level of the selected ingredient.
  • X bulk would be equal to one (1) or 0.25/0.25.
  • a composition which comprises a spray dried granule of 20% active surfactant and a detergent agglomerate of 30% detergent active X bulk would be equal to 0.67 or 0.2/0.3.
  • X part is the ratio of the concentration of a selected detergent ingredient such as C' 11 -C' 18 alkyl benzene sulfonate across domains within the same particle, or in other words a measure of the homogeneity of the individual particle.
  • X part is the ratio of the selected ingredient in discrete domains of the particle.
  • X part is the ratio of the concentration in the domain with the lowest concentration of the ingredient to the concentration of the selected ingredient in the domain with the highest concentration within the same particle.
  • a discrete volume or domain of the present invention is one in which there is a clear morphological difference between the domains; typically a domain accounts for more than 1%, preferably, 5% of the volume of the particle. For example, a particle that is homogeneous throughout the particle has only one (1) domain..
  • a particle which has the same concentration throughout such as a spray-dried granule with a active concentration of 25% surfactant
  • X part would be equal to one (1) or 0.25/0.25 as the particle contains only one domain.
  • a particle, which is agglomerated from two different starting ingredients such as spray-dried granules having 5% active surfactant and dry detergent agglomerates having 50% active surfactant to form mixed agglomerates as defined herein (i.e., where the compositional differences in the starting materials remain clearly evident within the microstructure of the resultant mixed agglomerate)
  • X part would be equal to 0.1 or 0.05/0.5.
  • X part is taken as the average of X min /X max for each component.
  • the homogeneity number of the present invention is to be calculated on particles which comprise the bulk of the detergent composition.
  • particles which individually or collectively account for less than about 10% by weight of the finished composition should not be employed in the calculation of homogeneity number.
  • These low level ingredients typically include admix ingredients such for example, enzymes, bleach ingredients, perfume ingredients, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate and various other minor additions.
  • the present invention provides a detergent composition that has superior solubility performance and flowability due to the homogeneity profile of the composition.
  • the geometric mean particle diameter of the particles is from 400 microns to 1500 microns, more preferably from about 500 microns to about 1200 microns, and most preferably from about 600 microns to about 1000 microns.
  • the particle size distribution is defined by a relative tight geometric standard deviation or "span" so as not to have too many particles outside of the target size. Accordingly, the geometric standard deviation is preferably is from about 1 to about 2, more preferably is from about 1.0 to about 1.7, even more preferably is from about 1.0 to about 1.4, and most preferably is from about 1.0 to about 1.2.
  • the average bulk density of the particles is preferably at least about 400 g/l, more preferably at least about 550 g/l, and most preferably at least about 600 g/l.
  • solubility is enhanced as a result of the particles in the detergent composition having the aforementioned homogeneity profile. Specifically, as a result of the particles being more uniform in size, the actual "contact points" among the particles in the detergent composition is reduced which, in turn, reduces the "bridging effect" commonly associated with the "lump-gel” dissolution difficulties of granular detergent compositions.
  • Previous granular detergent compositions contained particles of homogeneity number in the range of from about 0.5 to about 1 and particle diameter sizes which leads to more contact points among the particles.
  • finer particles have more inter-particle contacts per unit volume than do coarser particles, and increasing in the contacts per unit volume increases the per-volume strength of lump-gel formations, thereby increasing the probability of said lump-gel formations persisting through the agitation in the wash cycle and leaving undesired residues on fabrics.
  • the homogeneity number, level and uniform size of the particles in the granular detergent composition of the present invention avoids such problems.
  • the detergent composition will contain from about 1% to about 50% by weight of a detersive surfactant and from about 1% to about 75% by weight of a detergent builder.
  • Shape can be measured in a number of different ways known to those of ordinary skill in the art. One such method is using optical microscopy with Optimus (V5.0) image analysis software. Important calculated parameters are:
  • each of these attributes is important and can be averaged over the bulk granular detergent composition. Further, the combination of the two parameters as defined by the product of the parameters is important as well (i.e. both must be controlled to get a product with good appearance).
  • the granular detergent compositions of this invention have circularity less than about 50, preferably less than about 30, more preferably less than about 23, most preferably less than about 18. Also preferred are granular detergent compositions with aspect ratios less than about 2, preferably less than about 1.5, more preferably less than about 1.3 most preferably less than about 1.2.
  • the granular detergent compositions of this invention have a standard deviation of the number distribution of circularity less than about 20, that is preferably less than about 10, more preferably less than about 7 most preferably less than about 4.
  • the standard deviation of the number distribution of aspect ratios is preferably less than about 1, more preferably less than about 0.5, even more preferably less than about 0.3, most preferably less than about 0.2.
  • granular detergent compositions are produced wherein the product of circularity and aspect ratio is less than about 100, preferably less than about 50, more preferably less than about 30, and most preferably less than about 20. Also preferred are granular detergent compositions with the standard deviation of the number distribution of the product of circularity and aspect ratio of less than about 45, preferably less than about 20, more preferably less than about 7 most preferably less than about 2.
  • the preferred detergent compositions of this invention meet at least one and most preferably all, of the attribute measurements and standard deviations as defined above, that is for homogeneity number, whiteness, color, uniformity, circularity and aspect ratio.
  • the present invention also comprises a process for the production of a detergent composition having a superior homogeneity profile.
  • the detergent granules of the present invention comprise at least one detergent active material and are preferably selected from spray-dried detergent granules, wet detergent agglomerates, dry detergent agglomerates and detergent adjunct ingredient or other granules typically incorporated into a detergent composition.
  • the granules may be in particle, agglomerate or flake form.
  • Detergent adjunct ingredients includes but is not limited to, raw materials such as carbonates, phosphates, sulfates, zeolites, surfactants, bleaches, enzymes, perfumes or the like. Of course, other conventionally known ingredients may be included as well.
  • Spray-dried detergent granules include those particles which are manufactured via a conventional spray-drying technique wherein a slurry of detergent materials is prepared and sprayed downward into a upwardly flowing stream of gas to dry the particles. A dry free flowing material is produced from the process.
  • Wet detergent agglomerates includes those particles that are manufactured via an granulation type process wherein detergent adjunct ingredients such as described above are admixed with a liquid binder material such as surfactant or precursor thereof in a mixer or series of mixer to form granules of detergent materials. These particles are known as "wet agglomerates" until dried and as dry agglomerates upon exiting a drying stage
  • the present invention entails the introduction of both raw materials such as surfactants and builders or the introduction of previously formed detergent granules for continued processing of the granules.
  • the granules of the present invention are agglomerates of a mixture of feed streams such as spray-dried granules, dry agglomerates and optionally detergent adjuncts that are agglomerated in an agglomeration process such as that described below.
  • the preferred agglomerates are herein referred to as mixed agglomerates.
  • Dry or wet agglomerates of the present invention are typically formed by an agglomeration of a highly viscous surfactant paste or a liquid acid precursor of a surfactant and the aforementioned detergent adjunct ingredients or formed granules such as spray-dried granules agglomerates or detergent adjuncts are described above may be substituted.
  • the agglomeration may be carried out in a high or moderate speed mixer after which an optional low or moderate speed mixer may be employed for further agglomeration, if necessary.
  • Low speed mixers according to the present invention may include
  • the agglomeration may be carried out in a single mixer that can be low, moderate or high speed.
  • the particular mixer used in the present process should include pulverizing or grinding and agglomeration tools so that both techniques can be carried forth simultaneously in a single mixer.
  • the first processing step can be successfully completed, under the process parameters described herein, in a Lodige KMTM (Ploughshare) moderate speed mixer, Lodige CBTM high speed mixer, or mixers made by Fukae, Drais, Schugi or similar brand mixer.
  • the Lodige KMTM (Ploughshare) moderate speed mixer which is a preferred mixer for use in the present invention, comprises a horizontal, hollow static cylinder having a centrally mounted rotating shaft around which several plough-shaped blades are attached.
  • the shaft rotates at a speed of from about 15 rpm to about 140 rpm, more preferably from about 80 rpm to about 120 rpm.
  • the grinding or pulverizing is accomplished by cutters, generally smaller in size than the rotating shaft, which preferably operate at about 3600 rpm.
  • Other mixers similar in nature which are suitable for use in the process include the Lodige PloughshareTM mixer and the Drais® K-T 160 mixer.
  • the shear will be no greater than the shear produced by a Lodige KM mixer with a tip speed of the ploughs below 30 m/s or even below 10 m/s or even lower.
  • the mean residence time of the various detergent ingredients in the low, moderate or high speed mixer is preferably in range from about 0.1 seconds to about 30 minutes, most preferably the residence time is about 0.5 to about 5 minutes. In this way, the density of the resulting detergent agglomerates is at the desired level.
  • This agglomeration is typically followed by a drying step.
  • This drying step may be carried out in a wide variety of equipment including, but not limited to a fluid bed drying apparatus.
  • dryer characteristics include fixed or vibrating; rectangular bed or round bed; and straight or serpentine dryers. Manufacturers of such dryers include Niro, Bepex, Spray Systems and Glatt.
  • an apparatus such as a fluidized bed can be used for drying while an airlift can be used for cooling should it be necessary.
  • the air lift can also be used to force out the "fine" particles so that they can be recycled to the particle agglomeration process.
  • the agglomeration may comprise the step of spraying an additional binder in the mixers or fluid bed to facilitate production of the desired detergent particles.
  • a binder is added for purposes of enhancing agglomeration by providing a "binding" or "sticking" agent for the detergent components.
  • the binder is preferably selected from the group consisting of water, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, acetates, polyacrylates, citric acid and mixtures thereof.
  • suitable binder materials including those listed herein are described in Beerse et al, U.S. Patent No. 5,108,646 (Procter & Gamble Co.), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Another optional processing step to form the particles of the present invention includes continuously adding a coating agent such as zeolites, recycled "fines" as described above and fumed silica to the mixer to improve the particle color, increase the particle "whiteness or facilitate free flowability of the resulting detergent particles and to prevent over agglomeration.
  • a coating agent such as zeolites, recycled "fines" as described above and fumed silica
  • the fines are preferably in the approximate size range of 0.01 to 0.5 times the mean particle size of the larger particles.
  • the granule coating will also improve the integrity of the fines layering and provide abrasion and attrition resistance during handling.
  • the detergent starting materials can be fed into a pre-mixer, such as a Lodige CB mixer or a twin-screw extruder, prior to entering in the mixer. This step, although optional, does indeed facilitate agglomeration.
  • spray-dried detergent granules which comprise tower blown particles.
  • the granules are formed by the preparation of a slurry of surfactant materials, water and detergent adjunct ingredients materials.
  • the resultant slurry is then passed to a tower where the slurry is sprayed into a stream of air at temperatures typically ranging from about 175°C to about 375°C to dry the detergent slurry and formed detergent particles.
  • resultant densities of these particles range from about 200 to about 600 g/l.
  • the particles of the present invention comprise at least about 50% by weight of particles having a geometric mean particle diameter of from about 500 microns to about 1500 microns and preferably have a geometric standard deviation of from about 1 to about 2.
  • the geometric standard deviation is from about 1.0 to about 1.7, preferably from about 1.0 to about 1.4.
  • the granular detergent composition resulting from the processes may comprise undersized or fine particles, wherein "fine particles" are defined as particles that have a geometric mean particle diameter that is less than about 1.65 standard deviations below the chosen geometric mean particle diameter of the granular detergent composition at a given span or geometric standard deviation.
  • Oversized or large particles may also exist wherein "large particles" are defined as particles that have a geometric mean particle diameter that is greater than about 1.65 standard deviations above the chosen geometric mean particle diameter of the granular detergent composition at a given span or geometric standard deviation.
  • the fine particles are preferably separated from the granular detergent composition and returned to the process by adding them to at least one of the mixers and/or the fluid bed dryer as described in detail below.
  • the large particles are preferably separated from the granular detergent composition and then fed to a grinder where their geometric mean particle diameter is reduced. After the geometric mean particle diameter of the large particles is reduced, the large particles are returned to the process by adding them to at least one of the mixers and/or the fluid bed dryer.
  • the granules of the present invention are produced in a fluidized bed via the combination of spray-dried granules, adjunct ingredients and dry agglomerates.
  • a liquid binder material such as silicates, polyethylene glycols, surfactants and precursors thereof and various other materials may be added to the fluid bed to enhance agglomeration.
  • the feed materials are passed through a pre-mixer or series of mixers such as a moderate speed mixer as described above.
  • the fluidized bed is preferably operated such that the flux number FN of the fluid bed is at least about 2.5 to about 4.5.
  • Flux number (FN m ) is a ratio of the excess velocity (U e ) of the fluidisation gas and the particle density (p p ) relative to the mass flux (q liq ) of the liquid sprayed into the bed at a normalized distance (D o ) of the spraying device.
  • the flux number provides and estimation of the operating parameters of a fluidized bed to control granulation within the bed.
  • the fluidized bed is operated at a Stokes number of less than about 1, more preferably from about 0.1 to about 0.5.
  • the Stokes number is a measure of particle coalescence for describing the degree of mixing occurring to particles in a piece of equipment such as the fluid bed.
  • the Stokes number and a description of its usefulness is described in detail in WO 99/03964 , the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
  • the granules of the present invention are passed into a fluid bed dryer having multiple internal "stages" or "zones".
  • a stage or zone is any discrete area within the dryer, and these terms are used interchangeably herein.
  • the process conditions within a stage may be different or similar to the other stages in the dryer. It is understood that two adjacent dryers are equivalent to a single dryer having multiple stages.
  • the various feed streams of granules and coating material can be added at the different stages, depending on, for example, the particle size and moisture level of the feed stream. Feeding different streams to different stages can minimize the heat load on the dryer, and optimize the particle size and shape as defined herein.
  • the fluid bed mixer of the present invention comprises a first spraying zone where the binder material is applied.
  • the spraying zone involves the spraying of the binder in aqueous or slurry form onto the fluidized particles.
  • the bed is typically fluidized with heated air in order to dry or partially dry moisture from the spray as it is applied.
  • the spraying is achieved via nozzles capable of delivering a fine or atomized spray of the coating mixture to achieve complete coverage of the particles.
  • the droplet size from the atomizer is less than about 2 times the particle size. This atomization can be achieved either through a conventional two-fluid nozzle with atomizing air, or alternatively by means of a conventional pressure nozzle.
  • the solution or slurry rheology is typically characterized by a viscosity of less than about 500 centipoise, preferably less than about 200 centipoise at the point of atomization.
  • the nozzle location in the fluid bed may be in most any location, the preferred location is a positioning that allows a vertical down spray of the coating mixture such as a top spray configuration.
  • the nozzle location is placed at or above the fluidized height of the particles in the fluid bed.
  • the fluidized height is typically determined by a weir or overflow gate height.
  • the coating zone of the fluid bed is then typically followed by a drying zone and a cooling zone.
  • a drying zone and a cooling zone are also possible to achieve the resultant coated particles of the present invention.
  • Typical conditions within a fluid bed apparatus of the present invention include (i) from about 1 to about 20 minutes of mean residence time, (ii) from about 100 to about 600 mm of depth of unfluidized bed, (iii) a droplet size of 2 times the particle size, preferably not more than about 100 micron more preferably not more than 50 micron, (iv) from about 150 to about 1600 mm of spray height from the fluid bed plate or preferably 0-600 mm from the top of the fluid bed, (v) from about 0.1 to about 4.0 m/s of fluidizing velocity, preferably about 1.0 to 3.0 m/s and (vi) from about 12 to about 200 °C of bed temperature, preferably about 15 to about 100 °C.
  • the conditions in the fluid bed may vary depending on a number of factors.
  • the coated granules exiting the coating mixer may comprise in and of themselves a fully formulated detergent composition or in preferred embodiments may be admixed with additional ingredients, such as bleaching agents, enzymes, perfumes, non-coated detergent particles, and various other ingredients to produce a fully formulated detergent composition.
  • the surfactant system of the detergent composition may include anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, ampholytic and cationic classes and compatible mixtures thereof.
  • Detergent surfactants are described in U.S. Patent 3,664,961, Norris, issued May 23, 1972 , and in U.S. Patent 3,919,678, Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975 , both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • Cationic surfactants include those described in U.S. Patent 4,222,905, Cockrell, issued September 16, 1980 , and in U.S. Patent 4,239,659, Murphy, issued December 16, 1980 , both of which are also incorporated herein by reference.
  • surfactant systems in addition to C 11 -C 18 alkyl benzene sulfonates include the conventional primary, branched-chain and random C 10 -C 20 alkyl sulfates (“AS”), the C 10 -C 18 secondary (2,3) alkyl sulfates of the formula CH 3 (CH 2 ) x (CHOSO 3 - M + ) CH 3 and CH 3 (CH 2 ) y (CHOSO 3 - M + ) CH 2 CH 3 where x and (y + 1) are integers of at least about 7, preferably at least about 9, and M is a water-solubilizing cation, especially sodium, unsaturated sulfates such as oleyl sulfate, the C 10 -C 18 alkyl alkoxy sulfates (“AE x S”; especially EO 1-7 ethoxy sulfates), C 10 -C 18 alkyl alkoxy carboxylates (especially the EO 1-5
  • the conventional nonionic and amphoteric surfactants such as the C 12 -C 18 alkyl ethoxylates ("AE") including the so-called narrow peaked alkyl ethoxylates and C 6 -C 12 alkyl phenol alkoxylates (especially ethoxylates and mixed ethoxy/propoxy), C 12 -C 18 betaines and sulfobetaines ("sultaines"), C 10 -C 18 amine oxides, and the like, can also be included in the surfactant system.
  • the C 10 -C 18 N-alkyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amides can also be used. Typical examples include the C 12 -C 18 N-methylglucamides. See WO 9,206,154 .
  • sugar-derived surfactants include the N-alkoxy polyhydroxy fatty acid am ides, such as C 10 -C 18 N-(3-methoxypropyl) glucamide.
  • the N-propyl through N-hexyl C 12 -C 18 glucamides can be used for low sudsing.
  • C 10 -C 20 conventional soaps may also be used. If high sudsing is desired, the branched-chain C 10 -C 16 soaps may be used. Mixtures of anionic and nonionic surfactants are especially useful. Other conventional useful surfactants are listed in standard texts.
  • the detergent composition can, and preferably does, include a detergent builder.
  • Builders are generally selected from the various water-soluble, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium phosphates, polyphosphates, phosphonates, polyphosphonates, carbonates, silicates, borates, polyhydroxy sulfonates, polyacetates, carboxylates, and polycarboxylates.
  • the alkali metal especially sodium, salts of the above.
  • Preferred for use herein are the phosphates, carbonates, silicates, C 10-18 fatty acids, polycarboxylates, and mixtures thereof. More preferred are sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, citrate, tartrate mono- and di-succinates, sodium silicate, and mixtures thereof (see below).
  • inorganic phosphate builders are sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate, pyrophosphate, polymeric metaphosphate having a degree of polymerization of from about 6 to 21, and orthophosphates.
  • polyphosphonate builders are the sodium and potassium salts of ethylene diphosphonic acid, the sodium and potassium salts of ethane 1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonic acid and the sodium and potassium salts of ethane, 1,1,2-triphosphonic acid.
  • Other phosphorus builder compounds are disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,159,581 ; 3,213,030 ; 3,422,021 ; 3,422,137 ; 3,400,176 and 3,400,148 , all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • nonphosphorus, inorganic builders are sodium and potassium carbonate, bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, tetraborate decahydrate, and silicates having a weight ratio of SiO 2 to alkali metal oxide of from about 0.5 to about 4.0, preferably from about 1.0 to about 2.4.
  • Water-soluble, nonphosphorus organic builders useful herein include the various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyhydroxy sulfonates.
  • polyacetate and polycarboxylate builders are the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, and citric acid.
  • Polymeric polycarboxylate builders are set forth in U.S. Patent 3,308,067. Diehl, issued March 7, 1967 , the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Such materials include the water-soluble salts of homo- and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid.
  • Some of these materials are useful as the water-soluble anionic polymer as hereinafter described, but only if in intimate admixture with the nonsoap anionic surfactant.
  • polyacetal carboxylates for use herein are the polyacetal carboxylates described in U.S. Patent 4,144,226, issued March 13, 1979 to Crutchfield et al. , and U.S. Patent 4,246,495, issued March 27, 1979 to Crutchfield et al. , both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • These polyacetal carboxylates can be prepared by bringing together under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator. The resulting polyacetal carboxylate ester is then attached to chemically stable end groups to stabilize the polyacetal carboxylate against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, converted to the corresponding salt, and added to a detergent composition.
  • Particularly preferred polycarboxylate builders are the ether carboxylate builder compositions comprising a combination of tartrate monosuccinate and tartrate disuccinate described in U.S. Patent 4,663,071, Bush et al., issued May 5, 1987 , the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • Water-soluble silicate solids represented by the formula SiO 2 •M 2 O, M being an alkali metal, and having a SiO 2 :M 2 O weight ratio of from about 0.5 to about 4.0, are useful salts in the detergent granules of the invention at levels of from about 2% to about 15% on an anhydrous weight basis, preferably from about 3% to about 8%.
  • Anhydrous or hydrated particulate silicate can be utilized, as well.
  • any number of additional ingredients can also be included as components in the granular detergent composition.
  • these include other detergency builders, bleaches, bleach activators, suds boosters or suds suppressors, anti-tarnish and anti-corrosion agents, soil suspending agents, soil release agents, germicides, pH adjusting agents, nonbuilder alkalinity sources, chelating agents, smectite clays, enzymes, enzyme-stabilizing agents and perfumes. See U.S. Patent 3,936,537, issued February 3, 1976 to Baskerville, Jr. et al. , incorporated herein by reference.
  • Bleaching agents and activators are described in U.S. Patent 4,412,934, Chung et al., issued November 1, 1983 , and in U.S. Patent 4,483,781, Hartman, issued November 20, 1984 , both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • Chelating agents are also described in U.S. Patent 4,663,071, Bush et al. , from Column 17, line 54 through Column 18, line 68, incorporated herein by reference.
  • Suds modifiers are also optional ingredients and are described in U.S. Patents 3,933,672, issued January 20, 1976 to Bartoletta et al. , and 4,136,045, issued January 23, 1979 to Gault et al. , both incorporated herein by reference.
  • Suitable smectite clays for use herein are described in U.S. Patent 4,762,645, Tucker et al., issued August 9, 1988 , Column 6, line 3 through Column 7, line 24, incorporated herein by reference.
  • Suitable additional detergency builders for use herein are enumerated in the Baskerville patent, Column 13, line 54 through Column 16, line 16, and in U.S. Patent 4,663,071, Bush et al., issued May 5, 1987 , both incorporated herein by reference.
  • a finished detergent composition is produced dry blending or admixing two feed streams.
  • the first is a 20% by weight surfactant active spray-dried granules.
  • the second is a 30% surfactant active agglomerated granule.
  • the two particles are mixed at 50 weight % each.
  • a detergent composition is produced in a batch process in a fluidized bed having a depth of 6 inches and a batch weight of 1500g.
  • the inlet temperature of the bed was 130 °C the bed temperature was 45 °C and the air velocity was 1 m/s.
  • the feed comprises 50% dry agglomerates having a surfactant active concentration of 50% and 50% spray-dried granules having a surfactant active concentration of 5%.
  • a total of 250 grams of a 30 wt% solution of PEG 4000 was sprayed into the fluidized bed to agglomerate the feed ingredients into a mixed agglomerate.
  • a detergent composition is produced by dry blending the feed streams of Example II without agglomeration of the two streams.

Claims (17)

  1. Composition détergente granulaire ayant un nombre d'homogénéité, HN, tel que défini par l'équation : HN = X vrac / X pièce
    Figure imgb0012
    où Xvrac est le rapport de la concentration d'un ingrédient détergent choisi dans la particule avec le plus faible taux dudit ingrédient sur la concentration dudit ingrédient dans la particule avec le taux le plus élevé dudit ingrédient et Xpiece est le rapport de la concentration d'une zone discrète d'une particule avec le plus faible taux dudit ingrédient sur la concentration de la zone discrète de la même particule avec le taux le plus élevé dudit ingrédient, supérieur à 1, dans laquelle ledit ingrédient détergent choisi est un sulfonate d'alkyle benzène en C11 à C18.
  2. Composition détergente selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit nombre d'homogénéité est supérieur à 1,25.
  3. Composition détergente selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle au moins environ 50 % en poids de particules ont un diamètre moyen géométrique de particules allant de 400 microns à 1500 microns avec un écart-type géométrique allant de 1 à 2, dans laquelle au moins une partie desdites particules contiennent un agent tensioactif détersif et un adjuvant de détergence.
  4. Composition détergente granulaire selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle lesdites particules constituent au moins 75 % en poids de ladite composition détergente.
  5. Composition détergente granulaire selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle l'écart-type géométrique va de 1,0 à 1,7.
  6. Composition détergente granulaire selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle l'écart-type géométrique va de 1,0 à 1,4.
  7. Composition détergente granulaire selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle lesdites particules constituent au moins 90 % en poids de ladite composition détergente.
  8. Composition détergente granulaire selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle le diamètre moyen géométrique de particules desdites particules va de 600 microns à 1200 microns.
  9. Composition détergente granulaire selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle l'écart-type géométrique va de 1,0 à 1,2.
  10. Composition détergente granulaire selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle lesdites particules ont un rapport d'aspect inférieur à 2.
  11. Composition détergente granulaire selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle lesdites particules ont un rapport d'aspect inférieur à 1,3.
  12. Procédé pour fabriquer une composition détergente granulaire selon la revendication 1, comprenant les étapes consistant à fournir un courant d'alimentation de particules détergentes ayant au moins un principe actif détergent dedans, lesdites particules détergentes étant choisies parmi au moins deux du groupe constitué de granules séchés par atomisation, agglomérats mouillés, agglomérats secs, ingrédients additifs de détergent et leurs mélanges, faire passer ledit courant d'alimentation à travers au moins un mélangeur choisi parmi les mélangeurs à vitesse élevée, à vitesse modérée, à faible vitesse, et à faible cisaillement pour produire une composition détergente ayant un nombre d'homogénéité, HN, tel que défini par équation : HN = X vrac / X pièce
    Figure imgb0013
    dans laquelle Xvrac est le rapport de la concentration d'un ingrédient détergent choisi dans la particule avec le plus faible taux non nul dudit ingrédient sur la concentration dudit ingrédient dans la particule avec le taux le plus élevé dudit ingrédient et Xpièce est le rapport de la concentration d'une zone discrète d'une particule avec le plus faible taux dudit ingrédient sur la concentration de la zone discrète de la même particule avec le taux le plus élevé dudit ingrédient, supérieur à 1.
  13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel ledit courant d'alimentation comprend des granules séchés par atomisation et des agglomérats de détergent secs.
  14. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel ledit mélangeur est un mélangeur à faible cisaillement.
  15. Procédé selon la revendication 14, comprenant en outre les étapes consistant à faire passer ledit courant d'alimentation à travers un mélangeur à vitesse modérée avant de passer à travers ledit mélangeur à faible cisaillement.
  16. Procédé selon la revendication 15, dans lequel un liant de détergent liquide est ajouté à l'un ou l'autre ou l'un et l'autre dudit mélangeur à faible cisaillement et dudit mélangeur à vitesse modérée pour améliorer l'agglomération dudit courant d'alimentation.
  17. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel ledit nombre d'homogénéité est supérieur à 1,25.
EP99949919A 1998-09-25 1999-09-24 Compositions de detergent granulaires comportant des particules homogenes et procede de production de celles-ci Revoked EP1115837B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
WOPCT/US98/20223 1998-09-25
PCT/US1998/020223 WO2000018874A1 (fr) 1998-09-25 1998-09-25 Composition detergente granulaire a aspect et a solubilite ameliores
US14008899P 1999-06-21 1999-06-21
US140088P 1999-06-21
PCT/US1999/022395 WO2000018877A1 (fr) 1998-09-25 1999-09-24 Compositions de detergent granulaires comportant des particules homogenes et procede de production de celles-ci

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EP1115837A1 EP1115837A1 (fr) 2001-07-18
EP1115837B1 true EP1115837B1 (fr) 2010-01-27

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US5108646A (en) * 1990-10-26 1992-04-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Process for agglomerating aluminosilicate or layered silicate detergent builders
US5431857A (en) * 1994-01-19 1995-07-11 The Procter & Gamble Company Process for producing a high density detergent composition having improved solubility by agglomeration of anionic surfactants and an agglomerating agent
JPH11512473A (ja) * 1995-09-14 1999-10-26 ザ、プロクター、エンド、ギャンブル、カンパニー 非水性バインダーを含有する界面活性剤ペーストからの高密度洗剤組成物の製法
GB2317393A (en) * 1996-09-24 1998-03-25 Procter & Gamble Detergent compositions
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AU6269199A (en) 2000-04-17
WO2000018877A1 (fr) 2000-04-06
CA2344535A1 (fr) 2000-04-06
ATE456647T1 (de) 2010-02-15
AR022097A1 (es) 2002-09-04
JP2003522214A (ja) 2003-07-22
DE69941983D1 (de) 2010-03-18

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