Classifications

• • 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 laundry detergent compositions giving especial benefits in the laundering of white fabrics.
• the compositions of the invention have been found to give improved maintenance of colour fidelity, especially of white and light-coloured fabrics, during the wash.
• the water supply contains a relatively high concentration of iron and this can lead to the discolouration (yellowing) of white and light-coloured fabrics on laundering due to the deposition of Fe(III) salts. This changes the appearance and shortens the useful life of the articles.
• Magnesium glucoheptonate as a laundry detergent ingredient is disclosed in GB 2 016 540A (Rhone-Poulenc) .
• Other documents disclosing glucoheptonate in laundry detergent compositions are GB 2 068 405A (Sandoz) and US 4 388 205 (Sandoz) .
• Peroxyacid bleach particles containing glucoheptonate are disclosed in WO 96 11252A (Eka Nobel AB) .
• the present invention provides a laundry detergent composition
• a laundry detergent composition comprising surfactant, builder, and optionally other non-bleach detergent ingredients, and also containing from 0.01 to 2.0 wt% of a compound of the formula I
• a further subject of the invention is a method of protecting new white or light-coloured textile fabrics from colour degradation on laundering, which comprises laundering the fabrics by hand or machine in a wash liquor containing a detergent composition as defined above.
• a further subject of the invention is the use of a polymer as defined above in a laundry detergent composition to protect new white or light-coloured textile fabrics from colour degradation on laundering.
• colour fidelity is used herein to include both the true colour of coloured fabrics and the whiteness of white fabrics.
• the benefits of the present invention are especially applicable to white or light-coloured fabrics where iron deposition will cause the greatest deterioration in appearance .
• compositions of the invention contain as an essential ingredient a low level of a glucoheptonate of the formula I given above, preferably sodium glucoheptonate.
• the glucoheptonate may suitably be present in the composition in the invention in an amount of from 0.01 to 1.0 wt%, preferably from 0.02 to 0.5 wt%, more preferably from 0.05 to 0.2 wt%.
• Glucoheptonate is effective at very low concentration levels in the composition. No additional benefit is seen at higher concentration levels, for example, above 2 wt%.
• the amount of glucoheptonate present is preferably below 0.5 wt%.
• composition of the invention also contains other conventional detergent ingredients.
• Essential ingredients are surfactants (detergent-active compounds) and detergency builders, and other conventional ingredients may optionally be present .
• Detergent compositions of the invention may suitably comprise from 5 to 60 wt% of one or more detergent surfactants and from 10 to 80 wt% of one or more detergency builders, as well as the preferred amounts of the polymeric sequestrant, and optionally other detergent ingredients to 100 wt%.
• compositions of the invention may be substantially free of bleaching ingredients.
• the detergent composition of the invention is preferably in particulate form. Especially preferred are powders and tablets. However, liquid compositions are also within the scope of the invention.
• the detergent compositions will contain, as essential ingredients, one or more detergent active compounds (surfactants) which may be chosen from soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent active compounds, and mixtures thereof.
• surfactants may be chosen from soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent active compounds, and mixtures thereof.
• surfactants may be chosen from soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent active compounds, and mixtures thereof.
• surfactants may be chosen from soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent active compounds, and mixtures thereof.
• suitable detergent active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Ber
• the preferred detergent active compounds that can be used are soaps and synthetic non-soap anionic and nonionic compounds .
• Anionic surfactants are well-known to those skilled in the art. Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C 8 -C ⁇ 5 ; primary and secondary alkylsulphates, particularly C 8 -C ⁇ 5 primary alkyl sulphates; alkyl ether sulphates; olefin sulphonates; alkyl xylene sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates.
• Sodium salts are generally preferred.
• Nonionic surfactants that may be used include the primary and secondary alcohol ethoxylates, especially the C 8 -C 2 o aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and more especially the C ⁇ 0 -C 15 primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
• Non-ethoxylated nonionic surfactants include alkylpolyglycosides, glycerol monoethers, and polyhydroxyamides (glucamide) .
• Cationic surfactants that may be used include quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula R ⁇ R 2 R 3 R 4 N + X " wherein the R groups are long or short hydrocarbyl chains, typically alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or ethoxylated alkyl groups, and X is a solubilising cation (for example, compounds in which Ri is a C 8 -C 22 alkyl group, preferably a C 8 -C ⁇ 0 or C ⁇ 2 -C ⁇ 4 alkyl group, R 2 is a methyl group, and R 3 and R 4 , which may be the same or different, are methyl or hydroxyethyl groups) ; and cationic esters (for example, choline esters) .
• R groups are long or short hydrocarbyl chains, typically alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or ethoxylated alkyl groups
• X is a solubilising cation
• Ri is a C 8 -C 22 al
• Ri represents a C 8 -C ⁇ 0 or C ⁇ 2 -C ⁇ 4 alkyl group
• R 2 and R 3 represent methyl groups
• R 4 presents a hydroxyethyl group.
• Amphoteric surfactants for example, amine oxides, and zwitterionic surfactants, for example, betaines, may also be present .
• the quantity of anionic surfactant is in the range of from 5 to 50% by weight of the total composition. More preferably, the quantity of anionic surfactant is in the range of from 8 to 35% by weight.
• Nonionic surfactant if present, is preferably used in an amount within the range of from 1 to 20% by weight.
• the total amount of surfactant present is preferably within the range of from 5 to 60 wt%.
• compositions may suitably contain from 10 to 80%, preferably from 15 to 70% by weight, of detergency builder. Preferably, the quantity of builder is in the range of from 15 to 50% by weight.
• the detergent compositions may contain as builder a crystalline aluminosilicate, preferably an alkali metal aluminosilicate, more preferably a sodium aluminosilicate (zeolite) .
• the zeolite used as a builder may be the commercially available zeolite A (zeolite 4A) now widely used in laundry detergent powders.
• the zeolite may be maximum aluminium zeolite P (zeolite MAP) as described and claimed in EP 384 070B (Unilever) , and commercially available as Doucil (Trade Mark) A24 from Crosfield Chemicals Ltd, UK.
• Zeolite MAP is defined as an alkali metal aluminosilicate of zeolite P type having a silicon to aluminium ratio not exceeding 1.33, preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.33, preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.20.
• zeolite MAP having a silicon to aluminium ratio not exceeding 1.07, more preferably about 1.00.
• the particle size of the zeolite is not critical. Zeolite A or zeolite MAP of any suitable particle size may be used.
• phosphate builders especially sodium tripolyphosphate . This may be used in combination with sodium orthophosphate, and/or sodium pyrophosphate .
• inorganic builders that may be present additionally or alternatively include sodium carbonate, layered silicate, amorphous aluminosilicates .
• Organic builders that may be present include polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates and acrylic/maleic copolymers; polyaspartates ; monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, glycerol mono-di- and trisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates , carboxy- methyloxymalonates, dipicolinates , hydroxyethyliminodiacetates, alkyl- and alkenylmalonates and succinates; and sulphonated fatty acid salts.
• polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates and acrylic/maleic copolymers
• polyaspartates monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxydisuccinates, glycerol mono-di- and trisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates , carboxy- methyloxymalonates, dipicolinates , hydroxyethylim
• Organic builders may be used in minor amounts as supplements to inorganic builders such as phosphates and zeolites.
• Especially preferred supplementary organic builders are citrates, suitably used in amounts of from 5 to 30 wt %, preferably from 10 to 25 wt %; and acrylic polymers, more especially acrylic/maleic copolymers, suitably used in amounts of from 0.5 to 15 wt %, preferably from 1 to 10 wt%.
• Builders, both inorganic and organic are preferably present in alkali metal salt, especially sodium salt, form.
• Detergent compositions according to the invention may also suitably contain a bleach system, although, as previously indicated, non-bleaching formulations are also within the scope of the invention.
• the bleach system is preferably based on peroxy bleach compounds, for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, capable of yielding hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution.
• Suitable peroxy bleach compounds include organic peroxides such as urea peroxide, and inorganic persalts such as the alkali metal perborates, percarbonates, perphosphates, persilicates and persulphates .
• Preferred inorganic persalts are sodium perborate monohydrate and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate .
• sodium percarbonate having a protective coating against destabilisation by moisture Sodium percarbonate having a protective coating comprising sodium metaborate and sodium silicate is disclosed in GB 2 123 044B (Kao) .
• the peroxy bleach compound is suitably present in an amount of from 5 to 35 wt%, preferably from 10 to 25 wt%.
• the peroxy bleach compound may be used in conjunction with a bleach activator (bleach precursor) to improve bleaching action at low wash temperatures.
• the bleach precursor is suitably present in an amount of from 1 to 8 wt%, preferably from 2 to 5 wt%.
• Preferred bleach precursors are peroxycarboxylic acid precursors, more especially peracetic acid precursors and peroxybenzoic acid precursors; and peroxycarbonic acid precursors.
• An especially preferred bleach precursor suitable for use in the present invention is N,N,N',N'- tetracetyl ethylenediamine (TAED) .
• TAED N,N,N',N'- tetracetyl ethylenediamine
• the novel quaternary ammonium and phosphonium bleach precursors disclosed in US 4 751 015 and US 4 818 426 (Lever Brothers Company) and EP 402 971A (Unilever) are also of great interest.
• Especially preferred are peroxycarbonic acid precursors, in particular cholyl-4-sulphophenyl carbonate.
• peroxybenzoic acid precursors in particular, N,N,N-trimethylammonium toluoyloxy benzene sulphonate; and the cationic bleach precursors disclosed in EP 284 292A and EP 303 520A (Kao) .
• a bleach stabiliser (heavy metal sequestrant) may also be present.
• Suitable bleach stabilisers include ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA) and the polyphosphonates such as Dequest (Trade Mark), EDTMP .
• the detergent compositions may also contain one or more enzymes. Suitable enzymes include the proteases, amylases, cellulases, oxidases, peroxidases and upases usable for incorporation in detergent compositions.
• Preferred proteolytic enzymes are catalytically active protein materials which degrade or alter protein types of stains when present as in fabric stains in a hydrolysis reaction. They may be of any suitable origin, such as vegetable, animal, bacterial or yeast origin.
• Proteolytic enzymes or proteases of various qualities and origins and having activity in various pH ranges of from 4-12 are available. Proteases of both high and low isoelectric point are suitable.
• enzymes that may suitably be present include lipases, amylases, and cellulases including high-activity cellulases such as "Carezyme”) .
• detergency enzymes are commonly employed in granular form in amounts of from about 0.1 to about 3.0 wt%. However, any suitable physical form of enzyme may be used in any effective amount.
• Antiredeposition agents for example cellulose esters and ethers, for example sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, may also be present .
• the compositions may also contain soil release polymers, for example sulphonated and unsulphonated PET/POET polymers, both end-capped and non-end-capped, and polyethylene glycol/polyvinyl alcohol graft copolymers such as Sokolan (Trade Mark) HP22.
• Especially preferred soil release polymers are the sulphonated non-end-capped polyesters described and claimed in WO 95 32997A (Rhodia Chimie) .
• ingredients that may be present include solvents, hydrotropes, fluorescers, photobleaches, foam boosters or foam controllers (antifoams) as appropriate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium silicate, sodium sulphate, calcium chloride, other inorganic salts, fabric conditioning compounds, and perfumes.
• compositions of the invention may be of any suitable physical form, for example, particulates (powders, granules, tablets) , liquids, pastes, gels or bars.
• the detergent composition is in particulate form.
• the glucoheptonate may be incorporated in particulate compositions in the form of granules containing an inert carrier material.
• Powders of low to moderate bulk density may be prepared by spray-drying a slurry, and optionally postdosing (dry- mixing) further ingredients, in which case the glucoheptonate may be either incorporated via the slurry or postdosed.
• "Concentrated” or “compact” powders may be prepared by mixing and granulating processes, for example, using a high-speed mixer/granulator, or other non-tower processes .
• Liquid detergent compositions may be prepared by admixing the essential and optional ingredients in any desired order to provide compositions containing the ingredients in the the requisite concentrations.
• EDTMP Ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate, Ca salt: Dequest (Trade Mark) 2047 ex Monsanto
• the sequestrants in the concentrations indicated below, were added to 1 litre of demineralised water containing iron (III) chloride in an amount sufficient to give a Fe(III) concentration of 10 ppm, in a tergotometer pot .
• the pH of the solution was adjusted to 9.5 ( ⁇ 0.1) by adding sodium hydroxide solution.
• Three 10x10 cm pieces (approximately 5 grams) of desized non-fluorescent white cotton cloth were added to provide a liquor to cloth ratio of 200:1.
• a tergotometer wash was then carried out at 30°C and 90 rpm for 30 minutes. The cloths were then rinsed in demineralised water and dried overnight. Reflectance values at 420nm were taken for the cloths before and after washing, and ⁇ R at 420nm calculated to give an indication of the amount of iron deposition onto the cloth.
• the ideal here is for a result as close as possible to zero, indicating no deposition of iron and no visible deterioration in appearance.
• concentrations for the sequestrants were chosen as follows :
• EDTMP is an excellent sequestrant but has come under some scrutiny on environmental grounds because of its phosphorus content.
• EDDS has been widely proposed as a zero-phosphorus replacement . It will be seen that sodium glucoheptonate provides a phosphorus-free alternative to EDTMP that is substantially superior to EDDS .

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Emergency Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Woven Fabrics (AREA)

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• 1999
  • 1999-12-21 GB GBGB9930236.6A patent/GB9930236D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2000
  • 2000-11-24 WO PCT/EP2000/011794 patent/WO2001046369A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-11-24 AT AT00989892T patent/ATE282684T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-11-24 BR BR0016580-8A patent/BR0016580A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-11-24 DE DE60016021T patent/DE60016021T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-24 AU AU26689/01A patent/AU2668901A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-11-24 ES ES00989892T patent/ES2228656T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-11-24 EP EP00989892A patent/EP1240296B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2002
  • 2002-06-06 ZA ZA200204543A patent/ZA200204543B/en unknown

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