EP1592766B1 - Method for reinforcing cleaning power of washing agents by means of a combination of cellulose derivatives - Google Patents

Abstract

A combination of a specific non-ionic soil release-capable cellulose derivative and carboxymethylcellulose, which improves stain-removing power in textiles of non-ionic cellulose derivatives.

Description

The present patent application relates to enhancing the cleaning performance of laundry detergents by washing a combination of a particular nonionic soil release cellulose derivative and carboxymethylcellulose.

Detergents contain in addition to the indispensable for the washing process ingredients such as surfactants and builder materials usually further ingredients that can be summarized under the term washing aids and include as different drug groups such as foam regulators, grayness inhibitors, bleach, bleach activators and dye transfer inhibitors. Such adjuvants also include substances which impart soil repellency properties to the laundry fiber and, if present during the wash, aid the soil release properties of the remaining detergent ingredients. The same applies mutatis mutandis to cleaners for hard surfaces. Such soil release agents are often referred to as "soil release" agents or because of their ability to impart soil repellency to the treated surface, such as the fiber, as "soil repellents". For example, from the US patent US 4,136,038 the soil release ability of methyl cellulose is known. The European patent application EP 0 213 729 discloses the reduced redeposition when using detergents containing a combination of soap and nonionic surfactant with alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose. From the European patent application EP 0 213 730 Textile treatment agents are known which contain cationic surfactants and nonionic cellulose ethers with HLB values of 3.1 to 3.8. The US patent US 4,000,093 discloses laundry detergents containing from 0.1% to 3% by weight of alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose or alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose and from 5% to 50% by weight surfactant, wherein the surfactant component is in the Substantially consists of C ₁₀ - to C ₁₃ alkyl sulfate and up to 5 wt .-% C ₁₄ alkyl sulfate and less than 5 wt .-% alkyl sulfate having alkyl radicals of C ₁₅ and higher. The US patent US 4,174,305 discloses detergents containing from 0.1% to 3% by weight of alkyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose or alkyl hydroxyalkyl cellulose and from 5% to 50% by weight surfactant, wherein the surfactant component is substantially consists of C ₁₀ - to C ₁₂ -alkylbenzenesulfonate and less than 5 wt .-% alkylbenzenesulfonate having alkyl radicals of C ₁₃ and higher. The European patent application EP 0 634 481 relates to a detergent containing alkali metal percarbonate and one or more nonionic cellulose derivatives. The latter expressly disclose only hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose and methylcellulose and, in the examples, the methylhydroxyethylcellulose Tylose® MH50, the hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Methocel® F4M and hydroxybutylmethylcellulose. The European patent EP 0 271 312 (P & G) relates to soil release agents, among these cellulose alkyl ethers and cellulose hydroxyalkyl ethers (having DS 1.5 to 2.7 and molecular weights of 2,000 to 100,000) such as methylcellulose and ethylcellulose, with weight ratio of peroxygen bleach (based on the active oxygen content of the bleaching agent) of 10: 1 to 1:10 should be used. From the European patent EP 0 948 591 B1 For example, a detergent in liquid or granular form is known which imparts textile appearance benefits such as pilling / lint reduction, anti-color fading, improved abrasion resistance and / or enhanced softness to fabrics and textiles washed therewith, and from 1 to 80 weight percent surfactant, 1 to 80% by weight of organic or inorganic builder, 0.1 to 80% by weight of a hydrophobically modified nonionic cellulose ether having a molecular weight of 10,000 to 2,000,000, wherein the modification in the presence of optionally oligomerized (degree of oligomerization up to 20) Ethylenoxy- or 2-propyleneoxy-ether units and C _8-24 alkyl substituents and the alkyl substituents in amounts of 0.1-5 wt .-%, based on the cellulose ether material must be present. EP-A-286342 discloses mild detergents containing a combination of carboxymethyl cellulose and alkylhydroxyalkylene cellulose. US-A-3529088 discloses detergents containing carboxymethycellulose and hydroxypropylcellulose.

Because of their chemical similarity to polyester fibers in textiles made of this material particularly effective soil release agents are copolyesters, the dicarboxylic acid units, alkylene glycol units and polyalkylene glycol units contain. Dirt-releasing copolyesters of the type mentioned as well as their use in detergents have been known for a long time.

For example, the German Offenlegungsschrift describes DT 1617 141 a washing process using polyethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene glycol copolymers. The German patent application DT 22 00 911 relates to detergents containing nonionic surfactant and a copolymer of polyoxyethylene glycol and polyethylene terephthalate. In the German Offenlegungsschrift DT 22 53 063 are called acidic textile finishing agents containing a copolymer of a dibasic carboxylic acid and an alkylene or cycloalkylene polyglycol and optionally an alkylene or cycloalkylene glycol. Polymers of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate in which the polyethylene glycol units have molecular weights of 750 to 5,000 and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate is 50:50 to 90:10, and their use in detergents are disclosed in the German Patent DE 28 57 292 described. Polymers having a molecular weight of 15,000 to 50,000 of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate, wherein the polyethylene glycol units have molecular weights of 1000 to 10,000 and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate is 2: 1 to 6: 1, can according to the German Offenlegungsschrift DE 33 24 258 be used in detergents. The European patent EP 066 944 relates to textile treatment compositions containing a copolyester of ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, aromatic dicarboxylic acid and sulfonated aromatic dicarboxylic acid in certain molar ratios. From the European patent EP 185 427 For example, methyl or ethyl group-end capped polyesters having ethylene and / or propylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate units and detergents containing such soil release polymer are known. The European patent EP 241 984 relates to a polyester which in addition to oxyethylene groups and terephthalic acid units also contains substituted ethylene units and glycerol units. From the European patent EP 241 985 are known polyester containing in addition to oxyethylene groups and terephthalic acid units 1,2-propylene, 1,2-butylene and / or 3-methoxy-1,2-propylene and glycerol units and endgruppenverschlossen with C ₁ - to C ₄ alkyl groups are. The European patent EP 253 567 relates to soil release polymers having a molecular weight of 900 to 9000 of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate, wherein the polyethylene glycol units have molecular weights of 300 to 3,000 and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate is 0.6 to 0.95. From the European patent application EP 272 033 are at least partially by C _1-4 alkyl or acyl radicals end-capped polyester with poly-propylene terephthalate and polyoxyethylene terephthalate units known. The European patent EP 274 907 describes sulfoethyl end-capped terephthalate-containing soil release polyesters. In the European patent application EP 357,280 are prepared by sulfonation of unsaturated end groups soil release polyester with terephthalate, alkylene glycol and poly-C _2-4 glycol units. The German patent application DE 26 55 551 describes the reaction of such polyesters with isocyanate group-containing polymers and the use of the polymers thus prepared against the repulping of dirt during the washing of synthetic fibers. From the German patent DE 28 46 984 Detergents are known which contain, as a soil-removing-capable polymer, a reaction product of a polyester having a terminal isocyanate group-containing prepolymer obtained from a diisocyanate and a hydrophilic nonionic macrodiol.

The majority of known from this extensive prior art polymers has the disadvantage that they have no or only insufficient effectiveness in textiles that do not or at least not predominantly made of polyester. However, much of today's textiles are made of cotton or cotton-polyester blend fabrics, so there is a need for soil release agents that are more effective at greasy soiling on such fabrics.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that the Schmutzablösvermögende effect of nonionic cellulose derivatives can be improved when used in combination with carboxymethylcellulose.

The invention therefore provides the use of a combination of soil release cellulose derivative, which is obtainable by alkylation and hydroxyalkylation of cellulose, and in the averaged 0.5 to 2.5, especially 1 to 2 alkyl groups and 0.02 to 0.5, in particular 0.05 to 0.3 hydroxyalkyl groups per anhydroglycoside monomer unit, and carboxymethylated cellulose in a weight ratio in the range of 1: 1.6 to 1: 5, for enhancing the cleaning performance of detergents in the washing of textiles.

When referring to the cellulose derivative hereinafter, it is always meant the soil release-modulating cellulose derivative obtainable by alkylation and hydroxyalkylation of cellulose. For distinction, carboxymethylcellulose (although also a derivative of cellulose) is mentioned under this name or under "carboxymethylated cellulose".

Particularly pronounced is the washing performance-enhancing effect of the present invention to be used combination of the mentioned soil release wealthy cellulose derivative and carboxymethylated cellulose with multiple applications, that is, in particular for removal of soiling of corresponding textiles already washed in the presence of the cellulose derivative, optionally in the simultaneous presence of the carboxymethylated cellulose and / or post-treated before being soiled. In connection with the aftertreatment is to be noted that the positive aspect referred to can also be realized if the textile after the actual washing process, which may also have been carried out in this case with the aid of a detergent without a named cellulose derivative, with an aftertreatment agent, for example in the context of a fabric softening step, which contains a combination to be used according to the invention, is brought into contact. In this procedure, too, the washing performance enhancing effect of the combination to be used according to the invention occurs in the next washing process, even if no detergent is used again with a cited cellulose derivative.

Preferred soil release-capable cellulose derivatives are those which are alkylated with C ₁ to C ₁₀ groups, in particular C ₁ to C ₃ groups, and additionally carry C ₂ to C ₁₀ hydroxyalkyl groups, in particular C ₂ to C ₃ hydroxyalkyl groups , These can be obtained in known manner by reaction of cellulose with appropriate alkylating agents, for example alkyl halides or alkyl sulfates, and subsequent reaction with corresponding alkylene oxides, such as, for example, ethylene oxide and / or propylene oxide. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mean of 0.5 to 2.5, in particular 1 to 2, alkyl groups and 0.02 to 0.5, in particular 0.05 to 0.3, hydroxyalkyl groups per anhydroglycosemonomer unit are contained in the cellulose derivative. The middle The molar mass of the cellulose derivatives used according to the invention is preferably in the range from 10,000 D to 150,000 D, in particular from 40,000 D to 120,000 D and particularly preferably in the range from 80,000 D to 110,000 D. The determination of the degree of polymerization or of the molecular weight of the soil release agent Cellulose derivative is based on the determination of the intrinsic viscosity of sufficiently dilute aqueous solutions by means of a Ubbelohde capillary viscometer (capillary 0c). Using a constant [ H. Staudinger and F. Reinecke, "On Molecular Weight Determination on Cellulose Ethers", Liebigs Annalen der Chemie 535, 47 (1938 )] and a correction factor [ F. Rodriguez and LAGoettler, "The Flow of Moderately Concentrated Polymer Solutions in Water," Transactions of the Society of Rheology VIII, 3, 17 (1964 )] can be calculated from the degree of polymerization and, taking into account the degrees of substitution (DS and MS), the corresponding molecular weight. The same applies mutatis mutandis to carboxymethylcellulose, which can be prepared in a known manner by reaction of, for example, chloroacetic acid with cellulose. In it are preferably 0.4 to 0.8, in particular 0.5 to 0.7 carboxymethyl groups per Anhydroglykosemonomereinheit included.

As described, the cellulose derivatives used according to the invention can be prepared in a simple manner and are ecologically and toxicologically harmless. They lead in combination with the likewise easily accessible and ecologically and toxicologically harmless carboxymethylcellulose to a significantly better detachment of particular grease and cosmetic stains on cotton or cotton-containing tissues than is the case when using compounds known for this purpose so far. Alternatively, significant amounts of surfactants can be saved while maintaining fat removal capability.

The use according to the invention can be carried out as part of a washing process by separately adding the cellulose derivative and carboxymethylcellulose to a detergent-containing liquor, or introducing the cellulose derivative and / or carboxymethylcellulose as a constituent of the detergent into the liquor, it being particularly preferred if both a certain amount of Cellulose as well as the carboxymethylcellulose is part of the detergent. A further subject of the invention is therefore a detergent, the soil release-capable cellulose derivative, which is obtainable by alkylation and hydroxyalkylation of cellulose, and contains carboxymethylated cellulose in a weight ratio in the range of 1: 1.6 to 1: 5, in particular 1: 1.8 to 1: 3. The use according to the invention in the context of a laundry aftertreatment process can be carried out in such a way that the cellulose derivative and / or carboxymethylcellulose is added separately to the rinse liquor or both or at least one of them is incorporated as part of the laundry aftertreatment agent, in particular a softener.

Detergents containing a combination to be used according to the invention may contain all the usual other constituents of such agents which do not undesirably interact with the constituents of the combination essential to the invention. Preferably, the cellulose derivative in amounts of from 0.1 wt .-% to 5 wt .-%, in particular 0.5 wt .-% to 2.5 wt .-% is incorporated in detergent.

Another aspect of the invention relates to enhancing the cleaning performance of detergents in the washing of textiles made of cotton or containing cotton.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the combination used according to the invention has a positive effect on the action of certain other detergent ingredients and, conversely, that the effect of the combination used according to the invention is enhanced by certain other detergent ingredients. These effects occur particularly in the case of enzymatic active compounds, in particular proteases and lipases, in water-insoluble inorganic builders, in water-soluble inorganic and organic builders, in particular based on oxidized carbohydrates, in peroxygen bleaching agents, in particular in alkali percarbonate and in synthetic anionic surfactants of the sulfate and sulfonate type, why the use of at least one of said further ingredient together with the combination to be used according to the invention is preferred.

In a preferred embodiment, such agent comprises nonionic surfactant selected from fatty alkyl polyglycosides, fatty alkyl polyalkoxylates, especially ethoxylates and / or propoxylates, fatty acid polyhydroxyamides and / or ethoxylation and / or Propoxylation of fatty alkylamines, vicinal diols, fatty acid alkyl esters and / or fatty acid amides and mixtures thereof, in particular in an amount in the range of 2 wt .-% to 25 wt .-%.

Another embodiment of such agents comprises the presence of sulfate and / or sulfonate synthetic anionic surfactant, in particular fatty alkyl sulfate, fatty alkyl ether sulfate, sulfo fatty acid ester and / or sulfo fatty acid salt, in particular in an amount in the range from 2% to 25% by weight. The anionic surfactant is preferably selected from the alkyl or alkenyl sulfates and / or the alkyl or alkenyl ether sulfates in which the alkyl or alkenyl group has 8 to 22, in particular 12 to 18, carbon atoms.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include the alkoxylates, in particular the ethoxylates and / or propoxylates of saturated or mono- to polyunsaturated linear or branched-chain alcohols having 10 to 22 C atoms, preferably 12 to 18 C atoms. The degree of alkoxylation of the alcohols is generally between 1 and 20, preferably between 3 and 10. They can be prepared in a known manner by reacting the corresponding alcohols with the corresponding alkylene oxides. Particularly suitable are the derivatives of fatty alcohols, although their branched-chain isomers, in particular so-called oxo alcohols, can be used for the preparation of usable alkoxylates. Useful are accordingly the alkoxylates, in particular the ethoxylates, primary alcohols with linear, in particular dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl or octadecyl radicals and mixtures thereof. In addition, suitable alkoxylation products of alkylamines, vicinal diols and carboxamides, which correspond to the said alcohols with respect to the alkyl part, usable. In addition, the ethylene oxide and / or propylene oxide insertion products of fatty acid alkyl esters, as described in the international patent application WO 90/13533 as well as fatty acid polyhydroxyamides, as prepared according to the methods of US Pat US 1,985,424 . US 2 016 962 and US 2,703,798 as well as the international patent application WO 92/06984 can be prepared. Suitable so-called alkyl polyglycosides for incorporation into the compositions according to the invention are compounds of the general formula (G) _n -OR ¹² in which R ^{12 is} an alkyl or Alkenyl radical having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, G is a glycose unit and n is a number between 1 and 10. Such compounds and their preparation are described, for example, in the European patent applications EP 92 355 . EP 301 298 . EP 357 969 and EP 362,671 or the US patent US 3,547,828 described. The glycoside component (G) _n are oligomers or polymers of naturally occurring aldose or ketose monomers, in particular glucose, mannose, fructose, galactose, talose, gulose, altrose, allose, idose, ribose, arabinose, Include xylose and lyxose. The oligomers consisting of such glycosidically linked monomers are characterized not only by the nature of the sugars contained in them by their number, the so-called Oligomerisierungsgrad. The degree of oligomerization n assumes as the value to be determined analytically generally broken numerical values; it is between 1 and 10, with the glycosides preferably used below a value of 1.5, in particular between 1.2 and 1.4. Preferred monomer building block is glucose because of its good availability. The alkyl or alkenyl moiety R ^{12 of} the glycosides preferably also originates from readily available derivatives of renewable raw materials, in particular from fatty alcohols, although their branched-chain isomers, in particular so-called oxoalcohols, can also be used for the preparation of useful glycosides. Accordingly, the primary alcohols having linear octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl or octadecyl radicals and mixtures thereof are particularly suitable. Particularly preferred alkyl glycosides contain a Kokosfettalkylrest, that is, mixtures having substantially R ¹² = dodecyl and R ¹² = tetradecyl.

Nonionic surfactant is included in compositions containing a combination used in the invention, preferably in amounts of 1 wt .-% to 30 wt .-%, in particular from 1 wt .-% to 25 wt .-%, with amounts in the upper part of this Area are more likely to be found in liquid detergents and particulate detergent preferably contain rather lower amounts of up to 5 wt .-%.

The compositions may instead or additionally contain further surfactants, preferably synthetic anionic surfactants of the sulfate or sulfonate type, such as, for example, alkylbenzenesulfonates, in amounts of preferably not more than 20% by weight, in particular from 0.1% by weight to 18% by weight. %, in each case based on total resources. As for use in Particularly suitable synthetic anionic surfactants of this kind are the alkyl and / or alkenyl sulfates having 8 to 22 C atoms which carry an alkali metal, ammonium or alkyl or hydroxyalkyl-substituted ammonium ion, as a counter cation. Preference is given to the derivatives of the fatty alcohols having in particular 12 to 18 carbon atoms and their branched-chain analogs, the so-called oxo alcohols. The alkyl and alkenyl sulfates can be prepared in a known manner by reaction of the corresponding alcohol component with a conventional sulfating reagent, in particular sulfur trioxide or chlorosulfonic acid, and subsequent neutralization with alkali metal, ammonium or alkyl or hydroxyalkyl-substituted ammonium bases. Such alkyl and / or alkenyl sulfates are in the compositions containing a urethane-based polymer according to the invention, preferably in amounts of 0.1 wt .-% to 15 wt .-%, in particular from 0.5 wt .-% to 10 wt .-% included.

Sulfur-type surfactants which can be used also include the sulfated alkoxylation products of the alcohols mentioned, known as ether sulfates. Such ether sulfates preferably contain from 2 to 30, in particular from 4 to 10, ethylene glycol groups per molecule. Suitable anionic surfactants of the sulfonate type include the α-sulfoesters obtainable by reaction of fatty acid esters with sulfur trioxide and subsequent neutralization, in particular those of fatty acids having 8 to 22 C atoms, preferably 12 to 18 C atoms, and linear alcohols having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, derivative sulfonation, as well as the formal saponification resulting from these sulfo fatty acids.

Other optional surface-active ingredients are soaps, suitable being saturated fatty acid soaps, such as the salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid or stearic acid, and soaps derived from natural fatty acid mixtures, for example coconut, palm kernel or tallow fatty acids. In particular, those soap mixtures are preferred which are composed of 50% to 100% by weight of saturated C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ fatty acid soaps and up to 50% by weight of oleic acid soap. Preferably, soap is included in amounts of from 0.1% to 5% by weight. However, especially in liquid compositions containing a polymer used according to the invention, higher amounts of soap, as a rule up to 20% by weight, can also be present.

If desired, the compositions may also contain betaines and / or cationic surfactants which, if present, are preferably used in amounts of from 0.5% to 7% by weight. Among them, the esterquats discussed below are particularly preferred.

In a further embodiment, an agent which contains a combination to be used according to the invention contains water-soluble and / or water-insoluble builders, in particular selected from alkali metal aluminosilicate, crystalline alkali metal silicate with modulus above 1, monomeric polycarboxylate, polymeric polycarboxylate and mixtures thereof, in particular in amounts in the range of From 2.5% to 60% by weight.

An agent which contains a combination to be used according to the invention preferably contains from 20% by weight to 55% by weight of water-soluble and / or water-insoluble, organic and / or inorganic builders. The water-soluble organic builder substances include, in particular, those from the class of the polycarboxylic acids, in particular citric acid and sugar acids, and also the polymeric (poly) carboxylic acids, in particular the polycarboxylates of the international patent application obtainable by oxidation of polysaccharides WO 93/16110 , polymeric acrylic acids, methacrylic acids, maleic acids and copolymers thereof, which may also contain small amounts of polymerizable substances copolymerized without carboxylic acid functionality. The molecular weight of the homopolymers of unsaturated carboxylic acids is generally between 5000 and 200,000, that of the copolymers between 2000 and 200,000, preferably 50,000 to 120,000, based on the free acid. A particularly preferred acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymer has a molecular weight of 50,000 to 100,000. Suitable, although less preferred, compounds of this class are copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic acid with vinyl ethers, such as vinylmethyl ethers, vinyl esters, ethylene, propylene and styrene, in which the acid content is at least 50% by weight. It is also possible to use as water-soluble organic builder substances terpolymers which contain two carboxylic acids and / or salts thereof as monomers and vinyl alcohol and / or a vinyl alcohol derivative or a carbohydrate as the third monomer. The first acidic monomer or its salt is derived from a monoethylenically unsaturated C ₃ -C ₈ -carboxylic acid and preferably from a C ₃ -C ₄ -monocarboxylic acid, in particular from (meth) acrylic acid.

The second acidic monomer or its salt can be a derivative of a C ₄ -C ₈ -dicarboxylic acid, with maleic acid being particularly preferred. The third monomeric unit is formed in this case of vinyl alcohol and / or preferably an esterified vinyl alcohol. In particular, preferred are vinyl alcohol derivatives which are an ester of short-chain carboxylic acids, for example C ₁ -C ₄ carboxylic acids, with vinyl alcohol. Preferred terpolymers contain 60 wt .-% to 95 wt .-%, in particular 70 wt .-% to 90 wt .-% of (meth) acrylic acid or (meth) acrylate, particularly preferably acrylic acid or acrylate, and maleic acid or Maleinate and 5 wt .-% to 40 wt .-%, preferably 10 wt .-% to 30 wt .-% of vinyl alcohol and / or vinyl acetate. Very particular preference is given to terpolymers in which the weight ratio of (meth) acrylic acid or (meth) acrylate to maleic acid or maleate is between 1: 1 and 4: 1, preferably between 2: 1 and 3: 1 and in particular 2: 1 and 2, 5: 1 lies. Both the amounts and the weight ratios are based on the acids. The second acidic monomer or its salt can also be a derivative of an allylsulfonic acid which is in the 2-position with an alkyl radical, preferably with a C ₁ -C ₄ -alkyl radical, or an aromatic radical which is preferably derived from benzene or benzene derivatives , is substituted. Preferred terpolymers contain from 40% by weight to 60% by weight, in particular from 45 to 55% by weight, of (meth) acrylic acid or (meth) acrylate, particularly preferably acrylic acid or acrylate, from 10% by weight to 30% by weight. %, preferably 15 wt .-% to 25 wt .-% methallylsulfonic acid or Methallylsulfonat and as the third monomer 15 wt .-% to 40 wt .-%, preferably 20 wt .-% to 40 wt .-% of a carbohydrate. This carbohydrate may be, for example, a mono-, di-, oligo- or polysaccharide, mono-, di- or oligosaccharides being preferred, sucrose being particularly preferred. The use of the third monomer presumably incorporates predetermined breaking points in the polymer which are responsible for the good biodegradability of the polymer. These terpolymers can be prepared in particular by processes described in the German patent DE 42 21 381 and the German patent application DE 43 00 772 are generally described, and generally have a molecular weight between 1000 and 200,000, preferably between 200 and 50,000 and in particular between 3000 and 10,000. They may, in particular for the preparation of liquid agents, in the form of aqueous solutions, preferably be used in the form of 30 to 50 weight percent aqueous solutions. All the polycarboxylic acids mentioned are generally used in the form of their water-soluble salts, in particular their alkali metal salts.

Such organic builder substances are preferably present in amounts of up to 40% by weight, in particular up to 25% by weight and particularly preferably from 1% by weight to 5% by weight. Quantities close to the stated upper limit are preferably used in pasty or liquid, in particular hydrous, agents.

Crystalline or amorphous alkali metal aluminosilicates, in amounts of up to 50% by weight, preferably not more than 40% by weight, and in liquid agents, in particular from 1% by weight to 5% by weight, are particularly suitable as water-insoluble, water-dispersible inorganic builder materials. used. Among these, the detergent-grade crystalline aluminosilicates, especially zeolite NaA and optionally NaX, are preferred. Amounts near the above upper limit are preferably used in solid, particulate agents. In particular, suitable aluminosilicates have no particles with a particle size greater than 30 mm and preferably consist of at least 80% by weight of particles having a size of less than 10 mm. Their calcium binding capacity, according to the information of the German Patent DE 24 12 837 can be determined ranges from 100 to 200 mg CaO per gram. Suitable substitutes or partial substitutes for the said aluminosilicate are crystalline alkali silicates which may be present alone or in a mixture with amorphous silicates. The alkali metal silicates useful as builders in the compositions preferably have a molar ratio of alkali metal oxide to SiO ₂ below 0.95, in particular from 1: 1.1 to 1:12, and may be present in amorphous or crystalline form. Preferred alkali metal silicates are the sodium silicates, in particular the amorphous sodium silicates, with a molar ratio of Na ₂ O: SiO ₂ of 1: 2 to 1: 2.8. Such amorphous alkali silicates are commercially available, for example, under the name Portil®. Those with a molar ratio Na ₂ O: SiO ₂ of 1: 1.9 to 1: 2.8 can be prepared by the process of European patent application EP 0 425 427 getting produced. They are preferably added in the course of the production as a solid and not in the form of a solution. The crystalline silicates which may be present alone or in admixture with amorphous silicates, are crystalline layer silicates with the general formula Na ₂ Si _x O _{2x + 1} · are used yH ₂ O, in which x, the so-called modulus, is from 1.9 to 4 and y is a number from 0 to 20 and preferred values for x are 2, 3 or 4. Crystalline layered silicates which fall under this general formula are described, for example, in the European patent application EP 0 164 514 described. Preferred crystalline phyllosilicates are those in which x in the abovementioned general formula assumes the values 2 or 3. In particular, both β- and δ-sodium disilicates (Na ₂ Si ₂ O ₅ .yH ₂ O) are preferred, whereby β-sodium disilicate can be obtained, for example, by the process described in International Patent Application WO 91/08171 is described. δ-Sodium silicates with a modulus between 1.9 and 3.2 can according to Japanese Patent Applications JP 04/238 809 or JP 04/260 610 getting produced. Also prepared from amorphous alkali metal silicates, practically anhydrous crystalline alkali metal silicates of the above general formula in which x is a number from 1.9 to 2.1, preparable as in the European patent applications EP 0 548 599 . EP 0 502 325 and EP 0 425 428 can be used in agents which contain a combination used according to the invention. In a further preferred embodiment of the compositions, a crystalline sodium layer silicate with a modulus of 2 to 3 is used, as it is by the process of European patent application EP 0 436 835 made from sand and soda. Crystalline sodium silicates with a modulus ranging from 1.9 to 3.5, as prepared by the methods of European patents EP 0 164 552 and / or the European patent application EP 0 294 753 are available are used in a further preferred embodiment of detergents or cleaning agents which contain a Kombiantion used in the invention. The content of alkali metal silicates is preferably 1 wt .-% to 50 wt .-% and in particular 5 wt .-% to 35 wt .-%, based on anhydrous active substance. If alkali metal aluminosilicate, in particular zeolite, is present as an additional builder substance, the content of alkali silicate is preferably 1% by weight to 15% by weight and in particular 2% by weight to 8% by weight, based on anhydrous active substance. The weight ratio of aluminosilicate to silicate, in each case based on anhydrous active substances, is then preferably 4: 1 to 10: 1. In agents containing both amorphous and crystalline alkali metal silicates, the weight ratio of amorphous alkali metal silicate to crystalline alkali metal silicate is preferably 1: 2 to 2: 1 and especially 1: 1 to 2: 1.

In addition to the aforementioned inorganic builder, other water-soluble or water-insoluble inorganic substances may be used in the compositions containing a combination to be used in the present invention. Suitable in this context are the alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates and alkali metal sulfates and mixtures thereof. Such additional inorganic material may be present in amounts up to 70% by weight.

In addition, the agents may contain other ingredients customary in detergents and cleaners. These optional ingredients include in particular enzymes, enzyme stabilizers, bleaches, bleach activators, complexing agents for heavy metals, for example aminopolycarboxylic acids, aminohydroxypolycarboxylic acids, polyphosphonic acids and / or aminopolyphosphonic acids, dye fixing agents, dye transfer inhibitors, for example polyvinylpyrrolidone or polyvinylpyridine N-oxide, foam inhibitors, for example organopolysiloxanes or paraffins, solvents , and optical brighteners, for example stilbene disulfonic acid derivatives. Preferably, in compositions which contain a combination used according to the invention, up to 1% by weight, in particular 0.01% by weight to 0.5% by weight, of optical brighteners, in particular compounds from the class of the substituted 4,4 ' -Bis (2,4,6-triamino-s-triazinyl) -stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acids, up to 5 wt .-%, in particular 0.1 wt .-% to 2 wt .-% complexing agent for Heavy metals, in particular Aminoalkylenphosphonsäuren and their salts, up to 3 wt .-%, in particular 0.5 wt .-% to 2 wt .-% grayness inhibitors and up to 2 wt .-%, in particular 0.1 wt .-% to 1 Wt .-% foam inhibitors, wherein said weight fractions refer to the total agent.

Solvents which are used in particular for liquid agents are, in addition to water, preferably those which are water-miscible. These include the lower alcohols, for example, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, and the isomeric butanols, glycerol, lower glycols, such as ethylene and propylene glycol, and the derivable from said classes of compounds ether. In such liquid agents, the cellulose derivatives used in the invention are usually dissolved or in suspended form.

Optionally present enzymes are preferably selected from the group comprising protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, hemicellulase, oxidase, peroxidase or mixtures thereof. First and foremost, proteases derived from microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi, come into question. It can be obtained in a known manner by fermentation processes from suitable microorganisms, for example, in the German Offenlegungsschriften DE 19 40 488 . DE 20 44 161 . DE 21 01 803 and DE 21 21 397 , the US patents US Pat. No. 3,623,957 and US 4,264,738 , the European patent application EP 006 638 as well as the international patent application WO 91/02792 are described. Proteases are commercially available, for example, under the names BLAP®, Savinase®, Esperase®, Maxatase®, Optimase®, Alcalase®, Durazym® or Maxapem®. The lipase which can be used can be obtained from Humicola lanuginosa, as for example in European patent applications EP 258,068 . EP 305 216 and EP 341 947 described from Bacillus species, such as in the international patent application WO 91/16422 or the European patent application EP 384 717 described, from Pseudomonas species, such as in the European patent applications EP 468 102 . EP 385 401 . EP 375 102 . EP 334 462 . EP 331 376 . EP 330 641 . EP 214,761 . EP 218 272 or EP 204 284 or the international patent application WO 90/10695 described, from Fusarium species, such as in the European patent application EP 130 064 described from Rhizopus species, such as in the European patent application EP 117 553 described or from Aspergillus species, such as in the European patent application EP 167,309 be described. Suitable lipases are commercially available, for example, under the names Lipolase®, Lipozym®, Lipomax®, Lipex®, Amano® lipase, Toyo-Jozo® lipase, Meito® lipase and Diosynth® lipase. Suitable amylases are commercially available, for example, under the names Maxamyl®, Termamyl®, Duramyl® and Purafect® OxAm. The usable cellulase may be a recoverable from bacteria or fungi enzyme, which has a pH optimum, preferably in the weakly acidic to slightly alkaline range of 6 to 9.5. Cellulases of this type are known, for example, from German Offenlegungsschriften DE 31 17 250 . DE 32 07 825 . DE 32 07 847 . DE 33 22 950 or the European patent applications EP 265 832 . EP 269 977 . EP 270 974 . EP 273 125 such as EP 339,550 and international patent applications WO 95/02675 and WO 97/14804 known and under the name Celluzyme®, Carezyme® and Ecostone® commercially available.

Among the usual, optionally present in liquid detergents usual enzyme stabilizers include amino alcohols, such as mono-, di-, triethanol- and -propanolamine and mixtures thereof, lower carboxylic acids, such as from the European patent applications EP 376,705 and EP 378,261 Boric acid or alkali borates, boric acid-carboxylic acid combinations, such as from the European patent application EP 451 921 known, boric acid esters, such as from the international patent application WO 93/11215 or the European patent application EP 511 456 known boronic acid derivatives, such as from the European patent application EP 583 536 known, calcium salts, for example from the European patent EP 28,865 known Ca-formic acid combination, magnesium salts, such as from the European patent application EP 378 262 known, and / or sulfur-containing reducing agents, such as from the European patent applications EP 080 748 or EP 080 223 known.

Suitable foam inhibitors include long-chain soaps, especially behenic soap, fatty acid amides, paraffins, waxes, microcrystalline waxes, organopolysiloxanes and mixtures thereof, which moreover can contain microfine, optionally silanated or otherwise hydrophobicized silica. For use in particulate agents, such foam inhibitors are preferably bound to granular, water-soluble carrier substances, as for example in the German Offenlegungsschrift DE 34 36 194 , the European patent applications EP 262 588 . EP 301 414 . EP 309 931 or the European patent specification EP 150 386 described.

A further embodiment of such an agent which contains a cellulose derivative to be used according to the invention comprises peroxygen-based bleaches, in particular in amounts ranging from 5% to 70% by weight, and optionally bleach activator, in particular in amounts in the range of 2% by weight % to 10% by weight. These bleaches which are suitable are the per compounds generally used in detergents, such as hydrogen peroxide, perborate, which may be in the form of a tetra- or monohydrate, percarbonate, perpyrophosphate and persilicate, which are generally present as alkali metal salts, in particular as sodium salts. Such bleaches are in detergents containing a cellulose derivative used in the invention, preferably in amounts of up to 25 wt .-%, in particular up to 15 wt .-% and particularly preferably from 5 wt .-% to 15 wt .-%, each based on the total Agent, present, in particular percarbonate is used. The optionally present component of the bleach activators comprises the commonly used N- or O-acyl compounds, for example polyacylated alkylenediamines, in particular tetraacetylethylenediamine, acylated glycolurils, in particular tetraacetylglycoluril, N-acylated hydantoins, hydrazides, triazoles, urazoles, diketopiperazines, sulphurylamides and cyanurates, and also carboxylic acid anhydrides , in particular phthalic anhydride, carboxylic acid esters, in particular sodium isononanoylphenolsulfonat, and acylated sugar derivatives, in particular pentaacetylglucose, as well as cationic nitrile derivatives such as trimethylammoniumacetonitrile salts. The bleach activators may have been coated or granulated in a known manner with coating substances in order to avoid the interaction with the per compounds, with the aid of carboxymethylcellulose granulated tetraacetylethylenediamine having average particle sizes of 0.01 mm to 0.8 mm, as for example according to the in the European patent specification EP 37 026 granulated 1,5-diacetyl-2,4-dioxohexahydro-1,3,5-triazine, as described in the German Patent DD 255 884 can be prepared, and / or according to those in the international patent applications WO 00/50553 . WO 00/50556 . WO 02/12425 . WO 02/12426 or WO 02/26927 Particularly preferred is the trialkylammonium acetonitrile formulated in particulate form. Such bleach activators are preferably contained in detergents in amounts of up to 8% by weight, in particular from 2% by weight to 6% by weight, based in each case on the total agent.

It is also possible to use the said combination in addition with a polyester-active soil release polymer of a dicarboxylic acid and an optionally polymeric diol to enhance the cleaning performance of detergents in the washing of textiles.

To the well-known polyester-active schmutiablösenvermögenden polymers that can be used in addition to the invention essential cellulose derivative, Copolyesters of dicarboxylic acids, for example adipic acid, phthalic acid or terephthalic acid, diols, for example ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, and polydiols, for example polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol. Preferred soil release polymers include compounds which are formally accessible by esterification of two monomer parts, the first monomer being a Dicarboxylic acid HOOC-Ph-COOH and the second monomer is a diol HO- (CHR ¹¹ -) _a OH, which may also be present as a polymeric diol H- (O- (CHR ₁₁ -) _a ) _b OH. Therein, Ph is an o-, m- or p-phenylene radical which can carry 1 to 4 substituents selected from alkyl radicals having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, sulfonic acid groups, carboxyl groups and mixtures thereof, R ¹¹ hydrogen an alkyl radical having 1 to 22 C atoms and mixtures thereof, a is a number from 2 to 6 and b is a number from 1 to 300. Preferably, in the polyesters obtainable from these, both monomer diol units -O- (CHR ₁₁ -) _a O- and also Polymerdioleinheiten - (O - (CHR ¹¹ -) _a ) _b O- before. The molar ratio of monomer diol units to polymer diol units is preferably 100: 1 to 1: 100, in particular 10: 1 to 1:10. In the polymer diol units, the degree of polymerization b is preferably in the range of 4 to 200, especially 12 to 140. The molecular weight or the average molecular weight or the maximum molecular weight distribution of preferred soil release polyester is in the range of 250 to 100,000, especially 500 to 50,000 The acid underlying the remainder Ph is preferably selected from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, trimellitic acid, mellitic acid, the isomers of sulfophthalic acid, sulfoisophthalic acid and sulfoterephthalic acid and mixtures thereof. If their acid groups are not part of the ester bonds in the polymer, they are preferably in salt form, in particular as alkali or ammonium salt. Among these, the sodium and potassium salts are particularly preferable. If desired, in place of the monomer HOOC-Ph-COOH small proportions, in particular not more than 10 mol% based on the proportion of Ph having the meaning given above, of other acids having at least two carboxyl groups may be included in the soil release-capable polyester. These include, for example, alkylene and alkenylene dicarboxylic acids such as malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid and sebacic acid. The preferred diols HO- (CHR ¹¹ -) _a OH include those in which R ^{11 is} hydrogen and a is a Number from 2 to 6, and those in which a has the value 2 and R ^{11 is selected} from hydrogen and the alkyl radicals having 1 to 10, in particular 1 to 3 C-atoms. Among the latter diols, those of the formula HO-CH ₂ -CHR ¹¹ -OH in which R ^{11 has} the abovementioned meaning are particularly preferred. Examples of diol components are ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1, 2-dodecanediol and neopentyl glycol. Particularly preferred among the polymeric diols is polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 6000.

If desired, the polyesters synthesized as described above may also be end-capped, alkyl groups having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms and esters of monocarboxylic acids being suitable as end groups. The ester groups bound by end groups alkyl, alkenyl and Arylmonocarbonsäuren with 5 to 32 carbon atoms, in particular 5 to 18 carbon atoms, based. These include valeric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, undecanoic acid, undecenoic acid, lauric acid, lauroleinic acid, tridecanoic acid, myristic acid, myristoleic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, petroselinic acid, petroselaidic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolaidic acid, linolenic acid, levostearic acid, arachidic acid , Gadoleic acid, arachidonic acid, behenic acid, erucic acid, brassidic acid, clupanodonic acid, lignoceric acid, cerotic acid, melissic acid, benzoic acid, which may carry 1 to 5 substituents having a total of up to 25 carbon atoms, in particular 1 to 12 carbon atoms, for example tert-butylbenzoic acid , The end groups may also be based on hydroxymonocarboxylic acids having 5 to 22 carbon atoms, which include, for example, hydroxyvaleric acid, hydroxycaproic acid, ricinoleic acid, their hydrogenation product hydroxystearic acid, and o-, m- and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The hydroxymonocarboxylic acids may in turn be linked to one another via their hydroxyl group and their carboxyl group and thus be present several times in an end group. Preferably, the number of hydroxymonocarboxylic acid units per end group, that is to say their degree of oligomerization, is in the range from 1 to 50, in particular from 1 to 10. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, polymers of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate in which the polyethylene glycol units have molecular weights of 750 to 5000 and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate 50:50 to 90:10, used together with the invention essential combination.

The soil release polymers are preferably water-soluble, the term "water-soluble" being understood to mean a solubility of at least 0.01 g, preferably at least 0.1 g, of the polymer per liter of water at room temperature and pH 8. However, preferred polymers have a solubility of at least 1 g per liter, in particular at least 10 g per liter, under these conditions.

Preferred laundry aftertreatment agents, which may contain a cellulose derivative to be used according to the invention and / or can be used in the context of the inventive use, have a so-called ester quat, that is a quaternized ester of carboxylic acid and aminoalcohol, as the laundry-softening active substance. These are known substances that can be obtained by the relevant methods of preparative organic chemistry. In this connection, please refer to the international patent application WO 91/01295 referenced, after which triethanolamine partially esterified with fatty acids in the presence of hypophosphorous acid, air passes and then quaternized with dimethyl sulfate or ethylene oxide. From the German patent DE 43 08 794 moreover, a process for the preparation of solid ester quats is known in which the quaternization of triethanolamine esters is carried out in the presence of suitable dispersants, preferably fatty alcohols. Surveys on this topic are for example from R. Puchta et al. in Tens.Surf.Det., 30, 186 (1993 ) MBrock in Tens.Surf.Det. 30, 394 (1993 ) R. Lagerman et al. in J.Am.Oil.Chem.Soc., 71, 97 (1994 ) such as I.Shapiro in Cosm.Toil. 109, 77 (1994 ) published.

in der R¹CO für einen Acylrest mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, R² und R³ unabhängig voneinander für Wasserstoff oder R¹CO, R⁴ für einen Alkylrest mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen oder eine (CH₂CH₂O)_qH-Gruppe, m, n und p in Summe für 0 oder Zahlen von 1 bis 12, q für Zahlen von 1 bis 12 und X für ein ladungsausgleichendes Anion wie Halogenid, Alkylsulfat oder Alkylphosphat steht. Typische Beispiele für Esterquats, die im Sinne der Erfindung Verwendung finden können, sind Produkte auf Basis von Capronsäure, Caprylsäure, Caprinsäure, Laurinsäure, Myristinsäure, Palmitinsäure, Isostearinsäure, Stearinsäure, Ölsäure, Elaidinsäure, Arachinsäure, Behensäure und Erucasäure sowie deren technische Mischungen, wie sie beispielsweise bei der Druckspaltung natürlicher Fette und Öle anfallen. Vorzugsweise werden technische C_12/18-Kokosfettsäuren und insbesondere teilgehärtete C_16/18-Talgbeziehungsweise Palmfettsäuren sowie elaidinsäure-reiche C_16/18-Fettsäureschnitte eingesetzt. Zur Herstellung der quaternierten Ester können die Fettsäuren und das Triethanolamin in der Regel im molaren Verhältnis von 1,1 : 1 bis 3 : 1 eingesetzt werden. Im Hinblick auf die anwendungstechnischen Eigenschaften der Esterquats hat sich ein Einsatzverhältnis von 1,2 : 1 bis 2,2 : 1, vorzugsweise 1,5 : 1 bis 1,9 : 1 als besonders vorteilhaft erwiesen. Die bevorzugt eingesetzten Esterquats stellen technische Mischungen von Mono-, Di- und Triestern mit einem durchschnittlichen Veresterungsgrad von 1,5 bis 1,9 dar und leiten sich von technischer C_16/18- Talg- bzw. Palmfettsäure (Iodzahl 0 bis 40) ab. Quaternierte Fettsäuretriethanolaminestersalze der Formel (I), in der R¹CO für einen Acylrest mit 16 bis 18 Kohlenstoffatomen, R² für R¹CO, R³ für Wasserstoff, R⁴ für eine Methylgruppe, m, n und p für 0 und X für Methylsulfat steht, haben sich als besonders vorteilhaft erwiesen.Ester quats preferred in the compositions are quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts which follow formula (I),

in the R ¹ CO for an acyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ² and R ^{3 are} independently hydrogen or R ¹ CO, R ^{4 is} an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _q H Group, m, n and p in total are 0 or numbers from 1 to 12, q is numbers from 1 to 12 and X is a charge-balancing anion such as halide, alkyl sulfate or alkyl phosphate. Typical examples of esterquats which can be used in the context of the invention are products based on caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, isostearic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid and erucic acid and their technical mixtures, such as They occur, for example, in the pressure splitting of natural fats and oils. It is preferred to use technical C _12/18 coconut _fatty acids and in particular partially hydrogenated C _16/18 tallow or palm oil fatty acids and also elaidic acid-rich C _16/18 fatty acid cuts. To prepare the quaternized esters, the fatty acids and the triethanolamine can generally be used in a molar ratio of 1.1: 1 to 3: 1. In view of the performance properties of the esterquats, an employment ratio of 1.2: 1 to 2.2: 1, preferably 1.5: 1 to 1.9: 1 has proven to be particularly advantageous. The preferred esterquats used are technical mixtures of mono-, di- and triesters with an average degree of esterification of 1.5 to 1.9 and are derived from technical C _16/18 tallow or palm oil fatty acid (iodine value 0 to 40) , Quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts of the formula (I) in which R ^{1 is} CO for an acyl radical having 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R ^{2 is} R ¹ CO, R ^{3 is} hydrogen, R ^{4 is} a methyl group, m, n and p is 0 and X is Methyl sulfate is, have proven to be particularly advantageous.

in der R¹CQ für einen Acylrest mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, R² für Wasserstoff oder R¹CO, R⁴ und R⁵ unabhängig voneinander für Alkylreste mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen, m und n in Summe für 0 oder Zahlen von 1 bis 12 und X für ein ladungsausgleichendes Anion wie Halogenid, Alkylsulfat oder Alkylphosphat steht.In addition to the quaternized carboxylic acid triethanolamine ester salts, quaternized ester salts of carboxylic acids with diethanolalkylamines of the formula (II) are also suitable as esterquats.

in the R ¹ CQ for an acyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ^{2 is} hydrogen or R ^{1 is} CO, R ⁴ and R ^{5 are} independently alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m and n in total for 0 or numbers from 1 to 12 and X is a charge-balancing anion such as halide, alkyl sulfate or alkyl phosphate.

in der R¹CO für einen Acylrest mit 6 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen, R² für Wasserstoff oder R¹CO, R⁴, R⁶ und R⁷ unabhängig voneinander für Alkylreste mit 1 bis 4 Kohlenstoffatomen, m und n in Summe für 0 oder Zahlen von 1 bis 12 und X für ein ladungsausgleichendes Anion wie Halogenid, Alkylsulfat oder Alkylphosphat steht.Finally, the quaternized ester salts of carboxylic acids with 1,2-dihydroxypropyldialkylamines of the formula (III) should be mentioned as a further group of suitable esterquats.

in the R ¹ CO for an acyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ^{2 is} hydrogen or R ¹ CO, R ⁴ , R ⁶ and R ^{7 are} independently alkyl radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m and n in total for 0 or numbers from 1 to 12 and X is a charge-balancing anion such as halide, alkyl sulfate or alkyl phosphate.

With regard to the selection of the preferred fatty acids and the optimal degree of esterification, the exemplary statements given for (I) apply mutatis mutandis to the esterquats of the formulas (II) and (III). Typically, the esterquats are marketed in the form of 50 to 90 weight percent alcoholic solutions, which can also be easily diluted with water, with ethanol, propanol and isopropanol being the usual alcoholic solvents.

Esterquats are preferably used in amounts of from 5% by weight to 25% by weight, in particular from 8% by weight to 20% by weight, in each case based on the total laundry aftertreatment agent. If desired, the laundry aftertreatment agents used in the present invention may additionally contain detergent ingredients listed above, unless they unduly interact negatively with the esterquat. It is preferably a liquid, water-containing agent.

In a preferred embodiment, an agent into which the invention according to incorporating combination, particulate and contains 20 wt .-% to 55 wt .-% inorganic builder, up to 10 wt .-%, in particular 2 wt .-% to 8 wt .-% of water-soluble organic builder, 10 wt. % to 25% by weight of synthetic anionic surfactant, 1% to 5% by weight of nonionic surfactant, up to 25% by weight, in particular 5% by weight to 20% by weight of bleaching agent, in particular alkali percarbonate, to from 15% by weight, in particular from 1% by weight to 10% by weight, of bleach activator and up to 25% by weight, in particular from 0.1% by weight to 25% by weight, of inorganic salts, in particular alkali carbonate and / or or bicarbonate.

In a further preferred embodiment, an agent into which the combination to be used according to the invention is incorporated is liquid and contains 10% by weight to 25% by weight, in particular 12% by weight to 22.5% by weight, of nonionic surfactant , 2 wt .-% to 10 wt .-%, in particular 2.5 wt .-% to 8 wt .-% synthetic anionic surfactant, 3 wt .-% to 15 wt .-%, in particular 4.5 wt .-% to 12.5 wt .-% soap, 0.5 wt .-% to 5 wt .-%, in particular 1 wt .-% to 4 wt .-% organic builder, in particular polycarboxylate such as citrate, up to 1.5 wt .-%, in particular 0.1 wt .-% to 1 wt .-% complexing agent for heavy metals, such as phosphonate, and optionally enzyme, enzyme stabilizer, color and / or fragrance and water and / or water-miscible solvent.

Solid agents are preferably prepared by mixing a particulate containing soil release cellulose derivative and carboxymethyl cellulose with other detergent ingredients present in solid form. In this case, it is preferable to use a spray-drying step to produce the particle which contains the soil release-capable cellulose derivative. Alternatively, it is also possible to use a compacting compounding step for producing this particle and optionally also for producing the finished product.

Claims (13)

1. Use of a combination of soil release-capable cellulose derivative which is obtainable by alkylation and hydroxyalkylation of cellulose and which contains on average from 0.5 to 2.5, in particular from 1 to 2 alkyl groups, and from 0.02 to 0.5, in particular from 0.05 to 0.3, hydroxyalkyl group per anhydroglycose monomer unit and carboxymethylated cellulose, in a weight ratio in the range from 1:1.6 to 1:5, for enhancing the cleaning performance of laundry detergents in the washing of textiles.
2. Use of a combination of soil release-capable cellulose derivative which is obtainable by alkylation and hydroxyalkylation of cellulose and which contains on average from 0.5 to 2.5, in particular from 1 to 2 alkyl groups, and from 0.02 to 0.5, in particular from 0.05 to 0.3, hydroxyalkyl group per anhydroglycose monomer unit and carboxymethylated cellulose, in a weight ratio in the range from 1:1.6 to 1:5, for increasing the graying inhibition of laundry detergents in the washing of textiles.
3. Use of a combination of soil release-capable cellulose derivative which is obtainable by alkylation and hydroxyalkylation of cellulose and which contains on average from 0.5 to 2.5, in particular from 1 to 2 alkyl groups, and from 0.02 to 0.5, in particular from 0.05 to 0.3, hydroxyalkyl group per anhydroglycose monomer unit and carboxymethylated cellulose, in a weight ratio in the range from 1:1.6 to 1:5, for enhancing the cleaning performance of laundry detergents in the washing of textiles which have already been washed and/or aftertreated in the presence of the soil release-capable cellulose derivative and optionally of the carboxymethylated cellulose before they have been soiled.
4. Use according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the textiles consist of cotton or comprise cotton.
5. Use of a combination of soil release-capable cellulose derivative which is obtainable by alkylation and hydroxyalkylation of cellulose, and carboxymethylated cellulose and also a polyester-active soil release-capable polymer composed of a dicarboxylic acid and an optionally polymer diol for enhancing the cleaning performance of laundry detergents in the washing of textiles.
6. Use according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the soil release-capable cellulose derivative has been alkylated with C₁ to C₁₀ groups, in particular C₁ to C₃ groups, and additionally bears C₂ to C₁₀ hydroxyalkyl groups, in particular C₂ to C₃ hydroxyalkyl groups.
7. Use according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the soil release-capable cellulose derivative contains on average from 1 to 2, alkyl groups, and from 0.05 to 0.3, hydroxyalkyl group per anhydroglycose monomer unit.
8. Use according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the mean molar mass of the soil release-capable cellulose derivative is in the range from 10 000 D to 150 000 D.
9. Use according to Claim 8, characterized in that the mean molar mass of the soil release-capable cellulose derivative is in the range from 40 000 D to 120 000 D, in particular from 80 000 D to 110 000 D.
10. Use according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the carboxymethylated cellulose contains from 0.4 to 0.8, in particular from 0.5 to 0.7, carboxymethyl group per anhydroglycose monomer unit.
11. Laundry detergent composition comprising a soil release-capable cellulose derivative which is obtainable by alkylation and hydroxyalkylation of cellulose and in which on average from 0.5 to 2.5, in particular from 1 to 2 alkyl groups, and from 0.02 to 0.5, in particular from 0.05 to 0.3, hydroxyalkyl group per anhydroglycose monomer unit are present, and carboxymethylated cellulose in a weight ratio in the range from 1:1.6 to 1:5, in particular from 1:1.8 to 1:3.
12. Composition according to Claim 11, characterized in that it contains from 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight, in particular from 0.5% by weight to 1.5% by weight, of the soil release-capable cellulose derivative.
13. Process for producing solid compositions according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a particle which comprises soil release-capable cellulose derivative and carboxymethylcellulose is mixed with further laundry detergent ingredients present in solid form.