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
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/06—Powder; Flakes; Free-flowing mixtures; Sheets
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/0004—Non aqueous liquid compositions comprising insoluble particles
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D17/00—Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
  • C11D17/0047—Detergents in the form of bars or tablets
  • C11D17/0065—Solid detergents containing builders
  • C11D17/0073—Tablets
  • C11D17/0086—Laundry tablets
• • 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
  • C11D3/2003—Alcohols; Phenols
  • C11D3/2041—Dihydric alcohols
  • C11D3/2044—Dihydric alcohols linear
• • 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
  • C11D3/2003—Alcohols; Phenols
  • C11D3/2041—Dihydric alcohols
  • C11D3/2051—Dihydric alcohols cyclic; polycyclic
• • 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
  • C11D3/37—Polymers
  • C11D3/3703—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • C11D3/3707—Polyethers, e.g. polyalkyleneoxides

Definitions

• the present invention relates to detergent compositions, especially liquid, granular and tablet forms of laundry detergent compositions, that comprise improved hydrotropes, wherein the hydrotropes are organic molecules in which two polar groups are separated from each other by at least 5 aliphatic carbon atoms; liquid compositions that contain such hydrotropes have a viscosity, dilution profile and dissolution behavior that render the product effective and convenient for use as a liquid laundry detergent composition.
• Liquid laundry detergent products offer a number of advantages over dry, powdered or particulate laundry detergent products.
• Liquid laundry detergent products are readily measurable, speedily dissolved in wash water, non-dusting, are capable of being easily applied in concentrated solutions or dispersions to soiled areas on garments to be laundered and usually occupy less storage space than granular products.
• liquid laundry detergents may have incorporated into their formulations materials which would deteriorate in the drying operations employed in the manufacture of particulate or granular laundry detergent products. Because liquid laundry detergents are usually considered to be more convenient to use than granular laundry detergents, they have found substantial favor with consumers.
• detergent compositions in tablet form by compacting a granular detergent composition.
• Such tablets offer the convenience to consumers of a pre-measured detergent dosage without the inconvenience and untidiness of measuring a sufficient amount of a granular detergent composition for each wash.
• Such products also offer considerable convenience to those consumers who launder the clothes outside or away from their residence (e.g. at a laundromat) because the consumer is required to transport only precisely as much laundry detergent as she or he needs for clothes laundering.
• Detergent compositions may be made in tablet form by compacting detergent particulates.
• Laundry detergent components which may be compatible with each other in granular and/or tablet products, may tend to interact or react with each other in a liquid, especially in an aqueous liquid environment.
• a disadvantage with conventional granular/powder detergent compositions has been relatively poor dissolution, dispersion and solubility performance.
• a disadvantage with conventional tablet detergent compositions has been the conflict between making the tablets sufficiently strong and durable to avoid breaking apart during manufacture, transportation and/or storage, while at the same time making the tablets in a manner such that the tablets rapidly disintegrate upon contact with wash water.
• hydrotropes such as aqueous or non-aqueous liquid laundry detergent compositions, granular/powder laundry detergent compositions and/or tablet laundry detergent compositions, provides 1) a liquid detergent product that has a viscosity, dilution profile and dissolution behavior that render the product useful and convenient as a liquid laundry detergent composition, and/or 2) a granular/powder detergent product having improved dispersion, dissolution and/or solubility performance with the need to reduce surfactant levels compared to granular/powder detergent products that lack such hydrotropes, and/or 3) a tablet detergent product, wherein the hydrotropes are useful as binding agents, having improved strength and durability properties with excellent disintegration and dissolution properties compared to tablet detergent products that lack such hydrotropes.
• liquid detergent products containing these hydrotropes demonstrate excellent cleaning performance, excellent compositional and physical stability and favorable product rheological behavior.
• These certain hydrotropes may be most generally classified as organic molecules in which two polar groups are separated from each other by at least 5 aliphatic carbon atoms.
• the liquid detergent products may be aqueous or non-aqueous.
• a nonaqueous liquid detergent comprising a hydrotrope having two polar groups separated from each other by at least 5 aliphatic carbon atoms as well as from about 49% to about 99.95% by weight of the composition of a surfactant-containing non-aqueous liquid phase and from about 1% to about 50% by weight of the composition of particulate material which is substantially insoluble in said liquid phase and which is selected from peroxygen bleaching agents, bleach activators, organic detergent builders, inorganic alkalinity sources and combinations thereof, is provided.
• the granular/powder detergent products containing these hydrotropes demonstrate improved dispersion, dissolution and/or solubility performance with the need to reduce surfactant levels compared to granular/powder detergent products that lack such hydrotropes.
• These hydrotropes may be most generally classified as an organic molecule which has a first polar group and a second polar group separated from each other by at least 5 aliphatic carbon atoms.
• the detergent tablets prepared according to the present invention comprise a hydrotrope ("binding agent") characterized in that the binding agent may be most generally classified as an organic molecule which has a first polar group and a second polar group separated from each other by at least 5 aliphatic carbon atoms.
• the tablet detergent products exhibit improved strength and durability properties with excellent disintegration and dissolution properties compared to tablet detergent products that lack such hydrotropes.
• Hydrootrope generally means a compound with the ability to increase the solubilities, preferably aqueous solubilities, of certain slightly soluble organic compounds, more preferably “hydrotrope” is defined as follows (see S.E. Friberg and M. Chiu, J. Dispersion Science and Technology, 9(5&6), pages 443 to 457, (1988-1989 )):
• hydrotropes described in this section are an essential component of the present detergent compositions.
• hydrotrope in which two polar groups are separated from each other by at least 5, preferably 6, aliphatic carbon atoms.
• suitable polar groups for inclusion in the hydrotrope include are hydroxyl and carboxyl ions.
• Particularly preferred hydrotropes are selected from the group consisting of:
• 1,4 Cyclo Hexane Di Methanol may be present in either its cis configuration, its trans configuration or a mixture of both configurations.
• the present invention comprises liquid laundry detergent compositions which are either aqueous or non-aqueous and which are suitable for use in an automatic washing machine or for pretreating stains and spots on textile or fabric articles prior to washing.
• the present liquid laundry detergent compositions may comprise solely a surfactant-rich liquid-phase or they may contain both a surfactant-rich liquid-phase and solid particulate phase which is suspended in the liquid phase.
• the surfactant-rich liquid-phase comprises the hydrotropes, and optionally organic diluents.
• hydrotropes of the present invention when incorporated into liquid products of the present invention, provide the key ingredient to prevent gelling and/or thickening of the liquid detergent compositions taught herein.
• the detergent compositions are non-aqueous, having a surfactant-rich non-aqueous liquid phase and having a solid particulate phase suspended in said liquid phase.
• the surfactant-containing, non-aqueous liquid phase will generally comprise from about 49% to 99.95% by weight of the detergent compositions herein. More preferably, this liquid phase is surfactant-structured and will comprise from about 52% to 98.9% by weight of the compositions. Most preferably, this non-aqueous liquid phase will comprise from about 55% to 70% by weight of the compositions herein.
• Such a surfactant-containing liquid phase will frequently have a density of from about 0.6 to 1.4 g/cc, more preferably from about 0.9 to 1.3 g/cc.
• hydrotropes described above prevent the formation of the viscous surfactant phases formed upon dilution, because the hydrotrope can effectively interact with the ordered, structured layers of surfactant molecules, disrupt them and promote the formation of isotropic low - viscosity surfactant phases.
• hydrotropes also provide other benefits for improving the rheology of liquid detergent compositions.
• Ethoxylated quatemized amine materials are described in greater detail below.
• the liquid phase of the liquid detergent compositions herein is preferably formed from hydrotropes, nonionic and anionic surfactants, and one or more organic diluents.
• Organic Diluents The major component of the liquid phase of the detergent compositions herein comprises one or more aqueous or non-aqueous organic diluents.
• the organic diluents used in this invention may be either surface active liquids, i.e., surfactants, or non-surfactant liquids referred to herein as solvents.
• solvents may be either surface active liquids, i.e., surfactants, or non-surfactant liquids referred to herein as solvents.
• solvent is used herein to connote the non-surfactant liquid portion of the compositions herein. While some of the essential and/or optional components of the compositions herein may actually dissolve in the "solvent"-containing liquid phase, other components will be present as particulate material dispersed within the "solvent"- containing liquid phase. Thus the term “solvent” is not meant to require that the solvent material be capable of actually dissolving all of the detergent composition components added thereto.
• the liquid diluent component will generally comprise from about 50% to 90%, more preferably from about 50% to 80%, most preferably from about 55% to 75%, of a structured, surfactant-containing liquid phase.
• the liquid phase of the compositions herein will comprise both liquid surfactants and non-surfactant solvents.
• Surfactant Liquids Suitable types of surfactant liquids which can be used to form the liquid phase of the compositions herein include the alkoxylated alcohols, ethylene oxide (EO)-propylene oxide (PO) block polymers, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, alkylpolysaccharides, and the like.
• Such normally liquid surfactants are those having an HLB ranging from 10 to 16.
• Most preferred of the surfactant liquids are the alcohol alkoxylate nonionic surfactants.
• Alcohol alkoxylates are materials which correspond to the general formula: R 1 (C m H 2m O) n OH wherein R 1 is a C 8 - C 16 alkyl group, m is from 2 to 4, and n ranges from about 2 to 12.
• R 1 is an alkyl group, which may be primary or secondary, that contains from about 9 to 15 carbon atoms, more preferably from about 10 to 14 carbon atoms.
• the alkoxylated fatty alcohols will be ethoxylated materials that contain from about 2 to 12 ethylene oxide moieties per molecule, more preferably from about 3 to 10 ethylene oxide moieties per molecule.
• the alkoxylated fatty alcohol materials useful in the liquid phase will frequently have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) which ranges from about 3 to 17. More preferably, the HLB of this material will range from about 6 to 15, most preferably from about 8 to 15.
• HLB hydrophilic-lipophilic balance
• fatty alcohol alkoxylates useful in or as the liquid phase of the compositions herein will include those which are made from alcohols of 12 to 15 carbon atoms and which contain about 7 moles of ethylene oxide. Such materials have been commercially marketed under the trade names Neodol 25-7 and Neodol 23-6.5 by Shell Chemical Company.
• Neodols include Neodol 1-5, an ethoxylated fatty alcohol averaging 11 carbon atoms in its alkyl chain with about 5 moles of ethylene oxide; Neodol 23-9, an ethoxylated primary C 12 - C 13 alcohol having about 9 moles of ethylene oxide and Neodol 91-10, an ethoxylated C 9 -C 11 primary alcohol having about 10 moles of ethylene oxide. Alcohol ethoxylates of this type have also been marketed by Shell Chemical Company under the Dobanol tradename.
• Dobanol 91-5 is an ethoxylated C 9 -C 11 fatty alcohol with an average of 5 moles ethylene oxide and Dobanol 25-7 is an ethoxylated C 12 -C 15 fatty alcohol with an average of 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of fatty alcohol.
• Suitable ethoxylated alcohols include Tergitol 15-S-7 and Tergitol 15-S-9 both of which are linear secondary alcohol ethoxylates that have been commercially marketed by Union Carbide Corporation.
• the former is a mixed ethoxylation product of C 11 to C 15 linear secondary alkanol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide and the latter is a similar product but with 9 moles of ethylene oxide being reacted.
• Alcohol ethoxylates useful in the present compositions are higher molecular weight nonionics, such as Neodol 45-11, which are similar ethylene oxide condensation products of higher fatty alcohols, with the higher fatty alcohol being of 14-15 carbon atoms and the number of ethylene oxide groups per mole being about 11. Such products have also been commercially marketed by Shell Chemical Company.
• alcohol alkoxylate nonionic surfactant is utilized as part of the liquid phase in the detergent compositions herein, it will preferably be present to the extent of from about 1% to 60% of the composition structured liquid phase. More preferably, the alcohol alkoxylate component will comprise about 5% to 40% of the structured liquid phase. Most preferably, an alcohol alkoxylate component will comprise from about 5% to 35% of the detergent composition structured liquid phase. Utilization of alcohol alkoxylate in these concentrations in the liquid phase corresponds to an alcohol alkoxylate concentration in the total composition of from about 1% to 60% by weight, more preferably from about 2% to 40% by weight, and most preferably from about 5% to 25% by weight, of the composition.
• EO-PO block polymers ethylene oxide (EO) - propylene oxide (PO) block polymers.
• Pluronic nonionic surfactants which have been marketed under the tradename Pluronic. These materials are formed by adding blocks of ethylene oxide moieties to the ends of polypropylene glycol chains to adjust the surface active properties of the resulting block polymers.
• EO-PO block polymer nonionics of this type are described in greater detail in Davidsohn and Milwidsky; Synthetic Detergents, 7th Ed.; Longman Scientific and Technical (1987) at pp. 34-36 and pp. 189-191 and in U.S. Patents 2,674,619 and 2,677,700 . All of these publications are incorporated herein by reference.
• Pluronic type nonionic surfactants are also believed to function as effective suspending agents for the particulate material which is dispersed in the liquid phase of the detergent compositions herein.
• surfactant liquid useful in the compositions herein comprises polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants.
• materials of this type of nonionic surfactant are those which conform to the formula: wherein R is a C 9-17 alkyl or alkenyl, p is from 1 to 6, and Z is glycityl derived from a reduced sugar or alkoxylated derivative thereof.
• Such materials include the C 12 -C 18 N-methyl glucamides. Examples are N-methyl N-1-deoxyglucityl cocoamide and N-methyl N-1-deoxyglucityl oleamide.
• Processes for making polyhydroxy fatty acid, amides are know and can be found, for example, in Wilson, U.S. Patent 2,965,576 and Schwartz, U.S.
• Patent 2,703,798 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• the materials themselves and their preparation are also described in greater detail in Honsa, U.S. Patent 5,174,937, Issued December 26, 1992 , which patent is also incorporated herein by reference.
• the detergent compositions of the present invention may also contain anionic, cationic, and/or amphoteric types.
• the liquid phase is prepared by combining the non-aqueous organic liquid diluents described in the present invention with a surfactant which is generally, but not necessarily, selected to add structure to the non-aqueous liquid phase of the detergent compositions herein.
• Structuring surfactants can be of the anionic, nonionic, cationic, and/or amphoteric types.
• the surfactants described below may be added for solely their surface-active attributes or for those attributes as well as their structuring ability.
• Preferred surfactants are the anionic surfactants such as the alkyl sulfates, the alkyl polyalkxylate sulfates and the linear alkyl benzene sulfonates.
• Another common type of anionic surfactant material which may be optionally added to the detergent compositions herein as structurant comprises carboxylate-type anionics.
• Carboxylate-type anionics include the C 10 -C 18 alkyl alkoxy carboxylates (especially the EO 1 to 5 ethoxycarboxylates) and the C 10 -C 18 sarcosinates, especially oleoyl sarcosinate.
• Structuring anionic surfactants will generally comprise from about 1% to 30% by weight of the compositions herein.
• one preferred type of structuring anionic surfactant comprises primary or secondary alkyl sulfate anionic surfactants.
• Such surfactants are those produced by the sulfation of higher C 8 -C 20 fatty alcohols.
• R is typically a linear C 8 - C 20 hydrocarbyl group, which may be straight chain or branched chain, and M is a water-solubilizing cation.
• R is typically a linear C 8 - C 20 hydrocarbyl group, which may be straight chain or branched chain, and M is a water-solubilizing cation.
• R is a C 10-14 alkyl, and M is alkali metal. Most preferably R is about C 12 and M is sodium.
• alkyl sulfates will generally comprise from about 1% to 30% by weight of the composition, more preferably from about 5% to 25% by weight of the composition.
• Non-aqueous liquid detergent compositions containing alkyl sulfates, peroxygen bleaching agents, and bleach activators are described in greater detail in Kong-Chan et al.; WO 96/10073 ; Published April 4, 1996, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
• alkyl polyalkoxylate sulfates are also known as alkoxylated alkyl sulfates or alkyl ether sulfates.
• Such materials are those which correspond to the formula R 2 -O-(C m H 2m O) n -SO 3 M wherein R 2 is a C 10 -C 22 alkyl group, m is from 2 to 4, n is from about 1 to 15, and M is a salt-forming cation.
• R 2 is a C 12 -C 18 alkyl, m is 2, n is from about 1 to 10, and M is sodium, potassium, ammonium, alkylammonium or alkanolammonium. Most preferably, R 2 is a C 12 -C 16 , m is 2, n is from about 1 to 6, and M is sodium. Ammonium, alkylammonium and alkanolammonium counterions are preferably avoided when used in the compositions herein because of incompatibility with peroxygen bleaching agents.
• alkyl polyalkoxylate sulfates can also generally comprise from about 1% to 30% by weight of the composition, more preferably from about 5% to 25% by weight of the composition.
• Non-aqueous liquid detergent compositions containing alkyl polyalkoxylate sulfates, in combination with polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, are described in greater detail in boutique et al; PCT Application No. PCT/US96/04223 , which application is incorporated herein by reference.
• anionic surfactant for use as a structurant in the compositions herein comprises the linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS) surfactants.
• LAS surfactants can be formulated into a specific type of anionic surfactant-containing powder which is especially useful for incorporation into the non-aqueous liquid detergent compositions of the present invention.
• Such a powder comprises two distinct phases. One of these phases is insoluble in the non-aqueous organic liquid diluents used in the compositions herein; the other phase is soluble in the non-aqueous organic liquids.
• this preferred anionic surfactant-containing powder which can be dispersed in the non-aqueous liquid phase of the preferred compositions herein and which forms a network of aggregated small particles that allows the final product to stablely suspend other additional solid particulate materials in the composition.
• the liquid surfactant can comprise from about 25% to 70% of the liquid phase of the compositions herein. More preferably, the liquid surfactant will comprise from about 30% to 65% of a structured liquid phase. This corresponds to a liquid surfactant concentration in the total composition of from about 10% to 70% by weight, more preferably from about 20% to 50% by weight, of the composition.
• the amount of total liquid surfactant in the preferred surfactant-structured, non-aqueous liquid phase herein is as described above and will be further determined by the type and amounts of other composition components and by the desired composition properties.
• Non-surfactant Organic Solvents may also comprise one or more non-surfactant organic solvents.
• non-surfactant liquids are preferably those of low polarity.
• low-polarity liquids are those which have little, if any, tendency to dissolve one of the preferred types of particulate material used in the compositions herein, i.e., the peroxygen bleaching agents, sodium perborate or sodium percarbonate.
• relatively polar solvents such as ethanol are preferably not utilized.
• Suitable types of low-polarity solvents useful in the liquid detergent compositions herein do include alkylene glycol mono lower alkyl ethers, lower molecular weight polyethylene glycols, lower molecular weight methyl esters and amides, and the like.
• a preferred type of low-polarity solvent for use in the compositions herein comprises the C 4 -C 8 branched or straight chain alkylene glycols.
• Materials of this type include hexylene glycol (4-methyl-2,4-pentanediol), 1,3-butylene glycol and 1,4-butylene glycol.
• Another preferred type of low-polarity solvent for use herein comprises the mono-, di-, tri-, or tetra- C 2 -C 3 alkylene glycol mono C 2 -C 6 alkyl ethers.
• the specific examples of such compounds include diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropolyene glycol monoethyl ether, and dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether.
• Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether and butoxy-propoxy-propanol (BPP) are especially preferred.
• Compounds of the type have been commercially marketed under the tradenames Dowanol, Carbitol, and Cellosolve.
• Another preferred type of low-polarity organic solvent useful herein comprises the lower molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEGs).
• PEGs polyethylene glycols
• Such materials are those having molecular weights of at least about 150.
• PEGs of molecular weight ranging from about 200 to 600 are most preferred.
• Yet another preferred type of non-polar solvent comprises lower molecular weight methyl esters.
• Such materials are those of the general formula: R 1 -C(O)-OCH 3 wherein R 1 ranges from 1 to about 18.
• suitable lower molecular weight methyl esters include methyl acetate, methyl propionate, methyl octanoate, and methyl dodecanoate.
• the generally low-polarity, non-surfactant organic solvent(s) employed should, of course, be compatible and non-reactive with other composition components, e.g., bleach and/or activators, used in the liquid detergent compositions herein.
• a solvent component is preferably utilized in an amount of from about 1% to 70% by weight of the liquid phase.
• a low-polarity, non-surfactant solvent will comprise from about 10% to 60% by weight of a structured liquid phase, most preferably from about 20% to 50% by weight, of a structured liquid phase of the composition.
• non-surfactant solvent in these concentrations in the liquid phase corresponds to a non-surfactant solvent concentration in the total composition of from about 1% to 50% by weight, more preferably from about 5% to 40% by weight, and most preferably from about 10% to 30% by weight, of the composition.
• a non-surfactant solvent concentration in the total composition of from about 1% to 50% by weight, more preferably from about 5% to 40% by weight, and most preferably from about 10% to 30% by weight, of the composition.
• the ratio of surfactant to non-surfactant liquids e.g., the ratio of alcohol alkoxylate to low polarity solvent
• the weight ratio of surfactant liquid to non-surfactant organic solvent will range about 50:1 to 1:50. More preferably, this ratio will range from about 3:1 to 1:3, most preferably from about 2:1 to 1:2.
• the liquid detergent compositions herein also preferably comprise from about 1% to 50% by weight, more preferably from about 29% to 44% by weight, of additional solid phase particulate material which is dispersed and suspended within the liquid phase.
• additional solid phase particulate material will range in size from about 0.1 to 1500 microns, more preferably from about 0.1 to 900 microns. Most preferably, such material will range in size from about 5 to 200 microns.
• the additional particulate material utilized herein can comprise one or more types of detergent composition components which in particulate form are substantially insoluble in the liquid phase of the composition.
• Such materials include peroxygen bleaching agents, bleach activators, organic detergent builders, inorganic alkalinity sources and combinations thereof.
• the types of particulate materials which can be utilized are described in detail, below, as follows, however, some materials can either be included in the particulate component or in the surfactant-containing liquid phase.
• the particulate material comprises the dye transfer inhibitor PVNO (see above for detailed description), an aluminosilicate detergent builder as well as other particulate minor components.
• alkalinity sources examples include water-soluble alkali metal carbonates, bicarbonates, borates, silicates and metasilicates.
• water-soluble phosphate salts may also be utilized as alkalinity sources. These include alkali metal pyrophosphates, orthophosphates, polyphosphates and phosphonates. Of all of these alkalinity sources, alkali metal carbonates such as sodium carbonate are the most preferred.
• the alkalinity source if in the form of a hydratable salt, may also serve as a desiccant in the liquid detergent compositions herein.
• the presence of an alkalinity source which is also a desiccant may provide benefits in terms of chemically stabilizing those composition components such as the peroxygen bleaching agent which may be susceptible to deactivation by water.
• the alkalinity source will generally comprise from about 1% to 25% by weight of the compositions herein. More preferably, the alkalinity source can comprise from about 2% to 15% by weight of the composition. Such materials, while water-soluble, will generally be insoluble in the non-aqueous detergent compositions described herein.
• the aqueous and non-aqueous liquid detergent compositions herein may be in the form of bleaching agent and/or other materials in particulate form as a solid phase suspended in and dispersed throughout a surfactant-containing, preferably structured, preferably non-aqueous liquid phase.
• a surfactant-containing, preferably structured, preferably non-aqueous liquid phase preferably structured, preferably non-aqueous liquid phase.
• the structured non-aqueous liquid phase will comprise from about 49% to 99.95%, more preferably from about 52% to 98.5%, by weight of the composition with the dispersed additional solid materials comprising from about 1% to 50%, more preferably from about 29% to 44%, by weight of the composition.
• the amount of free water should in no event exceed about 1% by weight of the compositions herein. More preferably, the water content of the non-aqueous detergent compositions herein will comprise less than about 1% by weight.
• compositions of this invention can also be used to form aqueous laundry detergent compositions. Additional components suitable for use in an aqueous liquid laundry detergent composition can be found in U. S. Pat. No. 5,783,548, to Fredj et al. and U. S. Pat. No. 5,648,327, to Smerznak et al.
• the particulate-containing non-aqueous liquid detergent compositions herein will be relatively viscous and phase stable under conditions of commercial marketing and use of such compositions. Frequently the viscosity of the compositions herein will range from about 300 to 8,000 cps, more preferably from about 1000 to 4,000 cps. For purposes of this invention, viscosity is measured with a Carrimed CSL2 Rheometer at a shear rate of 20 s -1 .
• non-aqueous liquid detergent compositions are discussed in detail in Copending application of Jay I. Kahn et al., entitled “Preparation of Nonaqueous, Particulate-Containing Liquid Detergent Compositions with Surfactant-Structured Liquid Phase", having P&G Case No. 6150, serial no. 09/202,964, filed on December 23, 1998 , which is hereby incorporated by reference.
• An effective amount of the liquid detergent compositions herein added to water to form aqueous laundering/bleaching solutions can comprise amounts sufficient to form from about 500 to 10,000 ppm of composition in aqueous solution. More preferably, from about 800 to 8,000 ppm of the detergent compositions herein will be provided in aqueous washing/bleaching solution.
• the granular/powder detergent products of the present invention comprise in addition to one or more of the hydrotropes, preferably one or more preferred ingredients hereinbelow and optionally, one or more conventional detergent adjunct materials.
• Such conventional adjunct materials can include one or more of the solid particulate materials described under the Liquid Products section hereinabove or under the Conventional Detergent Adjunct Materials section hereinafter.
• hydrotropes While the use of hydrotropes is to provide desirable phase formation and product viscosity is well-known, the use of these organic molecules as hydrotropes to prevent gelling and/or thickening of the detergent compositions taught herein and thus improve the dissolution and dispersion performance of a granular detergent product has not been previously disclosed. Gelling has been previously observed in detergent products prepared without the hydrotropes as defined in the present invention, when the products are first contacted and diluted with water.
• this gelling phenomenon results from the surfactant-containing particles forming either viscous surfactant phases (typically lamellar, spherulitic or hexagonal phases) or inner-connected "lump-gels" the upon contact with water in the wash-liquor or wash-water at certain concentrations of surfactant.
• viscous surfactant phases typically lamellar, spherulitic or hexagonal phases
• inner-connected "lump-gels" the upon contact with water in the wash-liquor or wash-water at certain concentrations of surfactant.
• the problem is particularly pronounced in those areas in which fabric laundering in automatic clothes washer occurs in relatively cold wash water or under mild agitation (such as in Japan).
• the typical surfactant-water phase diagram shows regions of stability for high-viscosity neat or gel surfactant phases at the relatively cold wash-water temperatures. And under conditions of mild agitation, there is insufficient mechanical energy imparted by the agitator to disrupt the formation of these high-viscosity phases.
• the granular detergent compositions taught herein can be either in the form of a single particle or may be in the form of multiple particles each with its own composition.
• the organic hydrotrope disclosed above be contained in or coat the surface of those particles which are surfactant rich.
• the anionic surfactants useful in the present invention are split into the alkyl sulfate surfactants which according to the present invention are separated from the electrolytes in the detergent composition and the remaining anionic surfactants which may be formulated in either particle.
• the alkyl sulfates are defined as alkyl sulfates, alkyl alkoxy sulfate, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl alkoxy carboxylate, alkyl alkoxylated sulfates with the remaining anionic surfactant being selected from the group consisting of alkylbenzene sulfonate, alpha olefin sulfonate, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl ester sulfonates, sarcosinates, taurinates, and mixtures thereof.
• anionic surfactant When present, anionic surfactant will be present typically in an effective amount in the overall detergent composition. More preferably, the composition may contain at least about 0.5%, more preferably at least about 5%, even more preferably still, at least about 10% by weight of said composition of anionic surfactant. The composition will also preferably contain no more than about 90%, more preferably no more than about 50%, even more preferably, no more than about 30% by weight of said composition of anionic surfactant.
• Alkyl sulfate surfactants providing excellent overall cleaning ability alone and particularly when used in combination with polyhydroxy fatty acid amides (see below), including good grease/oil cleaning over a wide range of temperatures, wash concentrations, and wash times, dissolution of alkyl sulfates can be obtained, as well as improved formulability in liquid detergent formulations are water soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO3M wherein R preferably is a C10-C24 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C10-C20 alkyl component, more preferably a C12-C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali (Group IA) metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium), substituted or unsubstituted ammonium cations such as methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations, e.g.
• C16-18 alkyl chains are preferred for higher wash temperatures (e.g., above about 50°C).
• alkyl sulfate surfactant is the secondary (2,3) alkyl sulfates.
• These surfactants preferably are of the formula: wherein x and (y + 1) are integers of at least about 7, preferably at least about 9.
• Preferably these surfactants contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms.
• Suitable examples of these anionic surfactants are disclosed in U.S. 3,234,258 Morris, issued February 8, 1966 ; U.S. 5,075,041 Lutz, issued December 24, 1991 ; U.S. 5,349,101 Lutz et al., issued September 20, 1994 ; and U.S. 5,389,277 Prieto, issued February 14, 1995 each incorporated herein by reference;
• alkyl sulfate surfactant are the alkyl alkoxylated sulfate.
• These surfactants are water soluble salts or acids typically of the formula RO(A)mSO3M wherein R is an unsubstituted C10-C24 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C10-C24 alkyl component, preferably a C12-C20 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, more preferably C12-C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than zero, typically between about 0.5 and about 6, more preferably between about 0.5 and about 3, and M is H or a cation which can be, for example, a metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, etc.), ammonium or substituted-ammonium cation.
• R is an unsubstituted C10-C24 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C10-C24 alky
• Alkyl ethoxylated sulfates as well as alkyl propoxylated sulfates are contemplated herein.
• Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl-, dimethyl-, trimethyl-ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl-ammonium, dimethyl piperidinium and cations derived from alkanolamines, e.g. monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine, and mixtures thereof.
• Exemplary surfactants are C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0) sulfate, C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfate, C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate, and C12-C18 alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate wherein M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium.
• Surfactants for use herein can be made from natural or synthetic alcohol feedstocks. Chain lengths represent average hydrocarbon distributions, including branching.
• the anionic surfactant component may comprise alkyl sulfates and alkyl ether sulfates derived from conventional alcohol sources, e.g., natural alcohols, synthetic alcohols such as those sold under the trade name of NEODOL TM , ALFOL TM , LIAL TM , LUTENSOL TM and the like.
• Alkyl ether sulfates are also known as alkyl polyethoxylate sulfates.
• alkyl sulfate surfactant are one or more (preferably a mixture of two or more) mid-chain branched surfactants, preferably mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxy alcohols having the formula: mid-chain branched alkyl sulfates having the formula: and mid-chain branched alkyl alkoxy sulfates having the formula: wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moiety of these formulae (including the R, R 1 , and R 2 branching, but not including the carbon atoms which comprise any EO/PO alkoxy moiety) is from 14 to 20, and wherein further for this surfactant mixture the average total number of carbon atoms in the branched primary alkyl moieties having the above formula is within the range of greater than 14.5 to about 17.5 (preferably from about 15 to about 17); R, R 1 , and R 2 are each independently selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 3 alkyl, and mixtures
• M is a water soluble cation and may comprises more than one type of cation, for example, a mixture of sodium and potassium.
• the index w is an integer from 0 to 13; x is an integer from 0 to 13; y is an integer from 0 to 13; z is an integer of at least 1; provided w + x + y + z is from 8 to 14.
• EO and PO represent ethyleneoxy units and propyleneoxy units having the formula: respectively, however, other alkoxy units inter alia 1,3-propyleneoxy, butoxy, and mixtures thereof are suitable as alkoxy units appended to the mid-chain branched alkyl moieties.
• the mid-chain branched surfactants are preferably mixtures which comprise a surfactant system. Therefore, when the surfactant system comprises an alkoxylated surfactant, the index m indicates the average degree of alkoxylation within the mixture of surfactants. As such, the index m is at least about 0.01, preferably within the range of from about 0.1, more preferably from about 0.5, most preferably from about 1 to about 30, preferably to about 10, more preferably to about 5.
• the value of the index m represents a distribution of the average degree of alkoxylation corresponding to m, or it may be a single specific chain with alkoxylation (e.g., ethoxylation and/or propoxylation) of exactly the number of units corresponding to m.
• the preferred mid-chain branched surfactants of the present invention which are suitable for use in the surfactant systems of the present invention have the formula: or the formula: wherein a, b, d, and e are integers such that a + b is from 10 to 16 and d + e is from 8 to 14; M is selected from sodium, potassium, magnesium, ammonium and substituted ammonium, and mixtures thereof.
• the surfactant systems of the present invention which comprise mid-chain branched surfactants are preferably formulated in two embodiments.
• a first preferred embodiment comprises mid-chain branched surfactants which are formed from a feedstock which comprises 25% or less of mid-chain branched alkyl units. Therefore, prior to admixture with any other conventional surfactants, the mid-chain branched surfactant component will comprise 25% or less of surfactant molecules which are non-linear surfactants.
• a second preferred embodiment comprises mid-chain branched surfactants which are formed from a feedstock which comprises from about 25% to about 70% of mid-chain branched alkyl units. Therefore, prior to admixture with any other conventional surfactants, the mid-chain branched surfactant component will comprise from about 25% to about 70% surfactant molecules which are non-linear surfactants.
• anionic surfactant which are not included in the alkyl sulfates according to the present invention
• one type of anionic surfactant which can be utilized encompasses alkyl ester sulfonates. These are desirable because they can be made with renewable, non-petroleum resources.
• Preparation of the alkyl ester sulfonate surfactant component can be effected according to known methods disclosed in the technical literature. For instance, linear esters of C8-C20 carboxylic acids can be sulfonated with gaseous SO3 according to " The Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society," 52 (1975), pp. 323-329 . Suitable starting materials would include natural fatty substances as derived from tallow, palm, and coconut oils, etc.
• the preferred alkyl ester sulfonate surfactant comprises alkyl ester sulfonate surfactants of the structural formula: wherein R3 is a C8-C20 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof, R4 is a C1-C6 hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl, or combination thereof, and M is a soluble salt-forming cation.
• Suitable salts include metal salts such as sodium, potassium, and lithium salts, and substituted or unsubstituted ammonium salts, such as methyl-, dimethyl, -trimethyl, and quaternary ammonium cations, e.g.
• R3 is C10-C16 alkyl
• R4 is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl.
• methyl ester sulfonates wherein R3 is C14-C16 alkyl.
• alkylbenzenesulphonates include the hard (ABS, TPBS), linear types, also known as LAS, and made by known process such as various HF or solid HF e.g., DETAL® (UOP) process, or made by using other Lewis Acid catalysts e.g., AlCl 3 , or made using acidic silica/alumina or made from chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as C 9 -C 20 linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, particularly sodium linear alkyl C 10 -C 15 benzene sulfonate.
• surfactants are water soluble salts or acids typically of the formula RAS03M wherein R is a branched or linear C10-C24 alkyl group, preferably a C10-C20 alkyl, more preferably C10-C18 alkyl, A is an aryl group , preferably benzene, or toluene, more preferably benzene unit, and M is H or a cation which can be, for example, a metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, etc.), ammonium or substituted-ammonium cation.
• RAS03M wherein R is a branched or linear C10-C24 alkyl group, preferably a C10-C20 alkyl, more preferably C10-C18 alkyl, A is an aryl group , preferably benzene, or toluene, more preferably benzene unit, and M is H or a cation which can be, for example, a metal
• the surfactant systems of the laundry detergent compositions of the present invention can also comprise from about 0.001%, preferably from about 1%, more preferably from about 5%, most preferably from about 10% to about 100%, preferably to about 60%, more preferably to about 30% by weight, of the surfactant system, of one or more (preferably a mixture of two or more) modified alkyl arylsulfonate surfactants, or MLAS preferably surfactants wherein the aryl unit is a benzene ring having the formula: wherein L is an acyclic hydrocarbyl moiety comprising from 6 to 18 carbon atoms; R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each independently hydrogen or C 1 -C 3 alkyl, provided R 1 and R 2 are not attached at the terminus of the L unit; M is a water soluble cation having charge q wherein a and b are taken together to satisfy charge neutrality.
• Suitable anionic surfactants are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also generally disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975 to Laughlin, et al. at Column 23, line 58 through Column 29, line 23.
• anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes can also be included in the compositions hereof. These can include salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of soap, C8-C22 primary or secondary alkanesulphonates, C8-C24 olefinsulphonates, sulphonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulphonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, e.g., as described in British patent specification No.
• salts including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts
• C8-C22 primary or secondary alkanesulphonates C8-C24 olefinsulphonates
• sulphonated polycarboxylic acids prepared by sulphonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates, e
• alkyl glycerol sulfonates alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, isothionates such as the acyl isothionates, N-acyl taurates, fatty acid amides of methyl tauride, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C12-C18 monoesters) diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C6-C14 diesters), N-acyl sarcosinates, sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates of alkylpolyglucoside (
• Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids present in or derived from tall oil. Further examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents" (Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are also generally disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,929,678, issued December 30, 1975 to Laughlin, et al. at Column 23, line 58 through Column 29, line 23.
• dianionics Another type of useful anionic surfactant are the so-called dianionics. These are surfactants which have at least two anionic groups present on the surfactant molecule. Some suitable dianionic surfactants are further described in copending U.S. Serial No. 60/020,503 (Docket No. 6160P), 60/020,772 (Docket No. 6161P), 60/020,928 (Docket No. 6158P), 60/020,832 (Docket No. 6159P) and 60/020,773 (Docket No. 6162P) all filed on June 28, 1996, and 60/023,539 (Docket No. 6192P), 60/023493 (Docket No. 6194P), 60/023,540 (Docket No. 6193P) and 60/023,527 (Docket No. 6195P) filed on August 8th, 1996, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• the tablet detergent products of the present invention comprise in addition to one or more of the hydrotropes ("binding agents" because they have a cohesive effect on the tablets), preferably one or more preferred ingredients hereinbelow and optionally, one or more conventional detergent adjunct materials.
• Such conventional adjunct materials can include one or more of the solid particulate materials described under the Liquid Products section and/or Granular/Powder Products section hereinabove or under the Conventional Detergent Adjunct Materials section hereinafter.
• Detergent tablet formulations generally contain at least a small amount of binding agent in the composition in order to provide a cohesive effect and promote the integrity of the tablets.
• the Cohesive Effect on the particulate material of a detergent matrix is characterised by the force required to break a tablet based on the examined detergent matrix pressed under controlled compression conditions. Means to assess tablet strength (also refer to diametrical fracture stress) are given in Pharmaceutical dosage forms : tablets volume 1 Ed. H.A. Lieberman et al, published in 1989 .
• hydrotrope compounds added to a particulate material prepared according to the present invention has a cohesive effect while also providing excellent disintegration performance in wash-water when it is formed into a tablet by compressing the particulate material.
• Detergent tablets containing this hydrotrope have a higher tensile strength at constant compacting force or an equal tensile strength at lower compacting force when compared to traditional tablets.
• these hydrotropes also provide the key ingredient to prevent gelling and/or thickening of the detergent compositions taught herein.
• Gelling has been previously observed in detergent products prepared without the hydrotropes as defined in the present invention, when the products are first contacted and diluted with water. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that this gelling phenomenon results from the surfactant-containing particles forming viscous surfactant phases (typically lamellar, spherulitic or hexagonal phases) upon contact with water in the wash-liquor or wash-water at certain concentrations of surfactant.
• a correlation has been found between the viscosity of the product-water mixture in the critical dilution range where gelling is observed, and the amount of viscous surfactant phase formed in this range.
• hydrotropes described above prevent the formation of the viscous surfactant phases formed upon dilution, because the hydrotrope can effectively interact with the ordered, structured layers of surfactant molecules, disrupt them and promote the formation of isotropic low - viscosity surfactant phases.
• the operating window relates to the range in the bulk density of the detergent tablets, when the detergent tablets are manufactured on an industrial scale. Because of several variables, during the industrial-scale manufacture of detergent tablets the density of the detergent tablets varies somewhat from the ideal or preferred density.
• the operating window is the range of densities surrounding the preferred density where the tablet is not at the preferred density but is still acceptable. Below the operating window, the density is too low as a result of insufficient packing and cohesion during the compression step and thus the tablet is very friable and likely to be broken during handling and storage. Above the operating window, the tablet is packed too tightly and is likely to be insufficiently dissolved and dispersed in a wash liquor during a wash process.
• the present detergent tablets may also include additional non-gelling binders.
• Non-gelling binders not only provide cohesive benefits, but also facilitate dissolution.
• suitable non-gelling binders include synthetic organic polymers such as polyethylene glycols, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyacrylates and water-soluble acrylate copolymers.
• binders classification Acacia, Alginic Acid, Carbomer, Carboxymethylcellulose sodium, Dextrin, Ethylcellulose, Gelatin, Guar gum, Hydrogenated vegetable oil type I, Hydroxyethyl cellulose, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Liquid glucose, Magnesium aluminum silicate, Maltodextrin, Methylcellulose, polymethacrylates, povidone, sodium alginate, starch and zein.
• binders also have an active cleaning function in the laundry wash such as cationic polymers, i.e. ethoxylated hexamethylene diamine quaternary compounds, bishexamethylene triamines, or others such as pentaamines, ethoxylated polyethylene amines, maleic acrylic polymers.
• cationic polymers i.e. ethoxylated hexamethylene diamine quaternary compounds, bishexamethylene triamines, or others such as pentaamines, ethoxylated polyethylene amines, maleic acrylic polymers.
• Non-gelling binder materials are preferably sprayed on and hence have an appropriate melting point temperature below 90°C, preferably below 70°C and even more preferably below 50°C so as not to damage or degrade the other active ingredients in the matrix.
• non-aqueous liquid binders i.e. not in aqueous solution
• they may also be solid binders incorporated into the matrix by dry addition but which have binding properties within the tablet.
• the detergent tablets prepared according to the present invention will comprise from about 0.05% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 3%, most preferably from about 0.1% to about 1% of the essential hydrotrope in which two polar groups are separated from each other by at least 5, preferably 6, aliphatic carbon atoms.
• the optional non-gelling binder materials When the optional non-gelling binder materials are used, they will be present in the detergent tablets, they will be used in levels of from about 0.1% to about 7%, pref. from about 0.5% to about 5%, more pref. from about 1% to about 3% of the detergent tablet.
• non-gelling binders When the optional non-gelling binders are used they will be present in the detergent tablets in a ratio of non-gelling binder to special hydrotrope binder of from about 2:1 to about 60:1, preferably from about 3:1 to about 30:1, more preferably from about 3:1 to about 15:1.
• Disintegrants Although it is necessary that the tablets should have good integrity before use, it is necessary also that they should disintegrate rapidly during use, when contacted with wash-water. Thus it is also known to include a disintegrant which will promote disintegration of the tablet.
• a disintegrant which will promote disintegration of the tablet.
• Various classes of disintegrant are known, including the class in which disintegration is caused by swelling of the disintegrant.
• Various swelling disintegrants have been proposed in the literature, with the preference being directed predominantly towards starches, celluloses and water soluble organic polymers.
• Inorganic swelling disintegrants such as bentonite clay have also been mentioned, for instance in EP-A-466,484 .
• the disintegrant may give supplementary building, anti-redeposition or fabric softening properties.
• the amount of disintegrant is preferably 1 to 5%. It is proposed in EP-A-466,484 that the tablet may have a heterogeneous structure comprising a plurality of discrete regions, for example layers, inserts or coatings.
• Tablet Manufacture - Detergent tablets of the present invention can be prepared simply by mixing the solid ingredients together and compressing the mixture in a conventional tablet press as used, for example, in the pharmaceutical industry.
• the principal ingredients in particular gelling surfactants, are used in particulate form.
• Any liquid ingredients, for example surfactant or suds suppressor, can be incorporated in a conventional manner into the solid particulate ingredients.
• the ingredients such as builder and surfactant can be spray-dried in a conventional manner and then compacted at a suitable pressure.
• the tablets according to the invention are compressed using a force of less than 100000N, more preferably of less than 50000N, even more preferably of less than 5000N and most preferably of less than 3000 N.
• the most preferred embodiment is a tablet compressed using a force of less than 2500N.
• the particulate material used for making the tablet of this invention can be made by any particulation or granulation process.
• An example of such a process is spray drying (in a co-current or counter current spray drying tower) which typically gives low bulk densities 600g/l or lower.
• Particulate materials of higher density can be prepared by granulation and densification in a high shear batch mixer/granulator or by a continuous granulation and densification process (e.g. using Lodige(R) CB and/or Lodige(R) KM mixers).
• Other suitable processes include fluid bed processes, compaction processes (e.g. roll compaction), extrusion, as well as any particulate material made by any chemical process like flocculation, crystallisation sentering, etc.
• Individual particles can also be any other particle, granule, sphere or grain.
• the components of the particulate material may be mixed together by any conventional means. Batch is suitable in, for example, a concrete mixer, Nauta mixer, ribbon mixer or any other. Alternatively the mixing process may be carried out continuously by metering each component by weight on to a moving belt, and blending them in one or more drum(s) or mixer(s).
• Non-gelling binder can be sprayed on to the mix of some, or all of, the components of the particulate material.
• Other liquid ingredients may also be sprayed on to the mix of components either separately or premixed. For example perfume and slurries of optical brighteners may be sprayed.
• a finely divided flow aid dustting agent such as zeolites, carbonates, silicas
• the tablets may be manufactured by using any compacting process, such as tabletting, briquetting, or extrusion, preferably tabletting. Suitable equipment includes a standard single stroke or a rotary press (such as Courtoy(R), Korch(R), Manesty(R), or Bonals(R)).
• the tablets prepared according to this invention preferably have a diameter of between 20mm and 60mm, preferably of at least 35 and up to 55 mm, and a weight between 15 g and 100 g.
• the ratio of height to diameter (or width) of the tablets is preferably greater than 1:3, more preferably greater than 1:2.
• the compaction pressure used for preparing these tablets need not exceed 100000 kN/m2, preferably not exceed 30000 kN/m2, more preferably not exceed 5000 kN/m2, even more preferably not exceed 3000kN/m2 and most preferably not exceed 1000kN/m2.
• the tablet has a density of at least 0.9 g/cc, more preferably of at least 1.0 g/cc, and preferably of less than 2.0 g/cc, more preferably of less than 1.5 g/cc, even more preferably of less than 1.25 g/cc and most preferably of less than 1.1 g/cc.
• Multi-layer tablets can be made by known techniques.
• Coating - Solidity of the tablet according to the invention may be further improved by making a coated tablet, the coating covering a non-coated tablet according to the invention, thereby further improving the mechanical characteristics of the tablet while maintaining or further improving dispersion.
• the tablets may then be coated so that the tablet does not absorb moisture, or absorbs moisture at only a very slow rate.
• the coating is also strong so that moderate mechanical shocks to which the tablets are subjected during handling, packing and shipping result in no more than very low levels of breakage or attrition.
• the coating is preferably brittle so that the tablet breaks up when subjected to stronger mechanical shock.
• the coating material is dispersed under alkaline conditions, or is readily emulsified by surfactants. This contributes to avoiding the problem of visible residue in the window of a front-loading washing machine during the wash cycle, and also avoids deposition of particles or lumps of coating material on the laundry load.
• Water solubility is measured following the test protocol of ASTM E1148-87 entitled, "Standard Test Method for Measurements of Aqueous Solubility".
• Suitable coating materials are dicarboxylic acids. Particularly suitable dicarboxylic acids are selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, undecanedioic acid, dodecanedioic acid, tridecanedioic acid and mixtures thereof.
• the coating material has a melting point preferably of from 40°C to 200°C.
• the coating can be applied in a number of ways. Two preferred coating methods are a) coating with a molten material and b) coating with a solution of the material.
• the coating material is applied at a temperature above its melting point, and solidifies on the tablet.
• the coating is applied as a solution, the solvent being dried to leave a coherent coating.
• the substantially insoluble material can be applied to the tablet by, for example, spraying or dipping. Normally when the molten material is sprayed on to the tablet, it will rapidly solidify to form a coherent coating. When tablets are dipped into the molten material and then removed, the rapid cooling again causes rapid solidification of the coating material.
• substantially insoluble materials having a melting point below 40°C are not sufficiently solid at ambient temperatures and it has been found that materials having a melting point above about 200°C are not practicable to use.
• the materials melt in the range from 60°C to 160°C, more preferably from 70°C to 120°C.
• melting point is meant the temperature at which the material when heated slowly in, for example, a capillary tube becomes a clear liquid.
• a coating of any desired thickness can be applied according to the present invention.
• the coating forms from 1% to 10%, preferably from 1.5% to 5%, of the tablet weight.
• the tablet coatings are preferably very hard and provide extra strength to the tablet.
• the fracture of the coating in the wash is improved by adding a disintegrant in the coating.
• This disintegrant will swell once in contact with water and break the coating in small pieces. This will improve the dispersion of the coating in the wash solution.
• the disintegrant is suspended in the coating melt at a level of up to 30%, preferably between 5% and 20%, most preferably between 5 and 10% by weight. Possible disintegrants are described in Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients (1986 ).
• Suitable disintegrants include starch: natural, modified or pregelatinized starch, sodium starch gluconate; gum: agar gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, karaya gum, pectin gum, tragacanth gum; croscarmylose Sodium, crospovidone, cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, algenic acid and its salts including sodium alginate, silicone dioxide, clay, polyvinylpyrrolidone, soy polysacharides, ion exchange resins and mixtures thereof.
• the used compacting force may be adjusted to not affect the tensile strength, and the disintegration time in the washing machine. This process may be used to prepare homogenous or layered tablets of any size or shape.
• F is the maximum force (Newton) to cause tensile failure (fracture) measured by a VK 200 tablet hardness tester supplied by Van Kell industries, Inc.
• D is the diameter of the tablet, and t the thickness of the tablet.
• the detergent compositions herein can, and preferably will, contain various other optional components.
• suds suppressors A wide variety of materials may be used as suds suppressors, and suds suppressors are well known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Third Edition, Volume 7, pages 430-447 (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1979 ).
• One category of suds suppressor of particular interest encompasses monocarboxylic fatty acid and soluble salts therein. See U.S. Patent 2,954,347, issued September 27, 1960 to Wayne St. John .
• the monocarboxylic fatty acids and salts thereof used as suds suppressor typically have hydrocarbyl chains of 10 to about 24 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms.
• Suitable salts include the alkali metal salts such as sodium, potassium, and lithium salts, and ammonium and alkanolammonium salts.
• the detergent compositions herein may also contain non-surfactant suds suppressors.
• non-surfactant suds suppressors include, for example: high molecular weight hydrocarbons, N-alkylated amino triazines, monostearyl phosphates, silicone suds suppressors, secondary alcohols (e.g., 2-alkyl alkanols) and mixtures of such alcohols with silicone oils.
• Hydrocarbon suds suppressors are described, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,265,779, issued May 5, 1981 to Gandolfo et al.
• Silicone suds suppressors are well known in the art and are, for example, disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,265,779, issued May 5, 1981 to Gandolfo et al and European Patent Application No. 89307851.9, published February 7, 1990, by Starch, M. S. Mixtures of alcohols and silicone oils are described in U.S. 4,798,679 , 4,075,118 and EP 150,872
• the preferred particulate foam control agent used herein contains a silicone antifoam compound, an organic material and a carrier material onto which the silicone antifoam compound and the organic material are deposited.
• the carrier material is preferably a native starch or zeolite.
• the silicone antifoam compound is selected from the group consisting of polydiorganosiloxane, solid silica and mixtures thereof.
• the organic material is selected from:
• the dispersing polymer is selected from the group consisting of copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof.
• Silicone suds suppressors known in the art which can be used are, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,779, issued May 5, 1981 to Gandolfo et al and European Patent Application No. 89307851.9, published Feb. 7, 1990, by Starch, M. S. Silicone defoamers and suds controlling agents in granular detergent compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,672, Bartolotta et al , and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,392, Baginski et al, issued Mar. 24, 1987 .
• An exemplary silicone based suds suppressor for use herein is a suds suppressing amount of a particulate foam control agent consisting essentially of:
• dye transfer inhibiting agents include polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole, manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, and mixtures thereof. These agents typically comprise from about 0.01 % to about 10% by weight of the composition, preferably from about 0.01 % to about 5%, and more preferably from about 0.05% to about 2%.
• Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such as pyridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine and derivatives thereof.
• the N-O group can be represented by the following general structures: wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 are aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or combinations thereof; x, y and z are 0 or 1; and the nitrogen of the N-O group can be attached or form part of any of the aforementioned groups.
• the amine oxide unit of the polyamine N-oxides has a pKa ⁇ 10, preferably pKa ⁇ 7, more preferred pKa ⁇ 6.
• Any polymer backbone can be used as long as the amine oxide polymer formed is water-soluble and has dye transfer inhibiting properties.
• suitable polymeric backbones are polyvinyls, polyalkylenes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamide, polyimides, polyacrylates and mixtures thereof. These polymers include random or block copolymers where one monomer type is an amine N-oxide and the other monomer type is an N-oxide.
• the amine N-oxide polymers typically have a ratio of amine to the amine N-oxide of 10:1 to 1:1,000,000.
• the number of amine oxide groups present in the polyamine oxide polymer can be varied by appropriate copolymerization or by an appropriate degree of N-oxidation.
• the polyamine oxides can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerization. Typically, the average molecular weight is within the range of 500 to 1,000,000; more preferred 1,000 to 500,000; most preferred 5,000 to 100,000.
• poly(4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide) which as an average molecular weight of about 50,000 and an amine to amine N-oxide ratio of about 1:4.
• PVNO poly(4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide)
• the present invention further comprises additional agents to provide fabric care benefits. As described above, these additional agents may be necessary because the high concentrations of detergent concentration in the aqueous laundering solutions used in the present invention may damaged the garments and fabrics contact by the aqueous laundering solutions.
• the present invention may also include materials which could be added to laundry products that would associate themselves with the fibers of the fabrics and textiles laundered using such products and thereby reduce or minimize the tendency of the laundered fabric/textiles to deteriorate in appearance.
• Any such detergent product additive material should, of course, be able to benefit fabric appearance and integrity without unduly interfering with the ability of the laundry product to perform its intended function.
• fabric appearance benefits can include, for example, improved overall appearance of the laundered fabrics, reduction of the formation of pills and fuzz, protection against color fading, improved abrasion resistance, etc.
• PEI 600 E20 having the general formula: wherein B is a continuation by branching of the polyethyleneimine backbone.
• E is an ethyleneoxy unit having the formula: -(CH 2 CH 2 O)mH wherein m has an average value of about 20.
• an average value of 20 is that sufficient ethylene oxide or other suitable reagent is reacted with the polyethyleneimine starting material to fully ethoxylate each N-H unit to a degree of 20 ethoxylations.
• some N-H unit hydrogen atoms will be replaced by less than 20 ethoxy units and some will be replaced by more than 20 ethoxy units, therefore, the average of the number of ethoxylations is 20.
• the units which make up the polyalkyleneimine backbones are primary amine units having the formula: H 2 N-CH 2 CH 2 ]- and -NH 2 which terminate the main backbone and any branching chains, secondary amine units having the formula: and which, after modification, have their hydrogen atom substituted by an average of 20 ethyleneoxy units, and tertiary amine units having the formula: which are the branching points of the main and secondary backbone chains, B representing a continuation of the chain structure by branching.
• the tertiary units have no replaceable hydrogen atom and are therefore not modified by substitution with ethyleneoxy units.
• cyclic polyamine can be present in the parent polyalkyleneimine backbone mixture.
• Each primary and secondary amine unit of the cyclic alkyleneimines undergoes modification by the addition of alkyleneoxy units in the same manner as linear and branched polyalkyleneimines.
• the indices w, x, and y have values such that the average molecular weight of the polyethyleneimine backbone prior to modification is about 600 daltons.
• each branch chain must terminate in a primary amine unit, therefore the value of the index w is y + 1 in the case where no cyclic amine backbones are present.
• the average molecular weight for each ethylene backbone unit, -NCH 2 CH 2 -, is approximately 43 daltons.
• the polyamines of the present invention can be prepared, for example, by polymerizing ethyleneimine in the presence of a catalyst such as carbon dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, etc.
• a catalyst such as carbon dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, etc.
• Specific methods for preparing these polyamine backbones are disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,182,306, Ulrich et al., issued December 5, 1939 ; U.S. Patent 3,033,746, Mayle et al., issued May 8,1962 ; U.S. Patent 2,208,095, Esselmann et al., issued July 16,1940 ; U.S. Patent 2,806,839, Crowther, issued September 17,1957 ; and U.S. Patent 2,553,696, Wilson, issued May 21,1951 ; all herein incorporated by reference.
• Suitable fabric care agents for use in the present detergent compositions include dye maintenance polymers.
• One example of such a polymer is the Adduct of Imidazole-epichlorohydrin:
• Effervescency as defined herein means the evolution of bubbles of gas from a liquid, as the result of a chemical reaction between a soluble acid source and an alkali metal carbonate, to produce carbon dioxide gas, i.e. C 6 H 8 O 7 + 3NaHCO 3 Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 + 3CO 2 + 3H 2 O
• An effervescent may be added to the tablet mix in addition to the detergent ingredients.
• the addition of this effervescent to the detergent tablet improves the disintegration time of the tablet.
• the amount will preferably be between 5 and 20 % and most preferably between 10 and 20% by weight of the tablet.
• the effervescent should be added as an agglomerate of the different particles or as a compact, and not as separated particles.
• the tablet Due to the gas created by the effervescency in the tablet, the tablet can have a higher D.F.S. and still have the same disintegration time as a tablet without effervescency.
• the D.F.S. of the tablet with effervescency is kept the same as a tablet without, the disintegration of the tablet with effervescency will be faster.
• dispersion aid could be provided by using compounds such as sodium acetate or urea.
• suitable dispersion aid may also be found in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Tablets, Volume 1, Second edition, Edited by H.A. Lieberman et all, ISBN 0-8247-8044-2 .
• the effervescent system may comprise and acid and a base, such as citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, and/or the effervescent system may comprise an enzyme, such as catalase and/or peroxidase and a source of peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide.
• a base such as citric acid and sodium bicarbonate
• an enzyme such as catalase and/or peroxidase and a source of peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide.
• polymers of ethylene oxide, acrylamide or acrylic acid are preferred. These polymers dramatically enhance the deposition of a fabric softening clay if their molecular weights are in the range of from 100 000 to 10 million. Preferred are such polymers having a weight average molecular weight of from 150000 to 5 million.
• the most preferred polymer is poly (ethylene oxide).
• Molecular weight distributions can be readily determined using gel permeation chromatography, against standards of poly (ethylene oxide) of narrow molecular weight distributions.
• the amount of flocculant is preferably 0.5-10% by weight of the tablet, most preferably about 2 to 6%.
• the flocculant is preferably mainly in the form of granules, with at least 50% by weighty (and preferably at least 75% and most preferably at least 90%) being in the form of granules having a size of at least 100mm up to 1800mm, preferably up to 1180mm and most preferably 150-850mm
• the amount of flocculant in the granules is at least 50%, generally at least 70% or 90%, of the weight of the granules.
• compositions which are commonly used in detergent compositions and which may be incorporated into the detergent tablets of the present invention include chelating agents, soil release agents, soil antiredeposition agents, dispersing agents, brighteners, suds suppressors, fabric softeners, dye transfer inhibition agents and perfumes.
• a clay material when compressed prior to incorporation into a tablet or in a cleaning composition, improved disintegration or dispensing is achieved.
• tablets comprising clay which is compressed prior to incorporation into a tablet disintegrate more rapidly than tablets comprising the same clay material which has not been compressed prior to incorporation into a tablet.
• the amount of pressure used for the compression of the clay is of importance to obtain clay particles which aid disintegration or dispensing.
• the clay component is obtained by compression of a clay material.
• a preferred process comprises the steps of submitting the clay material to a pressure of at least 10MPa, or even at least 20MPa or even 40MPa. This can for example be done by tabletting or roller compaction of a clay material, optionally together with one or more other ingredients, to form a clay tablet or sheet, preferably followed by size reduction, such as grinding, of the compressed clay sheet or tablet, to form compressed clay particles. The particles can then be incorporated in a tablet or cleaning composition.
• Tabletting methods and roller compaction methods are known in the art.
• the compression of the clay can be done in a Lloyd 50K tablet press or with a Chilsonator roller compaction equipment, available form Fitzpatrick Company.
• Nonaqueous liquid detergent compositions comprising a surfactant-rich liquid phase and a solid phase were prepared as follows: %, By weight Composition A Composition B Nonionic Surfactant 21.27 20.14 BPP Solvent 18.30 17.33 LAS Surfactant 15.83 14.99 Ethoxylated quatemized amine clay material 1.29 1.22 Hydrotrope 4.80 0.00 Na-Citrate dehydrate 6.73 6.37 Na-Carbonate 9.89 9.37 Bleach Activator 5.94 5.62 Sodium Perborate 11.87 11.24 EDDS 1.17 1.11 Duramyl Enzyme 0.79 0.87 Carezyme Enzyme 0.03 0.03 Protease Enzyme 0.79 0.75 Antifoaming Agents 0.61 0.85 Plastic Microspheres 0.51 0.49 Titanium dioxide 0.50 0.47 Brightener 0.20 0.19 PEG 8000 0.40 0.38 Perfume 1.72 1.63 Miscellaneous 2.16 2.15
• Liquid detergent composition A is prepared according to the present invention and thus contains the preferred hydrotrope 1,4 Cyclo Hexane Di Methanol.
• liquid detergent composition B is nearly identical to composition A, except that composition B contains none of the hydrotrope and its other components have been slightly rebalanced.
• compositions were tested using the "Rate of Liquid Detergent Product Dissolution in Water Test" described in great detail above.
• the conductivity was measured by electrode immersed in the water at the beginning of the test-detergent composition solution and the % of dissolution by and converted into The following results were obtained: Composition A Composition B Time Conductivity % Dissolution Conductivity % Dissolution 0 s (T 0 ) 0 0 0 0 30 s 28 19 12 7 60 s 40 27 17 10 120 s 54 37 23 14 180 s 62 42 31 18 240 s 68 47 39 23 360 s 78 53 44 26 600 s 81 55 49 29 660 s 91 62 51 30
• the dissolution values were obtained by dividing the measured conductivity at each individual time by the measured conductivity at full dissolution and multiplying by 100.
• An aqueous liquid detergent composition according to the present invention is prepared as follows: Composition C Component Wt. % C 12-15 alkyl ether (2.5) sulfate 18.0 C 12-13 alkyl ethoxylate (9.0) 2.00 C 12-14 glucose amide 3.50 Citric Acid 3.00 C 12-14 Fatty Acid 2.00 CHDM 5.00 MEA to pH 8 Ethanol 3.0 Propanediol 6.0 Dye, Perfume, Brighteners, Enzymes, Preservatives, Suds Suppressor, Other Minors, Water Balance 100%
• Nonaqueous liquid detergent compositions comprising a surfactant-rich liquid phase and a solid phase were prepared as follows: %, By weight Composition A Composition B Composition C Composition D Composition E NaLAS 14.6 14.9 13.9 13.0 14.9 HLAS 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.9 0.0 Nonionic Surfactant 20.6 20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 NaCitrate dihydrate 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 Copolymer of Acrylic 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 Acid and Maleic Acid EDDS 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 Ethoxylated 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 Quatemized amine clay material Sodium Perborate 11.5 11.5 11.5 11.5 11.5 Bleach Activator 2.9 5.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 Triacetin 12.5 0.0 12.5 12.5 8.7 NaCarbonate 9.6 9.6 9.6 9.6 9.6 BPP Solvent 9.1 17.8 9.1 9.1 12.0 Hydrotrope 3.8 4.8 3.8 3.8 4.8 Acetic acid
• compositions are in accordance with the invention.
• a B C D E F G H I Spray-dried Granules LAS 10.0 10.0 15.0 5.0 5.0 10.0 - - - QAS 1.0 1.0 - - - DTPA, HEDP and/or EDDS 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 - - - MgSO4 0.5 0.5 0.1 - - - - Sodium citrate - - - 3.0 5.0 - - - Sodium carbonate 10.0 10 15 10 7 10 - - - Sodium sulphate 5.0 5.0 - - 5.0 3.0 - - - Sodium silicate 1.6R - - - - 2.0 - - - Zeolite A 16.0 18.0 20.0 20.0 - - - - - - SKS-6 - - - 3.0 5.0 - - - - MA/AA or AA 1.0 2.0 11.0 - - 2.0 - -
• compositions exemplified above have at least 90% by weight of particles having a geometric mean particle diameter of from about 850 microns with a geometric standard deviation of from about 1.2. Unexpectedly, the compositions have improved aesthetics, flowability and solubility.
• Examples 2a-3b were prepared in an analogous fashion to the process described above and according to the formulation compositions detailed below.
• Table 1 Composition A Composition B Composition C (%) (%) (%) Anionic agglomerates 1 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34 34
• 2:Nonionic agglomerates comprise of 24% nonionic surfactant, 6% ethoxylated hexamethylene diaminequat, 40% acetate/zeolite mix, 20% carbonate and 10% zeolite.
• 3:Layered silicate comprises of 95% SKS 6 and 5% silicate.
• 4:Bleach activator agglomerates comprise of 81% TAED, 17% acrylic/maleic copolymer (acid form) and 2% water.
• 5:Ethylene diamine N,N-disuccinic acid sodium salt/Sulphate particle comprise of 58% of Ethylene diamine N,N-disuccinic acid sodium salt, 23% of sulphate and 19% water.
• 6:Zinc phthalocyanine sulphonate encapsulates are 10% active.
• 7:Suds suppressor comprises of 11.5% silicone oil (ex Dow Coming); 59% of zeolite and 29.5% of water.
• 8:Sodium salt of Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonate / DiIsoPropylBenzeneSulphonate comprises of 67% Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonate and 33% DiIsoPropylBenzeneSulphonate.
• a tablet binder composition was sprayed onto the above detergent base powders according to the following compositions: Table 2 Example 1a Example 1b Example 2a Example 2b Example 3a Example 3b Powder A 99% 99% Powder B 98.5% 98.5% Powder C 98.5% 98.5% Polyethyleneglycol 1% 0.9% 1.50% 1.35% 1.5% 1.3% 1,4 cyclohexanedimethanol 0.1% 0.15% 0.2%
• the tensile strength of the tablet samples which contained CHDM were greater than the CHDM tablet samples of virtually identical composition, but which contained no CHDM.
• Example 3a Example 3b Density at a tablet hardness of 5.5kP 1035 1010 Density at a tablet dispensing of 15% 1052 1035
• the amount of dispensing of a detergent tablet as tabulated above in table 4 can be determined through an experimental test which measures the amount of detergent product dispensed during an automatic wash process in the following way:
• the level of residues is determined by repeating the procedure 10 times and an average residue level is calculated based on the ten individual measurements.

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