EP3458565A1 - Pre-treatment composition for fabric stains - Google Patents

Pre-treatment composition for fabric stains

Info

Publication number
EP3458565A1
EP3458565A1 EP17720717.2A EP17720717A EP3458565A1 EP 3458565 A1 EP3458565 A1 EP 3458565A1 EP 17720717 A EP17720717 A EP 17720717A EP 3458565 A1 EP3458565 A1 EP 3458565A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
composition
acid
surfactant
stain
fabric
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP17720717.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Amalendu BANGAL
Venkata Ramana Reddy CHIMALA
Narayanan Subrahmaniam
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unilever Global IP Ltd
Unilever IP Holdings BV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Publication of EP3458565A1 publication Critical patent/EP3458565A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D1/00Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
    • C11D1/88Ampholytes; Electroneutral compounds
    • C11D1/94Mixtures with anionic, cationic or non-ionic compounds
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D17/00Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties
    • C11D17/04Detergent materials or soaps characterised by their shape or physical properties combined with or containing other objects
    • C11D17/041Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/02Inorganic compounds ; Elemental compounds
    • C11D3/04Water-soluble compounds
    • C11D3/046Salts
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/16Organic compounds
    • C11D3/20Organic compounds containing oxygen
    • C11D3/2075Carboxylic acids-salts thereof
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D1/00Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
    • C11D1/02Anionic compounds
    • C11D1/12Sulfonic acids or sulfuric acid esters; Salts thereof
    • C11D1/29Sulfates of polyoxyalkylene ethers
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D1/00Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
    • C11D1/66Non-ionic compounds
    • C11D1/72Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D1/00Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
    • C11D1/88Ampholytes; Electroneutral compounds
    • C11D1/90Betaines
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11DDETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D1/00Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
    • C11D1/88Ampholytes; Electroneutral compounds
    • C11D1/92Sulfobetaines ; Sulfitobetaines
    • C11D2111/44

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a fabric pre-treatment composition and method for releasing some tenacious stains.
  • a pre-treatment composition is used to treat heavily soiled or stained areas of fabrics just before washing with a laundry detergent composition.
  • Application of the pre-treatment composition facilitates release and/or removal of stains.
  • Some others include industrial clothing, upholstery, sheets and furnishings.
  • Laundry pre-treatment compositions or prewash stain removing compositions have been in use for many years. Some newer products are available in user-friendly formats like pens and spot correctors. Other formats include liquids, sprays, gels, wipes and foam. A consumer needs to apply the composition on the stain before washing the fabrics with a laundry detergent composition.
  • Such products usually comprise one or more organic solvents and one or more surfactants, optionally with further additives. Usually the surfactant is non-ionic while the organic solvent is one of the many solvents known in the art.
  • amphoteric (zwitterionic) surfactant and EDTA.
  • the compositions contain large amount of surfactants.
  • US5948745A (Colgate Palmolive, 1990) discloses detergent compositions usable over wide range of pH.
  • the compositions contain a mixture of surfactants comprising anionic, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants along with water-soluble organic polymer, such as polyethylene glycol.
  • the polymer enhances cleaning.
  • the pH is 5 to 7.
  • US 2012/0270764 A1 discloses aqueous acidic cleaning compositions with sulfomethylsuccinates (anionic surfactant), CAPB which is a betaine and a nonionic surfactant.
  • CAPB sulfomethylsuccinates
  • the compositions are effective against oily and greasy stains.
  • the compositions contain large amount of surfactants.
  • WO2013092184 A1 discloses a method that renders soiled fabrics more amenable to cleaning. The fabrics are rendered more hydrophilic, thereby enhancing their ability to release oily stains.
  • the fabric treatment composition comprises metal salt such as polyaluminium chloride, a carboxylic polymer, an organic acid and a polysaccharide.
  • GB338121 discloses a 2-step method of cleaning soiled fabrics in which the first component has saponifiable fatty acids such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, or stearic acid and the second component has alkaline saponifying agents such as sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydroxide.
  • a shear-thinning gel detergent composition is disclosed in US20040058838 A1
  • the composition contains non-neutralized fatty acid in specific amounts depending on the total surfactant level.
  • This product offers dual advantages of pre- treatment and main-wash detergency in the form of a single product.
  • a laundry pre- treatment composition having at least 55 wt% fatty acid with melting point greater than 20 °C, a polyhydric alcohol binder, water and surfactant is disclosed in W010023043 A1 (Unilever).
  • WO201 1/163457 Al discloses laundry detergent compositions, which have pH around 8.
  • EP2767582 A1 discloses detergent compositions devoid of water-insoluble esters of fatty acids.
  • WO2015/135866 A1 (Henkel) discloses detergent and pretreatment compositions devoid of water-insoluble esters of fatty acids.
  • EP0256354 A1 (Henkel, 1988) discloses laundry pretreatment compositions which contain a solvent and a fatty acid ester from 10 to 90 wt%.
  • the compositions are devoid of organic acids.
  • an aqueous stain removing composition having pH 1 to 4 comprising:
  • a packaged product comprising an article comprising said composition, optionally comprising a means for dispensing said composition.
  • a composition of the first aspect as a fabric stain remover.
  • a method of lightening fabric stains comprising a first step of contacting at least a stained portion of said fabric with 0.2 to 5 ml of a composition of the first aspect, followed by a second step of contacting said fabric with an alkaline detergent composition.
  • Hydrophilic fibres such as cotton have more affinity for water as compared to oil.
  • water displaces oily soil from the surface of the fabric, causing the soil to "roll-up"; the soil is then readily removable by mechanical action.
  • Polyester fibers such as those made from the copolymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, do not have this preferential affinity for water, but rather, are hydrophobic. It is observed that ordinary laundering does not remove oily soils satisfactorily from such fabrics because there is strong affinity between the two.
  • the present invention provides a laundry pretreatment composition, which are able to loosen-up the stains thereby rendering their removal more facile during washing.
  • compositions in accordance with the invention are aqueous.
  • the compositions comprise significant amount of water. It is preferred that the compositions have from 60 wt% to 95 wt% water. Further preferably the compositions have 70 to 95 wt% water. Water forms a continuous aqueous phase in the compositions and it provides a medium for easy application on to stained fabrics.
  • the Compositions In Accordance With the Invention The pH The pH of the compositions in accordance with the invention is in the range of 1 to 4. In other words, the compositions are acidic. We have observed that compositions within the scope of the invention are highly effective particularly against mechanical grease. Therefore pH plays an important role unlike, at least some of the compositions of prior art which have higher pH.
  • compositions in accordance with the invention comprise one or more organic acids sufficient for the pH to be in said range.
  • organic acids sufficient for the pH to be in said range.
  • pKa of the one or more organic acid is 1 to 5 at 20 °C.
  • Ka the Acidity Constant.
  • Ka the Acidity Constant.
  • Ka the Acidity Constant.
  • the pKa is 4.8, which is a simpler expression. The smaller the pKa value, the stronger the acid.
  • the organic acid is at least one of oxalic acid, tannic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, glycolic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, acetic acid or adipic acid.
  • the pH could be increased marginally by including a salt of the acid, for example, sodium citrate, along with the corresponding acid.
  • a salt of the acid for example, sodium citrate
  • such a composition preferably contains a combination of citric acid and sodium citrate.
  • suitable combinations include lactic acid and sodium lactate, acetic acid and sodium acetate.
  • the pH can be increased by lowering the acid content and simultaneously adding or increasing the corresponding salt content.
  • the salt for example, sodium citrate also serves as the electrolyte, being a salt of strong base and weak acid.
  • pKa values of most of the organic acids indicated above can be found in standard textbooks of organic or physical chemistry.
  • pKa of adipic acid is 4.43
  • that of malic acid is 3.40
  • citric acid is 3.08.
  • the reference to the pKa is made to the negative log of the first Acidity Constant, for example, oxalic acid.
  • at least one of the pKa values is in the range of 1 to 5 at 20 °C.
  • the total surfactant content of compositions in accordance with this invention is 2 to 10 % by weight. This implies the sum total of all of the surfactant present in a given composition. It is necessary that the compositions have three different types of surfactants, their amount in total being 2 to 10 % by weight.
  • the first type of surfactant is anionic
  • the second is ethoxylated alcohol non-ionic
  • the third is zwitterionic. It is preferred that at least one of said zwitterionic or anionic surfactant forms 10 to 30 parts by weight of the total surfactant content.
  • Surfactant are necessary for cleaning action. They are necessary also because they emulsify oily/fatty soil in wash conditions.
  • the surfactants may be chosen from the surfactants described in "Surface Active Agents” Vol. 1 , by Schwartz and Perry, Interscience 1949, Vol. 2 by Schwartz, Perry and Berch, Interscience 1958, in the current edition of "McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents” published by Manufacturing Confectioners Company or in "Tenside- Taschenbuch", H. Stache, 2nd Edn., Carl Hauser Verlag, 1981.
  • the first type of surfactant is anionic.
  • Suitable anionic surfactants are water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates and sulphonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term alkyl being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals.
  • suitable synthetic anionic surfactants are sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulphating higher Ce-18 alcohols, produced for example from tallow or coconut oil, sodium and potassium alkyl Cs-2o benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear secondary alkyl Cio to C15 benzene sulphonates; and sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphates, especially those ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum, ester sulphonates and alpha olefin sulphonates.
  • Other preferred anionic surfactants are C12 to Cis ethoxylated alkyl sulphates.
  • surfactants such as alkyl polyglycosides and alkyl monoglycosides. It is preferred that the anionic surfactant is non-soap surfactant.
  • non-soap surfactants is known to persons skilled in the art and in summary it is used to distinguish soap based surfactants from those that are not based on soaps, which are salts of fatty acids.
  • the anionic surfactant is an alkoxylated sulphate surfactant.
  • This surfactant may have a normal or branched chain alkyl group containing lower ethoxy groups with two or three carbon atoms.
  • a general formula of such surfactants is RO(C2H40) x SO3 " M + where R is an alkyl chain having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, M is a cation which makes the compound water- soluble, especially an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, and x averages from 1 to 15.
  • R is an alkyl chain having from 12 to 16 carbon atoms
  • M is sodium and x averages from 1 to 3, more preferably x is 1.
  • the ethoxylated anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl ether sulphate
  • Nonionic surfactants are characterized by the presence of a hydrophobic group and an organic hydrophilic group and are prepared by condensation of an organic aliphatic or alkyl aromatic hydrophobic compound with ethylene oxide (hydrophilic in nature).
  • the nonionic surfactants are polyalkoxylated lipophiles wherein the desired hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) is obtained from addition of a hydrophilic alkoxy group to a lipophilic moiety.
  • HLB hydrophile-lipophile balance
  • a preferred class of nonionic surfactants is the ethoxylated fatty alcohols, in which the alkanol is of 9 to 20 carbon atoms and wherein the number of moles of alkylene oxide (of 2 or 3 carbon atoms) is from 5 to 20. Of such materials, it is preferred to use those wherein the alkanol is a fatty alcohol of 9 to 1 1 or 12 to 15 carbon atoms and which contain from 5 to 8 or 5 to 9 alkoxy groups per mole.
  • paraffin-based alcohols e.g. nonionic surfactants from Huntsman or Sassol.
  • alkanol is of 10 to 15 carbon atoms and which contain about 5 to 12 ethylene oxide groups per mole, e.g. NeodolTM family.
  • NeodolTM condensation products of a mixture of higher fatty alcohols averaging about 12 to 15 carbon atoms with about 9 moles of ethylene oxide.
  • the higher alcohols are primary alkanols.
  • alkoxylated surfactants contain a precise alkyl chain length rather than an alkyl chain distribution of the alkoxylated surfactants. Typically, these are the narrow range alkoxylates. Examples of these include the NeodolTM-1 series of surfactants.
  • PlurafacTM are the reaction products of a higher linear alcohol and a mixture of ethylene and propylene oxides, containing a mixed chain of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, terminated by a hydroxyl group. Examples include C13-15 fatty alcohols condensed with 6 moles ethylene oxide and 3 moles propylene oxide, C13-15 fatty alcohol condensed with 7 moles propylene oxide and 4 moles ethylene oxide, C13-15 fatty alcohol condensed with 5 moles propylene oxide and 10 moles ethylene oxide or mixtures of any of the above.
  • Another group of nonionic surfactants are commercially available as DobanolTM which is an ethoxylated C12-15 fatty alcohol with an average of 7 moles ethylene oxide per mole of fatty alcohol.
  • the third surfactant type is amphoteric or zwiterionic surfactants.
  • Particularly preferred are the betaines, especially sulphobetaines and carbobetaines.
  • Preferred alkyl betaines have a formula of CH 3 (CH2) 6 Ch N ⁇ CHs ⁇ CI-bCOO- Further alkyl betaines include (dodecyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as lauryl betaine, (tetradecyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as myristyl betaine, (cocodimethylammonium) acetate and (oleyldimethylammonium) acetate (also known as oleyl betaine).
  • alkyl betaine is EmpigenTM BB surfactant, available from Sigma Aldrich.
  • Preferred amidobetaines are C6-18 alkyl amidoalkyl betaines; for example
  • cocoamidopropyldimethylammonium acetate also known as cocoamidopropyl betaine or CAPB.
  • sulphatobetaines are 3-(dodecyldimethylammonium)-1 -propane sulfate; and 2-(cocodimethylammonium)-1 -ethane sulfate.
  • sulfphobetaines are 3-(dodecyldimethylammonium)-2-hydroxy-1 -propane sulfonate; 3- (tetradecyldimethylammonium)-l -propane sulfonate; 3-(Ci2-Ci 4 alkyl- amidopropyldimethylammonium)-2-hydroxy-1 -propane sulfonate; and 3- (cocodimethylammonium)-l -propane sulfonate.
  • Another group of zwitterionic surfactant is an amine oxide zwitterionic surfactant.
  • Examples include but are not limited to cocoamido propyl dimethyl amine oxide and alkene dimethyl amine oxide.
  • the anionic surfactant is an alkoxylated sulphate
  • said non-ionic surfactant is an ethoxylated fatty alcohol
  • said zwitterionic surfactant is a carbobetaine or sulphobetaine.
  • compositions in accordance with the invention comprise 0.5 to 15 % by weight electrolyte. More preferably, the compositions comprise 0.5 to 10 % by weight electrolyte. Yet further preferably the compositions comprise 0.5 to 5 % by weight electrolyte.
  • the electrolyte is a salt of an acid and a base, at least one of which is strong.
  • the electrolyte is a salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. Suitable examples include sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, potassium chloride and potassium nitrate. Other suitable electrolytes include salts of the acid present in the composition. Suitable examples include sodium lactate and sodium citrate.
  • compositions in accordance with this invention comprise a bleach, particularly, oxidative bleach, more particularly a peroxy compound and especially hydrogen peroxide. Addition of bleach causes more of the stain to release, especially that of greasy soil, tea and fruit stains. Therefore, it is preferred that compositions in accordance with this invention comprise 0.5 to 8 % by weight, more preferably 1 to 6 % by weight bleach.
  • viscosity of the composition is in the range of 1 cP to 2000 cP when measured on Brookfield ® Viscometer DV II at 25 °C. Such a viscosity facilitates dispensing of the compositions, especially where it is desired to spray the compositions on stained cloth.
  • compositions of the invention may optionally comprise other ingredients, such as fragrances, preservatives and colorants, foam boosting agents, preservatives (e.g. bactericides), pH buffering agents, polyelectrolytes and anti-oxidants.
  • a packaged product comprising an article comprising a composition of the first aspect, optionally comprising a means for dispensing the composition.
  • the package could be in the form of any one of the packages known in the art.
  • Non- limiting examples include bottles, tubes, cartons, boxes or other containers.
  • the article has a dispensing mechanism, which makes it easy to dispense the contents, i.e., the composition.
  • the composition could be provided in the form of wipes/sheets impregnated therewith the composition.
  • the composition could be provided in the form of stain removing spot applicators that have a handle and a sponge or sponge-like article at one end.
  • the article could also be a roll-on applicator or tube, spray, aerosol or pump-operated dispenser.
  • the article may further have a scrubbing member having brush, bristles, tufts, projections, nubs, embossments or any combination thereof to further aid application of the compositions.
  • a composition of the first aspect as a fabric stain remover. It is preferred that the composition is used against a stain, which is at least one of the following: mechanical grease, tea stains, fruit stains. It is further preferred that the stain is present on cotton, polyester or polycotton fabric. Accordingly, the composition lightens at least one of mechanical grease stain, tea stain or fruit stain.
  • a method of lightening fabric stains comprising a first step of contacting at least a stained portion of said fabric with 0.2 to 5 ml of a composition of the first aspect, followed by a second step of contacting said fabric with an alkaline detergent composition.
  • the method preferably comprises an aqueous washing process.
  • the stained fabrics may be soaked in the composition according to the invention, or alternatively, the composition could be applied either neat or in diluted form to the stained fabrics.
  • the pretreatment step may comprise the step of soaking the substrate in an aqueous solution to which the treatment composition is added.
  • the second step is a 'main' wash and may be manual or in a washing machine.
  • the second step may use any suitable detergent composition.
  • this detergent composition comprises one or more surfactants and/or other functional ingredients.
  • the method of the invention requires less than 90 minutes duration, more preferably less than 60 minutes and most preferably less than 30 minutes.
  • the pre-treatment step preferably requires less than 5 minutes and more preferably less than 2 minutes.
  • the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the pretreatment composition is ambient-active. Accordingly, the
  • temperature of the wash liquor step of aqueous washing process is therefore less than 40 °C and preferably less than 30 °C and more preferably less than 25 °C and more preferably less than or equal to 22 °C further more preferably 15 °C or less at all times during the washing but excluding drying.
  • the laundry detergent composition can take any of a number of forms: examples include powders, granules, bars, gels and liquids.
  • the composition is in the form of a liquid .
  • they are main wash products. It can take the form of
  • a laundry composition for the main wash which may be dilutable or non-dilutable.
  • the laundry composition may for example be an isotropic liquid, or a surfactant-structured liquid.
  • Particularly preferred forms include combination detergent/softener products to provide "softening in the wash”.
  • the detergent composition has pH of from 6 to 1 1.5, more preferably from pH 6.5 to 9.5, most preferably from pH 7 to 9, for example from pH 7.5 to 8.5.
  • the detergent composition may be of low to moderate bulk density. In that case it may be prepared by spray-drying the slurry, and optionally post dosing (dry-mixing) further ingredients. Routes available for powder manufacture include spray drying, drum drying, fluid bed drying, and scraped film drying devices such as the wiped film evaporator. Alternatively, the main wash composition is a concentrated or compact powder. Such powders could be prepared by mixing or granulation, for example, using a high-speed mixer/granulator, or other non-tower processes.
  • the alkaline detergent composition is used in the form of aqueous wash liquor comprising 0.3 to 10 g/litre thereof. Further, it is preferred that a time difference of at least five minutes is allowed between the first and second steps.
  • difference in pH of the aqueous stain removing composition and the wash liquor is at least 4 units, provided further that pH of said wash liquor is at least 8.
  • the fabric may be any fabric such as cotton (woven, knitted and denim), polyester (woven, knitted and micro fibre), nylon, silk, polycotton (polyester/cotton blends), polyester elastane, cotton elastane, viscose rayon, acrylic or wool.
  • the composition and method in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for hydrophilic fabrics and more particularly for cotton or polycotton. Therefore, it is preferred that the hydrophilic fabric is cotton or polycotton. Alternatively, it is suitable for polyesters.
  • fabrics that could be treated include the other synthetic and natural fabrics. It is envisaged that the method can be used to treat garments and other clothing and apparels that form a typical wash-load in household laundry.
  • the household materials that could be treated include, but are not limited to, bedspreads, blankets, carpets, curtains and upholstery.
  • the stain may be any oily stain or sebaceous stain.
  • the stained portion of the fabric substantially contains oily or sebaceous stains. They are predominately solid in nature and such stains usually contact with fabrics in the course of their regular use. Non-limiting examples include mechanical grease, tomato oil stain, curry oil stain, dirty motor oil and sebum derived stains. Alternatively, the stains are tea or fruit stains.
  • SRI is a measure of how much of a stain on fabric is removed during washing process.
  • the intensity of any stain can be measured by reflectometer as the difference between the stain and a clean cloth giving ⁇ * for each stain. It is defined as ⁇ * , which is calculated as:
  • L * , a * , and b * are the coordinates of the CIE 1976 (L * , a * , b * ) colour space, determined using a standard reflectometer.
  • ⁇ * can be measured before and after the stain is washed, to give AE*b W (before wash) and AE * aw (after wash).
  • the clean (or virgin) fabric is an "absolute standard" which is not washed. For each experiment, it refers to an identical piece of fabric to that which the stain is applied. Therefore, its point in L * a * b * colour space stays constant.
  • a series of compositions were prepared. Some were within the scope of the invention while some were not. Each composition was subjected to the test described earlier (SRI). Details of the each composition and the observations are summarised in Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5.
  • composition 4 according to the invention provides maximum stain removal as supported by the corresponding SRI value, which is the highest in the Table. All the other compositions are outside the invention.
  • Example 1 1 , 12 and 13 are outside the scope of the invention.
  • the pH of Composition 10 is 3.5 and that of 1 1 is 4.8. However, there is no difference in their performance. An increase in pH lowers the performance (Compositions 12 and 13). Therefore, the pH of the compositions in accordance with the invention is limited to 1 to 4.
  • the Composition 14 represents a preferred form of composition in accordance with the invention.
  • the data in this Table shows the effect of bleach (oxidative bleach).
  • the Composition containing bleach is better than the corresponding Composition without bleach. This data indicates that if pH of the compositions is maintained constant, a composition containing bleach removes more stain than a composition without bleach. Both the compositions 14 and 15 are within the scope of the invention but Composition 14 is preferred over 15.
EP17720717.2A 2016-05-16 2017-04-21 Pre-treatment composition for fabric stains Pending EP3458565A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16169763 2016-05-16
PCT/EP2017/059485 WO2017198419A1 (en) 2016-05-16 2017-04-21 Pre-treatment composition for fabric stains

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3458565A1 true EP3458565A1 (en) 2019-03-27

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Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3458565A1 (zh)
CN (1) CN109153942A (zh)
BR (1) BR112018073596A2 (zh)
WO (1) WO2017198419A1 (zh)

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WO2019115297A1 (en) * 2017-12-12 2019-06-20 Unilever N.V. Foamable cleaning composition
CN113186041A (zh) * 2021-05-21 2021-07-30 大连欧派科技有限公司 一种衣物去污湿巾及其制备方法

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WO2017198419A1 (en) 2017-11-23

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