EP4702118A1 - A liquid laundry treatment composition - Google Patents

A liquid laundry treatment composition

Info

Publication number
EP4702118A1
EP4702118A1 EP24718111.8A EP24718111A EP4702118A1 EP 4702118 A1 EP4702118 A1 EP 4702118A1 EP 24718111 A EP24718111 A EP 24718111A EP 4702118 A1 EP4702118 A1 EP 4702118A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
composition
fabric
surfactant
fatty
polysaccharide
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
EP24718111.8A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Ishita Das
Sreejesh KIZHAKE VEETIL
Samiran Mahapatra
Namisha MOHAPATRA
Srilaxmi Venkata Medepalli
Yugandhar Bommaihpalle Sudhakar REDDY
Sripradha SADAGOPAN
Ramya SAMPATH KUMAR
Sandeep Varma
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 Global IP Ltd
Unilever IP Holdings BV
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 Global IP Ltd, Unilever IP Holdings BV filed Critical Unilever Global IP Ltd
Publication of EP4702118A1 publication Critical patent/EP4702118A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
    • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
    • C11D3/00—Other compounding ingredients of detergent compositions covered in group C11D1/00
    • C11D3/16—Organic compounds
    • C11D3/20—Organic compounds containing oxygen
    • C11D3/2003—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
    • C11D3/0005—Other compounding ingredients characterised by their effect
    • C11D3/0068—Deodorant compositions
    • 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
    • C11D3/22—Carbohydrates or derivatives thereof
    • C11D3/222—Natural or synthetic polysaccharides, e.g. cellulose, starch, gum, alginic acid or cyclodextrin
    • 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
    • C11D3/34—Organic compounds containing sulfur
    • C11D3/3418—Toluene -, xylene -, cumene -, benzene - or naphthalene sulfonates or sulfates
    • 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
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M13/005—Compositions containing perfumes; Compositions containing deodorants
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M13/10—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing oxygen
    • D06M13/144—Alcohols; Metal alcoholates
    • D06M13/148—Polyalcohols, e.g. glycerol or glucose
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M13/244—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing sulfur or phosphorus
    • D06M13/248—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing sulfur or phosphorus with compounds containing sulfur
    • D06M13/256—Sulfonated compounds esters thereof, e.g. sultones
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M15/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M15/01—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with natural macromolecular compounds or derivatives thereof
    • D06M15/03—Polysaccharides or derivatives thereof
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M15/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M15/19—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • D06M15/37—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M15/53—Polyethers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M13/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M13/322—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics or fibrous goods made from such materials, with non-macromolecular organic compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with compounds containing nitrogen
    • D06M13/46—Compounds containing quaternary nitrogen atoms
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06M—TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS
    • D06M15/00—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06M15/19—Treating fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, with macromolecular compounds; Such treatment combined with mechanical treatment with synthetic macromolecular compounds
    • D06M15/37—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • D06M15/643—Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds containing silicon in the main chain

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a composition for reducing malodour.
  • the present invention relates to a liquid fabric treatment composition that ensures that the fabric surface remains fresh and free of malodour.
  • Washing fabrics also known as laundering or simply as laundry, makes up one of the main chores that people undertake routinely. For this, people have been relying on detergent compositions that are widely available.
  • a fabric is washed by contacting it with a detergent composition either in neat or diluted form, rinsing the fabric one or more times with water; and finally, drying it.
  • a fabric is cleaned by mechanically agitating it using hands and/or by using suitable cleaning means e.g. a brush, in so-called hand-wash method.
  • suitable cleaning means e.g. a brush
  • machine-wash method a fabric is cleaned by mechanical agitations carried out by a machine.
  • a step of soaking a fabric, in a neat or diluted detergent composition may be carried out for a desired duration e.g. 30 to 60 minutes.
  • the step of drying may also be carried out by using machines; or simply by exposing the fabric to air, and if possible, under the sun.
  • a fabric conditioning composition is added especially in the final rinse step to provide various benefits like anti yellowing, fabric conditioning, or antimicrobial benefits.
  • Fabric conditioners were generally developed to deliver certain surface treatments to the fabric to ensure they are soft, smooth and free of static.
  • the present invention relates to a composition that could be included in either the wash step or the rinsing step for delivering the benefit of reducing hunger odours.
  • Drying of the fabric may be carried out in a machine at high temperature (e.g. 50 to 80 °C) with flow of air in which case the step may be carried out for half hour to about two hours. This is considered as fast drying in which case the high temperature ensures quick removal of water and inactivation of residual odour causing microorganisms.
  • Machine drying is energy intensive and is popular only in cold and rainy countries where there is continuous supply of power to run such machines. In hot countries like in the tropical areas with high amount of sunshine the washed fabric is dried in the sun on clotheslines. Such a drying process often taken several hours. Depending on the season e.g.
  • compositions comprising a surfactant, select polysaccharide and a hydrotrope.
  • Such compositions were found to deliver the desired benefit of reducing malodour.
  • the first aspect of the present invention relates to a liquid laundry treatment composition for reducing malodour comprising
  • a hydrotrope selected from one or more of sodium cumene sulphonate, sodium xylene sulphonate, polyethylene glycol and mono propylene glycol;
  • Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing malodour from a laundry surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the first aspect preferably diluted with water followed optionally with the step of rinsing the surface with water.
  • any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention.
  • the word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of” or “composed of'.
  • the term “comprising” is meant not to be limiting to any subsequently stated elements, but rather to optionally also encompass nonspecified elements of major or minor functional importance. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. Whenever the words “including” or “having” are used, these terms are meant to be equivalent to “comprising” as defined above. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se.
  • composition of the invention comprises a polysaccharide selected from one or more of algin, pectin, dextrin or resistant dextrin.
  • Alginic acid also called algin, is a polysaccharide distributed widely in the cell walls of brown algae that is hydrophilic and forms a viscous gum when hydrated.
  • Alginic acid is a linear copolymer with homopolymeric blocks of (1— >4)-linked p-D-mannuronate (M) and a-L- guluronate (G) residues, respectively, covalently linked together in different sequences or blocks.
  • the monomers may appear in homopolymeric blocks of consecutive G-residues (G-blocks), consecutive M-residues (M-blocks) or alternating M and G-residues (MG-blocks).
  • a-L-guluronate is the C-5 epimer of p-D-mannuronate.
  • Alginates are refined from brown seaweeds. Throughout the world, many of the Phaeophyceae class brown seaweeds are harvested to be processed and converted into sodium alginate and alginic acid.
  • Pectin is a structural acidic heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary and middle lamella and cell walls of terrestrial plants. Its main component is galacturonic acid, a sugar acid derived from galactose. It is produced commercially as a white to light brown powder, mainly extracted from citrus fruits, and is used in food as a gelling agent, particularly in jams and jellies. It is also used in dessert fillings, medicines, sweets, as a stabiliser in fruit juices and milk drinks, and as a source of dietary fiber. Pectin also known as pectic polysaccharides, are rich in galacturonic acid. Several distinct polysaccharides have been identified and characterised within the pectic group.
  • Homogalacturonans are linear chains of a-(1-4)-linked D-galacturonic acid. Substituted galacturonans are characterised by the presence of saccharide appendant residues (such as D-xylose or D-apiose in the respective cases of xylogalacturonan and apiogalacturonan) branching from a backbone of D-galacturonic acid residues.
  • saccharide appendant residues such as D-xylose or D-apiose in the respective cases of xylogalacturonan and apiogalacturonan
  • Rhamnogalacturonan pectins (RG- I) contain a backbone of the repeating disaccharide: 4)-a-D-galacturonic acid-(1 ,2)-a-L- rhamnose-(1.
  • rhamnose residues From many of the rhamnose residues, sidechains of various neutral sugars branch off.
  • the neutral sugars are mainly D-galactose, L-arabinose and D-xylose, with the types and proportions of neutral sugars varying with the origin of pectin.
  • pectin Another structural type of pectin is rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II), which is a less frequent, complex, highly branched polysaccharide.
  • Pectin is the preferred first polysaccharide for inclusion in the composition of the invention.
  • Pectin when included is preferably derived from one or more of a fruit chosen from pear, apple, guava, plum, gooseberry, orange or any other citrus fruit, preferably citrus. It is preferably from apple or citrus fruit.
  • Pectin consists predominantly of a-D galacturonic acid units, but also contains some amount of neutral sugars such as rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, galactose and glucose.
  • the percentage of galacturonic acid units is therefore the amount of galacturonic acid groups present relative to the total amount of the pectin.
  • the galacturonic acid content of a sample can be determined by methods known in the art, such as for example the Saeman hydrolysis method (Englyst and Cummings (Analyst, 109(7), 937-942 (1984), Filisetti-Cozzi and Carpita (Analytical Biochemistry, 197, 157-162 (1991)).
  • Galacturonic acid typically has the following repeat unit structure:
  • the degree of esterification can be determined according to methods known in the art, such as the base titration method (Shultz, 1965) as proposed by the Food Chemical Codex (FCC (1981). 3rd ed., (1981) National Academy of Science, Washington, DC), quantification of methanol released during de-esterification using gas chromatography (GC) (Walter et al. (1983), Journal of Food Science, 48: 1006-10070), colorimetry (Hou et al.
  • carboxylic groups are typically methylated to varying degrees to provide pectin methyl esters.
  • the number fraction of carboxylic acid groups methylated is known as the degree of methyl esterification.
  • the pectin used in the composition of the present invention preferably has a degree of methyl esterification higher than 50%, more preferably 52.5% or higher, further more preferably 55% or higher, yet more preferably 57.5% or higher and most preferably 60% or higher.
  • the pectin used according to the invention preferably has a molecular weight of higher than 50kDa, more preferably higher than 100kDa. Typical upper limits of pectin molecular weights are preferably of the order of 1000kDa, more preferably 800kDa. Thus, the pectin for use in the composition of the invention preferably has a molecular weight of between 50 kDa and 1000kDa.
  • Dextrin is preferably prepared by partial hydrolysis of starches from corn, potato, arow root, tapioca starch or wheat. The hydrolysis may be by thermal or enzymatic means.
  • Dextrin is a combination of D-glucose units linked through a(1 - 4) or a(1 - 6) glycosidic bonds.
  • Dextrin generally has the chemical formula (CeHioOs A preferred dextrin is one having CAS No. 9004- 53-9. It generally has a pH in the range of 4 to 5 when a 20% solution is measured at 25 °C. It is usually sold as a pale yellow powder which is odourless.
  • the power usually has a particle size in the range of 100 to 200 .m.
  • Resistant dextrin is also known by some as maltodextrin. It is usually prepared by highly controlled partial hydrolysis of corn, potatoes, barley or wheat. It usually contains 3 to 20 D- glucose units that are linked by a(1 -4) glycosidic bond. It usually has the chemical formula C6nH(ion+2)0(5n+i). A preferred resistant dextrin has the CAS No.
  • a preferred supplier of resistant dextrin is ADM Bio Science & Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Tianjin, China who sell it under the brand name Fbersol R 2.
  • the preferred polysaccharide for use in the liquid laundry treatment composition is resistant dextrin. It is preferred that resistant dextrin is included in liquid laundry treatment composition because it is observed that the other polysaccharides albeit efficacious, they cause undersirable increase in the viscosity of the liquid compositions. Resistant dextrin does not have this disadvantage.
  • the composition preferably comprises the polysaccharide to be included at a concentration of 0.01 to 5%, preferably 0.05 to 4% by weight of the composition.
  • the composition of the invention comprises a hydrotrope.
  • Suitable hydrotropes for inclusion in the composition of the invention are one or more of an alkali metal cumene sulphonate, alkali metal xylene sulphonate, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and mono propylene glycol (MPG).
  • the preferred alkali metal cumene sulphonate is sodium cumene sulphone (SCS).
  • the preferred alkali metal xylene sulphonate is sodium xylene sulphonate (SXS).
  • the most preferred hydrotrope for use in liquid laundry treatment composition of the invention is one or both of PEG and MPG, preferably MPG.
  • the composition preferably comprises 0.1 to 5 wt%, more preferably 0.2 to 4 wt% hydrotrope.
  • the composition may be delivered as a laundry detergent composition which comprises 1 to 80% surfactant.
  • the laundry detergent composition may be delivered in the form of a liquid.
  • a preferred aspect relates to a liquid laundry detergent composition which comprises 5 to 60% anionic surfactant.
  • the laundry detergent composition in which the present invention is delivered is in the liquid form.
  • liquid may encompass emulsions, suspensions, and compositions having flowable yet stiffer consistency, known as gels or pastes.
  • Pourable liquid detergent compositions preferably have a viscosity of from 200 to 1 ,500 mPa.s, preferably from 200 to 700 mPa.s.
  • Such compositions generally have an aqueous continuous phase.
  • the composition comprises at least 50% wt. water and more preferably at least 70% wt. water. Water is generally present in an amount of 20% to 99.9% preferably from 40% to 80% by weight of the composition.
  • Liquid laundry detergent compositions generally comprise 5 to 60% and preferably from 10 to 40% by weight of one or more surfactants.
  • the surfactant is generally anionic in nature.
  • Preferred anionic surfactants are of the organic sulfates and sulfonates 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. Examples of such materials include alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkaryl sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates and mixtures thereof.
  • the alkyl radicals preferably contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated.
  • the alkyl ether sulfates may contain from one to ten ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule, and preferably contain one to three ethylene oxide units per molecule.
  • the counterion for anionic surfactants is generally an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium; or an ammoniacal counterion such as monoethanolamine, (MEA) diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA). Mixtures of such counterions may also be employed. Sodium and potassium are preferred.
  • Most preferred surfactants are of the alkylbenzene sulfonates type, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms.
  • Some alkyl sulfate surfactant (PAS) may be used, such as non-ethoxylated primary and secondary alkyl sulphates with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18.
  • the composition comprises from 1 to 20%, more preferably 5 to 20 wt% non-ionic surfactant based on the total weight of composition.
  • a preferred class of nonionic surfactant for use in the invention includes aliphatic Cs to C , more preferably C12 to C15 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
  • a preferred non-ionic surfactant are the C16/18 Alcohol ethoxylates.
  • Liquid laundry detergent compositions also generally comprise agents like soil release polymers, hydrotropes, co-surfactants, builders, polymeric thickeners, and shading dyes in addition to the above described ingredients.
  • Soil release polymers help to improve the detachment of soils from fabric by modifying the fabric surface during washing.
  • the SRP structure may also include capping groups to control molecular weight or to alter polymer properties such as surface activity.
  • Preferred SRPs for use in the invention include copolyesters formed by condensation of terephthalic acid ester and diol, preferably 1 ,2 propanediol, and further comprising an end cap formed from repeat units of alkylene oxide capped with an alkyl group.
  • the SRP when included, may range from 0.1 to 10%, desirably from 0.3 to 7%, more preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition.
  • the liquid laundry detergent composition of the invention may contain one or more cosurfactants (such as amphoteric (zwitterionic) and/or cationic surfactants) in addition to the non-soap anionic and/or nonionic detersive surfactants described above.
  • cosurfactant when included, may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composition.
  • the liquid laundry detergent composition may also optionally contain relatively low levels of organic detergent builder or sequestrant material.
  • organic detergent builder or sequestrant material examples include the alkali metal citrates, succinates, malonates, carboxymethyl succinates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates aminocarboxylates and polyacetyl carboxylates.
  • the organic builder materials may comprise from about 0.5 percent to 20 wt percent, preferably from 1 wt percent to 10 wt percent, of the composition.
  • the composition of the invention is also preferably delivered as a liquid fabric conditioning composition which comprises 1 to 50% of a fabric softening active.
  • Fabric conditioners comprise active materials which soften or condition fabric.
  • suitable fabric softening actives include: quaternary ammonium compounds, silicone polymers, polysaccharides, clays, amines, fatty esters, dispersible polyolefins, polymer latexes and mixtures thereof.
  • the fabric softening active is preferably one or both of a quaternary ammonium compound and silicone polymer, preferably a quaternary ammonium compound.
  • the fabric softening compounds may preferably be cationic or non-ionic.
  • the fabric softening compounds of the present invention are cationic.
  • the fabric softening compound is cationic it is generally a cationic surfactant and is the surfactant as per the claimed composition.
  • Suitable cationic fabric softening compounds are described below.
  • Fabric conditioning compositions for use in accordance with the invention may be dilute or concentrated.
  • Dilute products typically contain up to about 6 wt.% of the composition softening compounds, generally about 1 to 5 wt.%
  • concentrated products may contain up to about 50 wt. % of the composition softening compounds, preferably from about 5 to about 50 wt.%, more preferably from 6 to 25 wt.%.
  • the products of the invention may contain from 1 to 50 wt. %, preferably from 2 to 25 wt. % of the composition softening compounds, more preferably 2 to 20 wt. % of softening compounds.
  • the preferred softening compounds for use in fabric conditioner compositions of the invention are quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC).
  • the QAC preferably comprises at least one chain derived from fatty acids, more preferably at least two chains derived from a fatty acids.
  • fatty acids are defined as aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having a chain of 4 to 28 carbons.
  • the fatty acid chains are palm or tallow fatty acids.
  • the fatty acid chains of the QAC comprise from 10 to 50 wt. % of saturated C18 chains and from 5 to 40 wt. % of monounsaturated C18 chains by weight of total fatty acid chains.
  • the fatty acid chains of the QAC comprise from 20 to 40 wt. %, preferably from 25 to 35 wt. % of saturated C18 chains and from 10 to 35 wt. %, preferably from 15 to 30 wt. % of monounsaturated C18 chains, by weight of total fatty acid chains.
  • the preferred quaternary ammonium fabric softening compounds for use in compositions of the present invention are so called "ester quats".
  • Particularly preferred materials are the ester-linked triethanolamine (TEA) quaternary ammonium compounds comprising a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-ester linked components.
  • TAA ester-linked triethanolamine
  • TEA-based fabric softening compounds comprise a mixture of mono, di- and tri ester forms of the compound where the di-ester linked component comprises no more than 70 wt.% of the fabric softening compound, preferably no more than 60 wt.% e.g. no more than 55%, or even no more that 45% of the fabric softening compound and at least 10 wt.% of the monoester linked component.
  • Suitable actives include soft quaternary ammonium actives such as Stepantex VT90, Rewoquat WE18 (ex-Evonik) and Tetranyl L1/90N, Tetranyl L190 SP and Tetranyl L190 S (all ex-Kao).
  • TEA ester quats actives rich in the di-esters of triethanolammonium methylsulfate, otherwise referred to as "TEA ester quats".
  • PreapagenTM TQL Ex-Clariant
  • TetranylTM AHT-1 Ex-Kao
  • AT-1 di-[hardened tallow ester] of triethanolammonium methylsulfate
  • L5/90 di-[palm ester] of triethanolammonium methylsulfate
  • RewoquatTM WE15 a di-ester of triethanolammonium methylsulfate having fatty acyl residues deriving from C10-C20 and C16-C18 unsaturated fatty acids
  • Non-ionic surfactants are non-ionic surfactants:
  • the fabric conditioning compositions may further comprise a nonionic surfactant. Typically these can be included for the purpose of stabilising the compositions. Suitable nonionic surfactants include addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines. Any of the alkoxylated materials of the particular type described hereinafter can be used as the nonionic surfactant.
  • the nonionic surfactant has an HLB of from about 7 to about 20, more preferably from 10 to 18, e.g. 12 to 16.
  • GenapolTM C200 (Clariant) based on coco chain and 20 EO groups is an example of a suitable nonionic surfactant.
  • the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount from 0.01 to 10 wt.%, more preferably 0.1 to 5 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition.
  • a class of preferred non-ionic surfactants include addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines. These are preferably selected from addition products of (a) an alkoxide selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof with (b) a fatty material selected from fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines.
  • the fabric conditioning composition of the invention preferably comprises 0.1 to 5 wt% of a non-ionic surfactant preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate.
  • a non-ionic surfactant preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate.
  • Co-softeners may be used in the fabric conditioning composition. When employed, they are typically present at from 0.1 to 20 wt.% and particularly at from 0.5 to 10 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition.
  • Preferred co-softeners include fatty esters, and fatty N-oxides.
  • Fatty esters that may be employed include fatty monoesters, such as glycerol monostearate, fatty sugar esters, such as those disclosed WO 01/46361 (Unilever).
  • compositions of the present invention may comprise a fatty complexing agent.
  • suitable fatty complexing agents include fatty alcohols and fatty acids. Of these, fatty alcohols are most preferred.
  • Preferred fatty acids include tallow fatty acid or vegetable fatty acids, particularly preferred are hardened tallow fatty acid or hardened vegetable fatty acid (available under the trade name PristereneTM, ex Croda).
  • Preferred fatty alcohols include tallow alcohol or vegetable alcohol, particularly preferred are hardened tallow alcohol or hardened vegetable alcohol (available under the trade names StenolTM and HydrenolTM, ex BASF and LaurexTM OS, ex Huntsman).
  • the fatty complexing agent is preferably present in an amount greater than 0.3 to 5 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition. More preferably, the fatty component is present in an amount of from 0.4 to 4 wt.%.
  • the weight ratio of the mono-ester component of the quaternary ammonium fabric softening material to the fatty complexing agent is preferably from 5:1 to 1 :5, more preferably 4:1 to 1 :4, most preferably 3:1 to 1 :3, e.g. 2:1 to 1 :2.
  • the composition of the present invention comprises 0.5 to 20 wt.% perfume materials by weight of the composition, more preferably 1 to 15 wt.% perfume materials, most preferably 2 to 10 wt. % perfume materials.
  • the fabric conditioner composition of the present invention may comprise a cationic polymer. This refers to polymers having an overall positive charge at a neutral pH (pH 7). The cationic polymers provide increased viscosity.
  • the cationic polymer may be naturally derived or synthetic.
  • suitable cationic polymers include: acrylate polymers, cationic amino resins, cationic urea resins, and cationic polysaccharides, including: cationic celluloses, cationic guars and cationic starches.
  • the cationic polymer is selected from; cationic polysaccharides and acrylate polymers. More preferably the cationic polymer is a cationic acrylate polymer.
  • the molecular weight of the cationic polymer is preferably greater than 20 000 g/mol, more preferably greater than 25 000 g/mol.
  • the molecular weight is preferably less than 2 000 000 g/mol, more preferably less than 1 000 000 g/mol.
  • compositions according to the current invention preferably comprise cationic polymer at a level of 0.25 to 10 wt. % of the composition, preferably 0.35 to 7.5 wt. % of the composition, more preferably 0.5 to 5 wt. % of the composition.
  • compositions may comprise other ingredients of fabric conditioner liquids as will be known to the person skilled in the art.
  • antifoams e.g. bactericides
  • pH buffering agents perfume carriers, hydrotropes, anti-redeposition agents, soil-release agents, polyelectrolytes, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-oxidants, dyes, colorants, sunscreens, anticorrosion agents, drape imparting agents, anti-static agents, sequestrants and ironing aids.
  • the products of the invention may contain pearlisers and/or opacifiers.
  • a preferred sequestrant is HEDP, an abbreviation for Etidronic acid or 1 -hydroxyethane 1 ,1-diphosphonic acid.
  • the fabric conditioner composition is preferably in an aqueous form.
  • the compositions preferably comprise from 75 to 95wt.% water
  • the fabric conditioning composition may be used to treat fabrics either in a hand washing or a machine washing process.
  • the fabric conditioner is used in the rinse stage of the washing process.
  • the clothes are treated with a 10 to 100 ml dose of fabric conditioner for a 4 to 7 kg load of clothes. More preferably, 10 to 80 ml for a a 4 to 7 kg load of clothes.
  • the invention also relates to a method of reducing odour on fabric for up to five days comprising the step of contacting the fabric pre-wet with water with a composition of the first aspect; followed optionally by the steps of rinsing with water; and then drying.
  • the composition When the composition is formulated as a laundry detergent composition, the composition may be diluted in water after which the fabric is washed either by hand or in a machine. Thereafter the washed fabric may be rinsed two or three times, squeeze dried and thereafter dried either in a drying machine or left out to dry on a clothesline.
  • the composition When formulated as a fabric conditioning composition the composition may be added to the rinse water preferably in the last stage of rinsing and then squeeze dried before drying in a machine or on a clothesline.
  • the composition may be used as is, i.e. neat, or it may be diluted before use.
  • the extent of dilution is generally dependent on the type of product and the market choice. In some markets a more concentrated product is desired while in others a more dilute product is preferred.
  • the product may typically be diluted with water in a weight ratio in the range of 1 :1 to 1 :500 preferably 1 :1 to 1 :300 more preferably 1 :1 to 1 :100, most preferably 1 :1 to 1 :50.
  • composition of the invention especially when formulated as a laundry detergent composition may also be delivered in a spray format.
  • the spray may be delivered form a hand held container comprising a pump, the container containing the composition as per the invention.
  • the contents of the container may be sprayed on to clothes which are then washed using the normal laundering process. Sprays are effective in delivering the actives inside the pores of the fabric.
  • Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing malodour from a laundry surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the invention preferably diluted with water followed optionally with the step of rinsing the surface with water.
  • Examples A-H, 1-10 Model experiments on various combinations of LAS, pectin, and SCS or SXS on malodour generation:
  • Example l-L, 11 ,12 Effect of inclusion of polysaccharide and humectant in a fabric conditioning composition
  • a liquid fabric conditioning composition was taken as shown in Table - 2 below.
  • Various compositions as shown in Table - 2 were prepared by including certain amounts of polysaccharide and/ or hydrotrope therein. The compositions were tested for malodour generation using procedure as given below.
  • Table - 3 The data in table -3 above indicates that inclusion of both the polysaccharide and the hydrotrope in a fabric conditioning composition provides for vastly improved reduction in malodour.
  • a liquid fabric conditioning composition was taken as shown in Table - 4 below.
  • Various compositions as shown in Table - 5 were prepared by including certain amounts of polysaccharide and/ or hydrotrope therein. The compositions were tested for malodour generation using procedure as given above for Examples l,L, 11 ,12 and the data is summarized in Table - 5.
  • Table -4 :

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for reducing malodour. Particularly, the present invention relates to a liquid fabric treatment composition like a laundry detergent or fabric conditioning composition that ensures that the surface remains fresh and free of malodours. This is ensured by using a composition comprising a surfactant, select polysaccharide and a hydrotrope.

Description

A LIQUID LAUNDRY TREATMENT COMPOSITION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composition for reducing malodour. Particularly, the present invention relates to a liquid fabric treatment composition that ensures that the fabric surface remains fresh and free of malodour.
Background of the Invention
Washing fabrics, also known as laundering or simply as laundry, makes up one of the main chores that people undertake routinely. For this, people have been relying on detergent compositions that are widely available. Typically, a fabric is washed by contacting it with a detergent composition either in neat or diluted form, rinsing the fabric one or more times with water; and finally, drying it. In the washing step, a fabric is cleaned by mechanically agitating it using hands and/or by using suitable cleaning means e.g. a brush, in so-called hand-wash method. Alternatively, in so-called machine-wash method, a fabric is cleaned by mechanical agitations carried out by a machine. In either case, a step of soaking a fabric, in a neat or diluted detergent composition, may be carried out for a desired duration e.g. 30 to 60 minutes. The step of drying may also be carried out by using machines; or simply by exposing the fabric to air, and if possible, under the sun.
During the rinsing steps, which may be with fresh water two or three times, often a fabric conditioning composition is added especially in the final rinse step to provide various benefits like anti yellowing, fabric conditioning, or antimicrobial benefits. Fabric conditioners were generally developed to deliver certain surface treatments to the fabric to ensure they are soft, smooth and free of static. The present invention relates to a composition that could be included in either the wash step or the rinsing step for delivering the benefit of reducing dank odours.
Drying of the fabric may be carried out in a machine at high temperature (e.g. 50 to 80 °C) with flow of air in which case the step may be carried out for half hour to about two hours. This is considered as fast drying in which case the high temperature ensures quick removal of water and inactivation of residual odour causing microorganisms. Machine drying is energy intensive and is popular only in cold and rainy countries where there is continuous supply of power to run such machines. In hot countries like in the tropical areas with high amount of sunshine the washed fabric is dried in the sun on clotheslines. Such a drying process often taken several hours. Depending on the season e.g. the rainy season or unavailability of outdoor space to dry the fabric in the sun, the drying is much slower and may sometimes take two or three days to dry. Under such drying conditions the clothes acquire a dank odour. Including a fabric treatment composition (containing high amount of perfume) during the rinse step does not seem to solve the problem to an adequate amount. The present inventors are aware that microorganisms like Moraxella osloensis and Staphylococcus hominis are responsible for producing the malodour when fabric are present under these high - moisture conditions.
The present inventors in seeking to solve the above problem have hit upon a solution which involves formulating a composition comprising a surfactant, select polysaccharide and a hydrotrope. Such compositions were found to deliver the desired benefit of reducing malodour.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a liquid laundry treatment composition that provides malodour benefits on the washed fabric especially when they are dried under slow drying conditions or could only be dried to a high moisture content.
Summary of the Invention
The first aspect of the present invention relates to a liquid laundry treatment composition for reducing malodour comprising
(i) 0.01 to 5 wt% a polysaccharide selected from one or more of algin, pectin, dextrin or resistant dextrin;
(ii) 0.1 to 5 wt% a hydrotrope selected from one or more of sodium cumene sulphonate, sodium xylene sulphonate, polyethylene glycol and mono propylene glycol; and
(iii) a surfactant.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing malodour from a laundry surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the first aspect preferably diluted with water followed optionally with the step of rinsing the surface with water.
Detailed Description of the Invention
For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention. The word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of” or "composed of'. Thus, the term "comprising" is meant not to be limiting to any subsequently stated elements, but rather to optionally also encompass nonspecified elements of major or minor functional importance. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. Whenever the words "including" or "having" are used, these terms are meant to be equivalent to "comprising" as defined above. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about". Unless specified otherwise, numerical ranges expressed in the format "x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. Unless specified otherwise, amounts as used herein are expressed in percentage by weight based on total weight of the composition and is abbreviated as “wt%”.
The composition of the invention comprises a polysaccharide selected from one or more of algin, pectin, dextrin or resistant dextrin.
Alginic acid, also called algin, is a polysaccharide distributed widely in the cell walls of brown algae that is hydrophilic and forms a viscous gum when hydrated. Alginic acid is a linear copolymer with homopolymeric blocks of (1— >4)-linked p-D-mannuronate (M) and a-L- guluronate (G) residues, respectively, covalently linked together in different sequences or blocks. The monomers may appear in homopolymeric blocks of consecutive G-residues (G-blocks), consecutive M-residues (M-blocks) or alternating M and G-residues (MG-blocks). a-L-guluronate is the C-5 epimer of p-D-mannuronate. Alginates are refined from brown seaweeds. Throughout the world, many of the Phaeophyceae class brown seaweeds are harvested to be processed and converted into sodium alginate and alginic acid.
Pectin is a structural acidic heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary and middle lamella and cell walls of terrestrial plants. Its main component is galacturonic acid, a sugar acid derived from galactose. It is produced commercially as a white to light brown powder, mainly extracted from citrus fruits, and is used in food as a gelling agent, particularly in jams and jellies. It is also used in dessert fillings, medicines, sweets, as a stabiliser in fruit juices and milk drinks, and as a source of dietary fiber. Pectin also known as pectic polysaccharides, are rich in galacturonic acid. Several distinct polysaccharides have been identified and characterised within the pectic group. Homogalacturonans are linear chains of a-(1-4)-linked D-galacturonic acid. Substituted galacturonans are characterised by the presence of saccharide appendant residues (such as D-xylose or D-apiose in the respective cases of xylogalacturonan and apiogalacturonan) branching from a backbone of D-galacturonic acid residues. Rhamnogalacturonan pectins (RG- I) contain a backbone of the repeating disaccharide: 4)-a-D-galacturonic acid-(1 ,2)-a-L- rhamnose-(1. From many of the rhamnose residues, sidechains of various neutral sugars branch off. The neutral sugars are mainly D-galactose, L-arabinose and D-xylose, with the types and proportions of neutral sugars varying with the origin of pectin. Another structural type of pectin is rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II), which is a less frequent, complex, highly branched polysaccharide.
Pectin is the preferred first polysaccharide for inclusion in the composition of the invention. Pectin when included is preferably derived from one or more of a fruit chosen from pear, apple, guava, plum, gooseberry, orange or any other citrus fruit, preferably citrus. It is preferably from apple or citrus fruit.
Pectin consists predominantly of a-D galacturonic acid units, but also contains some amount of neutral sugars such as rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, galactose and glucose.
The percentage of galacturonic acid units is therefore the amount of galacturonic acid groups present relative to the total amount of the pectin. The galacturonic acid content of a sample can be determined by methods known in the art, such as for example the Saeman hydrolysis method (Englyst and Cummings (Analyst, 109(7), 937-942 (1984), Filisetti-Cozzi and Carpita (Analytical Biochemistry, 197, 157-162 (1991)).
Galacturonic acid typically has the following repeat unit structure:
It is possible to esterify galacturonic acids on the carboxylic acid group. The percentage of esterified units is called the degree of esterification (DE). The degree of esterification can be determined according to methods known in the art, such as the base titration method (Shultz, 1965) as proposed by the Food Chemical Codex (FCC (1981). 3rd ed., (1981) National Academy of Science, Washington, DC), quantification of methanol released during de-esterification using gas chromatography (GC) (Walter et al. (1983), Journal of Food Science, 48: 1006-10070), colorimetry (Hou et al. (1999), Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sincia, 40:115-119), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Levigne S., et al. (2002), Food Hydrocolloids 16: 547-550), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (Rosenbohm et al. (2003) Carbohydrate Research, 338: 637-649) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) (Williams et al. (2003), Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry, 51 : 1777-1781).
A method to separate pectin into fractions with different DE is described, for example, by Strom, et al. (2005), Carbohydrate Polymers, Volume 60, Issue 4, 20 June 2005, Pages 467-473.
In nature, the carboxylic groups are typically methylated to varying degrees to provide pectin methyl esters. The number fraction of carboxylic acid groups methylated is known as the degree of methyl esterification.
The pectin used in the composition of the present invention preferably has a degree of methyl esterification higher than 50%, more preferably 52.5% or higher, further more preferably 55% or higher, yet more preferably 57.5% or higher and most preferably 60% or higher.
The pectin used according to the invention preferably has a molecular weight of higher than 50kDa, more preferably higher than 100kDa. Typical upper limits of pectin molecular weights are preferably of the order of 1000kDa, more preferably 800kDa. Thus, the pectin for use in the composition of the invention preferably has a molecular weight of between 50 kDa and 1000kDa.
Dextrin is preferably prepared by partial hydrolysis of starches from corn, potato, arow root, tapioca starch or wheat. The hydrolysis may be by thermal or enzymatic means. Dextrin is a combination of D-glucose units linked through a(1 - 4) or a(1 - 6) glycosidic bonds. Dextrin generally has the chemical formula (CeHioOs A preferred dextrin is one having CAS No. 9004- 53-9. It generally has a pH in the range of 4 to 5 when a 20% solution is measured at 25 °C. It is usually sold as a pale yellow powder which is odourless. The power usually has a particle size in the range of 100 to 200 .m. It is soluble in water at 20 °C. The viscosity is low since a 50% solution in water at 20 °C is measured to have a value in the range of about 50 to 200 mPa.s. A preferred supplier of dextrin is Roquette Freres, France who sell it under the brand name NutrioseR FB 06. Resistant dextrin is also known by some as maltodextrin. It is usually prepared by highly controlled partial hydrolysis of corn, potatoes, barley or wheat. It usually contains 3 to 20 D- glucose units that are linked by a(1 -4) glycosidic bond. It usually has the chemical formula C6nH(ion+2)0(5n+i). A preferred resistant dextrin has the CAS No. 9050-36-6. It is usually sold as an off-white powder which is odourless. It is soluble in water. A preferred supplier of resistant dextrin is ADM Bio Science & Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Tianjin, China who sell it under the brand name FbersolR 2.
The preferred polysaccharide for use in the liquid laundry treatment composition is resistant dextrin. It is preferred that resistant dextrin is included in liquid laundry treatment composition because it is observed that the other polysaccharides albeit efficacious, they cause undersirable increase in the viscosity of the liquid compositions. Resistant dextrin does not have this disadvantage. The composition preferably comprises the polysaccharide to be included at a concentration of 0.01 to 5%, preferably 0.05 to 4% by weight of the composition.
The composition of the invention comprises a hydrotrope. Suitable hydrotropes for inclusion in the composition of the invention are one or more of an alkali metal cumene sulphonate, alkali metal xylene sulphonate, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and mono propylene glycol (MPG). The preferred alkali metal cumene sulphonate is sodium cumene sulphone (SCS). The preferred alkali metal xylene sulphonate is sodium xylene sulphonate (SXS). The most preferred hydrotrope for use in liquid laundry treatment composition of the invention is one or both of PEG and MPG, preferably MPG. It is observed that although the other hydrotropes are efficacious they cause undesirable decrease in the viscosity of the liquid compositions. MPG does not have this disadvantage. Further it is observed that SCS is unstable in liquid fabric conditioning compositions. The composition preferably comprises 0.1 to 5 wt%, more preferably 0.2 to 4 wt% hydrotrope. Without wishing to be bound by theory the inventors believe that the inclusion of the hydrotrope in addition to its known property of enhancing solubility of the surfactants, increases the bioavailability of the polysaccharide thereby helping in increasing their efficacy in countering the formation of the malodour molecules from the malodour causing bacteria.
The composition may be delivered as a laundry detergent composition which comprises 1 to 80% surfactant. The laundry detergent composition may be delivered in the form of a liquid. A preferred aspect relates to a liquid laundry detergent composition which comprises 5 to 60% anionic surfactant.
The laundry detergent composition in which the present invention is delivered is in the liquid form. The term liquid may encompass emulsions, suspensions, and compositions having flowable yet stiffer consistency, known as gels or pastes. Pourable liquid detergent compositions preferably have a viscosity of from 200 to 1 ,500 mPa.s, preferably from 200 to 700 mPa.s. Such compositions generally have an aqueous continuous phase. Preferably, the composition comprises at least 50% wt. water and more preferably at least 70% wt. water. Water is generally present in an amount of 20% to 99.9% preferably from 40% to 80% by weight of the composition.
Liquid laundry detergent compositions generally comprise 5 to 60% and preferably from 10 to 40% by weight of one or more surfactants. The surfactant is generally anionic in nature. Preferred anionic surfactants are of the organic sulfates and sulfonates 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. Examples of such materials include alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkaryl sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates and mixtures thereof. The alkyl radicals preferably contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. The alkyl ether sulfates may contain from one to ten ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule, and preferably contain one to three ethylene oxide units per molecule. The counterion for anionic surfactants is generally an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium; or an ammoniacal counterion such as monoethanolamine, (MEA) diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA). Mixtures of such counterions may also be employed. Sodium and potassium are preferred.
Most preferred surfactants are of the alkylbenzene sulfonates type, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Some alkyl sulfate surfactant (PAS) may be used, such as non-ethoxylated primary and secondary alkyl sulphates with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18.
Preferably, the composition comprises from 1 to 20%, more preferably 5 to 20 wt% non-ionic surfactant based on the total weight of composition. A preferred class of nonionic surfactant for use in the invention includes aliphatic Cs to C , more preferably C12 to C15 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. A preferred non-ionic surfactant are the C16/18 Alcohol ethoxylates. Liquid laundry detergent compositions also generally comprise agents like soil release polymers, hydrotropes, co-surfactants, builders, polymeric thickeners, and shading dyes in addition to the above described ingredients. Soil release polymers (SRP) help to improve the detachment of soils from fabric by modifying the fabric surface during washing. The SRP structure may also include capping groups to control molecular weight or to alter polymer properties such as surface activity. Preferred SRPs for use in the invention include copolyesters formed by condensation of terephthalic acid ester and diol, preferably 1 ,2 propanediol, and further comprising an end cap formed from repeat units of alkylene oxide capped with an alkyl group. The SRP, when included, may range from 0.1 to 10%, desirably from 0.3 to 7%, more preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight of the composition.
The liquid laundry detergent composition of the invention may contain one or more cosurfactants (such as amphoteric (zwitterionic) and/or cationic surfactants) in addition to the non-soap anionic and/or nonionic detersive surfactants described above. Such cosurfactant, when included, may be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 5% by weight of the composition.
The liquid laundry detergent composition may also optionally contain relatively low levels of organic detergent builder or sequestrant material. Examples include the alkali metal citrates, succinates, malonates, carboxymethyl succinates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates aminocarboxylates and polyacetyl carboxylates. If utilized, the organic builder materials may comprise from about 0.5 percent to 20 wt percent, preferably from 1 wt percent to 10 wt percent, of the composition.
Fabric
The composition of the invention is also preferably delivered as a liquid fabric conditioning composition which comprises 1 to 50% of a fabric softening active. Fabric conditioners comprise active materials which soften or condition fabric. Examples of suitable fabric softening actives include: quaternary ammonium compounds, silicone polymers, polysaccharides, clays, amines, fatty esters, dispersible polyolefins, polymer latexes and mixtures thereof. The fabric softening active is preferably one or both of a quaternary ammonium compound and silicone polymer, preferably a quaternary ammonium compound.
The fabric softening compounds may preferably be cationic or non-ionic. Preferably, the fabric softening compounds of the present invention are cationic. When the fabric softening compound is cationic it is generally a cationic surfactant and is the surfactant as per the claimed composition.
Suitable cationic fabric softening compounds are described below.
Fabric conditioning compositions for use in accordance with the invention may be dilute or concentrated. Dilute products typically contain up to about 6 wt.% of the composition softening compounds, generally about 1 to 5 wt.%, whereas concentrated products may contain up to about 50 wt. % of the composition softening compounds, preferably from about 5 to about 50 wt.%, more preferably from 6 to 25 wt.%. Overall, the products of the invention may contain from 1 to 50 wt. %, preferably from 2 to 25 wt. % of the composition softening compounds, more preferably 2 to 20 wt. % of softening compounds.
The preferred softening compounds for use in fabric conditioner compositions of the invention are quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC).
The QAC preferably comprises at least one chain derived from fatty acids, more preferably at least two chains derived from a fatty acids. Generally fatty acids are defined as aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having a chain of 4 to 28 carbons. Preferably the fatty acid chains are palm or tallow fatty acids. Preferably the fatty acid chains of the QAC comprise from 10 to 50 wt. % of saturated C18 chains and from 5 to 40 wt. % of monounsaturated C18 chains by weight of total fatty acid chains. In a further preferred embodiment, the fatty acid chains of the QAC comprise from 20 to 40 wt. %, preferably from 25 to 35 wt. % of saturated C18 chains and from 10 to 35 wt. %, preferably from 15 to 30 wt. % of monounsaturated C18 chains, by weight of total fatty acid chains.
The preferred quaternary ammonium fabric softening compounds for use in compositions of the present invention are so called "ester quats". Particularly preferred materials are the ester-linked triethanolamine (TEA) quaternary ammonium compounds comprising a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-ester linked components.
Typically, TEA-based fabric softening compounds comprise a mixture of mono, di- and tri ester forms of the compound where the di-ester linked component comprises no more than 70 wt.% of the fabric softening compound, preferably no more than 60 wt.% e.g. no more than 55%, or even no more that 45% of the fabric softening compound and at least 10 wt.% of the monoester linked component. Suitable actives include soft quaternary ammonium actives such as Stepantex VT90, Rewoquat WE18 (ex-Evonik) and Tetranyl L1/90N, Tetranyl L190 SP and Tetranyl L190 S (all ex-Kao).
Also suitable are actives rich in the di-esters of triethanolammonium methylsulfate, otherwise referred to as "TEA ester quats".
Commercial examples include Preapagen™ TQL (ex-Clariant), and Tetranyl™ AHT-1 (ex-Kao), (both di-[hardened tallow ester] of triethanolammonium methylsulfate), AT-1 (di-[tallow ester] of triethanolammonium methylsulfate), and L5/90 (di-[palm ester] of triethanolammonium methylsulfate), (both ex-Kao), and Rewoquat™ WE15 (a di-ester of triethanolammonium methylsulfate having fatty acyl residues deriving from C10-C20 and C16-C18 unsaturated fatty acids) (ex-Evonik).
Non-ionic surfactants:
The fabric conditioning compositions may further comprise a nonionic surfactant. Typically these can be included for the purpose of stabilising the compositions. Suitable nonionic surfactants include addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines. Any of the alkoxylated materials of the particular type described hereinafter can be used as the nonionic surfactant.
Preferably the nonionic surfactant has an HLB of from about 7 to about 20, more preferably from 10 to 18, e.g. 12 to 16. Genapol™ C200 (Clariant) based on coco chain and 20 EO groups is an example of a suitable nonionic surfactant.
If present, the nonionic surfactant is present in an amount from 0.01 to 10 wt.%, more preferably 0.1 to 5 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition.
A class of preferred non-ionic surfactants include addition products of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines. These are preferably selected from addition products of (a) an alkoxide selected from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof with (b) a fatty material selected from fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty amines.
Thus, the fabric conditioning composition of the invention preferably comprises 0.1 to 5 wt% of a non-ionic surfactant preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate. Co-softeners and Fatty complexing agents:
Co-softeners may be used in the fabric conditioning composition. When employed, they are typically present at from 0.1 to 20 wt.% and particularly at from 0.5 to 10 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition. Preferred co-softeners include fatty esters, and fatty N-oxides. Fatty esters that may be employed include fatty monoesters, such as glycerol monostearate, fatty sugar esters, such as those disclosed WO 01/46361 (Unilever).
The compositions of the present invention may comprise a fatty complexing agent. Especially suitable fatty complexing agents include fatty alcohols and fatty acids. Of these, fatty alcohols are most preferred.
Preferred fatty acids include tallow fatty acid or vegetable fatty acids, particularly preferred are hardened tallow fatty acid or hardened vegetable fatty acid (available under the trade name Pristerene™, ex Croda). Preferred fatty alcohols include tallow alcohol or vegetable alcohol, particularly preferred are hardened tallow alcohol or hardened vegetable alcohol (available under the trade names Stenol™ and Hydrenol™, ex BASF and Laurex™ OS, ex Huntsman).
The fatty complexing agent is preferably present in an amount greater than 0.3 to 5 wt. % based on the total weight of the composition. More preferably, the fatty component is present in an amount of from 0.4 to 4 wt.%. The weight ratio of the mono-ester component of the quaternary ammonium fabric softening material to the fatty complexing agent is preferably from 5:1 to 1 :5, more preferably 4:1 to 1 :4, most preferably 3:1 to 1 :3, e.g. 2:1 to 1 :2.
Preferably the composition of the present invention comprises 0.5 to 20 wt.% perfume materials by weight of the composition, more preferably 1 to 15 wt.% perfume materials, most preferably 2 to 10 wt. % perfume materials.
Cationic polymers/ deposition polymers:
The fabric conditioner composition of the present invention may comprise a cationic polymer. This refers to polymers having an overall positive charge at a neutral pH (pH 7). The cationic polymers provide increased viscosity.
The cationic polymer may be naturally derived or synthetic. Examples of suitable cationic polymers include: acrylate polymers, cationic amino resins, cationic urea resins, and cationic polysaccharides, including: cationic celluloses, cationic guars and cationic starches. Preferably the cationic polymer is selected from; cationic polysaccharides and acrylate polymers. More preferably the cationic polymer is a cationic acrylate polymer.
The molecular weight of the cationic polymer is preferably greater than 20 000 g/mol, more preferably greater than 25 000 g/mol. The molecular weight is preferably less than 2 000 000 g/mol, more preferably less than 1 000 000 g/mol.
Compositions according to the current invention preferably comprise cationic polymer at a level of 0.25 to 10 wt. % of the composition, preferably 0.35 to 7.5 wt. % of the composition, more preferably 0.5 to 5 wt. % of the composition.
The compositions may comprise other ingredients of fabric conditioner liquids as will be known to the person skilled in the art. Among such materials there may be mentioned: antifoams, insect repellents, shading or hueing dyes, preservatives (e.g. bactericides), pH buffering agents, perfume carriers, hydrotropes, anti-redeposition agents, soil-release agents, polyelectrolytes, anti-shrinking agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-oxidants, dyes, colorants, sunscreens, anticorrosion agents, drape imparting agents, anti-static agents, sequestrants and ironing aids. The products of the invention may contain pearlisers and/or opacifiers. A preferred sequestrant is HEDP, an abbreviation for Etidronic acid or 1 -hydroxyethane 1 ,1-diphosphonic acid.
The fabric conditioner composition is preferably in an aqueous form. The compositions preferably comprise from 75 to 95wt.% water
The fabric conditioning composition may be used to treat fabrics either in a hand washing or a machine washing process. Preferably the fabric conditioner is used in the rinse stage of the washing process.
Preferably the clothes are treated with a 10 to 100 ml dose of fabric conditioner for a 4 to 7 kg load of clothes. More preferably, 10 to 80 ml for a a 4 to 7 kg load of clothes.
The invention also relates to a method of reducing odour on fabric for up to five days comprising the step of contacting the fabric pre-wet with water with a composition of the first aspect; followed optionally by the steps of rinsing with water; and then drying. When the composition is formulated as a laundry detergent composition, the composition may be diluted in water after which the fabric is washed either by hand or in a machine. Thereafter the washed fabric may be rinsed two or three times, squeeze dried and thereafter dried either in a drying machine or left out to dry on a clothesline. When formulated as a fabric conditioning composition the composition may be added to the rinse water preferably in the last stage of rinsing and then squeeze dried before drying in a machine or on a clothesline.
Preferably, the composition may be used as is, i.e. neat, or it may be diluted before use. The extent of dilution is generally dependent on the type of product and the market choice. In some markets a more concentrated product is desired while in others a more dilute product is preferred. For composition of both types viz. the liquid laundry composition and fabric conditioning composition the product may typically be diluted with water in a weight ratio in the range of 1 :1 to 1 :500 preferably 1 :1 to 1 :300 more preferably 1 :1 to 1 :100, most preferably 1 :1 to 1 :50.
The composition of the invention especially when formulated as a laundry detergent composition may also be delivered in a spray format. The spray may be delivered form a hand held container comprising a pump, the container containing the composition as per the invention. The contents of the container may be sprayed on to clothes which are then washed using the normal laundering process. Sprays are effective in delivering the actives inside the pores of the fabric.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing malodour from a laundry surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the invention preferably diluted with water followed optionally with the step of rinsing the surface with water.
The invention will now be illustrated with the help of the following non-limiting examples.
Examples
Examples A-H, 1-10: Model experiments on various combinations of LAS, pectin, and SCS or SXS on malodour generation:
Experiments were conducted using the procedure as given below to determine the amount of malodour generated on fabric. The data is summarized in Table -1 below:
1 ml of milk + 5% starch (1 :1) was added to desized kitchen cloth (5x5 cm). The cloth was inoculated with Acinetobacter baumanii & Moraxella osloensis 108cfu/ml. Different concentrations of treatment was inoculated into respective bottle. The cups were incubated at 37 °C for 48 h. Malodour was scored by a trained panel. Table - 1 :
The data in Table -1 above indicates that a composition comprising a surfactant, polysaccharide and hydrotrope (Examples 1 -10) provides for vastly improved malodour benefit as compared to individual components. (Examples A-H)
Example l-L, 11 ,12: Effect of inclusion of polysaccharide and humectant in a fabric conditioning composition A liquid fabric conditioning composition was taken as shown in Table - 2 below. Various compositions as shown in Table - 2 were prepared by including certain amounts of polysaccharide and/ or hydrotrope therein. The compositions were tested for malodour generation using procedure as given below.
Autoclaved 5*5 cm polyester swatches are taken in a sterile petri plate. 200 J of culture mix containing tryptone, mucin and BSA was inoculated dropwise covering all places on the swatch. The swatches were allowed to dry in laminar air flow dryer for 15 mins. With the help of sterile forceps, each swatch was taken and put into sterile black screw cap bottle. 7ml of hard water was added to it. Different concentrations of treatment was inoculated into respective bottles. Bottles were air tightly closed and incubated at 37 °C for 48-72 hours. Bottles were sniffed and scored by trained panelist. The summary of the data is summarized in Table -3 below.
Table -2:
Table - 3 The data in table -3 above indicates that inclusion of both the polysaccharide and the hydrotrope in a fabric conditioning composition provides for vastly improved reduction in malodour.
Examples M,N, 13-14:
Effect of inclusion of polysaccharide (fbersol) and humectant (MPG) in a fabric conditioning composition
A liquid fabric conditioning composition was taken as shown in Table - 4 below. Various compositions as shown in Table - 5 were prepared by including certain amounts of polysaccharide and/ or hydrotrope therein. The compositions were tested for malodour generation using procedure as given above for Examples l,L, 11 ,12 and the data is summarized in Table - 5. Table -4:
Table - 5
The data in Table - 5 above indicates that use of a combination of Fbersol and MPG one is able to deliver good antimalodour benefit through a liquid fabric conditioning composition . It was also found that this composition was easier to formulate with a stable viscosity as both Fbersol (reistant dextrin) and MPG did not affect the viscosity of the liquid compositions as the other polysaccharides and hydrotropes did.

Claims

Claims
1. A liquid laundry treatment composition for reducing malodour comprising
(i) 0.01 to 5 wt% a polysaccharide selected from one or more of algin, pectin, dextrin or resistant dextrin;
(ii) 0.1 to 5 wt% a hydrotrope selected from one or more of alkali metal cumene sulphonate, alkali metal xylene sulphonate, polyethylene glycol and mono propylene glycol; and
(iii) a surfactant.
2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polysaccharide is resistant dextrin.
3. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the hydrotrope is polyethylene glycol or mono propylene glycol, preferably mono propylene glycol.
4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is a laundry detergent composition comprising 1 to 80 wt% surfactant.
5. A composition as claimed in claim 4 comprising 5 to 60 wt% anionic surfactant.
6. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 which is a fabric conditioning composition comprising 1 to 50 wt% of a fabric softening active.
7. A fabric conditioning composition as claimed in claim 6 wherein the fabric softening active is selected from one or both of a quaternary ammonium compound, and silicone polymer, preferably a quaternary ammonium compound.
8. A fabric conditioning composition as claimed in claim 6 or 7 comprising 0.1 to 5 wt% of a non-ionic surfactant preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate.
9. A method of reducing malodour from a laundry surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims preferably diluted with water followed optionally with the step of rinsing the surface with water.
EP24718111.8A 2023-04-24 2024-04-04 A liquid laundry treatment composition Pending EP4702118A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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PCT/EP2024/059179 WO2024223258A1 (en) 2023-04-24 2024-04-04 A liquid laundry treatment composition

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WO1999055814A1 (en) * 1998-04-27 1999-11-04 The Procter & Gamble Company Improved uncomplexed cyclodextrin compositions for odor and wrinkle control
GB9930435D0 (en) 1999-12-22 2000-02-16 Unilever Plc Fabric softening compositions
AU2001285070A1 (en) * 2000-08-18 2002-03-04 The Procter And Gamble Company Method and article of manufacture for refreshing, deodorizing an d finishing garments
EP2963100B1 (en) * 2014-07-04 2018-09-19 Kolb Distribution Ltd. Liquid rinse aid compositions
EP3381999B1 (en) * 2017-03-30 2019-08-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Cleaning composition comprising cyclodextrin/surfactant complex
CA3113469A1 (en) * 2018-08-27 2020-03-05 Symrise Ag Antimicrobial mixtures comprising at least one hydroxyphenone derivative
WO2020070209A1 (en) * 2018-10-02 2020-04-09 Novozymes A/S Cleaning composition
EP4367211A1 (en) * 2021-07-08 2024-05-15 Unilever IP Holdings B.V. A composition for reducing malodour
EP4392524A1 (en) * 2021-08-24 2024-07-03 Henkel AG & Co. KGaA Highly-branched cyclic dextrins as malodor control agents
AR126852A1 (en) * 2021-09-02 2023-11-22 Unilever Global Ip Ltd A HYGIENIC COMPOSITION TO REDUCE BAD ODOR

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