ES2228656T3 - DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A laundry detergent composition comprises surfactant, builder, and optionally other non-bleach detergent ingredients, and also contains a low level of glucoheptonate, preferably in sodium salt form. The composition provides improved maintenance of colour fidelity, especially of white or light-coloured fabrics, on laundering.

Description

Detergent compositions.

Technical field

The present invention relates to laundry detergent compositions that provide special advantages in white-cloth laundry. The compositions of the invention have been found to provide improved maintenance of color fidelity, especially white and slightly colored fabrics, during the
washed.

Background and prior art

In some countries the water supply contains a relatively high concentration of iron, and this can lead to discoloration (yellowing) of white fabrics and Slightly colored in the laundry due to the deposit of salts of Faith (III). This changes the appearance and shortens the lifespan. of the articles.

It has been found now that you can observe a significantly improved whiteness or fidelity maintenance of color if a glucoheptonate is incorporated at low levels in a laundry detergent composition.

Magnesium glucoheptonate as an ingredient Laundry detergent is described in GB 2,016,540A (Rhône-Poulenc).

Other documents describing glucoheptonate in laundry detergent compositions are GB
2,068,405A (Sandoz) and US 4,388,205 (Sandoz).

Peroxy acid bleaching particles containing glucoheptonate are described in WO
9611252A (Eka Nobel AB).

The use of sodium glucoheptonate in Compositions for cleaning hard surfaces is described in US 3,956,157 (W. R. Grace), EP 844,301A (Unilever) and GB 2,068,405A (Sandoz).

Definition of the invention

The present invention provides a laundry detergent composition comprising a surfactant, a detergency adjuvant and optionally other non-bleaching detergent ingredients, which is substantially free of bleaching ingredients and also contains from 0.01 to 2.0% by weight of a compound
formula I

(I) HO-CH2 - (CH-OH) 5 - COOX

in which X is H or a cation solubilizer

A further object of the invention is a method. to protect new white or slightly colored textile fabrics of color degradation in laundry, which includes washing fabrics by hand or machine in a washing liquid that contains a detergent composition as defined above.

The expression "color fidelity" is used in the present specification to include both the true color of colored fabrics like the whiteness of white fabrics. The advantages of the present invention are especially applicable to white or slightly colored fabrics when the iron deposit cause the greatest deterioration in appearance.

Detailed description of the invention

The compositions of the invention contain as essential ingredient a low level of the glucoheptonate of formula I provided above, preferably glucoheptonate of sodium.

Glucoheptonate may be present. suitably in the composition of the invention in an amount of 0.01 to 1.0% by weight, preferably 0.02 to 0.5% by weight, plus preferably from 0.05 to 0.2% by weight.

Glucoheptonate is effective at levels of Very low concentration in the composition. It has not been observed no additional advantage at higher levels of concentration, for example, above 2% by weight. The amount of glucoheptonate present is preferably below 0.5% by weight.

Detergent compositions

The composition of the invention also contains Other conventional detergent ingredients. The ingredients essential are surfactants (active compounds such as detergents) and detergency adjuvants, and may optionally be present Other conventional ingredients.

The detergent compositions of the invention may suitably comprise 5 to 60% by weight of one or more detergent surfactants and 10 to 80% by weight of one or more detergency builders, as well as preferred amounts of polymer sequestrant, and optionally other ingredients detergents up to 100% by weight.

According to the invention, the compositions of the invention are substantially free of ingredients whiteners

The detergent composition of the invention is preferably in the form of particles. They are especially preferred Powders and tablets. However, liquid compositions they are also within the scope of the invention.

Detergent ingredients

The detergent compositions will contain, such as essential ingredients, one or more active compounds such as detergents (surfactants) that can be chosen between soap and active compounds such as anionic non-soap detergents, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and bipolar, and mixtures thereof.

Many active compounds as detergents Suitable are available and are described in detail in the bibliography, for example, in "Surface-Active Agents and Detergents ", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch

The active compounds as detergents Preferred that can be used are soaps and synthetic compounds non-anionic and non-ionic soaps.

Anionic surfactants are well known. by those skilled in the art. Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulphonates having a length of the C 8 -C 15 alkyl chain; primary and secondary alkyl sulfates, particularly alkyl C 8 -C 15 -sulfate primary; and alkyl ether sulfates; olefin sulphonates; alkyl xylene sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and ester sulphonates of fatty acids. Sodium salts are generally preferred.

Nonionic surfactants that can be used include the ethoxylates of primary and secondary alcohols, especially the aliphatic alcohols of C_ {8} -C_ {ethoxylated with an average of 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and more especially the primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols of C 10 -C 15 ethoxylates with an average of 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. The surfactants do not ionic and non-ethoxylated include alkyl polyglycosides, glycerol monoethers and polyhydroxyamides (glucamide).

The cationic surfactants that can be used include quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + X - in which the R groups they are long or short hydrocarbyl chains, usually groups alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or ethoxylated alkyl, and X is a cation solubilizer (for example, compounds in which R1 is a C 8 -C 22 alkyl group, preferably a C 8 -C 10 alkyl group or C 12 -C 14, R 2 is a methyl group, and R 3 and R 4, which may be the same or different, are groups methyl or hydroxyethyl); and cationic esters (for example, esters of hill).

In a cationic surfactant especially preferred of formula R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + X -, R 1 represents a C 8 -C 10 alkyl group or C 12 -C 14, R 2 and R 3 represent methyl groups and R 4 represents a hydroxyethyl group.

Surfactants may also be present amphoteric, for example, amine oxides, and bipolar surfactants, for example, betaines.

Preferably, the amount of surfactant anionic is in the range of 5 to 50% by weight of the composition total. More preferably, the amount of anionic surfactant It is in the range of 8 to 35% by weight.

The nonionic surfactant, if present, is preferably used in an amount in the range of 1 to 20% in weight.

The total amount of surfactant present is preferably in the range of 5 to 60% by weight.

The compositions may adequately contain 10 to 80%, preferably 15 to 70% by weight of adjuvant of the detergency Preferably, the amount of adjuvant of the Detergency is in the range of 15 to 50% by weight.

Detergent compositions may contain as a detergency adjuvant a crystalline aluminosilicate, preferably an alkali metal aluminosilicate, more preferably a sodium aluminosilicate (zeolite).

The zeolite used as a detergency adjuvant it may be the commercially available zeolite A (zeolite 4A), widely used in detergent powders today laundry. Alternatively, the zeolite can be zeolite P with maximum aluminum content (zeolite MAP) as described and claims in EP 384.070B (Unilever), and is available in trade as Doucil (registered trademark) A24 of the company Crosfield Chemicals Ltd, United Kingdom. The zeolite MAP is defined as an alkali metal aluminosilicate of the zeolite P type that has a ratio of silicon to aluminum that does not exceed 1.33, preferably in the range of 0.90 to 1.33, preferably in the range from 0.90 to 1.20. Zeolite is especially preferred MAP that has a silicon to aluminum ratio that does not exceed 1.07, more preferably about 1.00. The size of Zeolite particles is not critical. Zeolite A or can be used MAP zeolite of any suitable particle size.

Also, according to the present invention, they are preferred phosphate builders, especially sodium tripolyphosphate. This can be used in combination with sodium orthophosphate and / or sodium pyrophosphate.

Other inorganic detergency builders which may be present additionally or alternatively include sodium carbonate, layered silicate or aluminosilicates amorphous

Organic adjuvants that may be present include polycarboxylate polymers such as polyacrylates and acrylic / maleic copolymers; polyaspartates; polycarboxylates monomers such as citrates, gluconates, oxidisucinates, mono-, di- and glycerol tri-succinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, carboxymethylximalonates, dipicolinates, hydroxyethyliminodiacetates, alkyl- and alkynyl malonates and succinates; and acid salts Sulfonated fatty.

Organic adjuvants can be used in smaller amounts in the form of supplements for adjuvants inorganic such as phosphates and zeolites. Organic adjuvants Especially preferred complementary are citrates, suitably used in amounts of 5 to 30% by weight, preferably 10 to 25% in weigh; and acrylic polymers, more especially copolymers Acrylic / maleic, properly used in quantities of 0.5 to 15% by weight, preferably from 1 to 10% by weight. The adjuvants, both inorganic as organic, they are preferably present in the form of an alkali metal salt, especially a sodium salt

Detergent compositions may contain also one or more enzymes. Suitable enzymes include the proteases, amylases, cellulases, oxidases, peroxidases and lipases Usable to be incorporated in detergent compositions.

Preferred proteolytic enzymes (proteases) they are catalytically active protein materials that degrade or alter types of stain proteins when they are present, such as fabric stains, in a hydrolysis reaction. Can be of any suitable origin, such as plant, animal, Bacterial or yeast. Proteolytic enzymes or proteases of various qualities and origins that have activity in different pH ranges of 4-12. Are too suitable isoelectric point proteases both high and low.

Other enzymes that may be properly present include lipases, amylases and cellulases that include high activity cellulases such as "Carezyme".

In detergent compositions in the form of particles, detergency enzymes are commonly used in granular form in amounts of about 0.1 to approximately 3.0% by weight. However, any one can be used Adequate physical form of enzyme in any effective amount.

Agents may also be present. anti-redeposition, for example, esters and ethers of cellulose, for example, carboxymethyl cellulose of sodium.

The compositions may also contain dirt suppressor polymers, for example, polymers of Sulfonated or sulfonated PET / POET, finished off in groups terminals and without finishing off in the terminal groups, and polymers grafted polyethylene glycol / polyvinyl alcohol as Sokolan (registered trademark) HP22.

Dirt suppressor polymers Especially preferred are sulfonated polyesters not finished off in the terminal groups described and claimed in the WO 95 / 32997A (Rhodia Chemie).

Other ingredients that may be present include solvents, hydrotropes, contrast agents, photo bleachers, foaming aids or foaming regulators (defoamers) to the extent appropriate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, silicate sodium, sodium sulfate, calcium chloride, other inorganic salts, fabric and perfume conditioning compounds.

Form and preparation of products

As previously indicated, the compositions of the invention can be of any suitable physical form, by example, particles (powders, granules, tablets), liquids, Pasta, gels or bars.

According to an especially preferred embodiment of The invention, the detergent composition is in the form of particles. If necessary, glucoheptonate can be incorporated into compositions in the form of particles in the form of granules that They contain an inert carrier material.

Low to moderate bulk density powders they can be prepared by spray drying a suspension and, optionally, post-dosing (dry mixing) additional ingredients, in which case glucoheptonate can be incorporated through the suspension or post-dosed "Concentrated" powders or "compact" can be prepared by procedures mixing and granulation, for example, using a high speed mixer / granulator or other procedures without tower.

Liquid detergent compositions may be prepared by mixing the essential and optional ingredients in any desired order to provide compositions that They contain the ingredients in the necessary concentrations.

Examples

The invention will be further illustrated in detail by means of the following Examples, in which the parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise stated. In Examples use the following abbreviations:

EDDS Ethylenediamine disuccinate, salt sodium EDTMP Phosphonate of ethylenediamine tetramethylene, Ca salt: Dequest (registered trademark) 2047, of Monsanto Nalas Alkylbenzene sulphonate of sodium linear SLES Lauryl ether sulfate from sodium SCMC Carboxymethyl cellulose of sodium

Examples 1 to 3

Comparative Examples A to D

Protection of new white cotton fabrics from fading by Fe (III) ions using sequestrants

In this experiment, the effectiveness of sodium glucoheptonate to prevent discoloration of a fabric white cotton was compared with that of two known kidnappers, EDTMP (Dequest 2047) and EDDS. The experimental procedure was like follow.

The sequestrants, at the concentrations indicated below, were added to 1 liter of demineralized water containing iron (III) chloride in an amount sufficient to provide a Fe (III) concentration of 10 ppm, in a tergotometer vessel. The pH of the solution was adjusted to 9.5 (± 0.1) by adding sodium hydroxide solution. Three 10x10 cm (approximately 5 grams) pieces of white non-fluorescent cotton cloth stripped to provide a liquid to cloth ratio of 200: 1 were added. A tergotometer was then carried out at 30 ° C and 90 rpm for 30 minutes. The cloths were then rinsed in demineralized water and dried overnight. Reflectance values at 420 nm were taken for cloths before and after washing, and ΔR at 420 nm was calculated to provide an indication of the amount of iron deposition on the
cloth.

The ideal in this case is such a close result. to zero as possible, indicating no iron deposit and No visible deterioration in appearance.

The concentrations for the sequestrants are They chose as follows:

0.008 g / l, equivalent to 0.2% by weight of a detergent composition used at a typical consumer dosage of 4 g / l;

0.002 g / l, equivalent to 0.05% by weight of a detergent composition used at a typical consumer dosage of 4 g / l.

0.0008 g / l, equivalent to 0.02% by weight of a detergent composition used at a normal consumer dosage of 4 g / l.

The mean reflectance changes are shown in the next table.

one

EDTMP is an excellent kidnapper but has been quarantined for environmental reasons due to its phosphorus content EDDS has been widely proposed as a Zero phosphorus substitute.

It should be noted that sodium glucoheptonate provides a phosphorus-free alternative to EDTMP that is substantially higher than EDDS.

Examples 4 to 9

Detergent compositions Example 4 Spray dried detergent powder

2

Examples 5 a 7

Concentrated detergent powders

3

Examples 8 and 9

Liquid detergent compositions

4

Claims (7)

1. A laundry detergent composition, comprising a surfactant, an adjuvant and optionally other non-bleaching detergent ingredients, characterized in that it is substantially free of bleaching ingredients and also contains from 0.01 to 2.0% by weight of a compound of formula I (I) HO-CH2 - (CH-OH) 5 - COOX in which X is H or a cation solubilizer 2. A detergent composition according to claim 1, characterized in that in formula IX it is an alkali metal, preferably sodium. 3. A detergent composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the compound of formula I is present in an amount of 0.01 to 1.0% by weight, preferably 0.02 to 0.5% by weight , more preferably from 0.05 to 0.2% by weight. 4. A detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compound of formula I is present in an amount of less than 0.5% by weight based on the composition. 5. A detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, comprising from 5 to 60% by weight of one or more detergent surfactants and 10 to 80% by weight of one or more detergency adjuvants. 6. A detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, which is in the form of particles 7. A method to protect new textile fabrics white or slightly colored color degradation in laundry, which includes washing fabrics by hand or machine in a washing liquid containing a detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims.