ES2287408T3 - DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning tablet comprises smooth or semi-solid phase comprising 10-90 wt.% non-soap surfactants; 2-75 wt.% soap; 5-50 wt.% material selected from polyalkoxylated carbohydrates or stabilizing surfactants having more than 6C average alkyl chain and having a salting out resistance >=3.0; 0-20 wt.% water.

Description

Detergent compositions.

The invention relates to compositions of cleaning in the form of tablets for example, to be used in the washing of fabrics or in dishwashing machines.

The detergent compositions in the form of tablets have advantages over the products in powder since they do not require dosing and therefore are more easy to handle and dispense inside the load of washed.

Generally, the tablets of the cleaning compositions are prepared by compression or compaction of a quantity of composition in the form of particles

Tablets have also been described that They comprise two or more separate zones. For example, WO 01/42416 describes the production of molded bodies multi-phase comprising a combination of bodies  core molding and a particulate premix. WO document 00/61717 describes a detergent tablet that is characterized because at least part of its outer surface is semi-solid WO 00/04129 describes a multi-phase detergent tablet comprising a first phase in the form of a shaped body that has at least one mold inside, and a second phase in the form of solid in compressed particles inside said mold.

It is an object of the present invention provide a method to produce a cleaning tablet that it comprises a fluid or semi-solid phase, in which said fluid or semi-solid phase comprises surfactants and wherein said cleaning tablet has good dispersing properties of the fluid phase or semi-solid and in which the fluid phase or semi-solid preferably has a texture appropriate (between soft and hard).

Another objective of the present invention is provide a method to produce a fluid tablet or semi-solid or one of its phases, in which the choice of materials and the method of preparation allows a low production cost of good performance tablets and Good consistency and texture.

Although the invention may relate to a single phase fluid or semi-solid tablet of according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a cleaning tablet that has a plurality from discrete areas with different compositions, characterized because at least a first area of the tablet is a fluid zone or semi-solid and at least a second zone of the compressed is a solid zone of particulate material compacted

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a cleaning tablet comprising a fluid phase or semi-solid in which the fluid phase or semi-solid comprises:

(to)

from 10 to 90% by weight of non-soap surfactants; Y

(b)

 from 2 to 75% by weight of soap, and

(C)

of 5 at 50% by weight of a material chosen from carbohydrates polyalkoxylates, which are chosen in the group of mono-fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitan, fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitol, polyoxyethylene esters glycerol, polyoxyethylene glycerol sorbitan isostearate, esters polyoxyethylene-hexitan fatty acids, polyoxyethylene sorbitan, polyoxyethylene sorbitol, polyoxyethylene glycerol, polyoxyethylene sorbitol, polyoxyethylene glycerol, polyoxyethylene glycerol sorbitan, and sorbitan polypropoxylated, and stabilizing surfactants that have a average alkyl chain of more than 6 C atoms and they have a resistance to saline displacement greater than or equal to 3.0, chosen from polyalkoxylated alkyl carboxylates, phosphates alkyl polyalkoxylated alkyl sulphosuccinates polyalkoxylates, alkyl and diphenyl oxide disulfonates and alkylpolysaccharides, and

(d)

of 0 at 20% by weight of water.

Preferably, the tablets of the invention they are cylindrical in shape, in which two main surfaces (upper side and lower side) are considerably flat.

As indicated above, the Tablets of the invention can be single phase tablets, which are predominantly formed by a phase semi-solid as described above. Do not However, a preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a multi-phase tablet, in which a fluid or semi-solid phase and additionally a or more different phases. Properly, these additional phases They can be fluid, semi-solid or solid. The solid phases formed by compacted particulate solids They are particularly appropriate.

Possibly, the areas of a tablet multi-phase are separate layers inside the compressed. However, a discrete area of the tablet also it could have other forms, for example one or more core (s) or insert (s). In a preferred embodiment, the first zone is a fluid or semi-solid layer and the second zone is a layer of compacted particulate material. In one embodiment advantageously, the first zone is a core or insert of material fluid or semi-solid immersed in the second zone that It is a layer of compacted particulate material.

If the tablet is a fluid tablet or semi-solid single phase, then preferably The weight of this tablet is 5 to 100 g, more preferably of 10 to 40 g, and most preferably 15 to 35 g.

If the tablet is a tablet multi-phase comprising the fluid phase or semi-solid of the invention, then preferably the fluid or semi-solid phase is present as a characteristic area that has a weight of 2 to 20 grams, preferably 3 to 10 grams. Preferably, the others together phases have a weight of 10 to 50 grams, more preferably from 15 to 40 grams.

For the purpose of the present invention, the fluid phase expression refers to compositions that on the one hand they are solid enough to retain their shape at temperature environment and on the other, they are fluid in appearance. Generally, the fluid textures are low or zero porosity and have - at a normal observation distance - the appearance of a continuous phase, for example, unlike the porous or particulate appearance of a compacted particulate material.

For the purpose of the present invention, the term semi-solid refers to compositions that by a part are solid enough to retain their shape to room temperature, but they are not completely solid. Generally, semi-solid phases have a non-porous fluid appearance.

An appropriate trial to check if a composition can be considered semi-solid can Describe below.

A cylindrical tablet is compressed radially with a diameter of 45 mm and a height of 20 mm, between the plates of a machine for testing materials until they appear tablet fractures In the starting position the plates come into contact with the tablet but do not apply any force about him. Force is applied to compress the tablet, the vertical speed of the top plate of 25 mm / minute. Machine test measures the applied force (F), and also the displacement (x) of the plates towards each other as the tablet is Compressed Also shown, the distance (and) between the plates before the force is applied, which is the diameter of the tablet When there is a failure, the tablet breaks and the applied force, necessary to maintain displacement, decreases When the force applied is required to maintain the displacement decays 25% of its maximum value, the measure is discontinuous The displacement is measured when the fault occurs (X_ {f}).

A graph of force (F) is made against displacement (x). The maximum force is the force at the time of fault (F_ {f}). The breaking energy is the area that is under the graph of force versus displacement, to the point of break, and is given by the following equation:

E_ {b} = \ int \ limits_ {0-x_ {f}} F (x) dx

in which E_ {b} is the energy of rupture in mJoules, x is the displacement in meters and F is the force applied in Newtons to displacement x and x_ {f} is the displacement when the failure.

Semi-solid compositions are characterized by a relation of F_ {f} with respect to E_ {b} less than 1.0, more preferably 0.1 to 0.9, and more Preferred from 0.2 to 0.6, while traditional tablets of compacted particulate materials are generally characterized by a ratio of F_ {f} with respect to E_ {b} greater than 1, more generally greater than 1.25 or even greater than 1.5 to 6.

The tablets of the invention comprise a phase that is both fluid and semi-solid. Do not However, sometimes a fluid phase (no semi-solid) may be equally appropriate. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the fluid phase or semi-solid comprises 20-80% by weight of non-soap surfactants (based on the total weight of said semi-solid phase), more preferably from 25 to 75% by weight, and most preferably from 30 to 70% by weight. It has been proven that the combination of a first fluid zone or semi-solid and these elevated levels of Surfactant provides the tablet with very good properties of dispersion and cleaning.

Preferably, the non-soap surfactants of the first zone comprise a combination of surfactants anionic and non-ionic surfactants in a 5: 1 weight ratio at 1: 5, more preferably from 3: 1 to 1: 3, more preferably from 2: 1 to 1: 2. Other surfactants, for example cationic surfactants they may also be present, for example in an amount of 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the fluid part or semi-solid

In addition to non-soap surfactants, the fluid or semi-solid zone comprises soap in a amount from 2 to 75% by weight, based on the weight of the fluid part or semi-solid, preferably 3 to 70% by weight, more  preferably from 5 to 40% by weight.

It has been proven that soap provides good structuring properties to the fluid phase or semi-solid, especially if this phase comprises relatively high amounts of surfactants. This structuring leads on the one hand to a desired firm consistency of the semi-solid phase, but on the other hand, it retains the fluid or semi-solid nature of the phase. In addition, soap is able to reduce bleeding from the fluid phase or semi-solid.

The fluid or semi-solid zone of the tablet also contains 5 to 50% by weight of a material that is choose among polyalkoxylated carbohydrates, chosen in the group of mono fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitan, fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitol, esters of polyoxyethylene glycerol, polyoxyethylene glycerol isostearate sorbitan, polyoxyethylene-hexitan fatty esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan, polyoxyethylene sorbitol, polyoxyethylene glycerol, polyoxyethylene glycerol sorbitan, sorbitan polypropoxylated, and polyalkoxylated alkyl carboxylates, and stabilizing surfactants having a medium alkyl chain of more than 6 carbon atoms and that have a resistance to saline displacement greater than or equal to 3.0, chosen from polyalkoxylated alkyl phosphates, alkyl sulfosuccinates polyalkoxylates, dialkyl and diphenyl oxide disulfonates and alkylpolysaccharides.

Examples of materials chosen from polyalkoxylated carbohydrates according to the invention are mono-fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitan (for example Tween 20, Tween 40 and Tween 60), fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitol (for example Atlas G4895, Atlox 1045A), polyoxyethylene glycerol esters (for example Atlas G7074), polyoxyethylene glycerol sorbitan isostearate (per example Arlacel 582), fatty esters of polyoxyethylene-hexitan (for example Arlacel 121), polyoxyethylene sorbitan (for example, which can be obtained by hydrolysis of Tween 20, Tween 40 and Tween 60), polyoxyethylene sorbitol, polyoxyethylene glycerol, polyoxyethylene glycerol sorbitan, and polypropoxylated sorbitan (for Atlas G2320, G2330 and G2401).

Examples of stabilizing surfactants that they have average alkyl chain of more than 6 C atoms and they have a resistance to saline displacement greater than or equal to 3.0 is described in documents EP328.177 and EP359.308. Examples of materials according to the invention, chosen from stabilizing surfactants having a medium alkyl chain of more than 6 atoms of C and that have a resistance to saline displacement greater than or equal to 3.0 are carboxylates polyalkoxylates, polyalkoxylated alkyl phosphates, polyalkoxylated alkyl sulfosuccinates, disulfonates of dialkyl and diphenyl oxide and alkylpolysaccharides.

The amount of material according to the invention, chosen from polyalkoxylated carboxylates, chosen in the group of mono fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitan, fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters polyoxyethylene glycerol, polyoxyethylene glycerol isostearate sorbitan, polyoxyethylene-hexitan fatty esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan, polyoxyethylene sorbitol, polyoxyethylene glycerol, polyoxyethylene glycerol sorbitan, sorbitan polypropoxylated, and stabilizing surfactants that have a average alkyl chain of more than 6 carbon atoms and they have a resistance to saline displacement greater than or equal to 3.0, chosen from polyalkoxylated carboxylates, alkyl phosphates polyalkoxylated, polyalkoxylated alkyl sulfosuccinates, dialkyl and diphenyl oxide disulfonates and alkylpolysaccharides, is 5 to 50% by weight, preferably 10 to 45% by weight, more preferably 15 to 40% by weight (based on total weight of the semi-solid zone).

EP328,177 describes an assay for measure the resistance to saline displacement of a material. For In this test, 200 ml of a 5% aqueous solution are prepared in weight of the material in question. Nitrolotriacetate is added trisodium (NTA) at room temperature (approximately 25 ° C) until that phase separation occurs, observed in the form of occurrence of turbidity The amount of NTA added at this time, expressed in equivalent grams added to 1 liter of the solution of the material (1 mole of NTA = 3 equivalents) represents the resistance to saline displacement of the material.

The fluid or semi-solid zone of the tablet may also contain diluent materials, for example polyethylene glycol which preferably have a molecular weight less than 5000 or even less than 1000, dipropylene glycol, isopropanol or (mono-) propylene glycol. The amount of these diluents it is 5 to 50% by weight, preferably 5 to 45% by weight, in the manner more preferred from 15 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the phase fluid or semi-solid.

The fluid or semi-solid phase does not Contains water or contains it in low quantities. The amount of water is less than 20% by weight, based on the weight of the phase semi-solid, preferably less than 15% by weight, more preferably 5 to 12% by weight. Most preferably, the fluid or semi-solid phases are found considerably free of water, which means that apart from low humidity levels (for example for neutralization or in the form of water of crystallization) no other type of water added.

Preferably, the total weight of surfactants in the fluid or semi-solid phase it is 2 to 20 grams, more preferably 3 to 10 grams.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tablet can be a multi-phase tablet, in the that the phases other than the fluid phase or semi-solid described above do not comprise no surfactants or comprise small amounts of surfactants Preferably, the amount of surfactants in the another phase is less than 10% by weight (based on the total weight of said phases), more preferably from 0 to 9% by weight, and in the manner more preferred from 1 to 8% by weight.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the cleaning tablets comprise a first fluid zone or semi-solid (as described above) in combination with a second area of the tablet which is an area solid, for example prepared by compression of a composition in the form of particles.

Although the second zone may comprise surfactant materials, this zone preferably comprises tablet ingredients other than the surfactants. Examples of these ingredients are, for example, additive enhancers, bleaching systems, enzymes, etc. Preferably, the tablet enhancement additives are predominantly present in the second zone. Preferably, the bleaching system is predominantly present in the second zone. Preferably, enzymes are predominantly present in the second zone. For the purposes of this invention, unless otherwise specified, the term "present, predominantly" refers to a situation in which at least 90% by weight of the ingredient is present in the second zone, more preferably more 98% by weight, and most preferably considerably 100% in
weight.

The previous description of the tablet has been provided with reference to a tablet formed by two zones. Do not However, it will be understood that each of the zones may be formed by a limited number of discrete areas. For example, the first fluid or semi-solid zone can be a only discrete part of the tablet, but it can also be a limited number (say 1-5) of fluid parts or semi-solid discrete. Preferably each of these fluid or semi-solid parts are of at minus 1 gram, also preferably each of these parts fluid or semi-solid is formed of considerably the same composition. If reference is made to the composition or weight of the first zone it should be understood that this refers to the total weight and composition of these fluid parts or semi-solid.

Similarly, the second solid zone can be formed by a limited number (digit 1-5) of solid parts, for example separate layers of the tablet. Preferably, each of these parts has a weight of minus 10 grams, also preferably the composition of each of the solid parts is considerably the same. If it is done reference to the composition or weight of the second zone, must understood that this refers to the total weight of the composition of These solid parts.

In addition to the first fluid zone or semi-solid and second solid zone, the cleaning tablets of the invention may comprise optional other areas, for example the tablet may be partially or fully coated.

Preferably, the cleaning tablets of according to the invention they can be manufactured first by preparing a fluid or semi-solid part. Advantageously, the fluid or semi-solid phase preparation can include heating the ingredients, followed by cooling. Advantageously, the preparation of the fluid phase or semi-solid may involve extrusion.

Extrusion processes for articles of cleaning are known, for example, WO 01/02532 describes the extrusion of cleaning items with a pressure less than 1000 kN / m2 (10 bar).

Preferably, the extrusion processes for the preparation of fluid or semi-solid parts for be used in the tablets of the invention involve the formed of an extrudable mass which, then,  it is extruded into an extrusion device and, optionally, subsequently it is chopped into parts of desired size and weight. From optional way, then the parts semi-solids can harden.

Preferably, the mass susceptible to extrusion has a high initial temperature, for example 60 at 120 ° C, more preferably 70 to 90 ° C. Preferably during the production of the fluid or semi-solid mass, the Extrudable mass is cooled, for example to a final temperature of 20ºC. If extrusion is used, this low temperature can, for example, be the die temperature extrusion, for example from 10 to 40 ° C, preferably from 15 to 25 ° C, and most preferably at room temperature (20 ° C).

In a very preferred embodiment of the invention Extrusion conditions are closely controlled. In particular, it has been proven that the parties semi-solid that on the one hand contain quantities relatively high of soapy and non-soapy surfactants and which on the other hand have good texture properties (i.e. not too soft and semi-solid) they can be produced advantageously by a process of extrusion in which high conditions do not apply shear, particularly under refrigeration. Particularly, it prefers extrusion to take place under low conditions shear in the extrusion device. Devices Extrusion appropriate for this purpose are those that, for example, do not They contain extrusion screws. Especially preferred is the Feeding the dough that can be extruded into a chamber elongated, for example a pipe provided with means of refrigeration, but not equipped with stirring devices or shear.

After the production of the fluid part or semi-solid, the cleaning tablet of the invention may, advantageously, be prepared by a process that includes the stages of:

(to)

compress a composition into particles inside a tablet mold

(b)

combine one or more fluid parts or semi-solid with the particulate composition Compressed

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the Particle composition is compressed at a force of 0.1 to 100 kN / cm2.

A tablet of this invention may be intended for use in dishwashing machines. Such a tablet is liable to contain surfactant in a low concentration, such as 0.5 to 2% by weight, based on the entire tablet, although they can higher concentrations that vary up to 10% by weight are used. Such tablets typically contain salts, above 60% by weight, and often above 85% by weight of compressed.

Typically, water soluble salts used in dishwashing machine compositions are phosphates  (including condensed phosphates), carbonates and silicates, generally in the form of alkali metal salts. The salts of water-soluble alkali metals chosen from phosphates, carbonates and silicates can provide 60% by weight or more of the dishwasher composition.

Another preferred possibility is that the tablet of this invention is intended for washing fabrics. In this case, it is likely that the tablet contains at least 2% by weight, probably at least 5% by weight, up to 40 or 50% by weight of non-soap surfactants, based on the total tablet, and 5 to 80% by weight of detergent enhancing additive, based on the total tablet

They will be discussed in more detail below. the materials that can be used in the tablets of this invention.

Surfactant compounds

The compositions used in the Tablets of the invention contain one or more surfactants detergents In a fabric washing composition, preferably these provide 5 to 50% by weight of the total the tablet composition, more preferably 8 or 9% by weight of the total composition up to 40% or 50% by weight. The surfactant it can be anionic (soapy or non-soapy), cationic, bipolar, amphoteric, nonionic or a combination of these.

The anionic surfactant may be present in an amount of 0.5 to 50% by weight, preferably 2% or 4% to 30% or 40% by weight of the tablet composition.

Synthetic anionic surfactants (it is say, the non-soapy ones) are well known to experts in the technique. Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, in particular linear sodium alkylbenzenesulfonates having a C 8 -C 15 alkyl chain length; olefin sulfonates; alkane sulfonates; sulfosuccinates from dialkyl; and fatty acid ester sulfonates.

The primary alkyl sulfate that has the formula

ROSO_ {3} {} - M +

in which R is an alkyl chain or alkenyl of 8 to 18 carbon atoms, especially 10 to 14 carbon atoms and M + is a solubilizing cation, it turns out commercially important as a surfactant anionic

The linear alkylbenzene sulphonate of formula

one

where R is linear alkyl of 8 at 15 carbon atoms and M + is a solubilizing cation, especially sodium, it is also an important anionic surfactant commercially

Frequently, such alkylbenzene sulphonate or primary alkyl sulfate of the above formula, or mixture thereof it will be the desired anionic surfactant and can provide 75 to 100% by weight of any non-soap surfactant in the composition.

In some forms of this invention, the amount of non-soap anionic surfactant is found within the range of 5 to 20% by weight of the tablet composition.

Preferably, the soaps to be used according to the invention are sodium soaps derived from naturally occurring fatty acids, for example, fatty acids of coconut oil, beef tallow, sunflower oil or rapeseed oil reinforced. Especially, preferred soaps are chosen between C 10 to C 20 soaps, for example C 16 soaps to C 18 or C 12.

Appropriate non-ionic surfactant compounds which can be used include, in particular, the products of reaction of compounds having a hydrophobic group and an atom of reactive hydrogen, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkylphenols with alkylene oxides, especially oxide of ethylene.

Specific non-ionic surfactant compounds are condensates of (C 8-22) alkyl phenol oxide of ethylene, the condensation products of primary alcohols or C 8-20 branched aliphatic secondary or linear with ethylene oxide, and products prepared by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and ethylene diamine.

Primary or secondary alcohol ethoxylates they are especially preferred, especially alcohols primary or secondary C_ {11-11} ethoxylates and C 12-15 with an average of 5 to 20 moles of oxide of ethylene per mole of alcohol.

In some tablets for washing tissues of this invention, the amount of nonionic surfactant is is within the range of 4 to 40%, better of 4 or 5 to 30% in Total tablet weight.

Many nonionic surfactants are liquids. These can be absorbed on the particles of the composition.

In the dishwasher machine tablet, The surfactant can be completely non-ionic, in an amount below 5% by weight of the total tablet, although the possibility of including some anionic surfactant and the use of up to 10% by weight of surfactant in total.

Detergent character enhancing additive

The composition used in the tablets of the invention usually contains from 5 to 80%, more usually from 15 to 60% by weight of additive improving the detergent character. This can be provided completely by water soluble materials, or it can be provided largely or even completely by means of a water insoluble material with softening properties of water. The detergent-enhancing additive insoluble in water may be present from 5 to 80% by weight, better from 5 to 60% in composition weight.

Alkali metal aluminosilicates They are especially favored as improver additives Water insoluble and environmentally acceptable for washing tissues. Alkali metal aluminosilicates (preferably sodium) can be either crystalline or amorphous or mixtures thereof, presenting the general formula:

0.8 - 1.5 \ Na_ {2} O \ Al_ {2} O_ {3} \ cdot 0.8 - 6 \ SiO_ {2} \ cdot xH_ {2} O

These materials contain a certain amount of link water (indicated as "xH_ {2} O") and it is necessary that have a calcium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 mg CaO / g Preferred sodium aluminosilicates contain 1.5-3.5 SiO2 units (in the formula previous). Both amorphous and crystalline materials can easily prepared by reaction between sodium silicate and sodium aluminate, as widely described in the bibliography.

Detergent-enhancing additives, of ion exchange, sodium aluminosilicate, crystalline appropriate are described, for example, in GB1429143 (Procter & Gamble). Preferred sodium aluminosilicates of this type are the known zeolites A and X available commercially, the new zeolite P described and claimed in the EP384,070 (Unilever) and mixtures thereof.

As described in document US4664839, the water-insoluble detergent character enhancing additive can be a sodium silicate in the form of layers. NaSKS-6 is the trademark for crystalline silicate in the form of layers marketed by Hoechts (commonly abbreviated as "SKS-6"). NaSKS-6 has the morphological form of silicate in the form of layers of delta-Na2 {SiO_ {5}. It can be prepared by methods such as those described in the documents DE-A-3,417,649 and DE-A-3,742,043. Others can be used layered silicates, such as those with formula general NaMSi_ {x} O_ {2x + 1} \ cdot and H2O, where M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4, preferably 2, e and is a number from 0 to 20, preferably 0.

Detergent enhancing additives, inorganic, phosphorus-containing and water-soluble include alkali metal orthophosphates, metaphosphates, pyrophosphates and polyphosphates Specific examples of additives improvers of inorganic phosphate include sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates, orthophosphates and hexametaphosphates.

Water-soluble improver additives do not Phosphorus can be organic or inorganic. Improver additives which may be present include alkali metal carbonates (usually sodium); while improver additives Organic include polycarboxylate polymers, such as polyacrylates, acrylic / maleic copolymers, and phosphates Acrylics, monomeric polycarboxylates such as citrates, gluconates, oxidisuccinates, glycerol mono-di- and trisuccinates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, carboxymethylximalonates, dipicolinates and hydroxyethyliminodiacetates.

Preferably, at least one zone (preferably the second zone) of the tablet for washing fabrics include polycarboxylate polymers, more especially Acrylic / maleic polyacrylates and copolymers that can work as improver additives and may also show non deposition desired on the fabric from the washing liquid.

Bleaching system

The tablets according to the invention may contain a bleaching system in at least one area of the compressed, preferably in the second zone. Preferably, This comprises one or more peroxide bleaching compounds, by for example, inorganic persalts or organic peroxyacids, which can be used together with activators to improve the bleaching action at low wash temperatures. If any compound of peroxygen, the amount is likely to be within the range of 10 to 25% by weight of the composition.

Preferred inorganic persalts are perborate of sodium monohydrate and tetrahydrate, and sodium percarbonate, employees advantageously together with an activator. The bleaching activators, also called precursors of bleached, have been widely described in the art. Examples Preferred include peracetic acid precursors, for example, tetraacetylene diamine (TAED), currently widely used commercial together with sodium perborate; and acid precursors perbenzoic. The quaternary ammonium bleaching activators and phosphonium described in US4751015 and in the document US4818426 (Lever Brothers Company) are also of interest. Another type of bleach activator that can be used, but not it is a bleaching precursor, it is a metal catalyst of transition as described in the documents EP-A-458397, EP-A-458398 and EP-A-549272. The bleaching system may also include a bleach stabilizer (sequestrant heavy metal) such as ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate and diethylenetriamine pentamethylene phosphonate.

As indicated above, if the bleach is present and is a peroxygen bleach inorganic water soluble, the amount can be from 10% to 25% in composition weight.

Other detergent ingredients

The detergent tablets of the invention they may also contain (preferably in the second zone) one of detergent enzymes well known in the art for their ability to degrade and assist in the withdrawal of different stains and dirt. Appropriate enzymes include several proteases, cellulases, lipases, amylases and mixtures thereof, which are designed to remove from the tissues a variety of stains and dirt. Examples of appropriate proteases are Maxatase (Registered Trademark), supplied by DSM N.V. (formerly known as Gist-Brocades N.V.), Delft, Holland, and Alcalase (Registered Trademark), and Savinase (Registered Trademark), supplied by Novozymes A / S (formerly known as Novo Industri A / S), Copenhagen, Denmark Detergent enzymes are commonly used in the form of granules or spheres, optionally with a coating protective, in an amount of about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of the composition; and these granules or spheres do not have problems regarding compaction to form a compressed.

The detergent tablets of the invention they can also contain (preferably in the second zone) a fluorescent agent (optical brightener), for example, Tinopal (Registered Trademark) DMS or Tinopal CBS available at Ciba Specialty Chemicals AG (formerly known as Ciba-Geigy AG), Basel, Switzerland. Tinopal DMS is 4,4'bis- (2-morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilben disodium disulfonate; and Tinopal CBS is 2,2'-bis- (phenyl-styryl) disulfonate  of disodium

Advantageously a material is included antifoam (preferably in the second zone), especially if the detergent tablet is primarily intended to be Used in automatic drum and load type washing machines frontal. Normally, the appropriate antifoaming materials will found in granular form, such as those described in the EP 266863A (Unilever). Typically, such granules Defoamers comprise a mixture of silicone oil, Vaseline, hydrophobic silica and alkyl phosphate as material antifoam active, absorbed on a porous absorbed material of inorganic vehicle of water soluble carbonate. Granules Defoamers may be present in an amount of up to 5% in composition weight.

It may also be desirable that the detergent builder additive of the invention include an amount of alkali metal silicate, in particular ortho-, meta- or sodium disilicate. The presence of such alkali metal silicates in amounts of, for example, 0.1 to 10% by weight may be advantageous in providing corrosion protection of the metal parts of the washing machines, in addition to providing some type of improvement and provide processing benefits in the manufacture of the particulate material that is compacted to give rise to
tablets

Generally, the tablet for washing tissues does not contain more than 15% by weight silicate. Normally a dishwasher tablet contains more than 20% by weight of silicate. Preferably, the silicate is present in the second tablet area

Other ingredients that, optionally, can be used in the area of fabric washing detergent  of the tablet of the invention (preferably the second zone) include anti-redeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone chain linear and cellulose ethers such as methyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, tissue softening agents; heavy metal sequestrants such as EDTA; aromas; Y colored dyes or streaks.

Other ingredients that, optionally, they can be used in the tablets of the invention, preferably in the second zone, they are dispersion aids. Examples of Appropriate dispersion aids are swellable polymers at water (for example SCMC) highly soluble materials (for example, sodium citrate, potassium carbonate or sodium acetate) or sodium tripolyphosphate with preferably at least 40% of the anhydrous phase I form.

Particle size and distribution

The second area of the detergent tablet this invention is preferably a matrix of particles compacted

Preferably, the particulate composition it has an average particle size within the range of 200 to 2000 µm, more preferably 250 to 1400 µm. The fine particles, less than 180 µm or 200 µm, can removed by sieving before proceeding to the formation of compressed, if desired, although the inventors have observed that This is not always essential.

While the starting particle composition may, in principle, have any apparent density, the present invention is especially relevant for tablets prepared by compacting powders of relatively high bulk density, due to their greater tendency to show disintegration and dispersion problems. . Such tablets have the advantage that, in comparison with a tablet from a powder of low apparent density, a given dose of composition may be presented as a tablet
small.

In this way, the particulate composition of heading may, appropriately, have an apparent density of at least 400 g / liter, preferably at least 500 g / liter, and maybe at least 600 g / liter.

The tablet forming machinery capable of carrying out the manufacture of the tablets of the invention it is known, for example presses for appropriate tablets are available in Fette and Korch.

The formation of the tablets can lead to conducted at room temperature or at a temperature above the ambient temperature, which allows to obtain adequate resistance with lower pressure applied during compaction. With the purpose of carry out the formation of the tablet at a temperature by above room temperature, preferably the composition in particles is supplied to the tabletting machinery  at high temperature. Of course, this supplies heat to the tablet forming machinery, but the machinery too It can be heated in another way.

Properly, the tablet size is 10 to 160 grams, preferably 15 to 60 g, depending on the intended conditions of use, and if it represents a dose for a medium load in a machine for washing fabrics or in a dishwasher or a fractional part of said dose. The Tablets can take any form. However, for facilitate packaging, preferably they are cutting blocks considerably uniform transverse, such as cylinders or cuboid. Preferably, the total tablet density is found within a range of 1040 or 1050 gm / liter up to 1600 gm / liter

Example 1

7 kg of an anionic surfactant were mixed (Shell Dobanic acid 103) and 6 kg of a non-ionic surfactant (Neodol 1-5) and neutralized to a pH of 9 using a 50% NaOH solution.

Soapy fatty acid was added to the mixture (from Uniquema), dipropylene glycol diluent (from Vopak) and materials ethoxylates in the amounts indicated in the table. The mix at a temperature of about 80 ° C until the acid fatty had dissolved and then neutralized again with a 50% NaOH solution to a pH of 11.

After neutralization to a pH of 11, the mixture was pumped into 2 stainless steel pipes in sequence by means of a Maag Sinox P7 pump or a pump piston, type SIBa HK 05016SST4000M000 from Prominent, Vleuten (NL). Both pipes had a double shirt. The first The pipe had a length of 2.5 m and an internal diameter of 73 mm. The second pipe had a length of 1.5 m and an internal diameter  45 mm The pipes were connected by a long pipe of 10 cm

The extrusion was carried out via die-header (with internal diameters 24 and 32 mm), which was connected to the second pipeline.

The mixture was pumped into the pipes at a temperature of 85 ° C and a process flow of 4 kg / h. The First pipe was cooled using a water bath at 40 ° C. The second pipe was cooled using a 50:50 mixture of ethylene glycol and Water. The coolant temperature was -15 ° C. The material that comes out of the second pipe had a temperature of around 20 ° C and was collected and divided into bars of about 0.5 m.

After storage, the bars were cut in fluid or semi-solid cylindrical sheets (18 mm in diameter) of comparable quality and 5 grams each.

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The dissolution of the sheets was determined immersing a piece in 500 ml of tap water at 20 ° C, stirring at 200 rpm and measuring the remaining weight of the sheets at intervals of 3 or 5 minutes T80 was determined (time required for dissolve 80% of the mass of the test piece).

The following results were obtained.

Formulations (all levels are dosed on top of the anionic / non-ionic mixture) and t80 in minutes

2

Example II Multi-phase tablets

A detergent powder of the following was prepared pre-granulated composition of granule-shaped ingredients, followed by post-dosage of the rest of the ingredients.

3

Parts of 5 grams fluid or semi-solid as in example 1.

The tablets were prepared in two ways. different:

(I) 20 grams of the powder was introduced into a 45 mm die of a tablet preparation machine, optionally followed by a flattening step, followed by the addition of a single semi-solid part on the top of the powder bed. After the addition of the semi-solid on the bed of powder or on the powder subjected to flattening, all the material is compressed at 30 kN to give rise to a single tablet, followed by ejection of the tablet. This results in a tablet with a semi-solid part interspersed in the cleaning tablet. The density of the area in powder form is 1.5 kg / liter, the density of the semi-solid zone being 1.0 kg / liter. The height of the semi-solid part after compression is 3.4 mm, and the powder-shaped part of
11 mm

Example III

Fluid cleaning tablets were prepared following the method of the previous examples. Each part fluid understood:

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4

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The co-surfactants chosen were:

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5

6

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The co-surfactants used in examples A1, A2, B1, B2 and B3 they were freeze dried until obtain Aw water activities <0.5 before joining mix.

The hardness of the gels was quantified using an LFRA Texture Analyzer, measuring the resistance of a bar (diameter 12.7 mm) introduced inside the gel at a penetration rate of 1 mm / s at room temperature.

Dissolution rate was measured by controlling the dissolution time of 5 grams of fluid part in 1 liter of demineralized water under stirring at 200 rpm and 20 ° C, taking the time after it had dissolved 80% by weight of the sample fluid (T80).

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Results TABLE 1 Hardness and dissolution speed of several gels

7

Claims (8)

1. A cleaning tablet comprising a fluid or semi-solid phase in which the fluid phase or semi-solid comprises:

(to)

 from 10 to 90% by weight of non-soap surfactants; Y

(b)

of 2 to 75% by weight soap; Y

(C)

of 5 to 50% of a material chosen from carbohydrates polyalkoxylates, chosen in the group of mono-fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitan, fatty esters of polyoxyethylene sorbitol, polyoxyethylene glycerol esters, polyoxyethylene isostearate glycerol sorbitan, fatty esters of polyoxyethylene-hexitan, polyoxyethylene sorbitan, polyoxyethylene sorbitol, polyoxyethylene glycerol, polyoxyethylene glycerol sorbitan, and polypropoxylated sorbitan, and stabilizing surfactants having a medium alkyl chain of more than 6 atoms of C and that have a resistance to saline displacement greater than or equal to 3.0, chosen from polyalkoxylated carboxylates, polyalkoxylated alkyl phosphates, polyalkoxylated alkyl sulfosuccinates, disulfonates of dialkyl and diphenyl oxide, and alkylpolysaccharides, and

(d)

of 0 at 20% by weight of water.

2. A cleaning tablet according to the claim 1, wherein the tablet is a tablet multi-phase and fluid phase or Semi-solid has a weight of 2 to 20 grams. 3. A cleaning tablet according to the claim 1, comprising 3 to 70% by weight soap, based in the weight of the fluid or semi-solid phase. 4. A cleaning tablet according to the claim 1, wherein the material is polyethoxylated sorbitan or One of its esters. 5. A cleaning tablet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the amount of material is 10 to 45% by weight, based on the weight of the fluid phase or semi-solid. 6. A cleaning tablet according to the claim 1, wherein the material is a alkyl polysaccharide. 7. A cleaning tablet according to a or more of the preceding claims, comprising 5 to 50% by weight of diluent, based on the weight of the fluid phase or semi-solid 8. A cleaning tablet according to the claim 7, wherein the diluent is dipropylene glycol or monopropylene glycol