ES2374593T3 - IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO FABRIC TREATMENT COMPOSITIONS INCLUDED BY SEQUENCERS AND DISPERSANTS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of conferring an improved whiteness advantage to a white textile article during a laundry process, comprising the steps of: a) providing an aqueous liquid comprising a laundry treatment composition comprising a fluorescent bleaching agent and an active agent , and b) contacting the white textile article with the aqueous liquid of section a); characterized in that the active agent comprises: i) a transition metal cation sequestrant; and ii) a dispersant comprising one or more naphthalene sulfonate / formaldehyde condensates, acrylic polymers, sulfonated styrene / maleic anhydride copolymers or a mixture thereof; and because the white textile article is first contacted with the laundry treatment composition comprising the active agent during a washing step, and is additionally contacted with an active agent that is available from a composition of Different laundry treatment and added separately in the rinse.

Description

Improvements relating to fabric treatment compositions comprising sequestrants and dispersants

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method for conferring an improved whiteness advantage to white textile articles during fabric washing.

Background of the invention

Consumers are aware that white textile items lose their apparent whiteness over repeated cycles of washing and wear. This is not desirable since whiteness is also usually associated in the mentality of consumers with the cleanliness of the washed clothing. This loss of perceived whiteness can occur, for example, from the deterioration of textile fibers or an incomplete removal of dirt; it can also be produced due to the deposition of insoluble colored metal complexes in the white textile article or the deactivation of the fluorescent bleaching agent (FWA).

Many laundry detergents, for example, those containing a bleach, are based on the fact that a fluorescent bleaching agent (FWA) confers whiteness and whiteness to white textile materials. These materials absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit light in the blue region of the visible spectrum. The blue color counteracts the natural yellow color of cotton. This improved sugar is perceived by the consumer as whiteness. A similar effect can be obtained using low levels of blue or violet dyes (darkening dyes). WO 9927059 describes a method for washing white textile articles in which FWA is added separately from the main amount of washing substances.

The efficacy of these fluorescent whitening agents depends on the amount of UV light of the quantum yield (a measure of the efficiency of the process of converting UV light into visible). Therefore, a reduction in available UV light or a reduction in quantum yield will be observed as a reduction in whiteness.

Therefore, it is desirable to confer an improved whiteness advantage to white textile articles during the washing process.

Brief Description of the Invention

It has now been found that the addition of a composition comprising a transition metal cation sequestrant and a dispersant to a washing stage and at least one rinsing stage of the laundry process confers an improved whiteness advantage to white textile articles .

Therefore, the present invention provides, in a first aspect, a method of conferring an improved whiteness advantage to a white textile article during a laundry process, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an aqueous liquid comprising a laundry treatment composition comprising a fluorescent bleaching agent and an active agent and,

b) contacting the white textile article with the aqueous liquid of section a);

characterized in that the active agent comprises:

i) a transition metal cation sequestrant;

ii) a dispersant comprising one or more naphthalene sulfonate / formaldehyde condensates, acrylic polymers, sulfonated styrene / maleic anhydride copolymers or a mixture thereof; Y

because the white textile article is first contacted with the laundry treatment composition comprising the active agent during a washing step, and is additionally contacted with an active agent that is available from a treatment composition of different laundry and added separately in the rinse.

By ensuring that there is contact with the fabric during washing and at least one stage of rinsing of the laundry process, an unexpectedly high whiteness advantage is obtained. Since this method includes a subsequent contact of the article with an additional active agent supplied from a different laundry treatment composition and added separately to the rinse, the method does not need to be based or to ensure adequate and selective material transfer. already dissolved from washing to rinsing.

The method of improving whiteness includes contacting the white textile article with an additional active agent. This can be produced by providing an additional composition comprising the active agent (in a similar product format or in a different product format) at later stages of the laundry process.

Detailed description of the invention

The "active agent" described herein refers to an agent comprising two parts, the transition metal cation sequestrant and the dispersant.

The white textile article contacts the additional active agent during the laundry process. This happens properly in various ways.

In one embodiment, contact with the additional active agent can suitably occur by adding a second part of active agent in a subsequent laundry stage, that is, the active component is added to the main wash and to one or more rinse stages.

In an example of the above-mentioned embodiment, the laundry treatment composition preferably comprises an anionic or non-ionic detergent surfactant, in which the additional active agent is incorporated into a different laundry treatment composition and added separately in the rinse. Preferably, the laundry treatment composition added in the rinse comprises a quaternary ammonium compound.

In the method of the invention, the aqueous liquid of section a) is an aqueous liquid of the main wash, and contact with the additional active agent occurs during a rinsing step of the washing process. More preferably, contact with the additional active agent occurs during the final rinse stage of the washing process. Even more preferably, contact with the additional active agent occurs during all rinsing stages of the washing process.

Preferably, the transition metal cation sequestrant is capable of binding to CuII and / or FeII.

Preferably, the sequestrant has a binding capacity (log k) for copper (II) and iron (II) of more than 8. Non-limiting examples include tetrasodium etridonate, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium salt of iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), ethylenediamine-disuccinic acid trisodium salt (EDDS), N, N, N ', N'-tetrakis- (2-hydroxypropyl) -ethylenediamine (TPED), gluconic acid sodium salt, sodium salt monohydrate triacetic nitrile acid (NTA), and sodium salt of (1-hydroxy-ethylidene) diphosphonic acid.

Examples of suitable commercially available sequestrants are IDS, for example, Baypure® CX (from Bayer) and Turpinal® 4NP (from Solutia).

Examples of suitable dispersants include naphthalene sulfonate / formaldehyde condensates, acrylic polymers and copolymers of sulfonated styrene / maleic anhydride.

An example of a commercially available dispersant is Suparex® KS (from Clariant).

Preferably, the laundry composition used in the treatment method comprises a fluorescent whitening agent. Alternatively, it may comprise a blue or violet dye instead or in addition to the fluorescent whitening agent.

Examples of fluorescent whitening agents can be found in the publication "Formulating Detergents and Personal Care Products", Louis Ho Tan Tai, published in 2000 by AOCS Press on pages 125-128. The fluorescent whitening agent is normally present in detergent formulations at a level of 0.1% p over the weight of the total formulation.

The sequestrant and dispersant present in the method according to the invention are present in the aqueous liquid at a level of 0.001 g / 1.0 g / l, preferably 0.0015 g / 0.5 g / l, for each required phase of the washing process.

Prolonged release for a composition of the main wash means that the release of the active agent (the sequestrant and dispersant) occurs at least in part after the main wash of a laundry process. An example is a composition that releases active species throughout the wash, that is, the active species are released during the main wash and at least the first rinse stage. Preferably, the delayed release composition will release active species throughout the main wash and all subsequent rinsing steps.

An advantage of improved whiteness, as used herein, is defined as an increase in the whiteness of the textile article, or in some other way preserving the perceived whiteness of the textile article with respect to deterioration by the washing process.

The white textile article is defined as a textile article comprising substantial white areas; preferably it is a white only textile article. Preferably, the textile article is made of cotton or with a high cotton content.

Preferably, the article comprises at least 50% by weight of cotton fibers.

As indicated above, the present invention is based on the surprising discovery that by ensuring the prolonged presence of a transition metal cation sequestrant and a dispersant that can be attached

or avoid the aggregation of metallic species in certain phases of a household wash cycle (i.e., in the main wash and in at least one of the rinse phases), an unexpectedly large whiteness advantage occurs when compared to the addition of the active agent only in the washing liquid.

The laundry process

The method of the invention is applied to a white textile article, preferably a non-keratinous textile article, more preferably a cellulosic or cellulose-containing textile article.

The laundry process to which the method of the present invention is applied can be any laundry process that comprises a washing and a rinsing stage. The process can be manual, such as hand washing or, more preferably, semi-automatic or automatic, such as an automatic washing machine.

The laundry process comprises at least one main wash stage and one final rinse stage. Normally, there will be more than one rinse stage. Therefore, a laundry process according to the present invention preferably comprises a main wash stage, at least one, preferably two, most preferably three or more intermediate rinse stages and a final rinse stage.

The laundry process is preferably facilitated by an automatic washing machine. This laundry process normally comprises at least one main washing step, in which the textile articles are brought into contact with the main washing liquid or each of them. This liquid comprises an aqueous solution or dispersion of a detergent product of the main wash.

At the end of the main wash, the main wash liquid is usually emptied from the machine and one takes place

or more clarified. Normally, a series of sequential rinsing takes place, culminating in a final rinsing.

As used herein, the term "rinse liquid" refers to rinse water. Each rinse is usually emptied of the machine before the next rinse is applied, although alternative processes are known in which the first rinse can be added to the machine without emptying the washing liquid, and then can be emptied and subsequent rinses . As used herein, the term "intermediate rinse" means a rinse that is not the final rinse of the laundry process and the term "final rinse" means the last rinse in the rinse series.

In a typical automatic washing machine laundry process, a composition comprising an advantageous agent, such as a rinse conditioner, is added only to the final rinse.

In the method of the present invention, the active agent is preferably present in the main wash liquid and preferably in all the rinses, or at least in one (preferably the first) of the rinses. The present invention does not refer to cases in which the active agent is present only in the main wash or is present only in the final rinse.

The use of a rinse conditioner comprising the active agent and a main wash detergent comprising the active agent will ensure that the active agent is present in the main wash and in the final rinse. This will have some advantage, but during intermediate rinsing the active agent will be separated unless it is replenished.

Therefore, preferably, the extended release composition is used in the main wash in the method of the invention.

Preferably, the active agent is trapped, preferably encapsulated in a prolonged release matrix.

In a preferred embodiment, the active agent is added by means of a delivery device containing said active agent trapped in a "slow release" formulation. The slow release formulation preferably comprises a carrier material for the active agent. Preferably, the carrier material is at most sparingly soluble in the rinsed wash liquid.

The extended release matrix can be any material that is capable of providing a prolonged release of an active agent over a prolonged period of time.

Preferably, the additional active agent is added from a composition that slowly releases the active agent, but is large enough to be retained between the washing / rinsing stages of the laundry process.

The active agent can be adequately supplied by encapsulation in a prolonged-release granule of a sufficient size (between 3 μm and 10 mm) that is retained in the drum during the washing and rinsing stages of the laundry process. Preferably, the additional active agent is added from a composition that slowly releases the active agent, but is large enough to be retained between the washing / rinsing stages of the laundry process.

The active agent can also be supplied in an extended release matrix used for multiple laundry processes (ie, used for multiple wash / rinse cycles); It can alternatively be supplied by an automatic dosing system whereby the necessary amount is automatically added to each laundry process, or each washing or rinsing stage of the laundry process.

For the matrix material, a carrier material based on a polyalkylene glycol, preferably polyethylene glycol (PEG) is used in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The amount of the active agent in the PEG carrier is such that the concentration of transition metal sequestrant and dispersant present in the wash liquid or rinse liquid is 0.001 g / 1.0 g / l, preferably 0 , 0015 g / 0.5 g / l.

A preferred delivery device is a supply ball or "shuttle", more preferably a dual or multiple compartment supply device. The dual or multiple compartment delivery device comprises the active agent trapped in a carrier material with one or more separate compartments available for the incorporation of a solid or liquid detergent in a separate compartment of the device until the formulation of active agent of extended release.

The delivery device may be adapted for a single use, that is, for a single wash with one or more rinse cycles.

Alternatively, the delivery device may be adapted to be used multiple times, that is, numerous wash and rinse cycles. In this case, the delivery device will preferably take the form of a product of an extended release delivery device present in the drum of the main wash, tray or drain of the washing machine.

It is also provided that the present invention can be implemented by means of a so-called "precision shuttle". In this device, which may include means for measuring liquid parameters, the release of materials occurs when predetermined conditions are met. A device of this general description is set forth in US 2004/0088796.

Aqueous liquid

In the method of the invention, the aqueous composition (be the main wash liquid or rinse liquid) comprises the active ingredient.

In the method of the invention, the textile material is contacted with the aqueous composition comprising the active agent in the main wash and the additional active agent is made available during a subsequent rinsing step of the laundry process to contact White textile items.

Addition mode

The active agent may simply be the transition metal cation sequestrant and the dispersant or it may also comprise other advantageous components.

During the method of the invention, the active agent is comprised in an aqueous composition, as described above. This aqueous composition comprising the active agent is prepared by dissolving or dispersing the active agent in the washing or rinsing liquid. Prior to said dissolution / dispersion, the active agent may exist in any suitable form.

Preferred formats are when the active agent is:

a) included in a composition, for example, a laundry detergent or rinse conditioner composition, which may be a powder, liquid, gel or tablet composition;

b) encapsulated in a capsule or capsules, immobilized in a suitable carrier or matrix, for example, in a slow release formulation;

c) maintained on a support; or

d) simply used in the form of the pure compound itself, with or without other components.

Any combination of these forms can be used to provide the active agents in different phases of the washing process.

In a simple format, the active agent and additional active agent can be added to the washing liquid or rinsed manually, for example, during the process of hand washing or semi-automatic washing. Examples of manual addition include the use of a spoon or can to add a measured amount of the active agent directly into the wash liquid or in one or more rinse liquids. The bucket or can can be calibrated.

The active agent can be added to the washing liquid or rinsed by automatic dosing by means of a washing machine with automatic dosing functionality. Ideally, the addition should be to each wash phase that includes each of the main wash and all of the rinses. This can be done by modifying the design of the washing machine so that the machine comprises specific supply means to ensure that the materials are added to the water that is being supplied to the washing drum. However, since washing machines are expected to last a certain number of years, it is preferable to provide means to ensure that the present invention can be implemented with an existing washing machine.

The active agent, in any form, can be contained in a delivery device. The delivery device may be suitable for use in the drum or drawer of a washing machine. It can be attached to the inside of the drum or to the drain of the washing machine, or attached to the water inlet so that it comes into contact with the water for the washing or rinsing liquid before the water enters the washing machine. This can be used for a single wash or a plurality of washes, in any case it can be consumed completely (as a pellet or granular composition) or partially (as a "shuttle"). In the case of a supply device attached to the water inlet of the machine, it is convenient that the device can be diverted if the user wishes to use a bleaching composition, although this is not strictly necessary if a sufficient excess of bleach is present.

Contact with additional active agent means that the active agent composition in the aqueous composition is replenished or increased during the laundry process or remains substantially constant throughout the entire process. The replacement normally occurs when fresh water is taken in the washing process and comes into contact with the source of active agent, causing the dissolution of a quantity of the agent in the water. Therefore, the active agent may have a prolonged release in the liquid during all or part of the laundry process. The present invention is not based on the transfer of a transition metal sequestrant

or a dispersant already dissolved from the washing liquid until later phases of the laundry process.

Contact with the additional active agent means that a separate composition added in the rinse comprising the mild reducing agent is added to the rinse stage and is brought into contact with the fabric.

During use in an automatic washing machine, the active agent may be immobilized in a slow release matrix, immobilized in a slow release matrix, and when immobilized in a slow release matrix, dissolution and / or dispersion takes place in the liquid when the water is taken for a main wash or rinsed by the machine and comes into contact with the immobilized formulation.

By means of prolonged release it is meant a means by which the addition of active agent to the washing or rinsing liquid is allowed to progress in parts over time. This can be through an automatic dosing device as part of the washing machine or outside the washing machine. Preferably, the means for prolonged release is through a device that allows constant contact between the wash or rinse liquid and the extended release device. A device that allows constant contact between a constant available surface area of active agent immobilized in a carrier material is more preferred.

This ensures that, under the same conditions, the same amount of active agent can be supplied each time. One skilled in the art will know that the main wash liquid and the rinse liquid will have different properties (liquid temperature, presence of additional chemicals in the washing liquid (depending on the detergent product used), different volumes of water) and, therefore, the amount of active agent thus supplied will differ between the stage of the main wash and the rinse. However, the preferred embodiment of the product is formulated so that the active agent is supplied from the slow release formulation in an amount such that the concentration of transition metal cation sequestrant and dispersant are independently maintained at a level of 0.001 g / 1.0 g / l, preferably 0.0015 g / 0.5 g / l.

Composition Form

The laundry treatment composition is described herein to include main wash and rinse products. Preferably, the laundry treatment compositions are a laundry detergent composition of the main wash and a rinse composition, for example, rinse conditioners.

If the laundry treatment composition is to be used in the main wash cycle, that is, as a laundry detergent composition, then it can take the form of an isotropic liquid, a structured surfactant liquid, a granular powder, spray drying or dry combined, a tablet, a paste, a molded solid or any other form of laundry detergent known to those skilled in the art. In these cases, the laundry treatment composition will comprise one or more detergent surfactants.

Alternatively, the laundry treatment composition may take the form of a product added in the rinse, for example, a rinse conditioner.

Textile compatible carrier

In the context of the present invention, the term "carrier compatible with textile materials" includes a component that can aid in the interaction of the cellulose crosslinking agent with a textile material. Compositions of the main wash or rinse suitable for use in the method of the present invention preferably comprise one or more compatible carriers of textile materials.

Detergent Surfactants

Preferably, the carrier is selected from a detergent surfactant or a rinse conditioning compound.

If the carrier compatible with textile materials is a detergent surfactant, then it is preferably selected from anionic, nonionic, cationic, hybrid or amphoteric ionic detergent surfactants.

The composition comprises between 2 and 70% p of a detergent surfactant, most preferably 10 to 30% p. The detergent surfactant can be chosen from the surfactants described in the publication "Surface Active Agents" Vol. 1, by Schwartz & Perry, Interscience 1949, Vol. 2 of Schwartz, Perry & Berch, Interscience 1958, in the current edition of " McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents " published by the Manufacturing Confectioners Company or in the publication "Tenside-Taschenbuch", H. Stache. 2nd Edn., Carl Hauser Verlag, 1981. Preferably, the surfactants used are saturated.

Suitable non-ionic detergent compounds that can be used include, in particular, the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example, aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides , especially ethylene oxide alone or with propylene oxide. Specific non-ionic detergent compounds are condensed from C6 to C12 alkyl-phenol / ethylene oxide, generally from 5 to 25 EO, that is, with 5 to 25 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and condensation products of linear aliphatic alcohols or branched, primary or secondary, from C8 to C18 with ethylene oxide, usually with 5 to 40 EO.

Suitable anionic detergent compounds that can be used are usually water soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulfates and sulphonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term "alkyl" being used to include the alkyl part of upper acyl radicals. Examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds are sodium and potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating higher C8 to C18 alcohols produced, for example, from tallow or coconut oil, C9 to C20 alkyl benzene. and potassium, particularly C10 to C15 alkyl linear sodium secondary benzene sulphonates and sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulfates, especially the ethers of the higher alcohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and synthetic petroleum-derived alcohols. Preferred anionic detergent compounds are C11 to C15 alkyl sodium benzenesulfonates and C12 alkyl to C18 sodium sulfates. Surfactants such as those described in EP-A-328177 (Unilever) which show desalination resistance, the alkyl polyglycoside surfactants described in EP-A-070074 and alkyl monoglycosides are also applicable.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants are oxides of amines or betaines.

Preferred surfactant systems are mixtures of non-ionic detergent active materials, in particular the groups and examples of anionic and non-ionic surfactants indicated in EP-A-346-995 (Unilever). Especially preferred is a surfactant system that is a mixture of an alkali metal salt of a C6 to C18 primary alcohol sulfate together with a C12 to C15 ethoxylated primary alcohol of 3 to 7 EO.

The non-ionic detergent is preferably present in amounts of more than 10%, for example, 25 to 90% p of the surfactant system. Anionic surfactants may be present, for example, in amounts in the range of about 5% to about 40% p of the surfactant system.

5 Rinse Conditioners

If the carrier compatible with the textile material is a rinse conditioning compound, then preferably the carrier compatible with textile materials is a cationic compound.

Preferred cationic compounds with quaternary ammonium compounds.

It is advantageous that the quaternary ammonium compound is a quaternary ammonium compound having at least one C12 to C22 alkyl chain.

It is preferred that the quaternary ammonium compound have the following formula:

wherein R1 is a C12 to C22 alkyl or alkenyl chain; R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl chains and X- is a compatible anion. A preferred compound of this type is the quaternary ammonium compound, cetyl-trimethyl-quaternary ammonium bromide.

A second class of materials to be used with the present invention are those of the previous structure of

Quaternary ammonium in which R1 and R2 are independently selected from a C12 to C22 alkyl or alkenyl chain; R3 and R4 are independently selected from C1 to C4 alkyl chains and X-is a compatible anion.

Other suitable quaternary ammonium compounds are described in EP 0.239.910 (Procter and Gamble).

The cationic compound may be present from 1.5% p to 50% p of the total weight of the composition. Preferably, the cationic compound may be present from 2% p to 25% p, a more preferred range of the composition is from 5% p to 20% p.

Compositions suitable for delivery during the rinse cycle can also be supplied to a textile material in the drum dryer if used in a suitable manner. Therefore, another form of the product is a composition (for example, a paste) suitable for a coating and a supply from a substrate, for example, a flexible sheet or sponge or a suitable delivery device during a dryer cycle drum.

Detergency builders or complexing agents

The composition may comprise one or more detergency builders. These materials may suitably be aluminosilicates, silicates, carbonates, citrates, polycarboxylates, complexing agents and phosphates.

When a detergency builder is present, the compositions may suitably contain 10 to 70% p of detergency builder. Preferably, the total level of detergency builder is less than 20% p.

Examples of suitable zeolites are: zeolite A, zeolite B (also known as zeolite P), zeolite C, zeolite X, zeolite Y and also the type P of zeolite which is described in EP-A-0.384.070.

The composition may also comprise a complexing agent such as: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid, alkyl- or alkenyl-succinic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid or mixtures thereof.

Alternatively or in addition to aluminosilicate detergency builders phosphate builders can be used. In this technique, the term "phosphate" encompasses species of diphosphate, trisphosphate and phosphonate. Other forms of detergency builder include silicates such as soluble silicates, metasilicates or layered silicates (for example SKS-6 from Hoechst).

For low cost formulations, they can be used as carbonate detergency builders (including bicarbonate and sesquinarbonate) and / or citrate.

Polymers

The composition may comprise one or more polymers. Examples are: carboxymethyl cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyridine-N-oxide polycarboxylates (such as polyacrylates, maleic / acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl / acrylic acid copolymers) and mixtures thereof. The composition may further comprise dirt suppressing polymers such as block copolymers of poly (ethylene oxide) and terephthalate.

The composition may additionally comprise a dye transfer inhibitor. These prevent displacement of dyes, especially during prolonged soaking times. These agents are preferably selected from polyvinylpyridine-N-oxide (PVNO), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylimidazole, Nvinylpyrrolidone and copolymers of N-vinylimidazole (PVPVI) and their copolymers and / or mixtures thereof.

The amount of dye transfer inhibitor, if present in the composition, will be 0.01 to 10%, preferably 0.02 to 5%, more preferably 0.03 to 2% by weight of the composition.

Enzymes

Additional advantages of color can be obtained by incorporating enzymes. Enzymes contemplated for use in laundry detergent compositions include proteases, alpha-amylases, cellulases, lipases, peroxidases-oxidases, pectatoliases, manases or mixtures thereof.

Optional advantageous agents for color care

The compositions of the invention may also contain advantageous optional agents for color care. Advantageous agents for the care of preferred colors are polysaccharides. Normally, the wash / rinse liquid will comprise about 0.01 g / l of an advantageous agent for the care of polysaccharide colors.

Preferably, the polysaccharide is a beta-1,4-polysaccharide, more preferably a cellulose derivative, such as a hydroxy-C2-C4 alkyl derivative. More preferably, the hydroxy-C2-C4 alkyl derivative is a hydroxy-ethyl derivative.

Preferably, the degree of substitution (DS) of the polysaccharide is 1.5-2.25. Preferably, the molecular weight of the polysaccharide is 100,000 to 500,000 dalton.

Other detergent ingredients

The composition may also contain other conventional detergent ingredients such as, for example, fabric conditioners that include clays or silicones, foaming enhancers, anti-corrosion agents, soil suspending agents, anti-redeposite agents of dirt, colorants, antimicrobials , stabilizers, tarnish inhibitors or perfumes.

Other optional ingredients include non-aqueous solvents, perfume carriers, fluorescent agents, colorants, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents and opaque agents.

In addition, the compositions may comprise one or more anti-shrinkage agents, anti-wrinkle agents, anti-stain agents, germicides, fungicides, antioxidants, UV absorbers (sunscreens), heavy metal sequestrants, chlorine scrubbers, dye fixatives, anti-corrosion agents , agents for conferring sizing, antistatic agents and ironing aids. The lists of optional components are not intended to be exhaustive. The following non-limiting examples will more fully illustrate specific embodiments of this invention. All parts, percentages and proportions cited herein and the appended claims are by weight, unless otherwise illustrated. Physical test methods are described below.

Examples

Example 1 - Rapid Wash Evaluation

A washing program was carried out using a Raitech Quickwash® machine that uses the following protocol:

•

 Wash, 15 minutes at 40 ° C.

•

 Drain, 35 seconds.

•

 Rinse, 90 seconds at 40 ° C. 5 • Drain, 35 seconds.

• Centrifuged, 35 seconds.

•

 Drying, 4 minutes. 10

• The rinse-drain-centrifuge-drying cycle is repeated three more times.

The test comprises a main wash and four rinse stages, providing a total of 5 stages.

Water -12º FH (French hardness) prepared from demineralized water containing calcium / magnesium chloride, 2: 1 ratio of Ca: Mg with 1 ppm of copper (II) and 1 ppm of iron (II) added, both like sulfate salts. The volume of water used in all cases (main wash and each rinse stage) was 3.5 liters.

20 The fabric used was 10 individual pieces of 20 x 20 cm of bleached cotton cloth, non-fluorescent fabric.

Washing powder - 3.6 g of Skip® (a Unilever brand bleach containing laundry detergent + 0.5 g of antifoam (silica coated silicone granules)). Skip® comprises a fluorescent whitening agent

After each wash cycle, the activity of the fluorescent agent was measured in a Datacolor Spectraflash SF600 +, UV device with a wide open specular plate included. The emission of the fluorescent agent was verified through peak at 440 nm. A higher level of fluorescence indicates a higher index of whiteness of the fabric.

30 The following compositions

They were compared in example 1:

1A - Skip® (witness). 35 1B - Skip® + 1% (by weight) dispersant only (Suparex KS).

1C - Skip® + 1% sequestrant only (IDS).

40 1D - Skip® + 1% sequestrant (IDS) and 1% dispersant (Suparex KS).

The sequestrant and dispersant were also dosed at each stage of the laundry process, for example, for 1% by weight of the sequestrant, 0.2% would be dosed in the main wash and in each subsequent rinse stage.

The concentration of both sequestrant and dispersant was 0.0021 g / l, since each was dosed at 1% of a total formulation of 3.6 g, added in five parts during washing (main wash + four rinse stages) at a water content of 3.5 liters at each stage.

50 The process was repeated for 5 laundry cycles on the cloth. Table 1 shows the reflectance values of the fabric treated with the compositions 1A-1D according to the previous protocol.

Table 1 - Reflectance values for example 1

Composition

R440 value

1A

83.8

1 B

86.2

1 C

 89.5

1D

 94.3

It can be seen from Table 1 that the combination of a transition metal cation sequestrant and a dispersant (1D composition) provides an added effect on and above the accumulated individual effects.

Example 2

This example is a comparison of the addition of a sequestrant and a dispersant to the main wash liquid 5 only against the addition of the same combination during it, at the same level dosed during the main wash and the rinse steps.

The protocol was the same as for example 1, with the same levels of materials and substrates used; however a different detergent was used this time. The detergent used in this example was Persil® Performance, which comprises the same fluorescent bleaching agent as the Skip® in the previous example.

The following compositions were compared in example 2.

2A - Persil® Performance (witness).

15 2B - Persil® Performance, + 1% sequestrant (IDS) and 1% dispersant (Suparex KS) added to the main wash liquid only.

2C - Persil® Performance + 1% sequestrant (IDS) and 1% dispersant (Suparex KS) added during washing (0.2% of each added to the main wash liquid and to each rinse stage).

The washing process indicated in example 1 was carried out and repeated for 5 laundry cycles on the fabric, in total 5 x (main wash + 4 rinses). Table 2 shows the reflectance values on the fabric treated with the compositions 2A-2C according to the previous protocol.

25 Table 2 - Reflectance values for example 2

Composition

R440 value

2A

87.44

2B

90.27

2 C

 96.55

It can be seen from Table 2 that the combination of a transition metal cation sequestrant and a dispersant added during the wash (in the main wash and 1 + rinse steps) (composition 2C) provides an advantage of whiteness over the addition of sequestrant and dispersant to the main wash liquid only.

Example 3 - Study in washing machine

35 Using a different sequestrant (Turpinal® 4 NP from Solutia) in combination with the same Suparex® KS dispersant, a washing machine experiment was performed.

Washing cycle program:

-

 Main wash, 40ºC, 35 minutes, 15 liters of water.

-

 Drain.

-

 Four rinses at room temperature (~ 20ºC), 90 seconds per rinse. Four. Five

-

 Centrifuged, 5 minutes at 1,200 rpm.

The water quality was as for the rapid wash experiment of Example 1 (12 ° FH, 1 ppm Cu (II), 1 ppm of Faith (II)). Load composition: 2.5 kg, comprising:

• Two short sleeve t-shirts (light and heavy), a light short sleeve t-shirt, an Easycare t-shirt from

long sleeve and an easycare short sleeve t-shirt. 55

•

 Non-fluorescent cotton (lace construction, reinforcement and single jersey).

•

Pre-fluorescent cotton (lace construction, reinforcement and single jersey washed 10 times in Skip® to deposit a known fluorescent agent).

The charges were washed under three different conditions, 2 controls - Skip® detergent only, Skip® detergent in water + copper (II) and iron (II) and in a final state according to the invention. The conditions were:

one.

 105 g of Skip® in water at 12ºFH.

2.

 105 g of Skip® in water at 12 ° FH containing 1 ppm of Cu (II) and 1 ppm of iron (II).

3.

 105 g of Skip® in water at 12ºFH containing 1 ppm of Cu (II) and 1 ppm of iron (II) with 1% by weight of a formulation of Turpinal® 4 NP and 1% by weight of a formulation of Suparex® KS added. These were divided equally during the main wash and the four rinses (125 g each) in each wash phase.

After six cycles, the reflectance values were measured as before. The change in reflectance at 440 nm is shown by LR440. This value shows the difference between the reflectance between the pre- and post-treatment of the fabric.

Fabric preferences: SS032 Long-sleeve Valueweight T-shirt SS032 T-shirt tight H5180 Super-heavy thick T-shirt J945M Easycare J936M short-sleeved thread t-shirt Easycare Poplin T-shirt with long-sleeved pure cotton IF - INF pre-fluorescent cotton rag - Rag non-fluorescent cotton SJF - Single jersey in pre-fluorescent cotton SJNF - Single jersey in non-fluorescent cotton RF - RNF pre-fluorescent cotton pad - Non-fluorescent cotton pad

Cloth

State LR440  Cloth State LR440

H5180

one 9.77 IF one 11.98

2

-5.04  2 -3/70

3

1.85  3 3.84

J936M

one 17.02 INF one 43.52

2

4.94  2 32.39

3

14.76  3 36.61

J945M

one -5.58 SJF one 12.95

2

-18.34  2 -0.12

3

-16.16  3 5.50

SS260

one 5.05 SJNF one 43.05

2

-13.17  2 33.61

3

-7.92  3 34.56

SS032

one 3.50 RF one 12.75

2

-18.12  2 -1.63

3

-5.95  3 2.00

 RNF

one 43.85

2

30.82

3

35.78

In all cases, the presence of the agents improved the fluorescence index (indicated by a reflectance value closer to that obtained in water without the presence of iron and copper). In the non-fluorescent fabric, the presence of the active agent (sequestrant and dispersant) resulted in increased fluorescence.

Claims (8)

1. A method of conferring an improved whiteness advantage to a white textile article during a laundry process, comprising the steps of: a) providing an aqueous liquid comprising a laundry treatment composition comprising a fluorescent bleaching agent and an active agent, and b) contacting the white textile article with the aqueous liquid of section a); characterized in that the active agent comprises: i) a transition metal cation sequestrant; Y ii) a dispersant comprising one or more naphthalene sulfonate / formaldehyde condensates, acrylic polymers, sulfonated styrene / maleic anhydride copolymers or a mixture thereof; Y because the white textile article is first contacted with the laundry treatment composition comprising the active agent during a washing step, and is additionally contacted with an active agent that is available from a treatment composition of different laundry and added separately in the rinse.

2.

 A method according to claim 1, wherein the sequestrant and dispersant are each present in the aqueous liquid at a level of 0.001 g / l to 1.0 g / l.

3.

 A method according to claim 2, wherein the sequestrant and dispersant are each present in the aqueous liquid at a level of 0.0015 g / l at 0.5 g / l.

Four.

 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the laundry treatment composition is a detergent composition comprising an anionic or non-ionic detergent surfactant.

5.

 A method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the laundry treatment composition added to the rinse separately comprises a quaternary ammonium compound.

6.

 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein contact with the additional active agent occurs during the final rinsing stage of the washing process.

7.

 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein contact with the additional active agent occurs during all the rinsing steps of the washing process.

8.

 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transition metal cation sequestrant has a binding capacity, log k for copper (II) and iron (II) of more than 8.