GB1013394A - Laundering process and detergent composition therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent composition which is especially suitable for low temperature laundering at 40-100 DEG F., preferably 60-90 DEG F., comprises (a) an aliphatic thiosulphate of formula <FORM:1013394/C4-C5/1> wherein R and R1 are each hydrogen or C1- 18-aliphatic radical (which may include such groups as carboxyl, ester, ether, thioether, amine, amide or hydroxyl), R and R1 together contain 10-20 carbon atoms, and M is sodium, potassium, ammonium or organic substituted ammonium cation, and (b) an inorganic alkaline builder salt, such as potassium pyrophosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate, and/or an organic alkaline sequestrant builder salt, such as sodium phytate and sodium and potassium ethylenediamine tetracetate and nitrilotriacetate; the weight ratio (a) : (b) being 5 : 1-1 : 12, preferably 1 : 1-1 : 10. (a) is suitably sodium 2-hydroxy-hexadecyl or -octadecyl thiosulphate or the 2-hydroxyalkyl thiosulphate in which the alkyl group is derived from tallow alcohol. Generally (a) comprises about 7-50% and (b) about 8-90% by weight of the composition, which is suitably used so as to provide a pH of 9.5-11.5 and a concentration of (a) not below 0.01% in the washing bath. The composition may also contain sodium and potassium orthophosphate, sodium silicate, carbonate, borate, sulphate, carboxymethyl- and carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl - cellulose, and xylene sulphonate, potassium toluene sulphonate, benzotriazole, ethylene thiourea, fluorescent dye, colour, thickeners, anionic or nonionic detergents, opacifiers, blending and viscosity control agents and perfume, and may be formulated as an aqueous liquid or as a granular powder. Specification 714,212 is referred to.