GB2168374A - Softening and anti-static liquid detergent composition - Google Patents

Abstract

A 1:1 blend of a mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compound and a linear alkyl aromatic sulphonate provide a softening/anti-static system for predominantly nonionic surfactant cleaning compositions compatible with fluorescent brighteners.

Description

SPECIFICATION Softening and anti-static liquid detergent composition The present invention relates to a liquid detergent-softening composition and a method for cleaning and softening fabrics in the wash cycle of a laundering operation. More specifically, the present invention relates to softening anti-static compositions adapted for use in the wash cycle of a laundering operation, the composition including a water dispersible mono-higher alkyl cationic quaternary ammonium compound softening agent, a linear alkyl aromatic sulphonate, and a nonionic surfactant.

Compositions useful for treating fabrics to improve the softness and feel characteristics thereof are known in the art.

When used in domestic laundering, the fabric softeners are typically added to the rinse water during the rinse cycle having a duration of only from about 2 to 5 minutes. Consequently, the consumer is required to monitor the laundering operation or take other precautions so that the fabric softener is added at the proper time. This requires the consumer to return to the washing machine either just prior to or at the beginning of the rinse cycle of the washing operation which is obviously burdensome to the consumer. In addition, special precaution has to be taken to use a proper amount of the fabric softener so as to avoid over dosage which may render the clothes water repellant by depositing a greasy film on the fabric surface, as well as imparting a certain degree of yellowness to the fabrics.

As a solution to the above-noted problems, it has been known to use fabric softeners which are compatible with common laundry detergents so that the softeners can be combined with the detergents in a single package for use during the wash cycle of the laundering operation. Examples of such wash cycle added fabric softening compositions are shown in U.S. patents 3,351,438,3,660,286 and 3,703,480 and many others. In general, these wash cycle fabric softening compositions contain a cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softener and additional ingredients which render the softening compounds compatible with the common laundry detergents.

It is also known, however, that the cationic softening compounds added to the wash cycle, either as an ingredient in a detergent-softener composition or as a wash cycle softener, interfere with the brightening activity, as well as the cleaning efficiency of the detergent. As a result, it has been sought to offset to some degree this interference in detergent-softening compositions by using non ionic surfactants, higher levels of brightener compound, carboxymethylcellulose, anti-yellowing compounds, blueing agents, and so forth.

However, little improvement has been made in wash cycle softening compositions using a variety of detergents, most of which are anionics.

There have been many disclosures in the art relating to detergent compositions containing cationic softening agents, including the quaternary ammonium compound softening agents, and nonionic surface-active compounds. As representative of this art, mention can be made of U.S. Patents 4,264,457, 4,239,659,4,259,217, 4,222,905,3,951,879, 3,360,470,3,351,483 and 3,644,203. In addition, U.S. Patents 3,537,993, 3,583,912,3,983,079, 4,203,872 and 4,264,479, specifically disclose combinations of non-ionic surface-active agent, cationic fabric softener and another ionic surfactant or modifier, such as zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and the like.

While many of these prior art formulations provide satisfactory cleaning and/or softening under many different conditions they still suffer from the defects of not providing adequate softening - eg. comparable to rinse cycle- added softeners.

U.S. Patent 3,920,565 discloses liquid rinse cycle fabric softener composition containing 2 to 15% of a cationic fabric softener and 0.5 to 4.0% of an alkali metal salt of a fatty acid of from 16 to 22 carbon atoms (soap) and optionally, up to 2% of a nonionic emulsifier, the balance water. The dihigher alkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides are the preferred cationics, although mono-higher alkyl quaternary compounds (quats) are also mentioned.

It is generally accepted in the art that the mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, such as, for example, stearyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, being relatively water-soluble, are less effective softeners than the dihigher alkyl cationic quaternary softeners (see, for example, U.S. Patent 4,236,965), and, therefore, their use in conjunction with, for example, anionic detergents, such as fatty acid soaps, with which they are capable of forming softening complexes has been suggested for use in rinse cycle fabric softeners.

The present inventor previously discovered that stable, fabric softening compositions having improved dispersibility in cold water as used in the rinse cycle, are provided by a cationic quaternary ammonium compound, as the sole softener, and an anionic sulphonate at a weight ratio of cationicto anionic of from about 80:1 to 3:1 (see U.S. Patent 3,997,453). This patent discloses both mono-higher and dihigher alkyl cationic quaternary softening compounds and also discloses alkyl benzene sulphonates as the anionic compound. According to that patent, the addition of minor amounts of the anionic sulphonate to water dispersions of the excess amount of quaternary softener reduces the viscosity of the dispersion and produces a homogeneous liquid which is readily dispersible in cold water (i.e. the rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine).

As mentioned above, however, it has been recognised for some time that it would be highly desirable as a matter of convenience to employ the fabric softening formulation concurrently with the detergent in the wash cycle of the washing machine.

U.S. Patent 4,222,905 to Cockrell, Jr. discloses laundry detergent compositions which may be in liquid form and which are formulated from certain nonionic surfactants and certain cationic surfactants, including mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, such as tallowalkyltrimethyl ammonium halide, at a nonionic:cationicweight ratio of from 5:1 to about 1:1. That patent teaches that the amount of anion-producing materials should be minimized and preferably totally avoided, but in any case, anionic materials having a dissociation constant of less than 1 x 108, SUCh aS sodium Clla linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, should be present only in amounts up to 10% by weight, of the cationic surfactant.

Nonionic/cationic mixed surfactant detergent compositions having a nonionic:cationic weight ratio of from about 1:1 to 40:1 in which the nonionic surfactant is limited to the class having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of from about 5 to about 17, and the cationic surfactant is limited to the class of mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds in which the higher alkyl has from about 20 to about 30 carbon atoms, are disclosed by Murphy in U.S. Patent 4,239,659. That patent provides a general disclosure that the other adjunct components may be included in their conventional art-established levels for use which is stated to be from about 0 to about 40%. A broad list of adjunct components is given including semi-polar nonionic, anionic, zwitterionic and ampholytic cosurfactants, builders, dyes, fillers, enzymes, bleaches, and many others.There are no examples using, and no disclosure of, anionic surfactants; however, it is stated that the cosurfactants must be compatible with the nonionic and cationic and can be any of the anionics disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,259,21 to Murphy.

This latter Murphy patent discloses surfactant mixtures of nonionic surfactants having an HLB of from about 5 to about 17 and a cationic surfactant, inclusive of mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, at a nonionic:cationic weight ratio of from 5.1:1 to about 100:1. According to that patent, the detergent compositions may contain up to about 50%, preferably from about 1 to about 15%, of anionic surfactants andlor zwitterionic surfactants. The anionic surfactants include, among others, linear alkyl benzene sulphonates. Example XV in column 40 of that patent describes a heavy duty liquid laundry detergent composition of the following formula: Component Weight % Sodium sulphate of C1215 alcohol ethoxylated with 3 moles of ethylene oxide 5.0 C1213 alcohol ethoxylated containing an average of 6.5 moles ethylene oxide 20.0 Coconutalkyltrimethyl ammonium chloride 3.5 Glycine 8.0 Sodium toluene sulphonate 10.0 Water and minors Balance to 100.

The following heavy duty liquid detergent composition is shown in Example XVII (col. 41) of that patent.

Component Weight % Condensate of C14 15 fatty alcohol with an average of 7 moles of ethylene oxide 28.5 Triethanolamine salt of linear alkylbenzene sulphonic acid wherein the alkyl chain has an average of 11.9 carbon atoms 20.0 C5.18 alkyldihydroxyethyl methyl ammonium chloride 1.5 Ethanol 10.0 Diethylenetriamine pentamethyl phosphonic acid 0.3 Citric acid 0.2 9.1 mixture of dimethylpolysiloxane and aerogel silica emulsified in highly ethoxylated fatty acid (commercially available from Dow Corning as DB31) 0.3 Saturated fatty acid having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain 0.75 Proteolytic enzyme 0.4 Minoradjuvants and water Balanceto 100.

A liquid laundry detergent and fabric softener composition which contains about 3-35% by weight of a nonionic surfactant, about 3-30% by weight of mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compound cationic surfactant and a mixture of anionic surfactants including (a) (C4C10 alcohol sulphates and (b) C12-C22 alcohol ethoxylated ether sulphates or carboxylates is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,264,457 to Beeks and Wysocki. The mole ratio of total cationic surfactantto total anionic surfactant can vary from 0.8:1 to 10:1. According to the patentees, the selection of and proportions of the two specific anionic surfactants to the exclusion of other known anionic surfactants is essential to obtain the maximal effectiveness for detergency, softness and anti-static properties.

The present inventor has now discovered that softening and anti-static performance of a detergent compound and a cationic mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compound fabric softening agent is significantly enhanced by using the cationic softener as an approximately 1:1 complex with an anionic surfactant which is a linear alkyl aromatic sulphonate. Furthermore, this enhancement of the softening anti-static performance is achieved without sacrificing, and in most cases, with significant improvement in the whitening and cleaning performance.

It was on the basis of this discovery that the present invention was completed.

The present invention aims to improve softening, whitening and static performance of liquid detergent compositions containing quaternary ammonium compound softening agents and nonionic detergent compounds without adversely effecting overall cleaning performance.

The present invention also aims to formulate stable liquid detergent-softener compositions using mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium cationic softeners with nonionic surfactants as the major surfactant component which compositions are compatible with fluorescent brighteners.

According to the present invention a liquid laundry detergent composition which is capable of washing soiled fabrics in an aqueous wash liquid, includes a nonionic surface active agent as the major surfactant, a mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compound cationicfabric softener and a linear alkyl aromatic sulphonate surfactant in about the same amount as the cationic fabric softener, and a liquid carrier. In the preferred embodiment, the detergent composition will include at least one colouring and/or whitening agent, especially dyes, bluing agents, and optical brighteners and mixtures thereof, and other optical detergent adjuvants.

Although not wishing to be bound by any particular theory as to why the cationic/anionic softener anti-static system provides enhanced softening as compared to a dihigher alkyl quaternary ammonium compound cationic fabric softener alone or in admixture with the anionic linear alkyl aromatic sulphonate, it is presumed that the mono-higher alkyl cationic fabric softener, being at least slightly water-soluble, forms a water-soluble complex with the anionic surfactant which uniformly but homogeneously and adheringly distributes on the fabrics being washed, the complex itself providing the softening and anti-static properties.

The nonionic surfactants which are contemplated can generally be any of the nonionics known to be useful as detergents for cleaning soiled fabrics.

Suitable nonionic surface active agents are commercially available and are derived from the condensation of an alkylene oxide or equivalent reactant and a reactive-hydrogen hydrophobe. The hydrophobic organic compounds may be aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic, although the first two classes are preferred. The preferred types of hydrophobes are higher aliphatic alochols and alkyl phenols, although others may be used such as carboxylic acids, carboxamides, mercaptans and sulphonamides. The ethylene oxide condensates with higher-alkyl phenols or higher fatty alcohols represent preferred classes of nonionic compounds.Usually, the hydrophobic moiety should contain at least about 6 carbon atoms, and preferably at least about 8 carbon atoms, and may contain as many as about 50 carbon atoms or more, a preferred range being from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms, especially from 10 to 18 carbons for the aliphatic alcohols, and 12 to 20 carbons for the higher alkyl phenols. The amount of alkylene oxide will vary considerably depending upon the hydrophobe, but as a general guide and rule, at least about 3 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of hydrophobe up to about 200 moles, preferably from about 5 to 50 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of hydrotrope will provide the required cleaning performance and compatibility with the other components.

A preferred class of nonionic surfactants are represented by the formula: RO(CH2CH2O)nH (I) wherein R represents a primary or secondary alkyl chain or from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms and n is an average of from 5 to 50, preferably 5 to 20, especially 6 to 13;

wherein R' represents a primary or secondary alkyl chain of from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and m is an average of 5 to 50, preferably 5 to 20, especially 6 to 13.

The preferred alcohols from which the compounds of formula I are prepared include lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl and oleyl and mixtures thereof. Especially preferred values of R and C10 to C18 with the C12 to C15 alkyls and mixtures thereof being especially preferred.

The preferred values of R' are from C6 to C12 with C8 and Cg, including octyl, isooctyl and nonyl being especially preferred.

Typical examples of a nonionic compound of formula (I) are lauryl alcohol condensed with 5 or 7 or 11 moles ethylene oxide. Typical examples of a nonioniccompound of formula II is isooctyl phenol or nonyl phenol condensed with 3 to 8 moles ethylene oxide.

Other nonionic compounds which may be used include the polyoxyalkylene esters of the organic acids such as the higher fatty acids, the rosin acids, tall oil acids, and acids from petroleum oxidation products.

These esters will usually contain from about 10 to 22 carbon atoms in the acid moiety and from about 3 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide or its equivalent.

Still other nonionic surfactants are the alkylene oxide condensates with the higher fatty acid amides. The fatty acid group will generally contain from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms and this will be condensed with about 3 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide as the preferred illustration. The corresponding carboxamides and sulphonamides may also be used as substantial equivalents.

The amount of the nonionicwill generally be at least the minimum amount which when added to the wash water will provide adequate cleaning performance. Generally, amounts ranging from about 1 to about 40%, preferably from about 4 to 30%, and especially preferably from about 10 to 30% by weight of the composition, can be used.

The second essential ingredient in the formulations according to the present invention is the cationic fabric softener. Softening agents are used to render fabrics or textiles soft, and the terms "softening" and "softener" refer to the handle, hand, touch or feel; this is the tactile impression given by fabrics or textiles to the hand or body and is of aesthetic and commercial importance.The cationic fabric softeners used in the present invention are the mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds represented by the following formula:

wherein R1 represents a long chain aliphatic radical having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms, and the three R groups represent independently, lower alkyl radicals and X represents a water soluble salt forming anion such as a halide, e.g. a chloride, bromide or iodide; or a sulphate, acetate, hydroxide, methosulphate, or similar inorganic or organic solubilizing radical. The carbon chain of the aliphatic radical containing 16 to 22 carbon atoms, especially 16 to 20 carbon atoms, may be straight or branched, and saturated or unsaturated.

The lower alkyl radicals have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and may contain a hydroxy radical. Preferably, the carbon chains are obtained from long chain fatty acids, such as those derived from tallow and soya bean oil.

The terms "disoya" and "di-tallow" etc., as used herein refer to the source from which the long chain fatty alkyl chains are derived. Mixtures of the quaternary ammonium compound fabric softeners may be used.

The preferred ammonium salt is a mono-higher alkyl triethyl ammonium chloride wherein the alkyl group is derived from tallow, hydrogenated tallow or stearic acid. Specific examples of quaternary ammonium softening agents of the formula Ill suitable for use in compositions of the present invention include the following; tallow trimethyl ammonium chloride, hydrogenated tallow trimethyl ammonium chloride, trimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride, trimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride, trimethyl cetyl ammonium chloride, soya trimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl dimethylethyl ammonium chloride, tallowdiisopropylmethyl ammonium chloride, and the corresponding sulphate, methosulphate, ethosulphate, bromide and hydroxide salts thereof.

The amount of the cationic fabric softener can generally range from about 1 to about 20%, preferably from about 4 to about 16%, and especially preferably from about 5 to 10%, by weight of the composition.

The weight ratio of the nonionic surface active agent to the cationic fabric softener can be within the range of from about 1 :1 to 5:1, preferablyfrom about 1.1:1 to4.5:1, especially preferablyfrom about 1.1:1 to 4:1.

Examples of suitable anionic detergents as the third essential ingredient include the water-soluble salts, e.g. the sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts of higher linear alkyl aromatic sulphonates containing about 8 to 26 carbon atoms, preferably 10 to 22 carbon atoms, in the alkyl radical.

(The term alkyl includes the alkyl portion of the higheracyl radicals.) Preferred examples of the linear alkyl aromatic sulphonates are those containing from 10 to 16 carbon atoms in the linear alkyl radical, e.g. the sodium, potassium and ammonium salts of higher linear alkyl benzene sulphonates, higher linear alkyl toluene sulphonates, higher linear alkyl phenol sulphonates and higher linear alkyl naphthalene sulphonates. The linear higher alkyl benzene sulphonates such as the C8-C,6 alkyl, especially C10-C14 alkyl, for example C12 (n-dodecyl) alkyl benzene sulphonates are especially preferred anionic surfactants.One preferred class of the linear alkyl benzene sulphonates are those having a high content of 3- (or higher) phenyl isomers and a correspondingly low content (well below 50%) of 2- (or lower) phenyl isomers, i.e. wherein the benzene ring is preferably attached in large part at the 3 or higher (e.g. 4,5,6 or 7) position of the alkyl group and the content of isomers in which the benzene ring is attached at the 2 or 1 position is correspondingly low. Preferred materials in this category are set forth in U.S. Patent 3,320,174.

It has been discovered that the cationic softener/anionic surfactant mixture has unexpectedly improved cleaning, softening and anti-static performance as compared to an equal weight of a corresponding dihigher alkyl quaternary ammonium compound alone or as a corresponding mixture of the dihigher alkyl quaternary compound with the alkylbenzene sulphonate.

Since the anionic surfactant presumably forms a complex with the cationic softener to provide the enhanced softening/anti-static performance without interfering with the cleaning performance of the nonionic or with the brightener, in the detergent formula, the ratio of cationic to anionic is particularly critical since large excesses of either component could interfere with overall performance. Accordingly, ratios of cationicto anionicoffrom about 1.3:1 to 1:1.3, preferably 1.2:1 to 1 :1.2, especially preferably 1.1:1 to 1:1.1 and most preferably about 1:1 are preferred to obtain the benefit of improved cleaning and whitening performance, as well as improved softening performance and anti-static performance.

The total amount of the cationic/anionic softener/anti-static mixture in the composition is not particularly critical and generally will range from about 8 to 30%, preferably 10 to 20%, by weight based on the total composition. Moreover, the total amount of cationic softener and anionic surfactant will generally be in the range of from about 20 to 100%, preferably 30 to 80% by weight, based on the nonionic surfactant. The above amounts and ratios for the cationic/anionic softener/anti-static mixture are preferred for compatibility with the nonionic surfactant and the optical brightener.

The solvent medium for the liquid detergent compositions of the present invention is an aqueous one, and may be water alone or may be substantially water with additional solvents added for particular ingredients.

Because of the availability of water and its minimum cost, it is preferred to use water as the major solvent present. Yet, amounts of other solvents, generally up to 20%, and preferably a maximum of 15% of the total content, may be used. Generally, such a supplementing solvent will be either a lower alkanol or a lower diol or polyol, e.g. ethanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, or the like. Etheric polyols such as diethylene glycol and those known as cellosolves may also be used.

In addition to the supplemental solvent it is also generally preferred to include a hydrotropic material in the formulation to maximize the compatibility of all of the active ingredients and to make the liquid formulation more homogeneous and stable. Examples of suitable hydrotropes include the alkali metal aryl sulphonates, such as sodium benzene suphonate, sodium toluene sulphonate, sodium xylene sulphonate, and the corresponding potassium salts. The hydrotrope can be used in amounts up to about 15%, preferably up to 10% by weight of the total composition.

Various selected compatible adjuvants may also be present in the liquid detergent composition to give it additional desired properties, either of functional or aesthetic nature. Thus, there may be included in the formulation: enzymes; bleaching agents; bleach activators and stabilizers; soil-suspending or antiredeposition agents, e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose; dyes, bluing agents, pigments, optical brighteners, e.g. cotton, amide and polyester brighteners; preservatives, e.g. methyl parasept or sodium benzoate; ultraviolet absorbers, pH modifying agents, e.g.

amines, pH buffers; and perfumes. The adjuvants, of course, will be chosen to be compatible with the main constituents of the detergent formulation.

Of the adjuvants mentioned perhaps the most important for functional effect are the optical brighteners because the modern housewife has come to expect that washed clothing will no longer merely be clean and white but will also be bright in appearance. The optical brighteners are substantive to textiles being washed (such substantivity may be selective) and sometimes are of comparatively low solubilities. Accordingly, it is important that they be maintained in solution in the liquid detergent composition and, even more important, they must be immediately dispersed in the wash water so as to avoid producing a wash containing noticeable brightened spots, rather than a uniformly bright appearance. Here, the choice of brightener to obtain best results will be ascertainable to one of skill in the art.It has been found that relatively small quantities of brighteners should be used, so as not to exceed the limits of solubilities. Also, within the class of these materials certain brighteners have been found to be especially readily dissolved, and thus are suitable for incorporation in these products. Fortunately, such preferred brighteners include both cotton and amide-polyester-brighteners, making them suitable for use with laundries containing a variety of material and synthetic materials. Among the commercial brighteners that are used in the present system are Tinopal U NPC, Tinopal CBS (Ciba-Greigy), Artic White CC (Hilton Davis), and the following Phorwhites from Verona: BKL, BUP, BBC solution, BRV solution, DCR liquid, DCBVF, EV liquid, DBS liquids and ANR.

Other types of optical brighteners which give superior whitening effects are those components having no sulphonate moieties. The preferred class of brighteners for use in the present invention include the 2-(4-styryl phenyl )-2H-naphthol] 1 ,2-d] triazoles, 4,4'-bis( 1 ,2,3-triazol-2-yI)stil benes, 4,4'-bis(styryl) bisphenyls, and the y-amino-coumarins. Specific examples of these brighteners include 4-methyl-7diethylamino coumarin, 1 ,2-bis (benzimidazol-2-yl)ethylene, and the 1 ,3-diphenyl-phrazolines (pyrazolines), as well as 2,5-bis (benzoxazol-2-yl) thiophene, 2-styryl-napth [1,2-d] oxazole, and 2-(stilben-4-yl)-2H naphthojl,2-d] triazole.

The optical brightener content of the liquid composition will normally be from about 0.2% to about 3.0%, and preferably from 0.25 to 2.7%. Such concentrations are soluble in the desired liquid detergents and are effective in noticeably brightening the washed clothing.

The contents of the other adjuvants is preferably maintained at less than 5% by weight of the product. Use of more than the described proportions of such compounds can often significantly change the properties of the liquid detergent, and therefore should be avoided.

Although the detergent softener composition of the present invention is a stable, clear one-phase liquid, a compatible opacifying agent may be added to impart a creamy appearance to the formulation.

The liquid composition is usually added to wash water in an automatic washing machine of either the top loading or front loading type so that the concentration thereof in the wash water may range from about 0.05 to 1.5%, usually 0.1 to 1.2%. Generally, depending on the type of machine and the degree of loading with the soiled fabrics, the amount of the liquid formulation to be added will range from about 1/4 cup (60 ml) to about 1 1/4 cup (300 ml), with the typical amount being about 1/2 cup (120 ml).

The wash water used may be a fairly soft water or water of reasonable hardness, and will generally be used at elevated temperature. The composition of the present invention is also useful in laundering clothes in very hard waters and at lower temperatures. Thus, water hardness may range from 0 to over 300 parts per million calculated as calcium carbonate, and washing temperatures may be from 40O to 120"F (14.5 to 49"C).

Washing will be effected in an automatic washing machine in which the washing is followed by rinsing and spin or other draining or wringing cycles or operations. Of course, the detergent composition may also be used for hand washing of laundry, in which case it may sometimes be used full strength on certain stains on the laundry, or the laundry may be soaked in a higher concentration solution of detergent before washing.

The washing operations will generally take from three minutes to one hour, depending on the fabrics being washed and the degrees of soiling observed. After completion of washing and the spinning, draining or wringing operations, it is preferred to dry laundry in an automatic dryer soon thereafter, but line drying may also be employed.

The present detergent softener composition dissolves very easily whether the wash water is warm or cold, and very effectively cleans softens and eliminates static change on clothing and other items of laundry without imparting a water repellantfinish thereto. It may be used in either top loading or front loading wahing machines and may be desirably adjusted to foam to the correct extent. The product is an attractive clear, stable liquid which maintains its activity and uniformity over a long shelf life. In tests in which the effects of using it are compared to those from the employment of commercial liquid laundry detergents, it was rated very favourably.

This product may be prepared by simply admixing the various ingredients at room temperature with agitation to ensure solubilisation thereof in the aqueous medium. The order of addition of ingredients and the temperature of compounding may be varied without adversely affecting the formation of the single phase, clear liquid product of the present invention.

The liquid detergent-softener composition of the present invention exhibits many desirable characteristics with regard to both physical properties and performance in use. As to its physical properties, the compositions are pourable and free-flowing from the container as manufactured and after ageing. They exhibit a high degree of stability upon storage at normal room temperature of the order of about 70"F (21"C) over a period of many months without any appreciable precipitation. As a result, the consumer can utilise them conventionally by addition of very small portions to a laundering bath, and the detergent and softener will be present in constant composition in each portion.While compatible adjuvant materials may be added to render the final product translucent or opaque as desired, the requirement for a one-phase solution of the main ingredients ensures that effective washing and softening power will be obtained with each portion and promotes the stability and homogeneity of the product. The liquid may be packaged in any suitable container or packaging materials such as metal, plastic or glass.

The invention may be put into practice in various ways and a number of specific embodiments will be described to illustrate the invention with reference to the accompanying examples.

Examples 1A and 1B The following liquid detergent formulations are prepared: Parts by Weight 1A 1B Examples Ingredients Tallowtrimethyl ammonium chloride (Adogen 471, Sherex) 5 Di-hydrogenated tallowdimethyl ammonium chloride (Adogen 442, Sherex) - 5 Linear dodecylbenzene sulphonate 5 5 Neodol 25-7 25 25 Ethanol 10 10 Tinopal UNPA 0.6 0.6 Polar Brilliant blue (1%) 1 1 Water qs to 120 qs to 120 120 120 Each of the above formulations Example 1A being in accordance with this invention and Example 1 B being by way of comparison are used in a top loading automatic washing machine in an amount of 1/2 cup (120 ml) to clean a 6 pound (2.7 kg) load, including two face cloths and synthetic swatches (for static measurement), using wash water at 120"F (49"C) and 100 ppm hardness.

The results obtained are given in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Example Softness"' br2) Static No. (3) 1A 8 -6.1 33.5 1B 5 -5.5 41.2 Notes on Table 1 (1) 1 = no softness, 10 = excellent softness (2) Higher minus b values are whiter; about 0.5 unit is a visible difference.

(3) Lower number denotes better static control. Number is the summation of charges in Kilovolts on 4fabrics (polyester, nylon, acetate, polyester/cotton) at 25% relative humidity/70 F (21"C). Charge is developed by contact with a spinning wool swatch and is measured with an electric field meter (Stat Arc Model 380B, Monroe Electronics).

Examples 2A and 28 Example 2A A liquid detergent-softener composition is prepared by blending together the ingredients given in Table 2 below: TABLE 2 Wt% Water 45.4 C12.18 alcohol ethoxylated with 7 moles ethylene oxide (Neodol 25-7, from Shell) 20.8 Tallowtrimethyl ammonium chloride (50% a.i.) (Adogen 471, Sherex) 16.8 (8.4% a.i.) Linear dodecyl benzene sulphonate (53% a.i.) 14.0 (7.3% a.i.) Triponal UNPA Brightener 14) (Ciba Geigy) 0.5 Triethanolamine 1.7 Polar Brilliant Blue, 1% 0.5 Perfume 0.3 100.0 Notes on Table 2 (4) 4,4'-bis 4-anilino-6-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminoj-2-triazine-2-yI amino -2,2'-stilbene disulphonic acid.

The above composition is compared to a commercially available liquid detergent-softener formulation containing nonionic surfactant and dihigheralkyl quaternary ammonium cationic fabric softener (Example 2B) in a clean load test. The following results are obtained: Example Softness b Static No 2A 10 -5.9 7.6 2B 8 -3.6 5.6 From the above results it can be seen that the compositions of the present invention provide superior performance in softening and whiteness and comparable static control.

Example 3 The following composition is prepared: Wt.% Neodol 25-7 21 Adogen 471 6 (a.i.) Linear dodecylbenzene sulphonate 6 (a.i.) Tinopal UNPA 0.5 Triethanolamine 1.7 Ethanol 5 Sodium xylene sulphonate 5 Polar Brilliant Blue (1%) 0.5 Perfume 0.3 Water q.s. 100 The composition is a free-flowing homogeneous, stable, clear liquid providing excellent softness, static control and whiteness.

Claims (13)

1. A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising a nonionic surface active agent as the major surfactant, a mono-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium compound cationic fabric softener and a linear alkyl aromatic sulphonate surfactant in about the sameamount as the cationic fabric softener, and a liquid carrier.

2. A liquid laundry detergent composition capable of washing and softening soiled fabrics in an aqueous wash liquid, the said composition comprising (a) nonionic surface-active agent as the major surfactant; (b) a cationic quaternary ammonium compound fabric softening agent of the formula

wherein B1 represents a long chain aliphatic radical of 16 to 22 carbon atoms, and the three R groups each represent, independently, lower alkyl radicals and X represents a salt forming anion; (c) an anionic surfactant in about the same amount as the cationic fabric softening agent (b); the said anionic surfactant being a linear C8-C26 alkyl aromatic sulphonate; and (d) a liquid carrier.

3. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the nonionic surface-active agent (a) is selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formulae land II RO(CH2CH20)nH (I)

wherein R represents a primary or secondary, straight or branched alkyl chain of 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R' represents a primary or secondary alkyl group of 7 to 12 carbon atoms, and each of n and m are numbers having an average value of from 3 to 200.

4. A composition as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of the alkali metal and ammonium salts of linear C,O-Cn6 alkyl benzene sulphonates, linear C10-C16 alkyltoluene sulphonates, linear C10-C16 phenol sulphonates and linear CzO-C6 naphthalene sulphonates.

5. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, which comprises, on a weight basis of active ingredients, based on the total weight of the composition about 1 to about 40% of the said nonionic surfactant (a), about 1 to about 20% of the said cationic fabric softening agent (b) about 1 to about 20% of the said anionic surfactant (c), and balance detergent adjuvants and liquid carrier.

6. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 in which the ratio of (a): (b) is from about 1:1 to about 5:1 and the ratio of (b) : (c) is from about 1.3:1 to about 1:1.3.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 which further comprises at least one detergent adjuvant selected from the group consisting of soil suspending agents, anti-redeposition agents, optical brighteners, dyes, pigments, blueing agents, enzymes, corrosion inhibitors, pH modifiers, pH buffers, bactericides, fungicides, preservatives, bleaching agents, bleach stabilisers, bleach activators and perfumes.

8. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 contains as an optical brightener one or more 2-(4-styrylphenyl)-2H-naphthol[1 ,2-d] triazoles, 4,4'-bis(1 ,2,3-triazol-2-yl)stilbenes, 4,4'-bis(styryl) bis phenyls, 1 ,3-diphenyl pyrazolines or they-amino coumarins or mixtures thereof.

9. A composition as claimed in claim 8 containing 4-methyl-7-diethylamino coumarin, 1,2-bis (benzimi dazol-2-yl)ethylene, 2,5-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl )thiophene, 2-styryl-napth [1,2-d] oxazole, or 2-(stilben-4-yl)-2H- naphtho[1 ,2-d]triazole.

10. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 in which the nonionic surfactant is an aliphatic alcohol having from about 8 to 22 carbon atoms or higher alkyl phenol having from about 12 to 20 carbon atoms, ethoxylated with from about 5 to 50 moles ethylene oxide; the cationic fabric softener is selected from the group consisting of tallowtrimethyl ammonium chloride, hydrogenated tallow trimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl triethyl ammonium chloride, cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, soya trimethylammonium chloride, stearyldimethylethyl ammonium chloride, tallowdiisopropylmethylammonium chloride, and the corresponding sulphate, methosulphate, ethosulphate, bromide and hydroxide salts thereof;; the anionic surfactant is C10-C14 linear alkyl benzene sulphonates, and the liquid carrier is an aqueous media containing up to 20% by weight of a lower alkanol, lower diol or polyol as a supplemental solvent.

11. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 which comprises (a) about 10 to 30% of the nonionic surfactant (b) about 5 to 10% of the cationic fabric softener (c) about 5 to 10% of the anionicsurfactant, and (d) balance, detergent adjuvants, and an aqueous liquid carrier, and whereintheratioof(a) : (b)isfrom 1.1:1 to 4.5:1 andtheratioof(b) : (c)isfrom 1.1:1 to 1:1.1.

12. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as specifically described herein with reference to Examples 1A, 2A or 3.

13. A method for cleaning and softening soiled fabrics in an aqueous wash water which comprises washing the fabrics in an aqueous solution of a composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12.