GB2234981A

GB2234981A - Liquid laundry detergent

Info

Publication number: GB2234981A
Application number: GB8917649A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Szwarc; Robert A Niz
Original assignee: PARKNOTTS Ltd
Current assignee: PARKNOTTS Ltd
Priority date: 1989-08-02
Filing date: 1989-08-02
Publication date: 1991-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-02
Also published as: IE902800A1; GB8917649D0; GB2234981B

Abstract

A liquid laundry detergent composition comprises a soap, a non-phosphate sequestering agent, and a non-phosphate builder. The composition is phosphate-free, but is as effective as powder detergents in terms of heavy duty laundering performance.

Description

DETERGENT COMPOSITION This invention relates to a detergent composition for the washing of domestic laundry and in particular relates to a liquid composition.

The use of liquid detergent compositions for use in domestic washing machines is becoming increasingly popular particularly since the introduction of Levers "Wisk" brand heavy duty liquid in 1983. The latter contains phosphate builders suspended in a micellar structure in the detergent which prevents the suspended insoluble phosphates from settling out.

More recently concern has been voiced as to the adverse environmental effects of phosphate builders, and it would be desirable to produce a heavy duty liquid laundry detergent which did not use phosphate builders. Previous attempts to formulate liquid detergents without phosphate builders have not proved wholly successful especially as non-built liquid systems have been shown not to be as efficient as powder detergents in terms of heavy duty laundering performance.

The invention seeks to provide a heavy duty liquid laundry detergent free from phosphate builders.

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid laundry detergent composition which comprises a soap, a non-phosphate sequestering agent, and a nonphosphate builder.

Preferably the sequestering agent comprises an aminocarboxylic acid or salt thereof such as nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), EDTA, or the like, or a complexing acid such as citric or tartaric acid or a salt thereof. In order not to precipitate the soap it is preferred to avoid sodium salts and thus the sequestering agent, if a salt, should be present as a salt other than sodium, for example potassium.

The builder employed is preferably a silicate and, for the reasons given above, is preferably not sodium silicate and may be, for example, potassium silicate.

The soap, which may be present in a concentration of from ten to forty per cent, is a salt of a long chain fatty acid as is well understood in the art. The salt employed should be soluble and is preferably, therefore, the potassium salt of the long chain fatty acid. Typical long chain fatty acids which may be employed include coconut fatty acid, palm kernel fatty acid, oleic acid, and so on.

In addition to the above component various adjuncts commonly used in the art may be employed. These include suspension agents, grease cutters, enzymes, optical brightener, opacifiers, perfume, thickeners, dyes, and the like. The sequestering agent may be present in a concentration of from five to fifteen per cent, as may the builder. In a prefered composition the soap would be present in a concentration of about twenty per cent, sequestering agent about six per cent, and the builder about eight per cent. All percentages are by weight and the composition is made up to one hundred per cent with water.

The invention will be described further with reference to the following example.

EXAMPLE The following formulation has been found to produce a stable liquid laundry detergent: LONG CHAIN FATTY ACID 20% eg Palm kernel fatty acid, Oleic acid, etc.

CITRIC OR TARTARIC ACID 6% POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE 5% FATTY ALKANOLAMIDE (or derivative) 5% eg Coconut diethanolamine, Lauric mono isopropanolamide etc.

POTASSIUM SILICATE 8% ENZYME 0.2% OPTICAL BRIGHTNER 0.28 OPACIFIER 2% PERFUME 0.38 CELLULOSE ETHER 0.1% eg Hydroxyethyl cellulose, Carboxmethyl cellulose WATER to 100% The above formulation has been found to work extremely effectively in producing a heavy duty liquid laundry compostition. The potassium hydroxide converts the long chain fatty acid and citric acid into the potassium salts thereof and, as will be seen, enzymes, optical brightners, opacifier, perfumes and thickeners are employed to produce a product of the right appearance and viscosity. All the organic components are completely bio-degradable and phosphates are avoided. The use of potassium soap, potassium silicate and potassium salts of citric and/ or tartaric acid elliminates the need for additional solubilisers which would necessary if sodium salts were employed.

Claims

CLAINS

1. A liquid laundry detergent composition which comprises a soap, a non-phosphate sequestering agent, and a nonphosphate builder.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 in which the sequestering agent comprises an aminocarboxylic acid or salt thereof such as nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), EDTA, or the like, or a complexing acid such as citric or tartaric acid or a salt thereof.

3. A camposition as claimed in either of claims I o 2 in which the sequestering agent is present as the potassium salt

4. A cowosìtion as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the builder is potassium silicate.

5. A conposition as claimed in any of clains 1 to 4 in which the soap is present in a concentration of from ten to forty per cent, and is a salt of a long chain fatty acid.

6. A composition as claimed in claim 5 wherein the soap ia a potassium salt of the long chain fatty acid.

7. A composition as claimed in claims 5 or 6 in which the long chain fatty acid is coconu fatty acid, palm kernel faty acid, oleic acid, or the like.

8. A composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 additionally comprising suspenslion agents, grease cutters, enzymes, optical brightener, opacifiers, perfume, thickners, dyes and the like.

9. A composition as claimed in any of claims I to 8 in which the sequestering agent is present in a concentration of from five to fifteen per cent.

10. A composition as claimed in any of claims I to 9 in which the builder is present in a concentration of from 5 to 15%.

11. A composition as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 10 in which the soap is pesent in a concentration of about twenty per cent the sequestering agent about six per cent, and the builder about eight per cent by weigh.