GB653702A - Detergent compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent composition comprises a water-soluble salt of celluronic acid and a surface-active organic detergent compatible therewith. The term "celluronic acid" designates a product of the controlled oxidation of cellulose (as by nitrogen dioxide, see U.S.A. Specification 2,232,990), wherein substantially only the primary hydroxyl groups of the cellulose molecule have undergone oxidation, and may be designated by the formula <FORM:0653702/III/1> where X and Y represent the percentage of unoxidized and oxidized anhydroglucose units. The carboxyl content should be from about 7 to 20 per cent to give water-soluble salts. The organic detergent may be an anionic or a non-ionic compound, such as a fatty acid soap, an alkyl sulphate, or an alkaryl sulphonate with 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, and the celluronic salt may be the sodium or magnesium salt or a salt with an organic base, e.g. a quaternary ammonium compound. The celluronic salt is present in a proportion of at least 0.5 per cent, preferably 3 per cent, by weight of the organic detergent. Builders such as alkali metal polyphosphates, sulphates, carbonates, borates, silicates or the correponding ammonium salts may be added, and salts imparting hardness such as magnesium sulphate and calcium nitrate or chloride may also be present. Tables are given showing the effect of adding various amounts of celluronic salts to various detergents.