GB666496A - Improvements relating to detergents - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent composition comprises a mixture of ammonium carbonate with an alkali metal salt of a sulphonic acid derived from a long chain paraffin or with an alkali metal acid sulphate of a long chain fatty alcohol. A mixture of salts which will yield ammonium carbonate by double decomposition may be used; a mixture of ammonium chloride, ammonium sulphate, and sodium carbonate is exemplified. The paraffin or fatty alcohol derivatives have a straight or branched chain containing at least 8 carbon atoms, normally at least 10 carbon atoms, and preferably at least 14 carbon atoms and the compounds preferably have molecular weights of about 300. The fatty alcohol derivatives are preferably derived from secondary alcohols. The substances specified comprise the sodium salt of the sulphonic acids of mixed long chain paraffins of average molecular weight 290, the sodium salt of the acid sulphate of mixed aliphatic secondary alcohols of average molecular weight 310, and "Teepol" (R.T.M.). In use, the ammonium radicals in the ammonium carbonate probably replace the alkali metal atoms in the long chain paraffin or fatty alcohol compound, forming an alkali metal carbonate and the corresponding ammonium salt, which is less ionized than the alkali metal salt. The proportion of ammonium carbonate in the compositions is preferably in excess of that required for this substitution. The compositions may also include at least one alkali metal salt, such as sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, or sodium carbonate. The compositions may be in solid or liquid form.