GB690439A - Improvements in non-soapy detergents - Google Patents

Abstract

Guanidine alkyl aryl sulphonates of the general formula <FORM:0690439/IV (b)/1> in which R is an alkyl radical containing 6-18 carbon atoms, which may be straight or branched chain, and Ar is a benzene nucleus, which may be substituted by other groups such as lower alkyl groups, may be prepared by neutralizing the free alkyl aryl sulphonic acid with guanidine or commercial guanidine carbonate. Alternatively the sodium alkyl aryl sulphonate may be heated with guanidine sulphate, phosphate, carbonate or other salt. The resultant pasty product may be spray- or drum-dried and the powder p so obtained used in detergent compositions (see Group III).ALSO:Guanidine alkyl aryl sulphonates of the general formula <FORM:0690439/III/1> in which R is an alkyl radical containing 6-18 carbon atoms, which may be straight or branched chain, and Ar is a benzene nucleus, which may be substituted by other groups such as lower alkyl groups, are incorporated in pulverulent detergent compositions. Sodium alkyl aryl sulphonates may also be present, and the tendency of these compounds to cake and become sticky is reduced by the presence of the guanidine alkyl aryl sulphonate. Preferably 7.5-50 per cent of the total sulphonate is guanidine sulphonate, though smaller amounts (down to 5.0 per cent) may be employed. The pasty product obtained in the preparation of the guanidine alkyl aryl sulphonates (see Group IV(b)) may be spray- or drum-dried and the resultant powder used direct in the detergent compositions. In preparing mixtures of sodium and guanidine alkyl aryl sulphonates, the two salts may be prepared separately and mixed before or after drying, or the free sulphonic acid may be neutralized by a mixture of guanidine and a neutralizing agent containing sodium. Builders and diluents such as sodium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, guanidine sulphate, sodium chloride, alkali metal phosphates, silicates, borates and carbonates, starch, polyethylene glycols, polyvinyl alcohols and carboxy methyl cellulose may also be present. Compositions containing at least 25 per cent alkali pyrophosphate or polyphosphate (particularly tetrasodium pyrophosphate and pentasodium tripolyphosphate) may be prepared. The total alkylaryl sulphonate content of the composition may be from 10-50 per cent, preferably 15-35 per cent. In a typical example the following compositions are compared: (a) 35 per cent sodium polypropylene benzene sulphonate (C12-C15 alkyl), 25 per cent tetrasodium pyrophosphate, 30 per cent sodium sulphate, 10 per cent other materials and (b) 27.5 per cent sodium polypropylene benzene sulphonate, 7-5 per cent guanidine polypropylene benzene sulphonate, and the remainder as in (a).