GB723925A - Process for preparing all-purpose detergent compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

Detergent compositions are made by forming a liquid mixture of a soap-forming fatty glyceride material and a proportion of a soap-compatible anionic or non-ionic synthetic detergent which is less than the fatty acid content of the final product, adding, in the presence of water, an alkali compatible with the synthetic detergent and capable of forming water-soluble soap with the fatty acid of the glyceride material, mixing the ingredients under such conditions that the glyceride material is partly or completely saponified, and thereafter solidifying the mixture. The fatty glyceride material may be beef or mutton tallow, lard, lard oil, horse fat, greases or coconut palm-kernel, palmo or babassic oil. The anionic detergents may be sulphated materials having an alkyl substituent containing 8-26 (preferably at least 10 and particularly 12-22) carbon atoms per molecule, e.g. the sulphuric acid esters of polyhydric alcohols incompletely esterified with higher fatty acids, such as coconut oil monoglyceride monosulphates and tallow diglyceride monosulphates; the long-chain pure or mixed alkyl sulphates, e.g. lauryl sulphate, cetyl sulphate and higher fatty alcohol sulphates derived from coconut oil; the higher fatty acid esters of low molecular weight alkylol sulphonic acids, e.g. higher fatty acid esters of 2, 3-dihydroxy propane sulphonic acid or the oleic acid esters of isethionic acid; the sulphated fatty acid alkylolamides, e.g., ethanolamide sulphates; or the higher fatty acid amides of amino alkyl sulphonic acids, e.g., lauric acid tauride. The anionic synthetic detergents may alternatively be sulphonated alkylated mono or polynuclear compounds which may contain substituents such as hydroxyl groups. The alkyl substituent should contain 8-26 carbon atoms, is preferably saturated and may be straight or branched; it may be mixed alkyls derived from fatty compounds, cracked paraffin wax olefines, or polymers of lower mono olefines. The average chain length of the alkyl substituents should be 9-15 and preferably 12-14 carbon atoms. Nonionic detergents which may be used include reaction products of ethylene oxide with organic acids, anhydrides, alcohols and amides of high molecular weight; high molecular weight derivatives of polyhydroxy compounds such as polyalkylene glycols and polyglycerols, e.g. alkyl thio-, sterol and alkyl phenol ethers of polyethylene glycol; polyethylene glycol esters of fatty and other high molecular weight carboxylic acids, the corresponding ethers and esters of polypropylene glycol, polybutylene glycol and polyglycerol; and polyalkylene glycol ethers of partially esterified glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, mannitol and partially dehydrated derivatives of such esters. The anionic synthetic detergent may be introduced into the mixture in the form of its water-soluble alkali or alkaline earth metal salt, or may be introduced in unneutralized form and then neutralized in the mixture by a portion of the alkali employed in the process. The alkali used may be sodium or potassium hydroxide, sodium or potassium carbonate, or mono-, di-, or tri-ethanolamine. The ingredients may be mixed at 85-200 DEG F. The proportion of glyceride material in the mixture should generally be about 30-80 (preferably 40-75) per cent of the total weight of the mixture. The proportion of synthetic detergent in the mixture may be 10-35 (preferably 10-25) per cent by weight. The final composition should contain about 15-30 and preferably 20-25 per cent of moisture. Optional constituents of the compositions are alkali-metal carbonates, silicates, borates, phosphates and nitrates, carboxymethyl cellulose, disinfectants, e.g. mercury compounds or phenols, and abrasives, e.g. silica or pumice. In an example, 36 parts by weight of babassic oil, 10 parts of water, 27 parts of the sodium salt of the sulphuric acid esters of coconut oil fatty acid monoglycerides, and 4 parts of the fatty acids obtained from grease are mixed at about 110 DEG F., one part of sodium carbonate, 12 parts of a 50 DEG B<\>ae aqueous solution of caustic soda and 9 parts of water are added, and when the temperature has risen to about 160 DEG F. the mixture is thoroughly stirred for about 10 minutes, poured into frames and allowed to solidify.