GB922252A - Low foaming washing agents - Google Patents

Abstract

Detergent compositions of low foaming power comprise (a) a foaming non-ionic surface active agent, and (b) a further different surface active compound in which a hydrophobic residue is linked to an ethylene oxide chain which in turn is linked to a propylene oxide chain or residue, the turbidity point of the composition being 5 DEG -50 DEG C. The ratio by weight of (a) to (b) is generally 1:4 to 4:1 and preferably 1:0,3 to 1,5:1, while the turbidity point is usually 5 DEG -50 DEG C., preferably 35 DEG -45 DEG C. The hydrophobic residue in (b) is suitably derived from fatty alcohols or acids or their partial ethers or esters with polyhydric alcohols, fatty amides or mercaptans, alkyl or alkylbenzene sulphonamides, alkylbenzene carboxylic acids and amides thereof, and alkyl-phenols and -thiophenols; in general such residues are condensed with 5-80, preferably 8-25 units of ethylene oxide and the product then further condensed with propylene oxide so that the molecular proportion of ethylene oxide units to propylene oxide units is 2,5:1 to 1:5 and preferably 2:1 to 1:2. Agent (a) may be an ethylene oxide condensate of any of the above hydrophobic residues, and may also contain a propylene oxide chain provided that the ethylene and propylene oxides are randomly condensed or that the ethylene oxide chain forms the terminal block. The compositions may also include soap, alkylbenzene sulphonate, and alkyl sulphate; alkali metal silicates, carbonates, bicarbonates, sulphates, bisulphates, phosphates, acid phosphates, and tripoly-, tetrapoly-, pyro-, and meta-phosphates; per compounds such as sodium perborate and stabilizers such as magnesium silicate; glue, gelatin, ether carboxylates and sulphonates of starch, or cellulose, e.g. carboxymethylcellulose, and sulphate esters of starch and cellulose; and optical brighteners, dyes and perfumes. The compositions are so formulated that a 1% solution has a pH of at least 9, preferably 10-11, and may be produced as powders, pastes or solutions.ALSO:A non-ionic surface active agent of low foaming power consists of a hydrophobic residue which is linked to an ethylene oxide chain which, in turn, is linked to a propylene oxide chain or residue. The hydrophobic residue is suitably derived from fatty alcohols or acids or their partial ethers or esters with polyhydric alcohols, fatty amides or mercaptans, alkyl or alkylbenzene sulphonamides, alkylbenzene carboxylic acids and amides thereof, and alkylphenols and -thiophenols; in general, such residues are condensed with 5-80, preferably 8-25 ethylene oxide units and the product then further condensed with propylene oxide so that the molecular proportion of ethylene oxide units to propylene oxide units is 2,5:1 to 1:5, and preferably 2:1 to 1:2.