GB930394A - Liquid detergent compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

A homogeneous, pourable, heavy-duty aqueous detergent composition comprises by weight (a) 5-30%, preferably 10-25% of an anionic sulphate or sulphonate detergent or of a non-ionic detergent, (b) 10-30%, preferably 15-20% alkaline inorganic polyphosphate, the amount used being soluble in the amount of water present, (c) 0,1-2%, preferably 0,25-1,5%, of a carboxy C1-3-alkyl cellulose, and (d) 0,1-1%, but sufficient to inhibit the separation of (c), of hydrogenated castor oil. In addition, the composition suitably includes (e) 4-12% alkali metal hydrotropic aryl sulphonate, usually sodium or potassium toluene or xylene sulphonate, and (f) 1-15% C10-14-fatty acid alkanolamide, preferably the mono- and di-ethanolamides and the isopropanolamides. The water content of the composition preferably amounts to 40-80% and alcohols are preferably not included. Suitable detergents (a) are alkylbenzene sulphonates, n- and sec.- alkyl sulphates, sulphated condensates of ethylene oxide with alkylphenols, fatty acid monoglyceride sulphates, fatty acyl isethionates, fatty acid alkanolamide sulphates and N-fatty acyl tourides, all of which may be present as the alkali metal, ammonium, or alkanolamine salts; and ethylene, propylene or butylene oxide condensates of alkylphenols, fatty acids, tall oil acids, resin acids and other carboxylic acids, e.g. from the oxidation of petroleum, fatty amides, alkanolamides, fatty alcohols and mercaptans, and of hydrophobic polypropylene glycols, (b) preferably comprises pentapotassium tripolyphosphate and/or tetropotassium pyrophosphate, while (c) is generally sodium or potassium carboxymethylcellulose having a degree of substitution of 0,5-0,9, and (d) is usually a hydrogenated castor oil having a M.P. of 84 DEG -87 DEG C. and an iodine value of about 6. The composition, which may also include sodium silicate, perfume, colour, germicides, corrosion and tarnish inhibitors, bleaching agents, fluorescent dyes and viscosity modifiers, is suitably compounded by making a solution or slurry of (a) and (e), adding (c) as a solution or powder, followed by (b) as a powder or a solution, and finally a molten mixture of (d) and (f), and then agitating the mixture until it is homogeneous.