JP2001081498A - Granulated detergent composition and its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composition having good solubility and storage stability by using an water soluble alkaline agent particle coated with a long chain fatty acid salt of a non-alkali metal. SOLUTION: For this water soluble alkaline agent particle, a water soluble carbonate such as sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, or a water soluble silicate such as sodium silicate or potassium silicate is used. This water soluble alkaline agent particle has an average particle diameter of 100-1,000 μm. For this long chain fatty acid salt, that having a 8-40C carbon chain is used. This long chain fatty acid salt pref. has an average particle diameter of 1-50 μm. This long chain fatty acid salt is used 0.1-20 wt.% to the water soluble alkaline agent particle. This compsn. is prepared by mixing the water soluble alkali particle and the long chain fatty acid salt pref. for at least 30 min. This compsn. is more stable if the coated alkaline agent particle thus obtd. is granulated with other surfactant component. Compounding quantity of the water soluble alkaline agent particle is 10-60 wt.%.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a granular detergent composition and a method for producing the same, and more particularly to a granular detergent composition which suppresses a decrease in solubility due to hydration agglomeration when poured into water and reduces hygroscopicity during storage. It is.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Granular detergent compositions for clothing generally contain an alkali agent. The alkaline agent saponifies the fatty acids present in the soil to assist the cleaning action by the surfactant, and also raises the pH of the washing liquid to negatively charge the surface of the fiber and the surface of the soil detached from the fiber, thereby contaminating the soil. Plays a role in preventing re-adhesion. As the alkaline agent, mainly water-soluble carbonates and silicates are used,
Generally, carbonates are often used. As the carbonate, a salt with a strong base such as an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt can be used, and sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate are mainly used. Also, sodium bicarbonate,
Bicarbonates such as potassium bicarbonate and double salts such as sodium potassium carbonate can also be used. As silicates,
Generally, alkali metal salts such as sodium silicate and potassium silicate are used.

[0003]

However, a granular detergent composition using an alkali agent such as a water-soluble carbonate or a water-soluble silicate has problems such as reduced solubility and hygroscopicity. For example, when sodium carbonate in the granular detergent composition comes into contact with water, it hydrates and aggregates (hydration aggregation).
As a result, the solubility of the granular detergent composition decreases. Also,
Since potassium carbonate has deliquescence, a granular detergent composition containing potassium carbonate easily absorbs moisture during storage and easily causes caking and the like. When the water-soluble silicate is used in the form of a powder, a powder prepared by mixing and granulating with zeolite is usually used. However, this powder product has a high hygroscopic property due to the deliquescence of the silicate and potassium carbonate. The same problem is likely to occur. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a granular detergent composition having good solubility. Another object of the present invention is to provide a granular detergent composition having good storage stability. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a granular detergent composition which is less likely to cause aggregation in water and is less likely to absorb moisture during storage.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a granular detergent composition comprising a water-soluble alkaline agent particle coated with a long-chain fatty acid salt of a non-alkali metal according to the present invention. suggest. This granular detergent composition is preferably prepared by coating water-soluble alkali agent particles with a non-alkali metal long-chain fatty acid salt to prepare coated alkali agent particles, and subjecting the coated alkali agent particles to a granulation treatment together with other detergent components. It is obtained by doing. The water-soluble alkali particles are preferably carbonates.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As the water-soluble alkali agent particles,
As described above, water-soluble carbonates such as sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, and water-soluble silicates such as sodium silicate and potassium silicate are used. Among them, sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate are generally used. Sodium carbonate is advantageous from the viewpoint of cost, and potassium carbonate is advantageous from the viewpoint of improving the solubility of the granular detergent composition. In addition, as described above, silicate is usually used as a powder product treated by mixing and granulation with zeolite, but its composition is not particularly limited as long as it is generally provided for clothing detergents. . The average particle size of the water-soluble alkali agent particles is 100 to 1000 μm, preferably 120 to 1000 μm.
800 μm. If it is less than 100 μm, the fluidity of the product may be deteriorated, and if it exceeds 1000 μm, the solubility may be reduced.

Examples of the non-alkali metal constituting the long-chain fatty acid salt of the non-alkali metal include zinc, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, strontium, barium, lead and the like. The long-chain fatty acid salt of the non-alkali metal has a carbon chain of 8 to 40. The average particle size of the non-alkali metal long-chain fatty acid salt is preferably 1
５０50 μm. If it is about 1 μm, the water-soluble alkali agent particles can be sufficiently coated, and if it exceeds 50 μm, the entire surface of the water-soluble alkali agent particles cannot be densely coated, so that the effect may be reduced.

The non-alkali metal long-chain fatty acid salt is used in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 15% by weight, more preferably 1 to 10% by weight, based on the water-soluble alkali agent particles to be coated. Used. If the amount is less than 0.1% by weight, the effect may not be sufficiently obtained. In particular, the effect of improving the storage stability of a granular detergent composition containing deliquescent water-soluble alkali agent particles such as potassium carbonate is not sufficient. May be sufficient. If the amount exceeds 20% by weight, the solubility of the granular detergent composition may decrease.

The coated alkaline agent particles are generally prepared by mixing the water-soluble alkaline agent particles and the non-alkali metal long-chain fatty acid salt, preferably for at least 30 seconds. For mixing, a stirrer,
A known device such as a tumbling granulator can be used. As the stirrer, for example, a high-speed mixer (product name: ES-2)
5 type, manufactured by Fukae Kogyo Co., Ltd., Reedige mixer (product name: M-20 type, manufactured by Matsubo), Sugi mixer (product name: SHUGI FLEXCMIX250 type, manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation), etc. it can. The rolling granulator can be of any type, such as a rotating dish type, a horizontal cylindrical type, a rotating head conical type, and the like.

The granular detergent composition is preferably obtained by subjecting the thus obtained coated alkaline agent particles to a granulation treatment together with other detergent components such as a surfactant. Alternatively, it can be adjusted by a method of mixing the coated alkaline agent particles in a granulated material containing other detergent components, but the granulation treatment with other detergent components makes the composition of the granular detergent composition more stable. Yes, preferred. The granulation method is
Kneading crushing granulation, stirring granulation, tumbling granulation, and the like are preferred.

The amount of the water-soluble alkali agent particles in the granular detergent composition is 10 to 60% by weight, preferably 15% by weight.
To 55% by weight. When a plurality of types of water-soluble alkali agent particles are used in combination, for example, at least one type may be coated with a long-chain fatty acid salt of a non-alkali metal. In this case, the effect of the present invention can be obtained by coating only those having high hygroscopicity or those which easily undergo hydration aggregation with the long-chain fatty acid salt of the non-alkali metal. For example, when using a water-soluble carbonate as the water-soluble alkali agent particles, it is preferable to use a combination of sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate because both effects of cost reduction and improvement in solubility can be obtained,
In this case, the hygroscopicity of potassium carbonate becomes a problem,
Only the potassium carbonate needs to be coated. Generally, the content of sodium carbonate is 10 to 60% by weight, preferably 15 to 60% by weight.
55% by weight, more preferably 20 to 50% by weight, potassium carbonate is generally 0 to 35% by weight, preferably 10 to 3% by weight.
0% by weight, more preferably 15 to 25% by weight. In order to obtain both effects sufficiently, the weight ratio of sodium carbonate: potassium carbonate is about 1: 0 to 1: 5.

Other detergent components such as a surfactant incorporated in the granular detergent composition of the present invention include the following which are usually incorporated in detergent raw materials. These detergent components are, for example, blended during the granulation process,
It mixes and mixes with the granulated material obtained by the granulation process.

(1) Examples of the nonionic surfactant include the following. (A) an aliphatic alcohol having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms and an alkylene oxide having 2 to 4 carbon atoms on average 3
A polyoxyalkylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ether added to an amount of up to 30 mol, preferably 5 to 20 mol. Among them, polyoxyethylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ether and polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ether are preferable. (B) polyoxyethylene alkyl (or alkenyl)
Phenyl ether. (C) A fatty acid alkyl ester alkoxylate represented by the following formula in which an alkylene oxide is added between ester bonds of a long-chain fatty acid alkyl ester. R ¹ CO (OA) _n OR ² (R ¹ CO represents a fatty acid residue having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms. OA represents 2 to 4 carbon atoms such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, preferably 2 to 2 carbon atoms. Represents an additional unit of alkylene oxide of 3. n represents an average number of moles of alkylene oxide added, and generally represents 3 to 3;
0, preferably a number from 5 to 20. R ² has 1 carbon atom
Represents a lower alkyl group of 1 to 3. This lower alkyl group may have a substituent. (D) Polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters. (E) Polyoxyethylene sorbite fatty acid ester. (F) Polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester. (G) Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil. (H) glycerin fatty acid esters.

Among these nonionic surfactants, polyoxyethylene alkyl (or alkenyl) ethers having a melting point of 40 ° C. or lower and an HLB of 9 to 16 and fatty acid methyl ester ethoxylate obtained by adding ethylene oxide to fatty acid methyl ester are particularly preferable. Used for Also,
These nonionic surfactants can also be used as a mixture.

(2) Zeolite as an inorganic builder;
Sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate and the like. (3) citrate, succinate,
Polyacrylate, polyacrylic acid, maleic acid copolymer, iminocarboxylate, EDTA and the like. (4) As an oil-absorbing carrier, amorphous silica, amorphous calcium silicate, amorphous aluminosilicate and the like. (5) As a fluorescent agent, bis (triazinylamino) stilbene disulfonic acid derivative, bis (sulfostyryl) biphenyl salt [Tinopearl CBS] and the like. (6) As enzymes, lipase, protease, cellulase, amylase and the like. (7) Bleaching agents such as percarbonate and perborate.

(8) Dialkyl type 4 as an antistatic agent
Cationic surfactants such as quaternary ammonium salts. (9) Fine calcium carbonate, fine zeolite, polyethylene glycol and the like as surface modifiers. (10) Examples of anionic surfactants include α-sulfofatty acid alkyl ester salts, linear or branched alkylbenzene sulfonates, α-olefin sulfonates, and alkyl sulfates. (11) Cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose as a re-staining agent. (12) As a bulking agent, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium chloride and the like. (13) Reducing agents such as sodium sulfite and potassium sulfite. (14) Fragrances (15) Dyes

Hereinafter, as an example of the present invention, a composition example in the case where a nonionic surfactant is used as a main surfactant is shown. Nonionic surfactant: generally 5 to 35% by weight, preferably 7 to 30% by weight, more preferably 10 to 25% by weight zeolite (as inorganic builder and surface modifier):
Generally 10 to 60% by weight, preferably 15 to 55% by weight, more preferably 20 to 50% by weight Water-soluble alkali agent particles (preferably sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate), long-chain fatty acid salts of non-alkali metals: range.

When a nonionic surfactant is used as a main surfactant, a granular detergent composition is produced, for example, as follows. The water-soluble alkali agent particles and the non-alkali metal long-chain fatty acid salt are charged into a stirring granulator or a tumbling granulator, and preferably mixed for 30 seconds or more to prepare coated alkali agent particles. Next, a predetermined amount of another powdery detergent component is mixed. Further, granulation is performed while spraying a nonionic surfactant. If necessary, a granulation process is further performed after spraying to obtain a granulated product having a predetermined bulk density. Next, from the viewpoint of improving the fluidity of the granulated material that has absorbed the nonionic surfactant, a surface modifier is added to coat the granulated material to obtain a granular detergent composition.

The average particle size of the granular detergent composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 300 to 3000 μm, more preferably 350 to 2000 μm. If it is less than 300 μm, fluidity, adhesion of cloth and the like are problems, and
If it exceeds m, the solubility decreases.

The embodiments of the present invention are summarized as follows. (1) As the water-soluble alkali agent particles, water-soluble carbonates such as sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate, and water-soluble silicates such as sodium silicate and potassium silicate are used. Among them, sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate are generally used. The average particle size of the water-soluble alkali agent particles is 100 to 1000 μm, preferably 120 to 800 μm.
m. (2) As the non-alkali metal constituting the long-chain fatty acid salt of the non-alkali metal, zinc, calcium, magnesium,
Examples include aluminum, strontium, barium, and lead. The long-chain fatty acid salt of the non-alkali metal has a carbon chain of 8 to 40. The average particle size of the non-alkali metal long-chain fatty acid salt is preferably 1 to 50.
μm. (3) The non-alkali metal long-chain fatty acid salt is 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 15% by weight, more preferably 1 to 10% by weight, based on the water-soluble alkali agent particles to be coated.
% By weight. (4) The blending amount of the water-soluble alkali agent particles in the granular detergent composition is 10 to 60% by weight, preferably 15 to 55% by weight. Further, it is preferable to use a combination of sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate as the water-soluble alkali agent particles. In this case, sodium carbonate is generally 10 to 60% by weight, preferably 15 to 55% by weight, more preferably 20 to 50% by weight, and potassium carbonate is generally 0 to 35% by weight, preferably 10 to 30% by weight, more preferably. Is blended at 15 to 25% by weight. The weight ratio of sodium carbonate: potassium carbonate is about 1: 0 to 1: 5.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments. A granular detergent composition having the composition shown in Table 1 was produced by the following production method. The percentages in Table 1 are% by weight.

(Examples 1, 3, 5, and 7: Stir Granulation Method) A Reedige mixer (M-20, manufactured by Matsubo Corporation) was used.
Sodium carbonate of Example 1, 3, 5, potassium carbonate in Examples 7 and C ₃₆ as a non-alkali metal long chain fatty acid salt H ₇₀ O ₄ Ca (Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd .: product name SC-100) Was added, and only the main shaft was rotated at 200 rpm and mixed for 30 seconds to obtain coated alkaline agent particles. Then, of the P-type zeolites shown in Table 1, 5% by weight based on the total amount of the detergent composition was left as a surface modifier, and the other components were charged as an inorganic builder and mixed for 30 seconds. After mixing the powdery detergent components in this way, the chopper is also rotated (6000 rpm), the nonionic surfactant is sprayed for 90 seconds to perform granulation treatment, and the mixture is further compacted for about 10 minutes to perform granulation. I got something. After that, only the chopper was stopped, the remaining P-type zeolite was charged as a surface modifier, and the mixture was stirred for 30 seconds to coat the granulated material. Then, sodium percarbonate, a bleaching agent, and an enzyme were mixed and granulated. A detergent composition was obtained. The timing of addition of the enzyme, the bleaching agent, etc. is not limited to this, but when mixing powdery detergent components (materials), before spraying a nonionic surfactant, before coating with a P-type zeolite, and the like. Can be added.

Comparative Example 1 A granular detergent composition was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that no long-chain fatty acid salt of a non-alkali metal was used.

(Examples 2, 4, and 6: Rolling granulation method) In a horizontal cylindrical mixer (diameter: 0.6 m, capacity: 136 L), sodium carbonate was used in Examples 2 and 4, and potassium carbonate was used in Example 6. , And as long chain fatty acid salts of non-alkali metals, C ₃₆
H ₇₀ O ₄ Ca (manufactured by Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd .: Product name SC-1
00), rotate at the Froude number ^* 0.14, and
Mix for minutes. Then, of the P-type zeolites shown in Table 1, 5% by weight based on the total amount of the cleaning composition was left as a surface modifier, and the others were charged as an inorganic builder and mixed for 1 minute. (* The Froude number is a value defined by the following equation: Fr = (2πn) ² / r · gn: rotation speed, r: radius of the mixer, g: gravitational acceleration)

After the powdery materials were mixed in this way, a nonionic surfactant was sprayed for 16 minutes, and after the spraying was completed, a mixed granulation treatment was performed for 3 minutes to obtain a granulated product. Thereafter, 5% by weight of P-type zeolite with respect to the total amount of the detergent composition was added as a surface modifier and mixed for 3 minutes to coat the granules. Then, sodium percarbonate as a bleaching agent and an enzyme were mixed. Thus, a granular detergent composition was obtained.

Comparative Example 2 A granular detergent composition was produced in the same manner as in Example 6, except that no long-chain fatty acid salt of a non-alkali metal was used.

The granular detergent composition thus obtained was evaluated by performing the following moisture absorption test and solubility test, and the results are shown in Table 1.

<Hygroscopicity test> Infrared moisture meter (FD-62)
0: manufactured by Kett Science Laboratory Co., Ltd.), the moisture content of the sample was measured at a set temperature of 130 ° C., and the solid content of the sample was determined. On the other hand, 10 g of the same sample was spread on a petri dish, and the petri dish was placed in a thermostatic chamber (25 ° C., relative humidity 60%).
And the weight after 10 hours was measured. Then, the ratio of the water absorption weight to the solid weight in the sample (water absorption rate) was calculated by the following equation, and evaluated based on the following criteria. Water absorption (%) = (total sample weight after 10 hours−10) / solid weight of sample × 100 (evaluation) ○: water content ≦ 7% △: 7% <water content ≦ 12% x: 12% <water rate

<Solubility Test> 5 g of the granular detergent composition was added to 5
The solution was poured into 1 L of water at ℃ C, stirred for 8 minutes, filtered using a nylon tricot cloth, and dried to obtain the weight of the dissolved residue. The ratio of the dissolved residue to the sample used was determined and evaluated according to the following criteria. (Evaluation) ：: 0% ≦ dissolved residue <1% ○: 1% ≦ dissolved residue <5% Δ: 5% ≦ dissolved residue <10% X: 10% ≦ dissolved residue

[0029]

[Table 1]

From the results shown in Table 1, it is found that Examples 1 to 3 in which the blending amount of the non-alkali metal long-chain fatty acid salt is within a suitable range.
In No. 7, relatively good results were obtained in both hygroscopicity and solubility.

[0031]

As described above, in the present invention,
By using the alkali agent particles coated with the long-chain fatty acid salt of the non-alkali metal, the solubility is good because the aggregation hardly occurs in water, and the storage stability is good because it is hard to absorb moisture during storage. A granular detergent composition can be provided.

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Fukudome 1-3-7 Honjo, Sumida-ku, Tokyo F-term in Lion Corporation (reference) 4H003 AB03 AB45 AC08 AC11 AC12 BA09 CA20 EA16 EA30 EC01 EE05 FA16 FA32

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A granular detergent composition comprising water-soluble alkaline agent particles coated with a long-chain fatty acid salt of a non-alkali metal. 2. The granular detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble alkali particles are carbonates. 3. A method comprising coating water-soluble alkali agent particles with a non-alkali metal long-chain fatty acid salt to prepare coated alkali agent particles, and subjecting the coated alkali agent particles to a granulation treatment together with other detergent components. A method for producing a granular detergent composition. 4. The method for producing a granular detergent composition according to claim 3, wherein the water-soluble alkali particles are carbonates.