JP2002038200A - Method for producing liquid cleaning agent - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing a liquid cleaning agent capable of effectively dissolving a high-concentrated surfactant without having troubles of forming undissolved lumps and gelation of the high-concentrated surfactant when a liquid cleaning agent is produced by dissolving the high-concentrated surfactant in a surfactant composition or an aqueous solvent, and suitable for producing a cleaning agent for tablewares, shampoos, rinses, cleaning agents for clothes, softeners or the like by dissolving the high-concentrated surfactant and compounding it with materials. SOLUTION: The method for producing a liquid cleaning agent comprises stirring and dissolving a high concentrated surfactant consisting of a high- concentrated anionic surfactant and/or a high-concentrated nonionic surfactant each having >=40 wt.% of an active ingredient in an aqueous solvent and/or a surfactant composition. Bubbles having an average diameter of 5-500 μm are added to the high-concentrated surfactant in an amount of 2-50 vol.% based on the high-concentrated surfactant, and they are mixed and dissolved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing a liquid detergent obtained by dissolving a high-concentration surfactant in a surfactant composition or an aqueous solvent. It can be efficiently dissolved without causing generation or gelation, dissolves the high concentration surfactant, and manufactures dishwashing detergents, shampoos, rinses, clothing detergents, softeners and the like manufactured by blending products. The present invention relates to a method for producing a liquid detergent suitable for the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a high-concentration surfactant is diluted, rapid thickening and gelation occur. This is due to an improper composition ratio of contact with water. It is believed that the occurrence of thickening and gelling can be prevented.

[0003] For example, alkyl sulfate (alkyl chain length 1
0-18) and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate (alkyl chain length 10-18, EO addition mole number 2-1)
In the case of 0), when it is made into an aqueous solution, the concentration tends to increase due to an increase in the concentration, and the viscosity increases and gels from about 35% by mass, and the viscosity tends to decrease from about 65% to 75% by mass. . A surfactant having such properties is used at a high concentration of 40 to 60% by mass as a normal content at the time of production, but enters a concentration region where rapid thickening and gelation occurs upon dilution. It is known that there is a problem that gelation or lumpy lumps are generated and dissolution takes a long time.

[0004] In order to solve this problem, there is a method in which a high-concentration surfactant is forcibly given a shearing force by a line mixer and a vortex pump during contact with an aqueous solvent and / or a surfactant composition to dissolve the surfactant. Has been adopted. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-34089, a high-concentration surfactant and an aqueous diluent are both formed into a thin film, and these are continuously fed into a mixer having a high rotation speed and a strong shearing force to obtain a high-concentration surfactant. A method for diluting an agent is disclosed. However, the mixer disclosed in this publication has a problem that a thin film is formed, the apparatus becomes complicated and equipment costs are high, and furthermore, the processing capacity is limited due to a narrow interval between the processing liquids. There is a problem that it still takes time to dissolve.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-196883 discloses that a high-viscosity fluid and a low-viscosity fluid are supplied from separate pipes so that they are combined, and then a mixer provided downstream thereof has an average residence time of 4 hours. A method of continuously diluting by stirring for more than a second is disclosed. However, the technology disclosed in this publication does not require the use of a complicated apparatus, but since the residence time in the mixer is long, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the mixer to be used. However, there is a problem that the equipment cost is high and the dissolution is still time-consuming.

Further, JP-A-53-7576 discloses that
An apparatus is disclosed which sprays compressed air to continuously dilute a highly viscous fluid and forms a continuous swirling flow by a spray flow of the compressed air. However, the technique disclosed in this publication uses compressed air to form a swirling flow, and thus cannot provide sufficient stirring power to dissolve a foaming high-concentration surfactant, ,
There is a problem that the device is complicated and the equipment cost is high, and further, there is a problem that it takes a long time to dissolve.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present inventors have attempted to solve this problem, and it has become possible to dissolve easily and efficiently without causing thickening and gelling. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a liquid detergent that can reduce the amount of investment by utilizing existing facilities and can respond to compact facilities.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors have conducted intensive studies on the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and the like. As a result, by mixing a high concentration surfactant with a specific amount of foam diameter in a specific range, the above object of the present invention can be achieved. The present inventors have found that a method for producing a liquid detergent can be provided, and have completed the present invention. That is, the present invention resides in the following (1) and (2). (1) A liquid obtained by stirring and dissolving a high-concentration surfactant composed of a high-concentration anionic surfactant and / or a high-concentration nonionic surfactant of 40% by mass or more in an aqueous solvent and / or a surfactant composition. A method for producing a detergent, characterized in that bubbles having an average diameter of 5 to 500 µm are mixed with the high-concentration surfactant in an amount of 2 to 50 vol% with respect to the high-concentration surfactant, and mixed and dissolved. Production method. (2) The method for producing a liquid detergent according to the above (1), wherein the liquid detergent is any one of a dish detergent, a liquid skin cleanser, a shampoo, a rinse, a clothing detergent, and a softener. The “high-concentration surfactant” defined in the present invention means a dilute solution of an active ingredient of 40% by mass (hereinafter simply referred to as “%”) or more. As long as the diluting solvent and the surfactant are in a uniform state, the diluting solvent may be water, monohydric or tetrahydric lower alcohol, and the like.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail. The method for producing a liquid detergent according to the present invention is characterized in that a high-concentration surfactant composed of a high-concentration anionic surfactant and / or a high-concentration nonionic surfactant of 40% by mass or more of an active ingredient is mixed with an aqueous solvent and / or a surfactant composition. A method for producing a liquid detergent by stirring and dissolving in water, wherein bubbles having an average diameter of 5 to 500 μm are mixed with the high-concentration surfactant in an amount of 2 to 50 vol% with respect to the high-concentration surfactant, and mixed and dissolved. It is characterized by the following.

In the high-concentration surfactant used in the present invention, in the case of an anionic surfactant, the surfactant content is from 40 to 65%, preferably from 55 to 60%. In the case of a nonionic surfactant, the surfactant content is 40 to 100%, preferably 80 to 10%.
0%. In the case of an anionic surfactant, the content is 40
%, The viscosity and gelation hardly occur during mixing and dissolution, and when it exceeds 65%, the viscosity of the surfactant is extremely high, and handling becomes difficult. In the case of a nonionic surfactant, if it is less than 40%, thickening and gelling are hardly recognized at the time of mixing and dissolving.

The type of the high-concentration surfactant used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a surfactant that thickens and gels when mixed and dissolved at a high concentration. Examples of the anionic surfactant include lauryl sulfate and polyoxyethylene lauryl sulfate, which are sulfates of higher alcohols, C12α-sulfo fatty acid methyl ester sulfate,
C14α-sulfo fatty acid methyl ester sulfate, C12-14α
-Sulfo fatty acid methyl ester sulfate and the like.
Examples of the nonionic surfactant include polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether, and polyoxyethylene isotridecyl ether. As these surfactants, those selected from anionic surfactants and / or nonionic surfactants can be used alone or in combination of two or more. There is no limitation even if these surfactants are blended with a viscosity reducing agent such as ethanol or polyethylene glycol.

The solution for mixing and dissolving the high-concentration surfactant used in the present invention may be an aqueous solvent or a surfactant composition, and is not particularly limited. As the aqueous solvent, a normal diluted solution can be used. As such an aqueous solvent, not only water (purified water, ion-exchanged water, etc.) but also, for example, a surfactant, ethanol, polyethylene glycol and the like can be used. An aqueous solution containing a relatively low concentration is exemplified. The surfactant composition is a commonly used surfactant, for example, AOS-Na or LAS
Examples of the composition include anionic surfactants such as -Na, nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, and viscosity reducing agents such as fatty acid diethanolamide and ethanol. In the present invention, the mixing ratio of the high-concentration surfactant (A) to the aqueous solvent and / or the surfactant composition (B) varies depending on the use of the liquid detergent, and the like. : B = 5: 95 to 40:60. In addition,
In the case of the present invention, the aqueous solvent, the surfactant composition,
As long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired, various additives that are usually compounded can be appropriately added to the final product.

The mixing and dissolving temperature is a normal compounding temperature, and is not particularly limited as long as it does not affect the quality of the product. From the viewpoint of solubility, a temperature higher than the melting point of the high-concentration surfactant is used. Is preferred.

Next, when 2 to 50 vol% of bubbles having an average particle size of 5 to 500 μm are mixed with the high-concentration surfactant of the present invention, the average diameter of the mixed bubbles is 5 to 500%.
μm, preferably 20 to 300 μm. If the average diameter of the air bubbles is less than 5 μm, the air bubbles mixed in after mixing and dissolving will need to be removed for a long time, and if it exceeds 500 μm, the mixing solubility will deteriorate, which is not preferable. The amount of air bubbles mixed is in the range of 2 to 50 vol%, preferably 10 to 40 vol%, based on the high-concentration surfactant. If the amount of air bubbles is less than 2 vol%, lumps are generated during mixing and dissolution, and it takes a long time to dissolve.
%, The apparent specific gravity of the high-concentration surfactant becomes too light, floats during mixing and dissolving, and requires a long time for dissolution, which is not preferable.

In the present invention, air to be mixed is preferably air from the viewpoint of safety and cost. There is no particular limitation on the method of mixing air bubbles. For example, a method of forcibly mixing air with a stirrer, a method of mixing air with a compressor or the like, controlling the shape and rotation speed of a stirring blade installed in the stirrer, and the like. To control the diameter of the bubbles, and to confirm the average diameter with a laser scattering type particle size distribution analyzer or the like and set conditions.

The air introduction speed is not particularly limited as long as a predetermined amount of air can be introduced and dispersed by a stirrer. Further, in the present invention, when air bubbles are mixed into the high-concentration surfactant and then supplied from a supply pipe to a stirring tank equipped with a stirrer, the supply pipe is connected to the height of the stirring tank equipped with the stirrer (total height). 60% from the bottom compared to 100% height)
In the following, it is preferable to be closer to the bottom. In addition, when it is installed above 60%, the high-concentration surfactant mixed with air bubbles floats on the surface, and it takes time for mixing and dissolution, which is not preferable. There is no particular limitation as long as it does not collide with the stirring blade from the side of the stirring tank.

The blades of the stirrer installed in the stirring tank are generally used paddle type, propeller type,
There is no particular limitation such as a turbine type and a Faudler type, and they can be used. The rotation speed is not particularly limited as long as the liquid is vertically circulated by using the stirring blade or the like. However, since the rotation speed varies depending on the viscosity of the liquid, it is preferable to determine the rotation speed by experiment using the liquid to be used.

In the present invention thus constituted, a high-concentration surfactant consisting of a high-concentration anionic surfactant and / or a high-concentration nonionic surfactant containing 40% by mass or more of an active ingredient is mixed with an aqueous solvent and / or a surfactant. When the agent composition is stirred and dissolved, the high-concentration surfactant has an average diameter of 5 to 500 μm.
By mixing 2 to 50 vol% of the air bubbles with the high-concentration surfactant and mixing and dissolving, it is possible to dissolve easily and efficiently without thickening and gelling, and utilize existing equipment. In addition to this, a method of manufacturing a liquid detergent that can be handled with compact equipment can be realized.
As the liquid detergent obtained by the method of the present invention, for example,
Examples include dishwashing detergents, liquid skin cleansing agents, shampoos, rinses, clothing detergents, and softeners.

[0019]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples, Comparative Examples and Production Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples and the like.

[Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7] Using the high-concentration surfactants shown in Table 1 below, the introduction method shown below, the average bubble diameter, the mixing amount and the position of the supply pipe shown in Table 1 And mixed and dissolved in the surfactant composition. The stirring device shown in FIG. 1 was used. The supply pump of the high concentration surfactant shown in FIG. 1 uses a rotary pump,
A 150-liter cylindrical shape was used as the stirring tank.
The solubility at the time of this production was evaluated by the following evaluation method.
The results are shown in Table 1 below.

[Comparative Examples 8 to 9] Using a high-concentration surfactant shown in Table 1 below, the mixture was dissolved in the surfactant composition at the average bubble diameter, mixing amount, and supply pipe position shown in Table 1 below. Was. The stirring device shown in FIG. 2 was used. FIG.
The high-concentration surfactant supply pump shown in (1) was performed using a rotary pump, a 150-liter cylindrical shape as a stirring tank, and a compressor (flow rate: 0.5 L / min) so that air could be inserted. . The solubility at the time of this production was evaluated by the following evaluation method. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

The stirring conditions in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 were as follows. Stirrer blade type: paddle type Stirrer blade size: 25 cm Stirrer rotation speed: 150 rpm Stirrer tank capacity: 150 liter Stirrer tank shape: cylindrical with a diameter of 65 cm High-concentration surfactant / surfactant composition = 26/74 (mass ratio)

The air bubbles were introduced by the following introduction methods 1 and 2. <Introduction method 1> A high-concentration surfactant shown in Table 1 below was added to 50
Liter capacity, propeller type blades (diameter 5cm x
Using a stirrer equipped with (2 stages), changing the number of rotations, stirring time, and stirring blade position at a temperature of 45 ° C. to obtain a predetermined bubble average diameter and a bubble volume fraction with respect to a high-concentration surfactant shown in Table 1 below. Stirring was performed so that In addition, the bubble diameter can be reduced by increasing the rotation speed, and the bubble volume fraction can be increased by increasing the stirring time. Volume fraction can be increased. The average diameter of the bubbles and the volume fraction of the bubbles relative to the high-concentration surfactant (mixed amount) were measured using a laser scattering particle size distribution analyzer.

<Introduction Method 2> 30 kg of a high-concentration surfactant shown in Table 1 below was put into a 50-liter volume, and a stirrer equipped with a propeller type blade (diameter 5 cm × 2 stages) was used.
Using a compressor while stirring at 45 ° C,
Air was inserted into the high concentration surfactant at a flow rate of 0.5 L / min. The number of revolutions, the stirring time, the position of the stirring blade, and the time of air insertion by the compressor were changed, and stirring was performed so as to obtain the predetermined bubble average diameter and the bubble volume fraction with respect to the high-concentration surfactant shown in Table 1 below. In addition, by increasing the rotation speed, the bubble diameter can be reduced, and by increasing the stirring time, the bubble volume fraction can be increased. The rate can be increased. Further, by increasing the air insertion time by the compressor, the bubble volume fraction can be increased. The average diameter of the bubbles was measured by using a laser scattering type particle size distribution measuring device until the volume of air became 30 vol% at an average diameter of 50 μm.

As the surfactant composition for dissolving the high-concentration surfactant (100% in total), the following composition was used. AOS-Na: 4% purified water Ethanol: 5% Polyethylene glycol (molecular weight: 1000): 3% Coconut diethanolamide: 3% Purified water: balance The mixing and dissolving temperature was 40 ° C. and 150 rpm.

[Evaluation Method of Solubility] After addition of the high-concentration activator, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, and 7 minutes later, 500 ml of each sample was taken, passed through a 16-mesh sieve, and visually evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria. . Evaluation criteria: ：: No lumps left on sieve within 3 minutes ○: No lumps left on sieve within 5 minutes ×: Lum remains on sieve within 7 minutes or more

[0027]

[Table 1]

As is evident from the results in Table 1, Examples 1 to 9, which fall within the scope of the present invention, are easily formed without causing thickening and gelling, as compared with Comparative Examples 1 to 9, which fall outside the scope of the invention. And efficient dissolution. In particular, Comparative Examples 8 and 9 are performed using the apparatus of FIG. 2, but the bubbles are not mixed with the high-concentration surfactant, but are dispersed in the surfactant to be diluted, and there is a lump residue. Turned out not to be.

[Production Example 1, Production Method of Kitchen Detergent] Using the composition shown in Table 2 below, a kitchen detergent was prepared by the following method. C12POE alkyl ether sulfate Na (p =
In 3), 55% was used as an active ingredient, and the amount of bubbles mixed was adjusted to 30 vol% and the average bubble diameter was set to 300 μm by the above-mentioned introduction method 1, to obtain a high-concentration surfactant containing bubbles (a stirring temperature of 45%).
° C, stirring speed 800 rpm, stirring time 3 minutes). The compounding method is as follows: after mixing and dissolving purified water, C14 alpha olefin sulfonate Na, lauric acid diethanolamide, zinc sulfate, ethanol, polyethylene glycol and paratoluene sulfonic acid, high-concentration surfactant mixed with bubbles as described above. C12POE alkyl ether sulfate (p = 3) as an agent was added at 45 ° C. for 15 minutes, and mixed and dissolved. Thereafter, lauryl dimethylamine oxide, lauryl dimethyl betaine, and a fragrance were added in this order, mixed and dissolved at 45 ° C., and the pH was adjusted to prepare a kitchen detergent. In the production of this kitchen detergent, the solubility was evaluated as ◎ when evaluated by the above-described solubility evaluation method.

[0030]

[Table 2]

[Production Example 2, Shampoo production method] A shampoo was prepared by the following method using the composition shown in Table 3 below. C12POE alkyl ether sulfate Na
(p = 3) means that 50% was used as the active ingredient, the amount of bubbles mixed was 30 vol%, and the average bubble diameter was 300 μm by the above introduction method 1.
To obtain a high-concentration surfactant mixed with bubbles (stirring temperature: 45 ° C., stirring speed: 800 rpm, stirring time: 3 minutes). The compounding method is C12PO which is a high-concentration surfactant mixed with air bubbles after adding purified water, amine oxide and citric acid first.
E alkyl ether sulfate (p = 3) was added at 45 ° C. for 20 minutes and mixed and dissolved. Thereafter, the remaining components were added to prepare a shampoo. In the production of this shampoo, the solubility was evaluated as ◎ when evaluated by the above-described solubility evaluation method.

[0032]

[Table 3]

[Production Example 3, Production Method of Liquid Heavy Detergent]
Using the composition shown in Table 4 below, a liquid heavy detergent was prepared by the following method. Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether (EO = 2) was used at 95% as an active ingredient.
Adjusted to 0 μm to obtain a high concentration surfactant mixed with air bubbles
(Stirring temperature 45 ° C, stirring speed 800 rpm, stirring time 3
Minutes). The compounding method is as follows: purified water, coconut fatty acid diethanolamide, ethanol, and propylene glycol are added first, and then polyoxyethylene alkyl ether (EO = 2), which is a high-concentration surfactant containing air bubbles, is added at 45 ° C.
The mixture was added for 20 minutes and mixed and dissolved. Thereafter, the pH was adjusted, and the remaining components were added to prepare a liquid heavy detergent. In the production of this liquid heavy detergent, the solubility was evaluated as ◎ when evaluated by the above-described solubility evaluation method.

[0034]

[Table 4]

[0035]

According to the present invention, at the time of mixing and dissolving in a surfactant composition and / or an aqueous solvent, a complicated apparatus and equipment such as a metering pump are not required, and a simple and low-cost apparatus is used. Provided is a method for producing a liquid detergent capable of efficiently mixing and dissolving without causing thickening / gelling or lumpy lumps. Therefore, the present invention is suitable as a method for producing, for example, a textile finish such as a kitchen detergent, a liquid detergent, a liquid skin cleanser, a shampoo, a rinse, and a softener.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a bubble mixing and stirring device used in Examples 1 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a bubble mixing and stirring device used in Comparative Examples 8 and 9.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) C11D 11/00 C11D 11/00 F-term (Reference) 4C083 AA082 AA122 AB051 AC012 AC122 AC302 AC312 AC432 AC562 AC642 AC712 AC782 AC862 AD132 BB01 BB04 BB05 CC22 CC38 CC39 DD23 EE03 EE07 EE11 EE21 FF05 4G035 AB05 AB15 AB38 AB54 4H003 AB15 AB20 AB21 AB31 AC08 AC11 AC13 AC15 AD04 BA13 CA15 CA17 DA01 DA02 DA17 EB04 EB22 EB36 ED02 FA30

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A high-concentration surfactant consisting of a high-concentration anionic surfactant and / or a high-concentration nonionic surfactant having an active ingredient content of 40% by mass or more is stirred and dissolved in an aqueous solvent and / or a surfactant composition. A liquid detergent manufacturing method comprising: mixing 2 to 50 vol% of bubbles having an average diameter of 5 to 500 μm with the high-concentration surfactant with respect to the high-concentration surfactant, and mixing and dissolving the liquid. Detergent manufacturing method. 2. The method for producing a liquid detergent according to claim 1, wherein the liquid detergent is any one of a dish detergent, a liquid skin detergent, a shampoo, a rinse, a clothing detergent, and a softener.