JP3007152B2 - Polyhydroxy fatty acid amides in detergents containing polycarboxylate builders - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are detergent compositions containing polycarboxylate builders and one or more anionic, nonionic, or cationic detersive surfactants, or mixtures thereof, improved by the inclusion of certain polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants. The compositions comprise at least 1 % by weight of polycarboxylate builder, and at least 1 % by weight of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide of formula (I) wherein R<1> is H, C1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, or a mixture thereof; and R<2> is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof.

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The performance of polycarboxylate builder-containing detergent compositions is enhanced by polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants.

BACKGROUND ART Various builder substances for use in detergent compositions are
Proposed. Such materials serve a variety of functions, including hardness blockade, peptization, pH control, and the like. For many years sodium tripolyphosphate has been the builder of choice, but recent developments in the art include builder materials such as zeolites, various polycarboxylates, and the like. Currently, many fully formulated detergent compositions contain a polycarboxylate builder or a builder mixture containing various polycarboxylate builders.

The development of phosphate-free high performance laundry detergent compositions
This is a major industrial issue. From a performance standpoint, even the best polycarboxylate builders often create an "under-built" situation in hard water. Furthermore, simply increasing the builder utilization can add excessive cost and introduce solubility problems for the anionic detergent surfactant, especially during use under relatively high water hardness conditions. There is. Conventional nonionic surfactants such as alkyl ethoxylates do not suffer from solubility problems, while typically do not provide excellent overall cleaning at low to moderate wash temperatures. Also, normal nonionic surfactants,
It can be difficult to formulate granular and liquid detergent formulations.

Accordingly, heavy duty detergent formulators have relied on other means of enhancing performance. To enhance the cleaning performance of such compositions, sophisticated formulators have formulated various cleaning aids. Materials such as detergent enzymes, soil release polymers, bleaches and the like are commonly used to enhance the performance of carboxylate builder-containing detergent compositions. This is particularly true in liquid detergent formulations, as large amounts of builder can render various anionic surfactants such as alkyl sulfates, alkyl ester sulfonates, etc. insoluble in the formulation.

Simply stated, the present invention uses an improved detergent surfactant system to help compensate for the lack of cleaning performance caused by the use of a polycarboxylate builder. In accordance with the practice of the present invention, certain polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are used as polycarboxylate builder detergents to provide enhanced cleaning performance. In addition, these polyhydroxy fatty acid amides facilitate the formulation of granular detergents with high builders and anionic surfactants, and especially liquid detergents.

Various polyhydroxy fatty acid amides have been described in the art. For example, N-acyl-N-methylglucamide is available from JW Goodbye, MA Marcus, E. Tin, and PL
Finn, "Thermotropic Liquid Crystallinity of Some Linear Carbohydrate Amphiphiles", Liquid Crystals, 1988, 3rd.
Vol. 11, pp. 1569-1581, and A. Muller
"Nonionic detergents: nonanoyl-N-" by Farnau, V. Zabel, M. Stafa and R. Hilgenfeld.
Molecular and Crystal Structure of Methylglucamide "J. Chem, S
oc. Chem. Commun., 1986, pp. 1573-1574. The use of N-alkyl polyhydroxyamide surfactants has recently become of substantial interest in biochemistry, for example, for use in biofilm degradation. For example, the journal article "ND-gluco-N-methyl-alkaneamide compounds for membrane biochemistry, a new class of nonionic detergents" by JEK Hildress, Bi
See ochem. J. (1982), 207, 363-366.

The use of N-alkylglucamides in detergent compositions has also been discussed. US Patent No. 2,965,576 issued December 20, 1960 to ER Wilson and February 1, 1959.
British Patent No. 809,060, issued on August 8 and assigned to Thomas Hedley End Company Limited, describes an anionic surfactant and an amide surfactant, which is N-type added as a low temperature foaming agent. Which can include methylglucamide). These compounds include the N-chain of higher linear fatty acids having 10 to 14 carbon atoms.
Acyl groups are mentioned. These compositions may also contain auxiliary substances, such as alkali metal phosphates, alkali metal silicates, sulfates, carbonates and the like. It is also generally pointed out that additional components that impart desirable properties to the composition, such as fluorescent dyes, bleaches, fragrances and the like, can be incorporated into the composition.

U.S. Patent No. 2, issued March 8, 1955 to AM Schwartz
No. 703,798 relates to an aqueous detergent composition containing a condensation reaction product of an N-alkylglucamine and an aliphatic ester of a fatty acid. The product of this reaction is said to be usable in aqueous detergent compositions without further purification. AM
U.S. Patent No. 2,717,894 issued to Schwartz on September 13, 1955
It is also known to make sulfated acylated glucamines as disclosed in US Pat.

PCT International Application No. WO 83/04412, published December 22, 1983 by J. Hildress, describes cosmetics, medicines, shampoos,
Lotions and eye ointments as surfactants, as medical emulsifiers and dispensers, and in various applications including solubilization of membranes, whole cells or other tissue samples and biochemistry to produce liposomes. To amphiphilic compounds containing polyhydroxyl aliphatic groups which are said to be useful for the purpose of This disclosure includes the formula R'CON
(R) CH ₂ R ″ and R ″ CON (R) R ′ (where R is hydrogen or an organic atomic group, and R ′ has at least 3 carbon atoms)
Wherein R ″ is the residue of an aldose).

EP 0 285 768, issued October 12, 1988 to H. Kelkenberg, relates to the use of N-polyhydroxyalkyl fatty acid amides as thickeners in aqueous detergent systems. Formula R ₁ C (O) N (X) R _{2 wherein} R ₁ is C ₁ -C
₁₇ (preferably C ₇ -C ₁₇ ) alkyl, wherein R ₂ is hydrogen, C
₁ -C ₁₈ (preferably C ₁ -C ₆₎ alkyl or alkylene oxide, X is an amide of a) polyhydroxy alkyl of 4-7 carbon atoms, for example, N- methyl coconut fatty acid glucamide and the like. Aqueous surfactant systems include other anionic surfactants, such as alkyl aryl sulfonates, olefin sulfonates, sulfosuccinic acid half ester salts, and fatty alcohol ether sulfonates, and nonionic surfactants, such as fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, Alkyl phenol polyglycol ether, fatty acid polyglycol ester,
Although it may contain polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide mixed polymers, etc., the thickening of amides has been indicated to have particular use in liquid surfactant systems containing paraffin sulfonates. Paraffin sulfonate
A / N-methyl coconut fatty acid glucamide / nonionic surfactant shampoo formulation is illustrated. In addition to thickening properties, N-polyhydroxyalkyl fatty acid amides are said to have excellent skin tolerating properties.

US Patent No. 2, issued May 2, 1961 to Boettner et al.
No. 982,737 discloses urea, sodium lauryl sulfate anionic surfactant, and N-alkylglucamide selected from N-methyl-N-sorbicyllaurinamide and N-methyl-N-sorbicylmyristamide. Detergent solid containing an ionic surfactant.

Other glucamide surfactants are, for example, of the formula R ₁ C (O) N (R ₂ ) CH ₂ (CHOH) _n —CH ₂ OH, where R ₁ is C ₁ -C ₃ alkyl; ₂ is C ₁₀ -C ₂₂ alkyl and n is 3 or 4), which has been improved by the addition of N-acyl polyhydroxyalkylamines,
Announced on December 20, 1973 for a detersive composition comprising a builder salt selected from one or more surfactants and polymeric phosphates, a sequestering agent and a detersive alkali.
HW Eckert et al., DT 2,226,872. N-acyl polyhydroxyalkylamines are
Add as a stain settling inhibitor.

U.S. Patent issued on April 4, 1972 to HW Eckert
No. 3,654,166 describes at least one surfactant selected from the group of anionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants and nonionic surfactants and a formula as a fabric softener.
R ₁ N (Z) C (O) R _{2 wherein} R ₁ is C ₁₀ -C ₂₂ alkyl, R ₂ is C ₇ -C ₂₁ alkyl, and R ₁ and R ₂ are 23- has 39 carbon atoms, Z is _{-CH 2 (CHOH) m CH 2} O
H (where m is 3 or 4 is a polyhydroxyalkyl)] N-acyl-N-alkyl polyhydroxyalkyl compound.

U.S. Patent No. 4,021, issued May 3, 1977 to H. Meller et al.
No. 539 describes the formula R ₁ N (R) CH (CHOH) _m R ₂ (wherein R ₁
Is H, lower alkyl, hydroxy-lower alkyl, or aminoalkyl, as well as heterocyclic aminoalkyl, where R is the same as R ₁ but both cannot be H, and R ₂ is CH ₂ OH or The present invention relates to a skin treatment cosmetic composition containing an N-polyhydroxyalkylamine including a compound of the formula:

French Patent No. 1,360,018 assigned to Commercial Solvents Corporation (April 26, 1963)
Day) has the formula RC (O) N (R ₁ ) G, where R is a carboxylic acid functionality having at least 7 carbon atoms, R ₁ is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group, and G is at least 5 carbon atoms. Glycidyl groups) are added to the solution of formaldehyde stabilized against polymerization.

German Patent 1,261,861 (February 29, 1968, A.
Hinds) have the formula N (R) (R ₁ ) (R ₂ ) where R is the sugar residue of glucamine, R ₁ is a C ₁₀ -C ₂₀ alkyl group, and R ₂ is C ₁ -C _{2 (5} ) a glucamine derivative useful as a wetting / dispersing agent).

UK Patent No. 745,036, issued February 15, 1956 and assigned to Atlas Powder Company, is useful as a chemical intermediate, emulsifier, wetting / dispersing agent, detergent, fabric softener, and the like. Heterocyclic amides and their carboxylic esters. The compound is
Formula N (R) (R ₁ ) C (O) R _{2 wherein} R is the residue of anhydrous hexanepentol or a carboxylic acid ester thereof, R ₁ is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, (O) R ₂ is an acyl group of a carboxylic acid having 2 to 25 carbon atoms).

US Patent No. 3,31 issued to DT Hooker on April 4, 1967
U.S. Pat. And a non-ionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of: RC (O) NR ¹ (R ² ) wherein RC (O) is about 1
It has 0 to about 14 carbon atoms, and R ¹ and R ² are each H or a C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group has a total number of 2 to about 7 carbon atoms and a substituent hydroxyl group. (Having a total number of from about 2 to about 6) is disclosed. A substantially similar disclosure is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,626 issued Apr. 4, 1967 to DT Fukko.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An improved detergent composition containing a polycarboxylate builder comprises a polyhydroxyfatty acid amide surfactant and preferably one or more anionic, nonionic or cationic detergent surfactants. It is provided by the formulation of an active agent or a mixture thereof. Thus, the composition of the present invention comprises at least 1% by weight of a polycarboxylate builder, and a compound of the formula Wherein R ¹ is H, C ₁ -C ₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or a mixture thereof, preferably C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, more preferably C ₁ or C ₂ alkyl, Most preferably, it is C ₁ alkyl (ie, methyl); R ² is C ₅ -C ₃₁ hydrocarbyl, preferably linear C ₇ -C ₁₉ alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably linear C ₉ -C ₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl. , and most preferably lies in linear C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof,; Z is polyhydroxy hydrocarbyl or alkoxylated with a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain A polyhydroxy fatty acid amide of a derivative, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated, wherein Z is More preferably, it will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably, Z is glycityl, Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. As raw materials, high dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose corn syrup can be used in the same manner as the individual saccharides described above, and these corn syrups may prepare a mixture of sugar components for Z. it should be understood that not try to never exclude other suitable materials Thus, Z is preferably _{-CH 2 -. (CHOH) n} -CH 2 OH, -CH (CH 2 OH) - (CHOH ) _N-1 CH ₂ OH, —CH ₂ (CHOH) ₂ (CHOR ′) (CHOH) —CH ₂ OH, wherein n is an integer of 3 to 5, and ′ Is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide), and their alkoxylated derivatives.Glycityl wherein n is 4, especially —CH ₂ — (CHOH) ₄ —CH ₂ OH is most preferred.

Preferably, the weight ratio of polycarboxylate builder to polyhydroxy fatty acid amide is from about 1:10 to about 10: 1,
More preferably from about 1: 5 to about 7: 1, most preferably about 1: 7
From about 7: 1. The present invention includes (but is not limited to) both liquid and granular detergent compositions.

The present invention provides a polycarboxylate builder-containing detergent composition that has improved builder effectiveness and thus can also have improved cleaning performance, especially in the field of grease / oil cleaning.

Further, the present invention provides an anionic surfactant by incorporating the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant into a composition such that the weight ratio of polycarboxylate to amide surfactant is from about 1:10 to about 10: 1. Methods for improving the performance of detergents containing surfactants, nonionic surfactants and / or cationic surfactants and polycarboxylate builders are provided.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for treating a substrate, such as a fiber, fabric, hard surface, or skin, with one or more anionic interfaces in the presence of a solvent such as water, a water-miscible solvent (eg, primary and secondary alcohols). Surfactant, nonionic or cationic surfactant, polycarboxylate builder at least about 1
%, And at least 1% of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide
(A weight ratio of polycarboxylate builder to polyhydroxyfatty acid amide surfactant is preferably from about 1:10 to about 10: 1) comprising the steps of: provide. Agitation is preferably provided to enhance cleaning.
Suitable means for providing agitation include rubbing by hand, or preferably with the aid of a brush, sponge, mop or other cleaning device, automatic washing machines, automatic dishwashers and the like. .

In the above method, the more preferred weight ratio of polycarboxylate builder to polyhydroxy fatty acid amide is from about 1: 5 to about 7: 1, most preferably from about 1: 1 to about 7: 1 and the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. Preferred amounts and types of and polycarboxylate are as described herein.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Polyhydroxyfatty acid amide surfactant The compositions herein comprise at least about 1%, typically about 3%, of a polyhydroxyfatty acid amide surfactant described below.
To about 50%, preferably about 3% to about 30%.

The polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant component of the present invention has the structural formula (I) Wherein R ¹ is H, C ₁ -C ₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or a mixture thereof, preferably C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, more preferably C ₁ or C ₂ alkyl, Most preferably, it is C ₁ alkyl (ie, methyl); R ² is C ₅ -C ₃₁ hydrocarbyl, preferably linear C ₇ -C ₁₉ alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably linear C ₉ -C ₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl. , and most preferably lies in linear C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof,; Z is polyhydroxy hydrocarbyl or alkoxylated with a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain Z, which is preferably in a reductive amination reaction More preferably, Z is glycityl, and suitable reducing sugars include glycol, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose. Syrups, high fructose corn syrups, and high maltose corn syrups can be used as well as the individual sugars described above, which may prepare a mix of sugar components for Z. Other suitable ingredients it should be understood that no attempt to eliminate .Z is preferably _{-CH 2 - (CHOH) n -CH} 2 OH, -CH (CH 2 OH) - (CHOH) n-1 CH 2 OH, - _{CH 2 (CHOH) 2 (CHOR} ') (CHOH) -CH 2 OH, ( wherein, n is an integer from 3 to 5, R' is H or a cyclic or aliphatic monosaccharide), Oyo Beauty will be selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated derivative .n is 4 glycityls, particularly _{-CH 2 - (CHOH) 4 -CH} 2 OH are most preferred.

In the formula (I), R ¹ is, for example, N-methyl, N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-butyl, N
-2-hydroxyethyl, or N-2-hydroxypropyl.

R ² —CO—N <is, for example, cocoamide, stearamide, oleamide, laurinamide, myristamide,
It can be caprinamide, palmitoamide, tallowamide and the like.

Z is 1-deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructyl, 1-deoxymultityl, 1-deoxylactyl, 1-deoxygalacticyl, 1-deoxymannityl, 1-deoxymaltotriothytyl, Can be

The preparation of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides is known in the art. Generally, they react an alkylamine with a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction to produce the corresponding N-alkyl polyhydroxyamine, which is then reacted with a fatty aliphatic ester or a fatty acid ester in a condensation / amidation step. React with triglyceride to give N-
It can be made by producing an alkyl-N-polyhydroxy fatty acid amide product. The method for producing a composition containing a polyhydroxyfatty acid amide is, for example, Thomas
19 by Hedley End Company Limited
British Patent No. 809,060 published February 18, 59, ER
U.S. Patent No. 2,965, issued to Wilson on December 20, 1960
No. 576 and Antony M. Schwartz U.S. Pat.
No. 424, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The glycityl moiety is derived from glucose and the N-alkyl or N-hydroxyalkyl functionality is N-methyl,
In one process for the preparation of N-alkyl or N-hydroxyalkyl-N-deoxyglycityl fatty acid amides which are N-ethyl, N-propyl, N-butyl, N-hydroxyethyl, or N-hydroxypropyl, the product is , N-alkyl- or N-hydroxyalkyl-glucamine with trilithium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, pentapotassium tripolyphosphate, lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide,
Potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, disodium tartrate, dipotassium tartrate, potassium sodium tartrate, trisodium citrate, tripotassium citrate, basic sodium silicate, basic potassium silicate Formed by reacting with a fatty acid ester selected from fatty methyl esters, fatty ethyl esters and fatty triglycerides in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of basic sodium aluminosilicate, and basic potassium aluminosilicate, and mixtures thereof. I do. The amount of catalyst is preferably N
From about 0.5 mole% to about 50 mole%, more preferably from about 2.0 mole% to about 10 mole%, based on moles of -alkyl or N-hydroxyalkyl-glucamine. The reaction is preferably performed at about 138C to about 170C, typically for about 20 to about 90 minutes. In particular, where the triglyceride is utilized in the reaction mixture as a fatty acid ester source, the reaction preferably comprises from about 1 to about 10% by weight, calculated on a weight percent of the total reaction mixture, of a saturated fatty alcohol polyethoxylate, an alkyl polyglycoside, This is performed using a phase transfer agent selected from linear glucamide surfactants and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the method is performed as follows: (a) preheating the fatty acid ester to about 138 ° C. to about 170 ° C .; (b) adding the N-alkyl or N-hydroxyalkyl glucamine to the heated fatty acid ester (C) mixing the catalyst into the reaction mixture; (d) stirring for a predetermined reaction time.

Also preferably, if the fatty acid ester is a triglyceride, from about 2 to about 20% by weight of the reactants of the preformed linear N-alkyl / N-hydroxyalkyl-N-linear glycosyl fatty acid amide product is: Add to the reaction mixture as a phase transfer agent. This facilitates the reaction, thereby increasing the rate of the reaction. Detailed experimental procedures are given below in the experiments.

The polyhydroxy "fatty acid" amide materials used herein also provide the detergent formulator with the advantage that they can be made from all or predominantly natural renewable non-petrochemical feedstocks and are degradable. Also, they show low toxicity to aquatic organisms.

Along with the polyhydroxy fatty acid amides of formula (I), the methods used to prepare them, as well as certain amounts of non-volatile by-products, such as ester amides, cyclic polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, are typically prepared. It should be recognized that The amounts of these by-products will vary depending on the particular reactants and process conditions. Preferably, the polyhydroxyfatty acid amide incorporated into the detergent composition herein is such that the polyhydroxyfatty acid amide-containing composition added to the detergent contains less than about 10%, preferably less than about 4%, cyclic polyhydroxyfatty acid amide. Will be provided in the form. The above-described preferred method is advantageous because it produces rather small amounts of by-products, including such cyclic amide by-products.

Polycarboxylate Builder The compositions herein will include at least about 1% of a polycarboxylate builder.

The amount of polycarboxylate builder can vary widely depending on the end use of the composition and the desired physical form. Liquid formulations typically comprise from about 5 to about 50%, more typically from about 5 to about 30%, by weight of the detersive builder. Granular formulations typically contain from about 10 to about 80% by weight of the detersive builder, more typically from about 15 to about 50% by weight. However,
Lower or higher amounts of builders are not meant to be excluded. Preferably, the weight ratio of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide to polycarboxylate builder is from about 1:10 to about 1:10.
10: 1, more preferably from about 1: 5 to about 7: 1, most preferably from about 1: 1 to about 7: 1.

Various polycarboxylate compounds can be utilized in the present compositions. As used herein, "polycarboxylate" refers to a compound having multiple carboxylate groups, preferably at least three carboxylate groups.

The polycarboxylate builder can generally be added to the composition in the acid form, but can also be added in the form of a neutralized salt. When utilized in salt form, alkali metal salts such as the sodium, potassium and lithium salts, particularly the sodium or ammonium and substituted ammonium salts (eg, alkanol ammonium salts) are preferred.

Polycarboxylate builders include various categories of useful substances. One important category of polycarboxylate builders includes ether polycarboxylates. A number of ether polycarboxylates for use as detergency builders have been disclosed.
Examples of useful ether polycarboxylates include 19
Oxydisuccinates as disclosed in Berg U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,287 issued Apr. 7, 1964 and Lamberke et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,830 issued Jan. 18, 1972 (both). And incorporated herein as a reference).

Specific types of ether polycarboxylates useful as builders in the present invention include those of the general formula CH (A) (COOX) -CH (COOX) -O-CH (COOX) -CH (COOX) (B) , A is H or OH; B is H or -O-CH
(COOX) a -CH ₂ (COOX), X can be mentioned those having a a a) H or a salt-forming cation. For example, in the above general formula, A
If and B are both H, the compound is oxydisuccinic acid and its water-soluble salts. A is OH, B is H
If is, the compound is tartrate monosuccinic acid (TMS) and its water-soluble salts. A is H, B is -O
If a _{-CH (COOX) -CH 2 (COOX} ), the compound,
Tartrate disuccinic acid (TDS) and its water-soluble salts. Mixtures of these builders are particularly preferred for use herein. TMS to TDS weight ratio of about 97: 3 to about 20:80
Particularly preferred is a mixture of TMS and TDS. These builders are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,071, issued May 5, 1987 to Bush et al.

Suitable ether polycarboxylates include cyclic compounds, especially alicyclic compounds, for example, U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,923,679, 3,835,163, 4,158,
No. 635, No. 4,120,874 and No. 4,102,903
And those described in the above specification (all of which are incorporated herein by reference).

Other useful detergency builders include those of the structure HO- [C (R) (COOM) -C (R) (COOM) -O] _n
-H wherein M is hydrogen or a cation (the resulting salt is water-soluble), preferably an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, and n is from about 2 to about 15 (preferably, n is About 2 to about 10, more preferably n averages about 2 to about 4), each R being the same or different, hydrogen, C
Selected from _1-4 alkyl or C _1-4 substituted alkyl (preferably, R is hydrogen)].

As other ether polycarboxylates, a copolymer of maleic anhydride and ethylene or vinyl methyl ether, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene-2,4,6-
Trisulfonic acid, and carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid.

Examples of the organic polycarboxylate builder include polyacetates such as various alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, and substituted ammonium salts of polyacetic acid. Examples of polyacetic acid builder salts are the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid.

Also included are polycarboxylates such as melitic acid, succinic acid, polymaleic acid, benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, benzenepentacarboxylic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, and soluble salts thereof.

Citric acid-based builders, such as citric acid and its soluble salts, are polycarboxylate builders of particular importance to heavy duty liquid detergent formulations, but can also be used in particulate compositions. Suitable salts include metal salts, for example, sodium, lithium and potassium salts, and ammonium and substituted ammonium salts.

Another carboxylate builder, March 1973
Carboxylated carbohydrates disclosed in Deal U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,322 issued on Nov. 28, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Also, U.S. Pat.
3,3-Dicarboxy-4-oxa-1,6-hexanediate and related compounds disclosed in US Pat. No. 566,984 (hereby incorporated by reference) are suitable in the detergent compositions of the present invention. Useful succinic acid builders include C ₅ -C ₂₀ alkyl succinic acids and salts thereof. A particularly preferred compound of this type is dodecenyl succinic acid.
Alkyl succinic acids typically have the general formula R-CH (CO
OH) CH ₂ (COOH), ie a derivative of succinic acid. Wherein R is a hydrocarbon, such as C ₁₀ -C ₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl, preferably C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ , or R is a hydroxyl, sulfo, sulfoxy or sulfone substituent as described in said patent. May be replaced).

The succinate builder is preferably used in the form of a water-soluble salt, including sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts.

Specific examples of succinate builders include lauryl succinate, myristyl succinate, palmityl succinate, 2-dodecenyl succinate (preferred), 2-pentadecenyl succinate, and the like. Lauryl succinate is a preferred builder of this group and is described in European Patent Application No. 86200690.5 / 0,200,263 published Nov. 5, 1986.

Examples of useful builders include sodium and potassium carboxymethyloxymalonates, carboxymethyloxysuccinates, cis-cyclohexanehexacarboxylate, cis-cyclopentanetetracarboxylate, water-soluble polyacrylic acid Salts (these polyacrylates having a molecular weight of greater than about 2,000 can also be usefully employed as dispersants), and salts of maleic anhydride and vinyl methyl ether or ethylene copolymers.

Other suitable polycarboxylates are the polyacetal carboxylates disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,226 issued March 13, 1979 to Curtchfield et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference. These polyacetal carboxylates can be produced as described below.
The ester of glyoxylic acid and the polymerization initiator are placed together under polymerization conditions. The resulting polyacetal carboxylate is then attached to chemically stable end groups to stabilize the polyacetal carboxylate against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, convert it to the corresponding salt, Add to the agent.

Polycarboxylate builders are also disclosed in Deal U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,067, issued Mar. 7, 1967, incorporated herein by reference. Examples of such a substance include water-soluble salts of homopolymers and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid, and methylenemalonic acid.

Other Builders In addition to the polycarboxylate builder, the compositions herein can additionally contain auxiliary builders, for example, both organic and inorganic builders. A typical amount of auxiliary builder is about 5% by weight of the polycarboxylate builder
~ 200%.

As inorganic detergent builders, without limitation, silicic acid,
Includes alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of carbonic acid (including bicarbonate and sesquicarbonate), sulfuric acid, and aluminosilicate. Borate builders as well as builders containing borate-forming substances capable of forming borate under wash storage or wash conditions (hereinafter collectively "borate builders") can also be used. Preferably, the non-borate builder is less than about 50 ° C,
In particular, it is used in compositions of the invention intended to be used under washing conditions below about 40 ° C.

Examples of silicate builders are alkali metal silicates,
In particular those having an SiO ₂ : Na ₂ O ratio of 1.6: 1 to 3.2: 1 and layered silicates, for example, US Pat. No. 4,664,839 issued May 12, 1987 to HP Ricke, incorporated herein by reference. And the layered sodium silicate described in 1. above. However, other silicates may also be used, such as magnesium silicate, which can serve as a crispness agent in granular formulations, as a stabilizer for oxygen bleaches, and as a component of a foam control system.

Examples of carbonate builders include sodium carbonate and sodium sesquicarbonate and those disclosed in German Patent Application No. 2,321,001, published Nov. 15, 1973, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Alkaline earth metal and alkali metal carbonates, including mixtures with fine calcium carbonate.

Aluminosilicate builders are particularly useful in the present invention for use with concentrates having a polycarboxylate builder. Aluminosilicate builders are of great importance in most currently marketed heavy duty granular detergent compositions and can be a significant builder component in liquid detergent compositions. As an aluminosilicate builder, the empirical formula M _z (zAlO ₂ .y SiO ₂ ) wherein M is sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium, z is from about 0.5 to about 2;
Is 1), which has a magnesium ion exchange capacity of at least 50 mg equivalent of CaCO ₃ hardness per gram of anhydrous aluminosilicate. Preferred aluminosilicates have the formula Na _z [(AlO ₂ ) _z (SiO ₂ ) _y ] .xH ₂ O, where z and y are integers of at least 6, and the molar ratio of z to y is from 1.0 to about 0.5. Where x is from about 15 to about
Which is an integer of 264).

Useful aluminosilicate ion exchange materials are commercially available. These aluminosilicates can be crystalline or amorphous in structure and can be naturally occurring aluminosilicates or synthetically derived. The production of aluminosilicate ion exchange material is 1976
U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,669 to Krummel et al., Issued Oct. 12, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference. Preferred synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange materials useful herein are known as zeolites and are available under the designations Zeolite A, Zeolite P (B), and Zeolite X. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange material has the formula Na _{12 [(AlO 2) 12 (SiO 2} ) 12 ] · xH ₂ O (wherein, x is from about 20 to about 30, especially about 27 There is). This zeolite is known as zeolite A. Preferably, the aluminosilicate is 0.1 to 10
It has a particle size in the μ range.

It is generally desirable to replace the phosphate and phosphonate builders with polycarboxylates or other builders, although phosphate and phosphonate builders can be added. Thus, if present, they are preferably formulated in only small amounts. Preferably, the phosphate builder makes up less than about 10%, more preferably less than about 5% by weight of the total builder in the composition, and most preferably is essentially absent. Specific examples of polyphosphates include alkali metal tripolyphosphates, sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphates, sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphates, sodium and potassium orthophosphates, and a degree of polymerization of about 6%.
And about 21 sodium polymetaphosphate, and salts of phytic acid.

Examples of phosphonate builder salts are the water-soluble salts of ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid, especially the sodium and potassium salts, the water-soluble salts of methylene diphosphonic acid, such as the trisodium and tripotassium salts and Water-soluble salts of substituted methylene diphosphonic acids, such as trisodium and tripotassium ethylidene, isopropylidenebenzylmethylidene and halomethylidene diphosphonates. Phosphonate builder salts of the foregoing type are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,159,581 and 3,213,030 issued to Deal on December 1, 1964 and October 19, 1965; U.S. Pat. Patent 3,422,021
Issued September 3, 1968 and 1969 to Quinby
No. 3,400,148 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,137, issued Jan. 14, 1998, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

A preferred builder system for the particulate composition comprises a mixture of about 5% to about 50% zeolite (preferably zeolite A) and about 5% to about 50% citrate (preferably sodium citrate), where the% is weight. Based on all builders in the mixture, calculated on a basis).

Other organic builders known in the art can also be used. For example, monocarboxylic acids with long chain hydrocarbyl and their soluble salts can be utilized. These include substances commonly referred to as "soaps". Chain length of C ₁₀ -C ₂₀ are typically utilized. Hydrocarbyls can be saturated or unsaturated.

Detergent Surfactant System In addition to the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide and the polycarboxylate builder, the compositions herein may include one or more surfactants that can be anionic, cationic or nonionic. Contains additional surfactant. Typically, the surfactant system will include one or more anionic and / or non-ionic surfactants in addition to the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide.
The amount of additional detergent surfactant present is typically at least 1%, preferably from about 3 to about 40%, more preferably from about 5 to about 30% by weight of the detergent composition. Anionic surfactants include, for example, the use of anionic sulfate or sulfonate surfactants or mixtures thereof.
Especially intended. Suitable surfactants are described below.

Alkyl Ester Sulfonate Surfactant Examples of the alkyl ester sulfonate surfactant include “The Journal of the American Oil Chemistry Society”, 52 (1975), pp. 323-32.
9 C ₈ -C ₂₀ carboxylic acids sulfonated with gaseous SO ₃ according to (i.e., fatty acids) include linear esters. Suitable starting materials will include natural fatty substances such as those derived from tallow, palm oil and the like.

Alkyl ester sulfonate surfactants particularly preferred for laundry applications have the structural formula Wherein R ³ is C ₈ -C ₂₀ hydrocarbyl, preferably alkyl, or a combination thereof, R ⁴ is C ₁ -C ₆ hydrocarbyl, preferably alkyl, or a combination thereof, and M is an alkyl ester An alkyl ester sulfonate surfactant (which is a cation that forms a water-soluble salt with the sulfonate).
Suitable salt-forming cations include metals such as sodium, potassium and lithium, and substituted or unsubstituted ammonium cations such as methyl-, dimethyl-, trimethyl- and quaternary ammonium cations.
For example, cations derived from tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethylpiperidinium, and alkanolamines such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. Preferably, R ³ is C ₁₀ -C ₁₆ alkyl and R ⁴ is methyl, ethyl or isopropyl. R ³ is C _{14 to} C ₁₆
Methyl ester sulfonates which are alkyl are particularly preferred.

Alkyl sulfate surfactants The alkyl sulfate surfactants here have the formula ROSO ₃ M
Wherein R is preferably C ₁₀ -C ₂₄ hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C ₁₀ -C ₂₀ alkyl component, more preferably C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, and M or H is Cations, such as alkali metal cations (eg, sodium, potassium, lithium), substituted or unsubstituted ammonium cations, such as methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethylammonium and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl Ammonium and dimethylpiperidinium, and cations derived from alkanolamines such as ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, and the like, and mixtures thereof]. Typically, alkyl chains of C ₁₂ -C ₁₆ is lower wash temperatures (e.g., below about 50 ° C.) preferred and C _16-18 alkyl chains are higher wash temperatures (e.g., above about 50 ° C. High temperature).

Alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactant alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants herein, wherein RO (A) _m SO _{3 M} [wherein, R is an unsubstituted C ₁₀ -C ₂₄ alkyl having a C ₁₀ -C ₂₄ alkyl component or hydroxyalkyl group, preferably a C ₁₂ -C ₂₀ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, more preferably C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, a is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than zero, typically About 0.
5 to about 6, more preferably about 0.5 to about 3, wherein M is H or, for example, a metal cation (eg, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.),
Cations which can be ammonium or substituted ammonium cations]. Alkyl ethoxylated sulfates as well as alkyl propoxylated sulfates are contemplated herein. Particular examples of substituted ammonium cations include methyl-, dimethyl-, trimethyl-ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethylpiperidinium and alkanolamines, such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, And cations derived from triethanolamine, and mixtures thereof. Exemplary surfactants, C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0)
Sulfates, C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfate, C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate, and C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate (in the formula, M Conveniently selected from sodium and potassium).

Other Anionic Surfactants Other anionic surfactants useful for cleaning purposes can also be incorporated into the compositions herein. These include soap salts (including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts, such as monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine salts), C ₉ -C ₂₀ linear. Pyrolysis of alkyl benzene sulfonates, C ₈ -C ₂₂ primary or secondary alkane sulfonates, C ₈ -C ₂₄ olefin sulfonates, e.g., alkaline earth metal citrates as described in GB 1,082,179 Sulfonated polycarboxylic acids, alkyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates produced by sulfonation of the product, Sechioneto, for example, acyl isethionates, N- acyl taurates, fatty acid amides of methyl tauride, alkyl succinamates and sulfosuccinates, sulfosulfuron monoesters of succinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C ₁₂ -C
₁₈ monoesters), sulfosulfuron diester succinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C ₆ -C ₁₄ diesters), N- acyl sarcosinates, alkyl polysaccharides sulfate,
For example, sulfates of alkyl polyglycosides (nonionic nonsulfated compounds described below), branched primary alkyl sulfates, and alkyl polyethoxy carboxylates such formula _{RO (CH 2 CH 2 O)} k -CH 2 COO ^- M ⁺ , wherein R is C ₈ -C ₂₂ alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10, and M is a soluble salt-forming cation, and water esterified with isethionic acid. Fatty acids neutralized with sodium oxide are mentioned. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids present in or derived from tall oil are also suitable. Still other examples are described in "Surfactants and Detergents" (Volumes I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Birch). Various such surfactants are generally described in U.S. Pat.No. 3,929,678 issued Dec. 30, 1975 to Rowlin et al.
It is also disclosed in column 9, line 23 (incorporated herein by reference).

Nonionic Detergent Surfactants Suitable nonionic detergent surfactants are generally those described in 1975
U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Rowlin et al., Issued on Jan. 30, at column 13, line 14 to column 16, line 6 (hereby incorporated by reference). Illustrative, non-limiting classes of useful nonionic surfactants are described below.

1. Polyethylene oxide condensate, polypropylene oxide condensate and polybutylene oxide condensate of alkylphenol. Generally, polyethylene oxide condensates are preferred. These compounds include condensates of alkylphenols with alkylphenols having alkyl groups having from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms in either a straight or branched configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the ethylene oxide is present in an amount equal to about 5 to about 25 moles per mole of alkylphenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Igepal ^™ CO-, commercially available from GAF Corporation.
630, Triton ^™ X-45, X-114, marketed by Rohm & End Haas Company
X-100 and X-102. These surfactants are usually alkylphenol alkoxylates,
For example, it is referred to as alkylphenol ethoxylate.

2. Condensates of aliphatic alcohols with about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally has from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. About 10 to about carbon atoms
Condensates of alcohols having 20 alkyl groups with about 2 to about 18 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol are particularly preferred. Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Tergitol ^™ sold by Union Carbide Corporation.
15-S-9 (condensate of C ₁₁ -C ₁₅ linear secondary alcohol with about 9 moles of ethylene oxide), Tergitol ^™ 24-L
-6NMW (C ₁₂ ~C ₁₄ condensation product of primary alcohols with ethylene oxide 6 moles with a narrow molecular weight distribution); Shell
Neodol marketed by Chemical Company _{^{(Neodol TM) 45-9 (C 14}} ~C 15 linear alcohol condensation products of ethylene oxide 9 mole), Neodol ^TM 23-6.
5 (a C ₁₂ -C ₁₃ linear alcohols, condensates of ethylene oxide 6.5 moles), Neodol ^TM 45-7 (C ₁₄ ~C ₁₅ linear alcohols with ethylene oxide 7 condensates of moles), Neodol ^TM 45-4 (C ₁₄ -C ₁₅ linear alcohol condensation products of ethylene oxide 4 mol), and it kilometers marketed by the Procter end gamble Company _{^{(Kyro TM) EOB (C 13}} ~C 15 alcohol and ethylene oxide 9 Condensate with a mole). These surfactants are often referred to as alkyl ethoxylates.

3. Condensate of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by condensation of propylene oxide and propylene glycol. The hydrophobic portion of these compounds preferably has a molecular weight of about 1500 to about 1800 and is water-insoluble. The addition of a polyoxyethylene moiety to this hydrophobic moiety tends to increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole, and the liquid properties of the product are such that the polyoxyethylene content is about 50% (about 40%) of the total weight of the condensate. (Corresponding to condensation with up to moles of ethylene oxide). Examples of compounds of this type include Pluronic (Pl
uronic ^™ ) surfactants.

4. Condensate of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide with ethylenediamine. The hydrophobic portion of these products consists of the reaction product of ethylene diamine with an excess of propylene oxide and generally has a molecular weight of about 2500 to about 3000. The hydrophobic moiety condenses with ethylene oxide to the extent that the condensate contains about 40 to about 80% by weight polyoxyethylene and has a molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 11,000. Examples of this type of nonionic surfactant include Tetronic (Tetron) marketed by BASF.
ic ^™ ) compounds.

5. Semi-polar nonionic surfactants are a special category of nonionic surfactants, such as those with about 10 carbon atoms.
A water-soluble amine oxide containing from 1 to about 18 alkyl moieties and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl groups having from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; alkyl moieties having from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms A water-soluble phosphine oxide containing one and two moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl groups of about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and one alkyl moiety of about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and carbon number Water-soluble sulfoxides containing one moiety selected from the group consisting of about 1 to about 3 alkyl and hydroxyalkyl moieties.

As a semipolar nonionic detergent surfactant, the formula Wherein R ³ is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkylphenyl group having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms or a mixture thereof; R ⁴ is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group having from about 2 to about 3 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof. A mixture; x
Is from 0 to about 3; each R ⁵ is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms or a polyethylene oxide group containing about 1 to about 3 ethylene oxide groups. Agents. R ⁵ groups can, for example, can be bonded together to form a ring structure through an oxygen or nitrogen atom.

These amine oxide surfactants include, in particular, C
₁₀ -C ₁₈ alkyl dimethyl amine oxides and C ₈ -C ₁₂
Alkoxyethyl dihydroxyoxyethylamine oxide is exemplified.

6. Hydrophobic groups of about 6 to about 30, preferably about 10 to about 16, carbon atoms and about 1.3 to about 10, preferably about 1.3 to about 3, most preferably about 1.3 to about 2.7 sugar units. Containing polysaccharides (eg, polyglycosides) with hydrophilic groups, January 1986
Alkyl polysaccharides disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,647 to Lenado, issued on the 21st. Any reducing sugar having 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, for example, glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can be used in place of the glucosyl moieties (optionally, the hydrophobic group can be attached at the 2-, 3-, 4-, etc. To give glucose or galactose as opposed to glucoside or galactoside). The intersugar linkage can be, for example, between position 1 of the additional sugar unit and positions 2, 3, 4, and / or 6 on the previous sugar unit.

In some cases, although less desirable, there may be a polyalkylene oxide chain linking the hydrophobic and polysaccharide moieties. The preferred alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide. Typical hydrophobic groups include those having about 8 to about
18, preferably from about 10 to about 16 saturated or unsaturated branched or unbranched alkyl groups. Preferably, the alkyl group is a linear saturated alkyl group. The alkyl group can contain up to about 3 hydroxy groups and / or the polyalkylene oxide chain can contain up to about 10, preferably less than 5, alkylene oxide moieties. Suitable alkyl polysaccharides are octyl, nonyldecyl, undecyldodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, and octadecyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-,
And hexaglucoside, galactoside, lactoside,
Glucose, fructoside, fructose and / or galactose. Suitable mixtures include coconut alkyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaglucoside and tallowalkyl tetra-, penta-,
And hexaglucoside.

Preferred alkyl polyglycosides are those wherein ^{_{R 2 O (C n H 2n}} O) t ( glycosyl) _{x (formula,} R ² is selected alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyl alkyl phenyl, and mixtures thereof And the alkyl group has about 10 to about 18, preferably about 12 to about 14, carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3, preferably 2, and t is 0 to about 1
0, preferably 0; x is about 1.3 to about 10, preferably about
1.3 to about 3, most preferably about 1.3 to about 2.7). Glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose. To produce these compounds, first, an alcohol or alkyl polyethoxy alcohol is produced,
Then reacting with glucose or a glucose source,
Produces glucoside (linked at position 1). Additional glycosyl units can then be linked between their 1-position and the 2-, 3-, 4- and / or 6-position of the previous glycosyl unit, preferably mainly 2.

7. Fatty acid amide surfactant having the following formula [Wherein, R ⁶ has about 7 to about 21 carbon atoms (preferably about 9 to about 1 carbon atoms).
7) wherein each R ⁷ is hydrogen, C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₄ hydroxyalkyl, and — (C ₂ H ₄ O) _x H
] Preferred amides selected from the group consisting of (wherein, x is from about 1 to about 3), C ₈ -C ₂₀ ammonia amides, monoethanolamides, diethanolamides, and isopropanol amides.

In general, preferred nonionic compounds for use in addition to polyhydroxyfatty acid amides include alkyl ethoxylates, alkyl polyglycosides, and alkyl phenol ethoxylates. These can be formulated in addition to the anionic surfactant present in the composition.

Cationic surfactants Cationic detergent surfactants can also be included in the detergent compositions of the present invention. Examples of the cationic surfactant include an ammonium surfactant such as an alkyldimethylammonium halide and a compound represented by the formula [R ² (OR ³ ) _y ] [R ⁴ (OR ³ ) _y ] ₂ R ⁵ N ⁺ X ⁻ [formula Wherein R ² is an alkyl or alkylbenzyl group having about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain;
R ³ is _{-CH 2 CH 2 -, - CH} 2 CH (CH 3) -, - CH 2 CH (CH 2 OH)
—, —CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ — and mixtures thereof; each R ⁴ is a C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₄ hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, linking two R ⁴ groups A ring structure formed by: —CH ₂ CHOH—CHOHCOR ⁶ —CHOHCH ₂ OH (where R ⁶ is hexose or a hexose polymer having a molecular weight of less than about 1000) and hydrogen (when y is not 0)
Selected from the group consisting of: the same as R ⁵ and R ⁴ or an alkyl chain, wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R ² + R ⁵ is about 18 or less; The sum of the values is from 0 to about 15; and X is a compatible anion.

Other cationic surfactants useful here are also available from October 1980
No. 4,228,044, issued May 14, issued to Cambrai, incorporated herein by reference.

Other Surfactants Amphoteric surfactants can be included in the detergent compositions herein.
These surfactants are aliphatic derivatives of secondary or tertiary amines in which the aliphatic groups can be straight or branched, or aliphatic derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines. It can be widely described as a derivative. One of the aliphatic substituents has at least 8 carbon atoms, typically from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, and at least one has an anionic water solubilizing group;
For example, it contains carboxy, sulfonate and sulfate. For examples of amphoteric surfactants, see December 30, 1975.
See U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678 to Rollin et al., Column 19, lines 18-35, incorporated by reference herein.

Zwitterionic surfactants can also be incorporated into the detergent compositions herein.
These surfactants include derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. Can be widely described. For examples of amphoteric surfactants, see U.S. Pat.No. 3,929,678 to Laurin et al.
See lines-column 22, line 48 (incorporated herein as a reference).

Amphoteric and amphoteric surfactants generally comprise 1
Used in combination with one or more anionic and / or nonionic surfactants.

Enzymes Detergent enzymes can be incorporated into detergent formulations for a variety of purposes, including, for example, removal of protein-based stains, carbohydrate-based stains, or triglyceride-based stains and prevention of escape dye transfer. Enzymes to be included include proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases, and peroxidases, and mixtures thereof. Other enzymes may be additionally incorporated. They may have any suitable origin, for example, plant, animal, bacterial, fungal and yeast origin. However, their choice depends on several factors, such as pH activity and / or stability optima, thermal stability,
Governed by stability to active detergents, builders and the like. In this regard, bacterial or fungal enzymes such as bacterial amylase and protease, and fungal cellulase are preferred.

Suitable examples of proteases are Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus
It is a subtilisin obtained from a specific strain of Licheniforms. Another suitable protease is obtained from a strain of Bacillus that has maximum activity over a pH range of 8 to 12, developed by Novo Industries A / S and sold under the trade name Esperase. The preparation of this and similar enzymes is described in Novo GB 1,243,784. A protein as commercial proteolytic enzymes suitable for removing stains based the trade names Alcalase by Novo Industries A / S (Denmark) (ALCALASE ^TM) and Savinase (SAVINASE ^TM)
And those sold under the trade name MAXATASE ^™ by International Bio-Synthetics, Inc. (Netherlands).

Enzymes designated herein as Protease A and Protease B are of particular interest in the category of proteolytic enzymes for liquid detergent compositions. Protease A and its preparation are described in European Patent Application No. 130,756 published Jan. 9, 1985.
The description is incorporated herein by reference (incorporated herein by reference). Protease B is a proteolytic enzyme that differs from protease A in that it has leucine instead of tyrosine at position 217 in the amino acid sequence. Protease B contains 19
It is described in European Patent Application No. 87303761.8 filed Apr. 28, 1987, which is incorporated herein by reference. Also, the method for producing Protease B is disclosed in European Patent Application No. 130,756, Bot et al., Published Jan. 9, 1985, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Amylases include, for example, α-amylases obtained from a special strain of Bacillus licheniformus, described in more detail in GB 1,296,839 (Novo) previously incorporated herein by reference. The amylolytic proteins, e.g., International Bio - Synthetics Inc. made Rapidaze (RAPIDASE ^TM), and Novo Industries Ltd. of Termamyl (TERMAMYL ^TM) can be mentioned.

Cellulases that can be used in the present invention include both bacterial and fungal cellulases. Preferably, they will have a pH optimum of 5 to 9.5. Suitable cellulases are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,435,307, issued March 6, 1984 to Barvesgoad et al., Which discloses a fungal cellulase produced from Humicola insolens, incorporated herein by reference. It has been disclosed. Suitable cellulases are also described in GB 2.075.128, GB 2.095.2.
No. 75 and DE-OS 2.247.832.

Examples of such cellulases include Humicola insolens [Humicola grisea bal thermo idea (Hu
micola grisea var. thermoidea)], in particular, a cellulase produced by a Humicola strain DSM1800, a cellulase produced by a fungus of Bacillus N belonging to the genus Aeromonas or a cellulase 212-producing fungus, and a seawater mollusk [Drabella auricular solander] (Dolabella Auricula Solander)] from the hepatopancreas.

A lipase enzyme suitable for detergent use is disclosed in British Patent No.
No. 1,372,034 (herein incorporated by reference) as disclosed in Pseudomonas st.
utzeri) produced by microorganisms of the Pseudomonas group, such as ATCC 19.154. Suitable lipases include the microorganism Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pseu
domonas Fluorescens) which show a positive immune cross-reactivity with antibodies to lipase produced by IAM1057. This lipase and its purification method are described in Japanese Patent Application No. 53-20487 published on Feb. 24, 1978 for the convenience of the public. This lipase is available from Amano Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan under the trade name Lipase P "Amano" (hereinafter referred to as "Amano-P"). Such a lipase according to the present invention can be used as a standard well-known immunodiffusion method for octalony (Acta. Med. Sca).
n., 133, 76-79 (1950)) should be used to demonstrate positive immune cross-reactivity with Amano-P antibodies. Methods for these lipases and their immune cross-reactivity with Amano-P are also described in Tom et al., U.S. Pat.
No. 7,291, incorporated herein by reference. Typical examples thereof are Amano-P lipase, lipase ex Pseudomonas fragi FERM P1339 (available under the trade name Amano-B), lipase ex Pseudomonas nitrore
ducens var.lipolyticum FERM P1338 (trade name Amano-
Available at CES), Lipase ex Chromobacter viscosu
m, for example, Chromobacter viscosum var.commercially available from Toyo Joeso Company of Takata, Japan.
lipolyticum NRRLB3673; and US, Biochemical Corporation in the United States and Disoint
Yet another Chromobacter viscosum lipase from the company, and the lipase ex Pseudomonas gladioli.

The peroxidase enzyme is used in combination with an oxygen source, for example, percarbonate, perborate, persulfate, hydrogen peroxide and the like. They are used in "solution bleaching", i.e. to prevent the transfer of dyes or pigments removed from a substrate during a washing operation to another substrate in the washing liquid. Peroxidase enzymes are known in the art and include, for example, horseradish peroxidase, ligninase, and haloperoxidase, such as chloroperoxidase and bromoperoxidase. Peroxidase-containing detergent compositions are described, for example, in PCT International Application WO 89/099 by O. Kirk, assigned to Novo Industries A / S, published October 19, 1989.
No. 813, incorporated herein by reference.

A wide range of enzymatic substances and means of incorporation into synthetic detergent granules are also disclosed in McCarty et al., US Pat.
No. 3,553,139, which is incorporated herein by reference. Enzymes are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,457 issued to Place et al., Jul. 18, 1978, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,219 issued to Hughes Mar. 26, 1985, both incorporated herein by reference. ). Enzyme substances useful in liquid detergent formulations and methods of incorporation into such formulations are disclosed in Hora et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,868, issued Apr. 14, 1981, incorporated herein by reference. .

Enzymes are usually up to about 5 mg of active enzyme per gram of composition,
More typically, it is incorporated in an amount sufficient to provide from about 0.05 mg to about 3 mg.

In the case of granular detergents, the enzyme is preferably coated or prilled with an additive inert to the enzyme to minimize dust formation and improve storage stability. Techniques for accomplishing this are well known in the art. In liquid formulations, an enzyme stable system is preferably utilized. Enzyme stabilization techniques for aqueous detergent compositions are well known in the art. For example, one enzyme stabilization technique in aqueous solution involves the use of free calcium ions from sources such as calcium acetate, calcium formate, calcium propionate, and the like. Calcium ions can be used in combination with short-chain carboxylate, preferably formate. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,318,818, issued March 9, 1982 to Retton et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference. It has also been proposed to use polyols such as glycerol and sorbitol. Alkoxy-alcohols, dialkyl glycoethers, mixtures of polyhydric alcohols with polyfunctional aliphatic amines (e.g. alkanolamines such as diethanolamine, triethanolamine, diisopropanolamine), and boric acid or alkali metal borates. Enzyme stabilization techniques are additionally disclosed in Horn et al., US Pat. No. 4,261,868, issued Apr. 14, 1981, and Gedge et al., US Pat. No. 3,600,319, issued Aug. 17, 1971 (both in US Pat. And published and exemplified in Venezuean European Patent Application Publication No. 0 199 405 and Application No. 86200586.5 published October 29, 1986.
Stabilizers that are not boric acid and borates are preferred. Also, enzyme stable systems are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,261,868, 3,600,319 and 3,519,570.

Bleaching Compounds-Bleaching Agents and Bleaching Activators The detergent compositions herein may contain bleaching agents or bleaching compositions containing a bleaching agent and one or more bleaching activators. When present, the bleaching compound typically comprises from about 1% to about 20% of the detergent composition, more typically from about 1% to about 20%.
% Will be present. Generally, the bleaching compound is an optional ingredient in non-liquid formulations, such as granular detergents. If present, the amount of bleach activator will typically be from about 0.1% to about 60% of the bleaching composition, more typically from about 0.5% to about 40%.
%Will.

The bleach used herein can be any bleach useful in detergent compositions for fabric cleaning, hard surface cleaning, or other now known or known cleaning purposes. These include oxygen bleaches as well as other bleaches. Less than about 50 ° C, especially about 40 ° C
For less washing conditions, the composition preferably does not contain borates or substances capable of forming borates in situ under detergent storage or washing conditions (ie, borate-forming substances). Thus, under these conditions, it is preferred that a non-borate, non-borate forming bleach is used. Preferably, the detergents to be used at these temperatures are substantially free of borate and borate producing substances. As used herein, "substantially free of borate and borate-forming substances" means that the composition contains no more than about 2%, preferably no more than 1% by weight of borate-containing and borate-forming substances,
More preferably it would mean containing 0%.

One category of bleaches that can be used includes percarboxylic acid bleaches and their salts. Preferred examples of this type of bleach include magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate, magnesium salt of m-chloroperbenzoic acid,
4-nonylamino-4-oxoperoxybutyric acid and diperoxidedecanedioic acid. Such bleaches are disclosed in Hartman, U.S. Pat.
No. 483,781, U.S. Patent Application No. 740,446 to Barnes et al. Filed on Jun. 3, 1985, European Patent Application No. 0,133,354 to Banks et al.
U.S. Patent No. 4,412,934 issued to Chung et al. On Nov. 1, 1991, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Is disclosed. Highly preferred bleaches include US Pat. No. 4,634,551 issued Jan. 6, 1987 to Vans et al.
Also mentioned are 6-nonyl-amino-6-oxoperoxycaproic acid described in the specification (herein incorporated by reference).

Another category of bleaches that can be used includes halogen bleaches. Examples of hypohalite bleaches include, for example, trichloroisocyanuric acid and sodium dichloroisocyanurate and potassium dichloroisocyanurate and N-chloro and N-bromoalkanesulfonamides. Such materials are usually
It is added at 0.5 to 10% by weight, preferably 1 to 5% by weight.

Peroxygen bleaches other than perboron compounds can also be used.
Suitable peroxygen bleaching compounds include sodium carbonate hydrogen peroxide, sodium pyrophosphate hydrogen peroxide, urea hydrogen peroxide, and sodium peroxide.

The peroxygen bleach is preferably combined with a bleach activator, which results in in-situ formation in an aqueous solution of the peroxyacid corresponding to the bleach activator (ie, during the washing process).

Preferred bleaching activators incorporated in the compositions of the present invention have the general formula Wherein R is an alkyl group having about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms and the longest linear alkyl chain extending from and including the carbonyl carbon has about 6 to about 10 carbon atoms. , L is a leaving group, the conjugate acid pK _a about 4
(Having about 13). These bleach activators were supplied to Mao et al. In April 1990.
It is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,854, issued on Dec. 10, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,934, hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Bleaches other than oxygen bleaches are known in the art and can be used herein. One type of non-oxygen bleach of particular interest includes light activated bleach, such as sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine and / or aluminum phthalocyanine. These substances can be deposited on the substrate during the cleaning process. Upon irradiation with light in the presence of oxygen by hanging the cloth to dry in sunlight, the sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine is activated and thus the substrate is bleached. Preferred zinc phthalocyanine and light activated bleaching methods are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,718, issued Jul. 5, 1977, to Holcombe et al., Incorporated herein by reference. Typically, the detergent composition comprises
About 0.025 to about 1.25% by weight of sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine
Will be contained.

Polymeric Soil Release Agent Any polymeric soil release agent known to those skilled in the art can be used in the practice of the present invention. The polymeric soil release agent adheres to the hydrophobic fibers with hydrophilic segments to hydrophilize the surface of the hydrophobic fibers, such as polyester, nylon, etc., and remains adhered throughout the washing and rinsing cycles, thus And a hydrophobic segment to serve as an anchor for the hydrophilic segment. This may allow stains that occur after treatment with the soil release agent to be more easily cleaned up in a later cleaning procedure.

It would be beneficial to utilize a polymeric soil release agent in any of the detergent compositions herein, especially in laundry or other applications where removal of grease / oil from hydrophobic surfaces is required. However, the presence of polyhydroxyfatty acid amides in detergent compositions that also contain anionic surfactants can enhance the performance of many of the more commonly utilized types of polymeric soil release agents. Anionic surfactants interfere with the ability of certain soil release agents to adhere and adhere on hydrophobic surfaces. These polymeric soil release agents have nonionic hydrophilic or hydrophobic segments that are anionic surfactant interacting.

Improved polymeric soil release agent performance can be obtained by the use of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, the compositions herein include anionic surfactant systems, anionic surfactant interactive soil release agents and soil release agent enhancements Containing an amount of polyhydroxyfatty acid amide (PFA) [(I) the anionic surfactant interaction between the soil release agent of the detergent composition and the anionic surfactant system comprises (A) A "control" run measuring the adhesion of a soil release agent (SRA) of a detergent composition in an aqueous solution in the absence of detergent components and (B) the same type and amount of anionic surfactant used in the detergent composition Hydrophobic fibers (e.g., polyester) in an aqueous solution during the "SRA / anionic surfactant" test where the agent system is combined with the SRA in an aqueous solution at the same weight ratio of the SRA to the anionic surfactant system of the detergent composition ) On the soil release agent ( SRA) can be shown by comparison of the amount of deposition, whereby the reduced deposition of (B) compared to (A) indicates an anionic surfactant interaction; and (II) the detergent composition Whether the soil release agent-enhancing amount of polyhydroxyfatty acid amide is contained is determined by comparing the (B) SRA adhesion of the SRA / anionic surfactant test and (C) the same type and amount of the polyhydroxyfatty acid amide of the detergent composition. Soil release agent corresponding to the SRA / anionic surfactant test run and combined with the anionic surfactant system can be determined by comparison with the soil release agent deposition in the `` SRA / anionic surfactant / PFA test run '' The improved adhesion of the soil release agent in test run (C) compared to test run (B) thereby indicates that soil release agent enhancing amounts of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide are present]. For the purposes herein, the tests herein are carried out at an anionic surfactant concentration in an aqueous solution higher than the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the anionic surfactant, preferably at an anionic surfactant concentration higher than about 100 ppm. Should. The polymeric soil release agent concentration should be at least 15 ppm. A sample of a polyester fabric should be used for the source of hydrophobic fibers. The same swatch is immersed and stirred in a 35 ° C. aqueous solution for each test run for 12 minutes, then removed and analyzed. The polymeric soil release agent coverage can be measured by radiolabeling the soil release agent prior to treatment and then performing a radiochemical analysis according to techniques known in the art.

Instead of the radiochemical analysis method, the soil release agent deposition is
According to techniques well known in the art, the test run (ie, test run A,
B and C) or can be measured. Reduced UV absorbance in test solution after removal of hydrophobic fiber material was increased
Corresponds to SRA adhesion. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, UV analysis is based on the types and amounts of substances that cause excessive UV absorbance interference, such as large amounts of surfactants with aromatic groups (eg, alkylbenzene sulfonates, etc.).
Should not be used for test solutions containing

Thus, a "soil release agent-enhancing amount" of polyhydroxyfatty acid amide is defined as the amount of such surfactant, or increased grease / grease, which will enhance the adhesion of the soil release agent onto the hydrophobic fibers as described above. Oil cleaning performance refers to the amount that can be obtained in the subsequent cleaning operation of a fabric that has been washed with the detergent composition herein.

The amount of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide required to enhance adhesion will depend on the anionic surfactant selected, the amount of anionic surfactant, the particular soil release agent selected, and the particular polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. Will change. Generally, the composition will have a polymeric soil release agent of about 0.01 to
About 10% by weight, typically about 0.1 to about 5% by weight, and about 4 to about 50% by weight of the anionic surfactant, more typically about 5% by weight.
About 30% by weight. Although not required to be limiting, such compositions should generally contain at least 1%, preferably at least about 3%, by weight of the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide.

Polymeric soil release agents whose performance is enhanced by polyhydroxy fatty acid amides in the presence of anionic surfactants include (a) essentially (i) polyoxyethylene segments having a degree of polymerization of at least 2 or (ii) oxypropylene Or a polyoxypropylene segment having a degree of polymerization of 2 to 10 (the hydrophilic segment does not include oxypropylene unless attached at each end to an adjacent moiety by an ether linkage) or (iii) oxyethylene and 1 to about 30 A mixture of oxyalkylene units consisting of two oxypropylene units, the mixture being sufficient for the hydrophilic component to increase the hydrophilicity of the normal polyester synthetic fiber surface upon deposition of the soil release agent on the normal polyester synthetic fiber surface Contains a sufficient amount of oxyethylene units to have And, the hydrophilic segments are preferably oxyethylene units at least 25%, in the case of such a component having a more preferably in particular about 20 to 30 oxypropylene units oxyethylene units of at least about 50
% Of at least one nonionic hydrophilic component; or (b) (i) a C ₃ oxyalkylene terephthalate segment (oxyethylene terephthalate versus C ₃ oxyalkylene if the hydrophobic component also comprises oxyethylene terephthalate). the ratio of terephthalate units is about 2: 1 or is _{less), (ii) C 4 ~C} 6 alkylene or oxy C ₄ -C ₆ alkylene segments, or mixtures thereof,
(Iii) degree of polymerization of poly (vinyl ester) having at least two segments, preferably poly (vinyl acetate), or (iv) C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl ether or C ₄ hydroxyalkyl ether substituents, or mixtures thereof (the substituent groups present and such cellulose derivatives in the form of C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl ether or C ₄ hydroxyalkyl ether cellulose derivatives, or mixtures thereof are amphiphilic, whereby a sufficient amount of C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl ether And / or has a C ₄ hydroxyalkyl ether unit, which adheres to the surface of a conventional polyester synthetic fiber and retains a sufficient amount of hydroxyl, and once adhered to such a surface of the conventional synthetic fiber, the fiber surface becomes hydrophilic. Increase)
One or more hydrophobic components consisting of, or (a) and (b)
And a soil release agent having a combination with

Typically, standards higher than 200 can be used,
(A) The polyoxyethylene segment of (i) has a degree of polymerization of 2 to about 200, preferably 3 to about 150, and more preferably 6 to about 150.
Will have about 100. Preferred examples of oxy C ₄ -C ₆ alkylene hydrophobic segments, without limitation, Gosse link 1988 January 26 issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,580 as disclosed in (incorporated by reference herein) MO ₃ S
(CH ₂ ) _n OCH ₂ CH ₂ O— (where M is sodium and n
Is an integer of 4 to 6).

Polymeric soil release agents useful in the present invention include cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxyether cellulose polymers, and copolymer blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene oxide terephthalate or polypropylene oxide terephthalate.

Cellulosic derivatives that function as soil release agents are commercially available, and examples thereof Methocel (Methocel ^R)
(Dow) and the like.

Cellulosic soil release agents for use herein, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, may be mentioned those selected from C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl and C ₄ group consisting of hydroxy alkyl celluloses such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Various cellulose derivatives useful as soil release polymers are described in U.S. Pat.
No. 000,093, incorporated herein by reference.

Soil release agents characterized by poly (vinyl ester) hydrophobic segments include poly (vinyl esters), for example, graft copolymers of C ₁ -C ₆ vinyl esters, preferably polyalkylene oxides such as polyethylene oxide backbones Poly (vinyl acetate) grafted on the main chain is mentioned. Such materials are known in the art and are described in European Patent Application 0 219 048 published April 22, 1987 by Kood et al. Suitable commercial soil release agents of this type include Sokalan ^™ .
Substances such as Sokaran ^™ HP-22 available from BASF (West Germany).

One type of preferred soil release agent is a copolymer having random blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide (PEO) terephthalate. More specifically, these polymers have a molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to PEO terephthalate units of from about 25:75 to about 3
It consists of a 5:65 repeating unit of ethylene terephthalate and PEO terephthalate, said PEO terephthalate unit containing polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight of about 300 to about 2000. The molecular weight of this polymeric soil release agent is about 25,000
In the range of ~ 55,000. See Haze, U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,230, issued May 25, 1976, incorporated herein by reference. See also U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,929 to Busder, issued Jul. 8, 1975, which discloses a similar copolymer, incorporated by reference.

Another preferred polymeric soil release agent has an average molecular weight of 300-300.
A polyester having repeating units of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10 to 15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units together with 90 to 80% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units derived from 5,000 polyoxyethylene glycols; The molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units is from 2: 1 to 6: 1. Examples of this polymer is commercially available materials Zerukon (Zelcon ^R) 5126 (DuPont) and Milly's (Milease ^R) T (manufactured by ICI) and the like. These polymers and their preparation are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,857 issued Oct. 27, 1987 to Gosselink, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Another preferred polymeric soil release agent is the sulfonation product of a substantially linear ester oligomer consisting of an oligomeric ester backbone of terephthaloyl and oxyalkyleneoxy repeat units and a terminal moiety covalently bonded to the backbone (as described above. The release agent is derived from allyl alcohol ethoxylate, dimethyl terephthalate, and 1,2-propylene diol, and after sulfonation, the terminal portion of each oligomer has an average of about 1 to about 4 sulfonate groups in total). These soil release agents are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,451, issued Nov. 6, 1990 to JJ Schebel and EP Gosselink, and U.S. Pat. , Incorporated by reference as a reference.

Other suitable polymeric soil release agents include ethyl- or methyl-blocked 1,2-propylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene terephthalate polyesters of U.S. Patent No. 4,711,730 issued December 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,580, issued Jan. 26, 1988 to Gosselink et al., Wherein the anionic endblocking oligomeric ester comprises a sulfo-polyethoxy group derived from polyethylene glycol (PEG); _{X- (OCH 2 CH 2) n} - ( wherein, n is 12 to about 43, X is C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl or, preferably, methyl) 19 Gosse link having polyethoxy end blockade
No. 4,702,857 issued Oct. 27, 1987, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Additional polymeric soil release agents include, for example, U.S. Patent No.
No. 4,877,896, which is incorporated herein by reference. Terephthalate esters contain asymmetrically substituted oxy-1,2-alkyleneoxy units. Material soil release polymers of U.S. Patent No. 4,877,896 is to have a C ₃ oxyalkylene terephthalate (propylene terephthalate) repeat units within the scope of the hydrophobic component of the polyoxyethylene hydrophilic component or wherein (b) (i) Is mentioned. Of particular benefit from the incorporation of the polyhydroxy fatty acid amides herein in the presence of an anionic surfactant are polymeric soil release agents characterized by one or both of these criteria.

If utilized, soil release agents generally comprise from about 0.01 to about 10.0% by weight of the detergent compositions of the present invention, typically from about 0.1 to about 0.1%.
It will comprise about 5% by weight, preferably about 0.2 to about 3.0% by weight.

Chelating Agents The detergent compositions of the present invention may also optionally contain one or more iron / manganese chelating agents as builder auxiliary substances. Such chelators can be selected from the group consisting of aminocarboxylates, aminophosphonates, polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelators as defined below, and mixtures thereof. Without wishing to be limited by theory, it is believed that the benefits of these materials are due, in part, to the exceptional ability to remove iron and manganese ions from the wash liquor by the formation of soluble chelates.

Aminocarboxylates useful as optional chelating agents in the compositions of the present invention comprise one or more (preferably at least two) units of substructure. Wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium (eg, ethanolamine) and x is from 1 to about 3, preferably 1. Preferably, these aminocarboxylates do not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups having more than about 6 carbon atoms. Examples of usable amine carboxylates include ethylenediaminetetraacetate, N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate, nitrilotriacetate, ethylenediaminetetrapropionate, triethylenetetraaminehexaacetate, diethylenetriaminepentaacetate and ethanoldiglycine, and alkali metal salts thereof. Ammonium salts, and substituted ammonium salts and mixtures thereof.

Aminophosphonates are also suitable for use as chelating agents in the compositions of the present invention when at least a small amount of total phosphorus is allowed in the detergent composition. Substructure of one or more (preferably at least two) units Wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium and x is from 1 to about 3, preferably 1
Are useful, examples include ethylenediaminetetrakis (methylene phosphonate), nitrilotris (methylene phosphonate) and diethylenetriamine pentakis (methylene phosphonate). Preferably, these aminophosphonates are
It does not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups having more than about 6 carbon atoms. Alkylene groups can be shared by substructures.

Also, polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelators are useful in the present compositions. These substances have the general formula (Wherein at least one R a is SO ₃ H or -COOH) may be a compound or a soluble salt, and mixtures thereof thereof having. May 21, 1974 to Conner
U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,044, issued to Japan, incorporated herein by reference, discloses polyfunctionally substituted aromatic chelating / sequestering agents. A preferred compound of this type in the acid form is dihydroxydisulfobenzene, such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene. Alkaline detergent compositions use these materials as alkali metal salts, ammonium salts or substituted ammonium salts (eg, mono-
Or triethanolamine salt).

If utilized, these chelators are generally
It will comprise from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of the detergent composition of the present invention. More preferably, the chelating agent will make up from about 0.1% to about 3.0% by weight of such compositions.

Clay soil removal / anti-redeposition agent The composition of the present invention can optionally also include a water-soluble ethoxylated amine having clay soil removal and anti-redeposition properties. Particulate detergent compositions containing these compounds typically contain from about 0.01 to about 10 water-soluble ethoxylated amines.
% By weight. Liquid detergent compositions typically contain from about 0.01 to about 5% by weight of a water-soluble ethoxylated amine.
These compounds are preferably selected from the group consisting of:

(1) Ethoxylated monoamine having the formula (XL-)-N- (R ² ) ₂ (2) Or an ethoxylated diamine having (XL-) ₂ -NR ¹ -N- (R ² ) ₂ (3) Ethoxylated polyamines having the general formula (4) An ethoxylated amine polymer having the formula: and (5) a mixture thereof, wherein A ¹ is Or -O- and it is; R is H or C ₁ -C ₄ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl; R ¹ is C ₂ -C ₁₂ alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene, or from 2 to about 20, A C ₂ -C ₃ oxyalkylene moiety having an oxyalkylene unit, provided that no O—N bond is formed; each R ² is a C ₁ -C ₄ or hydroxyalkyl, moiety -LX or two R ² together form a moiety — (CH ₂ ) _r , —A ² — (CH ₂ ) _s — (where A ² is —O
— Or —CH ₂ —, r is 1 or 2, s is 1 or 2,
r + s forms 3 or 4); X is a non-ionic group, anionic group or a mixture thereof; R ³ is a substituted C ₃ -C ₁₂ alkyl group having a substitution site, a hydroxyalkylene group, an alkenylene group, an aryl group group or alkaryl group,; R ⁴ is C ₁ -C ₁₂ alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene,
Or C2- having from ₂ to about 20 oxyalkylene units
A C ₃ oxyalkylene moiety, provided that O-O bond or O-N bonds are not formed; L is a polyoxyalkylene moiety - _{^{[(R 5 O) m (CH}} 2 CH 2 O) n ] - (wherein , R ⁵ is C ₃ -C ₄ alkylene or hydroxyalkylene, m and n are part _{- (CH 2 CH 2 O)} n - is a number such to occupy at least about 50% by weight of said polyoxyalkylene moiety M) is from 0 to about 4 and n is at least about 12 in the case of the monoamine; m is 0 to about 3 in the case of the diamine; n
The R ¹ is C ₂ -C ₃ alkylene, hydroxyalkylene least about 6, R ¹ is when or alkenylene, is C ₂ ~
C ₃ alkylene, at least about 3 when is other than hydroxy alkylene or alkenylene; in the case of the polyamines and amine polymers, m is from 0 to about 10, n is at least about 3; p is 3 8; q is 1
Or 0; t is 1 or 0, where t is q is 1
Is 1 when is; w is 1 or 0; x + y + z
Is at least 2; y + z is at least 2. The most preferred soil release / anti-redeposition agent is ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine. Exemplary ethoxylated amines are further described in Vandermeal U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,898, issued Jul. 1, 1986, which is incorporated herein by reference. Another group of preferred clay soil removal /
The anti-redeposition agent is a cationic compound disclosed in Oh and Gosselink European Patent Application No. 111,965, published June 27, 1984, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other clay stain removal / anti-redeposition agents that can be used include 19
Gosselink European Patent Application No. 111, published June 27, 1984
Ethoxylated amine polymer disclosed in specification 984; July 1984
And the amine oxide disclosed in Conner U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,744 issued Oct. 22, 1985. (All of them are incorporated herein by reference).

Other clay soil removers and / or anti-redeposition agents known in the art may also be utilized in the compositions herein. Another type of preferred anti-redeposition agent includes carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) material. These materials are well known in the art.

Polymeric Dispersants Polymeric dispersants can advantageously be utilized in the compositions herein. These substances can help control calcium and magnesium hardness. Suitable polymeric dispersants include polymeric polycarboxylates and polyethylene glycols, although others known in the art can be used.

A polycarboxylate substance that can be used as a polymer dispersant has a general formula Wherein X, Y and Z are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, carboxy, carboxymethyl, hydroxy and hydroxymethyl; a salt-forming cation and n is from about 30 to about 400. These polymers or copolymers contain about 60% by weight. Preferably, X is hydrogen or hydroxy, Y is hydrogen or carboxy, Z
Is hydrogen and M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonia or substituted ammonium.

Such polymeric polycarboxylate materials can be prepared by polymerizing or copolymerizing a suitable unsaturated monomer, preferably in the acid form. Unsaturated monomeric acids that can be polymerized to produce suitable polymeric polycarboxylates include acrylic acid, maleic acid (or maleic anhydride), fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid and Methylene malonic acid. The presence of monomeric segments containing non-carboxylate groups, such as vinyl methyl ether, styrene, ethylene, etc., in the polymeric polycarboxylates of the present invention indicates that such segments do not constitute more than about 40% by weight If so, it is preferable.

Particularly suitable polymeric polycarboxylates can be derived from acrylic acid. Such acrylic acid based polymers useful herein are water soluble salts of polymerized acrylic acid. The average molecular weight of such an acid form polymer is about 2,
From 000 to 10,000, more preferably from about 4,000 to 7,000, most preferably from about 4,000 to 5,000. Examples of the water-soluble salt of the acrylic acid polymer include an alkali metal salt, an ammonium salt and a substituted ammonium salt. Such soluble polymers are known substances. The use of this type of polyacrylate in detergent compositions is described, for example, in Deal U.S. Pat. No. 3,308, March 7, 1967.
No. 067. This patent is incorporated herein by reference.

Acrylic / maleic acid based copolymers are also
You may use as a preferable component of a dispersing agent. Examples of such a substance include a water-soluble salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic acid. The average molecular weight of such copolymers in the acid form is preferably from about 2,000 to 100,000, more preferably about
It is between 5,000 and 75,000, most preferably between about 7,000 and 65,000. The ratio of acrylate segments to maleate segments in such copolymers is generally from about 30: 1 to about 1:
1, more preferably from about 10: 1 to about 2: 1. Examples of the water-soluble salt of the acrylic acid / maleic acid copolymer include an alkali metal salt, an ammonium salt and a substituted ammonium salt. Such soluble acrylate / maleate copolymers are known substances described in European Patent Application No. 66915 published December 15, 1982, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Another polymeric material that can be included is polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEG exhibits dispersant performance and can act as a clay soil remover / anti-redeposition agent. Typical molecular weight ranges for these purposes are from about 500 to about 100,000, preferably from about 1,000 to about 50,000, more preferably from about 1,500 to about
10,000.

Brightener Any optical or other brightener or whitening agent known in the art can be incorporated into the detergent compositions herein.

The selection of a whitening agent for use in a detergent composition depends on a number of factors, including the type of detergent, the nature of the other components present in the detergent composition, the temperature of the wash water, the degree of agitation, the ratio of the object to be cleaned to the ab size. It will depend on the factors.

Brightener selection also depends on the type of material to be cleaned, for example, cotton, synthetics, and the like. As most laundry detergent products are used to clean various fabrics, the detergent composition should contain a mixture of brighteners that will be effective in various fabrics. Of course, the individual components of such brightener mixtures need to be compatible.

Commercially available optical brighteners that may be useful in the present invention include:
The subgroups can be classified, and the subgroups are not necessarily limited, but include stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, carboxylic acid,
Examples include methine cyanine, dibenzifen-5,5-dioxide, azoles, derivatives of 5- and 6-membered heterocyclic compounds, and other miscellaneous drugs. Examples of such brighteners are "Production and Application of Optical Brighteners", M. Zaradnik, John Willy End, New York.
Sands (1982), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Stilbene derivatives that may be useful in the present invention include, but are not necessarily limited to, derivatives of bis (triazinyl) amino-stilbene; bisacylamino derivatives of stilbene; triazole derivatives of stilbene; oxadiazole derivatives of stilbene; Oxazole derivatives; and stilbene styryl derivatives.

Bis (triazinyl) that may be useful in the present invention
One derivative of aminostilbene is 4,4'-diamine-
It may be prepared from stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid.

Coumarin derivatives that may be useful in the present invention include, but are not necessarily limited to, 3-position, 7-position, and 3-position and 7-position.
Derivatives substituted at the position.

Carboxylic acid derivatives that may be useful in the present invention include, but are not necessarily limited to, fumaric acid derivatives; benzoic acid derivatives; p-phenylene-bis-acrylic acid derivatives; naphthalenedicarboxylic acid derivatives; heterocyclic acid derivatives; And cinnamic acid derivatives.

Cinnamic acid derivatives that may be useful in the present invention can be further subdivided into a plurality of groups, and these groups are not necessarily limited, as disclosed on page 77 of the Zaradonic literature. , Styrylazole, styrylbenzofuran, styryloxadiazole, styryltriazole, and styrylpolyphenyl.

Styrylazoles can be further subdivided into styrylbenzoxazoles, styrylimidazoles and styrylthiazoles as disclosed on page 78 of the Zaradonic literature. It will be appreciated that these three subclasses may not necessarily reflect an exhaustive list of subgroups that may subclass styrylazole.

Another type of optical brightener that may be useful in the present invention is The Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Tech.
nbenzo, vol. 3, pp. 737-750 (John Willy End Sun, Inc., 1962), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, pages 741 to 749. A derivative of thiophene-5,5-dioxide and 3,7-diaminodibenzothiophene-2,8-
5,5 Dioxide of disulfonic acid.

Another class of optical brighteners that may be useful in the present invention is azoles, which are derivatives of 5-membered heterocyclic compounds. These can be further subdivided into monoazoles and diazoles. Examples of monoazoles and diazoles are
It is disclosed in Kirk-Othmer's literature.

Another type of brightener that may be useful in the present invention is
Derivatives of the 6-membered heterocyclic compounds disclosed in Kirk-Osmer's literature. Examples of such compounds include brighteners derived from pyrazine and derivatives derived from 4-aminonaphthalamide.

In addition to the brighteners already described, miscellaneous drugs may also be useful as brighteners. Examples of such miscellaneous agents are disclosed in the Zaradonic literature at pages 93-95 and include 1-hydroxy-3,6,8-pyrenetrisulfonic acid; 2,4
-Dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-6-yl-pyrene;
4,5-di-phenylimidazolone disulfonic acid; and pyrazoline-quinoline derivatives.

Another specific example of an optical brightener that may be useful in the present invention is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,790,856, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. As these brighteners,
Brighteners of the Phorwhite ^™ series from Verona. Other brighteners disclosed in this document include Tinopa available from Ciba Geigy (Tinopa
l) UNPA, Tinopearl CBS and Tinopearl 5BM; Arctic White CC and Arctic White CWD available from Hilton-Davis, Italy; 2- (4-styrylphenyl) -2H.
-Naphthol [1,2-d] triazole; 4,4'-bis-
(1,2,3-triazol-2-yl) -stilbene; 4,
4'-bis (styryl) bisphenyl; and y-aminocoumarin. Specific examples of these brighteners include 4-methyl-7-diethylaminocoumarin; 1,2-
Bis (benzimidazol-2-yl) -ethylene; 1,3
-Diphenylfurazoline; 2,5-bis (benzoxazol-2-yl) -thiophene; 2-styryl-naphtho-
[1,2-d] -oxazole; and 2- (stilben-4-yl) -2H-naphtho [1,2-d] triazole.

Other optical brighteners that may be useful in the present invention include US Pat. No. 3,642, issued Feb. 29, 1972 to Hamilton.
No. 6,015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Foam Inhibitors Known or becoming known compounds for reducing or inhibiting foam formation can be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention. The incorporation of such substances (hereinafter "foam inhibitors") may be desirable because the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants here can increase the foam stability of the detergent composition. Foam control may be of particular importance when the detergent composition includes a comparatively high foaming surfactant in combination with a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant. Foam control is particularly desirable for compositions intended to be used in front-loading automatic washing machines. These washing machines are typically characterized by having a horizontal axis and a drum for containing the wash / wash water having a rotating action about this axis. This type of agitation can result in high foam formation and thus reduced cleaning performance. The use of foam inhibitors can also have particular importance under hot water washing conditions and under high surfactant concentration conditions.

Various materials may be used as foam inhibitors in the compositions herein. Foam suppressants are well known to those skilled in the art. They are generally, for example, Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemica
Technology, Third Edition, Volume 7, pp. 430-447 (John Wiley End Sons, Inc., 1979). One category of foam inhibitors of particular interest includes monocarboxylic fatty acids and their soluble salts. These substances are
US Patent No. 2,954, issued September 27, 1960 to St. John
No. 347, which patent is hereby incorporated by reference. Monocarboxylic fatty acids and their salts for use as foam suppressors typically have 10 carbon atoms.
It has a hydrocarbyl chain of up to about 24, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Suitable salts include alkali metal salts, for example,
Sodium, potassium, and lithium salts, and ammonium and alkanolammonium salts. These substances are a preferred category of foam inhibitors for detergent compositions.

The detergent composition may also contain a non-surfactant foam inhibitor. These include, for example, high molecular weight short
For example, paraffins, fatty acid esters (eg, fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of monohydric alcohols,
Aliphatic C ₁₈ -C ₄₀ ketones (e.g., stearone), and the like. Other suds suppressors include N-alkylated aminotriazines, such as olialkyl melamines formed as the product of 2 or 3 moles of a primary or secondary amine having 1 to 24 carbon atoms and cyanuric chloride. Up to hexaalkylmelamine, or from dialkyldiaminechlorotriazine to tetraalkyldiaminechlorotriazine, propylene oxide, and monostearyl phosphates, such as monostearyl alcohol phosphate and monostearyl dialkali metal (eg, N
a, Li, K) phosphates and phosphate esters. Hydrocarbons such as paraffins and haloparaffins are available in liquid form. The liquid hydrocarbon will be liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure and will have a pour point of about -40 ° C to about 5 ° C and a minimum boiling point of about 110 ° C or higher (atmospheric pressure). It is also known to utilize wax hydrocarbons, preferably those having a melting point below about 100 ° C. Hydrocarbons constitute a preferred category of foam inhibitors for detergent compositions. Hydrocarbon foam inhibitors are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,779, issued May 5, 1982 to Gandolho et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference. Hydrocarbons thus include aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons having about 12 to about 70 carbon atoms. The term "paraffin" as used in this defoamer discussion is intended to encompass a mixture of true paraffins and cyclic hydrocarbons.

Another preferred category of non-surfactant suds suppressors consists of silicone suds suppressors. This category includes polyorganosiloxane oils such as polydimethylsiloxane, dispersions or emulsions of polyorganosiloxane oils or resins,
And the use of a combination of a polyorganosiloxane oil and silica particles, where the polyorganosiloxane chemisorbs or melts on the silica. Silicone foam inhibitors are well known in the art and are described, for example, in Gandolho et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,779, issued in the United States, and European Patent Application No. 893078 issued February 7, 1990 by MS Starch.
No. 51.9, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Other silicone suds suppressors are disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 839.

Mixtures of silicone and silanized silica, for example,
It is described in German patent application DOS 2,124,526. Silicone defoamers and antifoams in granular detergent compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,672 to Bartrotta et al. And U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,392 to Bangginsky et al. Issued Mar. 24, 1987. .

Exemplary silicone-based suds suppressors for use herein are essentially: (i) a polydimethylsiloxane fluid having a viscosity at 25 ° C. of about 20 cs to about 1500 cs; (ii) (i) per 100 parts by weight about 5 to about 50 parts, (CH _3)
3 The ratio of SiO _1/2 units to SiO ₂ units from about 0.6: 1 to about 1.2: 1 (C
A and (iii) (i) anti-foaming amount of suds control agent comprising from about 1 to about 20 parts of a solid silica gel per 100 parts by weight; H _{3) 3} SiO _1/2 units and consisting of SiO ₂ Metropolitan siloxane resin.

In the case of detergent compositions to be used in automatic washing machines, the foam should not form to the extent that it overflows the washing machine. The foam inhibitor, when utilized, is preferably present in a "foam inhibiting amount". "Foam control" means that the formulator of the composition can select the amount of this foam control agent that will provide sufficient control of the foam to produce a low foaming laundry detergent for use in automatic washing machines. Means The degree of foam control will vary depending on the detergent surfactant chosen. For example, in the case of high foaming surfactants, a relatively large amount of foam control agent is used to achieve the desired foam control than in the case of low foaming surfactants. In general, a sufficient amount of foam suppressor is formed during the washing cycle of an automatic washing machine (i.e., during the stirring of the detergent in an aqueous solution under the desired washing temperature and concentration conditions). The low-foaming detergent composition should not be more than about 75% of the volume, preferably no more than about 50% of the void volume (void volume is the total volume of the storage drum plus water plus Determined as the difference between the volume of the laundry).

The compositions herein will generally contain from 0% to about 5% of a foam inhibitor. When utilized as suds suppressors, the monocarboxylic fatty acids and their salts will typically be present in amounts up to about 5% by weight of the detergent composition. Preferably,
About 0.5% to about 3% of the fat monocarboxylate foam inhibitor
Used. Although large amounts may be used, silicone suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts up to about 2.0% by weight of the detergent composition. This upper limit is practical in nature mainly due to concerns about small amounts of effectiveness to keep costs to a minimum and to effectively control foam. Preferably, from about 0.01% to about 1% of the silicone foam inhibitor, more preferably from about 0.25% to
About 0.5% is used. As used herein, these weight percent values include silica that may be used with the polyorganosiloxane, as well as auxiliary materials that may be utilized. Monostearyl phosphate suds suppressors are generally utilized in amounts of about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of the composition.

Although large amounts can be used, hydrocarbon suds suppressors are typically utilized in amounts of about 0.01% to about 5.0%.

Other Ingredients Various other ingredients useful in detergent compositions, such as other active ingredients, carriers, hydrotropes, processing aids, dyes or pigments, solvents for liquid formulations, and the like, can be incorporated into the compositions herein. .

In addition to the improved builder detergent compositions which generally result from the combination of a polycarboxylate builder and a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide, the incorporation of said polyhydroxy fatty acid amide into a liquid having an anionic surfactant and a polycarboxylate builder It is a particularly important benefit of the present invention that bead duty detergent compositions can be more easily formulated. Thus, the present invention provides a liquid detergent composition comprising one or more anionic surfactant, a polycarboxylate builder, a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide and a liquid carrier. These liquid detergent compositions can have a relatively large amount of anionic surfactant and polycarboxylate builder incorporated therein. As used herein, a large amount of polycarboxylate builder is used in an amount greater than about 10% by weight of the detergent composition, especially about 15%.
Means more than% by weight.

Liquid detergent compositions can contain water and other solvents as carriers. Preferred are low molecular weight primary or secondary alcohols exemplified by methanol, ethanol, propanol, and isopropanol. Monohydric alcohols are preferred for solubilizing surfactants, but polyols, such as those containing about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms and about 2 to about 6 hydroxy groups (eg, propylene glycol, ethylene Glycol, glycerin, and 1,2-propanediol) can also be used.

The detergent compositions herein will preferably be formulated such that when used in an aqueous cleaning operation, the wash water has a pH of about 6.5 to about 11, preferably about 7.5 to about 10.5. Liquid product formulations (measured at the standard 10% dilution level) preferably have a pH of about 7.5 to about 9.5, more preferably about 7.5 to about 9.0. In the case of a high builder content liquid, the pH can be higher, preferably about pH 8.5 to 10.5. Techniques for controlling pH to recommended use levels include the use of buffers, alkalis, acids and the like and are well known to those skilled in the art.

Further, the present invention provides an anionic surfactant by incorporating the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant into a composition such that the weight ratio of polycarboxylate to amide surfactant is from about 1:10 to about 10 :. Provided is a method for improving the performance of detergents containing surfactants, nonionic and / or cationic surfactants and polycarboxylate builders.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for treating a substrate, such as a fiber, fabric, hard surface, or skin, with one or more anionic interfaces in the presence of a solvent such as water, a water-miscible solvent (eg, primary and secondary alcohols). Surfactant, nonionic or cationic surfactant, polycarboxylate builder at least about 1
%, And at least 1% of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide
(Preferably a weight ratio of polycarboxylate builder to amide surfactant of from about 1:10 to about 10: 1
) To provide a method for cleaning the substrate. Agitation is preferably provided to enhance cleaning. Suitable means for providing agitation include hand rubbing, or preferably by hand with the aid of a brush or other cleaning device, automatic washing machines, automatic dishwashers and the like.

In the above method, the more preferred weight ratio of polycarboxylate builder to polyhydroxy fatty acid amide is from about 1: 5 to about 7: 1, most preferably from about 1: 1 to about 7: 1 and the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. Preferred amounts and types of and polycarboxylate are as described herein.

Experiment This illustrates the preparation of N-methyl-1-deoxyglucityl lauramide surfactant for use herein. Although skilled chemists can vary the device configuration, one device suitable for use herein is a three-unit device equipped with a thermometer long enough to contact the reaction medium and a motor driven paddle stirrer. It consists of a four-neck flask. The other two ports of the flask were equipped with a nitrogen sweep and a wide bore arm (Note:
The wide bore arm is important in the case of very rapid methanol generation), which is connected to an efficient collection cooler and vacuum outlet. The latter is connected to a nitrogen bleed / vacuum gauge and then to an aspirator and trap. A variable transformer temperature controller used to heat the reaction mixture [Varia
c) ") is placed on the lab-jack so that it can be easily raised and lowered to further control the temperature of the reaction mixture.

N-methylglucamine (195 g, 1.0 mol, Aldrich, M4700-0) and methyl laurate (Procter & Gamble CE1270, 220.9 g, 1.0 mol) are placed in a flask. The solid / liquid mixture is heated under stirring and a nitrogen sweep to prepare a melt (about 25 minutes). Melting temperature
When 145 ° C. is reached, the catalyst (anhydrous sodium carbonate in powder form, 10.5 g, 0.1 mol, JT Baker) is added. Stop the nitrogen sweep and adjust the aspirator and nitrogen bleed to give a vacuum of 5 inches (5/31 atm) Hg. From this point, the reaction temperature is raised to 150 ° C. by adjusting the variac and / or by raising or lowering the mantle.
To hold.

Within 7 minutes, primary methanol bubbles are visible at the meniscus of the reaction mixture. A vigorous reaction is immediately associated.
The methanol is distilled until the rate decreases. Adjust the vacuum to give a vacuum of about 10 inches Hg (10/31 atm).
Increase the vacuum approximately as follows (inches Hg at a given minute): 3
At 10; 7 at 20; 10 at 25. Heating and stirring are discontinued 11 minutes after the start of methanol evolution (simultaneous foaming occurs). The product cools and solidifies.

The following examples are intended to illustrate the compositions of the present invention, but do not necessarily limit or otherwise define the scope of the invention, which is in accordance with the following claims. It is determined.

Examples 1-12 These examples illustrate heavy duty granular detergent compositions containing polyhydroxy fatty acid amides and polycarboxylate builders.

Examples 1-3 show about 1400 ppm at temperatures below about 50 ° C.
Formulation for preferred use (based on wash water weight). The above example is prepared by combining the base initial ingredients as a slurry and spray drying to a residual moisture of about 4-8%. The remaining dry ingredients are mixed with the spray-dried granules in granular or powder form in a rotating mixing drum and the liquid ingredients (nonionic surfactants and fragrances) are sprayed on.

Examples 4 and 5 illustrate concentrated particulate detergent compositions preferably utilized at about 1000 ppm (wash water basis) and intended for temperatures below about 50 ° C. These are prepared by spray drying the base particulate component to about 5-8% moisture, mixing the powdered or particulate dry mixture, and spraying on the liquid mixture component.

The compositions of Examples 6 and 7 represent concentrated granular formulations prepared by slurrying the base particulate component and spray drying to about 5% moisture and incorporating additional dry components. The resulting mixture is dust controlled by spraying on the liquid components. The product is to be used at a wash temperature of less than about 30 ° C. at a concentration of about 1000 ppm.

The compositions of Examples 8 and 9 preferably have a concentration of about 6000 pp
It is used at a temperature of about 30-95 ° C in m (based on the weight of washing water). These compositions can be prepared by slurrying the base particulate component and spray drying to a water content of about 9%. The remaining dry ingredients are added in granular or powdered form and mixed in a rotating mixing drum before spray-on addition of the final liquid ingredient.

Examples 10-20 Examples show heavy duty detergent compositions containing a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide and a polycarboxylate builder.

Examples 10-16 are preferably used at a temperature of 30-95 ° C at about 12000 ppm (based on the weight of wash water). These are prepared as follows. Combine the non-aqueous solvent, aqueous surfactant paste or solution, aqueous solutions of molten fatty acids, polycarboxylate builders and other salts, aqueous ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine, buffers, caustic, and the remaining water. The pH is adjusted to about pH 8.5 using either aqueous citric acid or aqueous sodium hydroxide. After pH adjustment, final ingredients such as soil release agents, enzymes, colorants, fragrances, etc. are added and the mixture is stirred until a single phase is achieved.

Examples 18-20 are preferably used at a wash temperature of less than about 50 ° C at about 2000 ppm (by wash water weight). They are,
Prepare as follows. Combine the non-aqueous solvent, aqueous surfactant paste or solution, molten fatty acid, aqueous solution of polycarboxylate builder and other salts, aqueous eoxylated tetraethylenepentamine, buffer, caustic, and the remaining water. The pH is adjusted to about pH 8.5 using either aqueous citric acid or aqueous sodium hydroxide. For Examples 18 and 19 with high builder content, the pH was
In some cases, the pH can be adjusted to about 10.5. After pH adjustment, final ingredients such as soil release agents, enzymes, colorants, fragrances, etc. are added and the mixture is stirred until a single phase is achieved.

Example 21 Another method for preparing the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide used herein is as follows. Fatty acid methyl esters (Source: Procter & Gamble Methyl Ester CE 12
70) 84.87 g, 75 g of N-methyl-D-glucamine (source: Aldrich Chemical Company M4700-0), 1.04 g of sodium methoxide (source: Aldrich Chemical Company 16,499-2) and 68.51 g of methyl alcohol
Is used. The reaction vessel is equipped with standard reflux equipment equipped with a drying tube, condenser and stir bar. In this method, N-methylglucamine is combined with methanol under argon under stirring, and heating is started with good mixing (stir bar; reflux). After 15-20 minutes, when the solution has reached the desired temperature, the ester and sodium methoxide catalyst are added. Samples are taken periodically to monitor the course of the reaction and the solution is found to be completely clear at 63.5 minutes. The reaction is in fact judged almost complete at this point. The reaction mixture is kept under reflux for 4 hours. After removing the methanol, the recovered crude product is 156.16 g. After vacuum drying and purification, a total yield of 106.92 g of purified product is recovered. However, yields are not calculated on this basis since regular sampling over the course of the reaction renders the overall yield value meaningless. The reaction can be performed at 80% and 90% reactant concentrations for up to 6 hours to produce product (with very little by-product formation).

The following are not intended to limit the invention, but merely to further illustrate additional aspects of the technology that can be considered by formulators in preparing various detergent compositions using polyhydroxy fatty acid amides. .

It will be readily recognized that polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are susceptible to some instability under highly basic or highly acidic conditions due to amide bonds. Although some degradation is acceptable, these substances can
It is preferred not to be subjected to a pH above 11, preferably above pH 10, below about 3. Final product pH (liquid)
Is typically between 7.0 and 9.0.

During the production of the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide, it will typically be necessary to at least partially neutralize the base catalyst used to form the amide bond. Although any acid can be used for this purpose, detergent formulators will recognize that it is a simple and convenient matter to use an acid that would otherwise be useful and give the desired anion in the finished detergent composition. There will be. For example, citric acid can be used for neutralization purposes and allows the resulting citrate ions (about 1%) to remain with the about 40% polyhydroxyfatty acid amide slurry and is pumped to a manufacturing stage after the entire detergent process. Let it be supplied. Acid form substances such as oxydisuccinate, nitrilotriacetate, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, tartrate / succinate and the like can likewise be used.

Polyhydroxy fatty acid amides derived from coconut alkyl fatty acids (predominantly C ₁₂ -C ₁₄₎ are more soluble than tallow alkyl (predominantly C ₁₆ -C ₁₈₎ equivalents. Thus, C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ materials are soluble in easy and and cold water washing bath to be formulated is slightly more to the liquid composition. However, C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ materials are also quite useful, especially in situations where warm to hot wash water is used. In fact, C ₁₆
-C ₁₈ materials may be better detergent surfactants than C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ equivalents. Thus, formulators may want to balance manufacturability vs. performance when selecting a particular polyhydroxy fatty acid amide for use in a given formulation.

It will also be appreciated that the solubility of the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide can be increased by having unsaturation and / or chain branching points in the fatty acid moiety. Thus, materials such as polyhydroxy fatty acid amides derived from oleic and isostearic acids are more soluble than their n-alkyl equivalents.

Similarly, the solubility of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides made from disaccharides, trisaccharides, etc. will generally be greater than the solubility of monosaccharide-derived equivalents. This high solubility can have particular help in formulating liquid compositions. In addition, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides in which the polyhydroxy groups are derived from maltose appear to perform particularly well as detergents when used in conjunction with conventional alkylbenzene sulfonate ("LAS") surfactants. Without wishing to be limited by theory, the combination of polyhydroxyfatty acid amides derived from higher sugars such as maltose with LAS results in a substantially unexpected decrease in interfacial tension in aqueous media, thereby resulting in a net wash. It seems to improve performance (the production of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide derived from maltose will be described later).

Polyhydroxyfatty acid amides can be produced not only from purified sugars, but also from starches derived from hydrolyzed starches, such as corn starch, potato starch, or other convenient plants containing monosaccharides, disaccharides, etc. as desired by the formulator. Can also be manufactured. This has particular importance from an economic point of view. Thus, "high glucose" corn syrup, "high maltose" corn syrup and the like can be used conveniently and economically. Delignified hydrolyzed cellulose pulp can also provide a source of raw materials for polyhydroxy fatty acid amides.

As mentioned above, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides derived from higher sugars such as maltose and lactose are more soluble than their glucose equivalents. In addition, more soluble polyhydroxy fatty acid amides may help solubilize less soluble equivalents to varying degrees. Thus, the prescriber may, for example, decide to use a raw material comprising high glucose corn syrup,
A syrup containing a small amount of maltose (eg, 1% or more) may be selected. The resulting mixture of polyhydroxy fatty acids will generally exhibit more favorable solubility over a wide range of temperatures and concentrations than "pure" glucose-derived polyhydroxy fatty acid amides. Thus, in addition to the economic advantages of using a sugar mixture rather than a pure sugar reactant, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides made from mixed sugars have very substantial performance and / or ease of formulation. Benefits can be provided. However, in some cases, some loss of grease removal performance (dishwashing) may be observed at fatty acid maltamide levels greater than about 25% and some loss of foaming properties is greater than about 33% It may be found in an amount (the percentage is the percentage of maltamide-derived polyhydroxy fatty acid amide VS glucose-derived polyhydroxy fatty acid amide in the mixture). This can vary slightly depending on the chain length of the fatty acid moiety. Typically, and formulators who decide to use such mixtures, the ratio of a monosaccharide (eg, glucose) to a disaccharide / higher sugar (eg, maltose) will include a ratio of about 4: 1 to about 99: 1. It can be found to be advantageous to choose a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide mixture which is:

The preparation of a preferred acyclic polyhydroxy fatty acid amide from a fatty ester and an N-alkyl polyol is carried out in an alcoholic solvent at about 30C to 90C, preferably about 50C to 80C
Temperature. For example, it is advantageous for liquid detergent formulators to perform such a process in 1,2-propylene glycol solvent because the glycol solvent does not need to be completely removed from the reaction product prior to use in the finished detergent formulation. Is now confirmed. Similarly, for example, solid detergent compositions, the formulator will typically granular detergent composition, ethoxylated process (EO3~8) C ₁₂ ~C ₁₄
It can be found to be convenient to work at 30 ° C. to 90 ° C. in a solvent consisting of an ethoxylated alcohol such as an alcohol, for example, neodol 23EO6.5 (shell). When such ethoxylates are used, they preferably do not contain substantial amounts of non-ethoxylated alcohols, and most preferably do not contain substantial amounts of monoethoxylated alcohols (designation "T").

Although the preparation of the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide itself does not form part of the present invention, the formulator may recognize other ways of synthesizing the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide as described below.

Typically, an industrial scale reaction sequence to produce the preferred acyclic polyhydroxy fatty acid amide comprises a step 1: N
-Producing an N-alkyl polyhydroxyamine derivative from the desired saccharide or saccharide mixture by reacting with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst after forming an adduct of the alkylamine and the saccharide, Reacting the amine, preferably with a fatty acid ester, to form an amide bond. The various N-alkyl polyhydroxyamines useful in step 2 of the reaction sequence can be prepared by various technically disclosed methods, but the following methods use a convenient and economical sugar syrup as a raw material. For best results when using such syrup ingredients, it should be understood that the manufacturer should choose a syrup that is completely pale or preferably almost colorless ("water-white"). .

Preparation of N-alkyl polyhydroxyamines from sugar syrups derived from plants I. Adduct formation-The following are standard methods. In this standard method, 420 g of an approximately 55% glucose solution having a Gardner color of less than 1 (corn syrup-approximately 231 g of glucose)
-About 1.28 mol) to about 50% methylamine (methylamine 5
(9.5 g-1.92 mol) aqueous solution. Purge the methylamine (MMA) solution, blanket with N ₂ , and cool to below about 10 ° C. Corn syrup is purged and shielded with N ₂ at a temperature of about 10 to 20 ° C.. Slowly add to the MMA solution at the indicated reaction temperature, indicating corn syrup. The Gardner color is measured at the approximate display time (minutes).

As can be seen from the above data, the Gardner color of the adduct is much worse as the temperature rises above about 30 ° C., and at about 50 ° C., the adduct has less than about 30 Gardner colors for about 30 hours. Minutes. For longer reactions and / or retention times, the temperature may be about 20
It should be below ° C. The Gardner color should be less than about 7, and preferably less than about 4, for a good color glucamine.

When using low temperatures to produce the adduct, the time to reach a substantial equilibrium concentration of the adduct is reduced by using a higher amine to sugar ratio. For the amine to sugar molar ratio of interest 1.5: 1, equilibrium is achieved in about 2 hours at a reaction temperature of about 30 ° C. At a molar ratio of 1.2: 1, under the same conditions, the time is at least about 3 hours. For good color, the combination of amine: sugar ratio, reaction temperature and reaction time should be substantially equilibrium conversion, for example, about 90% or more, more preferably about 95% or more, more preferably Is selected to achieve a color of at least about 99%, and in the case of an adduct, less than about 7, preferably less than about 4, more preferably less than about 1.

Using the process at a reaction temperature of less than about 20 ° C. and using corn syrup having a different Gardner color as indicated, the MMA adduct color (after reaching substantial equilibrium in at least about 2 hours) As shown.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the starting sugar material should be almost colorless so that it has consistently acceptable adducts. When the sugar has a Gardner color of about 1, the adduct is sometimes acceptable and sometimes unacceptable. When the Gardner color is greater than 1, the resulting addendum is unacceptable. The better the initial color of the sugar, the better the color of the adduct.

II. Hydrogen reaction-The adducts from those having a Gardner color of 1 or less are hydrogenated according to the following method.

About 539 g of the adduct in water and about 23.1 g of Uniter Catalyst G49B Ni catalyst are added to one autoclave and purged twice at about 20 ° C. and 200 psi H ₂ . Increase H ₂ pressure to about 1400psi and temperature to about 50 ° C
Temperature. The pressure is then increased to about 1600 psi and the temperature is held at about 50-55 ° C for about 3 hours. The product is about 95% hydrogenated at this point. Then raise the temperature to about 85 ° C for about 30 minutes
, The reaction mixture is decanted and the catalyst is filtered off. The product, after removal of water and MMA by evaporation, is about 95% N-methylglucamine, a white powder.

Using about 23.1 g of Raney Ni catalyst with the following changes,
Repeat the above method. The catalyst was washed three times, the reactor (the catalyst was in the reactor) was purged twice with 200 psig H ₂ , the reactor was pressurized with H ₂ at 1600 psig for 2 hours, the pressure was released in 1 hour and the reaction was stopped. Repressurize vessel to 1600 psig. The addition is then pumped into the reactor at 200 psig, 20 ° C. and the reactor is purged with 200 psi H ₂ or the like as described above.

The product obtained in each case is higher than about 95% N
-Methylglucamine; about 10% Ni for glucamine
with less than about 2 ppm; and having a solution color of less than about 2 Gardner.

Crude N-methylglucamine is color stable at short exposure times of about 140 ° C.

It is important to have a good adduct with a low sugar content (less than about 5%, preferably less than about 1%) and a good color (less than about 7, preferably less than about 4, more preferably less than about 1 Gardner) It is.

In another reaction, the addition is prepared starting from about 159 g of about 50% methylamine in water, purging and shielding at about 10-20 ° C. with n ₂ . About 70% corn syrup (water-
About 330 g (near white) was degassed with N ₂ at about 50 ° C.
Slowly add to the methylamine solution at a temperature below ℃. The solution is mixed for about 30 minutes to give a very pale yellow solution, about 95% adduct.

About 190 g of adduct in water and about 9 g of United Catalyst G49B Ni catalyst were added to a 200 ml autoclave,
Purge three times with H ₂ at about 20 ° C. H ₂ pressure about 200psi
And raise the temperature to about 50 ° C. The pressure is increased to 250 psi and the temperature is held at about 50-55 ° C for about 3 hours. The product is
At this point, it is about 95% hydrogenated, then raised to a temperature of about 85 ° C. for about 30 minutes, and the product is about 95% N-methylglucamine, a white powder, after removing water and evaporating. .

When H ₂ pressure is less than about 1000psig to minimize Ni content in the glucamine, it is also important to minimize contact between the adduct and the catalyst. The nickel content in N-methylglucamine in this reaction is about 100 ppm compared to less than 10 ppm in the previous reaction.

Perform the following reaction of H ₂ for direct comparison of reaction temperature effects.

A 200 ml autoclave reactor is used according to a typical procedure similar to that described above to produce adducts and to carry out the hydrogen reaction at various temperatures.

The adduct used to produce glucamine is about 55%
About 420 g of glucose (corn syrup) solution (glucose
231 g; 1.28 mol) (the solution was prepared using 99DE corn syrup from Cargill, the solution has a color of less than Gardner 1) and about 119 g of 50% methylamine (59.5 g MMA;
1.92 mol) (manufactured by Air Products).

 The reaction method is as follows.

1. addition of 50% methyl amine solution to about 119g in N ₂ purged reactor, shield with N _2, and cooled to below about 10 ° C..

2. degassed and / or purged with N ₂ at 10 to 20 ° C. and 55% corn syrup solution to remove oxygen in the solution.

3. Slowly add the corn syrup solution to the methylamine solution and keep the temperature below about 20 ° C.

4. Once all the corn syrup has been added, add about 1
Stir for ~ 2 hours.

The adduct is used for the hydrogen reaction immediately after production or stored at low temperatures to prevent further degradation.

 The glucamine adduct hydrogen reaction is as follows.

1. Approximately 135 g of additive (color less than Gardner 1) and G49B
About 5.8 g of Ni is added to a 200 ml autoclave.

2. Bring the reaction mixture to about 200 psi H ₂ at about 20-30 ° C.
Purge twice.

3. Pressurize to about 400 psi with H ₂ and raise the temperature to about 50 ° C.

4. Increase the pressure to about 500 psi and let it react for about 3 hours. Keep the temperature at about 50-55 ° C. Sample 1 is collected.

5. Raise the temperature to about 85 ° C for about 30 minutes.

6. Decant the Ni catalyst and filter off. Sample 2 is taken.

 The conditions of the isothermal reaction are as follows.

1. Add about 134 g of the adduct and about 5.8 g of G49B Ni to a 200 ml autoclave.

2. Purge twice at about 200 psi H ₂ at low temperature.

3. Pressurize to about 400 psi with H ₂ and raise the temperature to about 50 ° C.

4. Increase the pressure to about 500 psi and react for about 3.5 hours. Keep the temperature at the indicated temperature.

The 5 Ni catalyst is decanted and filtered off. Sample 3 is at about 50-55 ° C .; Sample 4 is at about 75 ° C .;
This is the case at 85 ° C (the reaction time at about 85 ° C is about 45 minutes).

All runs gave similar purity of N-methylglucamine (about 94%); the Gardner color of the run was similar to the reaction direct, but only the two-step heat treatment gave good color stability; 8
A run at 5 ° C gives a trivial color immediately after the reaction.

Example 22 A process for preparing a tallow (cured) fatty acid amide of N-methylmaltamine for use in a detergent composition according to the present invention is as follows.

Step 1-Reactant: Maltose monohydrate (Aldrich, lot01318KW); Methylamine (40% by weight in water) (Aldrich, lot03325TM); Raney nickel, 50% slurry (UAD52-73D, Aldrich, lot12921LW).

The reactants are added to a glass liner (maltose 250 g, methylamine solution 428 g, catalyst slurry 100 g-Runny Ni50
g) Place in a 3 rocking autoclave and place the autoclave in nitrogen (3 x 500 psig) and hydrogen (2 x 500 psig).
purged with g), swings over the weekend at a temperature of 28 ° C. to 50 ° C. at room temperature under H _2. The crude reaction mixture is vacuum filtered twice through a glass microfiber filter with a silica gel plug. Concentrate the filtrate to a viscous material. The final traces of water are azeotroped by dissolving the viscous material in methanol and then removing the methanol / water on a rotary evaporator. Final drying is performed under high vacuum. The crude product was dissolved in refluxing methanol, filtered, recrystallized on cooling, filtered,
The filter cake is dried at 35 ° C. under vacuum. this is,
Cut # 1. Concentrate the filtrate and store in the refrigerator overnight until a precipitate begins to form. The solid is filtered and dried under vacuum. This is cut # 2. The filtrate is again concentrated to half the volume to achieve recrystallization. Little precipitate forms. Add a small amount of ethanol and leave the solution in the freezer over the weekend. The solid material is filtered and dried under vacuum. The combined solids consist of N-methylmaltamine used in step 2 of the total synthesis.

Step 2-Reactant: N-methylmaltamine (from step 1); hardened tallow methyl ester; sodium methoxide (25% in methanol); anhydrous methanol (solvent) amine: ester molar ratio 1: 1; initial amount of crystals 10 mol% (w / r maltamine), increased to 20 mol%; solvent volume 50% (weight).

In a sealed bottle, tallow methyl ester 20.3
6 g are heated to the melting point (water bath) and charged to a 250 ml 3-neck round bottom flask with mechanical stirring. Heat the flask to about 70 ° C. to prevent the ester from coagulating. Separately, combine 25.0 g of N-methylmaltamine with 45.36 g of methanol and add the resulting slurry to the tallow ester with good mixing. Add 1.51 g of 25% sodium methoxide in methanol. After 4 hours, the reaction mixture is not clear, so an additional 10 mol% of crystals (20 mol% total) is added and the reaction is allowed to continue overnight (about 68 ° C.), after which time the mixture is clear is there. The reaction flask is then modified for distillation. Increase temperature to 110 ° C. The distillation at atmospheric pressure is continued for 60 minutes. The high vacuum distillation was then started and continued for 14 minutes, at which point the product was very thick. 110 ° C (external temperature)
To leave in the reaction flask for 60 minutes. The product is scraped from the flask and rubbed in ethyl ether over the weekend. The ether is removed on a rotary evaporator and the product is stored in an oven overnight and ground to a powder. The remaining N-methylmaltamine is removed from the product using silica gel. A silica gel slurry in 100% methanol is charged to the funnel and washed several times with 100% methanol. A concentrated sample of the product (20 g in 100 ml of 100% methanol) is loaded onto silica gel and eluted several times using vacuum and several methanol washes. The collected eluate is evaporated to dryness (rotary evaporator). The remaining tallow ester is removed by trituration in ethyl acetate overnight and then filtered. Vacuum dry the filter cake overnight. The product is a tallowalkyl N-methylmaltamide.

In another embodiment, step 1 of the reaction sequence can be performed using commercially available corn syrup consisting of glucose or a mixture of glucose and typically at least 5% maltose. The resulting polyhydroxy fatty acid amides and mixtures can be used in any of the detergent compositions of the present invention.

In yet another aspect, step 2 of the reaction sequence comprises:
It can be carried out in 1,2-propylene glycol or neodol. At the discretion of the formulator, it is not necessary that propylene glycol or neodol be removed from the reaction product prior to use to formulate the detergent composition. Again, according to the needs of the formulator, the methoxide catalyst can be neutralized with citric acid to provide sodium citrate, which can remain in the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide.

Depending on the needs of the formulator, the composition may contain more or less of various antifoaming agents. Typically, when washing dishes,
High foaming properties are desirable and therefore no foam control agents will be used. In the case of fabric washing with a top loading washing machine,
Some control of the foam may be desirable and, in the case of a front-loader, a certain degree of foam control may be preferred. Various foam control agents are known in the art and can be routinely selected for use herein. In fact, the choice of foam control agent or mixture of foam control agents for a particular detergent composition will not only depend on the presence and amount of the polyhydroxyfatty acid amide used therein, but also on the other surfactants present in the formulation. Will also depend. However, when used in conjunction with polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, various silicone-based foam control agents appear to be more efficient (ie, smaller amounts can be used) than various other types of foam control agents. . Silicone foam control agents available as X2-3419 and Q2P3302 (Dow Corning) are particularly useful.

Formulators of fabric laundry compositions that can advantageously contain a soil release agent have a variety of known materials to choose from (e.g.,
U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,962,152, 4,116,885,
No. 4,238,531, No. 4,702,857, No. 4,721,
No. 580 and 4,877,896). Additional soil release materials useful herein include C ₁ -C ₄ alkoxy-terminated polyethoxy unit sources (eg, CH ₃ [OCH ₂ CH ₂ ] ₁₆ O
H), a terephthaloyl unit source (eg, dimethyl terephthalate); a poly (oxyethylene) oxy unit source (eg, polyethylene glycol 1500); an oxyisopropyleneoxy unit source (eg, 1,2-propylene glycol); and oxyethyleneoxy Unit source (for example,
(Oxyethylene oxy units to oxyisopropylene oxy units are at least about 0.5: 1). Such nonionic soil release agents have the general formula Wherein R ¹ is lower (eg, C ₁ -C ₄ ) alkyl, especially methyl; x and y are each an integer from about 6 to about 100;
m is from about 0.75 to about 30 integer; n is about 0.25 to from about 20 integer; R ² is an oxyethylene oxy pair oxyisopropylene propyleneoxy mole ratio of at least about 0.5: H and CH to give 1 ₃ is a mixture of both).

Another preferred class of soil release agents useful herein is U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,896, except that such agents are substantially free of monomers of the HOROH type, where R is propylene or higher alkyl. It has the general anionic type described in the specification. Thus, the soil release agent of U.S. Pat.No. 4,877,896 can comprise, for example, the reaction products of dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, and 3-sodiosulfobenzoic acid, while these Additional soil release agents are, for example, dimethyl terephthalate, ethylene glycol and 5
-Sodiosulfoisophthalate and the reaction product of 3-sodeiosulfobenzoic acid. Such agents are preferred for use in granular laundry detergents.

Also, formulators may find it particularly advantageous to include non-perborate bleaches in heavy duty granular laundry detergents. Various peroxygen bleaches are commercially available and can be used here, of which percarbonate is convenient and economical. Thus, the composition comprises from 3 to 20%, more preferably from 5 to 18%, most preferably from 8 to 15% by weight of the composition.
The fixed percarbonate bleach (usually in the form of a sodium salt) may be included in the amount of

Sodium percarbonate is an adduct having the formula corresponding to 2Na ₂ CO ₃ .3H ₂ O ₂ and is commercially available as a crystalline solid. Most commercially available substances include small amounts of EDTA, 1-hydroxyethylidene 1,1-
Heavy metal ion sequestering agents such as diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and aminophosphonate. For use herein, percarbonate can be incorporated into the detergent composition without additional protection, but a preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a stable form of the material (FMC). A variety of coatings can be used, but with an SiO ₂ : Na ₂ O ratio of 1.6 applied as an aqueous solution and dried to give an amount of silicate solids of 2-10% (usually 3-5%) by weight of percarbonate. :from 1 to 2.
8: 1, preferably 2.0: 1, sodium silicate is the most economical. Magnesium silicate can also be used and chelating agents, such as one of the foregoing, can be incorporated into the coating.

The particle size range of the crystalline percarbonate is from 350 μm to 450
μm (about 400 μm). When coated, the crystals have a size in the range of 400-600 μm.

While the heavy metals present in the sodium carbonate used to make the percarbonate, which can be controlled by the incorporation of sequestering agents into the reaction mixture, percarbonates protect against heavy metals present as impurities in other components of the product. Still need. The total amount of iron, copper and manganese ions in the product is 25 to avoid unacceptable adverse effects on percarbonate stability.
It has been found that it should not be above ppm, and preferably below 20 ppm.

 The current concentrated laundry detergent granules are as follows.

^One- layer silicate builders are technically aware. Layered sodium silicate is preferred. For example, 19 for HP Ricke
See US Pat. No. 4,664,859, issued May 12, 1987, incorporated herein by reference, for the layered sodium silicate builder. A suitable layered silicate builder is available from Hoechst as SKS-6.

² Available from Novo Nordisk A / S in Copengagen.

Highly preferred particulates of the type described above have an active enzyme of about 0.00
From about 0.01 to about 2% by weight and at least about 1% by weight of the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide (most preferably, the anionic surfactant is not an alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactant).

The following relates to the preparation of a preferred liquid heedy laundry detergent according to the present invention. It will be appreciated that the stability of the enzyme in such compositions is much lower than in granular detergents. However, by using typical enzyme stabilizers such as formate, boric acid, lipase and cellulase enzymes can be protected from degradation by protease enzymes. However, lipase stability does not depend on alkylbenzene sulfonate ("LAS")
Still relatively poor in the presence of surfactants. Apparently, LAS partially denatures lipase, and more denatured lipase appears to be more susceptible to attack by proteases.

In view of the above considerations, which can be particularly cumbersome with liquid compositions as described above, it is an object to provide a liquid detergent composition that contains a lipase, a protease and a cellulase enzyme together. It is a particular challenge to provide such a ternary enzyme system in a stable liquid detergent with an effective blend of detergent surfactants. Additionally, it is difficult to stably incorporate peroxidase and / or amylase enzymes into such compositions.

Various mixtures of lipases, proteases, cellulases, amylases, and peroxidases are suitably stable in the presence of certain non-alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactant systems and therefore formulate even effective heavy duty solid and liquid detergents. Now you can see what you can do. In fact, the formulation of a stable liquid enzyme-containing detergent composition constitutes a highly advantageous preferred embodiment provided by the technology of the present invention.

In particular, prior art liquid detergent compositions typically include LA
Mixture of surfactant of the the S or _{LAS RO (A) m SO 3} M type ( "AES"), i.e., containing LAS / AES mixtures. In contrast, the liquid detergents of the present invention preferably comprise a binary mixture of AES and a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide of the type disclosed herein. It will be appreciated that a minimal amount of LAS can be present, but the stability of the enzyme will be reduced thereby. Thus, it is preferred that the liquid composition be substantially free of LAS (ie, contain less than about 10%, preferably less than about 5%, more preferably less than about 1%, and most preferably 0%).

The present invention provides: (a) about 1% to about 50%, preferably about 4% to about 40%, of an anionic surfactant; (b) about 0.0001% to about 2% of an active detergent enzyme; Wherein R ¹ is H, C ₁ -C ₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or a mixture thereof, R ₂ is C ₅ -C ₃₁ hydrocarbyl, and Z is directly An enzymatically enhanced (preferably about 0.5% to about 12%) polyhydroxyfatty acid amide material having a linear hydrocarbyl chain having at least three hydroxyls linked thereto, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof. A liquid detergent composition characterized in that the composition is substantially free of alkylbenzene sulfonate.

Water-soluble anionic surfactants of the present invention is preferably _{RO (A) m SO 3 M} ( wherein, R is an unsubstituted C ₁₀ -C ₂₄ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl (C ₁₀ ~C ₂₄₎ group, A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is an integer greater than 0,
M is hydrogen or a cation) ("AES"). Preferably, R is an unsubstituted C ₁₂ -C
_{An 18} alkyl group, A is an ethoxy unit, m is from about 0.5 to about 6, and M is a cation. The cation is preferably a metal cation (eg, sodium (preferred), potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.) or an ammonium or substituted ammonium cation.

The ratio of the surfactant ("AES") to the polyhydroxyfatty acid amide of the present invention is from about 1: 2 to about 8: 1, preferably from about 1: 1 to about 5: 1, and most preferably about 1: 1. Preferably from 1 to about 4: 1.

The liquid compositions of the present invention, or polyhydroxy fatty acid amide, AES, and C ₈ -C ₂₂ (preferably C ₁₀ -C ₂₀₎
About 1 to about 25 per mole of linear alcohol and alcohol,
Preferably, it may contain about 0.5% to about 5% of a condensate with about 2 to about 18 moles of ethylene oxide.

As described above, the liquid composition of the present invention preferably comprises
It has a pH of about 6.5 to about 11.0, preferably about 7.0 to about 8.5 in a 10% solution in water at 20 ° C.

The composition preferably comprises from about 0.1% of a detersive builder.
Further includes about 50%. These compositions preferably comprise from about 0.1% to about 20% of citric acid or a water-soluble salt thereof, and from about 0.1% to about 20% of a water-soluble succinate tartrate, especially its sodium salt and mixtures thereof, or Oxydisuccinate or a mixture thereof with the builder
From 0.1% to about 20% by weight. Alkenyl succinate 0.1
% To 50% can also be used.

Preferred liquid compositions of the present invention have, on an active basis, about 0.00
It contains from 01% to about 2%, preferably from about 0.0001% to about 1%, most preferably from about 0.001% to about 0.5% of detergent enzyme. These enzymes are preferably selected from the group consisting of proteases (preferred), lipases (preferred), amylase, cellulase, peroxidase, and mixtures thereof. Compositions having two or more enzymes are preferred, most preferably one in which one is a protease.

Various descriptions of detergent proteases, cellulases and the like are available in the literature, but detergent lipases are somewhat unknown. Thus, to assist prescribers, lipases of interest include Amano AKG and Bacillis SP lipase (eg, Solvay enzyme).
Also, EP A 0399 681 published on November 28, 1990, EP A 0 218 272 published on April 15, 1987, and PCT / DK 88/88 published on May 18, 1989. See lipases described in WO 00177, all incorporated herein by reference.

Suitable fungal lipases include Humicola lanuginosa
And those that can be produced by Thermomyces lanuginosus. Humicola as described in European Patent Application No. 0 258 068, incorporated herein by reference.
Clone the gene from lanuginosa and replace the gene with Asp
Lipases obtained by expression in ergillus oryzae (commercially available under the trade name LIPOLASE) are most preferred.

From about 2 to about 20,000 per gram of product, preferably from about 10 to
About 6,000 lipase units of lipase (LU / g) can be used in these compositions. Lipase units are pH stats (pH
Is 7.0, the temperature is 30 ° C, the substrates are emulsion tributyrin and gum arabic) Ca ⁺⁺ in phosphate and
The amount of lipase that produces 1 μmol of titratable butyric acid per minute in the presence of NaCl.

The following examples include: (a) an enzyme selected from proteases, cellulases and lipases, or preferably a mixture thereof (the amount used is an "effective" amount (i.e., the amount of soil removal) of the enzyme or enzyme mixture to provide the enzyme or enzyme mixture; (B) a polyhydroxy fatty acid amine surfactant of the type disclosed herein (typically comprising from about 0.01 to about 20% by weight of the total composition, but can be adjusted as desired); At least about 2%, more typically about 3 to about 15%, preferably about 7% by weight of
Accounts for about 14 wt%); (c) where the disclosure of such RO (A) _m SO _{3 M} type, in preferably _{RO (CH 2 CH 2 O)} m SO 3 M [wherein, R is C ₁₄ CC ₁₅ (average), m is 2-3 (average), and M is H or a water-soluble salt-forming cation, such as NA ^+. Contains from about 5 to about 25% by weight of the composition
Occupy); optionally (d), wherein the ROSO ₃ M [preferably, wherein, R C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ (average) and is] as disclosed surfactants (surfactant preferably Represents from about 1 to about 10% by weight of the composition); (e) a liquid carrier, especially water or a water-alcohol mixture; (f) an optionally but most preferably effective amount of an enzyme stabilizer (typically (G) a water-soluble polycarboxylate builder (typically about 4 to about 25% by weight of the composition); (h) optionally, any of the various detergent aids described above. Agents, brighteners and the like (typically, if used, from about 1 to about 10
%) And (i) the composition exemplifies a preferred heavy-tuty liquid detergent composition substantially free of LAS.

¹ Preparation ² as described above Protease B is described in European Patent Application No. 87 303761 filed on Apr. 28, 1987, in particular on pages 17, 24 and
The modified bacterial serine protease described on page 98.

³ The lipase used here is described in European Patent Application No. 0 258.
The gene from Humicola lanuginosa was cloned and the gene was cloned as described in Aspergillus oryzae
Lipase obtained by expression in E. coli (commercially available under the trade name LIPOLASE (from Novo Nordisk A / S, Copenhagen, Denmark)).

⁴ The cellulase used here is trade name Kalezyme (CARE
ZYME) (Novo Nordisk A / S in Copenhagen, Denmark).

⁵ Brightener 36 is commercially available as Tinopearl TAS36.

The brightener is added to the composition as a separately prepared premix of brightener (4.5%), monoethanolamine (60%) and water (35.5%).

Example 25 The following illustrates a perborate bleach / bleach activator detergent composition of the present invention prepared by mixing the indicated ingredients in a mixing drum.

In the examples, zeolite A means hydrated crystalline zeolite A containing about 20% water and having an average particle size of 1-10, preferably 2-5μ; LAS is a C _12.3 linear alcohol sodium benzenesulfonate. Means AS; means C ₁₄ -C ₁₅ sodium alkyl sulfate; non-ionic compounds mean coconut alcohol condensed with about 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol and free of unethoxylated and monoethoxylated alcohols. (DTn means sodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate).

^One base granules are prepared by spray drying an aqueous clutcher mixture of the indicated ingredients.

² Freshly prepared sample of PAPAA wet cake [typically about 60% water, about 2% peroxyacid effective enzyme (AvO) (about NAPAA
36%) and the balance (approximately 4%) of unreacted starting material]. The wet cake is a crude reaction product of NAAA (monononylamide of adipic acid), sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide, which is subsequently quenched by addition to water, then filtered and distilled. Wash with water, wash with phosphate buffer and perform a final suction filtration to collect the wet cake. A portion of the wet cake is air dried at room temperature to obtain a dry sample, typically consisting of about 5% AvO (corresponding to about 90% NAPAA) and about 10% unreacted starting material. When dry, the sample pH is about 4.5.

The NAPAA granules are about 51.7 parts of a dried NAPAA wet cake (containing about 10% unreacted material) and a C _12.3 linear sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) paste (45% active).
Prepared by mixing about 11.1 parts, about 43.3 parts of sodium sulfate and about 30 parts of water in a CUISINART mixer. Granules after drying (containing about 47% of NAPAA)
Is sized by passing through a No. 14 Tyler mesh sieve and retaining all particles that do not pass through a No. 65 Tyler mesh. Average amidoperoxy acid particle size (aggregate)
Is about 5 to 40μ and the median particle size is about 10 to 20μ as measured by Malvern particle size analysis.

³ NOBA (nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate) granules were obtained from Boring U.S. Pat.
Prepared according to US Pat. No. 997,596, incorporated herein by reference.

⁴ Zeolite granules having the following composition were prepared by mixing zeolite A with PEG 80 in an Erich R08 energy intensive mixer.
Prepared by mixing with 00 and CuAE6.5T.

PEG 8000 is an aqueous form containing 50% water and contains about 55
It is a temperature of ℃ F (12.8 ° C). CuAE6.5T is in a liquid state and is maintained at about 90 ° F (32.2 ° C). The two liquids are 1
Combine by pumping through a two-element static mixer. The resulting binder material is approximately 75 ° F
The ratio of PEG8000 and CuAE6.5T through a static mixer with an outlet temperature of (23.9 ° C.) and a viscosity of about 5000 cps is 72:28, respectively.

Operate the Eirich R08 energy intensive mixer in batch form. First, 34.1 kg of powdery zeolite A is weighed and supplied to a mixer pan. The mixer first rotates the pan counterclockwise at about 75 revolutions per minute (rpm), and then
Start by rotating the rotor blade clockwise at 1800 rpm. The binder material is then pumped directly from the static mixer to an Erich R08 energy intensive mixer containing zeolite A. The feed rate of the binder material is about 2 minutes. The mixer continues mixing for an additional minute (total batch time about 3 minutes). The batch is then discharged and collected in a fiber drum.

The batch process is repeated until about 225 kg of the wet product has been collected. The discharged product is then passed through a fluidized bed for 240-2.
Dry at 705 ° F (116-132 ° C). The drying process is
Most of the free water is removed and the composition is changed as described above. The total energy input by the mixer to the product in batch form is about 1.18 × 10 ⁹ ergs / kg-s.
31 × 10 ¹² ergs / kg.

The resulting free-flowing aggregate has an average particle size of about 450-500μ
Having.

Example 26 Liquid laundry detergent compositions suitable for use in relatively high concentrations common to front-loading automatic washing machines over a wide range of temperatures, particularly in Europe, are as follows:

^{1 As} SYNPRAX 3 from IC or DTSA from Monsanto.

^{2 As} Protease B as described in EPO 0342177 of November 15, 1989;% at 40 g /.

Amylase from ³ Novo;% at 300 KNU / g.

Lipase from ⁴ Novo;% at 100 KLU /.

Cellulase from ⁵ Novo;% at 5000 CEVU / g.

Available from ⁶ Monsanto.

^{7 As} Lutensol P6105 from BASF.

⁸ Bayer swing hall CPG766.

⁹ Silane corrosion inhibitor available as A1130 from Union Carbide or DYNASYLAN TRIAMINO from Hills.

¹⁰ Polyester of U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,730.

¹¹ Silicone foam control available from Dow Corning as Q2-3302 ¹² Dispersant for silicone foam control available from Dow Corning as DC-3225C.

^★ Preferred fatty acids are topped containing 12% oleic acid and 2% each of stearic and linoleic acid
Palm kernel.

Example 27 A particulate laundry detergent composition suitable for use at relatively high concentrations common to front-loading automatic washing machines over a wide range of temperatures, particularly in Europe, is as follows.

^One socarane is a polyacrylic acid / sodium maleate available from Hoechst.

² penta-phosphonomethyl diethylenetriamine of Monsanto's brand.

³ Optical brightener available from Ciba Geigy.

⁴ Finnfix (trade name) available from Metasariton.

Lipolase lipolytic enzyme from ⁵ Novo.

Savinase protease enzyme from ⁶ Novo.

⁷ X2-3419 is a silicone foam inhibitor available from Dow Corning.

The production method of the granular material includes various types of tower drying, coagulation, dry addition, and the like as follows. The percentages are based on the complete composition.

A. Clutching and blowing through towers Using standard techniques, the following components are
ch) Dry the tower.

Sokalan CP5 3.52% du Quest 2066 0.45% Tinopal DMS 0.28% Zeolite A 7.1% CMC 0.47% as magnesium sulfate 0.49% anhydride B. Surfactant agglomerate B1. Paste and C ₁₂ -C of the sodium salt of tallow alkyl sulfate ₁₅ EO (3) aggregation of the paste of the sodium salt of sulfuric acid - 50% active paste of tallow alkyl sulfate and C ₁₂ ~C ₁₅ EO (3) 70% paste sulfate agglomerate zeolite a and sodium carbonate according to the following formulation ( Contributes to detergent formulation after drying of aggregates).

Tallow alkyl sulphate _{2.82% C 12~15 EO (3)} 1.18% sulphate Zeolite A 5.3% Sodium carbonate 4.5% B2. C ₁₄ ~C ₁₅ alkyl sulfates, C ₁₂ -C ₁₅ alkyl ethoxysulfate, Dobanol C ₁₂ -C ₁₅ EO (3)
And C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ N-methyl glucose amide aggregates -C ₁₆
-C ₁₈ synthesized in glucose Dobanol _C 12~15 EO (3) amide nonionic material is present in the reaction of methyl ester and N- methylglucamine. _C12-15 EO (3)
Acts as a melting point depressant that allows the reaction to take place without producing undesirable cyclic glucose amides.

A surfactant mixture of 20% dovanol C _12-15 EO (3) and 80% C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ N-methylglucoseamide is obtained and co-aggregates with 10% sodium carbonate.

Secondly, then the particles C ₁₄ -C ₁₅ sodium salt and C _{12 to 15} alkyl sulfate EO (3) sulfate and Zeolite A and extra high activity paste and sodium carbonate (70
%). The particles exhibit good dispersibility in cold water of C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ N-methyl glucose amide.

The total formulation of the particles (contributing to the detergent formulation after drying of the agglomerates) is as follows.

C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ N-methylglucose amide 4.1% Dovanol C _12-15 EO (3) 0.94% Sodium carbonate 4.94% Zeolite A 5.3% C ₁₄ -C ₁₅ Sodium alkyl sulfate 3.5% C _12-15 EO (3) Sulfuric acid Sodium 0.59% C. Drying additives Add the following ingredients:

Percarbonate 22.3% TAED (tetraacetyl ethylenediamine) 5.9% Hoechst layered silicate SKS-6 12.90% Citric acid 3.5% Lipolase 0.42% 100,000 LU / g Savinase 4.0KNPU 1.65% Zinc phthalocyanine (photobleach) 0.02% D. Spray-on Dovanol C _12-15 EO (3) 2.60% Fragrance 0.53% E. Foam Inhibitor Silicone foam inhibitor X2-3419 from Dow Corning
(High molecular weight linear silicone 95% to 97%; hydrophobic silica 3
% To 5%) with zeolite A (2-5 μm in size), starch and stearyl alcohol binder. The particles have the following formulation.

Zeolite A 0.22% Starch 1.08% X2-3419 0.22% Stearyl alcohol 0.35% Detergent formulations, for example, use 85 g of detergent at 30 ° C., 40 ° C., 60 ° C. and 90 ° C. cycles in an AEG brand washing machine for European laundry. It exhibits excellent solubility, excellent performance and excellent foam control when used on a machine.

Example 28 In any of the foregoing examples, the fatty acid glucamide surfactant may be replaced by an equivalent amount of a maltamide surfactant or a glucamide / malmamide surfactant derived from a plant sugar source. In compositions, the use of ethanolamide appears to promote cold stability of the finished formulation.
In addition, the use of sulfobetaine (aka "sultaine") surfactants provides excellent foaming properties.

Particularly when high foaming compositions are desired, C ₁₄ or higher fatty acids, because they may suppress the foaming, C ₁₄ or more fatty acids less than about 5%, more preferably less than about 2% Preferably, it is present, most preferably substantially absent. Accordingly, formulators of high foaming compositions desirably avoid introducing low foaming amounts of such fatty acids into high foaming compositions having polyhydroxy fatty acid amides and / or.
Or it will avoid the formation of C ₁₄ or more fatty acids on storage of the finished compositions. One simple means is to use C ₁₂ ester reactants to produce the polyhydroxy fatty acid amides of the present invention. Fortunately, the use of amine oxide or sulfobetaine surfactants can overcome some of the negative foaming effects caused by fatty acids.

Formulators who wish to add anionic optical brighteners to liquid detergents containing relatively high concentrations (eg, 10% or more) of anionic or polyanionic surfactants, such as polycarboxylate builders, It may be useful to premix the brightener with water and the polyhydroxy fatty acid amide, and then add the premix to the final composition.

The polyglutamic acid or polyaspartic acid dispersant can be usefully used together with the detergent containing zeolite builder.
AEE fluids or flakes and DC-544 (Dow Corning) are other examples of other foam control agents useful herein.

The preparation of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides using disaccharides and higher sugars, such as maltose, results in the production of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides in which the linear substituent Z is "blocked" by a polyhydroxy ring structure. Wax will be recognized by those skilled in the art. Such substances are:
It is fully contemplated for use herein and does not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (56) References US Patent 3,676,340 (US, A) French Patent Publication 1580491 (FR, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C11D 1/52 C11D 3/20 C11D 3/32 WPI / L (QUESTEL) EPAT (QUESTEL) CA (STN)

Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] 1. A builder detergent composition comprising one or more anionic detergent surfactants, nonionic detergent surfactants or cationic detergent surfactants, or mixtures thereof, and any detergent adjuvants. (A) at least 1% by weight of the citrate detergency builder; and (b) the formula Wherein R ¹ is H, C ₁ -C ₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or a mixture thereof, R ² is C ₅ -C ₃₁ hydrocarbyl, and Z is directly At least 1% by weight of a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain having at least three linked hydroxyls or an alkoxylated derivative thereof)
A detergent composition containing a builder, comprising: 2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of citrate builder to polyhydroxy fatty acid amide is from 1:10 to 10: 1, preferably from 7: 1 to 1: 5. 3. The detergent composition according to claim 2, wherein said composition comprises at least 5% by weight of said citrate builder and at least 3% by weight of said polyhydroxy fatty acid amide. 4. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amide according to claim 1, wherein R ¹ is methyl, R ² is C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ alkyl or alkenyl, Z is —CH ₂ (CHOH) _n CH ₂ OH, n
The composition of claim 3, wherein is an integer of 3-5. 5. The composition according to claim 1, which is in liquid form and comprises a liquid carrier. 6. An alkyl sulfate, alkyl ester sulfonate, preferably further comprising one or more anionic sulfate or sulfonate surfactant selected from the group consisting of methyl ester sulfonate, alkyl ethoxylated sulfate, and alkyl benzene sulfonate. A detergent composition according to claim 5. 7. The detergent composition according to claim 6, comprising more than 10% by weight of citrate builder. 8. The composition of claim 1, which is in particulate form and contains a solid zeolite builder in addition to said citrate builder. 9. In improving the fabric cleaning performance of a detergent composition containing a polycarboxylate builder in hard water that results in a builder shortage condition, the detergent composition has the formula Wherein R ¹ is H, C ₁ -C ₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or a mixture thereof, R ² is C ₅ -C ₃₁ hydrocarbyl, and Z is at least 3 polyhydroxy hydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with a hydroxyl, preferably a C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ N-methyl glucamide, C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ N-methyl Malta bromide, C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ N-methyl-full Kuta bromide or An improved method comprising blending at least 1% by weight of these mixtures and washing the fabric with a conventional method. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said R ² moiety in said polyhydroxy fatty acid amide is a C ₁₅ -C ₁₇ alkyl, alkenyl, or a mixture thereof. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said carboxylate builder is a citrate builder, preferably at a concentration of at least 5% by weight of said detergent composition.