JPH0633424B2 - Cleaning composition having a solvent - Google Patents

Abstract

Alkyl benzene and olefin solvents are used to improve cleaning performance of conventional laundry detergents and hard surface cleaners. Solvent combinations comprising, for example, octyl benzene or 1-decene with a more polar solvent are disclosed for use as cleaning and degreasing solvents.

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to improving the cleaning performance of laundry detergents, hard surface cleaners, etc. by using certain alkylaromatic or olefinic solvents. Mixed solvent systems consisting of said alkyl aromatic or olefinic solvent and other polar solvents are also described. The solvents of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in laundry detergents. In addition to their excellent cleaning properties, the solvents of the invention have the important advantage of having a low pleasant odor which allows great freedom in aromatizing formulations containing such solvents.

Background Various solvent mixtures containing short-chain alkylbenzenes that are likely to be used primarily in extremely heavy duty cleaning, such as motor degreasing and rubber removal from floors, have been described in US Pat. No. 3,658,708 / O.
It is described in LS 1,942,414, US Pat. No. 3,354,093 and DT 2,823,936.

Various organic solvents, such as terpenes and terpene-like compounds, are rather well known for use in hard surface cleaners because of their degreasing ability. Such cleaners often contain solvents such as 10% or more of d-limonene, together with surfactants, which are also well known for their degreasing performance, especially nonionic surfactants. Such compositions have also been suggested to clean carpets. British Patent No. 1,603,047
Issue specification. EPO Application No. 81200540.3 discloses a hard surface cleaner consisting of a mixture of benzyl alcohol, a terpene, a surfactant and other detergent ingredients.

Citrus juice, which contains a relatively small amount of terpenes,
It has been suggested for use in hand soap and dishwashing liquids. U.S. Pat.No. 3,650,968, Mem
ore descriptif No. 873,051 (Brevet Anglais No. 53472 /
77 related to).

Terpineol, for example from pine oil, has been disclosed for use in wet polishing fabrics. Especially 1937
In the year U.S. Pat. No. 2,073,464 disclosed clear compositions which could be prepared from pine oil terpineols such as alpha-terpineol and fatty acid soaps or free acids which were neutralized in situ to alkaline pH.

More recently in Soap Perfumery Cosmetics, 19
April 1983, p. 174, p. 175, suggest that only a small amount of terpene (3%) can be incorporated into a heavy duty liquid detergent.

European Patent Application No. 0072488 suggests that terpenes such as d-limonene may be incorporated into the fabric pretreatment composition as a heterogeneous emulsion. Such emulsions are obviously designed to be placed in relatively small volume containers. The container can be shaken just prior to use to restore slight homogeneity and then dispensed directly onto the fabric by spraying.

A transparent emulsion consisting of water, a surfactant and various other solvents is disclosed by David Zorn in the 3rd International Conference on Surface Activeness, Cologne (1960).

The present invention includes cleaning applications for certain alkyl aromatic and olefinic solvents, as well as mixtures of such solvents with the preferred polar co-solvents.

The solvents of the present invention are particularly useful in laundry detergents, both in fabric pretreatment methods and through-the-wash, and have excellent removal of greasy soils and stains, as well as excellent fabrics. Provides whiteness maintenance.
Liquid laundry detergents in the form of microemulsions are a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is a combination of a C ₆ -C ₉ alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a polar cosolvent, to a suitable solvent mixture for use in detergent compositions. Such a solvent mixture may comprise the alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon or olefin main cleaning solvent, a polar co-solvent,
In particular phthalates, benzyl alcohol, n-hexanol and so-called "carbitol" type solvents (2- (2-alkoxyethoxy) ethanol, especially "Butyl Carbitol" (TM) and "Cellosolve". It is characterized by comprising a mixture with a polar liquid selected from.

A preferred composition of the present invention comprises a primary cleaning solvent or a primary cleaning solvent / co-solvent mixture from 1% to 30%.
(Preferably 3% to 20%, most preferably 5% to 15%)
And a highly preferred composition contains n-octylbenzene or 1-decene or 1-dodecene as the main cleaning solvent. For the best performance of liquid laundry detergents, such compositions also contain a cosolvent selected from diethyl phthalate, benzyl alcohol or butyl carbitol.

Detergent compositions containing the solvents and mixtures described above, and methods for cleaning surfaces, especially fabrics, using such compositions also form part of the invention.

All percentages and ratios mentioned herein are by weight unless otherwise noted. All ingredients are available from commercial sources.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Main Cleaning Solvent This term is hereinafter abbreviated as PCS. The PCS materials used in this invention are of two types: alkyl aromatic and olefinic.

As disclosed in the prior art, alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons having relatively short chain alkyl groups are known to be used in degreasing solvent mixtures, and such short chain solvents are used in the present invention. It is not intended to be done. In fact, the liver poisoning of short chain alkylbenzenes (eg toluene) and their unpleasant odors render such solvents unusable in general purpose laundry and cleaning compositions. Surprisingly, long chain alkylbenzenes (alkyl C _{10 and} above) have now been found to exhibit undesirable soil redeposition properties when used in fabric laundry baths. In contrast, C ₆ -C ₉ alkyl benzenes (especially octyl benzene) gives good performance without soil redeposition problems in laundry baths, and have a low pleasant odor reminiscent of almond extract. Therefore, such a material is not suitable for PCS in the embodiment of the present invention.
Preferred for use as a substance.

Olefins, especially alpha-olefins, are a second class of PCS materials that can be used in the practice of this invention. Generally, the olefins used in the present invention have a boiling point of at least about 100.
Selected from liquids having a temperature of ° C. In general, chain branching can affect the boiling point in a known manner, but such olefins have at least 8 carbons. Alpha-olefins are particularly preferred in the present invention, with 1-decene being the most preferred PCS material. However, 1-dodecene may be preferred over 1-decene for some detergent applications due to its excellent odor properties.

Co-solvent It should be understood that the detergent compositions of the present invention work well when only PCS material is used. However, PCS materials are essentially non-polar solvents. As such, they are particularly suitable for cleaning non-polar stains and stains. It is particularly advantageous to blend the PCS material with a polar co-solvent to give a broader spectrum of stain removal.

Various polar substances such as alcohols, esters, ketones and the like can be used as cosolvents. However, particularly preferred co-solvents are penzyl alcohol, C _{4 to} C ₁₂
It is now found to consist of alcohol, "carbitol" (ie, ethoxyethanol), and diesters of phthalic acid.

Preferred cosolvents in the present invention are benzyl alcohol,
“Butylcarbitol” (ie 2- (2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol), and dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dipropyl phthalate, or dibutyl phthalate, especially diethyl phthalate. Dioctyl phthalate and diisononyl phthalate can also be used.

The PCS / cosolvent mixture of the present invention generally comprises a PCS to cosolvent ratio of 10: 1 to 1:10, preferably 5: 1 to 1: 5. In liquid laundry detergents there is preferably more PCS than co-solvent, usually in the ratio 5: 1 to 5: 4.

Formulation Ingredients PCS substances, or PCS / co-solvent mixtures, are added to aqueous laundry liquors, hard surface cleaning baths, smeared directly on spots or spots, or otherwise used "neat". It should be understood that excellent stain / spot removal benefits can be achieved. However, in a preferred manner, the solvent of the present invention comprises typical detergent ingredients well known in the washing art, such as detergent surfactants, detergency builders, bleaches, bleach activators, enzymes, antifoams and the like. Used as a fully formulated composition.

As can be seen from the above disclosure, such conventional detergent ingredients are used in the present invention in conventional amounts and concentrations.

Importantly, in liquid detergent formulations, the solvents of the present invention provide relatively high amounts of fatty acids (15% to 25% and higher, depending on the solvent), which provide important detergency builder function. It can be used in combination with soap.

Detergent Surfactants The compositions of the present invention will typically contain organic surfactants (“surfactants”) to provide the usual cleaning benefits associated with the use of such materials. Let's do it.

Detergent surfactants useful in the present invention are, for example, the well-known synthetic anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and zwitterionic surfactants. Typical of these are alkylbenzene sulfonates, which are well known from the washing art,
Alkyl sulphates and alkyl ether sulphates, paraffin sulphonates, olefin sulphonates, alkoxylated (especially ethoxylated) alcohols and alkylphenols, amine oxides, α-sulphonates of fatty acids and α-sulphonates of fatty acid esters and the like. In general, such detergent surfactants, C ₉ -C
_{Contains 18} alkyl groups. Although anionic detergent surfactants can be used in the form of their sodium, potassium or triethanolammonium salts, the presence of magnesium cations in the composition usually indicates that at least some of the anionic surfactant is present. It should be understood that it is meant to be in the form of the magnesium salt. Nonionic surfactants generally contain from about 5 to about 17 ethylene oxide groups. U.S. Pat.No. 4,111,855
No. 3,995,669 enclose a detailed listing of such typical detergent surfactants. C ₁₁ -C ₁₆ alkyl benzene sulfonates, C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ paraffin sulfonates and alkyl sulfates, and ethoxylated alcohols and ethoxylated alkyl phenols are especially preferred in the compositions of the present invention.

The surfactant component can be as much as 1% of the composition, but preferably the composition comprises from 1% to 40% surfactant.
%, Preferably 10% to 40%. Mixtures of ethoxylated nonionic and anionic surfactants such as alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl sulphates and paraffin sulphonates have been found to allow wide spectrum stains and stains to pass through the fabric.
Preferred for wash cleaning. Such surfactants and mixtures typically have an HLB of 20 or higher.

Carrier The solvent of the present invention is preferably used in a liquid composition. However, they may be formulated as granules by means of spraying onto an inert solid carrier such as attapulgite, sodium sulfate and the like. Alternatively, the solvent is a conventional solid cleaning component such as sodium perborate, sodium orthophosphate or sodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, zeolite (especially 1-10 micron hydrated zeolite A) or smectite clay fabric softener. % To 60% can be sprayed onto the spray-dried detergent granules. In yet another mode, the solvent may be microencapsulated in friable or water-soluble capsules and mixed with the granular detergent.

Polyamines Polyamine substances work together with solvents in many greases.
Solid substances present in ecchymosis (eg motor oil stains
Carbon black in, clay in cosmetic stains and coloring
The composition may optionally be distributed due to its ability to remove
It is a combined ingredient. As used herein, "polyamid"
The term "n" generally refers to those amine forms and
Means both alkoxylated polyamines in quaternized form
It should be understood that Such substances are
Experimentally structured molecules with repeating units(In the formula, R is usually a hydrocarbyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.
R; R'is C₁~ C₂₀Can be hydrocarbons; arco
The xy group is polyethoxy, polypropoxy, etc.
Ethoxy has a degree of polymerization of 2 to 30, most preferably 10 to 20.
X; at least 2, preferably 2 to 20, most preferred
Is an integer from 3 to 5, and X Is the quaternization reaction
Derived anions such as halides or methylsulf
Can be conveniently represented as). Anion X Is
It is not critical to the performance of the polyamine in the present invention, and
It is described only for the completion of the above formula.

The most highly preferred polyamines for use in the present invention are the so-called ethoxylated polyethyleneimines, namely those of the general formula (Wherein x is an integer of 3 to 5 and y is an integer of 10 to 20), which is a polymerization reaction product of ethylene oxide and ethyleneimine.

The polyamine will typically make up at least about 0.2% of the preferred compositions of the invention, generally 0.5% to 5%.

Other Ingredients Optionally Incorporated The compositions may contain other ingredients that aid in their cleaning performance. For example, through-the-wash detergent compositions are highly preferred to contain detergent builders and / or sequestrants. Compounds that can be classified as detergent builders and are well known in the art include, for example, nitrilotriacetate, polycarboxylates, citrates, water soluble phosphates such as tripolyphosphate and sodium orthophosphate and sodium pyrophosphate, silicates, and mixtures thereof. Is. Sequestrants include, for example, all of the above, and materials such as ethylenediaminetetraacetate, aminopolyphosphonates and phosphates (DEQUEST) and various other polyfunctional organic acids and salts (too many to be mentioned herein. It is not detailed). See U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,454 for typical examples of the use of such materials in various cleaning compositions. Generally, builders /
The sequestrant will make up about 0.5% to 15% of the composition. Citrate is one of the most preferred builders because it is readily soluble in the aqueous phase of heavy duty liquid detergent compositions. Such ingredients are also useful in hard surface cleaners.

A source of magnesium ions can be used in the composition to facilitate grease removal. Besides magnesium hydroxide, water-soluble salts such as magnesium chloride, magnesium acetate, magnesium sulphate, etc. can be used.

The laundry composition of the present invention preferably also contains an enzyme to enhance through-the-wash cleaning performance against various stains and stains. Suitable amylase and protease enzymes for use in detergents are well known in the technical and commercially available liquid detergents and granular detergents. Commercial detergent enzyme (preferably a mixture of amylase and protease) is present in the composition at 0.001%.
It is typically used in amounts of ~ 2M and higher. Ingredients such as propanediol and / or formate and calcium can be added by well known methods to stabilize the enzyme as desired by the formulator.

In addition, the composition may contain, in addition to known ingredients, various other ingredients typically used in commercial products to provide aesthetic or additional product performance benefits. . Typical ingredients are, for example, pH adjusting agents, perfumes, dyes, optical brighteners, soil suspending agents, hydrotrope and gel control agents, freeze / thaw stabilizers, bactericides, preservatives, control agents and the like. Such ingredients typically represent 0.1% of the formulation.
Will make up ~ 10%.

Water or water / alcohol (eg ethanol, isopropanol, etc.) mixtures are used as carrier vehicles, and alkylated polysaccharides can be used to enhance the stability and performance properties of the composition.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The following examples describe various formulations that can be prepared by the method of the present invention. The examples are given by way of illustration and do not limit the scope of the invention. In the polyamine-containing formulations below, the symbols "x" and "y" are written in parentheses to indicate the degree of polymerization and alkoxylation of the polyamine. In the case of some polyamines, the designation R'is also included, thereby indicating a quaternized polyamine. In the case of such quaternized materials, the resulting X ^- anion is not important for cleaning performance and is not displayed.

Heavy Duty Liquid Detergents Special attention is directed to highly preferred formulations that are particularly useful as heavy duty liquid detergents suitable for laundering all fabrics in typical home laundry operations. The heavy-duty liquid detergents described below are formulated using various detergent ingredients to provide excellent cleaning of various stains and stains, with particular notable benefits relating to cosmetic and dirty motor oil stains.

It should be understood that the following formulations are in the form of oil-in-water emulsions (where the solvent is believed to be the "oil" phase) and are substantially clear, homogeneous and stable microemulsions. . Surprisingly, when used in the pretreatment method, the oil-in-water microemulsions of the present invention are comparable in degreasing performance to water-in-oil emulsions with significantly higher concentrations of solvent. The composition also exhibits excellent whiteness retention on cotton fabrics, as the solvent apparently reduces the accumulation of fatty acid soaps on the fabric surface. These performance advantages are especially significant after multiple cycle washes.

The preparation of stable heavy duty liquid detergents in the form of their preferred oil-in-water microemulsions pays attention to the use of water carrier liquids, fatty acids / soaps as detergency builder / emulsion stabilizer components and gives proper attention to pH.
It is carried out by paying for the adjustment.

Fatty acids and soaps Fatty acids such as lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and their water-soluble salts (ie soaps)
Is used in the composition to provide a clear, uniform formulation containing solvent and water. Mixtures of C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ carbon chain length fatty acids (soaps), such as palm oil acids, coconut oil acids and the like, may be used. Generally, the concentration of fatty acid (or soap) is 5% to 50%, preferably 5% to 35%.
%, Most preferably 10% to 30%, and the weight ratio of fatty acid (or) soap to solvent is generally in the range 4: 1 to 1: 4, preferably 3: 1 to 1: 2. When using a fat soap, the potassium salt form is preferred, but any convenient water soluble salt can be used.

Apart from functioning as microemulsion stabilizers, these fatty acid / soap materials provide important detergency builder functions in the composition. However, about 6.5
It has now been discovered that the presence of fatty acids / soap can actually destabilize the system when formulating higher pH oil-in-water microemulsion compositions. Means for overcoming this destabilization while maintaining a pH above 6.5 in a microemulsion containing a builder amount of fatty acid / cessen are disclosed in detail below.

Water The liquid compositions of the present invention may be suitably characterized as "water-based" as opposed to organic solvent-based cleaners known in the art.

Surprisingly, water can interfere with the solvent's ability to remove grease-like stains from the fabric.

For example, fabrics soiled with motor oil and wet with water prior to treatment with terpene solvent, if any, are not defatted very well. In contrast, the present composition, in which the solvent is microemulsified in water, is an excellent grease-like stain remover when used directly on dry or wet fabrics.

Aside from the obvious environmental and safety benefits of water versus organic solvents and low cost, water-based heavy-duty liquid detergents typically contain components that are water-soluble, such as most cleaning products. It has the advantage of facilitating formulation with regard to power builders, disinfectants, chelating agents, soil suspending agents, pH control agents, etc.

Thus, the composition presents the flexibility advantages of water-based formulations along with the excellent degreasing properties of solvent-based compositions.

As described in more detail below, the composition generally contains 10% to 70% water, preferably 20% to 50%. The weight ratio of water to solvent is generally 10: 1 to 1: 1, preferably 5: 1 to 2: 1.

pH Stabilizer As is well known in the cleaning art, it is preferred that the detergent composition be used in the range from near neutral to alkaline pH, ie pH 6.5 or above. This is for various reasons.
For example, many soils are partially peptized or emulsified by the alkalinity itself. And, many commercially available detergent enzymes (eg, "alkaline proteases") work optimally in alkaline laundry liquors.

It has now been discovered that stable oil-in-water microemulsion detergent compositions containing builder amounts of fatty acids / soaps are destabilized when their "as is" pH is adjusted to above about 6.5. (Instability is recognized
The pH can vary slightly depending on the particular degreasing solvent used in the microemulsion, its amount, and the chain length and degree of unsaturation of the fatty acids). This problem is especially acute in the case of substantially non-polar hydrocarbon degreasing solvents such as alkylbenzenes and α-olefins.

The problem of stability is a very narrow pH range, roughly 6.5-6.
It seems to be caused by fatty acids of about 2 HLB which are almost completely converted to soaps of about 20 HLB over 9. Thus, because fatty acids are present in substantial amounts (above about 5%), the major migration of HLB disrupts the emulsifying system HLB,
And destabilization occurs.

It should be understood that the stability of the formulation can theoretically be achieved by proper selection of surfactants with low HLB. For example, nonionic surfactants could be used, such as _C14-15 alcohols with low ethoxylate numbers (1-3). However, such low HLB surfactants do not perform well as detergent surfactants, and the purpose of the present invention is not only to provide stable microemulsions, but also good pretreatment and slew-through.
The wash is to give detergency.

The microemulsion is stabilized by increasing the ionic strength of the aqueous phase, or by adding a solvent-soluble component of low HLB which increases the solvent polarity to the solvent phase, or by using both means simultaneously. Things are now being found.

In particular, the addition of water-soluble high ionic strength components, such as formates, sulphates, citrates, etc., increases stability. In contrast, the addition of water-soluble low ionic strength substances such as ethanol has no stabilizing effect.

In addition, a component of HLB, which is slightly polar but low in solvent solubility,
For example, the addition of n-hexanol, benzyl alcohol, diethyl phthalate, etc. increases stability.

The combined use of the ionic strength component and the solvent-soluble component further enhances the stability. Of course, the formulator can select the ingredients not only to increase the stability of the microemulsion, but also to provide optimal cleaning benefits. For example, formulators have found that citrate as an ionic strength imparting agent that also has detergency builder properties, formate as an ionic strength imparting agent that also stabilizes cleaning enzymes, and a low HLB component that also serves a useful cosolvent cleaning function. As n-
Hexanol or benzyl alcohol or diethyl phthalate can be selected.

The amount of ionic strength component or low (eg 2 to 5) HLB solvent soluble component used in the composition, or both, is desired pH, concentration of fatty acids, amount of degreasing solvent, composition of detergent surfactant system, etc. Will be somewhat dependent on. True microemulsions are clear, but cloudy and uneven,
The stability of microemulsions can be monitored rather easily, since they finally phase separate in terms of instability. Furthermore, true oil-in-water microemulsions become cloudy when diluted with water, while oil-in-water emulsions tend to gel and the micellar oil + water system remains clear.

For adjusting the pH of the composition, any of the well known base materials may be used, such as triethanolamine, alkali metal hydroxides and the like. Potassium hydroxide is preferred over sodium hydroxide because the ease of formulating a stable system is substantially increased by the potassium cation.

Nitrogen-Containing Stabilizers / pH Adjusters It has now been discovered that quaternary ammonium compounds and amines constitute a highly preferred class of pH adjusters and stabilizers in the oil-in-water microemulsion detergent compositions of the present invention. Apparently, the quaternary compound or amine associates slightly with the fatty acid or anionic surfactant to form a microemulsified oil (solvent) stabilizing complex. Quaternary compounds and amines do not raise the pH too much towards the alkaline range (a few tenths, three times as measured on "as is" formulated products).
PH units only), the resulting enhancement in cleaning performance is substantial.

Dioctyldimethylammonium chloride is a highly preferred quaternary compound for use in the present invention as a pH adjuster, but in order of preference of use, the following quaternary compounds, namely coconut trimethylammonium chloride ( 6.66), dicoconut dimethylammonium chloride (6.84), coconut benzylmethylammonium chloride (6.84), and dihexyldimethylammonium chloride (6.89). The numbers in parentheses indicate the pH achievable by adding each quaternary compound to a liquid oil-in-water microemulsion containing fatty acids and formulated "as is" at pH 6.5. In the case of the preferred dioctyldimethylammonium chloride, the pH figure is 6.94.

Alkylamines or cycloalkylamines such as coconut diethanolamine, coconut alkyldimethylamine, trioctylamine and cyclohexylamine (most preferred) are added in compositions of 0.1-5 to adjust the pH to values as high as 7.5. % May be used. The product "as is" pH is measured at ambient temperature (23 ° C) using a commercial pH meter. The electrodes are dipped into the product and the pH meter is stabilized before reading.

Highly preferred, well-formulated compositions are in liquid form, which can be prepared by simply blending the essential and optionally formulating ingredients in an aqueous carrier. The stability of microemulsions can be assessed visually by watching for phase separation, or can be monitored more quantitatively by standard turbidity measurement techniques.

In one process aspect, the composition is a small amount of composition (m
It can be used to pretreat soiled fabrics by rubbing l) directly onto or into the soiled area and then laundered by standard methods. In the Through The Wash process, the composition is used to wash fabrics, typically at a concentration of at least 500 ppm, preferably 0.1% to 1.5%, in an aqueous laundry bath at pH 6.5 or above. To be done. Laundry
It can be carried out in the range from 5 ° C to boiling and gives excellent results.

For use on hard surfaces as a rug cleaner and as a general purpose cleaner, the composition is diluted with water or at full strength, all using standard methods.

Alternatively, the preferred PCS / cosolvent mixture can be used at sufficient strength, eg as a degreasing agent, or can be separately packaged as a laundry additive or the like.

The following examples illustrate the practice of the invention, but are not limiting. Examples I-IV illustrate highly preferred liquid laundry detergents.

The oil-in-water microemulsion of the present invention has the advantage that it can be placed in a polyethylene container without affecting the polyethylene container.

Example I The composition of Example I is a stable oil-in-water microemulsion suitable for use as a laundry detergent.

Example II The composition of Example I contains the same amounts (9.1% of the total formulation) of 1-decene and 1 instead of n-octylbenzene, respectively.
-Modified by using dodecene. The “as is” product pH is 6.6.

Example III The composition of Example I was prepared by replacing one of the solvent mixtures below with n-octylbenzene (% relative to the total formulation is specified in parentheses): 1-decene (6.1%) /
Diethyl phthalate (3.0%), 1-dodecene (7.3
%) / 1-dodecanol (1.8%), n-octylbenzene (6.2%) / diethyl phthalate (2.9%),
It is modified by using n-octylbenzene (6.0%) / butyl carbitol (3.1%), 1-decene (7.3%) / hexyl cellosolve (1.8%). The raw product pH is 6.6.

Example IV The compositions of Examples I, II, and III add sufficient cyclohexylamine (preferred) or dioctyldimethylammonium chloride to adjust the pH of the composition "as is" from 6.6 to 7.3. Will be fixed by The resulting composition exhibits very good fabric cleaning and whiteness maintenance.

Example V The composition of Example I is modified by substituting any of the following alkoxylated polyamines A, B or C having the general formula above in place of the ethoxylated polyamine.

Polyamine A: x = 2, y = 2, R = ethylene, alkoxyethoxy Polyamine B: x = 20, y = 30, R = propylene, alkoxy = propoxy Polyamine C: x = 3, y = 15, R = ethylene, Alkoxy = ethoxy, R '= butyl The alkoxylated polyamine contributes to the clay soil removal performance of the composition.

Example VI A spray-dried granular detergent is prepared by standard methods using the following typical ingredients in the usual amounts.

1.5 parts of n-octylbenzene are pre-emulsified with soap and sprayed evenly into 100 parts of the granules prepared by the method to improve the cleaning performance in a domestic fabric washing operation.

Another olefin solvent preferred in the present invention due to its relatively low odor is the so-called "P" available in the detergent industry from many petrochemical companies as a raw material for branched alkylbenzenes.
-4 "polymer. P-4 is an isomer mix of the condensation product of 4 moles of propylene, i.e., C ₁₂ branched olefins. P-4 is non-polar and is preferably used in combination with polar solvents such as benzyl alcohol, diethyl phthalate, butyl carbitol and the like.

Other polar solvents useful in the present invention, for example, "Cellosolve", for example, alkoxylated alkanols, such as 2-butoxyethanol; (including benzyl alcohol) C ₆ -C ₁₂ alkanols such as dodecanol, phenethyl alcohol, and di glycol ether acetates Etc.

Example VII The following composition of PCS and polar co-solvent is particularly preferred for use in liquid cleaning and spot remover compositions.

Compositions VII (A-J) can be applied "raw" to remove spots and stains from the fabric, or can be added to an aqueous cleaning batch containing conventional detergent ingredients.

In a preferred use aspect, the composition is used for laundering fabrics, preferably in an aqueous laundry liquor having a liquid pH of 6.5-8.0 (measured as 1% composition in the water column). Excellent cleaning is achieved by agitating the fabric especially in this preferred in-use pH range of wash liquor.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor James, Piootto, Gyonston Belgium 1900 Belgium, Oberrice, Weiderern, 17 (56) References JP-A-60-106898 (JP, A) JP-A-60- 212499 (JP, A)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A compound selected from (a) a C ₆ -C ₉ alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon, and (b) a phthalic acid ester, a C ₆ -C ₁₂ alcohol, an alkoxyalkanol solvent and a 2- (2-alkoxyethoxy) ethanol solvent. Solvent mixture suitable for use in detergent compositions, characterized in that it comprises a polar co-solvent, characterized in that the weight ratio of said components (a) to (b) is from 10: 1 to 1:10. 2. The solvent mixture according to claim 1, wherein the alkylaromatic solvent is octylbenzene. 3. A solvent mixture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the phthalate ester cosolvent is diethyl phthalate or dibutyl phthalate. 4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cosolvent is selected from 2- (2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol, benzyl alcohol, 2-butoxyethanol, phenethyl alcohol and dodecanol. The solvent mixture described. 5. Solvent mixture according to claim 1, additionally containing water and in the form of an oil-in-water microemulsion.