JPH09169999A - Surfactant article having high concentration and production of granular detergent having high bulk density and containing the surfactant - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a particulate surfactant containing an α-sulfo-fatty acid ester salt in high concentration and having improved powder characteristics and solubility and provide an industrial process for the mass production of a granular detergent containing the surfactant and having similarly excellent powder properties and solubility in high production yield at a low cost. SOLUTION: This particulate surfactant is composed of (A) 30-90wt.% (based on 100wt.% of the total surfactant particles having high concentration) of a powdery or granular α-sulfo-fatty acid ester salt having a water content of <=10wt.%, (B) 1-20wt.% of a nonionic surfactant and/or a polyethylene glycol having a melting point of <40 deg.C and (C) 5-60wt.% of a zeolite. The surfactant particle is produced by mixing the components (A), (B) and (C) and granulating the mixture or spraying the component (B) to the component (A) and coating the product with the component (C).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention has excellent powder physical properties,
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a highly soluble α-sulfofatty acid ester salt high concentration surfactant particle and a method for producing a high bulk density granular detergent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method for producing a high bulk density detergent containing an α-sulfo fatty acid ester salt, a detergent composition containing an α-sulfo fatty acid ester salt is kneaded, mixed and crushed, and then water-insoluble. Method of coating with fine powder (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-597, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 103297/1990)
Publication). However, in these methods α
-There was a limit to increasing the concentration of the sulfo fatty acid ester salt, and it was difficult to improve the water solubility. Further, if the concentration of α-sulfo fatty acid ester salt becomes high, deterioration of powder properties of the detergent particles cannot be avoided.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-345700 discloses detergent particles containing an α-sulfofatty acid ester salt as an essential component and substantially no alkaline substance, and detergent particles containing an alkaline substance. It is described that one of the above is coated with a nonionic surfactant having a melting point of 40 to 70 ° C., polyethylene glycol or zeolite to prevent hydrolysis of the α-sulfo fatty acid ester salt and enhance the detergent power. There is. However, this publication does not suggest any improvement in solubility, and in fact, the effect of improving water solubility is insufficient.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to production of high-concentration surfactant particles having excellent powder physical properties and water solubility and containing α-sulfofatty acid ester salt, and high bulk density granular detergent containing the same. It provides a method.

[0005]

The method for producing high-concentration surfactant particles according to the present invention comprises:
(A) water content of 10% by weight or less, α-sulfo fatty acid ester salt powder granules: 30 to 90% by weight, (B) nonionic surfactant or / and polyethylene glycol having a melting point of less than 40 ° C. : 1 to 20% by weight, (C) zeolite: 5 to 60% by weight, and the above components (A), (B) and (C) are mixed and granulated, or the above (A) component is ( The component (B) is sprayed and then coated with the component (C).
Further, the method for producing a high bulk density granular detergent of the present invention is characterized in that the high concentration surfactant particles described above are mixed with other detergent components.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The α-sulfo fatty acid ester salt as the component (A) has a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid residue having 10 to 20 carbon atoms and an ester alkyl group having 1 carbon atom.
Preferably, the salt is a water-soluble salt such as sodium salt. Typically, it is α-sulfofatty acid methyl ester sodium salt. Α-with a water content of 10% or less
The sulfo fatty acid ester salt powder granules can be obtained by concentrating a slurry of α-sulfo fatty acid ester salt and further drying it if necessary. When the water content of the α-sulfofatty acid ester salt granules exceeds 10%, the powder granules are significantly attached to the inside of the pulverizer during pulverization and melted inside the pulverizer, which makes continuous operation difficult.

The α-sulfofatty acid ester salt powder granules as the component (A) are obtained by pulverizing the α-sulfofatty acid ester salt concentrate, and the particle size is preferably 100 to 1000 μm, and more preferably 200 to 1000 μm. It is 600 μm.
The (A) component α-sulfofatty acid ester salt powder granules are blended in an amount of 30 to 90% by weight, preferably 60 to 85% by weight, based on the high-concentration surfactant particles. If the blending amount is less than 30% by weight, highly concentrated particles or detergent cannot be obtained and flexibility is lost. On the other hand, when it exceeds 90% by weight, the solubility and the physical properties of the powder are remarkably deteriorated.

As the component (B), a nonionic surfactant having a melting point of less than 40 ° C. and / or polyethylene glycol is used. If the melting point is higher than 40 ° C, the solubility of the high-concentration surfactant particles and thus the high bulk density granular detergent cannot be improved. A preferable melting point is 0 to less than 40 ° C. As a nonionic surfactant having such a melting point,
Examples include polypropylene glycol ethylene oxide adduct, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, and fatty acid monoethanol amide.

The polyethylene glycol preferably has a molecular weight of 1000 or less, more preferably 200 to 1000. The component (B) is incorporated in the high concentration surfactant particles of the present invention in an amount of 1 to 20% by weight, preferably 3 to 15% by weight. If the blending amount is less than 1% by weight, the remarkable effect of improving the solubility cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if it exceeds 20% by weight, the physical properties of the powder will be significantly deteriorated. The zeolite as the component (C) is contained in the high concentration surfactant particles of the present invention in an amount of 5 to 60% by weight, preferably 10 to
40% by weight is blended. If the blending amount is less than 5% by weight, the physical properties of the powder will be significantly deteriorated. On the other hand, if it exceeds 70% by weight, the powder physical properties are poor, a high-concentration detergent cannot be obtained, and flexibility is lost.

The high-concentration surfactant particles of the present invention can be produced by using the above-mentioned three components (A), (B) and (C), or by granulating or coating. Granulation can be carried out by, for example, (A), (B), (C)
It can be performed by mixing and granulating the three components.
The coating can be performed, for example, by spraying and impregnating the component (B) with the component (A) and then coating the component (C).

The high-concentration surfactant particles obtained according to the present invention can be directly supplied to the market as a raw material for an active agent for a granular detergent composition for clothes. Further, the high-concentration surfactant particles and other detergent components are powder-mixed to balance the components of the detergent to obtain a high-bulk density detergent composition. The bulk density is preferably 0.5 to 1.0 g / cc, more preferably 0.7 to 0.85 g / cc. This high-bulk density detergent composition also has excellent powder properties and solubility in the same manner as the high-concentration surfactant particles as one component thereof.

The other detergent components may be individually powder-mixed, but some or most of the other components are kneaded, pulverized, agitated and granulated to obtain a high bulk density detergent. It is also possible to granulate the particles and mix the powders. The mixing ratio of the high-concentration surfactant particles and other detergent components is arbitrary,
It is determined by the performance required for the finally obtained high bulk density detergent.

Other detergent ingredients include ordinary detergent ingredients,
For example, anionic and nonionic surfactants, zeolites, inorganic builders such as sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium pyrophosphate, sodium citrate, sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, nitrilotriacetic acid salt, sodium polyacrylate, sodium acrylate- Anhydrous sodium maleate copolymer, calcium capture builder such as polyacetal carboxylate, carbonate, alkali builder such as silicate, carboxymethyl cellulose, antifouling agent such as polyethylene glycol, protease, lipase, cellulase, enzyme such as amylase, Fluorescent agents, fragrances, dyes and the like can be used.

[0014]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, surfactant particles containing α-sulfofatty acid ester salt in a high concentration and having improved powder characteristics and solubility, and powder physical properties and dissolution properties using the same are obtained. A highly bulky granular detergent having excellent properties is obtained. Also, in the production of this high bulk density granular detergent, since high concentration surfactant particles having excellent powder physical properties and solubility can be powder-mixed at the end of the detergent production process, high concentration surfactant particles The blending amount of can be freely changed, and there are few restrictions on the final blending amount of the α-sulfo fatty acid ester salt,
This makes it possible to economically mass-produce a large-volume detergent with a high yield, which is suitable as an industrial production method.

[0015]

【Example】

Examples 1 and 3 and Comparative Example 2 Vertical high-speed stirring granulator Sugi mixer (manufactured by Paulec)
Then, α-SF powder and zeolite having the composition shown in Table 1 below are charged in a feeder, and nonion (or PEG) is added.
Was sprayed into the granulator while being atomized using a two-fluid nozzle, and mixed granulation was continuously performed for 1 to 3 seconds to produce high-concentration surfactant particles. The properties and the solubility evaluated by the following evaluation methods are shown in Table 1.

Method for Evaluating Solubility 1 liter of water at 25 ° C. is put in a beaker, and a cell for measuring conductivity is inserted therein. Then add 1 particle in Table 1 to the water.
g was added and stirred at a speed of 250 rpm using a constant speed stirrer, and the time (seconds) in which the added particles were 90% dissolved was measured.

Example 2 and Comparative Example 1 Using a rolling drum, α-SF powder and granules were mixed with 20 nonionics.
After being atomized and impregnated for 2 seconds, the powdery zeolite was coated for 1 minute to produce high concentration surfactant particles. The properties and the solubility are shown in Table 1.

[0018]

[Table 1] Table 1: Composition, properties, and evaluation results of high-concentration surfactant Example Comparative Example 1 2 3 12 Composition: wt% α-SF: ¹ 80 85 70 80 80 Nonion A * ² 9 − − − − Nonion B * ³ − 5 − − − Nonion C * ⁴ − − − 9 − PEG a * ⁵ − − 10 − − PEG b * ⁶ − − − − 5 Zeolite 10 10 20 10 15 Added water 1 0 0 10 Properties Average particle size (μm) 450 480 500 510 500 Bulk density (g / cc) 0.78 0.77 0.78 0.79 0.77 Angle of repose (°) 40 40 40 47 45 Manufacturability (adhesion) (-) Good Good Good Good Good Good Dissolution Property (sec) 45 45 40 95 105 * 1) α-sulfo fatty acid (C = 16-18) methyl ester sodium salt * 2) (C13) polyoxyethylene alkyl ether (EOp = 25), melting point 36-39 ° C * 3) (C12) polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (EOp = 5), melting point 5 ° C or less * 4) (C12) polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (EOp) 50), melting point 45 to 52 ° C. * 5) Polyethylene glycol (average molecular weight 400), Melting point 4 to 6 ° C. * 6) Polyethylene glycol (average molecular weight 4000), melting point 53 through 57 ° C.

Examples 4 to 7 and Comparative Examples 3 to 4 In a continuous mixing granulator, Proshare mixer (manufactured by Taiheiyo Kiko Co., Ltd.), SOPA, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate and zeolite having the composition shown in Table 2 were fed in a feeder. Put in and spray the nonion into the granulator while atomizing using a two-fluid nozzle, and after continuously granulating, granulate using a Fitzmill (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co.) and other detergent component particles Got The other detergent component particles have a bulk density of 0.83.
The particle size was g / cc, the average particle size was 550 μm, and the angle of repose was 40 degrees.

[0020]

[Table 2] Table 2: Composition of other detergent component particles AOS-K * ¹ 20% by weight SOAP * ² 5% by weight potassium carbonate 15% by weight sodium carbonate 30% by weight nonion * ³ 1% by weight zeolite 22% by weight and others 7 Weight% total 100% by weight * 1) (C14-18) Potassium α-olefin sulfonate * 2) (C16-18) Sodium fatty acid * 3) (C13) Polyethylene ethylene alkyl ether (EOp = 25)

The other detergent component particles and the high-concentration surfactant particles obtained in Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were mixed in the proportions shown in Table 3 below in a continuous mixing granulator, Proshare mixer ( (Manufactured by Taiheiyo Kiko Co., Ltd.), mixed and continuously discharged to produce a high bulk density granular detergent. The properties of this granular detergent and the solubility determined by the following criteria are shown in Table 3 below.

[0022]Evaluation method of solubility (cloth adhesion)  Using a washing machine (swirl type, reversal type), tap water and dark color
A cotton shirt was used. Liquid volume 30L, bath ratio 1:30, warm
After soaking the cloth in tap water at a temperature of 5 ℃, wash the detergent composition
It was sprinkled with g and then washed for 5 minutes. After washing,
After dewatering the wash cloth for 1 minute, the adhesion of the detergent composition to the cloth
The following criteria evaluated. A: No deposit is observed. B: Very little deposit is observed. C: Adhesion is recognized.

[0023]

[Table 3]Table 3: Properties of high bulk density detergent and evaluation results Example Comparative example 4 5 6 7 3 4 High concentration surfactant (wt%) 10 20 30 40 10 20 Other detergent ingredients (% by weight) 90 80 70 60 90 80 High bulk density used Example Example Example Example Example Comparative Example Comparative Example Surfactant particles 1 1 2 3 1 2 Properties Average particle size (μm) 510 500 530 550 500 520 Bulk density (g / cc) 0.83 0.81 0.78 0.77 0.81 0.80 Angle of repose (°) 40 40 45 45 45 45 Solubility A A A A B-C C

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tomoki Kubo 1-3-7 Main Office, Sumida-ku, Tokyo Lion Corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. When the total amount of high-concentration surfactant particles is 100% by weight, (A) a powder of α-sulfofatty acid ester salt having a water content of 10% by weight or less: 30 to 90% by weight, (B) melting point Nonionic surfactant or / and polyethylene glycol of less than 40 ° C .: 1 to 20% by weight, (C) zeolite: 5 to 60% by weight, and mixing the components (A), (B) and (C) A method for producing high-concentration surfactant particles, which comprises granulating by using the above method, or spraying the component (B) on the component (A) and coating the component (C). 2. A method for producing a high bulk density granular detergent, which comprises mixing the high-concentration surfactant particles obtained in claim 1 with other detergent components.