MX2008007333A - Liquid laundry detergent having improved brightener stability - Google Patents

Abstract

Liquid laundry compositions containing having improved brightener stability, which contain from about 6%to about 20%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component that includes from about 1%to about 6%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a mid-branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant having an average carbon chain length of from about 16 to about 17 and from about 0.5%to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of an HLAS surfactant selected from alkyl benzene sulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10- 16 alkyl benzene sulfonic acids, in combination with from about 0.03%to about 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, a water-insoluble optical brightener having a water solubility when measured at about 50°C of from 0 to about 2g/l;and from about 0.5%to about 4%, by weight of the laundry composition, of monethanolamine, wherein the ratio of HLAS surfactant to a total amount of surfactant, on a weight basis, is from about 1:14 to about 5:7;the ratio of monoethanolamine to the total amount of surfactant is from about 1:15 to about 1:4;and the ratio of water insoluble brightener to the total amount of surfactant is lower than about 1:100. Methods of improving the deposition of a water-insoluble brightener onto fabrics using such compositions.

Description

LIQUID DETERGENT FOR LAUNDRY THAT DISPLAYS BETTER STABILITY OF THE POLISHER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to detergent compositions for laundry with a better stability of the water-insoluble brightener, containing primary alkyl sulfate branched in the middle of the chain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Consumers have numerous laundry treatment compositions for washing clothes and other fabrics in traditional washing machines. However, for consumers it is still difficult to remove some residues and / or stains from cloth items. Frequently, detergent manufacturers increase the amount of surfactants in their detergent products to provide better cleaning. However, increasing the amount of surfactants produces an additional cost in the entire product that must be absorbed by the manufacturer or transferred to the consumer, both being undesirable options. Increasing surfactant levels also increases the possibility of damaging or discoloring fabrics, which is extremely undesirable for the consumer. In addition, due to the excessive increase produced lately In the costs of petrochemical derivatives, such as certain surfactants, detergent manufacturers have faced even greater problems in formulating cost-effective laundry detergent compositions that provide better cleaning. Optical brighteners are known in the industry for their use in laundry detergent compositions and, when deposited on fabrics, provide a visual benefit. It is convenient to include them in liquid laundry detergent compositions, as they can make white clothes look whiter or colored clothes look brighter and, therefore, look as good as new. To be deposited on fabrics, optical brighteners that are more insoluble in water are preferred. However, these brighteners are characterized by being more difficult to formulate stably in liquid aqueous laundry compositions. When used in sufficient amounts, it is known that monoethanolamine (MEA) acts as a counter-ion for optical brighteners and thus provides better rinse aid stability. However, the level of MEA in a laundry detergent product should be limited to a certain extent in order to avoid the problems of bad odor in the finished product and the residual malodor that is deposited on the fabrics washed with the detergent. The primary alkylsulfate surfactants branched in the middle of the chain, having an average carbon chain length of about 14 to about 17 (MBAS surfactants, by their acronyms in English), are known to provide good cleaning properties. MBAS surfactants exhibit good cleaning properties when used as a primary base surfactant as well as when used at a lower level in combination with other surfactants or in low surfactant detergent compositions. However, it has been found that when low absolute levels are included in a high performance liquid laundry detergent composition (HDL), MBAS surfactants with a carbon chain length of about 16 to 17 ( also referred to as "HSAS surfactants"), generally provide better cleaning than those with other chain lengths. However, the use of HSAS surfactants generally produces an increase in the hydrophobicity of the surfactant system. Without being limited by theory, surprisingly, it has been found that this increased hydrophobicity of the surfactant system seems to lead to a decrease in the stability of the brightener, even when combined with water-insoluble brighteners. A person of ordinary experience would have expected, on the contrary, a better solubility of the water-insoluble brightener due to the higher hydrophobicity of the surfactant system. Accordingly, there is still a need for a liquid laundry detergent composition that provides good cleaning and contains water-insoluble optical brightener and also includes the ability to reduce overall surfactant levels by the use of branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactants in the middle of the chain, having an average carbon chain length of from about 16 to about 17.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Surprisingly, it has now been found that it is possible to formulate laundry detergents, especially high performance liquid laundry detergents containing surfactants of branched primary alkyl sulphates in the middle of the chain, having an average carbon chain length of about 16 to about 17, and optical brighteners, to include HLAS surfactants in order to provide better stability of the water-insoluble rinse aid, good fabric cleaning and cost-effectiveness. The compositions according to the present invention are described in detail below. Accordingly, the invention encompasses a liquid laundry detergent composition, wherein the laundry composition contains an optical brightener and exhibits improved rinse aid stability. These liquid laundry compositions contain from about 6% to about 20%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component; from about 0.03% to about 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of the optical brightener, in wherein the optical brightener is a water-insoluble optical brightener having a solubility in water, when measured at about 50 ° C, from 0 to about 2 g / l; and from about 0.5% to about 4%, by weight of the laundry composition, of monoethanolamine. The surfactant component contains from about 1% to about 6%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a branched primary alkylsulfate surfactant in the middle of the chain, having an average carbon chain length of from about 16 to about 17, and from about 0.5% to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a HLAS surfactant selected from alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids. In addition, the ratio of HLAS surfactant to the total amount of surfactant, based on weight, is from about 1: 14 to about 5: 7; the ratio of monoethanolamine to the total amount of surfactant is from about 1: 15 to about 1: 4; and the ratio of water-insoluble brightener to the total amount of surfactant is less than about 1: 100. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the surfactant component contains from about 1% to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of HLAS surfactant. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the ratio of HLAS surfactant to the component surfactant, based on weight, is from about 1: 14 to about 1: 2. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the laundry composition contains from about 0.2% to about 4%, by weight of the composition, of monoethanolamine, and wherein the ratio of monoethanolamine to the total amount of surfactant is from about 1: 12 to about 1: 6. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the ratio of water-insoluble brightener to total amount of surfactant is less than about 1: 130. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the optical brightener insoluble in water has a solubility in water, measured at about 50 ° C, from about 0.2 g / l to about 2 g / l. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the water-insoluble optical brightener is selected from 4,4'-bis. { [4-anilino-6-morpholino-s-triazine-2-yl] amino} -stilbene disodium 2,2'-disulfonate; 4,4'-bis- (2-sulphotryryl) biphenyl disodium; 4,4'-bis [. { 4,6-di-anilino-s-triazine-2-yl] -amino} -stilbene disodium 2,2'-disulfonate; and mixtures of these. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the laundry composition comprises from about 0.03% to about 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of the optical brightener.

In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the HLAS surfactant is selected from C11-14 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the HLAS surfactant is selected from linear alkylbenzene sulfonates and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the HLAS surfactant is selected from linear sodium alkylbenzene sulphonates and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the composition contains from about 0.5% to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a HLAS surfactant selected from alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10-alkylbenzenesulfonic acids. 16 In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the surfactant component further includes an additional surfactant selected from anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, methyl ester sulfonates, amine oxide, other cationic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the additional surfactant is selected from AES, non-ionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the surfactant component includes in addition to about 0.2% to about 3% of an additional surfactant selected from nonionic surfactants. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the laundry composition further includes from about 0.5% to about 1.5%, by weight of the laundry composition, of borax. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the laundry composition has a pH of about 8.0 to about 8.7. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the laundry composition is transparent or translucent. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the laundry composition is stored in a container, wherein the container is transparent or translucent. In other embodiments, the invention is directed to compositions wherein the laundry composition further comprises an additional laundry ingredient selected from additives, additional brighteners, dye transfer inhibitors, structuring agents, chelating agents, polyacrylate polymers, dispersing agents, dyes , perfumes, processing aids, bleaching compounds, solvents, enzymes, microcapsules, globules, polymers for the release of dirt, and mixtures thereof. Another aspect of the invention provides liquid laundry detergent compositions containing an optical brightener and exhibiting improved rinse aid stability, wherein the composition contains: from about 6% to about 20%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component; from about 0.03% to about 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of the optical brightener, wherein the optical brightener is a water insoluble optical brightener having a solubility in water when measured at about 50 ° C; and from about 0 to about 2 g / l, and the optical brightener is selected from 4,4'-bis. { [4-anilino-6-morpholino-s-triazine-2-yl] amino} -stilbene disodium 2,2'-disulfonate; 4,4'-bis- (2-sulfoestyril) biphenyl disodium; 4,4'-bis [. { 4,6-di-anilino-s-triazine-2-yl] -amino} -stilbenn 2,2 'disulfonate disodium; and mixtures of these; and from about 0.5% to about 4%, by weight of the laundry composition, of monoethanolamine. The surfactant component contains from about 1% to about 6%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a branched primary alkylsulfate surfactant in the middle of the chain having an average carbon chain length of from about 16 to about 17., and from about 0.5% to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a HLAS surfactant selected from alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids. The composition further includes a ratio of HLAS surfactant to the total amount of the surfactant component, based on weight, from about 1: 14 to about 5: 7.; a ratio of monoethanolamine to total surfactant of about 1: 15 at about 1: 4, and a water-insoluble brightener ratio with respect to the total surfactant that is less than 1: 100. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for improving the deposit on the fabrics of a water insoluble polish, wherein the method comprises, at least, the step of: A) formulating a laundry liquid detergent containing: a) from about 6% to about 20%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component comprising: i) from about 1% to about 6%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant in the middle of the chain having an average carbon chain length of from about 16 to about 17; ii) from about 0.5% to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a HLAS surfactant selected from alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids; b) from about 0.03% to about 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of the optical brightener, wherein the optical brightener is a water-insoluble optical brightener having a solubility in water, when measured at about 50 ° C, from 0 to about 2 g / l; and c) from about 0.5% to about 4%, by weight of the laundry composition, of monoethanolamine; wherein the ratio of the HLAS surfactant to the total amount of the surfactant component, based on weight, is from about 1: 14 to about 5: 7; the ratio of monoethanolamine to the total amount of surfactant is from about 1: 15 to about 1: 4; and the ratio of water-insoluble brightener to the total amount of surfactant is less than about 1: 100. B) adding the liquid laundry composition to the wash water of a standard washing machine; C) add the fabrics to the washing water; and D) carry out the washing cycle. The compositions and methods of the present invention are advantageous in providing a better stability of the water-insoluble brightener, while still maintaining good cleaning and a cost-effective surfactant system. These and other additional objects and advantages will be more apparent by virtue of the following detailed description of the invention.

These and other attributes, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those with experience in the industry from reading the present description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The laundry detergent compositions of the present invention are generally liquid. In a specific embodiment, the compositions are liquid in form and comprise high performance liquid compositions. All percentages and proportions used herein are expressed by weight of the total composition and all measurements made were made at 25 ° C unless otherwise indicated. The compositions of the present invention may include, consist essentially of or consist of the components of the present invention as well as other ingredients described herein. As used herein, the term "consists essentially of" refers to the fact that the composition or component may include additional ingredients, but only if these do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed compositions or methods. All percentages, parts and proportions are expressed based on the total weight of the liquid laundry detergent compositions described in the present invention, unless otherwise specified. shape. All these weights, which correspond to the listed ingredients, are based on the active level and, therefore, do not include carriers or by-products that could be included in the materials available in the market., unless otherwise specified. It has now been found that a liquid laundry composition containing from about 6% to about 20%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component containing from about 1% to about 6%, by weight of the composition for laundry, of a branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant in the middle of the chain, having an average carbon chain length of from about 16 to about 17, and from about 0.5% to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a HLAS surfactant selected from alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, can be combined with from about 0.03% to about 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a water insoluble optical brightener having a Water solubility, when measured at about 50 ° C, from about 0 to about 2 g / l; and from about 0.5% to about 4%, by weight of the laundry composition, of monoethanolamine, to exhibit better rinse aid stability and good cleaning properties and at the same time maintain the profitability of a lower surfactant system, wherein the The composition also exhibits a ratio of HLAS surfactant to the total amount of the surfactant component, based on weight, from about 1: 14 to about 5: 7; a ratio of MEA with respect to the total surfactant of from about 1: 15 to about 1: 4, and a ratio of water-insoluble polish to total surfactant that is less than 1: 100. Without being limited by theory, it is thought that the presence of surfactants having aromatic rings, such as the HLAS and MLAS surfactants, increases the compatibility of the water-insoluble brightener with the aqueous phase and with the help of minimum levels of the brightener counter-ion. , MEA, counteracts the effects of instability for the HSAS surfactant brightener. This allows to provide a convenient liquid laundry detergent composition that includes water-insoluble brightener (with a good deposit on the fabrics) with good cleaning properties (even with generally low and cost-effective surfactant levels) of the HSAS surfactants, without the undesirable bad smell of higher levels of MEA. The compositions herein may also include a wide variety of other ingredients. Although the specification concludes with the claims that particularly state and clearly claim the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description.

Laundry Detergent Liquid Composition As used herein, "liquid laundry detergent composition" relates to compositions that are useful for cleaning fabrics, fabrics, articles of clothing, and the like. These laundry compositions have a viscosity such that they are pourable or compressible at room temperature.

Water insoluble optical brightener Optical brighteners are well known in the industry for their use in laundry detergent compositions and when they are deposited on the fabrics they offer a visual benefit, since they can make the linen look whiter and the clothes of color Look brighter and, therefore, look as good as new. As used herein, "water-insoluble optical brightener" is related to those optical brighteners having a solubility in water, when measured at about 50 ° C, from 0 to about 2 g / l. In one embodiment, the optical brightener has a solubility in water, when measured at about 50 ° C, from about 0.2 to about 2 g / l. The laundry detergent compositions of the present invention comprise from about 0.03% to about 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of the water-insoluble brightener. The laundry compositions of the present invention include a ratio of water-insoluble brightener with respect to the surfactant component which is less than about 1: 100, alternatively, the ratio of the water-insoluble brightener to the surfactant component is less than about 1: 130. Some examples of water-insoluble brighteners useful herein include 4,4'-bis. { [4-anilino-6-morpholino-s-triazine-2-yl] amino} -stilbene disodium 2,2'-disulfonate (sold on the market under the trade name TINOPAL AMS-GX, by Ciba-Geigy, or by the name of BLANKOPHOR DML, by Miles); 4,4'-bis- (2-sulfostyryl) biphenyl di-sodium (commercially available under the tradename TINOPHAL CBS, by Ciba-Geigy); 4,4'-bis [. { 4,6-di-anilino-s-triazine-2-yl] -amino} -stilbene disodium 2,2'-disulfonate (distributed on the market under the trade name TINOPHAL TAS, by Ciba Geigy), SURFACTANT COMPONENT The laundry compositions of the present invention contain from about 6% to about 20%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component. The surfactant component contains HSAS surfactant, HLAS surfactant and may contain other additional surfactants. As used herein, "HLAS surfactant" refers to alkylbenzenesulfonic acids and alkali metal salts of C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, preferably, C11-14 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids. The alkaline group can be linear and the linear alkylbenzene sulfonates are known as "LAS". Alternatively, the alkali group may be branched, as described in U.S. Pat. num. 6,593,285; 6,596,680; 6,306,817; and 6,589,927. These surfactants are known in the industry as branched alkylbenzene sulphonic acids. Alkylbenzene sulfonates, in particular LAS, are well known in the industry. Such surfactants and their preparation are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. num. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383. An example of a HLAS surfactant is linear sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate, commonly referred to as "NaLAS" (for its acronym in English). In one embodiment, the composition contains from about 0.5% to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of HLAS, and the ratio of HLAS surfactant to the total amount of the surfactant component, based on weight, is about 1: 14 to about 5: 7. In one embodiment, the ratio of HLAS surfactant to the total amount of surfactant component is from about 1: 14 to about 1: 2. As used herein, "HLAS surfactant" should be construed as including mixtures of HLAS surfactants. As used herein, "HSAS surfactant" relates to the class of surfactants of branched primary half chain alkyl sulfates having an average carbon chain length of from about 16 to about 17. In one embodiment, the surfactant component contains 50 % or less, by weight of the surfactant component, of HSAS surfactant. In one embodiment, the composition contains from about 1% to about 6%, by weight of the composition for laundry, of HSAS surfactant. As used in the present, it should be interpreted that "HSAS surfactant" also includes mixtures of HSAS surfactants.

The laundry compositions of the present invention they comprise branched, medium-chain primary alkyl sulfate surfactants having the general formula R R1 R2 I I I CH3CH9 (CH2) wCH (CH2)? CH (CH7) and CH (CH2) zpSO3M Generally, the surfactant component will contain a mixture of at least two primary branched alkyl sulfate surfactants. chain. In one embodiment, the surfactant component will also contain a amount of other surfactant materials and similar byproducts that are present due to the production procedures of those materials. This will be understood by those with ordinary experience in the area of primary alkylsulfate surfactants branched in the middle of the chain.

Mixtures of primary alkyl sulfate surfactants branched half chain of the present invention comprise molecules that have a linear primary alkyl sulphate main chain (ie the Longest linear carbon chain that includes the carbon atom sulfated). These alkylic main chains comprise about 6 to about 16 carbon atoms, alternatively, from about 13 to about 15 carbon atoms; and further the molecules comprise a branched primary alkyl moiety having at least a total of about 14, but not more than about 17, carbon atoms. Also, the mixture of branched half-chain primary alkyl sulfate surfactants has a total average carbon number for the branched primary alkyl portions in the range of about 16 to about 17. Accordingly, the mixtures of the present invention comprise minus a branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant having a longer linear carbon chain of not less than 14 carbon atoms or more than 16 carbon atoms. For example, a primary alkylsulfate surfactant with a total of 16 carbon atoms having 14 carbon atoms in the main chain must have 1 and 2 branching units (ie, R, R1 or R3). Therefore, the total number of carbon atoms in the molecule is from about 16 to about 17. In this example, the requirement of a total of 16 carbon atoms can be satisfied in the same way by having, for example, an ethyl branching unit or two units of methyl branching. R, R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from hydrogen and C C 3 alkyl (alternatively hydrogen or C 1 C alkyl, alternatively hydrogen or methyl, and in one embodiment, are methyl groups), as long as R, R1, and R2 are not all hydrogen. Also, when z is 1, at least R or R is not hydrogen. While for the purposes of the laundry compositions of the present invention the above formula does not include molecules wherein the units R, R1 and R2 are all hydrogen (ie, unbranched linear primary alkyl sulfate surfactants), it must be assumed that the compositions of the present invention may further comprise an amount of unbranched linear primary alkyl sulfate surfactant. In addition, this unbranched, linear primary alkyl sulfate surfactant may be present as a result of the process used to make the medium-chain branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant mixture having one or more of the medium chain branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactants required in accordance with of the present invention or, for the purposes of formulating detergent compositions, a quantity of unbranched, linear primary alkyl sulfate can be mixed in the final formulation of the product. In addition, it should be recognized that the branched non-sulfate medium chain alcohol may comprise some amount of the compositions of the present invention. These materials may be present as a result of the incomplete sulfation of the alcohol used to prepare the medium chain branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant, or these alcohols may be added separately to the detergent compositions of the present invention together with an average branched alkyl sulfate surfactant. chain according to the present invention.

M is hydrogen or a salt-forming cation that depends on a synthesis method. Examples of salt-forming cations are lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, alkyl quaternary amines with the formula wherein R3, R4, R5 and R6 are, independently, hydrogen, C-C22 alkylene, branched C4-C22 alkylene, C6-C alkanol, CT-C2-alkenyl, branched C4-C22-alkenyl, and mixtures thereof . Preferred cations are ammonium (R3, R4, R5 and R6 equal hydrogen), sodium, potassium, mono, di, and trialkanol ammonium, and mixtures thereof. The monoalkanolammonium compounds of the present invention have R3 equal to C, -C6, R4, R5 and R6 alkanol equal to hydrogen; the dialkanolammonium compounds of the present invention have R3 and R4 equal to C6 alkanol, R5 and R6 equal to hydrogen; the trialkanolammonium compounds of the present invention have R3, R4 and R5 equal to C6 alkanol, R6 equal to hydrogen. Preferred alkanolammonium salts of the present invention are mono, di and quaternary ammonium compounds with the formulas: H 3 N + CH 2 CH 2 OH, H 2 N + (CH 2 CH 2 OH) 2, HN + (CH 2 CH 2 OH) 3.

It is preferred that M be sodium, potassium and the C2 alkanolammonium salts listed above, most preferably, sodium. In addition, with respect to the above formula, w is an integer from 0 to 7; x is an integer from 0 to 7; and is an integer from 0 to 7; z is an integer of at least 1; and w + x + y + z is an integer from 1 to 11, alternatively, from 7 to 10. Certain points of the branching are preferred (i.e., the locus along the chain of R, R1, or portions R2 in the above formula) above the branching points along the main chain of the surfactant. The following formula illustrates the mid-chain branching interval (ie, the points where the branching occurs), the preferred mid-chain branching interval and the half-chain branching interval that is most preferred in substituted linear monomethyl alkyl sulfates of the present invention.

C? 3C: H2C: H2C: I -un? 2c? I2 ((? 2) I-7CH2C] -NCI I2CI I2?? 2cn2oso M It should be noted that for the monomethyl substituted surfactants, these ranges exclude the two terminal carbon atoms of the chain and the two carbon atoms immediately adjacent to the sulfate group. The primary alkylsulphate surfactants branched in the middle of the chain comprising two or more alkyl branching agents R, R1 or R2 at the 2-carbon atom position are within the scope of the present invention. invention. However, surfactants with more chains are less preferred. longer than ethyl (i.e., C3 alkyl substituents) on the 2-carbon atom.

The formula below shows the branching interval of half chain, the preferred half-chain branching interval and the most preferred half chain branching interval for alkyl sulphates linear dimethyl substituted of the present invention. CH3CH2CH2C? 2C? 2CH2 (C? 2) O- 6CH2CH2CH2CH2C? 2CH2ÜS03M When the dialkyl substituted primary alkyl sulfates are combined with monosubstituted branched primary chain alkyl sulfate surfactants, the dialkyl substituted primary alkyl sulphates they have a methyl substitution in the 2-carbon position and another substitution methyl in the preferred range, as indicated above, is find within the present invention.

In one embodiment, the surfactant component of the present invention includes at least 0.001%, alternatively, at least 1%, by weight of the surfactant component, of one or more surfactants of primary alkyl sulfate branched in the middle of the chain that have the formula: Rl R2 I I CH3CH, (CH,) xCH (CH,) and CH (CH,) 7 S03M wherein the total number of carbon atoms, including the branching, is from 16 to 17, R1 and R2 are, independently, each, hydrogen or C3 alkyl; M is a cation soluble in water; x has a value from 0 to 7; and has a value of 0 to 7; z is at least 2; and x + y + z is from 2 to 10; provided that R1 and R2 are not both hydrogen. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the laundry compositions of the present invention contain at least 1%, by weight of the surfactant component, of one or more branched primary chain alkyl sulfate surfactants wherein x + y equals 9 or 10 , and z is 2. In one embodiment, the primary alkylsulfate surfactant branched in the middle of the chain has the formula: CH3 CH3 (CH2) aCH (CH ^ CH, OS03 where a and b are integers and a + b is 12 or 13, a is an integer from 2 to 11, b is an integer from 1 to 10 and M is selected from sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted ammonium. Preferred embodiments of said compounds include an alkyl sulfate compound of said formula, wherein M is selected from sodium, potassium and ammonium. In one embodiment, the compounds of branched primary half chain alkyl sulfates have the formula: CH3 CH, i CH3 (CH2) CH (CH2) CH2 CH2 OS03M where d and e are integers and d + e is 10 or 11; and where also when d + e = 10, d is an integer from 2 to 9 and e is an integer from 1 to 8; when d + e = 11, d is an integer from 2 to 10 and e is an integer from 1 to 9; and M is selected from sodium, potassium, ammonium and substituted ammonium, more preferably sodium, potassium and ammonium, most preferably sodium. In one embodiment, the primary alkyl sulfate surfactants with monomethyl branches are selected from the group comprising: 3-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 4-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 5-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 6-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 7-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 8-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 9-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 10-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 11 -methylpentadecanol sulfate; 12-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 13-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 3-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 4-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 5-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 6-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 7-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 8-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 9-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 10-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 11-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 12-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 13-methylhexadecanol sulfate; 14-methylhexadecanol sulfate; and mixtures of these. In one embodiment, the primary alkyl sulfate surfactants with dimethyl branches are selected from the group comprising: 2,3-methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,4-methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,5-methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,6-methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,7-methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,8-methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,9-methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,10-methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,11 -methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,12-methyltetradecanol sulfate; 2,3- methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,4-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,5-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,6-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,7-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,8-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,9-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,10-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,11-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,12-methylpentadecanol sulfate; 2,13-methylpentadecanol sulfate; and mixtures of these. The following surfactants of chain-branched primary alkyl sulphates comprising 16 carbon atoms and having a branching unit are examples of branched surfactants useful in the laundry compositions of the present invention: 5-methylpentadecylsulfate having the formula: 6-methylpentadecyl sulfate that has the formula 7-methylpentadecyl sulfate that has the formula 8-methylpentadecylsulfate that has the formula 9-methylpentadecyl sulfate that has the formula -methylpentadecyl sulfate that has the formula wherein M is, preferably, sodium. The following branched primary alkyl sulphates, comprising 17 carbon atoms and having two branching units, are examples of branched surfactants useful in the laundry compositions of the present invention: 2,5-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula: 2,6-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula 2,7-dimethylpentadecyl sulfate having the formula 2,8-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula 2,9-dimethylpentadecyl sulfate having formula 2,10-dimethylpentadecylsulfate having the formula wherein M is, preferably, sodium.

Additional Surfactant The composition of the present invention may further comprise from about 0.5% to about 9%, by weight of the composition, of HLAS surfactant and, at least, about 2%, by weight of the composition, of a surfactant additional selected of alkyl-alkoxy sulfate surfactants. The compositions of the present invention may further comprise about 0.2-3% alkyl-alkoxy surfactants and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the surfactant component includes from about 0.2% to about 3%, by weight of the laundry composition, alternately, from about 0.2% to about 2%, of an additional surfactant selected from nonionic surfactants. a) Alkyl-alkoxy sulfate surfactant Additional surfactants may include at least 2%, by weight of the composition, of an alkyl-alkoxy sulfate surfactant. The alkylethyloxy sulfate surfactants useful herein include water soluble salts and / or acids of the formula RO (A) mS03M, wherein R is an unsubstituted alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group of C10-C24 with a C10-C24 alkyl component, alternatively, a C12-C18 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, alternatively, a C12-C15 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl. A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than zero, usually between about 0.5 and about 6, alternatively between about 0.5 and about 3, and M is H or a cation which may be, for example, a metallic cation ( eg, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), ammonium or substituted ammonium cation. Alkyl ethoxylate sulfates as well as propoxylated alkyl sulfates are useful herein. Examples of substituted ammonium cations include cations ethanol, triethanol, methyl, dimethyl, trimethylammonium and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl ammonium and dimethyl piperidinium cations and those derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, mixtures thereof, and the like. Alkoxylated alkylsulfate surfactants useful herein include C12-C15 alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0) sulfate (C12-C15E (1.0) M); C12-C15 alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfate (C12-C15E (2.25) M); C12-C15 alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate (C12-C15E (3.0) M); C12-C15 alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate (C12-C15E (4.0) M), wherein M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium; and mixtures of these. b Alkyl alkoxy surfactant The additional surfactant may include from about 0.2% to about 3%, by weight of the composition, of a nonionic surfactant which is an alkyl-alkoxy surfactant. Examples of alkyl alkoxy surfactants useful herein (typically at levels of about 0.2% to about 3%, by weight of the composition) include alkoxylated alcohols (AE) and alkylphenols, polyhydroxy acid amides fatty acid (PFAA), alkyl polyglycoside (APG), glycerol esters C10-C18 and mixtures thereof More specifically, the condensation products of primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25 moles of ethylene oxide (AE) are suitable for use as the alkyl alkoxy surfactant in the present invention. The alkyl chain of Aliphatic alcohol can be straight or branched, primary or secondary and, in general, contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, the alkyl alkoxy surfactant is selected from the condensation products of alcohol with an alkyl group containing from about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms, more preferably, from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms, with about 1 to about 10 moles, preferably 2 to 7, most preferably 2 to 5, of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. In one embodiment, the alkyl alkoxy surfactants are C9-C15 primary alcohol ethoxylates containing 3-12 mol of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, particularly the primary C12-C15 alcohols contain 5-10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Examples of commercially available surfactants of this type include: Tergitol ™ 15-S-9 (the linear alcohol condensation product C? C15 with 9 moles of ethylene oxide) and Tergitol ™ 24-L-6 NMW (the product of condensation of C12-C14 primary alcohol with 6 moles of ethylene oxide with a narrow molecular weight distribution), both marketed by Union Carbide Corporation; Neodol ™ 45-9 (the condensation product of linear alcohol C14-C15 with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol ™ 23-3 (the condensation product of linear alcohol C12-C13 with 3 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol ™ 45-7 (the condensation product of linear alcohol C14-C15 with 7 moles of ethylene oxide) and Neodol ™ 45-5 (the linear condensation product of C14-C15 alcohol with 5 moles of ethylene) marketed by Shell Chemical Company; Kyro ™ EOB (the condensation product of C13-C15 alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), marketed by The Procter & Gamble Company; and Genapol LA O3O or 050 (the condensation product of C12-C14 alcohol with 3 or 5 moles of ethylene oxide) marketed by Hoechst. It can also be used condensate with propylene oxide and butylene oxide.

Monoethanolamine The detergent compositions of the present invention include from about 0.5% to about 4%, by weight of the laundry composition, of monoethanolamine (MEA, for its acronym in English). In one embodiment, the ratio of MEA to total surfactant, based on weight, is from about 1: 15 to about 1: 4, alternatively, from about 1: 12 to about 1: 6. Other alkanolamines may be used as alternatives for MEA. Suitable alkanolamines, such as diethanolamine and triethanolamine and mixtures of these with each other and MEA. The preferred concentration of alkanolamines and mixtures thereof ranges from about 0.5% to about 4.0%. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the alkanolamine is in the form of a salt, for example, which has been used to neutralize the acid form of a surfactant. Borax The laundry compositions of the present invention may also contain from about 0.5% to about 1.5%, by weight of the laundry composition, of borax. Without being limited by theory, it is believed that the inclusion of this level of borax will be sufficient for enzyme stability. The liquid laundry detergent compositions of the present invention may have a pH of from about 8.0 to about 8.7.

Transparency / Translucency The liquid laundry detergent compositions of the present invention may be formulated to be transparent or translucent or may be formulated to be opaque or have any degree of opacity or transparency desired. The liquid laundry detergent compositions of the present invention can be packaged in a container or bottle having the desired degree of transparency or opacity. The liquid laundry detergent compositions of the present invention can be stored in a container or in a bottle, wherein the container or bottle is transparent or translucent. As used herein, a transparent or translucent composition has a light transmittance of about 50% or greater using a 1 cm cuvette at a wavelength of 410-800 nanometers.

A bottle or container for transporting and containing liquid laundry detergents of the present invention may have a transmittance greater or less than 25%, alternatively, greater than %, alternatively, greater than 40%, alternatively, greater than 50% in the visible part of the spectrum (approximately 410-800 nm). As used herein, a transparent bottle has a light transmittance greater than 25% at a wavelength of about 410-800 nm. The materials for bottles that can be used to form the bottles that will contain the liquid laundry detergents of the present invention include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC, for example). its acronym in English), polyamides (PA, for its acronym in English) or polyethylene terephthalate (PETE, for its acronym in English), polyvinyl chloride (PVC, for its acronym in English); and polystyrene (PS, for its acronym in English). For purposes of transmittance herein, as long as a wavelength in the visible light range has a transmittance greater than 25%, the container or bottle is considered to be transparent / translucent. The containers or bottles for transporting or containing the liquid detergent compositions of the present invention can have any suitable shape or size for storing and packaging domestic liquids. For example, the container can have any size, but, normally, the container will have a maximum capacity of 0.05 to 15 L, preferably, 0.1 to 5 1, more preferably, 0.2 to 2.5 1. Preferably, the container allows easy handling. For example, the container may have a handle or a part with such dimensions that it makes it possible to lift or transport the container easily with one hand. Preferably, the container has a suitable means for dosing the liquid detergent composition and a means for reclosing the container. The dosing medium can be of any shape or size, but, preferably, will be wide enough to conveniently dose the liquid detergent composition. The closure means may be of any shape or size, but is usually threaded or pressurized. The closure means can be a lid that can be separated from the container. Alternatively, the lid can be attached to the container regardless of whether the container is open or closed. The closure means may also be incorporated in the container. In order to select the transmittance of the container, the bottle, or the composition, additional ingredients, such as dyes, opacifying agents, UV absorbers, or combinations thereof, may be used.

Additional ingredients for laundry The liquid laundry detergent compositions of the present invention may contain one or more additional laundry ingredients. Some examples of additional ingredients for useful laundry in the present include additives (e.g., citric acid), additional brighteners, dye transfer inhibitors, structuring agents, chelants, polyacrylate polymers, dispersing agents, dyes, perfumes, processing aids, bleaching compounds, solvents, enzymes, microcapsules, globules, polymers for detachment of dirt, and mixtures of these. Other optional components include detergent enzymes, which are not borax-based enzyme stabilizers (such as polyols, glycerol, propandiol, diethylene glycol, etc.), additives, chelants, polymers, foam suppressants, soil suspending agents, soil release agents, pH regulating agents, smectite clays, dye transfer inhibiting agents, other beneficial agents for the care of fabrics, perfumes, coloring agents and aqueous liquid carriers. When the compositions herein include optional ingredients of the detergent composition their concentration should be conventional to produce the desired contribution to the composition or to the washing operation. Frequently, the total amount of the optional ingredients in the detergent composition can vary from about 0.01% to about 50%, more preferably, from about 0.01% to about 40% and, preferably, from about 0.1% to about 30% by weight of the composition. Examples of useful enzymes herein include hemicellulases, peroxidases, proteases, cellulases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, keratanases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tanases, pentosanas, malanases, ß-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidases, chondroitinases, laccases, amylases, or mixtures of these. Other types of enzymes can also be included. The enzymes useful herein can be of any suitable origin, for example, of vegetable, animal, bacterial, fungal or yeast origin. Suitable enzymes are commercially available from a large number of sources, including Genecor and Novozymes.

Methods of use The compositions of the present invention can be used in laundry methods to improve the deposit on the fabrics of the water-insoluble polish. These methods may include the steps of: A) formulating a liquid laundry detergent composition such that the composition contains: a) from about 6% to about 20%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component comprising: i) from about 1% to about 6%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant in the middle of the chain, having a length carbon chain average of about 16 to about 17; ii) from about 0.5% to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a HLAS surfactant selected from alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids; b) from about 0.03% to about 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of optical brightener, wherein the optical brightener is a water-insoluble optical brightener having a solubility in water, when measured at about 50 ° C, from 0 to about 2 g / l; and c) from about 0.5% to about 4%, 15 weight of the laundry composition, of monoethanolamine; wherein the ratio of HLAS surfactant to the total amount of the surfactant component, based on weight, is from about 1: 14 to about 5: 7, alternatively, from about 1: 14 to about 1: 2; the ratio of MEA to total surfactant is from about 1: 15 to about 1: 4, alternatively, from about 1: 12 to about 1: 6; the ratio of the water-insoluble brightener to the total surfactant is lower that 1: 100, alternatively, less than 1: 130. B) add the liquid laundry composition to the water of washing of a standard washing machine; C) add the fabrics to the washing water; Y D) Carry out the washing cycle.

EXAMPLES 1 - 2 Compositions high performance liquid laundry detergents Ingredient (on the basis of an Example 1 Example 2 100% activity) AES 9 5 HSAS 3 1 5 LAS 2 0 9 NI 23-9 0 5 0 5 Additional surfactants 0-4 0-2 Water insoluble polish 0 1 0.04 Monoethanolamine 1 35 0 85 Additives and chelants 1-5 0 5-2 Detergent enzymes * 0-4 0-2 Borax 0 5 - 1 5 0 5-1 2 Other enzyme stabilizers 0 1 - 10 0 1-6 Polymers 0 - 3 0-3 Buffering Agents and 0 - 3 0-3 Viscosity Modifiers * Expressed as a percentage of raw material available from the supplier. including inactive ingredients.

The relevant parts of all the cited documents are incorporated herein by reference; the mention of any document should not be construed as an admission that it constitutes a precedent industry with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document contradicts any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern. Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the industry that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It has been intended, therefore, to cover all the changes and modifications within the scope of the invention in the appended claims.

Claims (13)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. A liquid composition for laundry; the composition comprises an optical brightener and has a better stability of the brightener, comprising: a) from 6% to 20%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component comprising: i) from 1% to 6%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant in the middle of the chain, having an average carbon chain length of 16 to 17; ii) from 0.5% to 9%, preferably from 1% to 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a HLAS surfactant selected from alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids; b) from 0.03% to 0.2%, preferably from 0.03% to 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of optical brightener, wherein the optical brightener is a water-insoluble optical brightener having a solubility in water, when it is measured at 50 ° C, from 0 to 2 g / l, preferably from 0.2 g / l to 2 g / l; and c) from 0.5% to 4%, preferably from 1.2% to 4%, by weight of the laundry composition, of monoethanolamine; wherein the ratio of HLAS surfactant to the total amount of surfactant, based on weight, is from 1: 14 to 5: 7, preferably, from 1: 14 to 1: 2; the ratio of monoethanolamine to the total amount of surfactant is from 1: 15 to 1: 4, preferably from 1: 12 to 1: 6; and the ratio of water-insoluble brightener to total amount of surfactant is less than 1: 100, preferably, less than 1: 130.

2. The liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the water insoluble optical brightener is selected from 4,4'-bis. { [4-anilino-6-morpholino-s-triazine-2-yl] amino} -stilbene disodium 2,2'-disulfonate; 4,4'-bis- (2-sulphotrisyl) biphenyl disodium; 4,4'-bis [. { 4,6-di-anilino-s-triazine-2-yl] -amino} -stilbene disodium 2,2'-disulfonate; and mixtures of these.

3. The liquid laundry detergent composition according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the HLAS surfactant is selected from C11-14 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids and mixtures thereof, preferably, is selected from linear alkylbenzene sulfonates and mixtures thereof.

4. The liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition comprises from 0.5% to 9%, by weight of the composition, of the HLAS surfactant, and the HLAS surfactant is selected from sodium alkylbenzene sulphonates linear and mixtures of these.

5. The liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the surfactant component also comprises an additional surfactant selected from anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, methyl ester sulfonates, amine oxide, other cationic surfactants and mixtures thereof, preferably selected from AES, non-ionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

6. The laundry liquid detergent composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the surfactant component also comprises from 0.2% to 3% of an additional surfactant selected from non-ionic surfactants.

7. The liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the laundry composition also comprises 0.5% to 1.5%, by weight of the laundry composition, of borax.

8. The liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the laundry composition has a pH of 8.0 to 8.7.

9. The liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the composition for laundry is transparent or translucent.

10. The liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the laundry composition is stored in a container, wherein the container is transparent or translucent.

11. The liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the laundry composition comprises also an additional ingredient for laundry selected from additives, additional brighteners, dye transfer inhibitors, structuring agents, chelants, polyacrylate polymers, dispersing agents, dyes, perfumes, processing aids, bleaching compounds, solvents, enzymes, microcapsules, globules , polymers for the detachment of dirt, and mixtures thereof.

12. The use of a liquid laundry detergent composition according to any of the preceding claims for improving the deposition of a water-insoluble brightener on the fabrics.

13. A method for improving the deposit of a water-insoluble polish on fabrics, wherein the method comprises at least the step of: A) formulating a laundry detergent liquid composition comprising: a) from 6% to 20% %, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component comprising: i) from 1% to 6%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a branched primary alkylsulfate surfactant in the middle of the chain, having a average carbon chain length from 16 to 17; ii) from 0.5% to 9%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a HLAS surfactant selected from alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids; b) from 0.03% to 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of optical brightener, wherein the optical brightener is a water-insoluble optical brightener whose solubility in water, when measured at 50 ° C, is 0 at 2 g / l; and c) from 0.5% to 4%, by weight of the laundry composition, of monoethanolamine; wherein the ratio of the HLAS surfactant to the total amount of the surfactant component, based on weight, is from 1: 14 to 5: 7; the ratio of monoethanolamine to the total surfactant component is from 1: 15 to 1: 4; and the ratio of water-insoluble brightener to total surfactant component is less than 1: 100; B) adding the liquid laundry composition to the wash water of a standard washing machine; C) add the fabrics to the washing water; and D) carry out the washing cycle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Liquid laundry compositions exhibiting improved rinse aid stability, containing from about 6% to about 20%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a surfactant component including from about 1% to about 6% by weight of the laundry composition. laundry composition, of a branched primary alkyl sulfate surfactant in the middle of the chain, having an average carbon chain length of from about 16 to about 17, and from about 0.5% to about 9%, by weight of the laundry composition , of a HLAS surfactant selected from alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, alkali metal salts of C10-16 alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, in combination with from about 0.03% to about 0.2%, by weight of the laundry composition, of a water-insoluble optical brightener having a solubility in water, when measured at approximately 50 ° C, from 0 to approximately 2 g / l; and from about 0.5% to about 4%, by weight of the laundry composition, of monoethanolamine, wherein the ratio of the HLAS surfactant to the total amount of surfactant, based on weight, is from about 1: 14 to about 5: 7; the ratio of monoethanolamine to the total amount of surfactant is from about 1: 15 to about 1: 4; and the ratio of water insoluble polish with with respect to the total amount of surfactant is less than about 1: 100; Methods for improving the deposition of a water-insoluble brightener on fabrics using such compositions. 8A P08 / 747F