MXPA00000495A - Sanitizing laundry sour - Google Patents

Abstract

A sanitizing fabric sour composition can comprise a peracid material. The sanitizing sour materials of the invention can be used in a laundry process in which soiled garments are contacted with the sanitizing sour following an alkaline detergent in a cleaning step. In the souring step, the garments are contacted with the peracid material that both neutralizes alkaline components and sanitizes the cleaned garment. The fabric sour process of the invention can be conducted at reduced temperatures while obtaining sufficient sanitization.

Description

SANITIZING LAUNDRY ACID FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to laundry compositions and processes. In a laundry process, soiled garments commonly come in contact with an alkaline detergent for the primary removal of dirt. Once the dirt is removed from the garments, clean garments often come in contact with an acid laundry material. The invention relates to improved laundry acid compositions that provide other desirable properties to clean garments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In normal commercial or industrial laundry processes, textile materials, such as sheets, towels, rags, garments, tablecloths, etc. , they are commonly washed at elevated temperatures with alkaline detergent materials. Such detergent materials usually contain a source of alkalinity, such as alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal silicate, alkali metal carbonate or other such base components. Additionally, such laundry chemicals usually contain anionic materials or other detergents that can intensify the removal of dirt from the woven material. Such detergents also contain other components, such as bleaches, brighteners, anti-redeposition agents, etc. , which are used to intensify the appearance of the resulting clean article. Frequently, the resulting clean articles are contacted with a commercial or industrial acidic material. The residual components of the detergents that remain in or on the washed article may result in damage to the fabric and skin irritation by the wearer of the washed fabric. This is particularly a problem with towels, sheets and clothes. Acidic materials contain acid components that neutralize the alkaline residues in the fabric. An important need felt a long time ago in laundry processing is the goal of obtaining clean and sanitized laundry items. A substantial reduction of bacteria, fungi, spores and other microorganisms or microorganism-generating materials is particularly important in the medical, food processing and hospital industries. Substantial reduction in (more than five orders of magnitude, a reduction of five-logio) microorganisms is considered a sanitizing result. Laundry chemicals have been searched for a long time in laundry processes that can provide sanitization of washed items without the use of strong, corrosive or otherwise dangerous or unpleasant chemicals. Currently, chemicals that have been used in the art include quaternary ammonium compounds, strong sanitizers based on chlorine and other strong chemicals. Such materials often result in the formation of washed articles that can provide skin irritation. Cleaning materials may be offensive or irritant in odor or inhalation toxicity, may have a detrimental effect on the fabric or laundry equipment of the institution, may be chemically unstable, costly, etc.

Examples of chemical laundry detergent additives are shown in the art. Spadini et al. , US patent no. 4, 220, 562, describe a peracid whitening material adapted for the removal of stains containing an organic peroxy compound, a non-ionic alkoxylated surfactant and other materials useful in the removal of stains. Spadini et al. , suggest that a variety of conventional laundry components can be combined with the materials described. Hardy, US patent no. 4.61 9,779, discloses a detergent additive product comprising an aliphatic peroxycarboxylic acid bleach precursor of C5-C1 8. The bleaching material typically includes the peracid bleach precursor combined with a flexible substrate. The bleach precursor can also be used as activators, detergents and other conventional laundry chemicals. Trabitzsch, DE 3929335, discloses peroxy salts and peroxy generating compounds, as well as compositions of known detergent additives that can be incorporated into laundry chemical compositions to use the peroxy function as a bleaching material. Trabitzsch suggests that these peracid materials are effective whiteners, but fail to emphasize that these materials can be used in a laundry step after the alkaline detergent in a stage that sanitizes, softens and neutralizes the alkaline residues.

Kramer et al. , US patent no. 5, 320, 805, describes methods for using laundry chemicals as a cleaner, sanitizer, disinfectant, sporicide, fungicide and sterilant, using a water soluble alkaline salt, comprising hydrogen peroxide and phosphonium, sulfonium, quaternary ammonium or other such salts in a liquid, soluble, phase transfer material. The technology of Kramer et al. , involves the interaction between a peroxy material, such as, perborate, persilicate, persulfate, peracetate or perfosphate and a quaternary ammonium material in a laundry detergent composition. The compositions of the invention are exemplified as containing a sodium carbonate peroxide material combined with a conventional quaternary ammonium compound and an EO-PO block copolymer. Tieckelmann et al. , US patent no. 5, 205, 835 shows a process for removing the manganese dioxide residue from processed denim garments by neutralizing the alkaline character of the fabric with peracetic acid neutralizing agent. This patent is directed to denim bleached with permanganate. The removal of the permanganate residue from the treated denim is a common problem in denim processing that is not normal in conventional commercial or institutional laundry processes. Normally, laundry items do not contain permanganate because they are used and not processed with permanganate before starting laundry processing. According to this, laundry articles and the processes of the invention are normally free of permanganate.

There has been a long-felt need in this industry for effective laundry processes and chemicals that are highly effective in dirt removal, fabric sanitization and mild acidic properties. Such materials should remove oily and oily dirt, kill or substantially reduce the populations of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other harmful or disease-causing pathogens. Finally, the washed material should be made soft and compatible with human contact. In use, the compositions of the present invention can be used in a simple step following an alkaline laundry detergent step to improve the character and quality of the washed product by providing both mildness and sanitization.

BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION The laundry chemical compositions and laundry processes of the invention provide for the use of a sanitizing material / fabric acid which can be used in laundry processes following an alkaline detergent. In the processes of the invention, the fabric articles can be contacted with an alkaline detergent material for the purpose of loosening and removing dirt from the fabric to produce a treated article. The treated articles are then contacted in a subsequent step with a peroxide oxidizing material which normally includes an organic acid, hydrogen peroxide and the resulting peracid material.

Accordingly, the invention is found in a laundry process that can provide clean, sanitized and neutralized laundry items, the process including contacting soiled laundry articles with an alkaline detergent to form a treated laundry article, and contacting the treated laundry article with a peracid composition including hydrogen peroxide, an organic carboxylic acid and a resulting organic peracid, wherein the composition is capable of neutralizing the pH and sanitizing the laundry article. The invention is also found in a laundry process, substantially free of a permanganate component, which can clean, sanitize and neutralize laundry articles, the process including contacting a dirty laundry article with an aqueous alkaline detergent containing a surfactant. of aqueous washing detergent and an alkalinity source and a former with a dirty laundry article, to remove the dirt, to produce a treated laundry article, and to contact the treated laundry article with an aqueous peracid composition per kilogram of washed article, said peracid composition, hydrogen peroxide, an organic acid and the resulting organic peracid. The invention is also in a process to provide clean, sanitized and neutralized laundry articles at temperatures, which are normally considered ineffective for laundry sanitization processes. These processes can be run at a temperature of less than 70 ° C, preferably less than about 50 ° C and are often conducted at a pH between 4 and 9, preferably between 5 and 7.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION The invention is found in a laundry process that can provide clean, sanitized and neutralized laundry articles, the process including contacting laundry articles soiled with an alkaline detergent to form a treated laundry article, and contacting the treated laundry article with a peracid composition including hydrogen peroxide, an organic carboxylic acid and a resulting organic peracid, wherein the composition is capable of neutralizing and sanitizing the laundry article. The peracid composition is capable of simultaneously neutralizing and sanitizing laundry articles, thereby eliminating the need for sanitizing and acidifying steps by separate, time consuming and costly ones. Although the permeated composition could be used in any laundry equipment, the process of the invention is preferably carried out in an automated laundry machine. After washing the laundry articles in a conventional wash step or cycle, the laundry articles are treated with the peracid composition of the invention. After this step or neutralization and sanitization cycle, the laundry articles can be further processed, for example, an extraction step to remove residual water, an optional smoothing step, followed by a drying step or one or more cycles of rinsing and drying. This drying step is usually carried out in a rotary drum, which is exposed to a heat source, usually a gas flame or electric heating element.

The peracid treatment step does not require high temperatures to be effective. The treated laundry article can be contacted with the peracid composition in a machine cycle at a temperature of less than about 70 ° C, preferably less than about 50 ° C. Typically, the peracid composition is used in a machine cycle at a pH between about 4 and 9, preferably between about 5 and 7.

A. The sanitizing composition The sanitizing composition used in the method of the invention generally contains one or more carboxylic acids and or no or more peroxycarboxylic acids with a peroxygen compound, such as hydrogen peroxide, H2O2. However, normally, the composition contains one or more carboxylic acids, an oxidant, and one or more peroxycarboxylic acids depending on the equilibrium. Commonly, the peroxycarboxylic acid material can be made by oxidizing a carboxylic acid directly to the peroxycarboxylic acid material, which is then solubilized in the aqueous rinse compositions of the invention. In addition, the materials can be made by combining the non-oxidized acid with a peroxygen compound, such as hydrogen peroxide to generate the peracid in situ, before mixing the peroxycarboxylic acid with other constituents. This is described in U.S. Patent No. 5, 1 22, 538, incorporated herein by reference. The resulting solution may have the following constitution: A carboxylic acid is an organic acid (R-COOH), which contains an aliphatic group and one or more carboxyl groups. A carboxyl group is represented by -COOH, and is usually located at a terminal end of the acid. The aliphatic group can be a substituted or unsubstituted group. Common aliphatic substituents can include -OH, -OR, -NO2, halogen and other common substituents in these groups. An example of a simple carboxylic acid is acetic acid, which has the formula CH3COOH. A peroxycarboxylic acid is a carboxylic acid, which has been oxidized to contain a terminal -COOOH group. The term peroxy acid is often used to represent a peroxycarboxylic acid. An example of a simple peroxy acid is peroxyacetic acid, which has the formula C H3COOOH. Generally, when the peroxycarboxylic acid is formulated according to the invention, a monocarboxylic acid, such as acetic acid, is combined with an oxidant, such as hydrogen peroxide. The result of this combination is a reaction that produces a peroxycarboxylic acid, such as peroxyacetic acid and water. The reaction follows an equilibrium according to the following equation: H2O2 + CH3COOH * = * CH3COOOH + H2O where pKeq is 1.7.

The importance of equilibrium results from the presence of hydrogen peroxide, carboxylic acid and peroxycarboxylic acid in the same composition at the same time. Due to this balance, a mixture of carboxylic acid and peroxycarboxylic acid can be combined in water without adding hydrogen peroxide. If equilibrium is allowed to approach, the mixture will emit hydrogen peroxide. This combination provides enhanced sanitizer with none of the harmful organoleptic or environmental effects of other sanitizing agents, additives or compositions.

CARBOXYLIC ACI The carboxylic acids have the formula R-COOH, where the R can represent any number of different groups including aliphatic groups, alicyclic groups, aromatic groups, heterocyclic groups, all of which can be saturated or unsaturated.

It can also happen that the carboxylic acids have one, two, three or more carboxyl groups. The aliphatic groups can be further differentiated into three different classes of hydrocarbons. Alkanes (or paraffins) are saturated hydrocarbons. Alkenes (or olefins) are unsaturated hydrocarbons, which contain one or more double bonds and the alkynes (or acetylenes) are unsaturated hydrocarbons containing one or more highly reactive triple bonds. The alicyclic groups can be further differentiated into three distinct classes of cyclic hydrocarbons. Cycloparaffins are saturated cyclic hydrocarbons. Cycloolefins are unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons, which contain one or more double bonds, while cycloacetylenes are unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons containing one or more highly reactive triple bonds. The aromatic groups are defined as having the unsaturated hydrocarbon ring structure representative of benzene. Heterocyclic groups are defined as ring structures of 5 or 6 m members, where one or more of the ring atoms are not carbon. An example is pyridine, which essentially is a benzene ring with a carbon atom replaced with a nitrogen atom. The carboxylic acids have a tendency to acidify the aqueous compositions in which they are present, since the hydrogen atom of the carboxyl group is active and can appear as a cation. The carboxylic acid constituent within the present composition, when combined with aqueous hydrogen peroxide, generally functions as an antimicrobial agent, as a result of the presence of the active hydrogen atom. Moreover, the carboxylic acid constituent within the invention maintains the composition at an acidic pH. The composition of the invention can utilize carboxylic acids containing as many as 10 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable carboxylic acids include formic, acetic, propionic, butanoic, pentanoic, hexanoic, heptanoic, octanoic, nannaoic, decanoic, lactic, maleic, ascorbic, citric, hydroxyacetic, neopentanoic, neoheptanoic, oxalic, malonic, succinic. , glutárico, adípico, pimélico and súbrico. The carboxylic acids, which are generally useful, are those having one or two carboxyl groups, where the R group is a primary alkyl chain, which has a length of C2 to C10, preferably C2 to C5, and which are freely soluble in water. The primary alkyl chain is that carbon chain of the molecule that has the greatest length of carbon atoms and that directly bonds the carboxyl functional groups. Especially useful are mono- and di-hydroxy substituted carboxylic acids, including alpha-hydroxy substituted carboxylic acid. A preferred carboxylic acid is acetic acid, which produces peroxyacetic acid to increase the effectiveness of sanitization of the materials. Acetic acid has the structure of the formula: O II CH; OH Generally, the carboxylic acid concentration within the composition used in the process of the invention ranges from about 1% by weight to about 80% by weight, preferably from about 20% by weight to about 60% by weight, and most preferably from about 20% by weight to about 40% by weight.

THE PEROXICARBOXY LICO ACI Another major component of the antimicrobial composition of the invention is an oxidized carboxylic acid. This peroxycarboxylic or oxidized acid provides enhanced antimicrobial efficacy when combined with hydrogen peroxide and the monocarboxylic acid in an equilibrium reaction mixture. Peroxycarboxylic acids generally have the formula R (CO 3 H) n, where R is an alkyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, aromatic or heterocyclic group, and n is one or two and the parent acid is designated by prefixing with peroxy. An alkylic group is a paraffinic hydrocarbon group, which is derived from an alkane by removing a hydrogen from the formula. The hydrocarbon group can be either linear or branched, having up to 9 carbon atoms. Simple examples include methyl (CH3) and ethyl (CH CH3). An aryl group contains both aliphatic and aromatic structures. A cycloalkyl group is defined as a cyclic alkyl group. Although peroxycarboxylic acids are not very stable, their stability generally increases with increasing molecular weight. The thermal decomposition of these acids can generally proceed by free-radical or non-radical pathways, by photo-decomposition or radical-induced decomposition, or by the action of metal complexes or ions. Peroxycarboxylic acids can be made by direct acid-catalyzed equilibrium action of 30-98% by weight of hydrogen peroxide with the carboxylic acid, by autoxidation of aldehydes, or by acid chlorides, acid anhydrides or carboxylic anhydrides with sodium or hydrogen peroxide.

Useful percarboxylic acids in this invention include peroxyformic, peroxyacetic, peroxypropionic, peroxibutanoico, peroxipentanoico, peroxyhexanoic peroxiheptanoico, peroxyoctanoic, peroxynonanoic, peroxidecanoico, peroxiláctico acid, peroxymaleic, peroxiascórbico, peroxihidroxiacético, peroxioxálico, peroximalónico, peroxysuccinic, peroxiglutárico, peroxyadipic, peroxy pimelic and Peroxisuric and mixtures thereof. It has been found that these peroxycarboxylic acids provide good antimicrobial action with good stability in aqueous streams. Peroxyacetic acid is a peroxycarboxylic acid with a structure as given by the formula: OR I I CH3 - C - O - OH where the peroxy group, - O - O -, is considered a high energy bond. In general, peroxyacetic acid is a liquid that has a pungent odor and is freely soluble in water, alcohol, ether and sulfuric acid. Peroxyacetic acid can be prepared through any number of known means for those skilled in the art, including preparation from acetaldehyde and oxygen in the presence of cobalt acetate. A 50% solution of peroxyacetic acid can be obtained by combining acetic anhydride, hydrogen peroxide and its luric acid.

The above sanitizing material can provide antibacterial activity to the rinse aid sanitizers of the invention against a wide variety of microorganisms, such as, gram positive (eg Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (eg Escherichia coli) microorganisms, yeasts, molds, bacterial spores, viruses, etc. When combined, the above peroxy acids may have enhanced activity compared to the low molecular weight peroxy acids alone. Generally, the concentration of peroxycarboxylic acid within the composition used in the process of the invention ranges from about 1% by weight to about 50% by weight, preferably, from about 5% by weight to about 30% by weight, and most preferably from about 10% by weight to about 20% by weight.

THE OXIDIZER The composition used in the method of the invention also includes an oxidant. Any number of oxidants can be used as a precursor for the formation of a peroxycarboxylic acid, as well as to provide physical agitation or effervescent action to the composition of the invention. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition of the invention contains hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has a molecular weight of 34,014 and is a colorless, transparent, weakly acidic liquid. The four atoms are covalently linked in a non-polar structure.

O - O H H In general, hydrogen peroxide has a melting point of -0.41 ° C, a boiling point of 1 50.2 ° C, a density at 25 ° C of 1.425 grams per cm3, and a viscosity of 1.245 centipoise at 20 ° C. The hydrogen peroxide in combination with the carboxylic acid and peroxycarboxylic acid provides a surprising level of antimicrobial action against micro-organisms, even in the presence of large loads of organic sediment. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide provides an effervescent action, which can irrigate any surface to which it is applied. The hydrogen peroxide works with a mechanical jet action applied once, which also flattens the application surface. An additional advantage of hydrogen peroxide is the food compatibility of this composition over the use and decomposition. For example, combinations of peroxyacetic acid and hydrogen peroxide result in acetic acid, water and oxygen on decomposition. All these constituents are compatible with food products. The concentrations of hydrogen peroxide may be increased or decreased while still remaining within the scope of the present invention. For example, increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide can increase the antimicrobial efficacy of the claimed invention. Additionally, increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide can reduce the need to stabilize the hydrogen peroxide within the composition. Specifically, increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the composition can provide a composition, which has a prolonged shelf life. In contrast, decreasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide may decrease the antimicrobial efficacy of the composition and necessitate the use of an increased concentration of carboxylic acid. Moreover, decreasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide may necessitate the use of some stabilizing agent to ensure that the composition of the present invention will remain stable and effective over the intended period of time. Generally, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide within the composition used in the process of the invention ranges from about 1% by weight to about 50% by weight, preferably from about 5% by weight to about 30% by weight, and most preferably from about 5% by weight to about 15% by weight.

Conventional detergent compositions The processes of the invention utilize a conventional detergent composition after the initial pretreatment step. Conventional detergent compositions include surfactants, formers or sequestrants and minor ingredients.

Surfactants Useful anionic surfactants include the water soluble salts, preferably the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts, of organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or ester group of sulfuric acid. (Included in the term "alkaline" is the alkyl portion of acyl groups.) Examples of this group of synthetic surfactants are sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulfating higher alcohols (carbon atoms). C12-C18), such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil; and the sodium and potassium alkyl benzene sulphonates, in which the alkyl group contains from about 10 to about 16 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain configuration, for example, see US Pat. 2, 220, 099 and 2,477, 383. Especially valuable are the alkyl chain alkyl sulfonates, in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 1 to 14, abbreviated as Ci 1--14. THE . In addition, mixtures of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates of C1 0.16 (preferably C1.1 -3) and alkyl sulfates (preferably C1.16), alkylsulfates, ethoxylated alcohol sulphates, etc. are preferred. Other anionic surfactants herein are sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphonates, especially those ethers of higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil; Sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfonates and sulfates; sodium or potassium salts of alkyl ethylene oxide ether sulphates containing from about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl groups contain from about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms; and sodium or potassium salts of alkyl ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing from about 1 to about 10 an ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl group contains from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms. Other anionic surfactants useful herein include the water-soluble salts of alpha-sulfonated fatty acid esters containing from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group, and from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxyalkane-1-sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from about 9 to about 23 carbon atoms in the alkane portion; the water-soluble salts of olefin and paraffin sulfonates containing from about 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane portion. Active surface substances are also useful, which are classified by categories as anionic, because the charge in the hydrophobic is negative; or surfactants in which the hydrophobic section of the molecule carries no charge unless the pH is elevated to neutrality or above (eg, carboxylic acids). The carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfate and phosphate are the polar (hydrophilic) solubilizing groups found in anionic surfactants. Of the cations (counterions) associated with these polar groups, sodium, lithium and potassium impart solubility in water and are highly preferred in the compositions of the present invention. Examples of suitable synthetic, anionic soluble anionic compounds are the alkali metal salts (such as sodium, lithium and potassium) or the alkyl mononuclear aromatic sulphonates, such as the alkyl benzene sulphonates containing from about 5 to 10% by weight. to about 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group in a linear or branched chain, for example, the alkyl benzene sulphonate or alkyl naphthalene sulphonate, dialkyl naphthalene sulphonate and alkoxy side derivatives salts. Other anionic detergents are olefin sulfonates, including long chain alkene sulfonates, long chain hydroxyalkane sulfonates or mixtures of alkylene sulfonates and hydroxyalkane sulphonates and alkyl poly (ethyleneoxy) ether sulfonates. Also included are the alkyl sulphates, alkyl poly (ethyleneoxy) ether sulphates and aromatic poly (ethyleneoxy) sulfates, such as, the sulfates or condensation products of ethylene oxide and nonyl phenol (usually having 1 to 6 oxyethylene groups per molecule). Nonionic surfactants soluble in water are also useful in instant detergent glands. Such nonionic materials include compounds produced by the condensation of alkylene oxide groups (hydrophilic in nature) with an organic hydrophobic group or compound, which may be aliphatic or alkyl by nature. The length of the polyoxyalkylene group, which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic group, can be easily adjusted to produce a water-soluble compound having the desired degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements. Included are the water-dispersible and water-soluble condensation products of aliphatic alcohols containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, either in straight or branched chain configuration, from 3 to 1 2 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol . Nonionic surfactants are generally characterized by the presence of an organic hydrophilic g roup and an organic hydrophilic g roup, and are usually produced by the condensation of a polyoxyalkylene, aromatic alkyl or organic aliphatic hydrophobic compound, with an oxide moiety. of hydrophilic alkylene, which in common practice is ethylene oxide or a polyhydration product thereof, polyethylene glycol. Practically, any hydrophobic compound having a hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino or amido group with a reactive hydrogen atom can be condensed with ethylene oxide or its polyducting adducts, or mixtures thereof with alkoxy, such as propylene oxide for form a non-ionic active surface agent. The length of the hydrophilic polyoxyalkylene portion, which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic compound, can be easily adjusted to produce a water-soluble or water-dispersible compound having the desired degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties.

Useful nonionic surfactants include polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block polymer compounds based on propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycol, glycerol, trimethylolpropane and ethylenediamine as the initiating reactive hydrogen compound. Examples of polymeric compounds made from a sequential propoxylation and ethoxylation of the injector are commercially available under the trade name PLU RON IC®, manufactured by BASF Corp. PLU RON IC® compounds are difunctional compounds (two reactive hydrogens) formed at condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the addition of propylene oxide to two hydroxyl groups of propylene glycol. This hydrophobic portion of the molecule weighs from about 1,000 to about 4,000. The ethylene oxide is then added to insert this hydrophobe between hydrophilic groups, controlled by length to constitute from about 10% by weight to about 80% by weight. weight of the final molecule. The TETRON I C® compounds are tetra-functional block copolymers derived from the additional sequential of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide to ethylenediamine. The molecular weight of the propylene oxide hydrotype ranges from about 500 to about 7,000; and, the hydrophilic, ethylene oxide, is added to constitute from about 10% by weight to about 80% by weight of the molecule. Also useful nonionic surfactants include the condensation products of one mole of alkyl phenol, wherein the alkyl constituent contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms from about 3 to about 50 moles of ethylene oxide. . The alkyl group can, for example, be represented by diisobutylene, d-amyl, polymerized propylene, isoctyl, nonyl and di-nonyl. Examples of commercial compounds of this chemical are available on the market under the trade name IGEPAL®, manufactured by Rhone-Poulenc and TRITON®, manufactured by Union Carbide. Likewise, useful nonionic surfactants include condensation products of one mole of a straight or branched chain alcohol, saturated or unsaturated, having from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms with from about 3 to about 50 moles of ethylene. The alcohol portion may consist of mixtures of alcohols in the carbon range delineated above, or it may consist of an alcohol having a specific number of carbon atoms within this range. Examples of similar commercial surfactants are available under the tradename NEODOL®, manufactured by Shell Chemical Co. and ALFON IC®, manufactured by Vista Chemical Co. A preferred class of nonionic surfactants are nonyl phenol ethoxylates or N PE. The condensation products of one mole of saturated or unsaturated saturated or unsaturated chain carboxylic acid having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms with from about 6 to about 50 moles of ethylene oxide. The acid portion may consist of mixtures of acids in the range of carbon atoms delineated above, or it may consist of an acid having a specific number of carbon atoms within the range. Examples of commercial compounds of this chemistry are commercially available under the tradename NOPALCOL®, manufactured by Henkel Corporation and LI POPEG®, manufactured by Lipo Chemicals, I nc. In addition to the ethoxylated carboxylic acids, commonly called polyethylene glycol esters, other alkanoic acid esters formed by reaction with glycerides, glycerin and polyhydric alcohols (saccharides or sorbitan / sorbitol), have application in this invention. All these ester portions have one or more reactive hydrogen sites in their molecule, which may undergo additional acylation or addition of ethylene oxide (alkoxide) to control the hydrophilicity of these substances. The oxides of tertiary amines corresponding to the general formula can be used: R2 I R1 (OR4) n N? OR where the link -. it is a conventional representation of a semi-polar link; and R1, R2 and R3 may be aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic, alicyclic or a combination of such groups of the same. Generally, for amine oxides of detergent interest, R1 is an alkyl radical of from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of 1-3 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof; R 4 is a alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing 2 to 3 carbon atoms; and n ranges from 0 to 20. Amine oxide surfactants, soluble in water, useful, are selected from the coconut or tallow dimethyl amine oxides. Semi-polar nonionic surfactants include water-soluble amine oxides, containing an alkyl portion from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and two portions selected from the group of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl portions from about 1 to about 3 atoms. of carbon; water-soluble phosphine oxides containing an alkyl portion of about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and two selected portions of the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups, containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and water soluble sulfoxides, containing an alkyl portion from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and a portion selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl portions from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Nonionic surfactants of the formula R1 (OC2H4) nOH can be used, wherein R1 is a C6-C6 alkyl group and n is from 3 to about 80. The condensation products of C6-C1 alcohols from about 5 to about to about 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, for example, C12-C14 alcohol condensed with about 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Amphoteric surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic or aliphatic derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, in which the aliphatic portion can be straight or branched chain, and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and at least one aliphatic substituent contains an anionic water-solubilizing group. The cationic surfactants can also be included in the present detergent granules. Cationic surfactants include a wide variety of compounds characterized by one or more organic hydrophobic groups in the cation, and generally by a quaternary nitrogen associated with an acid radical. The pentavalent nitrogen ring compounds are also considered quaternary nitrogen compounds. Halides, methyl sulfate and hydroxide are suitable. The tertiary amines may have characteristics similar to cationic surfactants in wash solution pH values less than about 8.5. A more complete description of these and other cationic surfactants useful herein can be found in U.S. Pat. 4, 228, 044, Cambre, issued October 14, 1980, incorporated herein by reference. Useful cationic surfactants also include those described in U.S. Pat. 4,222, 905, Cockrell, issued September 1, 1980, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,659, Murphy, issued December 1, 1 980, both incorporated by reference herein.

Source of alkalinity An alkalinity source is needed to control the pH of the detergent solution used. The source of alkalinity is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or mixtures thereof; an alkali metal silicate can also be used, such as, sodium metasilicate. The preferred source, which is the most cost effective, is commercially available sodium hydroxide, which can be obtained in aqueous solutions in a concentration of about 50% by weight and in a variety of solid forms in particle sizes variants. Sodium hydroxide can be used in the invention in either liquid or solid form, or a mixture of both. Other sources of alkalinity are useful but are not limited to the following: alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates, alkali metal sesquicarbonates, alkali metal borates, and alkali metal silicas. The carbonate and borate forms are normally used in place of the alkali metal hydroxide when a lower pH is desired.

Other ingredients Other suitable ingredients for inclusion in a granular laundry detergent, such as a bleach or other additives, can be added to the present compositions. These include detergency builders, foam boosters or foam pressurizers, anti-fading and anti-corrosion agents, soil suspending agents, soil release agents, germicides, pH adjusting agents, non-forming alkalinity sources, chelating agents, clays of smectite, enzymes, enzyme stabilizing agents and perfumes. Such networks are described in U.S. Pat. 3, 936, 537, incorporated herein by reference.

The former (or sequestrants) are used to sequester the hardness ions and to help adjust the pH of the laundry liquor. Such formers can be used in concentrations up to about 85% by weight, preferably from about 0.5% to about 50% by weight, most preferably from about 10% to about 30% by weight, of the composition herein to provide their pH controllers and formators. The formers include here any of the conventional water-soluble, inorganic and organic forming salts. Such formers can be, for example, water soluble salts of phosphates including tripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates, orthophosphates, major polyphosphates, other carbonates, silicas, and organic polycarboxylates. Specific preferred examples of inorganic phosphate formers include sodium and potassium tripolyphosphates and pyrophosphates. Materials that do not contain phosphorus may also be selected for use herein as formers. Specific examples of non-phosphorus inorganic detergent forming ingredients include water-soluble silicate and bicarbonate salts. Particularly useful herein are the bicarbonates and silicates with the alkali metal, eg, sodium and potassium. The organic formers, soluble in water, are also useful in the present. For example, the alkali metal polycarboxylates are useful in the present compositions. Specific examples of the polycarboxylate-forming salts include sodium and potassium salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, melic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acid, polyacrylic acid and polymaleic acid. Other desirable polycarboxylate formers are the formers disclosed in U.S. Pat. 3, 308, 067, incorporated herein by reference. Examples of such materials include the water-soluble salts of homopolymers and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids, such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid. Other suitable polymeric polycarboxylates are the polyacetal carboxylates described in U.S. Pat. 4, 144, 226 and U.S. Patent No. 4, 246, 495, both incorporated herein by reference. These polyacetal carboxylates can be prepared by bringing a glyoxylic acid ester and a polymerization initiator together under polymerization conditions. The resulting polyacetal carboxylate ester is then attached to groups of chemically stable ends to stabilize the polyacetal carboxylate against the fast depolymerizing alkaline solution, converted to the corresponding salt, and added to a surfactant. Bleaching agents and activators useful herein are also described in U.S. Pat. 4.41, 2, 934, U.S. Patent No. 4,483, 781, U.S. Patent No. 4,634, 551 and US Patent no. 4, 909, 953, all incorporated herein by reference. Chelating agents are also described in US Patent no. 4, 663, 071, incorporated herein by reference.

Foam modifiers are also optional ingredients and are described in US Pat. Nos. 3,933,672 and 4,136,045, incorporated herein by reference.

Encapsulated active oxidant bleach The detergent of the invention can comprise an encapsulated source of active halogen oxidizing bleach. Preferred encapsulates are described in U.S. Pat. 5, 21 3, 705. The active halogen source used in the continuous phase of the solid tablet of the invention and used in the core of the encapsulated source of halogen may comprise a halogen releasing substance suitable for releasing active halogen species. oxidant, such as, free elemental halogen (Cl, Br, Cl2, Br2) or -OCI "u -OBr", under conditions normally used in the cleaning processes with detergent bleaching of a variety of cleaning targets. Preferably, the halogen-releasing compound releases a chlorine or bromine species. The most preferred halogen species is chlorine. Chlorine-releasing compounds include potassium dichloroisocyanurate, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, chlorinated trisodium phosphate, calcium hypochlorite, lithium hypochlorite, monochloramine, dichloramine, [(monotrichlor) -tetra (monopotassium dichloro)] pentaisocyanurate, 1,3-dichloro-5 , 5-dimethyl idantonone, paratoluene sulfodichloroamide, trichloromelamine, N-chloramine, N-chlorosuccinimide, N, N'-dichloroazodicarbonamide, N-chloroacetyl-urea, chlorinated dicyandiamide, trichlorocyanuric acid, dichloroglyceride, etc. Chlorinated isocyanurate materials including sodium dichloroisocyanurate dehydrate, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, potassium dichloroisocyanurate, etc. they are preferred chlorine sources for the continuous solid phase and for the core substance of the encapsulated material. Chlorinated isocyanurates are commercially available from Monsanto or Olin and other sellers. The encapsulated chlorine sources of the invention comprise a chlorine source core and at least one encapsulating layer. The encapsulating layer may comprise an inorganic material or an organic material or both in a layer or layers. In addition, the source of core chlorine can be covered with two, three or more useful inorganic or organic layers. Preferably, we have found a two-layer coating system, wherein the core is covered with an inner inorganic layer and an outer organic layer comprising a material (detergent, sequestrant, former, anti-redeposition agent, etc.). in washing liquors. For the purposes of this application, the term "encapsulating agent", as used herein, encompasses solid soluble inorganic compounds used as inert fillers in detergent compositions and soluble inorganic formers used in detergent compositions, which contribute to the detergency of the composition and which do not react substantially with a halogen bleach. The external organic phase of the encapsulation can comprise a variety of encapsulating materials which can be selected for monomeric or polimeric, small molecule sources.

The following examples are intended to illustrate the invention, but should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Working examples The "Test Substance" referred to below and in the table, was prepared by mixing the following composition:% by weight Acetic acid 31 Hydrogen peroxide 11 Peracetic acid 15 Water 43 PROOF OF SANITIZING EFFICACY OF LAUNDRY OXI-15 EFFICACY TEST OPERATION PROCEDURE Fabric samples inoculated with bacteria were wrapped around a stainless steel spindle and placed in the exposure chamber. 75.0 ml of each batch usage solution of test substance were dispensed into the sterile exposure chambers. The exposure chamber was secured in the "Launderometer" and stirred for 5 minutes at 90 ± 5 ° C. One ml of each solution was placed in the neutralizer after the exposure time of 5 minutes. So, the test samples were removed aseptically from the exposure chamber, placed in a 1% sodium thiosulfate neutralizer and vortexed. Serial dilutions were made in diluted water diluted with phosphate. The plates were inverted and incubated at 37 ± 2 ° C for 48 hours. The initial laundry count was obtained by placing a sample of dry cloth on the stainless steel spindle with rolled cloth. This was prepared in triplicate. The cloth and the spindle were placed in the exposure chamber and 75 ml of sterile water was added. The exposure chamber was secured in the Launderometer and was run during the exposure time of 5 m inutes. Serial dilutions were made in the water sample after the exposure time of 5 minutes. The cast-off plate technique was used. The plates were inverted and incubated at 37 ± 2 ° C for 48 hours.

Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin ATCC 33592 Reduction percentage = (Average number of CFU inocula / ml) - (CFU / ml average or Results) x 1 00 (Average number of CFU inocula / ml) The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Because many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the appended claims below.

Claims (25)

1. Claims 1 . A laundry process that can provide clean, sanitized and neutralized laundry articles, the process comprising: (a) contacting soiled laundry articles with an alkaline detergent to form a treated laundry article; and (b) contacting the treated laundry article with a peracid composition comprising hydrogen peroxide, an organic carboxylic acid and a resulting organic peroxide, wherein said composition is capable of neutralizing and sanitizing the laundry article.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed at a temperature of less than about 70 ° C.
3. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed at a temperature of less than about 50 ° C.
4. 4. The process of claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed at a pH between about 4 and 9.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed at a pH of between about 5 and 7.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the peracid is a peroxycarboxylic acid of C2 to C 0-
7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the peracid is a peroxycarboxylic acid of C2 to C5. .
8. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the peracid is selected from the group consisting of peracetic acid, perpropionic acid, peroctanoic acid, perdecanoic acid and a mixture thereof.
9. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the peracid is peroxyacetic acid.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the alkaline detergent comprises a source of alkalinity and a surfactant. eleven .
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the alkaline detergent comprises a source of alkalinity, a surfactant and a forming salt.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the peracid composition comprises in equilibrium: (a) about 1 to 50% by weight of hydrogen peroxide; (b) about 1 to 80% by weight of a carboxylic acid of C 2 to C 0, and (c) about 1 to 50% by weight of a resulting C 2 to C 0 peroxycarboxylic acid.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, propionic acid, octanoic acid, decanoic acid and a mixture thereof.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the carboxylic acid is acetic acid. 1 5.
15. A laundry process, substantially free of a permanganate component, which can clean, sanitize and soften laundry items, the process comprising: (a) contacting a dirty laundry article with approximately 0.031 1 to 9.3309 kg of laundry detergent chemical per 45.36 kg of laundry laundry article, said laundry detergent comprising a source of alkalinity and an anionic or nonionic surfactant in an aqueous medium, to remove dirt to produce a treated laundry article; and (b) contacting a laundry article treated with about 0.031 1 to 0.31 1 0 kg of an aqueous peracid composition per 45.36 kg of laundry article, said peracid composition comprising hydrogen peroxide, an organic acid and the like. resulting organic peracid. 1 6.
16. The process of claim 1 5, said process being performed in an automated laundry machine. 7.
17. The process of claim 1 6, wherein the treated laundry article comes into contact with the peracid composition in a machine cycle at a temperature of less than about 70 ° C.
18. The process of claim 16, wherein the treated laundry article comes into contact with the peracid composition in a machine cycle at a temperature of less than about 50 ° C.
19. The process of claim 1, wherein the treated laundry article comes in contact with the peracid composition in a machine cycle at a pH between about 4 and 9.
20. The process of claim 1, in where the treated laundry article comes into contact with the peracid composition in a machine cycle at a pH between about 5 and 7. twenty-one .
21. The process of claim 1, wherein the peracid is a peroxycarboxylic acid of C2 to C1 0.
22. 22. The process of claim 1, wherein the peracid is a peroxycarboxylic acid of C2 to C5.
23. 23. The process of claim 1, wherein the peracid is peroxyacetic acid.
24. 24. A process for sanitizing and softening a laundry article treated with an alkaline detergent, comprising contacting the treated laundry articles with a peracid composition comprising hydrogen peroxide, an organic carboxylic acid and an organic peracid. ico resulting.
25. 25. The process of claim 24, wherein the treated laundry article comes in contact with about 0.031 1 to 0.31 1 0 kg of an aqueous peracid composition per 45.36 kg of laundry article, said peracid peroxide composition comprising: hydrogen, an organic acid and the resulting organic peracid.