MXPA97004347A - Liquid cleaning compositions for working in microemuls - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clear liquid working composition of transparent microemulsion which comprises approximately by weight: a) from 14% to 24% of an alkali metal salt of a C12-18 paraffin sulphonate; b) of 2% to 6% of an alkali metal salt of a C8-18 ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate, c) from 3% to 6% of a betaine surfactant, d) from 4% to 12% of a nonionic surfactant; 1% to 10% of at least one solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of glycerol, polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycol of the formula HO (CH 3 CHCH 2 O) n H, wherein n is from 2 to 18, mixtures of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol , monoethers and esters of C1-C6 alkyl of ethylene glycol and of polypropylene glycol having the formulas R (X) nOH and R1 (X) nOH wherein R is a C1-C6 alkyl group, R1 is a C2 acyl group C4, X is (OCH2CH2) or (OCH2CHCH3) and n is from 1 to 4, f) 1% to 14% of a cosurfactant, g) from 0 to 10% of a complementary solubilizing agent; ) from 1% to 8% of a perfume or an essential oil, and i) the remainder being ag

Description

LIQUID CLEANING COMPOSITIONS OF LIGHT WORK IN MICROEMULSION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a light duty liquid cleaning composition which imparts softness to the skin and is in the form of a microemulsion designed in particular to clean hard surfaces and which is effective in removing dirt from grease and / or dirt of the bathroom and to leave improved surfaces with a shiny appearance.

Background of the Invention In recent years liquid detergents for all purposes have been widely accepted for cleaning hard surfaces, for example, painted wood panels and works, tile walls, washbasins, bath tubs, linoleums or tile floors. , washable wallpaper, etc. Such liquids for all purposes comprise opaque and transparent aqueous mixtures of water soluble organic detergents and of water soluble detergent reinforcing salts. In order to achieve a cleaning efficiency comparable to cleaning compositions for all powder or granular purposes, the use of water-soluble inorganic phosphate-reinforcing salts in liquids was favored for all purposes of the prior art. For example, such initial phosphate-containing compositions are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,560,839; 3,234,138; 3,350,319; and in British Patent No. 1,223,739.

In view of the efforts of environmentalists to reduce phosphate levels in the earth's water, liquids have appeared for all improved purposes containing reduced concentrations of inorganic phosphate-reinforcing salts or phosphate-free reinforcing salts. A particularly useful self-opacified liquid of the latter type is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,244,840.

However, these liquid detergents for all purposes of the prior art containing detergent reinforcing salts or other equivalents tend to leave films, stains or scratches on unrinsed and cleaned surfaces, particularly on glossy surfaces. Therefore, such liquids require a thorough rinsing of the cleaned surfaces which is a time-consuming task for the user.

In order to overcome the above disadvantages of the liquid for all purposes of the prior art, U.S. Patent No. 4,017,409 teaches that a mixture of paraffin sulphonate and a reduced concentration of inorganic phosphate-reinforcing salt should be employed.

However, such compositions are not completely acceptable from an environmental point of view based on the phosphate content. On the other hand, the other alternative to achieve liquids for all phosphate-free purposes has been to use a larger proportion of a mixture of anionic and nonionic detergents with smaller amounts of glycol ether solvent and organic amine as shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,935,130. Again, this approach has not been completely satisfactory and the high levels of organic detergents needed to achieve cleaning cause a foaming which in turn leads to the need for thorough rinsing which has been found to be undesirable for current consumers. .

Another approach to formulating a liquid detergent composition for all purposes or hard surface where product homogeneity and clarity are important considerations involves the formation of oil-in-water microemulsions (o / w) which contain one or more surfactant detergent compounds, a water immiscible solvent (typically a hydrocarbon solvent), water and a "cosurfactant" compound which provides stability to the product. By definition, an oil-in-water microemulsion is a colloidal dispersion that spontaneously forms of "oil" phase particles having a particle size in the range of about 25 to about 800A in a continuous aqueous phase.

In view of the extremely fine particle size of the dispersed oil phase particles, the microemulsions are transparent to light and are clear and usually highly stable against phase separation.

Patent disclosures relating to the use of grease removal solvents in oil or water microemulsions include, for example, European patent applications EP 0137615 and EP 0137616 by Herbots et al .; European Patent Application EP 0161762 to Johnston et al .; and U.S. Patent No. 4,561,991 to Herbots et al. Each of these patent disclosures also teaches the use of at least 5 percent by weight of a grease removal solvent.

It is also known from the British patent application GB 2144763A of Herbots et al., Published on 13 March 1985, that magnesium salts improve the fat removal performance of organic fat removal solvents, such as terpenes, in liquid oil or water microemulsion detergent compositions. The compositions of this invention described by Herbots et al. Require at least 5 percent of the mixture of the fat removal solvent and magnesium salt and preferably at least 5 percent solvent (which can be a mixture of a non-polar solvent inmisible in water with a slightly polar solvent and sparingly soluble) and at least 0.1 percent magnesium salt.

However, since the amount of sparingly soluble and immiscible components in water which may be present in an oil-in-water microemulsion, with the total active ingredients low without impairing the stability of the microemulsion is very limited (for example from up to about 18 percent by weight of the aqueous phase), the presence of such high amounts of grease removal solvent tends to reduce the total amount of grease or oily soils which can be taken up by and within the microemulsion without causing a phase separation.

The following representative prior art patents that refer to cleaning detergent compositions in the form of oil or water microemulsions are: US Pat. Nos. 4,472,291 issued to Rosario; 4,540,448 granted to Gauteer and others; 3,723,330 granted to Sheflin; etc.

Liquid detergent compositions which include terpenes, such as d-limonene or other grease removal solvent, even when not described as being in the form of oil-in-water microemulsions, are the subject matter of the patent documents representatives that follow: European patent application 0080749; British Patent Description 1,603,047; 4,414,128; and 4,540,505. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,414,128 widely discloses an aqueous liquid detergent composition characterized by weight for containing: a) From about 1 percent to about 20 percent of a synthetic non-ionic, amphoteric zwitterionic anionic surfactant or mixtures thereof; b) From about 0.5 percent to about 10 percent of a monkey or sesquiterpene or a mixture thereof, at a ratio by weight of (a): (b) lying in the range of 5: 1 to 1: 3; Y c) From about 0.5 percent to about 10 percent of a polar solvent having a solubility in water at 15 degrees Celsius in the range of from about 0: 2 percent to about 10 percent. Other ingredients present in the formulas described in the patent include from about 0.05 percent to about 2 percent by weight of alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium soap of a C13-C24 fatty acid; a calcium sequestrant of from about 0.5 percent to about 13 percent by weight; a non-aqueous solvent, for example, alcohols and glycol ethers, up to about 10 percent by weight; and hydrotropes, for example, urea, ethanolamines, salts of lower alkylaryl sulfonates, up to about 10 percent by weight. All the formulas shown in the examples of this patent include relatively large amounts of detergent reinforcing salts which are detrimental to the surface gloss.

U.S. Patent No. 5,082,584 discloses a microemulsion composition having an anionic surfactant, a cosurfactant, a non-ionic surfactant, perfume and water; however, these compositions are not light duty liquid compositions.

The present invention relates to novel light duty liquid microemulsion detergent compositions with high foam properties, containing a nonionic surfactant, a sulfonate surfactant, a betaine surfactant, and an ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactant.

Nonionic surfactants are generally chemically inherent and stable at pH change and are therefore very suitable for mixing and formulating with other materials. The superior performance of non-ionic surfactants on the removal of oily dirt is well known. Non-ionic surfactants are also known to be gentle on human skin. However, as a class, non-ionic surfactants are known as being low or moderate frothers. Consequently, for detergents which require a copious and stable foam, the application of non-ionic surfactants is limited. There has been substantial interest and efforts have been made to develop a high-foaming detergent with non-ionic surfactants as the main active ingredient. However, little has been achieved.

The prior art is replete with light duty liquid detergent compositions containing nonionic surfactants in combination with betaine and / or anionic surfactants wherein the nonionic detergent is not the highest active surfactant, as shown in the United States patent. No. 3,658,985, wherein an ion-based shampoo contains a minor amount of a fatty acid alkanolamide. U.S. Patent No. 3,769,398 discloses a betaine-based shampoo, containing minor amounts of non-ionic surfactants. This patent states that the low foaming properties of non-ionic detergents make their use in shampoo compositions not preferred. U.S. Patent No. 4,329,335 also discloses a shampoo containing a betaine surfactant as the main ingredient and minor amounts of a nonionic surfactant and a mono- or di-ethanolamide of fatty acid. U.S. Patent No. 4,259,204 discloses a shampoo comprising 0.8-20 weight percent of an anionic phosphoric acid ester and an additional surfactant which may be either anionic, amphoteric or nonionic. U.S. Patent No. 4,329,334 discloses an anionic-amphoteric base shampoo containing a major amount of an anionic surfactant and minor amounts of a betaine and a non-ionic surfactant.

U.S. Patent No. 3,935,129 discloses a liquid cleaning composition based on an alkali metal silicate content and containing five basic ingredients, such as urea, glycerin, triethanolamine, an anionic detergent and a nonionic detergent. The silicate content determines the amount of anionic and / or nonionic detergent in the liquid cleaning composition. However, the foaming property of these detergent compositions is not discussed here.

U.S. Patent No. 4,129,515 discloses a heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent for washing fabrics comprising a mixture of essentially equal amounts of anionic and non-ionic surfactants, alkanolamines and magnesium salts, and, optionally, zwitterionic surfactants as foam modifiers .

U.S. Patent No. 4,224,195 discloses an aqueous detergent composition for washing socks or stockings comprising a specific group of nonionic detergents such as, an ethylene oxide of a secondary alcohol, a specific group of anionic detergents, such as, a sulfuric ester salt of an ethylene oxide adduct of a secondary alcohol and an amphoteric surfactant which may be a betaine, wherein any anionic or nonionic surfactant may be the main ingredient.

The prior art also discloses detergent compositions containing all nonionic surfactants as shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,154,706 and 4,329,336 wherein the shampoo compositions contain a plurality of particular non-ionic surfactants in order to effect the desired foam and detersive properties despite the fact that non-ionic surfactants are usually deficient in such properties.

U.S. Patent No. 4,013,787 discloses a polymer-based piperazine in conditioning and shampoo compositions which may contain a non-ionic surfactant or a complete anionic surfactant.

U.S. Patent No. 4,671,895 teaches a liquid detergent composition containing a sulfate alcohol surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a paraffin sulphonate surfactant, an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant and water but fails to describe a polysaccharide surfactant.

U.S. Patent No. 4,450,091 discloses high viscosity shampoo compositions containing a mixture of an amphoteric betaine surfactant, a polyoxyethylene polyoxybutylene nonionic detergent, an anionic surfactant, a fatty acid alkanolamide and a polyoxyalkylene fatty ester. glycol. But none of the exemplified compositions contains a mixture of active ingredient wherein the nonionic detergent is present in a higher proportion, probably due to the low foam properties of the polyoxyethylene polyoxybutylene nonionic detergent.

U.S. Patent No. 4,595,526 discloses a composition comprising a nonionic surfactant, a betaine surfactant, an anionic surfactant and a C12-C14 monoethanolamide foam stabilizer.

However, none of the above cited patents disclose a liquid detergent microemulsion detergent composition containing a nonionic surfactant, a high complementary foaming anionic sulphonate surfactant, a betaine surfactant, and an ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactant and perfume or hydrocarbon insoluble in water as the essential ingredients, and the composition does not contain any HEDTA, amine oxide, alkanola fatty acid esters, abrasives, silicas, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkyl glycine surfactant, cyclic imidinium surfactant, alkali metal carbonates or more than 3 percent by weight of a fatty acid or salt thereof.

Synthesis of the Invention It has now been found that a mild working liquid detergent in microemulsion can be formulated with a non-ionic surfactant which has desirable cleaning properties, and softness to human skin.

An object of this invention is to provide a light duty liquid detergent composition containing a nonionic surfactant, a betaine surfactant, a sulfonate surfactant and an ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, wherein the composition does not contain any oxide of amine, HEDTA, fatty acid alkanolamides, silicas, abrasives, alkali metal carbonates, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkyl glycine surfactant, cyclic imidinium surfactant, or more than 3 weight percent of a fatty acid or salt of the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel light microemulsion liquid working detergent with desirably high cleaning and foaming properties which is gentle to human skin.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art of examining the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention can be realized and achieved by means of the instruments and combinations particularly designated in the attached clauses.

To achieve the above objects and others according to the purpose of the present invention, as encompassed and described broadly herein, the inventive novel high foaming microemulsion liquid light working detergent comprises four essential surfactants: an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant soluble in water, a betaine surfactant, an ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactant and an anionic sulfonate surfactant as well as a cosurfactant, a hydrocarbon and water, wherein the composition does not contain any amine oxide, HEDTA, fatty acid alkanolamides , silicas, abrasives, alkali metal carbonates, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkyl glycine surfactant, cyclic imidinium surfactant or more than 3 weight percent of a fatty acid or salt thereof.

Detailed description of the invention The liquid working light microemulsion compositions of this invention comprise approximately by weight: a) from 14% to 24% of an alkali metal salt of a C12-Cg paraffin sulfate; b) from 2% to 6% of an alkali metal salt of a C8-1S ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate; c) from 2% to 8% of a betaine surfactant; d) from 4% to 12% of a non-ionic surfactant; e) from 1% to 10% of at least one solubilizing agent; f) from 1% to 14% of at least one cosurfactant; g) from 0 to 10% of a complementary solubilizing agent; h) from 1% to 8% of a hydrocarbon insoluble in water, an essential oil, a perfume, limonene, dipentene, terpineol and mixtures thereof; Y i) the rest being water.

The non-ionic surfactant is present in amounts of from about 4 percent to 12 percent, preferably from 4 percent to 10 percent by weight of the composition and provides superior performance in the removal of oily dirt and softness to the human skin.

The water-soluble nonionic surfactants used in this invention are commercially well known and include the primary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, the secondary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, the alkylphenol ethoxylates and the propylene oxide-ethylene oxide condensates over primary alkanols, as a Plurafacs (BASF) and ethylene oxide condensates with sorbitan fatty acid esters such as Tweens (ICI). Organic non-ionic synthetic detergents are generally the condensation products of an aromatic hydrophobic compound of organic alkyl or aliphatic and hydrophilic ethylene oxide groups. Practically, any hydrophobic compound having carboxy, hydroxy, amido, or an amino group with a free hydrogen attached to the nitrogen can be condensed with ethylene oxide or with the polyhydration product thereof, the polyethylene glycol to form a water-soluble non-ionic detergent. . In addition, the length of the polyethenoxy chain can be adjusted to achieve the desired balance between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements.

The class of non-ionic detergent includes the condensation products of a higher alcohol (for example an alkanol containing about 8 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration) condensed with about 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide, for example, lauryl alcohol or myristyl alcohol condensed with about 16 moles of ethylene oxide (EO), tridecanol condensed with about 6 moles of ethylene oxide, myristyl alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of myristyl alcohol , the condensation product of ethylene oxide with a coconut fatty alcohol cut containing a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying from about 10 to about 14 carbon atoms in length and wherein the condensate contains either about 6 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of total alcohol or about 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol and alcohol ethoxylates hol containing 6 ethylene oxide to 11 ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

A preferred group of the above nonionic surfactants are the Neodol ethoxylates (Shell Company) which are highly aliphatic primary alcohol containing about 9 to 15 carbon atoms, such as C9-Cu alkanol condensed with 7 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 91-8), C12-13 alkanol condensed with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 23-6.5), C12.15 alkanol condensed with 12 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 25-12), the alkanol Cl4_? 5 condensed with 13 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 45-13), and the like. Such etoxamers have an HLB (lipophilic hydrophobic balance) value of about 8 to 15 and give good oil / in / water emulsification, while ethoxamers with lipophilic hydrophobic balance values below 8 contain less than 5 ethylene oxide groups and They tend to be poor emulsifiers and poor detergents.

The further satisfactory water-soluble ethylene oxide condensates are the condensation products of a secondary aliphatic alcohol containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration condensed with 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of the commercially available nonionic detergents of the above type are the secondary alkanol condensate C, - C? 5 with 9 ethylene oxide (Tergitol 15-S-9) or 12 ethylene oxide (Tergitol 15-S-12) ) marketed by Union Carbide.

Other suitable nonionic detergents include the polyethylene oxide condensates of one mole of alkyl phenol containing from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms in a branched straight chain alkyl group with about 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide. Specific examples of the alkyl phenol ethoxylates include nonyl phenol condensed with about 9.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol, dinonyl phenol condensed with about 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol, dinonyl phenol condensed with about of 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol and di-isoctylphenol condensed with about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Igepal CO-630 (nonyl phenol ethoxylate) marketed by GAF Corporation.

Also among the satisfactory nonionic detergents are the water-soluble condensation products of a C8-C20 alkanol with a heteric mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide wherein the proportion by weight of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide is from 2.5: 1 to 4: 1, preferably from 2.8: 1 to 3.3: 1, with the total ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (including the group of ethanol or terminal propanol) being from 60-85 percent , preferably 70-80 percent by weight. Such detergents are commercially available from BASF-Wyandotte and a particularly preferred detergent is a C10-C16 alkanol condensate with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. The weight ratio of the ethylene oxide to the propylene oxide being 3: 1 and the total alkoxy content being about 75 weight percent.

The condensates of 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide with C 0 -C 20 alkanoic mono-and-tri-esters of sorbitan having a lipophilic hydrophilic balance of 8 to 15 can also be employed as the non-ionic detergent ingredient in the composition described. These surfactants are well known and are available from Imperial Chemical Industries under the trademark Tween. Suitable surfactants include polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (4), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (4), sorbitan polyoxyethylene trioleate (20) and sorbitan polyoxyethylene tristearate (20).

Other suitable water-soluble non-ionic detergents are marketed under the trade name "Pluronics". The compounds are formed by the condensation of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The molecular weight of the hydrophobic part of the molecule is of the order of 950 to 4, 000 and preferably 200 to 2,500. The addition of the polyoxyethylene radicals to the hydrophobic part tends to increase the solubility of the molecule as a whole to make the surfactant soluble in water. The molecular weight of the block polymers varies from 1,000 to 15,000 and the polyethylene oxide content can comprise 20 percent to 80 percent by weight. Preferably these surfactants will be in liquid form and satisfactory surfactants are available as classes L 62 and L 64.

The anionic sulphonate surfactants which may be used in the water-soluble detergent of this invention such as triethanolamine include the sodium, potassium, ammonium and ethanolammonium salts of linear C8-C16 alkyl benzene sulfonates; the C, 0-C20 paraffin sulphonates and the alpha olefin sulfonates containing about 10-24 carbon atoms. The preferred anionic sulfonate surfactant is a C12-Cl8 paraffin sulfonate present in the composition at a concentration of about 14 percent to 24 percent by weight, more preferably from 15 percent to 22 percent.

The paraffin sulfonates may be monosulfonates or di-sulfonates and are usually mixtures thereof, obtained by sulfonating paraffins of 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferred paraffin sulfonates are those chains of carbon atoms CI2.lg and more preferably are C14.I7 chains. Paraffin sulfonates having the sulfonate group (s) distributed along the paraffin chain are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,503,280; 2,507,088; 3,260,744; and 3,372,188; and also in the German patent 735,096. Such compounds can be made to specifications and desirably the content of the paraffin sulphonates outside the CM.17 range will be lower and will be minimized, as well as any contents of di- or poly-sulfonates.

Examples of suitable sulfonated anionic detergents are the known higher alkyl mononuclear aromatic sulphonates, such as the higher alkylbenzene sulfonates containing from 9 to 18 or preferably from 9 to 16 carbon atoms in the higher alkyl group in a straight chain or branched, or C8 alkyl toluene sulfonates., 5. A preferred alkylbenzene sulfonate is a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate having a higher content of 3-phenyl (or higher) isomers and a correspondingly lower (very lower than 50 percent) content of 2-phenyl (or lower) isomers, such as those sulfonates wherein the benzene ring is held mainly in position 3 or higher (for example 4, 5, 6 or 7) of the alkyl group and the content of the isomers in which the benzene ring is attached in the position 2 or 1 is correspondingly low. Preferred materials are set forth in U.S. Patent No. 3,320,174 especially those in which the alkyls are 10 to 13 carbon atoms.

The ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactants have the structure + R- (OCHCH2) nOS03M wherein n is about 22 or more preferably 1 to 3 and R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, more preferably from 12 to 15 and natural cuts, for example, C12.14; C12.I5 and M is an ammonium cation or a metal cation, more preferably sodium. The ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate is present in the composition at a concentration of from about 2.0 to about 5.0 percent by weight, more preferably from about 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent by weight.

The ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate can be made by sulfating the condensation product of ethylene oxide and C8.10 alkanol, and neutralizing the resulting product. The ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfates differ from one another in the number of carbon atoms in the alcohols and in the number of moles of ethylene oxide reacted with one mole of such alcohol. Preferred ethoxylated alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfates contain from 12 to 15 carbon atoms in the alcohols and in the alkyl groups thereof, for example, myristyl myristyl sulfate (3 ethylene oxide).

The ethoxylated C8.18 alkyl phenyl ether sulphates containing from 2 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide in the molecule are also very suitable for use in the compositions of the invention. These detergents can be prepared by reacting an alkyl phenol with 2 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide and sulfatar and neutralizing the resulting ethoxylated alkyl phenol. The concentration of the ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactant is from about 1 to about 8 weight percent.

The water-soluble zwitterionic surfactant (betaine), which is also an essential ingredient of the present light duty liquid microemulsion detergent composition, constitutes about 2 percent to 8 percent, preferably 3 percent to 6 percent, by weight and provides good foaming properties and softness to the present non-ionic base liquid detergent. The zwitterionic surfactant is a water soluble betaine having the general formula: R2 + R, - N - R4 X R3 wherein X 'is selected from the group consisting of S03 and C02 and Rj is an alkyl group having from 10 to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 12 to 16 carbon atoms, or the radical amido: O H I I I I R - C - N - (CH2) a " wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 9 to 19 carbon atoms and a is the integer from 1 to 4; R2 and R3 are each alkyl groups having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and preferably a carbon; R 4 is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and optionally a hydroxyl group. Typical ethyl alkyldi betaines include decyl dimethyl betaine or 2- (N-decyl-N, N-dimethyl-ammonia) acetate, coco dimethyl betaine or 2- (N-coco N, N-dimethyl-ammonia) acetate, myristyl dimethyl betaine, palmityl dimethyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl betaine, cetyl dimethyl betaine, stearyl dimethyl betaine, etc. Amidobetaines similarly include cocoamidoethylbetaine, cocoamidopropyl betaine and the like. A preferred betaine is coco betaine dimethyl betaine amidopropyl (C "-Clg).

The role of the water-insoluble hydrocarbon in the present light working liquid microemulsion formula present is carried out by an aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, terpineol, do 1 limonene, dipentene, an essential oil or a perfume and mixtures of the same at a concentration range of about 1.0 percent by weight to about 8.0 percent by weight, more preferably from about 2.0 percent by weight to about 7.0 percent by weight.

Suitable essential oils are selected from the group consisting of natural Anetole 20/21, anise seed oil china star, anise oil balloon brand, balsam (Peru), basil oil (India) black pepper oil, 40/20 black pepper oleoresin, rosewood (Brazil), FOB, Borneol flakes (China), white camphor oil, technical synthetic camphor powder, cananga oil (Java), cardamom oil, cassia oil ( China), cedarwood oil (China), BP, cinnamon bark oil, cinnamon leaf oil, citronella oil, clove oil, clove leaf, coriander (Russia), coumarin 69 degrees centigrade (China) China) cyclamenal aldehyde, diphenyl oxide, ethyl vanilin, eucalyptol, eucalyptus oil, citrus eucalyptus, fennel oil, geranium oil, ginger oil, ginger oleoresin (India), white grapefruit oil, wood oil guayaco, gurjun balm, heliotropin, acetate isobornyl, isolongifolena, nebulous oil, L-methyl acetate, lavender oil, lemon oil, lemongrass oil, lime oil distillate, litsea cubeba oil, longifolena, mint crystals, methyl cedril ketone, methyl cavicol , methyl salicylate, ambrette musk, musk ketone, xylol musk, nutmeg oil, orange oil, patchouli oil, peppermint oil, phenyl ethyl alcohol, pepper berry oil, pepper leaf oil, rosalin, oil sandalwood, sandenol, sage oil, almaro oil, sassafras oil, peppermint oil, lavender spike, tagetes, tea tree oil, vanillin, vetiver oil (Java), pyrol.

The present compositions contain about 1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent, more preferably about 1 weight percent to about 8 weight percent of at least one solubilizing agent which is mono or C2 dihydroxy alkanols, such as ethanol, isopropanol and propylene glycol and mixtures thereof. The solubilizing agents are included in order to control the transparent turbid properties at low temperature. The urea can optionally be employed in the present composition as a complementary solubilizing agent at a concentration of from 0 to about 10 weight percent, more preferably from about 0.5 weight percent to about 8 weight percent.

The cosurfactant can play an essential role in the formation of the diluted oil / in / water microemulsion and the concentrated microemulsion compositions. Very briefly, in the absence of the cosurfactant the water, the detergent or detergents and the hydrocarbon (eg perfume) will form when mixed in suitable proportions either a miselar solution (a low concentration) or they will form an oil emulsion / in / water in the first aspect of the invention. With the cosurfactant added to this system. The interfacial tension in the interface between the emulsion droplets and the aqueous phase is reduced to a very low value. This reduction in interfacial tension results in a spontaneous breakdown of the emulsion droplets in consecutively smaller aggregates until the state of a transparent colloidal emulsion, for example a microemulsion, is formed. In the state of a microemulsion, the thermodynamic factors are put in balance with several degrees of stability in relation to the total free energy of the microemulsion. Some of the thermodynamic factors involved in determining the total free energy of the system are (1) particle-particle potential; (2) interfacial tension or free energy (stretching and bending); (3) droplet dispersion entropy; and (4) potential chemical changes with training. A thermodynamically stable system is achieved when (2) the interfacial tension or free energy is minimized and (3) the entropy of droplet dispersion is maximized.

Therefore, the role of the cosurfactant in the formation of a stable oil / in / water microemulsion is to (a) decrease the interfacial tension (2); and (b) modifying the microemulsion structure and increasing the number of possible configurations (3). Also the cosurfactant (c) will decrease the stiffness. Generally, an increase in the concentration of cosurfactant results in a wider temperature range of the stability of the product.

The main class of composite articles found to provide highly suitable cosurfactants for the microemulsion over temperature ranges ranging from 5 degrees centigrade to 43 degrees centigrade for example are glycerol, ethylene glycol, water soluble polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of 300 to 1,000. , propylene glycol of the formula HO (CH3CHCH20) nH where n is a number from 2 to 18, mixtures of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol (Synalox) and mono alkyl ether C, -C6 and esters of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol having the formulas R (X) nOH and R? (X) nOH wherein R is a C, - ^, R, alkyl group, is a C2-C4 acyl group, X is (OCH2CH2) or (OCH2 (CH3) CH) and n is a number of 4, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, an alkyl lactate, wherein the alkyl group has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, 1 methoxy-2-propanol, 1 methoxy-3-propanol, and 1 methoxy 2- , 3- or 4-butanol.

Representative members of polypropylene glycol include dipropylene glycol and polypropylene glycol having a molecular weight of 200 to 1,000, for example polypropylene glycol 400. Other satisfactory glycol ethers are ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl cellosolve), diethylene glycol monobutyl ether ( butyl carbitol), triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, mono, di, tri propylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethylene glycol monobutyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether, diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, propylene glycol tertiary butyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monopentyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monopropyl ether, diethylene glycol monopentyl ether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monoethyl ether, triethylene glycol monopropyl ether, trie Tilen glycol monopentyl ether, triethylene glycol monohexyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monoethyl ether, mono, di tripropylene glycol monopentyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monopentyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monohexyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monomethyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monoethyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monopropyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monobutyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monopentyl ether and mono, di, tributylene glycol monohexyl ether, ethylene glycol monoacetate and dipropylene glycol propionate. When these glycol-type surfactants are at a concentration of about 1.0 to about 14 percent by weight, more preferably about 2.0 percent by weight to about 10 percent by weight in combination with a water-insoluble hydrocarbon a concentration of at least 0.5 percent by weight, more preferably 1.5 percent by weight, one can form a microemulsion composition.

Although all of the aforementioned glycol ether compounds provide the stability described, the most preferred cosurfactant compounds of each type, on the basis of cost and cosmetic appearance (particularly odor) are dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether.

The amount of cosurfactant required to stabilize the microemulsion compositions will, of course, depend on such factors as the surface tension characteristics of the cosurfactant, the type and amounts of the primary surfactants and the water-insoluble hydrocarbon, and the type and amounts of the surfactant. any other additional ingredients which may be present in the composition and which have an influence on the thermodynamic factors listed above. Generally, amounts of the cosurfactant in the range of from 1 percent to 14 percent, preferably from about 2 percent by weight to 10 percent by weight provide stable oil-water microemulsions diluted for the above-described levels of surfactants primary and hydrocarbon insoluble in water and any other additional ingredients described below.

The ability to formulate soft neutral products without enhancers having grease removal capabilities is a feature of the present invention because the oil-water microemulsion formulas more usually than the prior art are highly alkaline or highly reinforced or both.

The microemulsion formulas present explicitly exclude alkali metal silicates and alkali metal reinforcing agents such as alkali metal polyphosphates, alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal phosphonates and alkali metal citrates because these materials, if used in the present composition will cause the composition to have a high pH as well as leaving a residue on the surface being cleaned.

The final essential ingredient of the microemulsion compositions of the invention having improved interfacial tension properties is water. The proportion of water in the microemulsion compositions is generally in the range of 35 percent to 65 percent, preferably 40 percent to 60 percent by weight of the diluted oil / in / water microemulsion composition.

In final form, the present compositions exhibit stability at reduced and increased temperatures. More specifically such compositions remain clear and stable in the range of 5 degrees centigrade to 50 degrees centigrade, especially from 10 degrees centigrade to 43 degrees centigrade. Such compositions exhibit a pH of 5 to 8. Liquid microemulsion compositions are preferably pourable and exhibit a viscosity in the range of 6 to 150 millipascales. seconds (mPas) as measured at 25 degrees centigrade, with a Brookfield RVT viscometer using a No. 1 spindle rotating at 20 revolutions per minute. Preferably the viscosity is maintained in the range of 10 to 100 mPas.

The following examples illustrate the liquid cleaning compositions of the described invention. Unless otherwise specified, all percentages are by weight. The exemplified compositions are illustrative only and do not limit the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, the proportions in the examples and outside of these in the description are by weight.

EXAMPLE The following compositions in percent by weight were prepared by a simple mixing procedure: EXAMPLE The following compositions were prepared in percent by weight by a simple mixing procedure:

Claims (10)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. A liquid light working composition in transparent microemulsion which comprises approximately by weight: a) from 14% to 24% of an alkali metal salt of a C12 paraffin sulphonate., 8; b) from 2% to 6% of an alkali metal salt of an ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate C8.18; c) from 2% to 8% of a betaine surfactant; d) from 4% to 12% of a non-ionic surfactant; e) from 1% to 10% of at least one solubilizing agent; f) from 1% to 14% of a cosurfactant; g) from 0 to 10% of a complementary solubilizing agent; h) from 1% to 8% of a hydrocarbon insoluble in water, a perfume or an essential oil; Y i) the rest being water.

2. The composition as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said solubilizing agent which is a mono or dihydroxy alkanol C23.

The composition as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that the solubilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, ethanol and propylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

4. The composition as claimed in clause 3 characterized in that said complementary solubilizing agent is Urea.

5. The composition as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of glycerol, polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycol of the formula HO (CH3) CHCH20) nH, wherein n is from 2 to 18, mixtures of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, mono alkyl ethers C, -C6 and esters of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol having the formulas R (X) "OH and R, (X) n0H wherein R is a C, .6 alkyl group, R, is it an acyl group Q? , X is (OCH2CH2) or (OCH2CHCH3) and n is from 1 to 4.

6. The composition as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that said cosurfactant is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene glycol of the formula H0 (CH3CHCH20) nH, wherein n is 2 to 18, mono alkyl ether C, -C6 and esters of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol having the formulas of R (X) n0H and R, (X) nOH wherein R is a group of alkyl C, .6, R, is an acyl group C2, X is (OCH2CH2) or (OCH2CHCH3) and n is from 1 to 4.

7. The composition as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said cosurfactant is dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether.

8. The composition as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said cosurfactant is diethylene glycol monobutyl ether.

9. The composition as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said water-insoluble hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, d-limonene, 1-limonene, terpineol, perfume and dipentene and mixtures thereof.

10. The composition as claimed in clause 8 characterized in that said water-insoluble hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of terpineol, 1-limonene, d-limonene, and dipentene and mixtures thereof. E S U M N A mild working liquid detergent in microemulsion with desirable cleaning properties and gentleness to human skin comprising four essential surfactants; a nonionic surfactant soluble in water; an anionic surfactant of C8.18 ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate, a C10_20 paraffin sodium sulfonate surfactant and a betaine surfactant.