MXPA99008880A - Bleaching compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to hypochlorite bleaching compositions which comprise a phosphate ingredient, for improved fabric whiteness and improved fabric safety.

Description

WHITENING COMPOSITIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to bleaching compositions, in particular with hypochlorite bleaching compositions, suitable for use in laundry applications such as hand or machine laundry washing methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bleaching compositions are well known in the art. Among the different bleaching compositions available, those which adhere to bleaching of hypohalite such as hypochlorite are often preferred, mainly for operational reasons, especially at lower temperature. However, a problem encountered with the use of the hypochlorite-based compositions is the damage and / or yellowing resulting from the fabrics that are bleached. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a composition containing hypohalite, suitable for use in laundry applications, which provides improved fabric whiteness to fabrics treated therewith. It is another object of the invention to provide a hypohalite-containing composition, suitable for use in laundry applications, which provides improved fabric protection for fabrics treated therewith.

Applicants have therefore now surprisingly found that this problem is solved by the provision, in a hypohalite bleaching composition, of a phosphate ingredient. Actually, it has been found that the improved whiteness and / or protection of the fabric were obtained! with the composition of the invention compared to hypohalite compositions without said phosphate ingredient. The benefits are particularly notable in the hypohalite bleaching corridors which further comprise a pH regulating component. Another advantage of the compositions of the invention is that they are chemically stable. By "chemically stable", it is implied that the hypohalite bleaching compositions of the present invention should not suffer more than 15% loss of available chlorine after 5 days of storage at 50 ° C + 0.5 ° C. The% loss of available chlorine can be measured using the method described, for example, in "Analyzes des Eaux et Extraits de Javel" by "La chambre syndicale nationale de L'eau de Javel et des produits connexes", pages 9-10 (1984). Said method consists in the measurement of the available chlorine in the new compositions, that is, just after they were made, and the same compositions after 5 days at 50 ° C. A further advantage of the compositions of the invention is that they are suitable for bleaching different types of fabrics including natural fabrics (for example, fabrics made of cotton, viscose, linen, silk or wool), synthetic fabrics such as those made of polymer fibers of synthetic origin as well as those made of both natural and synthetic fibers. Actually, the compositions of the present invention can be used in synthetic fibers despite a constant prejudice against the use of hypohalite bleaches, especially hypochlorite bleaches, in synthetic fibers, as evidenced by the warning on bleacher labels commercially available and clothing of all kinds.

European Patent EP 0 188 145 discloses bleaching compositions comprising trisodium phosphate. Japanese patent J53081789 discloses compositions comprising hypochlorite and a phosphate ingredient for cleaning mats. Japanese patent J03137278 discloses a composition comprising hypochlorite and a phosphate ingredient for bleaching garment dyed indigo. Japanese patent J08081878 discloses bleaching compositions with a phosphate ingredient for bleaching new textiles. None of these prior art documents disclose the benefits of whiteness and protection of the fabric obtained from the provision of a phosphate ingredient in a hypochlorite composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a liquid or solid bleaching composition comprising: a hypohalite bleach, a pH regulating component in an amount of 0.5% to 9% by weight, and an effective amount of a phosphate ingredient. The present invention also encompasses a fabric treatment process wherein the fabrics are immersed in a bleaching solution formed by diluting the bleaching composition in water. The present invention further encompasses the use, in a hypohalite bleaching composition, of a phosphate ingredient, to provide the whiteness and / or protection to the fabric for the fabrics treated therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Hypohalite Bleach An essential component of the invention is a hypohalite bleach. Hypohalite bleaches can be provided by a variety of sources, including whiteners which are oxidative whiteners and subsequently lead to the formation of positive halide ions as well as whiteners which are sources of organic base halides such as chloroisocyanurates. The hypohalite bleaches suitable for use herein include the O alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hypochlorites, hypobromites, hypoiodites. chlorinated trisodium phosphate decahydrates, potassium and sodium dichloroisocyanurates, potassium and sodium trichlorocyanurates, N-chloroimides, N-chloroamides, N-chloroamines and chlorohydantoins. For liquid compositions, the preferred hypohalite bleaches among those described above are the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hypochlorites selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium, lithium and calcium hypochlorites, and mixtures thereof, more preferably Sodium alkali metal hypochlorite. For the solid compositions, preferred hypohalite bleaches or those described above are the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hypochlorites selected from the group consisting of lithium hypochlorites, calcium hypochlorites, chlorinated trisodium phosphate dodecahydrates, potassium dichloroisocyanurates, dichloroisocyanurates sodium, potassium trichlorocyanurates, sodium trichlorocyanurates, and mixtures thereof, more preferably sodium dichloroisocyanurates and / or calcium hypochlorite.

Preferably, the liquid compositions according to the present invention comprise the hypohalite bleach such that the content of the active halide in the composition is from 0.1% to 20% by weight, more preferably from 2% to 8% by weight, very preferably from 3% to 6% by weight of the composition. Preferably, the solid compositions according to the present invention comprise the hypohalite bleach such that the content of the active halide in the composition is from 20% to 95% by weight, more preferably from 25% to 60% by weight of the composition.

PH Regulating Component A pH regulating component is another essential component for the compositions of the invention. The pH regulating component ensures that the pH of the composition is regulated to a pH value ranging from 7.5 to 13, preferably from 8 to 12, more preferably from 8.5 to 11.5 after the composition has been diluted 1 to 500 times its weight of water. The pH adjusting components suitable for use herein are selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts of carbonates, polycarbonates, sesquicarbonates, silicates, polysilicates, borates, metaborates, phosphates, stannates, aluminates and mixtures thereof, and are preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, sodium borate and mixtures thereof. The raw materials involved in the preparation of hypohalite bleaches normally contain by-products, for example, the resulting calcium carbonate in an amount of up to 0.4% by weight of by-product within the hypohalite composition. However, in such quantity, the by-product will not have the regulatory action defined above.

The liquid bleaching compositions herein will contain an amount of the pH regulating component from 0.5% to 9% by weight, preferably from 0.5% to 5% by weight, and more preferably in an amount from 0.6% to 3% by weight of the composition. The solid bleach compositions herein will preferably contain an amount of pH regulating component of 3% to 30% by weight, more preferably 5% to 25% by weight, and most preferably in an amount of 10% to 20% by weight. weight of the composition.

The Phosphate Ingredient Phosphonic acid can be condensed in the reaction O O li li II II HO - P - OH + OH - P - OH = F = = HO - P - O - P - HO + 2H2D! I OH OH HO HO The reaction can be repeated with any of the reactive OH groups, and the phosphate ingredients are obtained, which can be linear or branched polyphosphates of the structure MO OR O where R is M o when M is a counterion, preferably alkali metal; when O < n + m < 500 (if n + m = 0 then the compound is phosphonic acid) - cyclic polyphosphates (also referred to as metaphosphates), of the structure O O li p n OM OR O II O- P OM where R is M o m OR if R is O- P OM, m OR the phosphate compound contains both cyclic and branched chains, (and can be referred to as an ultraphosphate.) wherein M is a counter ion, preferably an alkali metal where O < n + m < 500. All phosphate ingredients are suitable for use herein, and linear (ie, R and M) phosphate ingredients are preferred where n is 1 (pyrophosphate) and n is 2 (tripolyphosphate), most preferably where n is 2. The most commonly available form of these phosphates is where M is sodium. The phosphate ingredients herein are present in amounts of 0.001% to 20%, preferably 0.005% to 5%, most preferably 0.005% to 1% by weight of the total composition. Of course, mixtures of different phosphate ingredients can be used. The bleaching effect, ie, the yellowing prevention effect, and / or the protective effect of the present invention can be evaluated by comparing the composition according to the present invention with the same composition without the phosphate ingredient. The degree of yellowing can be determined by both visual and instrumental classifications. Visually, the difference in yellowing between articles treated with different compositions can be determined by a team of expert jurors. Instrumentally, the evaluation can be determined with the help of Colorimeters such as the Ganz Griesser® instruments (for example, Datacolor® Spectraflash® SF 500, Machbet White-eye® 500) or a ZEISS ELREPHO® or others that are available for example of Hunterlab® or Gardner®. The protection of the fabric can be evaluated by different test methods including the test method of the degree of polymerization according to UNI (Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione), official method UNI 8282-Determinazione della viscositá intrinseca en soluzione di cuprietilendiammina (CED). The compositions according to the present invention are either in a liquid or solid form. Solid forms include forms such as powders, tablets and granules. Preferably, the compositions of the invention are in the form of an aqueous liquid. More preferably, these comprise water in an amount of from 60% to 98% by weight, more preferably from 80% to 97% and most preferably from 85% to 97% by weight of the total aqueous liquid bleach composition. pH The pH of the liquid compositions according to the present invention, as is, is typically from 12 to 14 measured at 25 ° C. Solid compositions or • liquid compositions of the invention have a pH of 7.5 to 13, preferably of 8 to 5 12, more preferably of 8.5 to 11.5, when diluted in 1 to 500 times their weight of water. It is in this alkaline range because of the optimal stability and functioning of the hypohalite as well as the whiteness and protection of the fabric. The pH range is suitably provided by the pH regulator component and the hypohalite bleach mentioned hereinabove, which are 0 alkaline. However, in addition to these components, a source of strong alkalinity • can also be optionally used. Suitable sources of alkalinity are caustic alkalies such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and / or lithium hydroxide, and / or alkali metal oxides such as sodium and / or potassium oxide. A strong strong alkalinity preferred is a caustic alkali, more preferably sodium hydroxide and / or potassium hydroxide. Typical levels of these caustic alkalis, when present, are from 0.1% to 1.5% by weight, preferably from 0.5% to 1.5% by weight of the composition.

Optional Polymers 20 An optional component of the compositions herein is a polymer. This polymer has surprisingly been found to also reduce the yellowing of the fabrics treated therewith, i.e., it improves whiteness, as well as improves the protection of the fabric. Naturally, for the purpose of the invention, the polymer must be stable to hypohalite bleach. Polymers suitable for use are polymers comprising monomer units selected from the group consisting of unsaturated carboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, phosphonic acids and mixtures thereof. The copolymerization of the above monomeric units among themselves or with other comonomers such as styrenesulfonic acid is also suitable. Preferred examples of these polymers are the polymers and copolymers of the monomer units selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, maleic acid, vinylsulfonic acid and mixtures thereof. Also suitable for use herein are the aforementioned polymers and copolymers which are modified so as to contain other functional groups such as aminophosphonic and / or phosphonic units. The most preferred polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate polymers, copolymers of acrylic and maleic acid, copolymers of styrene-sulphonic acid and maleic acid, and mixtures thereof, preferably modified with aminophosphonic groups and / or phosphonic The molecular weight for these polymers and copolymers is preferably below 100,000, most preferably between 500 and 50,000. Polymers and copolymers Highly suitable for use herein will be soluble in an amount of up to 0.1% by weight, in an aqueous composition comprising 5% by weight of sodium hypochlorite > with its pH adjusted to 13 with sodium hydroxide. Commercially available these polymers, suitable for use herein, are the polyacrylate polymers sold under the tradename Good-20 Rite® from BF Goodrich, Acrysol® from Rohm & Hass, Sokalan® from BASF, Norasol® from Norso Haas. Also suitable for use herein are the copolymers of styrene-sulphonic acid and maleic acid, commercially available under the tradename Versaflex® from National Starch such as Versaflex 157, as well as Acumer® terpolymers from Rohm and Haas, in particular Acumer® 3100. Preferred commercially available polymers are the polyacrylate polymers, especially the Norasol® polyacrylate polymers and most preferred are the polyacrylate polymer Norasol® 41 ON (MW 10,000) and the polyacrylate polymer modified with phosphonic groups Norasol® 440N ( PM 4000) and its corresponding acid form Norasol® QR 784 (PM 4000). A preferred polymer for use herein is a commercially available polyacrylate-modified polyacrylate polymer available under the trade name of Norasol® 440N (PM 4000) and its corresponding acid form Norasol® QR784 (PM 4000) from Norso-Haas. Mixtures of the polymers can also be used as described herein in the present invention. The polymers herein are preferably present in low amounts, that is, in amounts of up to 0.5% by weight, more preferably from 0.001% to 0.3% by weight, most preferably from 0.005% to 0.2% by weight of the liquid composition. The composition according to the present invention may also further comprise optional components such as perfumes, stable surfactants in the bleach, organic and inorganic alkalis, pigments, dyes, optical brighteners, solvents, chelating agents, radical scavengers and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the compositions of the invention are used in diluted form in laundry applications. The term "used in the diluted form" herein includes dilution by the user, which occurs for example in hand laundry applications, as well as dilution by other means, such as in a washing machine. Preferably, the composition is diluted 5 to 500 times its weight in water for the application of laundry by hand and 10 to 500 times its weight in water in a washing machine. Therefore, in another aspect of the invention, a process for bleaching fabrics with a composition as disclosed herein is provided, wherein the fabrics are immersed in a bleaching solution formed by diluting the composition in water. In yet another aspect of the invention, the use, in a hypohalite bleaching composition, of a phosphate ingredient to provide improved whiteness and / or protection to fabrics treated therewith is provided. By "improved whiteness and / or protection", it is implied that hypohalite bleaching compositions, with the phosphate ingredient, provide better whiteness, ie, less yellowing, and / or protection to fabrics compared to the compositions of bleaching of hypohalite which do not comprise said phosphate ingredient. In this embodiment, the presence of a pH regulating component in the bleaching composition is not mandatory, but is highly preferred. The invention is illustrated in the following non-limiting examples, in which all percentages are on a weight basis unless otherwise stated.

EXAMPLES

Claims (14)

1. A liquid or solid bleaching composition comprising: a hypohalite bleach, a pH regulating component in an amount of 0.5% to 9% by weight, and an effective amount of a phosphate ingredient.

2. A process for bleaching fibers with a composition according to claim 1, wherein the fabrics are immersed in a bleaching solution formed by the dilution in water of a composition according to claim 1.

3. The use, in a Bleaching composition of hypohalite, of a phosphate ingredient, to provide whiteness and / or improved protection to fabrics treated therewith. The one according to claim 3, wherein the composition further comprises a pH regulating component. 5. A bleaching composition in accordance with claim 1, or a process according to claim 2, or a use according to claim 4, wherein the pH regulating component is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts of carbonates, polycarbonates, sesquicarbonates, silicates, polysilicates , borates, metaborates, phosphates, stannates, aluminates and mixtures thereof. 6. A composition or use according to claim 5, wherein the pH regulating component is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, sodium borate and mixtures thereof. 7. A bleaching composition according to claims 1, 5, 6 or a process according to claim 2, 5 or 6, wherein the pH regulating component is in an amount of 0.5% to 9% by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight of the liquid composition or in an amount from 3% to 30% by weight, preferably from 5% to 25% by weight of the solid composition. 8. A bleaching, use or process composition according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the hypohalite bleach is, for liquid bleaching compositions, an alkali metal sodium hypochlorite or, for solid compositions, sodium dichloroisocyanurate and / or calcium hypochlorite. 9. A bleaching, use or process composition according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said hypohalite, based on the active halide, is present in an amount of 0.1% to 20% by weight, preferably 2%. to 8% by weight of the liquid composition or in an amount of 20% to 95% by weight, preferably 25% to 60% by weight of the solid composition. "^ A bleaching composition, use or process according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the composition further comprises a source of strong alkalinity 11. A bleaching composition, use or process in accordance with any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the phosphate ingredient is of the structure: - linear or branched polyphosphates of the structure - cyclic polyphosphates (also referred to as metaphosphates), of the structure where R is M or when M is a counter ion, preferably an alkali metal where O < n + m < 500 (if n + m = 0 then the compound is phosphoric acid). 12. A bleaching composition, use or process according to claim 11, wherein said phosphate is sodium pyrophosphate or sodium tripolyphosphate, preferably sodium tripolyphosphate. 13. A composition, use or bleaching process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition comprises from 0.0 (Ti% to 20%, preferably from 0.005% to 5%, most preferably from 0.01% to 1% N said phosphate ingredient 1

4. A composition, use or bleaching process according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said composition further comprises a polymer.