NZ206168A

NZ206168A - Detergent-softener compositions containing non-soap detergents and soap

Info

Publication number: NZ206168A
Application number: NZ206168A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: R A Taha
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1982-11-05
Filing date: 1983-11-04
Publication date: 1986-09-10
Also published as: FR2539427B1; IT1171882B; FI834044A0; BR8306054A; MX159209A; ZW23183A1; CH658468A5; NL8303810A; ES527025A0; GR79087B; GB2133813B; DK506583A; PT77608A; GB8329563D0; GB2133813A; PT77608B; NO834028L; BE898167A; FI834044A; SE8306058D0

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £06168 20 &i Priority Dato(s): .... .T.. ({'. Complete Specification Filed: Class: C.J!.V. !?./.?&.. Publication Date: ... J. 9. P.O. Journal, No: NO DRAWIIiQS Patents Form No. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 Number Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION DETERGENT SOFTENER COMPOSITION j^We COT GATE-PAIMQT.TVE COMPANY a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America of 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, United States of America do hereby declare the invention for which//we pray that a Patent may be granted to joe/us. and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: KT.KL1) OF V111-: TNVKN'l'ION This invention relates to detergent compositions and | in particular to detergent-aoftener compositions' capable of | I I imparting improved' softness, detersive effects, soil antire- | deposition and antistatic properties to fabrics treated therewith and particularly in a machine laundering process. The deter-l gent compositions of this invention are also outstanding in that they result in less greasy staining (due to the cationic softener) of the laundered and dried clothes. BACKGROUND 07 Till; INVENTION Discussion of the Prior Art Compositions for simultaneously achieving detergency and an appreciable level of softness in the machine laundering of fabrics, and thus suitable for use in the wash cycle, are well-known and widely available commercially. The fugitive interaction between anionic surfactant, perhaps the most commonly used of the available types of surfactants, and cationic softners particularly those, of the di-lower-di-higher alkyl quaternary ammonium type, is likewise well recognizcd in the patent literature. Such interation often results in the . formation' of unsightl' precipitates which become entrapped within or otherwise deposit upon the fabric being washed. .Discoloration or other aesthetical displeasing effects are for the most part inevitable. The net result is often a depletion in the effective amount of anionic available for useful purposes since the loss of anionic is the primary consequence. Remedial techniques heretofore proposed to abate the aforedescribed cationic-anionic problem though divergent as to approach seem convergent as to result namely, less than satisfact ry . 206168 Thus, although the most effective types of cationic quaternary ammonium softeners, as exemplified by the aforementioned di-higher alkyl type, such as distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, can function in the wash cycle in the presence of anionic, builder, etc., the quantity needed to achieve effective softening is usually coterminous with amounts promotive of undesired cationic-anionic interaction. As a general rule, at least about twice as much cationic is required for softening as for antistat. In U.S. 3,325,414, dealing primarily with detergents of controlled foam or sudsing capability, the cationic-anionic problem and attendant detrimental effects are discussed in detail. The patent additionally points out that certain quaternary ammonium compounds, among the class of cationic agents, are generally unstable when heated and when in contact with alkaline builders, the instability being manifested by the development of strong amine odors and undesirable colour. The compositions of the patent are limited to the use of quaternary ammonium halides having but one higher alkyl group, the given structural formula for the cationic being correspondingly limited. Cationics of this type are markedly inferior to the di-higher alkyl types at least insofar as fabric softening activity is concerned. Other prior art teachings at least tactically avoid the use of cationic softeners altogether proposing the use of, for example, anionic materials as softening agents. U.S. 3,676,338 is representative, this patent teaching the use of anionic softener referred to as "branched-chain carboxylic acids," as fabric softener. Presumably, anionic detergent would be stable in the presence of the anionic softener. -3- . "A^YOi-r-ics 17JUNI986 206168 As the foregoing demonstrates, the remedies proposed necessitate the discarding of softeners and principally those of the di-higher-di-1 ower alkyl quaternary ammonium salt and cyclic imide types, these having been determined by experience to be among the most effective softeners thus far developed in the art. The problem of cationic incompatibility in anionic detergents is also acknowledged in U.S. Patents 3,936,537 and 4,141,841 and it is therein proposed to employ as an essential ingredient in combination with the cationic substance an organic dispersion inhibitor. An important characteristic of such inhibitors is a maximum water solubility at 25°C of 50ppM. Similar disclosures may also be found in U.S. Patents 4,113,630; 4,196,104 and 4,272,386. In U.S. Patent No. 4,230,590 to Wixon heavy duty detergents comprising conventional builder, principally anionic surfactant components, cationic softener and a mixture of fatty acid soap and cellulose ether are disclosed. The soap-cellulose ether mixture is in the form of a spaghetti, flake or other shape and is present in the composition as substantially homogeneously dispersed, discrete partic les. In U.S. Patent No. 4,298,480 to Wixon heavy duty detergents having compositions similar to chat described in the preceeding paragraph with the exception that cellulose ether is excluded therefrom are disclosed. In U.S. Patent 4,329,237 to Wixon heavy duty detergents also similar to those in the preceeding two paragraphs are described except that the particles of soap are in admixture with nonionic surfactant. Although the above mentioned soap and cationic softener containing detergent compositions possess desirable softening and detersive properties, it has been found that optimum softening without spot staining may not be attained. -4- ! N.Z. ♦"ATfisVT OFFICE i ! 17JUNJ936 20616a Summary of the Invention The present invention provides stable detergent softener compositions capable of providing improved softness without staining, detergency, antistatic and soil antiredeposition properties to fabrics treated therewith in a laundering process in cold or hot water. Thus, in one aspect the invention provides a particulate detergent softener composition capable of imparting improved softness, detergency, antistatic and non-stain properties to fabrics treated therewith in a laundering process, comprising by weight from about 5 to 40% of water soluble, non-soap, anionic surfactant; from about 10 to 60% of water-soluble, neutral to alkaline builder salt; from about 2 to 20% of an intimate admixture of cationic amine softener with nonionic organic surfactant, and from about 0 to 20% of water-soluble or dispersible fatty acid soap or a mixture of said soap and nonionic organic surfactant (said mixture where present containing from about 2 to 50% by weight nonionic organic surfactant), wherein the mixture of cationic with nonionic is substantially homogeneously dispersed in said composition as discrete particles. Cationic amine softeners are referred to herein as "cationics" and nonionic organic surfactants lies". The compositions generally comprise by weight from about 5 to 40% of a water-soluble, non-soap, anionic surfactant; from about 10 to 60% of water-soluble, neutral to alkaline builder salt; from about 2 to 20% of cationic softener selected from (a) aliphatic, di-lower(Cj- C^)alkyl,di-higher(C^ ^2^)alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, (b) heterocyclic compounds, and mixtures of (a) and (b), said cationic being in intimate admixture with a water-soluble nonionic (2 to 50% by weight based on weight of cationic); and from about 0 to 20% of the mixture of water-soluble or -dispersible fatty acid soap and nonionic organic surfactant in spaghetti-like or other shaped, discrete form, the weight ratio of soap (when used) to softener being from about 2:3 to 3:2, the per-cent concent-ration of anionic surfactant being at least about 1.5 x + 5, x / /'- /V representing the per-cent concentration of softener, wherein the •*<''/ /// ^ soap is substantially homogeneously dispersed throughout said - •*'/ -5- N 206168 composition preferably as discrete particles. In the soap-nonionic surfactant mixture, the nonionic constitutes from about 2 to about 502, preferably from about 5 to about 40%, more preferably from about 8 to about 30%, and most preferably from about 8 to about 20%, all percentages being by weight. The total nonionic surfactant content in the soap mixture will generally vary from about 0.04% to about 10%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 8%, and more preferably from about 1.6 to about 6%, and most preferably from about 1.6% to about 4%, all percentages being by weight and based on the weight of the detergent composition. In certain other aspects, the invention includes both the processes of formulating and using the aforedescribed compositions. Detailed Description of the Invention According to the present invention by adding the cationic material in intimate admixture with nonionic organic surfactant in flakes, granules and the like form, the spot staining of the clothes after drying is substantially mitigated. In addition, the softness in the fabrics laundered is generally unexpectedly enhanced. The nonionic surfactant also contributes to soil antire-deposition, especially in non-phosphate formulas. The inclusion of the nonionic organic surfactant in the cationic softener composition has the following additional advantages. Typically, nonionic surfactants are post-added to spray-dried detergent compositions. As a result, the post-added nonionic surfactant increases the tackiness of the detergent product, In the present invention, the nonionic surfactant is included in the post-added -rfUOlOS cationic which leads to a significant improvement in the flowability of the detergent composition. In the embodiments of the present invention utilizing soap particles with or without cellulose either or nonionic surfactant as taught in the above-described Wixon patents the useful fatty acids include generally those derived from natural or synthetic fatty acids having from 10 to 30 carbons in the alkyl chain. Preferred are the alkali metal, e.g., sodium and/or potassium, soaps of C^-C^^saturated fatty acids, a particularly preferred class being the sodium and/or potassium salts of fatty acid mixtures derived from coconut oil and tallow, e.g. the combination of sodium coconut soap and potassium tallow soap in the mutual proportions respectively of 15/85. As is known, as the molecular weight of the fatty acid is increased the more pronounced becomes its foam-inhibiting capacity. Thus, fatty acid selection herein can be made having reference to the foam level desired with the product composition. In general, effective results obtain wherein at least about 50% of the fatty acid soap is the C^-Cjg variety. Other fatty acid soaps useful herein include those derived from oils of palm groundnut, hardened fish, e.g., cod liver and shark, seal, perilla, linseed, candlenut, hempseed, walnut, poppyseed, sunflower, maize, rapeseed, mustardseed, apricot kernel, almond, captor and olive, etc. Other fatty acid soaps include those derived from the following acids; oleic, linoleic, palmitoleic, palmitic, linoleic, ricinoleic, capric, myristic and the like, other useful combinations thereof including, without necessary limitation, 80/20 capric-lauric, 80/20 capric-myristic, 50/50 oleic-capric, 90/10 carpic-palmitic and the like. ^0616a The nonionic surfactants useful in the rsoap pnvtiAcloi-. nni in admixture with the cationic are known materials. .Such nonionic surfactants may be broadly defined as water-soluble compounds.produced by the condensation of alkylcnc oxide p.roupn (h.ydrophilic in nature.) with an organic hydrophobic compound, which may be aliphatic or' alkyl aromatic in nature. The length, of the hydrophilic or polyoxyalkylene radical which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic group can be readily adjusted to yield a water-soluble compound having the desired decree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements. For example, a wall known class of nonionic organic surfactants is made available on the market under the trade name of' "Pluronic". These compounds are formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation i , of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The hydrophobic » • portion of the molecule which, of course, exhibits water in- ^ solubility, has a molecular weight of from about 1,500 to 1,800. The addition of polyoxyethylene radicals to this hydrophobic portion tends to increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole and the liquid, character of the product is retained jj <• up to the point where polyoxyethylene content is about 50 percent of the total weight of the condensation product. ; Other suitable nonionic synthetic surfactants include: » 1; Tlic polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols, e.g., the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about six to 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration, with ethylene oxide, the said ethylene oxide being present in amounts equal to 5 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of akl'yl phenol. The alcl^l substituent in such compounds may be derived from polymerized propylene, diisobutylene, octene, or nonene, for example. 2. Those derived from the condensation of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylene diamine. For example, compounds containing from about 40 percent /T to about 80 percent polyoxyethylene by weight and having a olecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 11,000 resulting from the reaction of ethylene oxide groups with a hydrophobic base constituted of the reaction product of ethylene diamine and excess propylene oxide, said base having a molecular weight of the order of 2,500 to 3,000 are satisfactory. 3. The condensation product of aliphatic alcohols having from 8-30 carbon atoms, in either straight chain or branched chain configuration, with from 2 to 100 moles of ethylene oxide e.g., a coconut alcohol-ethylene oxide condensate having from 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of coconut alcohol, the coconut alcohol fraction having from 10 to 14 carbon atoms. 4. Nonionic surfactants include nonyl phenol condensed with either about 10 or about 30 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol and the condensation products of coconut alcohol with an average of either about 5.5 or about 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol and the condensation product of about 15 moles of ethylene oxide with one mole of tridecanol. Other examples include dodecylp^henol condensed with^l2 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dinonylphenol condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dodecyl mercaptan condensed with 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of mercaptan; bis-(N-2-hydroxyethyl) lauramide, nonyl phenol condensed with,20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol; N.Z. PATENT OFFICE > myristyl alcohol condensed with 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of myristyl alcohol; lauramide condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of lauramide, and di-iso-octylphenol condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide. Amoag the above listed nonionic surfactants, the condensation product of aliphatic alcohols having from 8-22 carbon atoms with ethylene oxide is preferred. Typical examples of such nonionic surfactants are Neodol 25-7, a product of Shell Chemical Co., which comprises the condensation product of ^ alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide, and Neodol 23-6.5 which is the product of a C]2-13 alcohol with a 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide. Cationic softeners useful herein are known materials and are of the high-softening type. Included are the N,N-di-higher-(CH - C^) ,N,N-di-lower(C^ - C^)alkyl quaternary ammonium salts with water-solubilizing anions such as halide, e.g., chloride, bromide and iodide; sulfate, methosulfate and the like and the heterocyclic imides such as the imidazolinium salts. For convenience, the aliphatic quarternary ammonium salts may be structurally defined as follows: R- N -R„ wherein R and Rj represent alkyl of 14 to 24 and preferably 14 to 22 carbon atoms; R£ and R^ represent lower alkyl of 1 to 4 and preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, X represents an anion capable of imparting water-solubility or -dispersibility including the aforementioned chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate and methosulfate. Particularly preferred species of aliphatic quats include: distearyl dimethylammonium chloride di-hydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride di-tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride distearyl dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate di-hydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate. Heterocyclic imide softeners of the imidazolinium type may also, for convenience, be structurally defined as follows: R_ -CH, "N CH, \ 'CH2CH2NH- 0 II -Or R, wherein R^ is lower alkyl of 1 to 4 and preferably 1 to 3 carbons; Rj and R^ are each substantially linear higher alkyl groups of about 13 to 23 preferably 13 to 19 carbons and X~ has the afore-defined significance. Particularly preferred species of imidazo-liniums include: methyl-1-tallow amido ethyl-2-tallow imidazolinium 1 methyl sulfate; available commercially from Sherex Chemical Co. under the tradename Varisoft 475 as a liquid, 75% active ingredient • .. in isopropanol solvent, methyl-1-oleyl amido ethy1-2-oleyl imidazolinium 1 methyl sulfate; available commercially from Sherex Chemical Co. under the tradename Varisoft 3690, 75% active ingredient in isopropanol solvent. -11- It is preferred in one aspect of the present invention where the soap and nonionic surfactant are used in combination that the soap be used with at most equal and preferably minor quantity of nonionic surfactant, i.e. from 2% to 50% of the mixture, preferably from about 5% to about 40%, more preferably from about 8 to about 30%, and most preferably from about 8 to about 20%, based on the total soap-nonionic surfactant admixture for incorporation into the final detergent composition, usually by post-blending of both soap and the cationic-nonionic mixture with dried detergent. The soap and nonionic surfactant when combined may be first mixed in the desired amounts to form a substantially homogeneous mass which can be worked, according to well known technique, until it is sufficiently 'doughy' or plastic to be in suitable form for, preferably, extrusion or other process, e.g., pelleting, granulation, stamping and pressing. Working may be effected, for example, by roll milling, although this is not essential, followed by extrusion in a conventional soap plodder with the desired type of extrusion head. The latter is selected in accordance with the shape, i.e. geometric form, desired in the extrudate. Extrusion in the form of spaghetti or noodles is particularly preferred. Other shaped forms such as flakes, tablets, pellets, ribbons, threads and the like are suitable alternatives. Special extruders for the foregoing purposes are well known in the art and include for example Elanco models EXD-60; EXCD-100; EX-130 and EXD-180, a Buhler extruder and the like. Generally, the spaghetti extrudate is a form retaining mass, i.e., semi-solid and essentially non-tacky at room temperature requiring in most cases no further treatment such as water removal. If necessary, the latter can be effected by simple drying techniques. The spaghetti should have an average length of from about 2 to 20mm with about 95% thereof within a tolerance of 0.5 to 20 ram and an average diameter or width of from about 0.2 to 2.00 mm with a range of 0.4 to 0.8 mm being preferred. The bulk density of the spaghetti will usually, having reference to the type of fatty 2U616S acid soap and nonionic surfactant used, be from about 0.9 to 1.3 g/cm . Flakes will measure about 4mm in length and breadth and 0.2 mm in thickness, pellets have a cross section of 2.5 mm while tablets have a cross section of 2.5 mm and thickness of 2.5 mm. The cationic-nonionic mixture may be prepared similarly as for the soap-nonionic mixture. It is preferred however to use the mixture in prilled form. The prills are produced by spray cooling in liquefied mixture of the cationic and the nonionic. In the most preferred embodiment a liquid nonionic is used (e.g., Neodol 23-6.5) and this is added to melted cationic. A typical cationic is Arosurf TA-100 (dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride) and as supplied this material forms a very fluid liquid when melted and heated to 90°C. The liquid mixture of cationic and nonionic may in another preferred embodiment may be allowed to cool to room temperature or as necessary to solidify. The solid may then be ground to desired particle size and post-added to the other detergent ingredients. Generally, from 1 to 20% by weight of nonionic based on the weight of the cationic softener is contemplated. Preferably the nonionic should be used in amounts of from 5 to 15% with about 10% being particularly preferred in the case of Neodol 23-65. Although surfactants of conventional type can be used herein, it-is preferred that at least about 90% and preferably at least about 95% of the total surfactant or detergent be of the anionic type, these materials being particularly beneficial in heavy duty detergent for fabric washing. Anionics for use herein generally include the water soluble salts of organic reaction products having in their molecular structure an anionic solubilizing group such as SO^H, SO^H, C00H and PO^H and an alkyl or alkyl group having about 8 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl group or moiety. Suitable detergents are anionic detergent salts having alkyl substituents of 8 to 22 carbon atoms such as: water soluble sulfated and sulfonated anionic alkali metal and alkaline earth metal and detergent salts "^WoffICT" 206168 containing a hydrophobic higher alkyl moiety, such as salts of higher alkyl mono- or poly-nuclear aryl sulfonates having from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group which may have a straight preferred or branched chain structure, preferred species including, without necessary limitation: sodium linear tridecyl-benzene sulfonate, sodium linear dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium linear decyl benzene sulfonate, lithium or potassium pentapropylene benzene sulfonate; alkali metal salts of sulfated condensation products of ehtylene oxide, e.g., containing 3 to 20 and preferably 3 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide, with aliphatic alcohols containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms or with alkyl phenols having alkyl groups containing 6 to 18 carbon atoms, e.g., sodium nonyl phenol pentaethoxamer sulfate and sodium lauryl alcohol triethoxamer sulfate; alkali metal salts of saturated alcohols containing from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms, e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium stearyl sulfate; alkali metal salts of higher fatty acid esters of low molecular weight alkylol sulfonic acid, e.g., fatty acid esters of the sodium salt of isethionic acid; fatty ethanolamide sulfates; fatty acid amides of amino alkyl sulfonic acids, e.g., lauric acid amide of taurine; alkali metal salts of hydroxy alkane sulfonic acids having 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, e.g., hexadecyl, alphahydroxy solium sulfonate. The anionic or mixture thereof is used in the • form of their alkali or alkaline earth metal salts. The anionic is preferably of the non-soap type, it being preferred that the soap component be utilized as taught herein. However, minor amounts of soap, e.g. up to about 35% and preferably 20% based on total anionic can be added for example, to the crutcher mix. -14- The concentation of non-soap anionic should preferably be selected so as to provide an exces with respect to cationic-softener according to the empirical relationship % concentration = 1.5X + 5 wherein x is the per cent concentration of cationic softener. This asures the minimum excess of anionic necessary for optimum overall detergency, softening, etc. performance in the product composition. Minor amounts of other types of detergents can be included along with the anonionic, their sum in any case no exceeding about 10% and preferably about 2-5% of total detergent, i.e., such other detergent plus non-soap anionic. Useful here are the nonionic surface active agents which contain an organic hydrophobic group and a hydrophilic group which is a reaction product of a solubilizing group such as carboxylate, hydroxyl, amido or amino with ethylene oxide or with the polyhydration product thereof, polyethylene glycol. Included are the condensation products of CQ to C_ fatty alcohols such o JU as tridecyl alcohol with 3 to 100 moles ethylene oxide; to C^g alcohol with 11 to 50 moles ethylene oxide; ethylene oxide adducts with raonoesters of polyhydric alcohols eg, hexahydric alcohol; condensation products of polypropylene glycol with 3 to 100 moles ethylene oxide; the condensation products of alkyl (Cg to straight or branched chain) phenols with 3 to 100 moles ethylene oxide and the like. 206166 Suitable amphoteric detergents generally include those containing both an anionic group and a cationic group and a hydrophobic organic group which is preferably a higher aliphatic radical of 10 to 20 carbon atoms; examples include the N-long chain alkyl aminocarboxylic acids and the N-long chain alkyl iminodicarboxylic acids such as described in U.S. 3,824,189. The compositions herein preferably include water soluble alkaline to neutral builder salt in amounts of from about 10 to 60% by weight of total composition. Useful herein are the organic and inorganic builders including the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal phosphates, particularly the condensed phosphates such as the pyrophosphates or tripolyphosphates, silicates, borates, carbonates, bicarbonates and the like. Species thereof include sodium tripolyphosphate, trisodium phosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium monobasic phosphate, sodium dibasic phosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate; alkali metal silicates such as sodium metasilicate, sodium silicates; Na20/Si02 of 1.6:1 to 3.2:1, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, borax (sodium tetraborate), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid tetrasodium salt, trisodium nitrilo-triacetate and the like and mixtures of the foregoing. Builder salt may be selected so as to provide either phosphate-containing or phosphate-free detergents. As to the latter embodiments, sodium carbonate is particularly effective. Another material found to provide good detergency effects in metakaolin which is generally produced by heating kaolinite lattice to drive off water producing a material which is substantially amorphous by x-ray examination but which retains some of the structural order of the kaolinite. Discussions of kaolin and -16- ; A 1^:7 Q j-p iqz ? 7 J UN mA 20S16S metakaolin are found in U.S. Patent 4,075,280 column 3 and 4 and Grimshaw, "The Chemistry of Physics of Clays and Allied Ceramic materials, "(4th ed., Wiley-Interscience), pages 723-727. Metakaolin is also the subject of U.S. Patents 4,178,255 and 4,183,815, the relevant disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference. The metakaolin also appears to have softening utility. As to the latter, the most effective metakao#lins appear to be those which behave best in the reaction with sodium hydroxide to form zeolite 4A as described in U.S. Patent 3,114,603 which refers to such materials as "reactive kaolin". As explained in the referenced sources, metakaolin in an aluminosilicate. The metakaolin and/or a zeolite is included in about the same amounts as the builder salt, and preferably supplemental thereto, e.g., zeolite silicate in a ratio of 6:1. A particularly useful form of the metakaolin is that available commercially as Satintone No. 2. such as Genie perfume; optical brighteners and bluing agents which may be dyes or pigments, suitable materials in this regard including stilbene and Tinopal 5BM brighteners and particularly in combination and Direct Brilliant Sky Blue 6B, Solophenyl Violet 4BL, Cibacete, Brilliant Blue RBL and Cibacete Violet B, Polar Brilliant Blue RAW and Calcocid Blue 2G bluing agents. The brightener may be included in amounts ranging up to about 1% of the total composition while bluing agents may range up to about .1% preferably up to about .01% of total composition. Bluing agent, e.g., Polar Brilliant Blue may be included in the soap spaghetti. In either case, the amount need only be minimal to be effective. 17- * 7JUN1986 206168 Other ingredients of optional significance include bleaching agents which may of of the oxygen or chlorine liberating type; oxygen bleaches include sodium and potassium perborate, potassium monopersulfate and the like, while chlorine bleaches are typified by sodium hypochlorite, potassium dichloro-isocyanurate, trichloro-isocyanuric acid and the like. The latter chlorine-liberating bleaches are representative of the broad class of water soluble, organic, dry solid bleaches known as the N-chloro imides including their alkali metal salts. These cyclic imides have from about 4 to 6 member in the ring and are described in detail in U.S. Patent 3,325,414. Each of the oxygen and chlorine type bleaches discussed above are fully compatible with the compositions" herein and have good stability in the presence of the anionic and cationic components. They are generally used in proportions ranging from about 0.1 to 45% by weight of total solids or from about .05% to about 40% based on total detergent composition. Yet additional optional ingredients include water soluble and/or dispersible hydrophobic colloidal cellulosic soil suspending R agent. Methyl cellulose, e.g., Methocel is particularly effective. Polyvinyl alcohol is likewise effective and especially in the washing of cotton and synthetic fibers such as nylon, dacron and resin treated cotton. The additional soil suspending agent may be included in amounts up to about 2% based on total solids and up to about 4% based on total detergent composition. However, it must be emphasized that the nonionic organic surfactant component of the soap spaghetti supplies at least a major part of the anti-redeposition or soil suspending function, its effectiveness in this regard being significantly augmented by the soap material as previously explained. -18- 2.06168 Fillers may also be included in addition to the aforementioned ingredients, such as sodium sulfate, sodium chloride and the like. The amount will range up to about 40% of total composition. The detergent composition is prepared by conventional processing such as spray drying a crutcher mix of surfactant builder, filler etc. with volatile ingredients such as perfume or ingredients otherwise adversely affected by the spray drying process such as peroxygen bleach, e.g., sodium perborate. Ingredients of this type are preferably post blended. As previously mentioned, the soap spaghetti (when used) and cationic softener-nonionic mixture are simply dry blended with the dried detergent in particulate form by simple mechanical mixing which is more than adequate to achieve a homogeneous product. As previously explained, part or all of the soap spaghetti may alternatively be added to the aqueous crutcher mixture. A typical procedure would be as follows: Water is added to a crutcher followed in order by anionic, sodium silicate, optional ingredients where used such as Satintone #2 and filler such as sodium sulfate and builder salt. The crutcher mixture is heated to about 1406F before addition of builder, e.g., sodium tripolyphosphate and the solids content of the crutched mixture before spray drying is about 55-65%. Spray drying may be carried out in a convential manner by pumping the hot mixture from the crutcher to a spray tower where the mixture passes through a spray nozzle into a hot evaporated atmosphere. Bleach and other materials remaining to be added are incorporated into the cooled, dried detergent mass by any suitable means such as simple mechanical mixing. -19- ' „ . "*TBKT OFF ICS f f 7 JUN1986 In use, sufficient of the detergent composition is added to the wash cycle to provide a concentration of cationic softener in the wash medium of about 1.5 to 8.0g/3500g laundry with a range ofrom about 70 degrees to the boil (i.e. about 212 degrees F). In this connection it is understood that by "cold" wash is meant a washing temperature of up to 70 degrees F, "warm" is from above 70 degrees F to boiling. Certain types of aliphatic quaternary ammonium compounds though relatively ineffective as regards softening are nevertheless quite effective as antistats in the compositions herein and particularly since they are physically compatible with anionic surfactant in liquid environments. In general, such materials encompas the ethoxylated and/or propoxylated quaternary ammonium compoinds of the following formula: Cll. R-2 N m V + x 9 • wherein R7 and R8 represent ethoxy or propoxy, m and n are integers of from 1 to 50 and may be the same or different and R9 represents aklyl of 14 to 24 carbon. Compounds of this type include (a) methylbis (2-hydroxy-ethyl) coco ammonium chloride a liquid 75% active ingredient in isopropanol/water solvent and available commercially as Ethoquad c/12, Armak and Variquat u ■' -20- 206168 638, Sherex Chemical Co.; (b) Ethoquad c/25 - same as in (a) but having 15 moles of ethylene oxide (m + n) and available as 95% active ingredient; (c) methylbis (2-hydroxy-ethyl) octadecyl ammonium chloride, a liquid, 75% active ingredient in siopropanol/water solvent available commercially as Ethoquad 18/12, Armak and (d) same as (c) but having 15 moles of ethylene oxide (m + n), a liquid, 95% active ingredient and available commercially as Ethoquad 18/15, Armak. These materials can be used in amounts ranging up to about 10% by weight of the total composition. The following examples are given for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the invention. All parts and percentages are given by weight. Example 1 A) 100 g of powdered Arosurf TA (dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride) are heated to 90 degrees C and a fluid melt results. To this melt are added 10 g of liquid nonionic Neodol 23-6.5 (Ci^ 12 linear alcohol condensed with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide). The mixture is stirred well and then cooled to room temperature. A ..white solid results. The solid is then ground to a powder (on' U.S. #8 Sieve 0% through U.S. #100 Sieve <10%). The product resembles the original Arosurf powder. B) Part A is repeated except that only 5 g of nonionic is used. -21- 1 7 JUN1986 Example 2. 206168 The products of Example 1 as well as powdered cationic alone (same as used for Example 1 to produce the co-melted product), of a particle size the same as that of Example 1, are each tested separately for dispersion uniformity in water by the following procedure. In a tergitometer equipped as usual with a reciprocating stirrer there are added to 500 ml of water (hardness of 150 ppm) at 70°F (31°C) 0.15 g of a detergent (13.42-alkyl benzene sulfonate; 24% Sodium tripolyphosphate; 30% sodium sulfate; 4.5% sodium carbonate; 6.3% water-soluble silicate solids; 7% moisture; 4% soap; minor amounts brightener, methocel and perfume) which also contains 4.5% of the particles of Example 1. The stirrer is operated for 5 minutes at 100 rpm and then the aqueous composition is vacuum filtered through fresh smooth blue denim fabric. In the case of the liquors with the Example 1 - containing detergent there is no visible (i.e., no white spots) evidence of any residue. When the procedure is repeated using identical conditions with the same composition except that in place of 4.5% of Example 1 products, there is used 4.5% powdered cationic alone there is a very visible pattern of white spotting on the denim. This is very clear evidence of the outstanding benefits of the Example 1 products. Example 3 When the compositions described in Example 2 are used to wash soiled white towels in a washing machine and then dried in an automatic dryer, the clothes in each instance are acceptably soft although those washed with the detergent containing the Example 1 softener combination are somewhat softer. In addition 638, Sherex Chemical Co.; (b) Ethoquad c/25 - same as in (a) but having 15 moles of ethylene oxide (m + n) and available as 95% active ingredient; (c) methylbis (2-hydroxy-ethyl) octadecyl ammonium chloride, a liquid, 75% active ingredient in siopropanol/water solvent available commercially as Ethoquad 18/12, Armak and (d) same as (c) but having 15 moles of ethylene oxide (m + n), a liquid, 95% active ingredient and available commercially as Ethoquad 18/15, Armak. These materials can be used in amounts ranging up to about 10% by weight of the total composition. The following examples are given for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the invention. All parts and percentages are given by weight. Example 1 A) 100 g. of powdered Arosurf TA (dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride) are heated to 90 degrees C and a fluid melt results. To this melt are added 10 g. of liquid nonionic Neodol 23-6.5 (C linear alcohol condensed with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide). The mixture is stirred well and then cooled to room temperature. A white solid results. The solid is then ground to a powder (on U.S.#8 Sieve 0% through U.S.#100 Sieve (10%). The product resembles the original Arosurf powder. B) Part A is repeated except that only 5 g. of nonionic is used. G* \J VJ il my (J lixmnplo ? The products of Example 1 as well as powdered cationic alone (same as used for Example .1 to produce the' co-melted product), of a particle size the same as that of Example 1, are each tested separately for dispersion uniformity in water by the following procedure. In a tergitometer equipped as usual with a reciprocating' stirrer there are added to 500 ml of water (hardnes? of 150 ppm) at 70°F (31°C) 0.15 of a detergent (13 - ^ % alkyl benzene sulfonate; 2k% Sodium tripolyphosphate; 30$. sodium sulfate; 'l.57 sodium carbonate; 6.3!? water-soluble silicate solids; 7% moisture; 4% soap; minor amounts brightener, methocel and perfume) which also contains. ^.5% of the particles of Example 1. The stirrer is operated for 5 minutes at 100 rpm and then the aqueous compos it.--; ion is vacuum filtered through fresh smooth blue denim fabric. J I In the case of the liquors with the Example 1 - containing deter- | gent there is no visible (.i.e., no white spots) evidence of any i I residue. When the procedure Is repeated using identical conditions with the same composition 'except that in place of 4.5?. or Example 1 products, there is used k .5% powdered cationic alone there, is a very visible pattern of white spotting on the denim. This is very clear evidence of the outstanding benefits of .the Example .1 products . • ....... Example 3 When the compositions described in Example 2 .are used to wash soiled white towels in a washing machine and then dried in an automatic dryer,"the clothes in each instance are acceptably soft although those washed with the determent containing the Example 1 softener combination are somewhat softer. In addition, ®vuiog the towels washed with the determent containing powdered cationic alone (i.e., not combined with nonionic)'have soma visible all belt allflht spotting (i.e., p;reasy staining) due apparently to the cationic material whereas the others do not.. Fxamplo 4 Example '1A & lii & 3 are repeated except that the following non-ionics are used in place of the Meodol Z3t6.5.. a) Neodol 25-7 (A 0^2-15 alfcyllinear alcohol + 7. moles of ethylene oxide) b) Igepal CO-630 (Nonyl phenol + 10 moles of ethylene oxide) c) Neodol 45-13 (A alkyllinear alchohol + 13 moles of ethylene oxide) Example 5 A spray dried heavy duty detergent having the following •composition is provided: Component • Wt. % Linear tridecylbenzene sulfonate (LTBS) 15 "Jripolyphosphate sodium (NaTPP) 33 Silicate 7 Brightener (Stilbene & Tinopal 5BM) .48 \ Q.S. sodium sulfate and water 44.5? 100.00 To 90 g of the above composition are added fcrams of the cationic-nonionic powder of Example 1 part B. Excellent results are obtained. *uoI&§ Example f) .Example 3 is repeated oxcopt that the.determent alr.o contains a aoap opaghott 1 ('1.52! in detergent) . Example 7 Example 6 i3 repeated oxcopt that the soap spaghetti contains 20% by weight of N.codol 25-7. In Examples 6 & 7 the aoap spaghetti is an 85/15 callow/ coco s oap. Example 8 Example 3 is repeated t using a detergent composition having the following proximate analysis. Component Wt. 1 Linear dodecyl benzene sulfonate 23 NA2C03 • 20 Silicate 15 Borax Nonionic surfactant Soap Carboxymethyl cellulose Bri'ghtener* Satintone NdgSOjj and water *Stilbene and Tinopal 5RM To 95 grams of the above composition, 5 gm of the product of Example IB are added. 3 -' 1 V- 1 0.48 i Q.S. JL ]■*. xn )))}> 1 o 9 Example B is repeated except 5 P.m of a Gonp-non.Ionic spaghetti (similar to Example 7) in used. Exam pie 10 Example 6 is repeated except that the soap spaghetti used also contains by weight of carboxymethyl cellulose. Example 11 • The following heavy duty detergent composition is prepared . Component ' Wt. % Linear alkyl benzene.sulfonate 9 Alcohol ether sulfate . 8 Nonionic surfactant 2 ' Tripolyphosphate sodium 2H Zeolite A ' 17 vy NajSO^,' brIghteners water Q.S. To this composition is added 5.0 g of the cationic product of Example IB.. Example 12 j Example 11 is repeated except that the soap/nonionic surfactant spaghetti-of Example 6 is added to give in the detergent. K x n m pic 1_3 An un |> cr f win c d . p ow d c i* dotorRont componltLon linv Inn the Coliwing formulation is prepared. . Componcn t WT . 7. Linear tridecylbenzene sulfonate 14.8 fripolyphosphnte?sodium 26.5 S i11cat e 6.9 Brlghtener (Stilbene and Tinopal 5 11M) 0.47 Sodium carbonate 4.9 Carboxymethyl cellulose • ' 0.25 •le tho eel 0.6 Sodium sulfate, moisture Q.S. To 90.6 parts by weight of the above unperfumed powder i detergent ore added: . Cationic-Nonionic mixture of Ex IB 4.0 parts Soap spaghetti.(90% tallow/coco 85/15; 10% Neodol 25-7 (Shell Chemical Co . ) , . bpaghe11i length = • 15 mm, diameter ** 0.5mm . 4.0 parts Borax Pentahydrate 0.7 parts Nonionic surfactant 0.5 parts (Neodol 25-7) I • • Perfume 0.2 parts • •' • The following .Examples illustrate the .production and use of. the cationic-non-ionic combination in prilled form. 1C x miii p i. n 1. A § Five hundred kilograms, of dime thyl distonryl 'Ammonium i • ■ o 1 chloride containing about 47. watot ia hontcil to 90 C and forma | a molt. To thin hot melt arc added 25 kilogramo oC Neodol 23-6. 5 • ! I This co-melt is then sprayed downwardly from tho top of a 75-Coot J i (about 24 meters) tower - 16 foot diameter (about 5. meters)-. I At the flame time cool air at about 50°F (10°C) Is passed upwardley . ! (i.e., countercurrent to the falling npray) at a rate of about j 30,000 cubic feet per minute (cf-m) . The congealed product is i ! collected at the bottom of the tower. The product particle ! is white in appearance, free-flowing generally spherical and solid.' I It has a porous surface (pock-marked appearance). The bulk density of the prill ia about 0,37(g/cc). I Example 15 To 95.5 g. of the detergent of Example 2 (without Exampli 1 particles) are added 4.5 g. of the prills of Example 14. Example 16 Example 5 through 13 are each repeated except ttiat the cationic-non-ionic mixture used in those examples are replaced by the prills of Example 14. * Example 17 Each of the-previous examples is repeated except that the non-ionic in the cationic-ndnionic mixture is used in amounts of 27.; 77.i 12%; 15%; 20% , 206168 Example 18 Each of the previous examples is again repeated except that the cationic softener of the cationic-nonionic mixture is replaced by the following: (a) dimethyl di-tallow ammonium methosulfate (b) dimethyl, di-hydrogenated tallow ammonium chloride (c) 1 methyl-l-tallow amido ethyl-2-tallow imidazolinium methosulfate (d) 1 methyl-l-oleylamidoethyl-2-oleyl imidazolinium methosulfate. Example 19. In each of the foregoing examples where the cationic-nonionic particles are used in admixture with the detergent, the amount of the cationic-nonionic is varied to provide 2%; 7% and 10% thereof based on the weight of the detergent & softener particles. Among the nonionics which are useful in the cationic-nonionic combination it is clear that there is a wide range of melting point. Thus Neodol 23-6.5 is a liquid non-ionic as is Igepal C0-630 .(nonyl phenol plus 10 moles of ethylene oxide) whereas Neodol 25.-7is a somewhat pasty solid and Neodol 25-12 is a soft white solid. At higher ethylene oxide content (i.e.3f 15 moles of ethylene oxide) the product becomes more solid and somewhat waxy in feel and appearance. Particularly where it is desired to use higher levels (i.e., above 5 to 10%) of non-ionic in the cationic co-melt, it is often advantageous to use a mixture of a liquid non-ionic and a solid nonionic. In addition to the ethoxylated solid non-ionics, one may also use other solid or pasty non-ionics such as the glycerol mono and di-fatty glycerides. Of particular value in this 39T90K -28- (juio i wg regard are glycerol mono-s teara t e, glyceral mono-oleatc and p.lycert 1 p a luil ta t a . Examp 1c 2 0 . Example IA Is repeated except that half of the Neodol nonionic is replaced by glycerol monostearate. In the test procedure of Example 2 this product performs on a par with the Example IA material. 1 ' Example 21 Example 3 Ib repeated using the product of Example 20 1n place of tho. cationic materials of Example 3. Excellent re--suits are obtained. Example 2 2 Example 7 is repeated except that the detergent contains the tertiary softener combination of Example 20 in place of the binary combinations of Example 1. The results arc siinu-larly excellent as those of Examples 3 and 7. Example 23 Example 22 is repeated except that the nonionic used is Neodol 45-11 (a linear alkanol plus 11 moles of ethylene oxide) . MZ. PATENT OFffCE -5 JAN 1984 ' RECEIVED ;0 K x 11 in p 1 i.i 24 ** 1 U Example 6 ia repeated exccpt that the soap.' spa }>h e 11 i is replaced by an equal weight of Carbowax (MW-3000-8000) crystals I', x ft hi p .1 e. 2 5 Example 24 is repeated except that the ..amount of Zarbowax is varied as follows (% in detergent): (a) 0. 5 (b) 1.0 (c) 2.0 (d) 4.0 Example 2 6 Examples 6, 7, 9,.10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 2 2 arid 23 are each repeated except where soap spaghetti is used it is replaced by the Carbowax used.in Examples 24 and 25 in ithe amounts indicated (% based on weight of detergent). (a) 0.2 (b). Cc) (d). (e). (f) (g) 0.4 0.8 1.0 2.0 3 . 0 5.0 Example 27 Examples 24, 25 and 26 are repeated using.in place of jCarbowax the following: (A) Pluronic F-108 crystals (13) Soap-spaghetti of high water solubility con- • '"tai'nirig 10^ sodium xylene sulfonate; (b) 20% sodium xylene sulfonate; (c) 40% sodium xylene sulfonate. - 30 - 206168 The carbowax product of Examples 24 to 26 is a polyethylene glycol. The Pluronic F-108 of Example 27 is a polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene block polymer containing 20% polyoxypropylene groups as the hydrophobe and 80% polyoxyethylene groups. The base hydrophobe has a MW of 3250. The Pluronic F-108 is also illustrative of the water-soluble non-ionics which are useful in the cationic-nonionic co-melts of this invention. Of particular value are the liquid Pluronics containing up to about 50% polyoxyethylene group's and a base hydrophobe molecular weight of the polyoxyethylene groups and a base hydrophobe molecular weight of the polyoxypropylene moiety of from about 950 to 4000. Where combinations of, for example, Neodol 23-6.5 and Pluronics are used, it may be preferred to use pasty or solid Pluronics. These contain generally from 25% to 80% of polyoxyethylene groups. Illustrative of liquid pluronics are Pluronic L-61, Pluronic L-64, Pluronic L-72 and Pluronic 101; of the pasty Pluronics, we find Pluronic P85 and Pluronic P105 among others; of the solid products we may mention Pluronic F-87 and Pluronic F27. Example 28. As an illustration of the anti-stain benefits of the presept invention, several different soiled, white materials are laundered at both 70 degrees F and 120 degrees F using the detergent containing cationic along, (A) on the one hand and the cationic-nonionic prill of Example 14 on the other hand (B). The detergent is that described in Example 2. All of the white materials are equally soiled and the reflectance values of laundered materials are measured. The following are the reflectance values (Rd). -31- .-■ **.TsgnroFF;cs 1 7 Jlm 1986 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> \ ■Spun Dacron !Dacron/c|/tton (65/35) 'Cotton I 1 .Nylon 7 0°F (A) (R) 77 . 7 79 . 0 81.4 81.5 87.8 87.8 84.1 85 .2 12Q9F (A) '(.11). 64,7 66.5 73.9 7 6.1 87.3 87.3 8 4.1 84.5 The above clearly demonestrates that even after only one washing there is significant improvement on Spun Dacron at ! ' ■ ■both laundering temperatures, on Dacron/Cotton at 120°F and on •Nylon at 70°F. A difference of 0.5 Rd units is significant in jthe sense that this difference is visually discernible.. -Y ■ V - 3 2 - 206168 WHAT HE CLAIM IS:

1. A particulate detergent softener composition capable of imparting improved softness, detergency, antistatic and non-stain properties to fabrics treated therewith in a laundering process, comprising by weight from 5 to 40% of water soluble, non-soap, anionic surfactant; from 10 to 60% of water-soluble, neutral to alkaline builder salt; from 2 to 20% of an intimate admixture of cationic amine softener with nonionic organic surfactant; and from 0 to 20% of water-soluble or -dispersible fatty acid soap or a mixture of said soap and nonionic organic surfactant (said mixture where present containing from 2 to 50% by weight nonionic organic surfactant), wherein the mixture of cationic with nonionic is substantially homogeneously dispersed in said composition as discrete particles.

2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said cationic is a quaternary ammonium halide and the nonionic is a water-soluble ethoxylate.

3. A composition according to claim 2 wherein said nonionic comprises from 2 to 20% of said mixture, and the mixture comprises from 2 to 15% of said detergent.

4. A composition according to claim 3 wherein said cationic is a di-short chain alkyl, di-long chain alkyl quaternary ammonium halide, said nonionic is an ethoxylate of a Cg to C^g aliphatic alcohol, thiol, amide or amine or an alkylated phenol, or thiophenol containing from 3 to 100 moles of ethylene oxide; said nonionic comprising from 2% to 15% by weight of said cationic-nonionic mixture and said mixture comprising from 2 to 10% of said detergent. *'TB\rr Q)-f-;cs J f ? E? !fc! 1r\n r I -33- 206168

5. A composition according to claim 4 wherein said non-soap anionic surfactant comprises an alkyl benzene sulfonate, said builder comprises a phosphate, said cationic is a di-(C^ to C^)alkyl-di-(C^ to Cjg) alkylammonium halide, said nonionic is an ethoxylated Cg to Cjg linear, aliphatic alcohol containing from 3 to 50 moles of ethylene oxide and said nonionic comprising from 3 to ]0£ by weight of said cationic-nonionic mixture,

6. A composition according to claim 5 wherein said cationic-nonionic mixture is a prill.

7. A composition according to Claim 5 wherein said cationic-nonionic mixture is the finely ground product of a co-melt of the cationic and nonionic component.

8. A composition according to claim 6 wherein said prill is a generally spherical, porous-surfaced solid core particle.

9. A composition according to claim 3 wherein the surfactant is a Cg to C^g linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, the cationic amine softener is selected from the group consisting of di-(Cj to C^)- aHcyl,'di~(C.. to C1Q)alkylammonium salts, imidazolinium salts and 14- 18 and mixtures thereof and the nonionic in the cationic-nonionic mixture is a Cg to C^g linear aliphatic alkanol containing from 6 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide.

10. A composition according to claim 9 wherein the nonionic is a liquid non-ionic and it constitutes from 2-10% by weight of the cationic-nonionic mixture.

11. A composition according to claim 10 including as an adjuvant glycol or glycerol mono- or di-ester of a C„ to C,Q fatty o 1 o acid.

12. A composition according to claim 11- wherein the adjuvant ( is glycerol monostearate.

13. A composition according to claim 12 wherein the amount of the glycerol monostearate is from 1" to-20% based on the weight of the cationic-nonionic mixture and is included as a component thereof.

14. A detergent softener composition as defined in claim 1 substantially as herein described.

15. A process for preparing the composition of claim 1 which comprises spray-drying the non-soap anionic surfactant and builder salt and to the spray-dried material post-adding the balance of ingredients.

16. A process for preparing the composition of claim 1 substantially as-herein described.

17. A spray cooled softener composition comprising an intimate blend of a cationic amine softener and from 2 to 20% based on the weight of said mixture of a water-soluble nonionic ethoxylate surface active compound. HZ. PATENT orr yy - f JO/ 1QX,< 206168

18. A composition as defined in claim 17 wherein the ethoxylate is a C„ to C1Q linear aliphatic alcohol and the amount of combined o I o ethylene oxide is from 5 to 100 moles.

19. A composition as defined in claim 18 wherein the amount of nonionic ranges from 2 to 10%.

20. A composition as defined in claim 19 which includes from 2 to 20% of a glycol mono- or di-ester of a CQ to C1c fatty o I o

21. A composition as defined in claim 20 which contains from 2 to 10% glycerol monostearate.

22. A composition as defined in claim 17 substantially as herein described.

23. A method of cleaning and softening laundry which comprises washing said laundry in an aqueous medium containing the composition of claim 1. acid.

24. A method of cleaning and softening laundry as defined in claim 23 substantially as herein described. WEST-WALKER, McCABE per: ATTORI ... PLICANT </div>