NZ249400A - Aqueous detergent compositions containing at least 3% (c10-16) alkyl ethoxy sulphate, an anionic surfactant and 0.01-0.5% calcium ions; method of improving the solution feel - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number £49400 249400 New Zealand No. 249400 International No. PCT/US93/01156 TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: '3©\'MC*2.

International filing date: «I "a \ 3 ClassificationnPcfe*'. C.U3> >| a6!, 9 k", on t>^lo4- Title of invention: Aqueous hard surface detergent compositions containing calcium ions Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Ohio, United States of America, of One Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, United States of America Publication date: 2 FEB 1997 Journal No.: Li Itflf iiS NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PCT/TO93701 X AQUEOUS HARD SURFACE DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING CALCIUM IONS TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an aqueous hard surface detergent composition containing calcium ion which provides improved solution feel without deteriorating storage stability of the composition. The composition is particularly useful for dishwashing liquids, more particularly under soft water conditions.

BACKGROUND Anionic surfactants such as alkyl ethoxy sulfates with short ethylene oxide chains, alkyl sulfates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, a-olefin sulfonates, and alkyl ethoxy carboxylates are known to be very effective for hard surface cleaning, but are also known to have more or less unfavorable "slippery" feel in use. This undesirable attribute is a problem to hard surface cleaning compositions, especially for dishwashing purposes.

There is therefore a considerable demand for a hard surface detergent composition which has good detergency and good storage stability while having good solution feel when cleaning and rinsing, particularly for dishwashing purposes. As defined herein, good solution feel is best defined as the absence of "slippery" or "slimy" feel, or a "draggy" kind of feel which one feels when the composition is in use. "Good solution feel" is an important attribute for commercial liquid detergent products. Those wash solutions which have good solution fed on hands and objects to be cleaned allow easy handling of the objects, and provide good rinsing characters. Such benefits are most appreciated for dishwashing purposes.

Many attempts have been made to improve solution feel using various technology. These attempts are usually directed towards the use of nonionic-type surfactants, and other suds enhancing-type and solvent-type components.

PCr/US93/011f Generally, these compositions have sacrificed detergency to obtain the improved solution feel.

Kokoku 46-43550 (Kao Corporation) teaches a liquid detergent composition which is mild to skin and has good detergency comprising alkaline earth metal salts of certain alkyl alkylene-oxy sulfate and certain alkyl alkylene-oxy carboxylates.

Kokai 51-125405 (The Procter & Gamble Company) teaches compositions comprising calcium and magnesium salts of anionic surfactants including alkyl ether sulfates and amine oxides, Cj.5 alkanols and water, wherein the weight ratio of amine oxide to anionic surfactant is 1:100 to 1:2. Up to about 25% of the anionic surfactants can be monovalent salts.

U.S. Patent 2,766,212 (General Aniline and Film Corporation) teaches compositions which comprise alkyl ether alkoxy sulfate salts and water soluble polyvalent salts of magnesium, calcium, iron, or aluminum of 5 - 50% by weight of the sur&ctant. Examples show compositions comprising at least 70% of the anionic sur&ctant in which magnesium and calcium ions help detergency.

U.S. Patent 4,681,704 (The Procter & Gamble Company) teaches a detergent composition with effective grease removal comprising 10 - 50% alkaline earth metal salt, preferably magnesium, of anionic surfactants, 0.5 -10% amine oxides, and 0.5 - 15% betaines.

However, the above mentioned disclosures use alkaline earth metals mainly for their cleaning benefits, and do not disclose or suggest the improvement to solution feel benefits contributed by calcium ions. Further, the compositions of the above mentioned disclosures have high divalent ion levels, so that they would be unstable upon storage in the context of the present invention, namely, would form undesirable precipitates of calcium. Preferred compositions and examples shown in the above disclosures also have high sur&ctant levels, and thus the amount of calcium needed to reduce or eliminate ?49 4 JCr/US93?Ci 156 the "slippery feel" of the composition would place the composition into a phase where calcium is believed to easily precipitate.

Here, it has been found that by using calcium ions at a certain low level, a composition which provides improved solution feel without deteriorating storage stability is obtained.

OBJECT OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a clear aqueous hard surface detergent composition which has improved solution feel in use without deteriorating storage stability of the composition.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a liquid hard surface detergent composition which has balanced good quality in detergency, solution feel, and storage stability.

It is further an object of the present invention to provide a method of improving the solution feel of an aqueous hard surface detergent composition or a wash solution of an aqueous hard surface detergent composition by adding calcium ion to said composition.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to an aqueous hard surface detergent composition which provides improved solution feel comprising: (1) 3 - 35% by weight of a surfactant system selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof comprising: a. at least 3% by weight of the composition and at lisast 20% by weight of the surfactant system alkyl ethoxy sulfate with an alkyl group of Cio-16 and an average of 1 -10 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule; >&43&>4 0 b. other anionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of alkyl benzene sulfonates, a-olefin sulfonates, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, and mixtures thereof; c. 0 - 9% by weight of the composition diethanol amide with an alkyl chain of Cg_20i d. 0 - 10% by weight of the composition amine oxide with an alkyl chain of Cg_ ]6; and (2) 0.01-0.5% by weight calcium ion; wherein at least 20% by weight of the surfactant system comprises the total of component a, b, c, and d.

The present invention also relates to a method of improving the solution feel of an aqueous hard surface detergent composition or a wash solution of an aqueous hard surface detergent composition by adding calcium ion to said composition.

The composition has less of an unacceptable slippery feel, and is easy to handle when cleaning and rinsing. The compositions of the present invention have good storage stability, that is, the composition is stable in ordinary use conditions, more specifically, it does not generate precipitation or gel in the temperature range of from -5°C to 40°C.

Anionic Surfactant The compositions of the present invention comprise 15 - 35%, preferably 20 - 30% by weight sur&ctant system selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. At least 20%, preferably at least 40%, more preferably at least 60%, by weight of the surfactant system is the sum of anionic surfactants, diethanol amide, and amine oxide. Among the anionic surfactants, at least 3%, preferably at least 8%, more preferably at least 12%, of the composition is alkyl ethoxy sulfate 049 4 PCT70S93/01156 with an alkyl group of C10-16 anc* 40 average of 1 -10 moles, more preferably 2-5 moles, of ethylene oxide per molecule.

The anionic surfactants are selected from said alkyl ethoxy sulfates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl benzene sulfonates, a-olefin sulfonates, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, and mixtures thereof.

Alkyl ethoxy sulfate, particularly having an alkyl group of Cio.jg and an average of 1 - 10 moles, preferably 2-5 moles, more preferably 2.5 - 3.5 moles, of ethylene oxide per molecule, provides good detergency and less negative effect on solution feel. Furthermore, compositions including a considerable amount of such alkyl ethoxy sulfates are susceptible to the effect of improved solution feel due to calcium ions. The average number of moles of ethylene oxide per molecule of the alkyl ethoxy sulfates can change the character of the sur&ctant. Here, alkyl sulfate is dealt as an alkyl ethoxy sulfate having 0 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule. Generally, it is known that the longer the ethylene oxide chain contribute less to poor solution feel, but have poorer detergency performance. Those which have less than an average ethylene oxide chain of 1 moles per molecule by themselves will contribute to poor solution feel.

The salts for the anionic sur&ctant component can be alkali metal, alkali earth metal, amines, or ammonium salts, preferably sodium or ammonium salts. Alkali earth metal salts of these surfactants are known for good detergency and sudsing. Some or all of the calcium ion of the present composition can be introduced as calcium salts of the anionic sur&ctant.

Other Surfactants The compositions of the present invention comprise, for the balance of the sur&ctant system, other anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactant and amphoteric surfactants. These surfactants are formulated in the compositions of the present invention to enhance detergency, and to enhance and stabilize suds. The species and levels of the other anionic, nonionic and amphoteric 2,kl$ 0 0 surfactants are chosen in order to obtain optimum balance of detergency, solution feel, and storage stability.

The compositions of the present invention can contain nonionic surfactants such as diethanol amides and amine oxides. 0 - 9%, preferably 4 -7% by weight of diethanol amide and 0 - 10% preferably 2 - 5% by weight of amine oxide is contained in the composition. These two surfactants are known to provide good detergency and good storage stability, but can negatively effect solution feel. The use of calcium ion to improve solution feel is particularly useful in composition comprising diethanol amide and/or amine oxide.

Diethanol amide useful in the present invention has the formula HO i II (C2H50H)2-N-C-R1 I wherein R* is selected from an alkyl chain of Cg_20> preferably C12-14.

Amine oxide useful in the present invention has the formula O ^ n R2N(OC2H5)2 wherein R2 is selected from an alkyl chain of C8_2o. preferably cj2-14- Cftfcitim It has been found that by incorporating low levels of calcium ions, balanced benefits in solution fed and storage stability are obtained. The effect of the addition of low levds of calcium ion into dishwashing compositions is particularly beneficial under low hardness water conditions, where the amount of calcium introduced from tap water is low.

Calcium ions are added to the composition at levels of 0.01 - 0.5%, preferably 0.1 - 0.5%, most preferably 0.1 - 0.3%. At lower calcium levels, no effect on solution fed will be observed. At higher calcium levels, storage >c&JJL4 0 0 siability will not be good. That is, it is known that calcium ions are relatively easily precipitated at high temperature conditions, and thus are apt to deteriorate storage stability when added at high levels. Calcium ions are further known to contribute to detergency, particularly to grease removal. By selecting a calcium level in the above range, a composition having all three important benefits are obtained; good solution feel, good grease removal, and good storage stability.

The compositions of the present invention must have less than 35% total surfactants to avoid precipitation of the calcium which is present at a level sufficient to improve solution feel. If the surfactant level is too high, the maximum amount of calcium that can be added without forming calcium precipitation would not be sufficient to improve solution feel to the composition.

The calcium ions can be incorporated in the composition in any convenient way, so long as the salts containing calcium ions are soluble in water and do not precipitate under ordinary use conditions. A suitable way of incorporating calcium ions is by adding them as salts selected from the group consisting of chloride, hydroxide, oxide, acetate, nitrate, formate, and mixtures thereof. Chloride salts are most preferred.

Alternately, calcium ions can also be incorporated as counter-ions of anionic surfactants, such as by neutralizing the acid form of anionic surfactants with calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide, without affecting the benefits thereof.

The preferred composition of the present invention comprises: (1) 20 - 30% by weight of a sur&ctant system selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof comprising: a. at least 35% by weight of the sur&ctant system alkyl ethoxy sul&te with an alkyl group of Cjq-16 and an average of 2.5 - 3.5 ethylene oxide per molecule; b. 4 - 7% by weight of the composition diethanol amide with an alkyl chain of C$.20* c. 2 - 5 by weight of the composition amine oxide with an alkyl chain of C8-I6i (2) 0.1 - 0.3% by weight calcium icn; and (3) 0.1 - 1% by weight magnesium ion.

Optional Components The compositions of the present invention can optionally contain components in addition to those already disclosed herein.

Optional surfactants useful in the composition of the present invention are those such as monoethanol amides, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, alkyl polyglucosides, and alkyl ethoxylates.

Monoethanol amide is an optional surfactant in the present invention, having the formula HO I II (C2H5OH)-N-C-R3 wherein R3 is selected from an alkyl chain of Cg_20> preferably C12-14.

Polyhydroxy fatty add amide is an optional sur&ctant in the present invention, having the formula 0 R4 n r5-c-n-z wherein R4 is H, C1.4 hydrocaibyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, or a mixture thereof, preferably Ci_4 alkyl, more preferably methyl; and R^ is c5. 31 hydrocarbyl, preferably straight-chain C10-I6 alkyl; and Z is . WO 93/17084 Zi 94 polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably Z is glyrityl. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose.

Alkyl polyglucoside is an optional surfactant in the present invention, having the formula R«0(CnlH2mO)p(glucosy!)q wherein R6 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups are Cjo-18» preferably C]2-]4> m is 2 or 3, preferably 2; p is from 0 to about 10, preferably 0; and q is 1.3 - 10, preferably 1.3 - 3, most preferably 1.3 - 2.7. To prepare these compounds the alcohol or alkylpolyethoxy alcohol is formed first and then reacted with glucose, or a source of glucose, to form the glucoside (attachment at the 1-position). The additional glycosyl units can then be attached between their 1-position and the preceding glycosyl units 2-, 3-, 4-and/or 6-position, preferably predominately the 2-position.

Alkyl ethoxylate is an optional surfactant in the present invention. Such alkyl ethoxylates are aliphatic alcohols with 1 - 25 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains 8-22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyi group containing 8-20 carbon atoms with 2-10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Mcst preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing 8-14 carbon atoms with 6-10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

Amphoteric surfactants optionally included in the present invention are zm betaines having the formula r8 (r!0)2 I I R7CO-N-R9-N+R11 COO-wherein R7 is a C7_2l alkyl group, or alkylaryl group, preferably c9.17; R8 is hydrogen or a Ci_6 alkyl group, preferably Cj.3; R9 is a Ci.jq alkylene group, preferably C2-6. most preferably c3; each R10 is a Cj.6 alkyl or hydroxy alkyl group, preferably C1.3, most preferably methyl or an ethoxylated hydroxy alkyl containing from about 1 to about 10 ethylene oxide units; and R11 is an C j, 5 alkylene group, preferably methyl.

Magnesium ions at a level of 0.1 - 1% are preferably included in the composition of the present invention to improve detergency without affecting good solution feel and good storage stability of the composition.

The compositions of the present invention can aiso comprise 4 - 8% by weight of a hydrotrope selected from the group consisting of sodium and ammonium salts of cumene sulfonates, toluene sulfonates, xylene sulfonates, sulfo succinates, and mixtures thereof Such components are utilized in the interests of achieving a desired product phase stability and viscosity.

Other desirable ingredients include solvents, pres&vatives, dyes, and perfumes.

Solvents useful in the present invention include water and lower molecular weight alcohols, such as ethanol. Ethanol is also known to reduce the viscosity of the product, if necessary for formulation. Solvents other than water are typically present at levels of 2 - 10% by weight.

Preservatives, dyes, and perfumes can be, and usually will be formulated in the composition of the present invention ;o make products attractive to the consumer. These components are typically present at levels not more than 1% respectively. ?49400 »CTTUS93/01156 . ii .

Components which are preferably not included in the composition are those which generate precipitation upon binding with calcium ions. Examples are those which include sulfate, carboxylate, and fatty acid anions.

EXAMPLES The following examples illustrate the compositions of the present invention, but are not intended to be limiting thereof. All percentages and ratios are based on weight unless otherwise specified.

Preparation The liquid detergent compositions herein described can be made conveniently by one skilled in the art. Surfactants, hydrotropes, calcium salts, and optionally magne^um salts are added in an appropriate amount of water and are blended. In the present invention, the order of adding the components is not important. If necessary, the pH of the mixture is adjusted with HC1 to a safe level for household products, and viscosity is adjusted with alcohol. Perfume, dye, and preservatives are optionally added, and the composition is balanced with water. The standard product and examples 1 • 9 are all prepared according to this method.

Experimentation 1. Solution feel SOOg each of 6% solutions of the standard product and compositions of the present invention are prepared in a 1 liter beaker, and a porcelain crucible is soaked in the solution.

One hand is soaked in the sample solution and the other hand is soaked in the general standard product solution at the same time, and the feel of the crucible is evaluated according to the scale as shown below.

Evaluation is done by three, special panelists, and the average score is 24y4UU PCT/US93/011' obtained.

Evaluation scale 0= There is no difference ± 1= I think there is a difference ± 2- I know there is a difference ± 3= 1 know there is a big difference ± 4= 1 know there is a very big difference (+) : the sample has a better feel (less slippery) (-) : the sample has a worse feel (more slippery) For those which have higher points than the composition with the same suriactant system without calcium, it is evaluated that the "solution feel was improved". 2. Storage Stability The sample is placed in a 100 ml glass container, and stored in rooms with established temperatures of -5°C and 40°C respectively. The condition of the product after 2 weeks is evaluated as follows. clear and no change compared to before the test - O precipitated, or cloudy - X According to Table 1, it is understood that Examples 1, 3, 4, and 7 which are compositions of the present invention have both unproved solution feel and good storage stability. 949400 TABLE 1 Standard product 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 Sodium C,j-14 alkyl ethoxy (5 ave.) sulfate 11.7 11.7 - - - - - - • Ammonium C12*14 alkyl ethoxy (3 ave.) sulfate m 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 '2.0 ^12*14 a"cv' dimethyl amine oxide 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 ' 3.0 3.0 3.0 Cu alkyl diethanol amide 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 C12-14 alkyl N-methyl glucoamide - - ,0 .0 .0 .0 - - - C12 alkyl ethoxy (3 ave.) alcohol 2.3 2.3 - .

- - - - - - C9-1, alkyl ethoxy (8 ave.) alcohol - - 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 Sodium toluene sulfonate 2.3 2.3 - - - - - - - Sodium cumene sulfonate - - .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0 Mg + + (MgC12*7H20) - - 0.7 0.5 0.36 0.1 0.7 0.5 0.1 Ca++(CaC12) - 0.3 - 0.2 0.14 0.6 - 0.2 0.6 Ethanol 2.5 2.5 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2 2.8 2.8 2.8 Water and other minors bal* bal bal bai bal bal bal bal bal Solution feel(point) Std + 2.0 -1.38 -0.88+0.75+0.75 CO CO • 1 -0.5 +0.13 (comparison example) Std - ex.2 ex.2 ex.2 - ex.6 ex.6 (improved points) - + 2.0 - +0.5 + 2.13 + 2.13 " - +0.88 + 1.25 (evaluation) 0 0 0 - 0 0 * bal = balance

Claims (14)

WO 93/17084 PCT/US93/01ir Storage stability H5°C) (40 °C) Standard product 0 0 - 14 - TABLE 1 (continued) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 6 7 6 X 0 0 X X 0 0 X 24940 CLAIMS:

1. An aqueous hard surface detergent composition which provides improved solution feel comprising: (1) 3-35% of the composition by weight of a surfactant system selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof, comprising: a. at least 20% of the surfactant system by weight alkyl ethoxy sulfate with an alkyl group of C1M6 and an average of 1 - 10 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule; b. other anionic sur&ctant selected from the group consisting of alkyl benzene sulfonate, alpha-olefin sulfonate, alkyl ethoxy carboxylate, and mixtures thereof; c. diethanol amide with an alkyl chain of Cg.^; d. amine oxide with an alkyl chain of C8.16; and (2) 0.01 - 0.5% by weight calcium ion; wherein the composition contains at least 3% by weight the alkyl ethoxy sulfate, 0 - 9% by weight the diethanol amide, and 0 - 10% by weight the amine oxide.

2. A composition according to Claim 1 comprising 0.1 - 0.5% by weight calcium ion.

3. A composition according to Claim 2 comprising 0.1 - 0.3% by weight calcium ion.

4. A composition according to any one of Claims 1-3 wherein said surfactant system comprises at least 35% by weight the alkyl ethoxy sulfate. j- OFBCc I 17 JAN 199? 249400 -16-

5. A composition according to Claim 4 comprising 20 - 30% the surfactant system.

6. A composition according to any one of Claims 1-5 wherein the alkyl ethoxy sulfate has an average of 2 - 5 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule.

7. A composition according to Claim 6 wherein the alkyl ethoxy sulfate has an average of 2.5 - 3.5 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule.

8. A composition according to any one of Claims 1-7 comprising 4 - 7% said diethanol amide.

9. A composition according to any one of Claims 1-8 comprising 2-5% said amine oxide.

10. A composition according to any one of Claims 1-9 comprising 0.1 - 1% by weight magnesium ion.

11. A method of improving the solution feel of an aqueous hard surface detergent composition or a wash solution of an aqueous hard surface detergent composition by adding from 0.01 - 0.5% by weight calcium ion to said composition.

12. An aqueous hard surface detergent composition according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.

13. A method according to Claim 11 and sutsta/>:'ally as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.

14. An aqueous hard surface detergent composition or a wash solution of an aqueous hard surface detergent composition when its solution feel has been improved by the method of Claim 11 or Claim 13. END L:\LIBRARY\KCTVCLA1MS\337270