PH27191A - Detergent composition - Google Patents

Description

. vos : 27191 / A111 wr ol . I ,

This invention relates to a detergent composition, in particular to a detergent ’ composition for washing fabrics. ;

Fabric washing compositions contain, as an 3 essential ingredient, a surfactant lsystem whose role is to assist in the removal of soil from the abric and its suspension in the wah liquor. ‘suitable detergent active surfactant materiale fall into a number of classes, incpding anionic, nonionic and cationic materials. Marke ted . products contain materials selected fron one or “more: of these classes. 3 3!

The most widely used anionic surfadtant ‘materials are the alkyl benzene dulphonates and 18 "these provide satisfactory results lespedially at ‘high temperatures. There has been [a desire to find’ alternative anionic surfactants for use in : circlimstances when alkyl benzene sulphodates are jundebirable. i ji

H "Among such alternative antonid surfactants 2 yl i

Care the fatty acid ester sulphonatds (FAES) of the r ; 5 i qanefal formala : ’ i rl! - cH - coor? ] i . 805" bo 2% where rl is an alkyl group derived [from a fatty i } : . a . ;

I

. co - 27191 ; Bi eet

RE rr 27149

Cd £ yl acid, usually from a natural source, RY is a short chain alkyl group, usually methyl and Mis, for arample, an alkali metal. Thus for example,

Und tied States patent 4416809 {Magari et al., 3 assigned to Lion Corporation) disclbses a composition containing FARES, soap and the aalt of a polycarboxyl ie acid. Exempld fied FAES materials

Care those in which rl is derived From tallow and

Rr? im methyl. Ethyl or propyl are also mentioned hl 10 as possibilities for R-. i . ‘We have found, however, that the performance of such recommended FAES materials ‘is : ‘unsatisfactory when the composi tions also contain

Co low WLR nonionic surfactants. Sindh the use of 15 “such nonionic surfactants has been Shown to lead : to a number of benefits, including an overall “boosting in detergency (see GR 1241754 -

Unilever), there is a desire to improve the ipertbrmance of FNAES materials in the presence of 20 {such nonionic materials. b ! “we have now surprisingly discovered that this , object can be achieved by the use of materials in which rR? is butyl or higher alkyl. : :

Thus, according to the tnvertion; there is 295 ‘provided a detergent composition 1nE1uding A ‘

oo 27191 2H i LU , surfactant system comprising: “ i) a fatty acid ester sulphonate and ; 11) rponlonic surfactant having an HLE of less : : than 10.5 preferably less than’ 9.5; wherkin the fatty acid ester sulphonate has the general formula # r! - cH - coor? fo

Co SOM ; i where rl and R% are independently hydrocarbon

Cd 1Q groups having at least 4 carbon atdna, the aun of . the carbon atoms in groups ri and #2 being from 8 to 30, and M is a monovalent cationic species. : | The fatty acid ester sulphonate salts of the “above general formula can be produced from fatty 18 acide in conventional manner. Desirably starting jfatty acids are, for example, those} derived from tallbw, palm oil or coconut oil. Thus; ‘Lt is

Co : preferred that the group rl contains frm 12 to - ! I 1 48 ‘¢hrbon atoms. It may be fully dr substantially saturated. The group RZ may have Jower carton 4 atoms than the group rt, For instdice he group

RZ may have from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. fn ‘particular it may be butyl. { ‘\ The sum of the carbon atoms i gréups rt and 23 2 will preferably lie in the anad 12 +o 24, It oo J 27191 , is preferable also that Rr} and Rr? are different, especially when the sum of the carbon atoms in groups rl and rR? is 14 or more. A preferred FAES material is that in which ri is coconut alkyl and a RZ is butyl. \ . Mixtures of FAES materials as jdefined above g : could be used. Other FAES materials, such as the tallow methyl material, may also be included in minor amounts, but there is no particular *sdvantage in doing so. ) . 1 is preferred to use the water-sgluble malts of these anionic surfactants; spedifically ; ¥ ; the Alkali metal (sodium or Potassium) alts Sl : _therigof 18 . ;Buitable nonionic surfactants phich may be rmsd are the reaction products of Gompotinds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom,

E for example aliphatic alcohols, acts, ! hides or Bh , i ne alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene

Jonide. Specific nonionic detergent compounds are alkyl (C, ~ Coy) phenols-ethylene dice’ condensates, the condensation proddets Br ' “aliphatic (Cg — Cig) primary or sdtondary linear 23 or branched alcohols with ethylene onide, and ‘ ’ = 5 = ; : : : ' B ; ; "

So 27191 711) ) : ’ 5 products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene. oxide and ethylenediamine. . ; ‘When alkylene onide adducts of fatty

B materials are used as the nonionic surfactants, } “the number of alkylene oxide groups per ‘molecule “has a considerable effect upon the MLE of the ‘nonionic surfactant. The chain Length ind nature “of the fatty material is also if tential, and ? 10 i thus’ the preferred number of alkylene ofide groups . per molecule depends upon the nature and chain {length of the fatty material. ; o . i} 5 : + We have found it of advantage ‘that the weight ratio hetween the anionic surfactant and the 19 _alkonylated nonionic surfactant lids be twaen 431 and 1:4, most preferably between 33 and 1:2, ‘otherwise the benefits of the invention may not be 3 i. Lachibved. 's i “i preferred compositions accdrding to the invention include the surfactant sistem; in an amount from 2% to B0%, such as fron 4% fo J0% by weight of the composition. ; E : The surfactant system may include other mur factant materials in addition ts, the apecified 29 sulphonate and nonionic materials. ' These other : = & = | . : ;

Lo 9 CL 24) Ho 7191) . , surfactant materials may be selected from other . "anionic detergent active materials, zwitterionic ar amphoteric detergent active mateials or

G b : mixtures thereof. . o any such further surfactant meiteriils will “generally be present at a level which is no more ‘than’ 50% preferably no more than ady of the total “amount of surfactant in the composition, and might ‘be nbt over B% of the whole compos ition s \ 10 . The other anionic detergent don avertare ) “may be the usual water-soluble ake matal salts of organic aulphates and mororonatds having alkyl . {radifals containing from about 8 ed abot 22 , : b A

Jearbon atoms, the term alkyl being ised: to include 158 “the alkyl portion of higher acyl dsicals. fenampies of suitable synthetic anidnic detergent conppunds are sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtaindd by dsulphating

Co [higher (Cg - Cg) alcohols produded far example

From: taliam or coconut oil, sodium nd fotassium

Yalkyl (Cy — Cy) benzene sulphonatds, particularly sodibim linear secondary alkyl (C40 b ci benzene . ‘sulphonates) sodium alkyl alyceryl ‘sther

Seulphates, especially those etherd of the higher i y 29 alcohols derived from tallow or codonutiol1 and \ x ; ) | : - y= : . i | i

Co | J) 27191 + 4 , synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum sodium ’ coconut pil fatty monoglyceride sulphates and sulphonatesy sodium and potassium salts of sulphuric acid esters of higher (Cg - Gg) fatty a alcohol-alkylene aide, particularly ethylene oxide, reaction products) the reaction products of fatty acide such as coconut fatty dcids esterified with: isethionic acid and neutralised with sodium hydroxide; sodium and potassium salts of fatty . . io ¥

Co 10 acid amides of methyl taurineg alkane - ; $ “dy ‘monosulphonates such as those derived by reacting alpha-olefins (Cg = Cog) With sodidn bisulphite . and those derived from reacting paratiins with 80, and C1, and then hydrolysing with a base to , 15 product a random sulphate. | - « ri : ‘ The compositions of the invention hay contain ‘a detergency builder material, this may, be any “material capable of reducing the Ldve1 &t free calcium ions in the wash 11duor ‘and will ‘preferably provide the composi tiond with other beneficial properties such as the generation of an alkaline pH and the suspension of anil removed from the fabric. ; {

Examples of phasphoris-contathing | inorganic 23 “detergency builders, when present, include the 2 “ : Po

To Eo

Co 27191 «© 271) ’ . y : water-soluble salts, especially alkali fetal pyrophosphates, orthophosphates, arjthophosphates, : polyphosphates and phosphonates. Specific “ewamples of inorganic phosphate builders include 9 sodium and potassium tripelyphosphates, ortho phosphates and hexane taphosphates. © : : Examples of non-phosphorus—con taining ' v . v “inorganic detergency builders, when present, (inclyde water-soluble alkali metal “darbonates,

Co 10 bicatbonates, silicates and crystaflinéfand ] . ‘amorphous aluminosilicates. ki camples ‘incipde sodium carbonate (with or i thodt calcite jreeds), potassium carbonate (with o wt nou eale) te seeds), sodium and potassium bjcarbonates

Yand Lilicates. § 4 i vl Y £ ! i Examples of organic detergencyl buijders, when “present, include the alkali metal, famméiun and bh ’ 1) 4 L

Lg substituted ammonium polyacetates, learbdxylates, {palytarbonylates, polyacetyl carboxylates and _poyhydronysul phanates. Specific dnanpies include “sadium, potassium, lithium, ammon 1.1m and i a a ‘substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediamine ‘tetrhacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid; onydisuce inic acid, melitic dt 1d, benzene

Foolycarbasylic acids and citric acid. p vr] FC

J : - : ! ro =9 = ; ; 1 eo

J | :

oo 9 _ L419) . R715 ! 3 ) ’ .

Co It is preferred that the compclai tidne : : according to the invention be alkaline,” that is at the concentration af 1 g/1 in distilled water at 25% the pH should be at least 8, preferably at 3 least 10. To this end the compositions may “inc1lde a water-soluble alkaline salt. This salt may be a detergency builder or a nan-building ' & ‘alkaline material. : i : | Apart from the ingredients already ‘mentioned,

LJ 10 a number of optional ingredients nay also be ) present. : . : Examples of other ingredients Which may be ! ‘present in the composition include fabifc ’ - softgning agents auch as fatty famines, fabric 19 softening clay materials, lather boosters such an ‘alkapalamides, particularly the nonpethanolantdes dered from palm kernel fatty acide and coconut : oo fatty acide, lather depressants, oxygensreleasing ~ 'bleakhing agents such as sodium |* perborate and “scdiiim percarbonate, peracid bieact pretursors, ‘chidrine-relaasing bleaching agents) much an triclorotsoyanuric acid, inorgantd sats such as sodium sulphate, and, usually presant ih very minor amounts, fluorescent agents,’ per fumes ineliding deodorant per fumes, enzymes such as ! ‘ = 10 = : I oo 9 vo yr i ‘ . ’ Tes , proteases, cellulases, amylases and. lipdse, germicides and colouwrants. ' - : . The detergent compositions according to the invention may be prepared by a number of different a "methbds according to their physical, form. In the case of granular products they may ‘be prepared by gry=mi xing or coagglomeration. A dr etefred physical form is a granule incorporating a ‘ detergency builder salt an this Lis most } 4 > 10 conven tently manufactured by spray-iiry iia at least ] “part of the composition. In this Wrocess a slurry im phepared containing the heat-indenaitive : ] iconpprents of the composition such fas the {surfactant system, builder mater Lal and filler 18 Veal The slurry is spray-dried to) form base i i L powder granules with which any sol ig heattsensitive ingredients may be dgned such

Co ‘Angradients including bleaches and lenzyies. The

Vepech fied nonionic surfactants can be Viquidified -

A ! 1 ‘By melting or solvent dissolution and sprayed onto i 5 ‘the base powder granules, rather tran including 3: ; them in the slurry for spray-drying The invention will now be described in hore detatl in "the following non-limiting examples. , i : '

. Ly 2H 97191 iw! Co : : : i) x . — mA : C, .

P EXAMPLES 1 TO 6

B ~ Wash liquors were prepared in water having a fhardpess of 28° FH (equivalent to 5 free calcium ‘ton concentration of 2.9% » 1073 molar) «i The wash s ‘1 iquer contained the equivalent of 6 ast of a "composition containing (by weight) - "> "specified anionic surfactant : Hay : i py v Specified nonionic surfactant | tan ; | sodium tripolyphosphate L x bo 0 f $ Sodium carbonate ! Hex x odiun alkaline silicate : #a.mn } goaium sulphate + 40.0 ? Sodium chloride zien ' be water : b3lance i - ' : “M i3 to “ The sodium chloride was included a4 being 3 3 ; équibalent in ionic strength to o. baodsiom {pertbrate monohydrate which would te present in oo fprackice. The bleach is left out af thse / epi tment in order to avoid cousin between a § jastaboency and bleaching effect in ithe. {interpratation of the resulta. ] fg h { The wash liquors were used to Brasnia fabric “load: at a liquor to cloth ratio of sous The load , included a number of polyester morid tor to which 23 had previously been applied an amount ot cl? = 12 = Loy ; [

Lo Fo

L X i.3 . : L , ’ { 10 ! ( Ae t ad , 9 1 0 1 i 1 i) . - , ' tagged triolein. Measurement of the level of . ‘tagged triolein after washing, using standard i { wi 4 . i wt J oo ‘radio-tracer techniques, gives an indication of . . , Li F) the degree of detergency, ie. ‘oil: removal,

Co ¥ 8 obtained. ! 3 ! x

SN Bh . 1 =: ~The wash time was 20 minutes With an » ] Ti #7 , agitation of 70 rpm. Washes were isothermal at : Pw 140°C. CO ' i 8

Co In each case the nonionic surfdctant was : ; | 5 Cb wl ¥ “4 ) 10 either SYNFERONIC A7 (ex ICI) which ie principally . 1 : NT] ‘a C,a’Cys alcohol ethonylated with ‘an average of 7

J — Aad ] bt ’ moles ethylene oxide per molecule Havin an HLB of ro © 11.7, or a 113 by weight mixture ped with : Att ce a! /BYNPERONIC AX, which is a mimiert material 13 “containing an average of I moles of. ethylene oxide 3 : ’ y i 3 I pa]

Lper molecule, the mixture having ar HLBR of 9.0. “ : i. Lo oo ne 4 , The anionic surfactants used Were? ! br 4 ‘CM1 . Coconut methyl FAES > §TEXIN ES 681 A tallow methyl FAES Ge Hénkel or Coed : cH 4 > . po 1 ‘LBs 'C,. alkyl butyl FAES bv N

Nw . 12 i} v8 ¢ , : ol i “oo . CI - : ; 4 i . al i } 7 7 A

Eo ’ . : ’ § ’

Poo i

Co oo | J) 27191 Cn ,

The results obtained were as follows: ‘Exaniple No Anionic Nonionic %_soil removal 1 CM A7 ‘20.1 2 E868 a7 20.6 8 3 LE A7 ‘ 19.8 ; p CH A7/A3 26.0 a ES68 AT AS ; ‘23.9

Ce LB AT /AS ) 136.2

These results show that in the reseice of the oo 10 “higher HLE nonionic material (Examgles 1 to 3) there is very little difference between’ the aniohic agurfactants tested. In the presence of the lower HLR nonionic mixture (h7/p3) However, } "aignificant preference for the Cp uty FAES over the ‘others tested is evident. 3 A to 3 a Ek th : : ’ J

E ‘ : n

T i s .

Claims (4)

. - ' L Co i) ~~ ogo719l wo 7 7 "3 L . y : CLAIMS pn

1. 6A detergent composition irc luding 20 to : CBO% by weight of a surfactant mixture af which 930 i : ’ “to 100% by weight comprises: ig : i) a fatty acid ester sulphonate; and’ a Mii) nonionic surfactant having an HLR Bf less ; o 3 3 ‘than 10.5) the ratio of (i) to (ii) lying in the r ¥ J range from 431 to 114 and wherein the fatty acid i i A “eater sulphonate has the general formulas

CL . rR! ~ cH - coor? Go 0) { ¥ 2 wr 1 v vy, ; ’ A : 7 : vo Sr ! Y 4 10 b \ 80M ) Gi fo 1 2 { J Mheréin RT and RT are independently’ alkyl or " o y f 4 - 2 alkenyl groups having at least 4 carbon atoms, the SN nro? sum bf the carbon atoms in groups R and R™ being 3 a + yy “ from 8 to 30, and M is a monovalent cgtion such 1 \ Ht 3 od i 3 19 that the fatty acid ester sulphonate idlwater , + te Lo! soluble. ! " CU & detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the sum of the carbon atoms in yr ups i and RY is from 12 to 24 carbon atoms.

: A. A detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the group Rr’ caontaing from 12 to IR carbon atoms.

4. A detergent composition according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid ester sulphonate 2G is an alkali metal salt of the sulphonate of the = 1D =

Lo. Ca g314) : . . : . " He : ] 27191 CL — . ) . } : 1 butyl ester of coconut fatty acid, so that ri is - x ~ . : cocohut alky, RR” is butyl and M is sodium or . potassium. ! i ! ; : g ca, A detergent composition according to . fr : 2 claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfadtant, has an HLB . ‘of 9.9% or less. i ; : MICHAEL HULL ! " : REGINALD VEAR SCOWEN

- . DENNIS GILES . ; Inventons Lt ' - 5 4 . oo no LJ vo , Ib Mh hy | ’ ; A hs 5 = ih te \ iv 3 He : i ! : H tl <¢ Ye 3 - f % ¥ i 3 ‘ . iz { i . ! A wooo ; ‘ y y ' . : , IX H hd oy We [¥ ! ~ A , A i ; . p oh Wooo ee - k oe . , i § “ 4 fy i : : Cy . ; tL . . = lb =