US2383740A - Detergent composition - Google Patents

Description

Patented Aug. 28, 1945 2,383,740 DETERGENT COMPOSITION Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, Louisville, Ky., assignor to The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio No Drawing. Application December 6, 1943,

Serial No. 513,188

19 Claims.

- This invention relates to detergent and cleansing compositions of improved efficiency, and more particularly to compositions containing a an essential detergent material an organic sulfuric reaction product containing in its molecular structure a sulfonate or sulfate group.

It is an object of the present invention to pro vide superior detergent and cleansing compositions.

Another object is to provide improved detergent compositions from synthetic detergents,

A further and more pecific object is to improve the cleansing emciency of organic sulfate and sulfonate detergents.

I have found that certain related amide compounds are particularly effective in enhancing the cleansing and detergent properties of synth'etic detergents such as organic sulfuric reaction products containing sulfonate or sulfate groups. These compounds are the amides of water soluble hydroxy carboxylic acids and allphatic primary amines containing ten to fourteen carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain and the corresponding mixed amides of mixed aliphatic amines in which the alkyl radicals correspond to mixed fatty acids containing predominantly fatty acids of ten to fourteen carbon atoms, such as those obtainable from oils of the coconut oil group. By themselves these amides are not cleansing or laundering agents, nor do they make a practical detergent from materials initially lacking in these properties, such as Turkey red oil, triisopropyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium butyl sulfate, and other materials including wetting, softening, and penetrating agents, lacking in sumcient detergent power to be classed as detergents. However, when these amides are added to synthetic compounds alrealy sumciently eflective in cleansing power to be classed as detergents they markedly enhance the cleansin effect thereof.

Specific examples of amides which come within the scope of this invention and which may be employed in the practice thereof, are: hydroxy acetic acid'amide of dodecyl amine, lactice acid amide of decyl'amine, tartaric acid amide of Y tetradecyl amine, and h'ydroxy acetic acid amide of the mixed amines in which the alkyl radicals correspond to the mixed fatty acids of coconut oil or other oils of the coconut oil group, such as palm kernel oil for example. The corrsponding amides of other water soluble hydroxy carboxylic acids including malic, citric and gluconic may also be employed.

The amides described above are especially useful in conjunction with water soluble salts of the higher alkyl sulfuric acids possessing distinct and pronounced detergent power of suflicient value to make the product useful as a cleansin and laundering agent. Of outstanding interest in this connection is the use of the invention in the improvement of already known detergents in which the principal active ingredient is a water soluble salt of lauryl sulfuric acid or oleyl sulfuric acid, for example trieth'anolammonium alkyl sulfate obtained from the mixed higher alcohols produced by the reduction of coconut oil, or the sodium alkyl sulfate derived from the higher alcohols of sperm oil.

Also, the amides of the water soluble hydroxy carboxylic acids herein covered may be employed to enhance the detergent and cleansing power of otherwate soluble salts of alkyl sulfuric acids having eight to eighteen carbon atoms in the molecule which have suflicient detergent power to characterize them as detergents for use in cleansing and launderingv operations. The amides are especially useful in enhancing the detergent power of water soluble salts of those aikyl sulfuric acids obtained by the sulfation of high'er alcohols resulting from the reduction of oils of the coconut oil group, such as coconut oil and palm kernel oil for example.

In addition to the alkyl sulfates above mentioned, water soluble salts of other alkyl sulfuric acids having pronounced detergent power are improved by the addition thereto of amide compounds of the type above mentioned. Thus, for example, highly beneficial results will be obtained in the use of these amides with water soluble salts of sulfuric acid ester of higher fatty acid monoglycerides (sodium salt of the coconut oil fatty acid ester of 1,2-dihydroxy propane-3-sulfuric acid ester) and of the sulfated higher fatty acid alkylolamides (sodium salt of sulfated coconut oil fatty acid ethanolamlde) The amide improving agents of the present invention may also be employed with compounds having a true 'sulfonate group and possessing a substantial power to wash and cleanse in aqueous solution in the absence of the enhancing agent. For example, beneficial results will be noted when the hydroxy carboxylic acid amides are employed with water soluble salts of higher mono-fatty acid esters of 1,2-dihydroxy propane- 3-sulfonic acid, the sodium salt of the coconut oil fatty acid ester of this sulfonic acid being an excellent example of this type of detergent. Beneficial results will be noted also when these amides are employed with such detergents as the water soluble salts of the higher fatty acid monoesters of lower molecular weight hydroxy alkyl sulfonic acids (oleic acid ester of the sodium salt of isethionic acid) and of the higher fatty acid amides of lower molecular amino alkyl sulfonic acids (ammonium salt of oleic acid amide of N- methyl taurine). Likewise these amides may be used with water soluble salts of the higher alcohol esters of sulfocarboxylic acids (sodium salt of the lauryl alcohol ester of sulfoacetic acid), higher alkylated benzene sulfonic acids (potassium salt of the sulfonic acid derived from the condensation product of benzene and a chlorinated kerosene fraction containing predominantly twelve carbon atoms per molecule), and ethers of high molecular alcohols and lower hydroxy sulfonic acids (monolauryl ether of 1,2-dihydroxy propane-Zi-sodium sulfonate).

Specific reference to the above detergents is given only for the purpose of illustrating various types of detergent compounds which can be rendered more efficient by the addition of the hydroxy carboxylic acid amides of the present invention and I do not wish to be limited thereto. All similar synthetic compounds having sufficient detergent power to be classed as cleansing or laundering agents may be used in place thereof and therefore come within the scope of the invention.

In the practice of the invention the amount of hydroxy acid amide which should be used to improve the detergent efficiency of the various detergents will depend in a large part on the particular combination of ingredients. In general, however, the amount of hydroxy acid amide will be less than the amount of detergent ingredient. I prefer to employ from about 10 per cent to about I5 per cent hydroxy acid amide based on the mixture of amide and active detergent, but improvement may be obtained with smaller proportions and larger proportions, such as proportions in the range of 5 per cent to 40 per cent hydroxy acid amide for example.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following examples, but these examples are merely illustrative of the manner in which the invention may be practiced and are not to be construed as limiting in any sense. All parts are by weight.

Example 1.To 94 parts of commercial sodium alkyl sulfate prepared from the higher alcohols obtained by the reduction of coconut oil and containing 40 per cent active detergent ingredient are added 6 parts hydroxy acetamide of lauryl amine. This composition may be employed as a detergent in laundering operations with improved results as to both detergent efficiency and sudsing.

Example 2.--An improved detergent is prepared by mixing 5 parts of the hydroxy acetamide of decyl amine and 95 parts of a commercial sodium alkyl sulfate prepared from the higher alcohols obtained from coconut oil by reduction and containing 37.8 per cent active ingredient. A detergent thus prepared is much superior to the commercial alkyl sulfate alone in cleansing operations.

Example 3.--To 95 parts of the commercial sodium alkyl sulfate employed in Example 2 are added 5 parts of the hydroxy acetamide of the mixture of amines in which the alkyl radicals correspond to mixed fatty acids of coconut oil. The composition thus prepared is superior to the detergent alone in both sudsing and cleansing operations, and is especially valuable in the laundering of woolen fabrics.

Example 4.A detergent of superior washing power is prepared by mixing parts of Igepon T containing 38 per cent sodium salt of oleic acid amide of N -methyl taurine as active detergent ingredient with 5 parts lactic acid amide of lauryl amine,

Example 5.-An improved detergent is prepared by mixing 95 parts of a detergent containing as active constituent 38 per cent of the coconut oil fatty acid mono-ester of 1,2-dihydroxy propane- 3-sodium sulfonate with 5 parts hydroxy acetamide of lauryl amine.

In the above examples I have repeatedly referred to the improved washing power of the detergents prepared in accordance with my invention, and I wish to point out that this superiority is real and apparent to the user and represents a source of substantial saving in detergent. For example, detergents such as those of the specific illustrations wash to maximum whiteness and give maximum suds at lower concentrations than the detergent without added hydroxy acid amide as above set forth. In general, a solution of a detergent preparation made in accordance with my invention will wash as white or whiter than a solution containing a much larger concentration of detergent without the added amide.

The present invention is not limited to any particular method of mixing the hydroxy carboxylic acid amines with the synthetic detergents and they may be incorporated in the detergent mixture in any of the forms in which the detergents are manufactured. For example, the hydroxy carboxylic acid amides may be mechanically mixed in. crutched into the detergent in the form of a slurry, or they may be added to a solution. of the detergent. While such ready-for-use mixtures may be manufactured and may be preferable for many purposes, it is likewise within the scope of my invention to add the hydroxy carboxylic acid amides to the water prior to the adding of the detergent, or vice versa, or to add both the amide and detergent simultaneously but separately to the water.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure my Letters Patent is:

1. A cleansing and laundering composition comprising essentially a water-soluble salt of an organic sulfuric reaction product having in its molecular structure a radical selected from the group consisting of sulfonic acid and sulfuric acid ester radicals, the said salt having pronounced detergent power, and an added amide, which is a derivative of a water-soluble aliphatic hydroxy carboxylic acid and an aliphatic primary amine containing 10 to 14 carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain; the amount by weight of the amide being less than the amount by weight of the said water-soluble salt but sufficient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

2. A cleansing and laundering composition claimed in claim 1, in which the amine is a mixture of amines whose alkyl radicals correspond to mixed fatty acids consisting predominantly of fatty acids having ten to fourteen carbon atoms.

3. A cleansing and laundering composition claimed in claim 1, in which the amine is a mixture of amines whose alkyl radicals correspond to mixed fatty acids obtained from an oil of the coconut oil group and consisting predominantly of fatty acids having ten to fourteen carbon atoms.

4. The composition claimed in claim 1, in which the amine is a mixture of amines-whose alkyl radicals correspond to mixed coconut oil fatty acids consisting predominantly of fatty acids having ten to fourteen carbon atoms.

5. The composition claimed in claim- 1, in which the amine is lauryl amine.

6. The composition claimed in claim 1, in which the water soluble aliphatic hydroxy carboxylic acid is a water soluble aliphatic hydroxy monocarboxylic acid.

7. A cleansing and laundering composition comprising essentially a mixture of a water soluble salt of an alkyl sulfuric acid having eight to eighteen carbon atoms having pronounced de tergent properties, and an amide which is a derivitive of a water soluble aliphatic hydroxy carboxylic acid and an aliphatic-primary amine containing ten to fourteen carbon atoms in the ali-- phatic chain, the amount by weight of the amide 'rivative of a water soluble aliphatic hydroxy .car-

boxylic acid and a mixture of amines whose alkyl radicals correspond to mixed fatty acids of an oil of the coconut oil group and consisting predominantly of fatty acids having ten to fourteen carbon atoms, the amount by weight of the amide being less than the amount by weight of the water-soluble salt but suflicient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

9. A cleansing and laundering composition comprising essentially a mixture of a water soluble salt of an alkyl sulfuric acid having eight to eighteen carbon atoms and having pronounced detergent properties, and an amide which is a derivative of a water soluble aliphatic hydroxy monocarboxylic acid and a mixture of amines whose alkyl radicals correspond to mixed fatty acids of an oil of the coconut oil group and consisting predominantly of fatty acids having ten to fourteen carbon atoms, the amount by weight of the amide being less than the amount by weight of the water-soluble salt but sufllcient to enhance the detergent powenthereof.

10. A cleansing and laundering composition comprising essentially a mixture of a water so]- uble salt of an alkyl sulfuric acid having eight to eighteen carbon atoms and having pronounced detergent properties, and an amide which is a derivative of a water soluble aliphatic hydroxy carboxylic acid and a mixture of amines whose alkyl radicals correspond to mixed fatty acids of coconut oil, the amount by weight of the amide being less than the amount by weight of the wateer-soluble salt but sufllcient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

11. A cleansing and laundering composition comprising essentially a mixture of a water soluble salt of a mixture of alkyl sulfuric acids consisting predominantly of lauryl sulfuric acid and an amide which is a derivative of a water soluble aliphatic hydroxy carboxylic acid and a mixture of aliphatic amines whose alkyl radicals correspond to mixed fatty acids of coconut oil, the amount by weight of the amide being less comprising essentially a mixture of a water soluble salt of a mixture of alkyl sulfuric acids derived from higher alcohols obtained bythe reduction of coconut oil and an amide which is a derivative of hydroxy acetic acid and a mixture of aliphatic amines whose alkyl radicals correspond to mixed fatty acids of an oil of the coconut oil group, the amount by weight of the amide being less than the amount by weight of the water-soluble salt but sufficient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

13. A cleansing and laundering composition comprising essentially a mixture of a water soluble salt of a mixture of alkyl sulfuric acids derived from higher alcohols obtained by the reduction of coconut oil and an amide which is a derivative of hydroxy acetic acid and lauryl amine, the amount by weight of the amide being less than the amount by weight of the water-soluble salt but'sufficient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

14. A. cleansing and laundering composition comprising essentially a mixture of a water soluble salt of a mixture of alkyl sulfuric acids debut sufllcient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

15. A cleansing and laundering composition comprising essentially a mixture of a water soluble salt of the coconut oil fatty acid mono-ester of 1,2-dihydroxy propane-S-sulfonic acid and an amide which is a derivativel of a water soluble aliphatic hydroxy carboxylic'acid and a normal primary aliphatic primary amine having ten to fourteen carbon atoms in the alkyl radical, the amount by weight of the 'amide being less than the amount by weight of the water-soluble salt but sufllcient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

16. A cleansing composition comprisingessentially a mixture of a water soluble salt of coconut oil monoglyceride sulfuric acid and an amide which is a derivative of a water soluble aliphatic hydroxy carboxylic acid and a normal primary aliphatic primary amine having ten to fourteen carbon atoms in the allwlradicaL'the amount by weight of the amide being less than the amount by weight of the water-soluble salt but sufficient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

17. A cleansing and laundering composition comprising essentially a mixture ofa water soluble salt of a mixture of alkyl sulfuric acids derived from higher alcohols obtained by the reduction of coconut oil and a smaller amount of an amide which is a derivative of gluconic acid and a mixture of aliphatic amines in which the alkyl radithan the amount by weight of the water-soluble salt but suilicient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

12. A cleansing and laundering composition 'cals correspond to mixed fatty acids of coconut oil, the amount by weight of the amide being less than the amount by weight of the water-soluble salt but suflicient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

18. A cleansing composition claimed in claim 1, in which the amount of amide is from about five per cent to about forty per cent of the essential detergent material.

19. A cleansing composition comprising essen tially a mixture of a detergent having pronounced detergent power and selected from the group consisting of water-soluble salts of higher allwl sulfuric acids, higher fatty acid esters of lower molecular weight hydroxy alkyl sulfonic acids, higher fatty acid amides of low molecular amino alkyl sulfonic acids. higher fatty acid monogiyceride sulfuric acids, higher alcohol esters of wifecarboxylic acids, higher alkylated benzene suli'onic acids, higher alcohol ethers of lower hydroxy alkyl sulfonic acids and higher fatty aci alkyloiamide sulfuric acids, and an imide ch is a 4 asaano derivative of a water-solubloallphatic hydroxy carboxylic acid and an aliphatic primary amine containing 10 to 14 carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain, the amount by weight of the amide being less than the amount by weight of the detergent but suflicient to enhance the detergent power thereof.

NATHANIEL BEVERLEY TUCKER.