US2763618A - Whitening and brightening wash and rinse powder composition - Google Patents

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United States Patent WHITENING AND BRIGHTENING WASH AND RINSE POWDER COMPOSITION Palmer G. Hendrix, Hickory, N. C., assignor to Pro-Nyl fliemicals, Inc., Hickory, N. C., a corporation of New ersey No Drawing. Application September 7, 1955, Serial No. 533,026

12 Claims. (Cl. 252153) This invention relates to a new textile whitening and brightening rinse and wash composition and is more particularly concerned with a new whitening and brightening rinse and wash composition especially adapted for household use in the rinsing and laundering of nylon and other synthetic textile goods, such as stockings and textile goods found in the home.

The invention is particularly adapted to be used in whitening and brightening nylon fabrics but is also effective on other synthetic fabrics. Since the undesirable yellowish cast and full appearance which develops in white as well as dyed nylon fabrics over a period of time is much greater than in other synthetics, the invention will be described in terms of its primary usage which is for nylon, but it is not limited thereto. In normal usage of nylon fabrics, the yellowish or off-white tint is aggravated by continued exposure to light, weathering and continued laundering. Securing and simple bleaching are not effective to whiten or brighten the fabric.

Laundry blueings, containing blue pigments and fugitive blue dyestuffs, have been tried in an attempt to hide this yellowish tinge, but these materials are only temporarily effective to say the least, and are undesirable for other reasons. For instance, in attempting to neutralize" the yellowish tinge with these blueings, a true white is not obtained, but rather, on the other hand, a most disappointing tattletale gray. Moreover, the more bluing used, the darker the gray becomes. An exact color balance is never quite efiected so that the rinsed material is not even gray, but actually blue.

In recent years, workers in the art have developed socalled optical bleaching and brightening agents to solve this problem. Actually, these known optical brighteners are not bleaching agents in the true sense of the word because their use is predicated on the fact that they are fluorescent and capable of emitting blue light. Therefore, instead of employing a blue coloring material to absorb yellow light, which is in fact created by blue light being absorbed on the fabric, these new optical brighteners effectively destroy the yellowing effect by emitting the lost" blue light.

In my prior Patent No. 2,619,470, issued November 25, 1952, I disclose a concentrated liquid whitening and brightening rinse for nylon containing as essential ingredients, a nylon optical brightener suspended in an aqueous medium containing at least 20% of a simple monohydric alcohol. This liquid rinse composition has met with considerable commercial success on the market. However, some housewives may find it more convenient to employ a nylon whitening and brightening rinse in solid powdered form. Such a rinse in powdered form not only has some advantages for the housewife, .but it also has advantages for the manufacturer in that it is more easily packaged and distributed.

It is one of the principal objects of the present invention therefore, to provide a whitening and brightening rinse of this general character, in dry powdered form,

' clothing of all kinds, as well as many other manufactured which may be used by the ordinary housewife in a separate rinsing operation by following very simple directions.

It is a further and important object of the present invention to provide a dry powdered whitening and brightening agent of this character which may be simply added by the housewife to the rinse water in predetermined proportions.

lt is a still further object of the present invention to provide a dry powdered whitening and brightening rinse composition for the household use which has extremely good brightening and whitening effect on nylon fabrics whether they be dyed or undyed.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a dry powdered composition of the aforesaid character which not only contains an optical brightener effective to whiten and brighten nylon but which also contains a detergent for the nylon goods.

It is also a further object of the invention to provide a dry powdered composition of this character containing both a nylon whitener and brightener and a conventional bleaching agent.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a new and improved process for compounding a dry powdered rinse composition of this character.

The organic optical brighteners which are effective in treating nylon are, quite unfortunately, substantially water-insoluble and it is, therefore, inadequate merely to mix an organic optical brightener physically, in the dry form, with a carrier and/or detergent.

Unless the optical brightener is rendered water-soluble or otherwise treated, it has no afiinity for the nylon fabric and for this reason it has heretofore been impossible to utilize optical brighteners in the washing process. My prior patent discloses a composition wherein, a liquid form, an optical brightener may be used effectively in the rinse. The present invention relates to the use of optical brighteners in dry form, in both the rinse and/or the washing process.

The basic dry powdered rinse of this invention is prepared in a new and novel procedure which is predicated on the discovery that individual crystals of a watersoluble inorganic salt carrier may be coated with a film of the normally water-insoluble optical brightener and a small, predetermined amount of solvent therefor. In ,order so to coat the individual crystals of the watersoluble inorganic salt carrier, the optical brightener is first dissolved in an organic solvent therefor, the resultant solution carrying the brightener then contacted and thoroughly mixed with the water-soluble inorganic salt, and finally the organic solvent is driven off or evaporated nearly to dryness but to a point where a small, predetermined amount of solvent remains, thus to leave the desired basic rinse powder which, as stated, comprises crystals of a water-soluble inorganic salt each of which carries a thin, superficial, from-solutiondeposited film of the optical brightener and a small amount of solvent. In this way, it has been discovered that, the otherwise normally water-insoluble optical brightener has been so treated that a more eficient water solubility and/or water dispersability is obtained in the final dry, powdered textile rinse and wash composition.

Any water-soluble inorganic salt which is not soluble in the organic solvent employed to dissolve the optical brightener may be employed. Useful water-soluble inorganic salts are: sodium chloride, sodium sulfate anhydrous (Glaubers salt), sodium phosphate (dibasic anhydrous), sodium phosphate (dibasic dodecahydrate), sodium phosphate (dibasic heptahydrate), sodium phosphate (monobasic), sodium phosphate (tribasic), sodium alginate, sodium aluminate, sodium oxalate, sodium tartrate, sodium sulfite anhydrous, sodium thios 3 anhydrous, potassium sulfate, potassium phosphate (dibasic), potassium phosphate (monobasic), potassium phosphate (tribasic), potassium pyrophosphate, po t sium orthophgphite, potassium hypophos hite, potassium tartrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium sulfite, calcium 5 4 organic salt carrier coated with a film of the optical brightener and 0.3 lb. residual alcohol. As stated, materially improved results are obtained from such a mixture as compared with a simple mixture of the optical brightener and the salt carrier.

acetate, calcium hypophosphite, cw AS another example, one may dissolve 2.36 lbs. of

barium acetate, Barium chloride. Others would naturally suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

As organic solvents for dissolving the organic optical brightener, but which are incapable of dissolving the water-soluble salt, there may be employed a variety of conventional water-soluble alcohols, esters and ketones, or mixtures thereof, known for their organic compound solvent power.

As alcohols there may be employed normal propyl alcohol or any simple monohydric alcohol such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol or tertiary butyl alcohol, or any mixture thereof.

As water-soluble esters there may be employed ethyl formate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, and isobutyl acetate, or any mixture thereof.

Simple or mixed water-soluble ketones may be employed as organic solvents such as diisopropyl ketone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl propyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, secondary methyl butyl ketone, tertiary methyl butyl ketone, and ethyl propyl ketone, or any mixture thereof.

As stated, any convenient organic optical brightener effective on nylon may be employed in preparing the basic dry powdered rinse in accordance with the above procedure. Found particularly useful are amino coumarin compounds embraced within the formula:

o=o (XMN 0 wherein X is an alkyl group, such as methyl, ethyl,

acid'forits sodiumsalt,-asdescrihed,inmy prior Patent In preparing the basic dry powdered rinse the ingredients are employed in proportions such thatthe basic powdered product contains 0.5% to 20% of the organic optical brightener, 75% to 99.25% of the watersoluble inorganic salt carrier and 0.25% to 5%, preferably 2.5% to 3.5%, residual brightener solvent.

The basic dry powdered rinse preferably also contains an evaporation retarder for the solvent thus enhancing the shelf life of the product. Found suitable as evaporation retarders are the so-called fatty or higher alcohols such as lauryl, stearyl, cetyl, oleyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, myristyl and tetradecyl alcohols. The evaporation retarder may be employed in the basic dry powdered rinse in amounts from 0.5% to 20%.

As a specific example, one may dissolve 1.18 lbs. of either of the above noted specific coumarin derivatives namely "Blancophor A. W. or Calcofiuor White R. W. in 6 lbs. of tertiary butyl alcohol. This solution is then mixed with 8.82 lbs. powdered anhydrous sodium sulfate and the resulting slurry allowed to stand or slightly heated to drive off most of the tertiary butyl alcohol. This leaves 10.3 lbs. of the basic dry powdered rinse sition composed of crystals of water-soluble ineither of the above noted specific coumarin derivatives,

- namely, Blancophor A. W. or Calcofiuor White R. W.

in 9 lbs. of isopropyl alcohol. This solution is then mixed with 7.64 lbs. of sodium chloride and the resulting slurry is heated to drive 05 most of the alcohol, leaving 10.3 lbs. of a water-soluble nylon whitening and brightening powder composition containing 0.3 lb. residual alcohol.

The basic dry powdered brightening composition is compounded in the following proportions:

75% to 99.25% inorganic water-soluble salt carrier 0.5% to 20% optical brightener 0.25% to 5% solvent To the foregoing formulation may be added, as indicate d, 0.5 to 20% evaporation retarder, the amount of salt carrier being cut down to accommodate the evaporation retarder in the above formulation.

Falling specifically under the foregoing formulation is the following:

40 lbs. anhydrous sodium sulfate 2 lbs. 2 oz. p. diethyl amino coumarin 1 lb. 14 Ora-isopropyl alcohol The immediately foregoing formulation was prepared by dissolving 2 lbs. 2 oz. of the coumarin in 40 lbs. isopropyl alcohol, mixing the solution with 40 lbs. of the sodium sulfate, and then allowing the mixture to stand until all but 1 lb. 14 oz. of the alcohol has evaporated.

The invention also contemplates compositions having enhanced bleaching power which are composed of the foregoing basic dry, powdered brightening composition, but containing, in addition, a conventional dry bleaching agent such as sodium perborate which may or may not be buffered with sodium bircarbonate. When the basic dry powdered brightener of the invention is mixed with such conventional bleaching agents formulations are made up with ingredients in the following percentages:

0.1% to 6% optical brighteners 5% to 50% inorganic water-soluble salt carrier 10% to 45% u erborate o a s'uinicaroat'e It is also within the contemplation and purview of the present invention to combine either the basic brightener rinse as such, or combined with added conventional bleach, with conventional detergents so that a composite rinse and detergent end product is produced in dry powdered form. These detergents may be either anionic, nonionic or cationic, or any mixture thereof.

As any ordinary low titer soap in solid form, and synthetic detergents such as sulfated fatty alcohols, sodium alkyl aryl sulfonates and the like may be employed.

Any conventional soa in solid form may be used, such as p'otassium oleate, sodium oleate, potassium stearate, and sodium 'stearate, or 'mixtures thereof. Also contemplated are cocoanut oil soaps prepared simply by saponifying 'cocoanut oil with caustic soda or caustic potash. Commercial solid soaps such as Ivory, Palmolive, Lux, Octagon and Artic Crystal may be used.

Sodium salts of sulfate may also be employed as detergents. As used commercially this type of detergent is usually a mixture of the sodium salts of sulfated fatty alcohols made by reducing the mixed fatty acids of cocoanut oil, palm kernel oil or of cottonseed oil and of fish or sperm oils. Sometimes natural waxes such as spermaceti, wool fat and beeswax are sulfated directly. The mixture of the sulfated alcohols which goes by the commercial name lauryl alcohol" consists of about 15% mixed Ca and C (octyl and decyl) alcohols, 40% C12 (lauryl or dodecyl) alcohol, 30% C14 (myristyl or tetradecyl) alcohol and 15% mixed C16 and C13 (cetyl, stearyl and oleyl) alcohols. However, individual sodium salts of sulfated fatty alcohols are contemplated, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium octyl sulfate, sodium decyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium myristyl sulfate, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, sodium cetyl sulfate, sodium stearyl sulfate and sodium oleyl sulfate.

Typical of the foregoing class of synthetic detergents are: Duponol, Gardinol, Modinal, Orvus, Maprofix, Tergavon, Tergitol Anionic 7, Tergitol Anionic P-28, Tergitol Anionic 4, Tergitol Anionic O8, Tergitol Anionic EH, Dreft, and Drene.

Alkyl and alkyl aryl sulfonates may also be employed as detergents. The alkyl or alkane sulfonates may be the sodium salts of sulfonated higher fatty acids such as those found in cocoanut oil, palm oil, olive oil, etc. This will give rise to sodium salts of sulfonated mixed higher fatty acids, although the sodium salts of sulfonated, preformed individual acids may be employed. Esters of sulpho fatty acids are also contemplated. (See Bertsch Patent No. 1,918,372.) Likewise amides of the foregoing, such as sulfonated cocoanut oil fatty acid amide, may be used. (See Bertsch Patent No. 1,918,373.)

The alkyl aryl sulfonates as used commercially are one or more sodium salts of alkyl (either short or long chain, usually the latter), benzene or naphthalene sulfonic acids. The alkyl may be lower alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and isopropyl, or it may be and usually is a higher alkyl having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, such as octyl, nonyl, decyl and keryl. These higher alkyls may be derived from the fatty acids of cocoanut oil, palm oil and olive oil, or from a hydrocarbon kerosene fraction containing predominantly 12 carbon atoms to the molecule. Specifically may be mentioned the sodium salt of the sulphonic acid derived from condensing benzene with a chlorinated kerosene fraction of this nature (keryl chloride). Also may be mentioned sodium isopropyl-naphthalene sulfonate, sodium butyl naphthalene sulfonate, sodium keryl benzene sulfonate, and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate.

Included in the foregoing category are the following commercial detergents: Nacconol, Nekal, Sorapon. NSAE, Santomerse, Ultrawet and Xynomine.

Other alkyl aryl sulfonates which may be employed can i be found in Table 1, page 126, Surface Active Agents by Schwartz-Perry (1949).

Non-ionic deter ents found useful are generally compounds prepared by reacting a hydrophobic hydroxy compound (either a phenol or an alcohol) with several mols of ethylene (or propylene) oxide. Typical of the commercial detergents falling within this category are Igepal CA-710, Igepal CO-430, Igepal CO-530, Igepal CO-610, Igepal CO-630, Igepal CO-7l0, Igepal CO-730, Igepal CO-850, Igepal C0-880, Igepal DM-7l0, Leonil O, Leonil OX, Leonil FFO, Peregal O, Emulphor EL-620, Emulphor EL-719, Emulphor ON-870, Emulphor VN-430, Emulphogene AM-870. All of the foregoing are manufactured and sold by General Dyestutf Corporation. Similar products are sold by Armour and Co. under the names Energetic S and Energetic W-100. A similar product is Triton NE manufactured by Rohm and Haas Co. Similar non-ionic detergents are prepared by reacting ethylene or propylene oxide with fatty acids or by esterifying polyethylene glycol with a fatty acid. Typical of this class are Tergitol, Non-ionic NPX, Tergitol Non-ionic TMN, Tergitol Non-ionic XC, Tergitol Nonionics NP-14 and Tergitol Non-ionic TD, all produced by Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corp., Neutronyx produced by Onyx Oil and Chemical Co., and Glycaid produced by Glyco Products Co.

Also, non-ionic detergents may be prepared by reacting a hydroxy ester or hydroxyamide of a fatty acid with ethylene oxide to form a polyethylene ether. Fatty amides and hydrophobic sulfonamides have also been reacted with ethylene oxide.

In addition, Atlas Powder Company manufactures and sells a series of fatty acid esters of anhydrosorbitols which have been solubilized by etherifying the free hydroxyl groups with ethylene oxide under the name of Tweens. The anhydrosorbitol esters which have not been etherified are sold by Atlas under the name Span. There are numerous Tweens and Spans available on the market. Similar compounds, sold by Atlas, are Arlacel C, 6-2162, (3-672, G-7596 I, etc. and Myrj 45, etc.

Other types of non-ionic detergents include compounds made by heating together 1 mol of a higher fatty acid with approximately 2 mols of diethanolamine. Compounds of this nature are sold by E. F. Houghton and Co. under the names of N- and Cerfal-1400, by Quaker Chemical Co. under the name of Dianol G, by Alrose Chemical Co. under the names of Alrosol, Alrosol B, Alrosol C, Alrosol CS, Alrosol H and Alrosol O.

The foregoing and other non-ionic detergents are disclosed in pages 202-217, Surface Active Agents by Schwartz-Perry (1949).

Cationic detergents found useful are generally higher fatty amines and amides, their salts, and higher quaternary ammonium salts, or numerous variations thereof. Typical compounds are n-octadecylarnine, dicapryl amine, actadecyl ammonium chloride, hexadecylamine, cetylpyridinium bromide, cetyltrimethylammoniumchloride, cocoanut fatty alkyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride, cetyldimethyl o chlorobenzylammonium bromide, stearoamidine, stearic ester of dibutylaminoethanol, stearyl triethanolamine and oleyltriethanolamine. Typical commercial cationic detergents coming under the broad genus set forth above are Zelan, Zephyran, Roccal, Ammonyx, Triton K-60, Sapamine A, Sapamine KWC, Sapamine MS, Sapamine WL, Surface Active Agent M, Soromine DB, Soromine BNS, Soromine BSA, Soromine A base, Emulphor FM, Alkaterge O, Cationic Amine 220, Onyxsan, Victamine D, Katapol PN-430, Katapol VP-532, Peregal OK, Peregal ST, Peregal TW, and Solidogen K.

The foregoing and other cationic detergents are disclosed in pages 151-201, Surface Active Agents by Schwartz-Perry (1949).

The amount of soap or synthetic detergent used is preferably 20% of the total composition, whether it be combined with the basic dry powdered rinse of the aforesaid character, or the dry powdered rinse with added dry bleach. However, the soap or detergent may be as little as 1% or as much as 98% of the final composition. In other words, one may add a very small amount of detergent to the basic dry rinse powder, or one may add a very small amount of basic dry rinse powder to the detergent. Soda ash may be used in any desired percentage with the detergent, as is conventionally used with detergents, for the purpose of aiding the action of the detergent and removing foreign matter from the fabric.

Detergent compositions containing the basic dry brightener composition of the present invention may be compounded in accordance with the formulation:

1% to 98% inorganic water-soluble salt carrier 1% to 98% detergent 0.1% to 6% optical brightener 0.25% to 5% solvent When an evaporation retarder is employed the detergent composition has the following formula:

1% to 98% inorganic water-soluble salt carrier 1% to 98% detergent 0.1% to 6% optical brightener 0.25% to 5% solvent 0.5% to 10% evaporation retarder 7 Falling specifically under the above broad formulations:

Formula A 35% sodium chloride 59.4% Artie soap 0.6% p. diethyl amino coumarin 3.0% isopropyl alcohol 2.0% lauryl alcohol Formula C 40 lbs. anhydrous sodium sulfate carrying 9.3 oz. p. diethyl amino coumarin and 1 lb. 2 oz. isopropyl alcohol 29 lbs. sodium lauryl sulfate 29 lbs. Artie soap Also contemplated within the scope of the invention is the conversion of known, marketed detergents into improved detergents also having the power of whitening and brightening nylon goods. For instance, many detergents now on the market are made up of some 35% detergent and 65% water-soluble salt. In order to impart to such a detergent unusual whitening and brightening powers, one may simply mix with such a detergent an organic solvent carrying the optical brightener and then partially drive off or evaporate the solvent from the mixture to leave a small amount of solvent in the mixture. This procedure deposits a film of the brightener on the crystals of the water-soluble salt contained in the original admixture with the detergent along with the solvent.

It is also within the contemplation and purview of the 2 lbs. lauryl alcohol Formula D Lbs. Sodium chloride coated with 9.3 ozs. of p. diethyl amino coumarin and carrying 1 lb. 2 oz. isopropyl alcohol 0 Sodium isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate 20 58% light soda ash 10 Sodium bicarbonate Total 100 30 Formula E Lbs. Anhydrous sodium sulfate coated with 9.3 ozs. of p.

dimethylamino B-methyl coumarin and carrying 2 lbs. 4 oz. methyl acholol 80 Sodium lauryl sulfate 20 Total 100 Formula F Lbs. Anhydrous sodium sulfate carrying 9.3 ozs. of diethyl amino coumarin and carrying 2 lbs. 4 ozs. isopropyl alcohol 80 Sodium isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate l0 Artic soap 8 Lauryl alcohol 2 Total 100 Formula G W. Anhydrous sodium sulfate coated with 9.3 ozs. of p.

diethyl amino coumarin and carrying 14 oz. isopropyl alcohol 20 Sodium perborate 35 Sodium bicarbonate 25 Artie soap 20 Total 100 60 present invention to incorporate into the various formulations supra 0.1% to 10.0% of a. mineral acid, such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid, or mixtures thereof, particularly when the alcohol solvent employed is other than tertiary butyl alcohol, all as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,692,238. The presence of acid enhances shelf life and aids solution so that less solvent is necessary when acid is employed. By such a procedure, the final product comprises crystals of a water-soluble inorganic salt each of which carry a thin film of optical brightener, organic solvent and mineral acid, this film being a from-solution-deposited film.

When acid is employed the basic dry powdered brightening composition is compounded in the following proportions:

65 to 99.15% inorganic water-soluble salt carrier 0.5% to 20% optical brightener 0.25% to 5% solvent 0.1% to 10% mineral acid To the foregoing formulation may be added, as indicated, 0.5% to 20% evaporation retarder, the amount of salt carrier being cut down to accommodate the evaporation retarder in the above formulation.

It should be pointed out here that in compounding these formulations, whether basic powder rinse, or basic powder rinse plus detergent, the acid employed is of less strength than the acid appearing in the final product. For instance, when sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid is employed, a 66% acid is used when compounding and then, after the mixture has been allowed to stand, water has evaporated from the aqueous acid so that the final product contains acid whose strength is of the order of 94%. In the case of hydrochloric acid, a 27% solution is employed when compounding and, after standing, the hydrochloric acid strength is of the order of 32%. Of course, acids of weaker strength could be employed when compounding but the mixture would have to stand longer to allow the excess water to be driven off to arrive at the maximum 94% strength for sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid and the maximum strength of 32% for hydrochloric acid.

When considering the amount of mineral acid in the final product, whether the basic powder rinse or the basic powder plus detergent, it should be pointed out, therefore, that the acid is present in amounts of 0.1% to 10%, the acid strength varying between 32% and 94% depending upon the particular acid employed.

Falling specifically under the broad basic formulation immediately foregoing are the following:

Formula H 40 lbs. anhydrous sodium sulfate carrying 2 lbs. 2 ozs. p. diethyl amino coumarin, 8 ozs. isopropyl alcohol and 1 lb. 2 ozs. hydrochloric acid (32% strength).

The foregoing formulation was prepared by dissolving 2 lbs. 2 ozs. of the coumarin in 18 lbs. 15 ozs. of isopropyl alcohol, adding 2 lbs. 2 ozs. of 27% strength hydrochloric acid, mixing the solution with 40 lbs. of the sodium sulfate, and then allowing the mixture to stand until all but 8 ozs. of the alcohol has evaporated and the strength of the acid has increased to 32%.

Formula I 40 lbs. anhydrous sodium sulfate carrying 2 lbs. 2 ozs. p. dimethyl amino-p-methyl coumarin, 8 ozs. methyl a1- cohol and 1 lb. 2 ozs. sulfuric acid (94% strength).

The foregoing formulation was prepared by dissolving 2 lbs. 2 ozs. of the coumarin in 18 lbs. 15 ozs. methyl alcohol, adding 2 lbs. 2 ozs. of 66% strength sulfuric acid, mixing the solution with 40 lbs. of the sodium sulfate, and then allowing the mixture to stand until all but 8 ozs. of the alcohol has evaporated and the strength of the acid increased to 94%.

When acid is employed in compositions containing both,

basic dry powder rinse and detergent the following broad formulation is employed:

1% to 98% inorganic water-soluble salt carrier 1% to 98% detergent 0.1% to 6% optical brightener 0.25% to solvent 0.1% to 10% mineral acid (32% to 94% strength, de-

pending upon acid employed) Falling specifically under this broad formulation are the following:

Formula I anhydrous sodium sulfate 60.8% sodium isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate 0.6% p. dimethyl amino-p-methyl coumarin 3.0% isopropyl alcohol 0.6% sulfuric acid (94% strength) Formula K 35% sodium chloride 60.8% sodium lauryl sulfate 0.6% p. diethyl amino coumarin 3.0% methyl alcohol 0.6% hydrochloric acid (32% strength) Formula L lbs. anhydrous sodium sulfate carrying 9.3 ozs. p. di-

methyl amino-fi-methyl coumarin, 9.3 ozs. sulfuric acid (94% strength) and 1 lb. 2 ozs. isopropyl alcohol 29 lbs. sodium isopropyl naphthalene sulfonate 29 lbs. Artic soap 2 lbs. lauryl alcohol In all of the foregoing formulations and description all amounts, parts and percentages are by weight.

When employing the basic rinse powder, nylon garments are washed in the usual manner and are then rinsed in a dilute rinse solution containing one teaspoonful of the dry rinse to each gallon of water. When employing the basic rinse powder containing added dry bleach, then 1 tablespoon of the composite brightener is employed for each gallon of water. Adequate brightening and whitening effect is obtained in about four or five minutes rinsing time with either type of brightening composition.

When employing the basic rinse powder either with or without the bleach and to which soap or detergent has been added, the resulting product may be used in the same manner as conventional soaps and detergents in the washiug process, any desired amount being used in hot water to give the desired amount of suds.

The optical brightener which has heretofore been insoluble in water except in the presence of alcohol or acid is by this process made water-soluble in powder form. In usage, the salt dissolves in the wash or rinse water, releasing the brightener and causing a precipitation which drives the brightener onto the fabric. The salt also acts to give the brightener a greater aflinity for the fabric.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicatiori Serial No. 491,528, filed March 1, 1955, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 363,685, filed June 23, 1953, both now abandoned.

In the specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A powdered whitening and brightening rinse composition for synthetic textile goods comprising crystals of anhydrous sodium sulfate carrying a from-solution-deposited film of an organic optical brightener, a mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength, and an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said sodium sulfate being insoluble in said solvent, said brightener being selected from the group consisting of p. diethyl amino couramin and p. dimethyl amino-fi-methyl coumarin and said ingredients being present in the following proportions sufficient to total sodium sulfate- 65% to 99.15%, brightener-0.5% to 20%, acid--0.l% to 10%, and s0lvent0.25% to 5%.

2.A powdered whitening and brightening rinse composition for synthetic textile goods comprising crystals of sodium chloride carrying a from-solution-deposited film of an organic optical brightener, a mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength, and an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said sodium chloride being insoluble in said solvent, said brightener being selected from the group consisting of p. diethyl amino coumarin and p. dimethyl amino-fl-methyl coumarin and said ingredients being present in the following proportions sulficient to total 100%: sodium chloride-65% to 99.15 brightener--0.5% to 20%, acid0.1% to 10% and solvent-0.25% to 5 3. A powdered whitening and brightening rinse composition for synthetic textile goods comprising a watersoluble inorganic salt whose crystals carry a from-solution-deposited film of p. diethyl amino coumarin, a mineral acid of 32% to 92% strength, and an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said salt being insoluble in said solvent and said ingredients being present in the following proportions sufficient to total 100%: salt65% to 99.15%, eoumarin0.5% to 20%, acid-0.1% to 10% and solvent-0.25% to 5%.

4. A powdered whitening and brightening rinse composition for synthetic textile goods comprising a watersoluble inorganic salt whose crystals carry a from-solutiondeposited film of p. dimethyl amino-B-methyl coumarin, a mineral acid of 32% to 92% strength, and an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said salt being insoluble in said solvent and said ingredients being present in the following proportions sufficient to total 100%: salt--65% to 99.15%, eoumarin0.5% to 20%, acid-0.1% to 10% and solvent--0.25% to 5%.

5. A powdered whitening and brightening rinse composition for synthetic textile goods comprising crystals of anhydrous sodium sulfate carrying a from-solution-deposited film of p. diethyl amino coumarin, a mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength, and'an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said sodium sulfate being insoluble in said solvent and said ingredients being present in the following proportions suflicient to total 100%: sodium sulfate65% to 99.15%, coumarin0.5% to 20%, acid0.l% to 10% and solvent 0.25% to 5 6.A powdered whitening and brightening rinse composition for synthetic textile goods comprising crystals of anhydrous sodium sulfate carrying a from-solution-deposited film of p. dimethyl amino-fi-methyl coumarin, a mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength, and an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said sodium sulfate being insoluble in said solvent and said ingredients being present in the following proportions sufficient to total 100%: sodium sulfate -65% to 99.15%, eoumarin0.5% to 20%, acid-0.1% to 10% and solvent--0.25% to 5%.

7. A powdered, whitening and brightening rinse composition for synthetic textile goods comprising a watersoluble inorganic salt whose crystals carry a from-solution-deposited film of an organic optical brightener, a mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength, an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters,

prising a solid detergent admixed with a water-soluble inorganic salt whose crystals carry a from-solution-deposited film of an organic optical brightener, a mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength and an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said salt being insoluble in said solvent, said brightener being selected from the group consisting of p. diethyl amino eoumarin and p. dimethyl amino-p-methyl eoumarin and said ingredients being present in the following proportions suflicient to total 100%: detergent1% to 98%, salt-1% to 98%, brightener-0.1% to 6%, acid-0.l% to 10% and solvent0.25% to 5%.

9. A powdered composite detergent and whitening and brightening composition for synthetic textile goods comprising a solid detergent admixed with anhydrous sodium sulfate whose crystals carry a from-solution-deposited film of an organic optical brightener, a mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength, and an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said sodium sulfate being insoluble in said solvent, said brightener being selected from the group consisting of p. diethyl amino eoumarin and p. dimethyl amino-fi-methyl coumarin and said ingredients being present in the following proportions sufficient to total 100%: detergent--1% to 98%, sodium sulfate-1% to 98%, brightener0.1% to 6%, acid0.1% to 10% and solvent--0.25% to 5%.

10. A powdered composite detergent and whitening and brightening composition for synthetic textile goods comprising a solid detergent admixed with a water-soluble inorganic salt whose crystals carry a from-solution-deposited film of an organic optical brightener, a mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength, an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, and an evaporation retarder for the solvent, said salt being insoluble in said solvent, said brightener being selected from the group consisting of p. diethyl amino eoumarin and p. di-

12 methyl amino-p-methyl eoumarin and said ingredients being present in the following proportions: detergent- 1% to 98%, salt1% to 98%, brightener-0.1% to 6%, solvent0.25% to 5%, acid-0.1% to 10% and retarder-0.5% to 10%.

11. A powdered whitening and brightening rinse composition for synthetic textile g'oods comprising a watersoluble inorganic salt whose crystals carry a from-solution-deposited film of an organic optical brightener, a

mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength, and an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said salt being insoluble in said solvent, said brightener being selected from the group consisting of p. diethyl amino couramin and p. dimethyl amino-p-methyl couman'n and said ingredients being present in the following proportions sufficient to total 100%: salt-65% to 99.15%, brightener0.5% to 20%, solvent-0.25% to 5% and acid-- 0.1% to 10%.

12. A powdered composite detergent and whitening and brightening composition for synthetic textile goods comprising a solid detergent admixed with a water-soluble inorganic salt whose crystals carry a from-solution deposited film of an organic optical brightener, a mineral acid of 32% to 94% strength, and an organic solvent for the brightener from the group consisting of lower aliphatic alcohols and lower alkyl ketones and esters, said salt being insoluble in said solvent, said brightener being selected from the group consisting of p. diethyl amino eoumarin and p. dimethyl amino-fl-methyl eoumarin and said ingredients being present in the following proportions: detergent--1% to 98%, salt-1% to 98%, brightener-0.1% to 6%, acid-0.1% to 10% and solvent-0.25% to 5%.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,619,740 Hendrix Nov. 25, 1952 2,643,197 Savidge June 23, 1953 2,654,713 Fleck Oct. 6, 1953 2,692,238 Hendrix Oct; 19, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 981,436 France May 25, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Streatfield: Soap, Perfumery and Cosmetics, August 1951 (vol. 24, pp. 775, 776).

Chilson: Modern Cosmetics, 1938, page 429.

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Claims (2)

1. A POWDERED WHITENING AND BRIGHTENING RINSE COMPOSITION FOR SYNTHETIC TEXTILE GOODS COMPRISING A CRYSTALS OF ANHYDROUS SODIUM SULFATE CARRYING A FROM-SOLUTION-DEPOSITED FILM OF AN ORGANIC OPTICAL BRIGHTENER, A MINERAL ACID OF 32% TO 94% STRENGTH, AND AN ORGANIC SOLVENT FOR THE BRIGHTENER FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF LOWER ALIPHATIC ALCOHOLS AND LOWER ALKYL KETONES AND ESTERS, SAID SODIUM SULFATE BEING INSOLUBLE IN SAID SOLVENT, SAID BRIGHTENER BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF P. DIETHYL AMINO COUAMIN AND P. DIMETHYL AMINO-B-METHYL COUMARIN AND SAID INGREDIENTS BEING PRESENT IN THE FOLLOWING PROPORTIONS SUFFICIENT TO TOTAL 100%: SODIUM SULFATE 65% TO 99.15%, BRIGHTENER-0.5% TO 20%, ACID-0.1% TO 10%, AND SOLVENT-0.25% TO 5%.

8. A POWDERED COMPOSITE DETERGENT AND WHITENING AND BRIGHTENING COMPOSITION FOR SYNTHETIC TEXTILE GOODS COMPRISING A SOILID DETERGENT ADMIXED WITH A WATER-SOLUBLE INORGANIC SALT WHOSE CRYSTALS CARRY A FROM-SOLUTION-DEPOSITED FILM OF AN ORGANIC OPTICAL BRIGHTENER, A MINERAL ACID OF 32% TO 94% STRENGTH AND AN ORGANIC SOLVENT FOR THE BEIGHTENER FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF LOWER ALIPHATIC ALCOHOLS AND LOWER ALKYL KETONES AND ESTERS, SAID SALT BEING INSOLUBLE IN SAID SOLVENT, SAID BRIGHTENER BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF P. DIETHYL AMINO COUMARIN AND P. DIMETHYL AMINO-B-METHYL COUMARIN AND SAID INGREDIENTS BEING PRESENT IN THE FOLLOWING PROPORTIONS SUFFICIENT TO TOTAL 100%: DETERGENT-1% TO 98%, SALT-1% TO 98%, BRIGHTENER-0.1% TO 6%, ACID-0.1% TO 10% AND SOLVENT-0.25% TO 5%.