[0001] This invention relates to built detergent compositions containing activators for
oxygen releasing bleaching compounds, especially activators in the form of organic
peroxy acid bleach precursors.
[0002] It is well known that peroxygen bleaching agents, e.g
., perborates, percarbonates, perphosphates, persilicates etc., are highly useful for
chemical bleaching of stains found on both colored and white fabrics. Such bleaching
agents are most effective at high wash solution temperatures, i.e., above about 70°C.
In recent years, attempts have been made to provide bleaching compositions that are
effective at lower wash solution temperatures, i.e., between room temperature and
70 C. In consequence, bleaching agents have been investigated which exhibit their
optimum bleach activity in this temperature range. These low temperature bleaches
are useful in a variety of products intended for use under machine or hand-wash conditions,
e.g., additive, pre-additive or soak-type laundry compositions as well as all-purpose
detergent compositions.
[0003] A very effective class of low temperature bleach system comprises a peroxy bleach
compound and an organic peracid precursor which react together to form the organic
peracid in the wash solution. Examples of detergent compositions incorporating bleaching
agents of this type are disclosed in U.S.P. 2,362,401 (Reicher et al), U.S.P. 3,639,248
(Moyer) and in British Patent Nos. 836,988 and 855,735.
[0004] It is also well known that compositions containing a significant amount of water-soluble
orthophosphate and/or water-soluble pyrophosphate salts as builder can experience
problems of soil deposition onto fabrics with resulting loss in fabric whiteness.
Orthophosphates and pyrophosphates can occur as degradation products of sodium tripolyphosphate
when the latter is incorporated in a detergent composition prepared by spray-drying.
The extent of degradation during spray-drying, and therefore the level of orthophosphates
and pyrophosphates, can very widely from as little as 3% up to about 40% or more by
weight of tripolyphosphate, the actual degree of degradation being determined by the
particular process conditions applied, notably crutcher mix moisture, temperature
and residence time, the inlet temperature of the drying tower and the moisture of
the blown powder.
[0005] Ortho and pyrophosphates are, of course, useful builders in their own right, and
have come into more -prominence in recentyears as the use of high levels of sodium
tripolyphosphate has come under scrutiny because of the suspicion that soluble phosphate
species accelerate the eutrophication or aging process of water bodies. This eutrophication
is ordinarily evidenced by the rapid growth of algae in the water body. As more fully
explained in German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2,605,052 ortho- and pyrophosphates, specially
orthophosphate, can remove more - hardness ions (Ca
++, Mg ) per unit of P
2O
5 in their constitution than can tripolyphosphate. Orthophosphates, and to greater
or less extent, pyrophosphates, act as detergency builders however, by precipitating
these hardness ions as insoluble phosphates whereas sodium tripolyphosphate retains
them in solution as complex ions. Building detergency by means of this precipitating
mechanism tends, therefore, to cause undesirable effects, in-particular, deposition
of insoluble phosphate onto fabrics.
[0006] While the beneficial effects of both bleach activators and ortho/pyrophosphate builders
are thus well known and a number of problems posed by the use of their materials have
been explored, it has hitherto apparently not been recognized that bleach activators
can have a deleterious effect on the soil deposition and whiteness maintenance characteristics
of detergent composition containing significant levels of ortho/pyrophosphate builders.
In as much as bleach activators would be expected to exert a solubilizing or dispersing
effect on suspended soil, this observed soil deposition problem is considered most
surprising.
[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a built detergent
composition having improved low temperature bleaching performance together with undiminished
soil deposition and whiteness maintenance characteristics.
[0008] According to the present invention there is provided a granular detergent composition
characterized by:
(a) from about 2% to about 35% of organic surfactant selected from anionic, nonionic,
amphoteric and zwitterinoic surfactants and mixtures thereof,
(b) from about 5% to about 90% of phosphate detergency builder comprising at least
about 6% thereof of a mixture of water-soluble orthophosphate and pyrophosphate salts
in a weight ratio of from 3:7 to 1:20,
(c) from about 0.5% to about 20% of organic peroxy acid bleach precursor, and
(d) from about 0.1% to about 2% of a homo- or copolymeric polycarboxylic acid, or
salt thereof, wherein the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals
separated from one another by not more than two carbon atoms.
[0009] In preferred compositions, the phosphate builder comprises from about 50% to about
90%, preferably from about 40% to about 88% of water-soluble tripolyphosphate salt
and from about 10% to about 50%, preferably from about 12% to about 40% of the mixture
of water-soluble orthophosphate and pyrophosphate salts in a weight ratio of from
3:7 to 1:20. While the builder can be present generally in the range from about 5%
to about 90%, preferably about 10% to about 50%, highly preferred compositions are
low in phosphate, containing phosphorus in am amount not exceeding that contained
in about 28% anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate. The benefits of the invention are
readily apparent, however, even at builder:hardness ratios in excess of 1:1.
[0010] Preferred polymeric polycarboyxlic acids for use herein have an average molecular
weight in the range from about 500 to about 2,000,000, more preferably from about
12,000 to about 1,500,000, and are copolymers comprising:
(a) polycarboxylic acid units having the general formula I
wherein X, Y, and Z are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl,
aryl, alkaryl, carboxyl, hydroxy and carboxymethyl; at least one of X, Y, and Z being
selected from the group consisting of carboxyl and carboxymethyl, provided that X
and Y can be carboxy-methyl only when Z is selected from carboxyl and carboxy-methyl
and wherein only one of X, Y, and Z can be methyl, aryl, hydroxyl and alkaryl, and
(b) monomer units selected from (a)
wherein R1 is a C1 to C12 alkyl group or a CI to C12 acyl group, optionally being hydroxy substituted, (b)
wherein R2 is H or CH3 and R3 is H, or a C1 to C10 alkyl group, R2, R3 optionally being hydroxy substituted, . (c)
wherein each of R4 to R7 is H or an alkyl group such that R4 to R7 together have from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R4 to R7 each optionally being hydroxy substituted, and (d)
in which R8 is benzyl or pyrrolidone.
[0011] Highly preferred polymeric polycarboxylic acids are copolymers of maleic acid or
maleic anhydride with methyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, or acrylic acid having
an average molecular weight in the range from about 12,000 to. about 1,500,000. Moreover,
the weight ratio of organic peroxy acid bleach precursor to polymeric carboyxlic acid
preferably lies in the range from about 10:1 to about 1:3, more preferably from about
5:1 t about 1:2.
[0012] The compositions of the invention can take the form of an additive product for addition
at the point of consumption either to a wash liquor or to an auxiliary composition
containing a peroxy salt bleaching agent. More usually, however, the compositions
of the invention will themselves contain peroxy salt bleaching agent in a level of
from about 5% to about 35% by weight.
[0013] Other highly preferred ingredients of the present compositions include from 0.015%
to 0.2% of a water-soluble magnesium salt additive (percentages expressed in terms
of magnesium content), and from 0.05% to 0.4% (acid basis) of an aminopolyphosphonic
acid, especially ethylenediamine- tetra(methylenephosphonic acid), diethylenetriaminepenta
(methylenephosphonic acid) or salts thereof. These ingredients further serve to aid
the low temperature cleaning performance of the present compositions and have a beneficial
effect on fabric whiteness. The individual components of the compositions of the invention
will now be discussed in detail.
[0014] An essential component of the present invention is an organic peroxy acid bleach
precursor. Examples of the various classes are given below. Of these, highly preferred
are bleach precursors providing peracetic acid bleach.
(a) Esters
[0015] Esters suitable as peroxy compound precursors in the present invention include esters
of monohydric substituted and unsubstituted phenols, substituted aliphatic alcohols
in which the substituent group is electron withdrawing in character, mono- and disaccharides,
N-substituted derivatives of hydroxylamine and esters of imidic acids. The phenol-esters
of both aromatic and aliphatic mono-and dicarboxylic acids can be employed. The aliphatic
esters can have 1 to 20 carbon atoms in the acyl group, examples being phenyl laurate,
phenyl myristate, phenyl palmitate and phenyl stearate. Of these, 1-acetoxy benzoic
acid and methyl o-acetoxy benzoate are especially preferred.
[0016] Diphenyl succinate, diphenyl azeleate and diphenyl adipate are examples of phenyl
aliphatic dicarboxylic acid esters. Aromatic esters include phenyl benzoate, diphenyl
phthalate and diphenyl isophthalate.
[0017] A specific example of an ester of a substituted aliphatic alcohol is trichloroethyl
acetate. Examples of saccharide esters include glucose penta-acetate and sucrose octa-acetate.
An exemplary ester of hydroxylamine is acetyl aceto hydroxamic acid.
[0018] These and other esters suitable for use as perox-y compound precursors in the present
invention are fully described in British Patent Specification Nos. 836988 and 1147871.
[0019] A further group of esters are the acyl phenol sulphonates and acyl alkyl phenol sulphonates.
An example of the former is sodium acetyl phenol sulphonate (alternatively described
as sodium p-acetoxy benzene sulphonate). Examples of acyl alkyl.phenol sulphonates
include sodium 2-acetoxy 5-dodecyl benzene sulphonate, sodium 2-acetoxy 5-hexyl benzene
sulphonate and sodium 2-acetoxy capryl benzene sulphonate. The preparation and use
of these and analogous compounds is given in British Patent Specification Nos. 963135
and 1147871.
[0020] Esters of imidic acids have the general formula:-
wherein X is substituted or unsubstituted C
1-C
20 alkyl or aryl and Y can be the same as Xand can also be -NH
2. An example of this class of compounds is ethyl benzimidate wherein Y is C
6H
5 and X is ethyl.
[0021] Other specific esters inlcude p-acetoxy acetophenone and 2,2-di-(4-hydroxyphenyl)
propane diacetate. This last material is the diacetate derivative of 2,2-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)
propane more commonly known as Bisphenol A which is an inter- mediate in the manufacture
of polycarbonate resins. Bisphenol A diacetate and methods for its manufacture are
disclosed in German DAS No. 1260479 published February 8th, 1968 in the name of VBB
Chemiefaserwork Schwarza "Wilhelm Piesh". [b) Imides
[0022] Imides suitable as organic peroxy compound precursors in the present invention are
compounds of formula:-
in which R
1 and R
2, which can be the same or different are independently chosen from a C
1-C
4 alkyl group or an aryl group and X is an alkyl, aryl or acyl radical (either carboxylic
or sulphonic). Typical compounds are those in which R
1 is a methyl, ethyl, propyl or phenyl group but the preferred compounds are those
in which R
2 is also methyl, examples of such compounds being N,N-diacetylaniline, N,N-diacetyl-p-chloroaniline
and N,N-diacetyl-p-toluidine. Either one of R
1 and R
2 together with X may form a heterocyclic ring containing the nitrogen atom. An illustrative
class having this type of structure is the N-acyl lactams, in which the nitrogen atom
is attached to two acyl groups, one of which is also attached to the nitrogen in a
second position through a hydrocarbyl linkage. A particularly preferred example of
this class is N-acetyl caprolactam. The linkage.of the acyl group to form a heterocyclic
ring may itself include a heteroatom, for example oxygen, and N-acyl saccharides are
a class of precursors of this type .
[0023] Examples of cyclic imides in which the reactive centre is a sulphonic radical are
N-benzene sulphonyl - phthalimide, N-methanesulphonyl succinimide and N-benzene sulphonyl
succinimide. These and other N-sulphonyl imides useful herein are described in British
Patent Specification No. 1242287.
[0024] Attachment of the nitrogen atoms to three acyl groups occurs in the N-acylated dicarboxylic
acid imides such as the N-acyl phthalimides, N-acyl succinimides, N-acyl adipimides
and N-acyl glutarimides. Imides of the above-mentioned types are described in British
Patent Specification No. 855735 the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated specifically
herein by reference.
[0025] Two further preferred groups of materials in this class are those in which X in the
above formula is either a second diacylated nitrogen atom i.e. substituted hydrazines,
or a difunctional hydrocarbyl groups such as a C
1-C
6 alkylene group further substituted with a diacylated nitrogen atom i.e. tetra acylated
alkylene diamines.
[0026] Particularly preferred compounds are N,N,N',N'- tetra acetylated compounds of formula:-
in which x can be O or an integer between 1 and 6, examples are tetra acetyl methylene
diamine (TAMD) where x=l, tetra acetyl ethylene diamine (TAED) where x=
2, and tetra acetyl hexamethylene diamine (TAHD) where x=6. Where x=O the compound
is tetra acetyl hydrazine (TAH). These and analogous compounds are described in British
Patent Specification Nos. 9
07,356, 907,357, and 907,358.
[0027] Acylated glycourils form a further group of compounds falling within the general
class of imide peroxy compound precursors.. These materials have the general formula:-
in which at least two of the R groups represent acyl radicals having 2 to 8 carbon
atoms in their structure. The preferred compound is tetra acetyl glycouril in which
the R groups are all CH
3CO- radicals. The acylated glycourils are described in British Patent Specification
Nos. 1246338, 1246339, and 1247429.
[0028] Other imide-type compounds suitable for use as peroxy compound precursors in the
present invention are the N-(halobenzoyl) imides disclosed in British Patent Specification
No. 1247857, of which N-m-chloro benzoyl succinimide is a preferred example, and poly
imides containing an N-bonded-COOR group, e.g. N-methoxy carbonyl phthalimide, disclosed
in British Patent Specification No. 1244200.
[0029] N-acyl and N,N'-diacyl derivatives of urea are also useful peroxy compound precursors
for the purposes of the present invention, in particular N-acetyl dimethyl urea, N,N'-diacetyl
ethylene urea and N,N'- diacetyl dimethyl urea. Compounds of this type are disclosed
in Netherlands Patent Application No. 6504416 published 10th October, 1966. Other
urea derivatives having inorganic persalt activating properties are the mono- or di-N-acylated
azolinones disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 1379530.
[0030] Acylated hydantoin derivatives also fall within this general class of organic peroxy
compound precursors. The hydantoins may be substituted e.g. with lower alkyl groups
and one or both nitrogen atoms may be acylated. Examples of compounds of this type
are N-acetyl hydantoin, N,N-diacetyl, 5,5-dimethyl hydantoin, 1-phenyl,3-acetyl hydantoin
and 1-cyclohexyl, 3-acetyl hydantoin. These and similar compounds are described in
British Patent Specification Nos. 965672 and 1112191.
[0031] Another class of nitrogen compounds of the imide type are the N,N -diacyl methylene
diformamides of which N,N-diacetyl methylamine diformamide is the preferred member.
This material and analogous compounds are disclosed in British Patent Specification
No. 1106666.
(c) Imidazoles
[0032] N-acyl imidazoles and similar five-membered ring systems form a further series of
compounds useful as inorganic peroxy compound precursors. Specific examples are N-acetyl
benzimidazole, N-benzoyl imidazole and its chloro- and methyl-analogues. Compounds
of this type are disclosed in British Patent Specification Nos. 1234762, 1311765 and
1395760.
(d) Oximes
[0033] Oximes and particularly acylated oximes are also a useful class of organic peroxy
compound precursors for the purpose of this invention. Oximes are derivatives of hydroxylamine
from which they can be prepared by reaction with aldehydes and ketones to give aldoximes
and ketoximes respectively. The acyl groups may be C
1-C
12 aliphatic or aromatic in character, preferred acyl groups being acetyl, propionyl,
lauroyl, myristyl and benzoyl. Compounds containing more than one carbonyl group can
react with more than one equivalent of hydroxylamine and the commonest class of dioximes
are those derived from 1,2-diketones and ketonic aldehydes, such as dimethyl glyoxime
[0034] The acylated derivatives of this compound are of particular value as organic peroxy
compound precursors, examples being diacetyl dimethyl glyoxime, dibenzoyl dimethyl
glyoxime and phthaloyl dimethyl glyoxime.
(e) Carbonates
[0035] Substituted and unsubstituted aliphatic, aromatic and alicyclic asters of carbonic
and pyrocarbonic acid have also been proposed as organic peroxy compound precursors.
Typical examples of such esters are p-carboxy phenyl ethyl carbonate, sodium-p-sulphophenyl
ethyl carbonate, sodium-p-sulphophenyl n-propyl : carbonate and diethyl pyrocarbonate.
The use of such esters as inorganic persalt activators in detergent compositions is
set forth in British Patent Specification No. 970950.
[0036] In addition to the foregoing classes, numerous other materials can be utilised as
organic peroxy compound precursors including triacyl guanidines of formula:-
wherein R is alkyl, preferably acetyl or phenyl, prepared by the acylation of guanidine
salt. Other classes of compounds include acyl sulphonamides, e.g. N-phenyl N-acetyl
benzene sulphonamide as disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 1003310 and
triazine derivatives such as those disclosed in British Patent Specification Nos.
1104891 and 1410555. Particularly preferred examples of triazine derivatives are the
di- and triacetyl derivatives of 2,4,6,-trihydroxy-1,3,5-triazine, 2-chloro-4,6-dimethoxy-S-triazine
and 2,4-dichloro 6-methoxy-S-triazine. Piperazine derivatives such as 1,4-diacylated
2,5-diketo piperazine as described in British Patent Specification Nos. 1339256 and
1339257 are also useful as are water-soluble alkyl and aryl chloroformates such as
methyl, ethyl and phenyl chloroformate disclosed in British Patent Specification No.
1242106.
[0037] Of the foregoing classes of activators, the preferred classes are those that produce
a peroxycarboxylic acid on reaction with an inorganic persalt. In particular the preferred
classes are the imides, oximes and esters especially the phenol esters and imides.
[0038] Specific preferred materials are. solid and are incorporated in the instant compositions
in finely divided form, i.e., with an average particle size of less than about 500µ,
more preferably less than about 250µ, especially less than about 150µ. Highly preferred
materials include methyl o-acetoxy benzoate, sodium-p-acetoxy benzene sulphonate,
Bisphenol A diacetate, tetra acetyl ethylene diamine, tetra acetyl hexamethylene diamine
and tetra acetyl methylene diamine.
[0039] The essential phosphate builder component comprises at least 8% thereof of orthophosphate,
and/or pyrophosphate salts, the remainder preferably consisting mainly of tripolyphosphate
salts, in particular, the alkali metal, ammonium and sub- . stituted ammonium salts.
The phosphate builder-is present in the finished product at a level of from about
5% to about 90% by weight of the composition,preferably from about 8% to about 50%.
The low phosphate compositions of the invention preferably contain phosphorus in an
amount less than that contained in about 28% anhydrous sodium tripolyphosphate. The
compositions of the invention will in general contain at least' about 2%, especially
at least about 3% by weight of the builder of orthophosphate salts, and/or at least
about 6%, especially at least about 9% of the builder of pyrophosphate salts.
[0040] Suitable orthophosphate salts can be represented by the general formula
wherein M is an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, and x is 1,
2 or 3. Preferably M is sodium or potassium, especially sodium, although liquid detergent
compositions ot the invention can contain builder in the form of the ammonium or alkanolammonium
salts, e.g., the salts formed from monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine
and mixtures thereof. Normally, alkali metal salts are present in granular detergents
in the form of crystalline hydrates having up to 12 moles of water associated with
each mole of alkali metal phosphate. Ammonium and substituted ammonium salts can be
obtained commercially or can be formed by neutralization of orthophosphoric acid or
acid salt.
[0041] Pyrophosphate is an additional preferred component of the present invention. Readily
available commercially are tetrasodium pyrophosphate Na
4P
2O
7 and its decahydrate Na
4P
20.10H
2O, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate K
4P
2O
7, sodium acid pyrophosphate or "acid pyro" Na
2H
2P
20
7 and its hexahydrate Na2H2P207.6H20, and pyrophosphoric acid H
4P
2O
7. Monosodium pyrophosphate and trisodium pyrophosphate also exist, the latter as the
anhydrous form or the mono- or nona-hydrate. The generic formula for the anhydrous
forms of these compounds can be expressed as M
xH
yP
2O
7, where M is alkali metal and x and y are integers having the sum of 4.
[0042] With regard to the polymeric polycarboxylates, these are suitably derived from polycarboxylates
selected from maleic acid, citraconic acid, aconitic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic
acid, phenyl maleic acid, benzyl maleic acid, itaconic acid and methylene malonic
acid monomers, or from the anhydrides of the above monomers where these exist.
[0043] Preferably the polycarboxyl monomer provides at least about 15, more preferably at
least about 33, especially at least about 45 moles percent of the monomeric species
comprising the polymer species. The polymer can be selected from homopolymers of the
above polycarboxyl monomers; or copolymers of two or more of the above polycarboxyl
monomers; or copolymers of one or more of the above polycarboxyl monomers with an
unsaturated polymerisable monomer other than the specified polycarboxyl monomers.
[0044] In general terms, suitable polymerizable unsaturated monomers include
(a)
wherein R1 is a C1 to C12 alkyl group or a C1 to C12 acyl group, R1 optionally being hydroxy substituted,
(b)
wherein R2 is H or CH3 and R3 is H, or a C1to C10 alkyl group, R2, R3 optionally being hydroxy substituted,
(c) .
wherein each of R4 to R7 is H or an alkyl group such that R4 to R7 together have from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R4-R7 each optionally being hydroxy substituted.
[0045] N-vinyl pyrrolidone styrene. Highly preferred polymeric polycarboxylates in the present
invention are the copolymers of maleic acid with the above unsaturated monomers, optionally
wholly or partly neutralised by sodium or potassium. All may be made by heating together
maleic anhydride and the other monomer in an appropriate solvent, such as benzene,
cyclohexene, or in some cases in excess of one of the monomers, in the presence of
a catalyst such as an organic peroxide or azo-bisbutyronitrile. As will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art, different solvents, catalysts, and reaction conditions
are most suitable according to the type of copolymer and molecular weight thereof
being prepared. In particular in order to make the high molecular weight polymers
for the present invention, it is often desirable to use up the initiator (catalyst)
to make a nacro-radical and then to add further monomers employing the macro-radical
as sole initiator. Methods of preparing these compounds are described in U.S. Patent
No. 2,430,313 (Vana to E.I. Dupont de Nemours Co.). The polymers so prepared are,
of course, copolymers of maleic anhydride and the selected monomer. Either before
or during the manufacture of the compositions of the invention, these are usually
hydrolysed to the acid form and optionally neutralised as indicated above.
[0046] In the present specification, unless-stated otherwise, the molecular weight of the
polymeric polycarboxylate is expressed as that of the unneutralised acid form thereof.
Generally, the average molecular weight falls in the range from about 500 to about
2,000,000.
[0047] The alkyl vinyl ethers of class (a) above are preferably methyl vinyl ethers. Preferred
molecular weights for these copolymers are in the range from 12,000 to 1,500,000,
more preferably 50,000 to 300,000. Copolymers in anhydride form believed to be of
this class are commercially available from GAP Corporation under the trade names Gantrez
AN119 (MWt. 200,000 in anhydride form),Gantrez AN139 (MWt. 500,000 in anhydride form),
AN149 (MWt. 750,000 in anhydride form) and AN169 (MWt. 1,125,000 in anhydride form).
Ethyl and methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymers are also available from BASF
under the trade name Sokalan and having molecular weight about 30,000.
[0048] The molecular weight of these copolymers is the viscosity average molecular weight
and is determined as follows:
[0049] A number of polymer solutions of known concentration (< 1% w/v) are made up in a
suitable solvent and their viscosities determined as described in F. Daniels et al
Experimental Physical Chemistry pp 71-74, 242-246, McGraw-Hill (1949), at 25°C, using
an Ostwald viscometer. A plot of (specific viscosity/concentration) against concentration
is then constructed and the best line extrapolated to zero concentration. The value
of (specific viscosity/concentration) at zero concentration is termed the intrinsic
viscosity, [η]. This parameter is used to determine a viscosity-average molecular
weight, M
v.
[0050] For the above copolymers as anhydrides the equation applicable employing acetone
as solvent; and giving the mole- cular weight of the anhydride form is:
[0051]
[0052] In IM NaOH, giving the molecular weight of the sodium salt of the copolymer, the
equation is:
[0053] The'acrylic-maleic copolymer derived from monomers of class (b) above are preferably
based upon acrylic acid or methyl methacrylate, although higher alkyl esters can be
employed. The manufacture of these polymers, and the control of the molar ratio of
the monomers one to other is described by Seymour, Harris and Branum in Industrial
and Engineering Chemistry, Volume 41, pages 1509 to 1513, 1949. Preferably copolymers
wherein the molar ratio of acrylate ester to maleic acid is from about 4:1 to 1:1
are employed herein; their molecular weight is preferably in the range from 3,000
to 1,500,000, especially from about 12,000 to 100,000.
[0054] The molecular weight of these copolymers is determined by the method described above.
[0055] When an olefin of class (c) is used, the copolymers are preferably of high molecular
weight and are preferably based on ethylene. The preferred molecular weight range
is from 275,000 to 1,500,000.
[0056] Another preferred group of materials within this class are copolymers of maleic anhydride
or acid with propylene, isobutylene, alkyl substituted isobutylene and, especially,
di-isobutylene, having molecular weight in the range from about 500 to 50,000 and
molar ratio of olefine to maleic acid in the range from 1:1 to 1:2. Suitable materials
of this type are available under the trade names "Empicryl" of Albright and Wilson
Limited, and "Orotan" of Rohm and Haas.
[0057] The molecular weight of these polymers is determined by the method described above
but employing ethanol as solvent and using the equation:
[0058] The vinyl pyrrolidone maleic copolymers preferably have molecular weight in the range
from about 3,000 to 50,000, especially about 20,000 to 30,000. The molecular weight
is determined by the method described above but employing 1M NaOH as solvent and using
the equation II above.
[0059] The styrene-maleic acid copolymers preferably have molecular weight about 300,000.
The molecular weight is determined by the same method but employing acetone as solvent
and using the equation I above.
[0060] The most preferred copolymers are those of methyl and ethyl vinyl ether-maleic anhydride
or acid described above.
[0061] A further essential ingredient of the detergent compositions of the invention is
a surfactant selected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic or ampholytic surfactants.
The surfactant is present at a level of from about 2% to about 35%, more preferably
from about 3% to about 20% of the composition. A typical listing of the classes and
species of these surfactants is given in U.S. Patent 3,663,961 issued to Norris on
May 23, 1972, and incorporated herein by reference.
[0062] Suitable synthetic anionic surfactants are water- soluble salts of alkyl benzene
sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl polyethoxy ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates,
alphaolefin sulfonates, alpha-sulfo-carboxylates and their esters, sulfonates, alpha-sulfo-carboxylates
and their esters, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, fatty acid monoglyceride sulfates
and sulfonates, alkyl phenol polyethoxy ether sulfates, 2-acyloxy-alkane-l-sulfonate,
and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonate.
[0063] A particularly suitable class of anionic surfactants includes water-soluble salts,
particularly the alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts or organic sulfuric
reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl or alkaryl group containing
from about 8 to about 22, especially from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a
sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. (Included in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl
portion of acyl groups). Examples of this group of synthetic detergents which form
part of the detergent compositions of the present invention are the sodium and potassium
alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C
8-18) carbon atoms produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil and sodium
and potassium alkyl benzene sulfonates, in which the alkyl group contains from about
9 to about 15, especially about 11 to about 13, carbon atoms, in straight chain or
branched chain configuration, e.g. those of the type described in U.S.P. 2,220,099
and 2,477,383 and those prepared from alkylbenzenes obtained by alkylation with straight
chain chloroparaffins (using aluminium trichloride catalysis) or straight chain olefins
(using hydrogen fluoride catalysis). Especially valuable are linear straight chain
alkyl benzene sulfonates in which the average of the alkyl group is about 11.8 carbon
atoms, abbreviated as C
11.8 LAS.
[0064] Other anionic detergent compounds herein include the sodium C
10-38 alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, especially those ethers of higher alcohols derived
from tallow and coccnut oil; sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfonates
and sulfates; and sodium or potassium salts of alkyl,phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfate
containing about .1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the
alkyl groups contain about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms.
[0065] Other useful anionic detergent compounds herein include the water-soluble salts or
esters of α-sulfonated fatty acids containing from about 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the
fatty acid group and from about 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble
salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-l-sulfonic acids containing from about 2 to 9 carbon atoms
in the acyl group and from about 9 to about . 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety;
alkyl ether sulfates containing from about 10 to 18, especially about 12 to 16, carbon
atoms in the alkyl group and from about 1 to 12, especially 1 to 6, more especially
1 to 4 moles of ethylene oxide; water-soluble salts of olefin-sulfonates containing
from about 12 to 24, preferably about 14 to 16, carbon atoms, especially those made
by reaction with sulfur trioxide followed by neutralization under conditions such
that any sultones present are hydrolysed to the corresponding hydroxy alkane sulfonates;
water-soluble salts of paraffin sulfonates containing from about 8 to 24, especially
14 to 18 carbon atoms, and β-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from about 1 to
3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane
moiety.
[0066] The alkane chains of the foregoing non-soap anionic surfactants can be derived from
natural sources such as coconut oil or tallow, or can be made synthetically as for
example using the Ziegler or Oxo processes. Water solubility can be achieved by using
alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium cations; sodium is preferred. Magnesium
and calcium are preferred cations under circumstances described by Belgian patent
843,636 invented by Jones et al, issued December 30, 1976. Mixtures of anionic surfactants
are contemplated by this invention; a preferred mixture contains alkyl benzene sulfonate
having 11 to 13 carbon atoms in the alkyl group or paraffin sulfonate having 14 to
18 carbon atoms and either an alkyl sulfate having 8 to 18, preferably 12 to 18, carbon
atoms in the alkyl group, or an alkyl polyethoxy alcohol sulfate having 10 to 16 carbon
atoms in the alkyl group and an average degree of ethoxylation of 1 to 6.
[0067] Nonionic surfactants suitable for use in the detergent component of the present composition
include compounds produced by the condensation of ethylene oxide groups (hydrophilic
in nature) with an organic hydrophobic compound, which may be aliphatic or alkyl aromatic
in nature. The length of the polyoxyethylene group which is condensed with any particular
hydrophobia group can be readily adjusted to yield a water-soluble compound having
the desired degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements.
[0068] Examples of suitable nonionic surfactants include:
1. The polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenol, e.g. the condensation products
of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms in either
a straight chain or branched chain configuration, with ethylene oxide, the said ethylene
oxide being present in amounts equal to 3 to 30, preferably 5 to 14 moles of ethylene
oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds may be derived,
for example, from polymerised propylene, di-isobutylene, octene and nonene. Other
examples include dodecylphenol condensed with 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of
phenol; dinonyl- phenol condensed with 11 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol;
nonylphenol and di-isooctylphenol condensed with 13 moles of ethylene oxide.
2. The condensation product of primary or secondary aliphatic alcohols having from
8 to 24 carbon atoms; in either straight chain or branched chain configuration, with
from 3 to about 30 moles, preferably 5 to about 14 moles of ethylene oxide per mole
of alcohol. Preferably, the aliphatic alcohol comprises between 9 and 18 carbon atoms
and is ethoxylated with between 3 and 30, desirably between 5 and 14 moles of ethylene
oxide per mole of aliphatic alcohol. The preferred surfactants are prepared from primary
alcohols which are either linear (such as those derived from natural fats or, prepared
by the Ziegler process from ethylene, e.g. myristyl, cetyl, stearyl alcohols), or
partly branched such as the Dobanols and Neodols which have about 25% 2-methyl branching
(Dabanol and Neodol being Trade Names of Shell or Synperonics, which are understood
to have about 50% 2-methyl branching (Synperonic is a Trade Name of I.C.I.) or the
primary alcohols having more than 50% branched chain structure sold under the Trade
Name Lial by Liquichimica. Specific examples of nonionic surfactants falling within
the scope of the invention include Dobanol 45-4, Dobanol 45-7, Dobanol 45-9, Dobanol
91-3, Dobanol 91-6, Dobanol 91-8, Synperonic 6, Synperonic 14, the condensation products
of coconut alcohol with an average of between 5 and 12 moles of ethylene oxide per
mole of alcohol, the coconut alkyl portion having from 10 to 14 carbon atoms, and
the condensation products of tallow alcohol; with an average of between 7 and 12 moles
of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, the tallow portion comprising essentially between
16 and 22 carbon atoms. Secondary linear alkyl ethoxylates are also suitable in the
present compositions, especially those ethoxylates of the Tergitol series having from
about 9 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and up to about 11, especially from
about 3 to 9, ethoxy residues per molecule.
3. The compounds formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed
by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The molecular weight
of the hydrophobic portion generally falls in the range of about 1500 to 1800. Such
synthetic nonionic detergents are available on the market under the Trade Name of
"Pluronic" supplied by Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation.
[0069] The addition of a water-soluble cationic surfactant to the present compositions has
been found to be useful for improving the greasy stain removal performance. Suitable
cationic surfactants are those having a critical micelle concentration for the pure
material of at least 200 ppm and preferably at least 500 ppm specified at 30°C and
in distilled water. Literature values are taken where possible, especially surfact
tension or conductimetric values - see Critical Micelle Concentrations of Aqueous
Surfactant System, P. Mukerjee and K.J. Mysels, NSKDS ― NBS 37 (1971).
[0070] A highly preferred group of cationic surfactants of this type have the general formula:-
wherein R
1 is selected from C
8-20 alkyl, alkenyl and alkaryl groups R
2 is selected from C
1-4 alkyl and benzyl groups; Z is an anion in number to give electrical neutrality; and
m is 1, 2 or 3; provided that when m is 2 R
1 has less than 15 carbon atoms and when m is 3, R
1 has less than .9 carbon atoms.
[0071] Where m is equal to 1, it is preferred that R
2 is a methyl group. Preferred compositions of this mono-long chain type include those
in which R
1 is C
10 to C
16 alkyl group. Particularly preferred compositions of this class include C
12 alkyl trimethylammonium halide and C
14 alkyl trimethylammonium halide.
[0072] Where in is equal to 2, the R
1 chains should have less than 14 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred cationic materials
of this calss include di-C
8 alkyldimethylammonium halide and di-C
10 alkyldimethylammonium halide materials.
[0073] where m is equal to 3, the R
1 chains should be less than 9 carbon atoms in length. An example is trioctyl methyl
ammonium chloride.
[0074] Another highly preferred group of cationic compounds have the general formula: .
R1R2mR33-mN+A wherein R1 represents a C6-24 alkyl or alkenyl group or a C6-12 alkaryl group, each R2 independently represents a (CnH2nO)xH group where n is 2, 3 or 4 and x is from 1 to 14, the sum total of CnH2nO groups in R2m being from 1 to 14, each R3 independently represents a C1-12 alkyl or alkenyl group, an aryl group or a C1-6 alkaryl group, m is 1, 2 or 3, and A is an anion.
[0075] In this group of compounds, R
1 is selected from C
6-24 alkyl or alkenyl groups and C
6-12 alkaryl groups; R
3 is selected from C
1-12 alkyl or alkenyl groups and C
l-6 alkaryl groups. When m is 2, however, it is preferred that the sum total of carbon
atoms in R
1 and R
33-m is no more than about 20 with R
1 representing a C
8-18 alkyl or alkenyl group More preferably the sum total of carbon atoms in R and R is
no more than about 17 with R
1 representing a C
10-16 alkyl or alkenyl group. When m is 1, it is again preferred that the sum total of
carbon atoms in R
1 and R
33-m is no more than about 17 .with R
1 representing a C
10-16 alkyl or alkaryl group.
[0076] Additionally in this group of compounds, the total number of alkoxy radicals in polyalkoxy
groups (R
2m) directly attached to the cationic charge centre should be no more than 14. referably,
the total number of such alkoxy groups is from 1 to 7 with each polyalkoxy group (R
) independently containing from 1 to 7 alkoxy groups; more preferably, the total number
of such alkoxy groups is from 1 to 5 with each polyalkoxy group (R
2) independently containing from 1 to 3 alkoxy groups, specially preferred are cationic
surfactants haying the formula:
wherein R
1 is as defined immediately above, n is 2 or 3 and m is 1, 2 or 3.
[0077] Particularly preferred cationic surfactants of the class having m equal to 1 are
dodecyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium salts, dodecyl dimethyl hydroxypropyl ammonium
salts, myristyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium salts and dodecyl dimethyl dioxyethylenyl
ammonium salts. When m is equal to 2, particularly preferred cationic surfactants
are dodecyl dihydroxyethyl methyl ammonium salts, dodecyl dihydroxypropyl methyl ammonium
salts, dodecyl dihydroxyethyl ethyl ammonium salts, myristyl dihydroxyethyl methyl
ammonium salts, cetyl dihydroxyethyl methyl ammonium salts, stecaryl dihydroxyethyl
methyl ammonium salts, oleyldihydroxy- ethyl methyl ammonium salts, and dodecyl hydroxy
ethyl hydroxypropyl methyl ammonium salts. When m is 3, particularly preferred cationic
surfactants are dodecyl trihydroxyethyl ammonium salts, myristyl trihydroxyethyl ammonium
salts, cetyl trihydroxyethyl ammonium salts, stearyl trihydroxyethyl ammonium salts,
oleyl trihydroxy ethyl ammonium salts, dodecyl dihydroxyethyl hydroxypropyl ammonium
salts and dodecyl trihydroxypropyl ammonium salts.
[0078] In the above, the usual inorganic salt counterions can be employed, for example,
chlorides, bromides and borates. Salt counterions can also be selected from organic
acid anions, however, such as the anions derived from organic sulphonic acids and
from sulphuric acid esters. A preferred example of an organic acid anion is a C
6-12 alkaryl sulphonate.
[0079] Of all the above cationic surfactants, especially preferred are dodecyl dimethyl
hydroxyethyl ammonium salts ahd dodecyl dihydroxyethyl methyl ammonium salts.
[0080] Additional preferred cationic surfactants are fully. disclosed in British Patent
Application No. 79-25946 and incorporated herein by reference.
[0081] The above water-soluble cationic surfactants can be employed in nonionic/cationic
surfactant mixtures in a weight ratio of from about 10:6 to about 20:1, more preferably
from about 10:2 to about 10:6, and particularly from about 10:3 to 10: 5.
[0082] Other optional ingredients which can be added to the present composition include
suds modifiers, chelating agents, anti-redeposition and soil suspending agents, optical
brighteners, bactericides, anti-tarnish agents, enzymatic materials; fabric softeners,
antistatic agents, perfumes, antioxidants and bleach catalysts.
[0083] U.S. Patent 3,933,672 issued January 20, 1976, to Bartollota et al., incorporated
herein by reference, discloses a silicone suds controlling agent. The silicone material
can be represented by alkylated polysiloxane materials such as silica aerogels and
xerogels and hydrophobic silicas of various types. The silicone material can be described
as siloxane having the formula:
wherein x is from about '20 to about 2,000 and R and R' are each alkyl or aryl groups,
especially methyl, ethyl, propyl, . butyl and phenyl. The-polydimethylsiloxanes (R
and R' are methyl) having a molecular weight within the range of from about 200 to
about 2,000,000, and higher, are all useful as suds controlling agents. Additional
suitable silicone materials wherein the side chain groups R and R' are alkyl, aryl,
or mixed alkyl or aryl hydrocarbyl groups exhibit useful suds controlling properties.
Examples of the like ingredients include diethyl-, dipropyl-, dibutyl-, methyl-, ethyl-,
phenylmethylpolysiloxanes and the like. Additional useful silicone suds controlling
agents can be represented by a mixture of an alkylated siloxane, as referred to hereinbefore,
and solid silica. Such mixtures are prepared by affixing the silicone to the surface
of the solid silica. A preferred silicone suds controlling agent is represented by
a hydrophobic silanated (most preferably trimethyl- silanated) silica having a particle
size in the range from about 10 millimicrons to 20 millimicrons and a specific surface
area above about 50 m
2/g. intimately admixed with. dimethyl silicone fluid having a molecular weight in
the range from about 500 to about 200,000 at a weight ratio of silicone to silanated
silica of from about 1:1 to about 1:2. The silicone suds suppressing agent is advantageously
releasably incorporated in a water-soluble or water-dispersible, substantially non-surface-active
detergent-impermeable carrier.
[0084] Particularly useful suds suppressors are the self- emulsifying silicone suds suppressors,
described in German Patent Application DTOS 2,646,126 published April 28, 1977 and
incorporated herein by reference. An example of such a compound is DS-544, commercially
available from Dow . Corning, which is a siloxane/glycol copolymer.
[0085] Suds modifiers as described above are used at levels of up to approximately 5%, preferably
from 0.1 to 2% by weight of the nonionic surfactant. They can be incorporated into
the particulates of the present invention or can be formed into separate particulates
that can then be mixed with the particulates of the invention. The incorporation of
the suds modifiers as separate particulates also permits the inclusion therein of
other suds controlling materials such as C
20-C
24 fatty acids, microcrystalline waxes and high MWt copolymers of ethylene oxide and
propylene oxide which would otherwise adversely affect the dispersibility of the matrix.
Techniques for forming such suds modifying particulates are disclosed in the previously
mentioned Bartolotta et al U.S. Patent No.. 3,933,672.
[0086] The detergent compositions of the invention can also contain supplemental detergency
builders such as orgainic builders and aluminosilicates.
[0087] Examples of suitable organic alkaline detergency builder salts are:
(1) water-soluble amino polyacetates, e.g. sodium and potassium ethylendiaminetetraacetates,
nitrilotriacetates, and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)nitrilodiacetates;
(2) water-soluble salts of phytic acid, e.g. sodium and potassium phytates;
(3) water-soluble polyphosphonates, including, sodium, potassium and lithium salts
of ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1- diphosphonic acid; sodium, potassium and lithium salts of
methylenediphosphonic acid and the like.
(4) water-soluble polycarboxylates such as the salts of lactic acid, glycollic acid
and ether derivatives thereof as disclosed in Belgian Patents 821,368, 821,369 and
821,370; succinic acid, malonic acid, (ethylenedioxy) diacetic acid, maleic acid,
diglycollic acid, tartaric acid, tartronic acid and fumaric acid; citric acid, aconitic
acid, citraconic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, lactoxysuccinic acid, and 2-oxy-1,1,3-propane
tricarboxylic acid; oxydisuccinic acid, 1,1,2,2-ethane tetracarboxylic acid, 1,1,3,3-propane.tetracarboxylic
acid and 1,1,2,3-propane tetracarboxylic acid; cyclopentane-cis, cis, cis-tetracarboxylic
acid, cyclopenta- dienide pentacarboxylic acid, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrofuran- cis, cis,
cis-tetracarboxylic acid, 2,5-tetrahydrofuran- cis-dicarboxylic acid, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexane-hexacarboxylic
acid, mellitic acid, pyromellitic acid and the phthalic acid derivatives disclosed
in British Patent 1,425,343.
[0088] A further class of builder salts is the insoluble alumima silicate type which functions
by cation exchange to remove polyvalent mineral hardness and heavy metal ions from
solution. A preferred builder of this type has the formulation Na
2(AlO
2)
z(SiO
2)
y.xH
2O wherein z and y are integers of at least 6, the molar ratio of z to y is in the
range from 1.0 to about 0.5 and x is an integer from about 15 to about 264. Compositions
incorporating builder salts of this type form the subject of British Patent Specification
No. 1,429,143 published March 24, 1976, German Patent Application No. OLS 2,433,485
published February 6, 1975, and OLS 2,525,778 published January 2, 1976, the disclosures
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0089] The detergent compositons of the invention can also be supplemented by bleaches,
especially sodium perborate tetrahydrate or sodium percarbonate at levels from about
5% to about 35%. The compositions also preferably include from about 0..05% to about
0.6
% (acid basis), preferably from about 0.06% to about 0.3% of aminopolyphosphonic acid,
or salt thereof, having the general formula:
wherein n is an integral number from 0 to 3, and each R is individually hydrogen or
CH
2PO
3H
2 provided that at least half of the radicals represented by R are CH
2PO
3H
2. Preferred aminopolyphosphonic acids are selected from nitrilotri(methylenephosphonic
acid), ethylene-diaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid), diethylenetriamine(pentamethylenephosphonic
acid), and mixtures thereof.
[0090] An alkali metal, or alkaline earth metal, silicate can also be present. The alkali
metal silicate is preferably from about 3% to about 8%. out 8%. Suitable silicate
solids have a molar ratio of SiO
2/ alkali metal
2O in the range from about 1.0 to about 3.3, more preferably from 1.5 to 2.0. Other
suitable ingredients include soil-suspending agents such as the water-soluble salts
of carboxymethyl cellulose and of methyl vinylether/maleic anhydride copolymer, nonionic
cellulose materials such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, and polyethylene glycols.
[0091] In the Examples which follow, the abbreviations used have the following designation:
LAS : Linear C12 alkyl benzene sulphonate
TAS : Sodium tallow alcohol sulfate
TlAEn : Tallow alcohol ethoxylated with n moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol
CTMAC : Coccaut trimethyl ammonium chloride
Dobanol 45-E-7 : A C14-15 oxo-alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide, marketed by Shell
Dobanol 45-E-4 : A C14-15 oxo-alcohol with 4 moles of ethylene oxide, marketed by Shell
TAED : Tetraacetyl ethylene diamine
AOBS : Sodium p-acetoxy benzene sulphonate
TAHD : Tetraacetyl hexamethylene diamine
Silicate : Sodium silicate having an Si02:Na20 ratio of 1.6.
Wax : Microcrystalline wax - Witcodur 272 M.pt 87°C
Silicone Prill : Comprising 0.14 parts by weight of an 85:15 by weight mixture of
silanated silica and silicone, granulated with 1.3 parts of sodium tripolyphosphate,
and 0.56 parts of tallow alcohol condensed with 25 molar proportions of ethylene oxide
5 Gantrez AN119 ' : Trade Name for maleic anhydride/vinyl methyl ether copolymer,
believed to have an average molecular weight of about 240,000, marketed by GAF. This
was prehydrolysed with NaOH before addition.
Gantrez AN139 : Trade Name for maleic anhydride/vinyl methyl ether copolymer, believed
to have an average molecular weight of about 500,000, marketed by GAF.
Empicryl : Trade Name, believed to be a copolymer of diisobutylene and maleic acid,
MWt about 5000.
Brightener : Disodium 4,4'-bis(2-morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2:2'-disulphonate.
Dequest 2060 : Trade Name for diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid),
marketed by Monsanto.
Dequest 2041 : Trade Name for ethylenediamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid), marketed
by Monsanto.
[0092] The present invention is illustrated by the following examples:-
EXAMPLES I- XII
[0093] Built detergent compositions are prepared having the formulae given below.
[0094] The above products provide good cleaning and whiteness maintenance performance at
both low and high wash temperatures on both synthetic and natural fabrics.
[0095] In the above examples, the copolymer is replaced by an equal weight of a copolymer
of acrylic acid and maleic acid having a molecular weight of about 70,000 and an acrylic/maleic
mole ratio of about 3:1 (Examples VII to XII.) The products again provide good cleaning
and whiteness maintenance performance at both low and high wash temperatures on both
synthetic and natural fabrics.