Fabric washing process and detergent composition for use therein

Abstract

 A process for washing fabrics includes the steps of contacting the fabrics with a liquor containing a detergent active compound and an orthophosphate and subsequently contacting the fabrics with a liquor containing a polymer phosphate. The polymer phosphate may be added to the orthophosphate-containing liquor or may be present in a separate liquor. In the former case the polymer phosphate may be present from the start of the wash but in a form to delay its dissolution in the liquor, such as by being encapsulated, cogranulated or contained in a sachet. Delay times of about 5 minutes are disclosed. The method leads to reduced incrustation on fabrics.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to fabric washing processes and to the compositions which are adapted for this purpose, using synthetic detergent active compounds together with phosphate detergency builders. The invention concerns in particular fabric washing using detergent compositions which contain levels of the phosphate detergency builders which can be lower than conventional phosphate builder levels, whilst still achieving good detergency results.

[0002] It is known to include polymer phosphates as builders in detergent compositions. In US 4 113 644 (Ashcraft) there is described a polymer phosphate granulated with a material such as polyethylene glycol to improve its stability to degradation. These granules are used in detergent compositions containing high levels of phosphate detergency builders, particularly high levels of pyrophosphate.

[0003] It is also known to wash fabrics in two steps. Thus GB 996 193 (Henkel) describes adding a first concentrate to water to form a wash liquor and subsequently adding a second concentrate to the same liquor. By suitable choice of components in these concentrates enhanced bleaching of fabrics can be obtained.

[0004] The present invention on the other hand is concerned with low phosphorus containing compositions having enhanced building properties.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for washing fabrics comprising the steps of:

( i) contacting the fabrics with a wash liquor containing a synthetic detergent active compound and an alkalimetal or ammonium orthophosphate; and

(ii) subsequently contacting the fabrics with a wash liquor containing a synthetic detergent active compound and an alkalimetal or ammonium polymer phosphate, each of said wash liquors having a pH between about 8 and about 12 and each of said wash liquors containing substantially no other phosphate detergency builders.

[0006] The process can be conducted if desired in two stages, for example using a prewash as step (i) and then a main wash as step (ii), the fabrics being substantially separated from the prewash liquor before being contacted with the main wash liquor. In this event there is often some carry-over of the ingredients in the pre-wash into the main wash, so that there is some benefit from the presence of residual alkalimetal orthophosphate in the main wash liquor. Many modern domestic washing machines are designed for sequential pre- and main washes, or the consumer may himself arrange the sequential washing.

[0007] Alternatively, the washing process can be conducted in a single stage, where the liquor used in step (i) remains in contact with the fabrics during step (ii). This can be achieved by including the
polymer phosphate together with the orthopnosphate and synthetic detergent compound in a single composition, but treating the former to delay its dissolution so that in step (i) it remains in an undissolved form, or by adding the polymer phosphate to the wash solution later than the other ingredients. This can again be achieved manually or automatically. Dissolution of the polymer phosphate is desirably delayed for at least a quarter of a minute, preferably at least one and more preferably, at least five minutes, after dissolution of the bulk of the orthophosphate, to encourage maximum precipitation of calcium orthophosphate before addition of the former.

[0008] According to the second aspect of the invention there is provided a detergent composition for carrying out such a method, comprising a synthetic detergent active compound, an alkalimetal or ammonium orthophosphate and an alkalimetal or ammonium polymerphosphate characterised by means for delaying the solubility of said alkalimetal or ammonium polymer phosphate when the composition is added to water to form a wash liquor, said composition yielding a pH of between about 9 and about 11 when dissolved in 12°H (Ca) water at 50°C and at a concentration of 0.1% w/v, and said composition containing substantially no other phosphate detergency builders.

[0009] The detergent composition may be in the form of two containers, the first container containing at least a part of said synthetic detergent active compound and the orthophosphate and the second container containing the polymer phosphate and optionally a further part of the synthetic detergent active compound. In use, the contents of the first container are released into water to form a wash liquor for step (i) of the process and subsequently the contents of the second container are released to form a wash liquor for step (ii) of the process.

[0010] The delayed addition of the polymer phosphate to the washing solution is advantageous in giving decreased deposition of inorganic phosphates on the washed fabric, compared with the simultaneous addition of the polymer phosphate and orthophosphate. It is believed that this is due to the substantially complete precipitation of calcium orthophosphate by reaction with hard water before dissolution of the polymer phosphate. This,in turn, appears to lead to decreased hydrolysis of the polymer phosphate, . compared with the amount of hydrolysis which takes place when the water had not been pre-softened in this way; one of the products of hydrolysis is alkali metal or ammonium pyrophosphate which apparently causes high levels of inorganic deposition on the washed fabric, and hence the control of the rate of hydrolysis of the polymer phosphate as proposed leads to decreased fabric deposits.

[0011] The washing process of the invention can be accomplished manually, if desired, but is normally accomplished in a domestic or commercial laundry washing machine. The latter permits the use of higher wash temperatures and alkalinity, and more effective agitation, all of which contribute generally to better detergency. High wash temperatures (at least about 60°C) and high alkalinity (over about pH 10) also particularly assist the precipitation of the calcium orthophosphate to achieve more effective water softening. However, any wash temperature between ambient and boiling may be employed with any normal degree of alkalinity (pH 8-12). The type of washing machine used, if any, is not significant.

[0012] It is preferred to accomplish the washing process in the joint presence of both the orthophosphate and the polymer phosphate, but with the dissolution of the latter being delayed, as described above. This has the advantage of combining the water-softening action of both phosphates. This means, referring to the process of the invention; that the first aqueous solution is used to prepare the second aqueous solution. An added advantage is that the detergent active compound used in both solutions can then be the same substance or mixture of substances.

[0013] It should be appreciated that when in aqueous solution in hard water, the orthophosphate and the polymer phosphate will be present wholly or partially in the form of the calcium or magnesium salts, which are insoluble for the orthophosphates and soluble chelates in the case of the polymer phosphates. But for convenience the phosphates will be referred to generally as being in the alkali metal or ammonium salt form as appropriate, as if the aqueous solutions were prepared with de-ionised water.

[0014] The detergent compositions used in the process of the invention may be either solid or liquid compositions. Either physical form can be used if the orthophosphate and polymer phosphate are included in different compositions for separate addition to the wash liquor. Compositions in liquid form are suitable in particular for commercial laundry use, in which bulk supplies of aqueous orthophosphate and polymer phosphate solutions are available and are automatically dosed to the washing machines at the appropriate times in the wash cycle. But if the orthophosphate and polymer phosphate are included in a single composition, with the latter being treated to delay its solubility, the composition will normally be in solid form, e.g. as a powdered or granulated product.

[0015] The invention includes processes for the preparation of such detergent compositions suitable for fabric washing according to the invention, by forming a detergent base powder containing a detergent active compound or compounds and optionally the orthophosphate, and admixing with the base powder any further orthophosphate and an alkali metal or ammonium polymer phosphate, treated to delay its dissolution in water.
Preferably the base powder is prepared by spray drying in the normal way using conventional equipment and process conditions. However, other conventional techniques may be used for preparing the base powder containing the detergent active compound and usually the orthophosphate. Other heat-sensitive ingredients may also be admixed with the base powder together with or separately from the treated alkali metal or ammonium polymer phosphate, for example oxygen bleach compounds such as sodium perborate.

[0016] The alkali metal polymer phosphate used in the compositions of the invention is preferably a sodium polymer phosphate, but if desired the potassium or ammonium salts can be used. For convenience the term alkali metal polymer phosphate is used below to include the sodium, potassium and ammonium salts. The alkali metal polymer phosphates are generally represented as having the formula M₂O(MPO₃)_n, where M is sodium, potassium or ammonium and n is an integer which is at least 4 and up to about 100 or more, preferably where n is from about 6 to about 50. In the case of the latter sodium polymer phosphates, these figures correspond to a P₂0₅ content of from about 60.4% by weight up to a theoretical maximum of about 69.6%, preferably about 63% to about 69% P₂0₅ by weight of the polymer phosphates. To be effective the polymer phosphates must be water-soluble, although the rate of solution decreases at the longer chain lengths. It should be appreciated that the chemical structures of the polymer phosphates are not precisely defined, and some degree of ring formation or branching may be present in the otherwise normally linear polymer structure, especially with the shorter polymer chain lengths. The higher polymer phosphates are sometimes also known as glassy phosphates or Graham's salt.

[0017] If the polymer phosphate is treated to delay its dissolution, for inclusion in a single composition with the orthophosphate, this may be accomplished in the production of the polymer phosphate or subsequently.
Specifically, the polymer phosphates may be made with a large particle size and with a particular long-chain length, for example where n is 50-100 or more, or the polymer phosphate may be coated or encapsulated with a slowly soluble material such as wax, nonionic detergent compounds, higher fatty acids or a protein such as gelatin. The rate of solubility of the polymer phosphates may also be decreased by using them in partial calcium, zinc or other polyvalent salt form. Two or more of these treatments may also be combined, so as to give close control over the solubility of the polymer phosphate under the recommended washing conditions.

[0018] The rate of solubility of the polymer phosphate may also be controlled by granulating the polymer phosphate with sodium silicate. Specifically, the granules may contain the polymer phosphate and an alkalimetal silicate having a M₂O:SiO₂ ratio of from about 1:2 to about 1:3.75 wherein M is an alkalimetal, the granule being dried to a moisture content of less than 7% by weight. A particularly useful granule of this type can be achieved by granulating 1 part of polymer phosphate with 3 parts of sodium silicate having an Na₂O:SiO₂ ratio of 1:2. The polymer phosphate-containing granule may also contain a portion of the synthetic detergent active compound.

[0019] US 4 040 988 (Benson) describes granules formed by sequestering builders and alkalimetal silicates and may be referred to in this connection.

[0020] The delayed solubility of the polymer phosphate may also be achieved by dosing the composition in a two-compartment sachet, the sachet being so constituted that when added to water the contents of the first compartment, namely the alkalimetal orthophosphate and at least some of the synthetic detergent active compound are released before the contents of the second compartment, namely the alkalimetal or ammonium polymer phosphate and optionally a further part of the synthetic detergent active compound.

[0021] A suitable sachet construction of this type is disclosed in British Patent Application 8016242 which may be referred to in this connection. Thus, a sachet may be made from a first outer sheet of polyethylene film, a second outer sheet of acrylic bonded polyester/viscose non-woven fabric and an inner sheet of thermally bonded polypropylene non-woven fabric, these three sheets being heat sealed together at the edges to define a sachet with two compartments. Before sealing the final edge, the first compartment between the two layers of non-woven fabric may be filled with the orthophosphate and at least some of the synthetic detergent active compound. The second compartment may be filled with the alkalimetal or ammonium polymer phosphate and optionally a further part of the synthetic detergent active compound.

[0022] In use the contents of the second compartment are released after those of the first compartment because they must pass through the first compartment before entering the wash liquor.

[0023] The solution of the polymer phosphate may also be delayed by coating or encapsulating the polymer phosphate with a water-dispersible water-insoluble material or with a water-soluble material. Examples of such coating materials include fatty acids, alkanolamides of fatty acids, glycerol esters of fatty acids, long chain hydrocarbon aliphatic alcohols, paraffin waxes, mineral oil, gelatin, sugar, non-ionic surface active agents, polyvinylalcohol and sodium carboxymethylcellulose as described in US 3 847 830 (Williams) and GB 1 242 247 (Unileverj.

[0024] The orthophosphate used is either potassium or preferably sodium orthophosphate, as the latter is cheaper and more readily available. Ammonium orthophosphate may also be used, particularly if the product is not prepared by spray drying. Normally the tri- alkali metal salts are used, but orthophosphoric acid or the di- or mono-alkalimetal salts, e.g. disodium hydrogen orthophosphate or monosodium dihydrogen orthophosphate could be used if desired in the production of the compositions. In the latter event other more alkaline salts should also be present to maintain a high pH in the end product, i.e. with full neutralisation to the tri-alkalimetal orthophosphate salts. The use of a mixture of the monosodium dihydrogen and disodium hydrogen orthophosphates in the ratio of 1:3 to 2:3, especially about 1:2, is particularly advantageous, as such a mixture (known as kiln-feed) is made in the production of sodium tripolyphosphate and is readily available.

[0025] The orthophosphate can be used in the form of the anhydrous or hydrated salts, but in the former case it is preferred to promote hydration during processing, e.g. by adding the anhydrous orthophosphate to a detergent slurry and spray drying to form a base powder. The alkalimetal polymer phosphates do not form hydrated salts as such, and are normally used in predominantly anhydrous form, but they are hygroscopic and tend to absorb atmospheric moisture. The amounts of salts used are expressed in anhydrous form.

[0026] The total amounts of the essential polymer phosphate and orthophosphate, and any other phosphates which may be present in the detergent compositions, are chosen according to the overall detergency builder level which is desired in the detergent compositions or according to the maximum permitted phosphorus content. Normally, when both the orthophosphate and polymer phosphate are present in a single composition, the total phosphate builder level, which is preferably derived solely from the polymer phosphate and the orthophosphate, is between about 5% and about 50%, preferably about 10% to about 30% by weight of the . composition, with an amount of about 2% to about 20% each of the polymer phosphate and orthophosphate. Preferably the amounts of the polymer phosphate and the orthophosphate are each from about 5% to about 15%, especially about 5% to 10% by weight of the product. The total amount of the polymer phosphate and orthophosphate is preferably from about 10% to about 25%, especially about 15% to about 20%, by weight of the composition.

[0027] It is generally preferred to have amounts of the orthophosphate and the polymer phosphate, within the ratio of from about 3:1 to about 1:3 especially about 2:1 to about 1:2, parts by weight. These ratios of polymer phosphate to orthophosphate are particularly suitable for detergent compositions used at relatively high product concentrations, i.e. 0.3% to 0.8% by weight as is common practice in Europe, especially in front-loading automatic washing machines, and where moderate levels of phosphates are allowed in the products, i.e. equivalent to 2% to 7% P.

[0028] It is preferable that the only phosphate detergency builders used in the process of the invention should be the polymer phosphate and the orthophosphate. In particular, it is desirable to use no alkalimetal, i.e. sodium or potassium, pyrophosphates in the compositions as this tends to increase inorganic deposition as mentioned above.

[0029] Some pyrophosphate is generally found as impurities at low levels in other commercial alkali metal phosphates, and some pyrophosphate may also be formed by hydrolysis of any polymer phosphate during processing, for example during slurry making. Hence, total absence of alkali metal pyrophosphate is generally unattainable in the detergent compositions. It is particularly preferred to have not more than about 5% especially not more than about 2.5% of alkali metal pyrophosphate present in the compositions, as at higher levels the amounts of inorganic deposits on the washing machine parts become significantly more noticeable.

[0030] The process of the invention is necessarily accomplished using synthetic anionic, nonionic, amphoteric or zwitterionic detergent active compound-or mixture thereof. Detergent compositions normally include from about 2.5% to about 50%, preferably 5% to about 30%, and especially about 10% to about 25% by weight of such ingredients. Many suitable detergent compounds are commercially available and are fully described in the literature, for example in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.

[0031] The preferred detergent compounds which can be used are synthetic anionic and nonionic compounds. The former are usually water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates and sulpphonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 3 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term alkyl being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples of suitable synthetic anionic detergent compounds are sodium and potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by sulphating higher (C₈-C₁₈) alcohols produced for example from tallow or coconut oil; sodium and potassium alkyl (C₉-C₂₀) benzene sulphonates, particularly sodium linear secondary alkyl (C₁₀-C₁₅) benzene sulphonates; sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulphates, especially those ethers of the higher aleohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and synthetic alcohols derived from petroleum; sodium coconut oil fatty monoglyceride sulphates and sulphonates; sodium and potassium salts of sulphuric acid esters of higher (C₉-C₁₃) fatty alcohol-alkylene oxide, particularly ethylene oxide, reaction products; the reaction products of fatty acids such as coconut fatty acids esterified with isethionic acid and neutralised with sodium hydroxide; sedium and potassium salts of fatty acid amides of methyl taurine; alkane monosulphonates such as those derived by reacting alpha-olefins (C₈-C₂₀) with sodium bisulphite and those derived from reacting paraffins with SO₂ and Cl₂ and then hydrolysing with a base to produce a random sulphonate; and olefin sulphonates, which term is used to describe the material made by reacting olefins, particularly C₁₀-C₂₀ alpha-olefins, with SO₃ and then neutralising and hydrolysing the reaction product. The preferred anionic detergent compounds are sodium (C₁₁-C₁₅) alkyl benzene sulphonates and sodium (C₁₆-C₁₈) alkyl sulphates.

[0032] Suitable nonionic detergent compounds which may be used include in particular the reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, for example aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone or with propylene oxide. Specific nonionic detergent compounds are alkyl (C₆-C₂₂) phenols-ethylene oxide condensates, generally 5 to 25 EO, i.e. 5 to 25 units of ethylene oxide per molecule, the condensation products of-aliphatic (C₈-C₁₈) primary or secondary linear or branched alcohols with ethylene oxide, generally 6 to 30 E0, and products made by condensation of ethylene oxide with the reaction products of propylene oxide and-ethylenediamine. Other so-called nonionic detergent compounds include long chain tertiary amine oxides, long chain tertiary phosphine oxides and dialkyl sulphoxides.

[0033] Mixtures of detergent compounds, for example mixed anionic or mixed anionic and nonionic compounds may be used in the detergent compositions, particularly in the latter case to provide controlled low sudsing properties. This is beneficial for compositions intended for use in suds- intolerant automatic washing machines. We have also found that the use of some nonionic detergent compounds in the compositions decreases the tendency of insoluble phosphate salts to deposit on the washed fabrics, especially when used in admixture with some soaps as described below.

[0034] Amounts of amphoteric or zwitterionic detergent compounds can also be used in the compositions of the invention but this is not normally desired due to their relatively high cost. If any amphoteric or zwitterionic detergent compounds are used it is generally in small amounts in compositions based on the much more commonly used synthetic anionic and/or nonionic detergent compounds. For example, mixtures of amine oxides and ethoxylated nonionic detergent compounds can be used.

[0035] Soaps may also be present in the detergent compositions of the invention, but not as the sole detergent compounds. The soaps are particularly useful at low levels in binary and ternary mixtures, together with nonionic or mixed synthetic anionic and nonionic detergent compounds, which have low sudsing properties. The soaps which are used are the sodium, or less desirably potassium, salts of C₁₀-C₂₄ fatty acids. It is particularly preferred that the soaps should be based mainly on the longer chain fatty acids within this range, that is with at least half of the soaps having a carbon chain length of 16 or over. This is most conveniently accomplished by using soaps from natural sources such as tallow, palm oil or rapeseed oil, which can be hardened if desired, with lesser amounts of other shorter chain soaps, prepared from nut oils such as coconut oil or palm kernel oil. The amount of such soaps can be up to about 25% by weight, with lower amounts of about 0.5% to about 5% being generally sufficient for lather control. Amounts of soap between about 2% and about 20%, especially between about 5% and about 15%, can advantageously be used to give a beneficial effect on detergency and reduced levels of incrustation.

[0036] Apart from the essential detergent active compounds and detergency builders, the detergent compositions used in the process of the invention can contain any of the conventional additives in the amounts in which such materials are normally employed in fabric washing detergent compositions. Examples of these additives include lather boosters such as alkanolamides, particularly the monoethanolamides derived from palm kernel fatty acids and coconut fatty acids, lather depressants such as alkyl phosphates, waxes and silicones, antiredeposition agents such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose and polyvinyl pyrrolidone optionally copolymerised with vinyl acetate, oxygen-releasing bleaching agents such as sodium perborate and sodium percarbonate, per-acid bleach precursors, chlorine-releasing bleaching agents such as trichloroisocyanuric acid and alkali metal salts of dichloroisocyanuric acid, fabric softening agents, inorganic salts such as sodium sulphate, sodium carbonate and magnesium silicate, and, usually present in very minor amounts, fluorescent agents, perfumes, enzymes such as proteases and amylases; germicides and colourants.

[0037] It is particularly beneficial to include in the detergent compositions an amount of sodium perborate, preferably between about 10% and 40%, for example about 15% to about 30%, by weight. It has been found that the bleaching action of sodium perborate is boosted under the highly alkaline conditions which also give optimum detergency and building action from the orthophosphate. Thus, it becomes possible to achieve improved bleaching properties- by using the same levels of sodium perborate as normal; or decreased levels of sodium perborate can be used to give equal bleaching properties to those of conventional products with higher levels of perborate and sodium tripolyphosphate as the sole detergency builder. The latter option can also be used to further decrease the raw materials costs of the compositions, if a cheap filler is used in place of part of the sodium perborate.

[0038] It is desirable to include one or more antideposition agents in the detergent compositions of the invention, to decrease the tendency to form inorganic deposits on washed fabrics. It appears that the effective antideposition agents are materials which stabilise insoluble calcium orthophosphate particles and thereby inhibit their deposition onto the fabrics. The most effective antideposition agents are anionic polyelectrolytes, especially polymeric aliphatic carboxylates. The amount of any such antideposition agent can be from about 0.01% to about 10% of the compositions, but is normally from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, preferably from about 0.2% to about 2% by weight of the compositions.

[0039] Specific preferred antideposition agents are the alkali metal or ammonium, preferably the sodium, salts of homo-and co-polymers of acrylic acid or substituted acrylic acids, such as sodium polyacrylate, the sodium salt of copolymethacrylamide/acrylic acid and sodium poly-alpha- hydroxyacrylate, salts of copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene, acrylic acid,vinylmethyleter allyl acetate or styrene, especially 1:1 copolymers, and optionally with partial esterification of the carboxyl groups. Such co- polymers preferably have relatively low molecular weights, eg in the range of about 1,000 to 50,000. Other antideposition agents include the sodium salts of polymaleic acid, polyitaconic acid and polyaspartic acid, phosphate esters of ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols, polyethylene glycol phosphate esters, and certain phosphates such as sodium etrane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate, sodium ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate, and sodium 2-phosphonobutane tricarboxylate. Mixtures of organic phosphonic acids or substituted acrylic acids or their salts with protective colloids such as gelatin may also be used. The most preferred antideposition agent is sodium polyacrylate having a MW of about 10,000 to 50,000, for example about 20,000 to 30,000.

[0040] It is also possible to include in the detergent compositions of the invention minor amounts, preferably not more than about 20% by weight, of other non-phosphate detergency builders or sequesterant builders. This is of particular benefit where it is desired to increase detergency whilst using particularly low levels of the essential polymer phosphate and orthophosphate builders, so as to achieve especially low phosphorus contents in the detergent compositions. Examples'of such other detergency builders are amine carboxylates such as sodium nitrilotriacetate, sodium carbonate, sodium amorphous or crystalline aluminosilicate ion-exchange materials, sodium citrate and soap, which can function as a detergency builder, as discussed above. However, such other builder materials are not essential and it is a particular benefit of using the mixed polymer phosphate and orthophosphate that satisfactory detergency properties can be achieved at lower total phosphate levels than hitherto considered necessary without other detergency builders.

[0041] It is generally also desirable to include in the compositions an amount of an alkali metal silicate, particularly sodium ortho-, meta- or preferably neutral or alkaline silicate. The presence of such alkali metal silicates at levels of at least about 1%, and preferably from about 5% to about 15%, by weight of the composition, is advantageous in decreasing the corrosion of metal parts in washing machines, besides giving processing benefits and generally improved powder properties. The more highly alkaline ortho- and meta-silicates would normally only be used at lower amounts within this range, in admixture with the neutral or alkaline silicates.

[0042] The compositions of the invention are required to be alkaline, but not too strongly alkaline as this could result in fabric damage and also be hazardous for domestic usage. In practice the compositions should normally give a pH of from 9 to 11 in use in aqueous wash solution. It is preferred in particular for domestic products to have a minimum pH of at least 9.25 and especially a pH of 9.5 or over, as lower pHs tend to be less effective for optimum detergency building, and a maximum pH of 10.5, as more highly alkaline products can be hazardous if misused. The pH is measured at the lowest normal usage concentration of 0.1% w/v of the product in water of 12⁰H (Ca), (French permanent hardness, calcium only) at 50°C so that a satisfactory degree of alkalinity can be assured in use at all normal product concentrations.

[0043] The pH of the detergent compositions in use is controlled by the amount of orthophosphate and any other alkaline salts such as alkali metal silicate, sodium perborate and sodium carbonate present. The presence of such other alkaline salts, especially the alkali metal silicates, is particularly beneficial, because the alkalinity of the alkali metal orthophosphate is diminished in hard water due to precipitation of the calcium salt. In addition the alkali metal polymer phosphate is more stable and resistant to hydrolysis under moderately alkaline conditions. The other ingredients in the alkaline detergent compositions of the invention should of course be chosen for alkaline stability, especially the pH sensitive materials such as enzymes.

[0044] The detergent compositions of the invention are preferably made in particulate form, by admixture of a spray dried base powder and treated alkali metal polymer phosphate. However, if desired, the detergent compositions may be compressed or compacted into tablets or blocks, or otherwise treated for example by granulation, prior to packaging and sale. Because of the hygroscopic nature of the alkali metal polymer phosphates, it may be desirable to use moisture impermeable packaging for the detergent compositions, for example in plastic or fabric sachets containing pre-measured doses for washing machine usage.

[0045] The invention is illustrated by the following Examples in which parts and percentages are by weight except where otherwise indicated.

Example 1

[0046] Two detergent compositions were prepared to-the following formulations:

[0047] Fabric washing trials were then conducted using the products A and B as prewash and main wash products respectively, in a Bauknecht automatic washing machine. Water of hardness 23°(GH) was employed with the recommended dosage levels of 150g of powder in both the pre- and main- washes. The same clothes were washed 15 times (boil wash) after which low levels of inorganic deposits were found on the fabrics as follows:

EXAMPLE 2

[0048] Experiments were carried out in a Tergotometer to demonstrate the effect of polyphosphates on fabric incrustation. A detergent composition having the following formulation was made up by mixing solutions.

[0049] Fabrics were washed using this composition to which orthophosphate, polymer phosphate (Calgon 322) and polyacrylate were added as set out below. The wash conditions were 40°FH wash water hardness (Ca:Mg 4:1), 30°FH flood and hand rinse water hardness (Ca:Mg 4:1), wash temperature 90°C, wash time 20 minutes, flood 2 minutes, rinse 5 minutes and product dosage 14 g per litre. The results were achieved as set out in the following table.

Claims

1. A process for washing fabrics, characterised by comprising the steps of:

( i) contacting the fabrics with a wash liquor containing a synthetic detergent active compound and an alkalimetal or ammonium orthophosphate; and

(ii) subsequently contacting the fabrics with a wash liquor containing a synthetic detergent active compound and an alkalimetal or ammonium polymer phosphate, each of said wash liquors having a pH between about 8 and about 12, and each of said wash liquors containing substantially no other phosphate detergency builders.

2. A process according to Claim 1, characterised by being carried out in two stages, the fabrics being substantially separated from the wash liquor used in step (i) before contacted with the wash liquor in step (ii).

3. A prccess according to Claim 1, characterised in that the wash liquor used in step (i) remains in contact with the fabrics during step (ii).

4. A prccess according to Claim 1, characterised in that step (ij) is carried out at least 15 seconds after step (i).

5. A process according to Claim 1, characterised in that said alkalimetal or ammonium polymer phosphate is present in the wash liquor used in step (i) in an undissolved form.

6. A detergent composition for washing fabrics by a method according to Claim 1, comprising a synthetic detergent active compound, an alkalimetal or ammonium orthophosphate and an alkalimetal or ammonium polymerphosphate, characterised by means for delaying the solubility of said alkalimetal or ammonium polymer phosphate when the composition is added to water to form a wash liquor, said composition yielding a pH of between about 9 and about 11 when dissolved in 12°H (Ca) water at 50°C and at a concentration of 0.1% w/v and said composition containing substantially no other phosphate detergency builders.

7. A detergent composition according to Claim 6, characterised by a first container containing at least a part of said synthetic detergent active compound and said orthophosphate and a second container containing said polymer phosphate and optionally a further part of said synthetic detergent active compound.

8. A detergent composition according to Claim 7, characterised in that said first container and said second container are constituted respectively by a first compartment and a second compartment of a sachet, said sachet being so constituted that when added to water the contents of said first compartment are released before the contents of said second compartment.

9. A detergent composition according to Claim 6, characterised in that said means for delaying the solubility of said alkalimetal or ammonium polymer phosphate is constituted by a slowly dissolving material with which said polymer phosphate is granulated or encapsulated.

10. A detergent composition according to Claim 6, characterised by containing by weight:

from about 2.5% to about 50% of one or more synthetic detergent active compounds selected from anionic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic synthetic detergent compounds; from about 2% to about 20% of said alkalimetal or ammonium orthophosphate;

from about 2% to about 20% of said alkalimetal or ammonium polymer phosphate in such a form as to delay its solubility when the composition is added to water to form a wash liquor, the ratio by weight of said orthophosphate to said

polymerphosphate being from about 3:1 to about 1:3; optionally not more than about 20% non-phosphate detergency builders or sequesterant builders;

optionally not more than about 25% soap; and optionally one or more ingredients selected from lather boosters, antiredeposition agents, oxygen-releasing bleaching agents, per-acid bleach precursors, chlorine-releasing bleaching agents, fabric softening agents, inorganic salts, fluorescent agents, perfumes, enzymes, germicides and colourants.