Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to surfactant combinations which provide good detergency and,
optionally, good fluorescer effectiveness and/or suds control and/or corrosion inhibition
in a laundry context. Such compositions can be either built or unbuilt, granular or
liquid, and can contain the usual auxiliary ingredients common to such compositions.
Description of the prior art
[0002] Alkylpolyglycosides which are surfactants have been disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,598,865;
3,721,633; and 3,772,269. These patents also disclose processes for making alkylpolyglycoside
surfactants and built liquid detergent compositions containing these surfactants.
U.S. Patent 3,219,656 discloses alkylmonoglucosides and suggest their utility as foam
stabilizers for other surfactants. Various polyglycoside surfactant structures and
processes for making them are disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,974,134; 3,640,998; 3,839,318;
3,314,936; 3,346,558; 4,011,389; 4,223,129.
[0003] Built detergent compositions containing alkylpolysaccharide surfactants are also
disclosed in copending published EP-A-0 075 995 and EP-A-0 075 996.
[0004] All percentages, parts and ratios used herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.
Summary of the invention
[0005] This invention relates to the discovery of certain combinations of surfactants which
provide unusually good detergency, especially in cool water, for a variety of fabric
types. Specifically this invention relates to detergent compositions comprising:
A. from 1% to 20%, preferably from 4% to 10% by weight, of an alkylpolysaccharide
detergent surfactant havinq the formula

where R is an alkyl, alkyl phenyl, alkyl benzyl, or mixtures thereof, said alkyl groups
containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, being either saturated or unsaturated, and containing
from 0 to 3 hydroxy groups, where each R' is an ethylene-, propylene or -CH2CH(OH)CH2-
group, and y is from 0 to 12; and where each Z is a moiety derived from a reducing
saccharide containing 5 to 6 carbon atoms, and x is a number from 1.5 to 10;
B. from 1 % to 10%, preferably from 2% to 6%, by weight, of an amine oxide detergent
surfactant;
C. from 1% to 10%, preferably from 1% to 6%, by weight, of a water-soluble soap of
an unsaturated fatty acid containing from 16 to 22 carbon atoms;
D. from 0% to 40%, preferably from 10% to 30%, by weight, of a water-soluble detergency
builder, preferably selected from the group consisting of pyrophosphates, nitrilotriacetates,
and mixtures thereof;
E. from 0% to 10%, preferably from 0% to 5%, by weight, of water-soluble synthetic
anionic detergent surfactant; and
F. from 0% to 80% by weight of water.
[0006] Such detergent compositions provide excellent detergency, do not damage washing machines
unacceptably, and can be formulated to provide different sudsing patterns by varying
the amount and types of synthetic anionic detergent surfactant and the amount of unsaturated
soap. Preferably such formulae do not contain more than 5% conventional ethoxylated
nonionic surfactants. Sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkanolammonium cations are
preferred.
Description of the preferred embodiments
The alkylpolysaccharide surfactant
[0007] It has surprisingly been found that the cosurfactants interact with the alkylpolysaccharide
surfactant of this invention to provide good laundry detergency for a wide range of
fabrics. The alkylpolysaccharides are those having a hydrophobic group containing
from about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, preferably from about 10 to about 16 carbon
atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g., a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from
about 1) to about 10, preferably from about 1) to about 3, most preferably from about
1.6 to about 2.7 saccharide units. Any reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon
atoms can be used, e.g. glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can substitute
for the glucosyl moieties. (Optionally the hydrophobic group is attached at the 2,
3,4 etc. positions thus giving a glucose or galactose as opposed to a glucoside or
galactoside). The intersaccharide bonds can be, e.g., between the one position of
the additional saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-, and/or 6 positions on the preceding
saccharide units.
[0008] Optionally, and less desirably, there can be a polyalkoxide chain joining the hydrophobic
moiety and the polysaccharide moiety. The preferred alkoxide is ethylene oxide. Typical
hydrophobic groups include alkyl groups, either saturated or unsaturated, branched
or unbranched containing from about 8 to about 18, preferably from about 10 to about
16 carbon atoms. Preferably, the alkyl group is a straight chain saturated alkyl group.
The alkyl group can contain up to 3 hydroxy groups and/or the polyalkoxide chain can
contain up to about 10, preferably less than 5, most preferably 0, alkoxide moieties.
Suitable alkyl polysaccharides are octyl, nonyldecyl, undecyldodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl,
pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, and octadecyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides,
galactosides, lactosides, glucoses, fructosides, fructoses, and/or galactoses. Suitable
mixtures include coconut alkyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaglucosides and tallow
alkyl tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides.
[0009] The preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula

wherein R
2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl,
and mixtures thereof in which said alkyl groups contain from about 10 to about 18,
preferably from about 12 to about 14 carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3, preferably 2; t is
from 0 to about 10, preferably 0; and x is from 1: to about 10, preferably from about
1: to about 3, most preferably from about 1.6 to about 2.7. The glycosyl is preferably
derived from glucose. To prepare compounds the alcohol or alkylpolyethoxy alcohol
is formed first and then reacted with glucose, or a source of glucose, to form the
glucoside (attachment at the 1-position). The additional glycosyl units are attached
between their 1-position and the preceding glycosyl units 2-, 3-, 4- and/or 6- position,
preferably predominately the 2-position.
[0010] Preferably the content of alkylmonoglycoside is low, preferably less than about 60%,
more preferably less than about 50%.
[0011] Surprisingly, anionic fluorescers which are normally relatively ineffective in the
presence of conventional ethoxylated nonionic detergent surfactants at high levels
in the absence of substantial levels of anionic detergent surfactants, are very effective
when the alkylpolyglycoside surfactants are present. For brightener effectiveness,
the ratio of alkylpolyglycoside detergent surfactant to nonionic detergent surfactant
should be greater than about 1:4 preferably greater than about 1:3, most preferably
greater than about 1:1.
Nonionic surfactant
[0012] Nonionic surfactants, including those having an HLB of from about 5 to about 17,
are well known in the detergency art. They are included in the compositions of the
present invention together with the, e.g., alkylpolyglycoside surfactants defined
hereinbefore. They may be used singly or in combination with one or more of the preferred
alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactants, described below, to form nonionic surfactant
mixtures useful in combination with the alkylpolyglycosides. Examples of such surfactants
are listed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,630. Booth, issued Feb. 20, 1973, and U.S. Pat.
No. 3,332,880, Kessler et al, issued July 25, 1967. Nonlimiting examples of suitable
nonionic surfactants which may be used in the present invention are as follows:
(1) The polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols. These compounds include the
condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from about
6 to 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration with
ethylene oxide, said ethylene oxide being present in an amount equal to 5 to 25 moles
of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substituent in such compounds
can be derived, for example, from polymerized propylene, diisobutylene, and the like.
Examples of compounds of this type include nonyl phenol condensed with about 9.5 moles
of ethylene oxide per mole of nonyl phenol; dodecylphenol condensed with about 12
moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dinonyl phenol condensed with about 15
moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; and diisooctyl phenol condensed with about
15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants
of this type include lgepal@ CO-630, marketed by the GAF Corporation, and Triton@
X-45, X-114, X-100, and X-102, all marketed by the Rohm & Haas Company.
(2) The condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from about 1 to about 25
moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight
or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from about 8 to about 22
carbon atoms. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include the condensation product
of myristyl alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol;
and the condensation product of about 9 moles of ethylene oxide with coconut alcohol
(a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying in length from 10 to 14 carbon
atoms). Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants in this type include
Tergitol@ 15-S-9, marketed by Union Carbide Corporation, Neodol 45-9, Neodol@ 23-6.5,
Neodol@ 45-7, and Neodol@ 45-4, marketed by Shell Chemical Company, and Kyro EOB@,
marketed by The Procter & Gamble Company.
(3) The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed xy
the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The hydrophobic portion
of these compounds has a molecular weight of from about 1500 to 1800 and exhibits
water insolubility. The addition of polyoxyethylene moieties to this hydrophobic portion
tends to increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole, and the liquid
character of the product is retained up to the point where the polyoxyethylene content
is about 50% of the total weight of the condensation product, which corresponds to
condensation with up to about 40 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of compounds of
this type include certain of the commercially available Pluronic@ surfactants, marketed
by Wyandotte Chemical Corporation.
(4) The condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the
reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. The hydrophobic moiety of these products
consists of the reaction product of ethylenediamine and excess propylene oxide, said
moiety having a molecular weight of from about 2500 to about 3000. This hydrophobic
moiety is condensed with ethylene oxide to the extent that the condensation product
contains from about 40% to about 80% by weight of polyoxyethylene and has a molecular
weight of from about 5,000 to about 11,000. Exampies of this type of nonionic surfactant
include certain of the commercially available Tetronic@ compounds, marketed by Wyandotte
Chemical Corporation.
(5) Semi-polar nonionic detergent surfactants include water-soluble amine oxides containing
one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from
the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from 1 to
about 3 carbon atoms; water-soluble phosphine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of
about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl
groups and hydroxylalkyl groups containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and water-soluble
sulfoxides containing one alkyl moiety of from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and a moiety
selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl moieties of from about
1 to 3 carbon atoms.
[0013] Preferred semi-polar nonionic detergent surfactants are the amine oxide detergent
surfactants having the formula

wherein R is an alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, or alkyl phenyl group or mixtures thereof containing
from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. R' is an alkylene or hydroxy alkylene group containing
from 2 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, x is from 0 to 2 and each R" is an alkyl
or hydroxy alkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a polyethylene oxide
group containing from one to about 3 ethylene oxide groups and said R" groups can
be attached to each other, e.g., through an oxygen or nitrogen atom to form a ring
structure.
[0014] Preferred amine oxide detergent surfactants are C
10-18 alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, C
8-18 alkyl dihydroxy ethyl amine oxide, and C
8-12 alkoxy ethyl dihydroxy ethyl amine oxide.
[0015] Nonionic detergent surfactants (1)-(4) are conventional ethoxylated nonionic detergent
surfactants.
[0016] Preferred alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactants for use in the compositions of
the present invention are biodegradable and have the formula

wherein R
8 is a primary or secondary alkyl chain of from about 8 to about 22, preferably from
about 10 to about 20, carbon atoms and n is an average of from about 2 to about 12,
particularly from about 2 to about 9. The nonionics have an HLB (hydrophiliclipophilic
balance) of from about 5 to about 17, preferably from about 6 to about 15. HLB is
defined in detail in Nonionic Surfactants, by M. J. Schick, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1966,
pages 606―613. In preferred nonionic surfactants, n is from 3 to 7. Primary linear
alcohol ethoxylates (e.g., alcohol ethoxylates produced from organic alcohols which
contain about 20% 2-methyl branched isomers, commercially available from Shell Chemical
Company under the tradename Neodol) are preferred from a performance standpoint.
[0017] Particularly preferred nonionic surfactants for use in the compositions of the present
invention include the condensation product of C
10 alcohol with 3 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of tallow alcohol
with 9 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of coconut alcohol with 5
moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of coconut alcohol with 6 moles
of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of C
12 alcohol with 5 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of C
12-
13 alcohol with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide, and the same condensation product which
is stripped so as to remove substantially all lower ethoxylate and nonethoxylated
fractions; the condensation product of C
12-13 alcohol with 2.3 moles of ethylene oxide, and the same condensation product which
is stripped so as to remove substantially all lower ethoxylate and nonethoxylated
fractions; the condensation product of C
12-13 alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of C
14-
15 alcohol with 2.25 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of C
14-15 alcohol with 4 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of C
14-15 alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide; and the condensation product of C
14-15 alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide.
[0018] The compositions of the present invention may contain mixtures of the preferred alcohol
ethoxylate nonionic surfactants together with other types of nonionic surfactants.
One of the preferred nonionic surfactant mixtures contains at least one of the preferred
alcohol ethoxylate nonionics, and has a ratio of the preferred alcohol ethoxylate
surfactant (or surfactants) to the other nonionic surfactant (or surfactants) of from
about 1:1 to about 5:1. Specific examples of surfactant mixtures useful in the present
invention include a mixture of the condensation product of C
14-
1. alcohol with 3 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol@ 45-3) and the condensation product
of C
14-
15 alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol@ 45-9), in a ratio of lower ethoxylate
nonionic to higher ethoxylate nonionic of from about 1:1 to about 3:1; a mixture of
the condensation product of C
lo alcohol with 3 moles of ethylene oxide together with the condensation product of
a secondary C
15 alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Tergitol@ 15-S-9), in a ratio of lower ethoxylate
nonionic to higher ethoxylate nonionic of from about 1:1 to about 4:1; a mixture of
Neodol@ 45-3 and Tergitol@ 15-S-9, in a ratio of lower ethoxylate nonionic to higher
ethoxylate nonionic of from about 1:1 1 to about 3: 1, and a mixture of Neodol 45-3
with the condensation product of myristyl alcohol with 10 moles of ethylene oxide,
in a ratio of lower ethoxylate to higher ethoxylate of from about 1:1 1 to about 3:1.
[0019] Preferred nonionic surfactant mixtures may also contain alkyl glyceryl ether compounds
together with the preferred alcohol ethoxylate surfactants. Particularly preferred
are glyceryl ethers having the formula

wherein R
9 is an alkyl or alkenyl group of from about 8 to about 18, preferably about 8 to 12,
carbon atoms or an alkaryl group having from about 5 to 14 carbons in the alkyl chain,
and n is from 0 to about 6, together with the preferred alcohol ethoxylates, described
above, in a ratio of alcohol ethoxylate to glyceryl ether of from about 1:1 to about
4:1, particularly about 7:3. Glyceryl ethers of the type useful in the present invention
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,713, Jones, issued July 4, 1978; which is incorporated
herein by reference.
[0020] The ratio of alkylpolyglycoside detergent surfactant to nonionic detergent surfactant
is from about 10:1 to about 1:10, preferably from about 3:1 to about 1:3.
The detergency builder
[0021] The detergent compositions herein also contain from 0% to about 90%, preferably from
about 5% to about 50%, and more preferably from about 10% to about 35% of a detergent
builder.
[0022] Examples of detergency builders include water-soluble neutral or alkaline salts.
[0023] Useful water-soluble salts include the compounds commonly known as detergent builder
materials. Builders are generally selected from the various water-soluble, alkali
metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium phosphates, polyphosphates, phosphonates,
polyphosphonates, carbonates, silicates, borates, polyhydroxysulfonates, polyacetates,
carboxylates, and polycarboxylates. Preferred are the alkali metal, especially sodium,
salts of the above.
[0024] Specific examples of inorganic phosphate builders are sodium and potassium tripolyphosphate,
pyrophosphate, polymeric metaphate having a degree of polymerization of from about
6 to 21, and orthophosphate. Examples of polyphosphonate builders are the sodium and
potassium salts of ethylene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, the sodium and potassium salts
of ethane 1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid and the sodium and potassium salts of ethane,
1,1,2-triphosphonic acid. Other phosphorus builder compounds are disclosed in U.S.
Patents 3,159,581; 3,213,030; 3,422,021; 3,422,137; 3,400,176 and 3,400,148.
[0025] Examples of nonphosphorus, inorganic builders are sodium and potassium carbonate,
bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate, tetraborate decahydrate, and silicate having a molar
ratio of Si0
2 to alkali metal oxide of from about 0.5 to about 4.0, preferably from about 1.0 to
about 2.4.
[0026] Water-soluble, nonphosphorus organic builders useful herein include the various alkali
metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates
and polyhydroxysulfonates. Examples of polyacetate and polycarboxylate builders are
the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediamine
tetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene
polycarboxylic acids, and citric acid.
[0027] Highly preferred, polycarboxylate builders herein are set forth in U.S. Patent No.
3,308,067, Diehl, issued March 7, 1967. Such materials include the water-soluble salts
of homo- and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, itaconic
acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic
acid.
[0028] Other builders include the carboxylated carbohydrates of U.S. Patent 3,723,322, Diehl.
[0029] Other useful builders herein are sodium and potassium carboxymethyloxymalonate, car-
boxymethyloxysuccinate, cis-cyclohexanehexacarboxylate, cis-cyciopentanetetracarboxyiate
phloro- glucinol trisulfonate, water-soluble polyacrylates (having molecular weights
of from about 2,000 to about 200,000 for example), and the copolymers of maleic anhydride
with vinyl methyl ether or ethylene.
[0030] Other suitable polycarboxylates for use herein are the polyacetal carboxylates described
in U.S. Pat. 4,144,226, issued March 13, 1979 to Crutchfield et al, and U.S. Pat.
4,246,495, issued March 27, 1979 to Crutchfield et al. These polyacetal carboxylates
can be prepared by bringing together under polymerization conditions an ester of glyoxylic
acid and a polymerization initiator. The resulting polyacetal carboxylate ester is
then attached to chemically stable end groups to stabilize the polyacetal carboxylate
against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, converted to the corresponding
salt, and added to a surfactant.
[0031] Other detergency builder materials useful herein are the "seeded builder" compositions
disclosed in Belgian Patent No. 798,856, issued Oct. 29, 1973. Specific examples of
such seeded builder mixtures are: 3:1 wt. mixtures of sodium carbonate and calcium
carbonate having 5 micron particle diameter; 2.7:1 wt. mixtures of sodium sesquicarbonate
and calcium carbonate having a particle diameter of 0.5 microns; 20:1 wt. mixtures
of sodium sesquicarbonate and calcium hydroxide having a particle diameter of 0.01
micron; and a 3:3:1 wt. mixture of sodium carbonate, sodium aluminate and calcium
oxide having a particle diameter of 5 microns.
Other co-surfactants
[0032] In addition to the detergent surfactants described hereinbefore, the detergent compositions
herein contain from about 1% to about 15%, preferably from about 2% to about 8%, of
an organic surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, zwitterionic,
ampholytic, and cationic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Surfactants useful herein
are listed in U.S. Pat. 3,664,961, Norris, issued May 23, 1972, and U.S. Pat. 3,919,678,
Laughlin et al, issued Dec. 30, 1975. Useful cationic surfactants also include those
described in U.S. Pat. 4,222,905, Cockrell, issued Sept. 16,1980, and in U.S. Pat
4,239,659. Murphy, issued Dec. 16,1980. The following are representative examples
of surfactants useful in the present compositions.
[0033] Water-soluble salts of the higher fatty acids, i.e., "soaps", are useful anionic
surfactants in the compositions herein. This includes alkali metal soaps such as the
sodium, potassium, ammonium, and alkylolammonium salts of higher fatty acids containing
from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms, and preferably from about 12 to about 18 carbon
atoms. Soaps can be made by direct saponification of fats and oils or by the neutralization
of free fatty acids. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium salts of the
mixtures of fatty acids derived from coconut oil and tallow, i.e., sodium or potassium
tallow and coconut soap. The preferred soap, as discussed hereinbefore and hereinafter,
especially in combination with semipolar or amide nonionic detergent surfactants,
is at least partially unsaturated.
The unsaturated soap
[0034] The unsaturated fatty acid soap of the invention contains from 16 to 22 carbon atoms,
preferably in a straight chain configuration. Preferably the number of carbon atoms
in the unsaturated fatty acid soap is from 16 to 18.
[0035] The unsaturated soap, in common with other anionic detergent and other anionic materials
in the detergent compositions of this invention, has a cation which renders the soap
water-soluble and/or dispersible. Suitable cations include sodium, potassium, ammonium,
monoethanolammonium, diethanolammonium, triethanolammonium, tetramethylammonium, etc.
cations. Sodium ions are preferred although in liquid formulations ammonium, and triethanolammonium
cations are useful.
[0036] A level of at least about 1% of the unsaturated fatty acid soap is desirable to provide
a noticeable reduction in sudsing and corrosion. Preferred levels of unsaturated fatty
acid soap are from 1% to 10%, most preferably from about 2% to about 5%. The unsaturated
fatty acid soap is preferably present at a level that will provide a level of from
about 15 ppm to about 200 ppm, preferably from about 25 ppm to about 125 ppm in the
wash solution at recommended U.S. usage levels and from about 30 ppm to about 1000
ppm, preferably from about 50 ppm to about 500 ppm for European usage levels.
[0037] Mono-, di-, and triunsaturated fatty acids are all essentially equivalent so it is
preferred to use mostly monounsaturated soaps to minimize the risk of rancidity. Suitable
sources of unsaturated fatty acids are well known. For example, see Bailey's Industrial
Oil and Fat Products. Third Edition, Swern, published by Interscience Publisher (1964).
[0038] Preferably, the level of saturated soaps is kept as low as possible, preferably less
than about 60%, preferably less than about 50% of the total soap is saturated soap.
However, low levels of saturated soaps can be used. Tallow and palm oil soaps can
be used.
[0039] Useful synthetic anionic surfactants also include the water-soluble salts, preferably
the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts, of organic sulfuric reaction
products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from about
10 to about 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group.
[0040] Such synthetic anionic detergent surfactants are desirable additives at a level of
from about 1% to about 10% to increase the overall detergency effect and, if desired,
increase the level of suds. (Included in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl portion of
acyl groups.) Examples of this group of synthetic surfactants are the sodium and potassium
alkyl sulfates, especially those obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C
S-C
1s carbon atoms) such as those produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut
oil; and the sodium and potassium alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group
contains from about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain
configuration, e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Pats. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383.
Especially valuable are linear straight chain alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the
average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 13, abbreviated
as C"-13 LAS.
[0041] Preferred anionic detergent surfactants are the alkyl polyethoxylate sulfates, particularly
those in which the alkyl contains from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms, preferably
from about 12 to about 18 and wherein the polyethoxylate chain contains from about
1 to about 15 ethoxylate moieties preferably from about 1 to about 3 ethoxylate moieties.
These anionic detergent surfactants are particularly desirable for formulating heavy-duty
liquid laundry detergent compositions.
[0042] Other anionic surfactants herein are the sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates,
especially those ethers of higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil; sodium
coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfonates and sulfates; sodium or potassium
salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing from about 1 to about
10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl groups contain from
about 8 to about 12 carbon atoms; and sodium or potassium salts of alkyl ethylene
oxide ether sulfates containing about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule
and wherein the alkyl group contains from about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms.
[0043] Other useful anionic surfactants herein include the water-soluble salt of esters
of alpha-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-1-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 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group
and from about 1 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide; water-soluble salts of olefin sulfonates
containing from about 12 to 24 carbon atoms; and beta-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.
[0044] Ampholytic surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic or aliphatic derivatives
of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic moiety can be
straight chain or branched and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains
from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms and at least one aliphatic substituent contains an
anionic water-solubilizing group.
[0045] Zwitterionic surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium,
and sulfonium compounds in which one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about
8 to 18 carbon atoms.
[0046] Particularly preferred auxiliary surfactants herein include linear alkylbenzene sulfonates
containing from about 11 to 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl group; tallowalkyl sulfates;
coconutalkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates; alkyl ether sulfates wherein the alkyl moiety
contains from about 14 to 18 carbon atoms and wherein the average degree of ethoxylation
is from about 1 to 4; olefin or paraffin sulfonates containing from about 14 to 16
carbon atoms; and alkyldimethylammonium propane sulfonates and alkyldimethylammonium
hydroxy propane sulfonates wherein the alkyl group contains from about 14 to 18 carbon
atoms.
[0047] Specific preferred surfactants for use herein include: sodium, potassium, mono-,
di-, and triethanolammonium C
14-
15 alkyl polyethoxylate
1-
3 sulfates; sodium linear C"-13 alkylbenzene sulfonate; triethanolamine C
11-13 alkylbenzene sulfonate; sodium tallow alkyl sulfate; sodium coconut alkyl glyceryl
ether sulfonate; the sodium salt of a sulfated condensation product of a tallow alcohol
with about 4 moles of ethylene oxide; 3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-coconutalkylammonio)-2-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate;
3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-coconutalkylammoniopropane-1-sulfonate; 6-(N-dodecylbenzyl-N,N-dimethylammonia)-hexanoate;
and coconut alkyldimethyl amine oxide.
[0048] Other adjunct components which may be included in the compositions of the present
invention, in their conventional art-established levels for use (i.e., from 0 to about
90%), include solvents, bleaching agents, bleach activators, soil-suspending agents,
corrosion inhibitors, dyes, fillers, optical brighteners, germicides, pH adjusting
agents (monoethanolamine, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, etc.), enzymes, enzyme-stabilizing
agents, perfumes, fabric softening components, static control agents, and the like.
[0049] Fatty acid amide detergent surfactants useful herein include those having the formula:

wherein R
6 is an alkyl group containing from about 7 to about 21 (preferably from about 9 to
about 17) carbon atoms and each R
7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C
1-4 alkyl, C
1-4 hydroxy alkyl, and -(C2H40)xH where x varies from about 1 to about 3.
[0050] Preferred amides are C
S-
20 ammonia amides, monoethanolammonium, diethanolamides, and isopropanol amides.
[0051] The compositions of the present invention can be manufactured and used in a variety
of forms such as solids, powders, granules, pastes, and liquids. The compositions
can be used in the current U.S. laundering processes by forming aqueous solution containing
from about 0.01 % to about 1 %, preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.5%, and most
preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.25% of the composition in water and agitating
the soiled fabrics in that aqueous solution. The fabrics are then rinsed and dried.
When used in this manner the preferred compositions of the present invention yield
exceptionally good detergency on a variety of fabrics.
[0052] The compositions of the invention provide excellent detergency, do not damage washing
machines unacceptably, and can be formulated to provide different sudsing patterns
by varying the amount and types of synthetic anionic detergent surfactant and the
amount of unsaturated soap. Preferably such formulas do not contain more than about
5% conventional ethoxylated nonionic surfactants. Sodium, potassium, ammonium, and
alkanolammonium cations are preferred.
[0053] All percentages, parts, and ratios herein are by weight unless otherwise specified.
[0054] The following examples illustrate the compositions and method of the present invention.
Example I
[0055] Combinations of alkyl polyglucosides and semi-polar nonionic and/or amide detergent
surfactants are compatible with unsaturated soap, but not with saturated soap.

[0056] Compositions 1-3 and 5 were lower sudsing than formula 4 and were more compatible
with washing machine surfaces (less corrosive). Composition 3 formed an unsightly
soap scum in the rinse water despite the presence of materials known to inhibit formation
of such scums. Composition 3 also formed a thick gel rather than a free flowing, clear
liquid. It is clear that there must not be a substantial excess of saturated soap
over unsaturated. The soap must be at least about 40% unsaturated soap.
[0057] It has additionally been discovered that the performance of these compositions is
improved if the total free fatty alcohol containing from about 8 to about 20 carbon
atoms is less than about 5%, preferably less than about 2%, most preferably less than
about 1%.