[0001] This invention relates to aqueous cleaning compositions and especially to chlorine
bleach-containing aqueous cleaning compositions useful for the removal of oxidisable
stains from and the disinfection of hard surfaces. Compositions in accordance with
the invention find particular utility in the cleaning of sanitary fittings such as
toilets, bidets, sinks, baths and shower units in addition to the disinfection of
drains and the washing of tiled surfaces.
[0002] Aqueous chlorine bleaching products are well known in the art and have been used
for many years in a variety of bleaching and disinfecting applications. The active
component of a product of this type is normally an alkali metal hypochlorite, usually
at a level of from 1 to 15% by weight, and the physical characteristics of the product
are those of a dilute salt solution with a viscosity less than 20 centistokes (20×10
-6 M
2S
-1).
[0003] In recent years, interest has developed in chlorine bleach products of higher viscosity,
in order to provide longer lasting adherence to vertical surfaces and hence greater
efficacy, and a number of compositions have been disclosed that are stated to be both
chemically stable and physically stable over an extended period of time.
[0004] Examples of such compositions are disclosed by British Patent No. 1329086, European
Published Patent Applications Nos. 0021581, 0030401, French Published Patent Application
No. 2355909 and British Patent Application No. 2003522A.
[0005] These thickened compositions incorporate one or more bleach stable surfactants as
an aid in increasing viscosity and a preferred example of such a surfactant is an
amine oxide containing one C
10―C
18 alkyl group and two lower alkyl, usually C,-C
4 alkyl groups. The compositions also contain a source of alkalinity and alkali metal
salts of various kinds.
[0006] In order to achieve a significant enhancement of viscosity the prior art has employed
other surfactants in admixture with the amine oxide such as alkali metal fatty acid
salts, alkali metal alkyl sulphate salts and saccharose esters and viscosities of
up to 150 centistokes (150×10
-6 m
2s
-1) at 25°C are stated to be obtainable by this technique.
[0007] It has now surprisingly been found that stable aqueous chlorine bleach-containing
compositions having viscosities appreciably in excess of 150 centistokes (150×10
-6 m
2s
-1) can be achieved without the necessity of employing the surfactant mixtures taught
as necessary by the prior art.
[0008] This finding has also simplified the formulation of a thickened chlorine bleach composition
insofar as it lowers the level of organic components in the formulation and thereby
lessens the problem of ensuring chemical stability as well as reducing the cost of
the composition.
[0009] It has also been found that compositions in accordance with the invention display
cleaning advantages relative to commercially available chlorine bleach compositions
embodying the prior art.
[0010] According to the present invention there is provided a stable single phase aqueous
detergent composition incorporating as the sole surfactant species an amine oxide
of formula R
1R
2R
3N→O wherein R, is an alkyl group in which the average number of carbon atoms is such
that 13<R
1≤16 and R
2 and R
3 are C
l-C
4 alkyl groups or C
Z-C
4 hydroxy alkyl groups together with at least one ionisable water soluble compound
wherein the amine oxide is present in an amount of from 1.0% to 2.5% by weight of
the composition and in that the at least one ionisable water soluble compound is present
in an amount to provide a total ionic strength of the composition of from 3.0 g moles/dm
3 to 7.81 g moles/dm
3, such that said composition has a viscosity of at least 180 cp (0.18 Pa.sec) at 20°C.
[0011] In one aspect of the invention the alkyl group R, comprises a mixture of groups containing
13 and 15 carbon atoms and comprising a mixture of moieties of structure,

and

the group R
4 being predominantly methyl, the composition also being characterised by a total ionic
strength of at least 4.7 g moles/dm'.
[0012] In a preferred aspect of the invention in which the composition incorporates a hypochlorite
bleach, R, contains an average of from 14 to 16 carbon atoms and is selected from
linear moieties and moieties containing no more than 25% methyl branching.
[0013] In this specification fluid viscosity is expressed as the dynamic viscosity η in
centipoises (10-
3 Pa.sec). The dynamic viscosity is measured by a Brookfield RVT viscometer and for
the purposes of this specification measurements are made with Spindle No. 3 at 100
rpm and a liquid temperature of 20°C. Fluid viscosity can also be expressed as the
kinematic viscosity v in centistokes (10
-6m
2 · s
-1.) as measured by an Ostwald viscometer and is characterised by the expression v=n/p
where η is the dynamic viscosity in centipoises and p is the density in g/cm
3. Compositions in accordance with the present invention have a density in the range
from 1.10 to 1.25 g/cm
3, typically approximately 1.15g/cm', so that the numerical value of the kinematic
viscosity in centistokes is slightly less than that of the dynamic viscosity in centipoises.
[0014] The invention will be described primarily with reference to an aqueous composition
containing an alkali metal hypochlorite bleach, the latter providing the majority,
and preferably substantially all, of the ionic strength requirement. However, the
invention also embraces non-bleach compositions in which the ionic strength is provided
by any ionisable alkali or alkali earth metal compound.
[0015] Bleach composition embodiments of the present invention therefore comprise an amine
oxide of defined structure and an alkali metal hypochlorite there being sufficient
ionisable inorganic salt present to provide an ionic strength of at least 3.0 g moles/dm
3.
[0016] The alkali metal hypochlorite may be a lithium, potassium or sodium hypochlorite
and the level of hypochlorite in the composition is normally arranged to lie in the
range 1-12%, preferably 5-10% by weight. Customarily hypochlorite bleach compositions
contain approximately 6% or 9% hypochlorite by weight. However, the activity of chlorine
bleaching compositions is conventionally expressed in terms of the weight percentage
of available chlorine in the composition, and the actual weight percentage of bleaching
species is arranged to provide the desired level of'available chlorine'. The preferred
hypochlorite species is sodium hypochlorite which contains 95.3% available chlorine.
[0017] Alkali metal hypochlorites are commercially available as aqueous solutions containing
10-15% by weight 'available chlorine' and the bulk suppliers normally produce material
having available chlorine contents towards the upper end of this range viz. 12-14%
by weight. These commercially available hypochlorite solutions contain other salts
as byproducts or contaminants, more specifically free alkalinity in the form of alkali
metal hydroxide and alkali metal carbonate, and alkali metal chloride. Low levels
of other species such as sodium chlorate are also believed to be formed during hypochlorite
manufacture but their chemical stability is sufficiently low that they have largely
decomposed by the time the hypochlorite is employed in product formulations. The levels
of the byproduct materials depend on the processing conditions employed in the manufacture
of the hypochlorite but in general they fall within the ranges
0.2-1.0% alkali metal hydroxide
0.01-0.1% alkali metal carbonate
10.0-18.0% alkali metal chloride
expressed as a weight percentage of the hypochlorite solution as supplied.
[0018] Amine oxides useful in the present invention have the formula R
1R
2R
3N→O wherein R, is an alkyl group in which the number of carbon atoms is 13<R
1≤16 and R
2 and R
3 are C
1-C
4 alkyl groups or C
2-C
4 hydroxy alkyl groups. The amine oxide is present in an amount of from 1.0% to 2.5%
and, in preferred embodiments of the invention in which the R
i average chain length ≥14 carbon atoms, from 1%to 1.5% by weight of the composition.
The R, group may be linear or branched and may be derived from natural or synthetic
hydrocarbon sources. For the purposes of the present invention linear groups are defined
as including moieties incorporating up to 25% methyl branching, predominantly in the
2-position relative to the nitrogen atom of the amine oxide.
[0019] Methyl branching on the alkyl chain also predominates in those amine oxides useful
in the present invention in which the R, group is branched, rather than linear in
nature.
[0020] Commercially available sources of these amine oxides are normally a mixture of

which arises as a result of the processing route used to form the precursor alcohol
or aldehyde. This route involves carbonylating or hydroformulating an olefin, preferably
a linear a-olefin and leads to a mixture of the desired branched chain aldehyde or
alcohol of the same carbon number. For olefin starting materials having a range of
carbon chain length, the resultant alcohol or aldehyde mixture contains compounds
of different carbon number and isomers containing straight chain and 2-alkyl branched
chain alkyl groups. A typical mixture useful in the present invention comprises 65
to 75% by weight C
13 and 35 to 25% by weight C,
5 amine oxides with approximately 50% by weight straight chain and 50% by weight 2-alkyl
branched chain where the 2-alkyl group is predominantly methyl. These are available
from ICI under the trade name Synprolam 35 DMO as a 30% aqueous solution. The branched
chain amine oxides and mixtures thereof with linear chain amine oxides are used at
levels towards the upper end of the range viz. ≥2% by weight of the composition and
typically from 2.0% to 2.5% by weight.
[0021] Although the above-described mixture of straight chain and branched chain alkyl dimethyl
amine oxides has been found to provide the benefits of the invention, their use does
not constitute the most preferred execution of the hypochlorite bleach aspect of the
invention. This is because an ionic strength of at least 4.7 g moles/dm
3 is required to achieve the target viscosity and this level of ionic strength is believed
to make the storage stability of the hypochlorite bleach less than that which is considered
desirable for the expected shelf life of the product. For the hypochlorite bleach
aspect of the composition, the preferred amine oxide structure is one in which R,
has an average chain length in the range C,
4-C,
e and is a linear group, linear being defined as including moities containing up to
25% 2-methyl branching. Compositions containing these preferred amine oxides require
a lower amine oxide level viz. <2.0%, more typically 1.0-1.5% and also a lower ionic
strength viz. 3.0 g moles/dm
3 minimum in order to achieve target viscosity. Both of these reductions in ingredient
level lead to improved storage stability and also lower the cost of the product.
[0022] The ionisable water soluble compound which forms the other major component of the
compositions of the invention is a non surface active organic, or inorganic, compound
which must be present in an amount to provide an ionic strength of at least 3.0 g
moles/dm
3.
[0023] The ionisable compound(s) can be inorganic in nature e.g. hydroxide sulphate, halide
(particularly chloride) carbonate, nitrate, orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, polyphosphate
or silicate, or organic such as citrate, formate, acetate or succinate. In a preferred
aspect of the invention in which sodium hypochlorite bleach is incorporated, the hypochlorite
itself, together with the sodium hydroxide, chloride and chlorate associated with
the bleach provides the, or a major proportion of the ionisable compounds required
by the invention. In the preferred hypochlorite bleach-containing embodiments of the
invention, certain inorganic compounds such as silicates, and organic compounds incorporating
oxidisable groups are unstable and should be avoided.
[0024] The ionic strength of the composition is calculated by means of the expression

where
C1 is the molar concentration of the ionic species in g moles/dm3
Z, is the valency of the species.
[0025] The function C,Z2 is calculated for each of the ionic species in solution, these
functions are summed and divided by two .to give the composition ionic strength.
[0026] The ionisable alkali metal compound normally comprises a caustic alkali such as sodium
or potassium hydroxide either alone or in admixture with alkali metal salts. The level
of sodium hydroxide necessary to provide a total composition ionic strength of 3.0
g moles/dm
3 where the composition contains only the amine oxide would be approximately 11 % to
12% by weight of the composition dependent on the density of the solution. More preferably,
for product safety reasons, the at least one ionisable compound comprises a mixture
of a caustic alkali in an amount of from 0.5% to 2% by weight of the composition together
with one or more alkali metal salts in an amount of at least 10% by weight, more usually
at least 15-20%.
[0027] In that aspect of the invention directed to liquid detergent compositions suitable
for cleaning hard surfaces such as walls and windows, the ionisable compound can include
any of the water soluble inorganic and organic builder and sequestrant salts normally
incorporated in such products. Compounds classifiable and well-known in the art as
detergent builder salts include the nitrilotriacetates, polycarboxylates, citrates,
ortho- and pyro-phosphates, and mixtures of any of these. Metal ion sequestrants include
all of the above, plus materials like ethylenediaminetetraacetate, the amino- polyphosphonates
and phosphates. A wide variety of poly-functional organic acids and salts is disclosed
in European Patent Application Publication No. 0040882 which contains examples of
the use of such materials in various cleaning compositions. In general the builder/sequestrant
will comprise from 1 % to 25% of the composition. Citric acid (2%-20% as sodium citrate)
is a preferred builder.
[0028] In the aspect of the invention in which a hypochlorite bleach is incorporated the
bleach itself, containing the range of by-product materials previously mentioned,
provides a major portion of the ionic strength requirement, viz at least 3.0 g moles/dm'
assuming an available chlorine level of 9% in the composition. In practice therefore
it is usually only necessary to add alkali metal hydroxide to obtain the desired ionic
strength. A highly preferred bleach composition embodiment of the invention therefore
comprises from 1 % to 1.5% C
14 linear alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, from 9.0% to 9.5% sodium hypochlorite, from 9.0%
to 9.5% sodium chloride and from 0.5% to 1.5% sodium hydroxide. A desirable optional
component of compositions in accordance with the invention is a perfume which is present
at a level of from 0.01% to 0.5% preferably from 0.05% to 0.25% by weight of the composition.
[0029] The compositions are made by conventional mixing techniques. Although any order of
mixing can be used, presolution of the alkali metal hydroxide and any alkali metal
salt is desirable and these are normally added to a solution of the amine oxide. Perfume
is then added under high shear agitation together with any additional water to provide
the desired product concentration. In the aspect of the invention in which an alkali
metal hypochlorite bleach is included, this component is added last.
[0030] The invention is illustrated in the following examples in which percentages are expressed
by weight of the composition unless otherwise stated.
[0031] In the examples reference to ingredients have been abbreviated as follows:

Example 1
[0032] 1.0 g of pelleted sodium hydroxide, equivalent to 0.5% of the finished product composition,
was dissolved in 7.4 ml soft water and 8.0 g anhydrous sodium carbonate was added
to the solution. This solution was then added to 16.6 g of a 30% by weight solution
of C
13-15 alkyl dimethyl amine oxide (available from ICI as Synprolam 35DMO). Finally this
mixture was blended with high shear agitation into 167 g of a sodium hypochlorite
solution
* containing 11.5% by weight of available chlorine.
[0033] This composition had the following analysis, in percent by weight and had a density
of 1.25 g/cm
2.

[0034] This product was a single phase solution having a dynamic viscosity as measured at
20°C with a 'Supplied by British Drug Houses Ltd. as GPR hypochlorite. Brookfield
viscometer using the No. 3 spindle at 100 rpm was 165 cp (0.165 Pa . sec) fresh and
180 cp (0.1 Pa . sec) after 24 hours.
[0035] The ionic strength of this composition was calculated as follows:

Example 2
[0036] 20 g powdered anhydrous sodium carbonate and 20 g pelleted sodium hydroxide were
dissolved in 200 ml soft water. 66.6 g of a 30% solution of a C
13/15 alkyl dimethyl amine oxide sold under the trade name Synprolam 35 DMO by ICI Ltd.,
was added to the alkaline salt solution with high shear agitation. The mixture was
then added to 720 g of a sodium hypochlorite solution containing 10% available chlorine
sold by British Drug Houses Ltd. and further soft water was added to provide a final
composition containing:

[0037] The ionic strength I of this composition was found to be 5.61 g moles/dm
3 and the dynamic viscosity, measured by means of a Brookfield RVT viscometer (Spindle
No. 3 at 100 rpm) at 20°C was 220 cp as (0.22 Pa . sec) as measured 24 hours after
the solution was prepared. The density of the solution was 1.25 g/cm
3 so that the calculated kinematic viscosity v was 215.6 centistokes (2.15×10
-4m
2/sec).
Example 3
[0038] The following composition was prepared using the technique employed in Example 2.

[0039] The density of this solution was 1.25 g/cm
3 and on this basis the ionic strength of the composition was calculated to be 5.50
g moles/dm
3. Its viscosity (after 24 hours) was 220 centipoises (0.22 Pa . sec).
Example 4
[0040] The following compositions, prepared according to the technique of Example 1 illustrate
the criticality of the various features of the invention.

[0041] Composition (a) is in accordance with the present invention whilst compositions (b),
(c) and (d) are illustrative of prior art products. Comparison of compositions (a)
and (b) demonstrates the different viscosity behaviour of products containing a) amine
oxides of average chain length <C,
3 and b) amine oxide of average chain length >C
i3 both products being at the same ionic strength. Comparison of compositions (a) and
(c) illustrates the role of ionic strength in providing the product viscosities of
the present invention. In particular it should be noted that, for amine oxides having
a chain length at the lower end of the range found to be useful in the invention,
an ionic strength >5.0 g moles/dm' is required i.e. appreciably higher than the recited
minimum of 3.0 g moles/dm
3. Comparison of compositions (c) and (d) shows that for this amine oxide chain length,
increasing amine oxide concentration does not compensate for the shortfall in ionic
strength displayed by these compositions.
Example 5
[0042] The composition set out in Example 4(a) and designated I was tested for its hard
surface cleaning ability relative to a commercially available chlorine bleach product
designated II and having the following approximate analysis:

[0043] A synthetic soil was made up comprising by volume 8 parts ground garden soil, 4 parts
roast lamb fat and 1 part milk. The soil was made up by mixing the fat and garden
soil, heating and stirring to melt the fat and then dispersing the milk in the mixture.
[0044] 15 cm square ceramic tiles were each soiled with 10 ml of the above soil, which was
applied by pad and then allowed to dry for one hour or overnight (18 hours).
[0045] A soiled tile was then clamped with the soiled surface uppermost at an angle of 30°
to the vertical and the soiled surface was divided equally into Left hand and Right
hand areas. 14 ml of Product I was applied by syringe on to the Left Hand area and
the same volume of Product II was applied to the Right Hand area, each application
being arranged to cover the whole surface of the respective area. The areas were then
left to drain for 10 minutes or overnight (18 hours) before being rinsed for 10 seconds
with water at a rate of 8.5 liters/minute and a temperature of 20°C using a split
rinsing head to treat both LH and RH areas simultaneously. Four replicate tests were
carried out in two of which the tile areas to which the products were applied were
also reversed.
[0046] Assessment of cleaning differences between LH and RH areas was carried out by visual
grading using a 1-4 scale, higher values denoting enhanced cleaning. Results are given
below in which the cleaning performance of Product I is expressed as a differende
relative to that of Product II.
[0047] Time elapsed after

[0048] It can be seen that Product I provides significantly better soil cleaning than Product
II under the conditions of the Test.
Example 6
[0049] The following composition was prepared according to the technique of Example 1:

[0050] The density of each of these compositions was 1.15 g/ml and the ionic strength for
each composition was calculated to be 3.5 g moles/dm
3. The product viscosity was measured at 20°C using the technique of Example 1.
[0051] It can be seen that an amine oxide alkyl chain length of >C
13 is required in order to achieve the recited viscosity minimum of 180 cp (0.18 Pa
. sec.). An increase in the level of C
13DMAO to 5% by weight of the composition did not produce the desired viscosity increase.
Example 7
[0052] The following compositions are in accordance with the invention.

[0053] . All of the compositions exhibit viscosities in excess of 200 cp (0.20 Pa . sec.)
at 20°C after 24 hours.
1. A stable single phase aqueous detergent composition incorporating as the sole surfactant
species an amine oxide of formula R1R2R3N→O wherein R, is an alkyl group in which the average number of carbon atoms is such
that 13<R1≤16 and R2 and R3 are C1-C4 alkyl groups or C2-C4 hydroxy alkyl groups together with at least one ionisable water soluble compound
characterised in that the amine oxide is present in an amount of from 1.0% to 2.5%
by weight of the composition and in that the at least one ionisable water soluble
compound is present in an amount to provide a total ionic strength of the composition
of from 3.0 g moles/dm3 to 7.81 g moles/dm3, such that said composition has a viscosity of at least (0.18 Pa . sec.) 180 cp at
20°C.
2. An aqueous detergent composition according to claim 1 characterised in that the
alkyl group R
1 comprises a mixture of groups containing 13 and 15 carbon atoms and comprising a
mixture of moieties of structure,

and

the group R
4 being predominantly methyl, the composition also being characterised by a total ionic
strength of at least 4.7 g moles/dm
3.
3. An aqueous detergent composition according to Claim 2 wherein a) and b) are present
in approximately equal proportions by weight.
4. An aqueous detergent composition according to Claim 1 wherein R, contains an average
of from 14 to 16 carbon atoms and is selected from linear moieties and moieties containing
no more than 25% 2-methyl branching.
5. An aqueous detergent composition according to any one of Claims 1-4 characterised
in that the ionisable water soluble compound is an organic or inorganic builder or
sequestrant salts.
6. An aqueous detergent composition according to Claim 5 wherein the water soluble
compound is selected from alkali metal carbonates, citrates, pyrophosphates, amino
polyacetates and amino polyphosphonates.
7. An aqueous detergent composition according to any one of Claims 1-4 characterised
in that substantially all of the ionic strength is provided by a- mixture of alkali
metal hypochlorite, alkali metal chloride and alkali metal hydroxide.
8. An aqueous detergent composition according to Claim 7 as dependent on Claim 4 characterised
in that it comprises from 1% to 1.5% C14 linear alkyl dimethyl amine oxide, from 9.0% to 9.5% sodium hypochlorite, from 9.0%
to 9.5% sodium chloride and from 0.5% to 1.5% sodium hydroxide.
9. An aqueous detergent composition according to either one of Claims 7 and 8 wherein
the composition incorporates a bleach stable perfume.
1. Eine stabile einphasige wässerige Reinigungsmittelzusammensetzung, die als einzige
Sorte von oberflächenaktivem Mittel ein Aminoxid der Formel R1R2R3N→O, worin R, eine Alkylgruppe ist, in welcher die mittlere Zahl von Kohlenstoffatomen
derart ist, daß 13<R1≤16, und R2 und R3 C1-C4-Alkylgruppen oder C2-C4-Hydroxyalkylgruppen sind, zusammen mit wenigstens einer ionisierbaren, wasserlöslichen
Verbindung einverleibt enthält, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Aminoxid in einer
Menge von 1,0 Gew.-% bis 2,5 Gew.-% der Zusammensetzung vorliegt, und daß sie wenigstens
eine ionisierbare, wasserlösliche Verbindung in einer Menge vorliegt, um eine Gesamtionenstärke
der Zusammensetzung von 3,0 g-Mol/dm3 bis 7,81 g-Mol/dm3 einzustellen, sodaß die genannte Zusammensetzung eine Viskosität von wenigstens 0,18
Pa . sec (180 cP) bei 20°C hat.
2. Eine wässerige Reinigungsmittelzusamennsetzung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Alkylgruppe R, ein Gemisch von 13 und 15 Kohlenstoffatome enthaltenden Gruppen
umfaßt, die ein Gemisch von Resten der Struktur

und

enthalten, wobei die Gruppe R
4 überwiegend Methyl ist und die Zusammensetzung auch durch eine Gesamtionenstärke
von wenigstens 4,7 g-Mol/dm
3 gekennzeichnet ist.
3. Eine wässerige Reinigungsmittelzusammensetzung nach Anspruch 2, in der a) und b)
in annähernd gleichen Gewichtsanteilen vorliegen.
4. Eine wässerige Reinigungsmittelzusammensetzung nach Anspruch 1, worin R, im Mittel
14 bis 16 Kohlenstoffatome enthält und aus geraden Resten und Resten, die nich mehr
als 25% 2-Methyl-Verzweigung aufweisen, ausgewählt ist.
5. Eine wässerige Reinigungsmittelzusamennsetzung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die ionisierbare, wasserlösliche Verbindung ein organisches
oder anorganisches Gerüststoff- oder komplexbildendes Salz ist.
6. Eine wässerige Reinigungsmittelzusammensetzung nach Anspruch 5, worin die wasserlösliche
Verbindung aus Alkalimetallcarbonaten, -citraten, pyrophosphaten, -aminopolyacetaten
und -aminopolyphosphaten ausgewählt ist.
7. Eine wässerige Reinigungsmittelzusammensetzung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß im wesentlichen die gesamte Ionenstärke durch ein Gemisch
aus Alkalimetyllhypochlorit, Alkalimetallchlorid und Alkalimetallhydroxid geliefert
wird.
8. Eine wässerige Reinigungsmittelzusammensetzung nach Anspruch 7, in Abhängigkeit
von Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie 1% bis 1,5% . C14-linear-Alkyldimethylaminoxid, 9,0% bis 9,5% Natriumhypochlorit, 9,0% bis 9,5% Natriumchlorid
und 0,5% bis 1,5% Natriumhydroxid enthält.
9. Eine wässerige Reinigungsmittelzusammensetzung nach einem der Ansprüche 7 oder
8, wobei die Zusammensetzung ein Bleichmittel-stabiles Parfum einverleibt enthält.
1. Une composition détergente aqueuse, stable à une phase, contenant comme espèce
tensioactive unique un oxyde d'amine de formule R1R2R3N→O où R, est un groupe alkyle dans lequel le nombre moyen d'atomes de carbone est
tel que 13<R1≤16 et R2 et R3 sont des groupes alkyles en Ci à C4 ou des groupes hydroxyalkyles en C2 à C4, conjointement avec au moins un composé hydrosoluble ionisable, caractérisée en ce
que l'oxyde d'amine est présent en une quantité de 1,0% à 2,5% en poids de la composition
et qu'au moins le composé hydrosoluble ionisable est présent en une quantité susceptible
d'assurer une force ionique totale de la composition de 3,0 moles-g/dm3 à 7,81 moles-g/dm3, de manière que ladite composition ait une viscosité d'au moins 0,18 Pa . s (180
cp) à 20°C.
2. Composition détergente aqueuse selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que
le groupe alkyle R, comprend un mélange de groupes contenant 13 à 15 atomes de carbone
et comportant un mélange de radicaux de structure,

et

le groupe R
4 étant en prédominance un méthyle, la composition étant également caractérisée par
une force ionique totale d'au moins 4,7 moles-g/dm
3.
3. Composition détergente aqueuse selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle a) et b)
sont présents en des proportions pondérales approximativement égales.
4. Composition détergente aqueuse selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle R, contient
une moyenne de 14 à 16 atomes de carbone et est choisi parmi des radicaux linéaires
et des radicaux ne comportant pas plus de 25% de ramification méthyle-2.
5. Composition détergent aqueuse selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4,
caractérisée en ce que le composé hydrosoluble ionisable est un adjuvant de détergence
organique ou minéral ou un sel séquestrant.
6. Composition détergente aqueuse selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle le composé
hydrosoluble est choisi parmi des carbonates, des citrates, des pyrophosphates, des
aminopolyacétates et des aminopolyphosphates de métaux alcalins.
7. Composition détergente aqueuse selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4,
caractérisée en ce que la quasi totalité de la force ionique est apportée par un mélange
d'hypochlorite de métal alcalin, de chlorure de métal alcalin et d'hydroxyde de métal
alcalin.
8. Composition détergente aqueuse selon la revendication 7 comme dépendant de la revendication
4, caractérisée en ce qu'elle contient 1% à 1,5% d'oxyde d'alkyl (en C14 linéaire) diméthylamine, 9,0% à 9,5% d'hypochlorite de sodium, 9,0% à 9,5% de chlorure
de sodiume et 0,5% à 1,5% d'hydroxyde de sodium.
9. Composition détergente aqueuse selon l'une des revendications 7 et 8, dans laquelle
la composition comprend un parfum stable vis à vis de l'agent de blanchiment.