FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to detergent compositions and wash solutions and, in particular
to a specific emulsifier system for use In said compositions and solutions to provide
enhanced grease and oily soil removal from fabrics, even at relatively low washing
temperatures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The formulation of cleaning compositions with mixtures of surfactants in order to
obtain improved detergency or controlled suds formation is well known in the detergent
art. More especially the blending of different surfactant types for this purpose is
well understood and numerous mixtures e.g., of nonionic and anionic or zwitterionic
surfactants or of anionic, nonionic and cationic surfactants have been disclosed.
Typical examples of mixtures of the binary type are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,823,
Matheson et ai., issued January 25, 1978, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,569, issued November
18, 1975; and examples of ternary mixtures are provided by U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,165,
Smith et al., issued March 23, 1982, U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,882, Nirschl et al., issued
October 28, 1975, and British Pat. Nos. 873,214, Brunt et al., published July 19,
1961, and 614,297, General Aniline and Film, published August 9, 1950.
[0003] It has now been found that certain glyceryl monoesters, specifically the glyceryl
monoesters of C
10 and C
12 aliphatic carboxylic acids, when used In combination with each other in detergent
solutions containing conventional surfactants, can provide improved removal of oily
soils from said fabrics, even at the lower washing temperatures which are tending
to become common in household laundering.
[0004] Glyceryl monoesters of fatty acids are surfactants employed primarily as emulsifiers
in the foods industry but their low solubility in water has generally tended to discourage
their use in detengent compositions designed for use In aqueous media. British Pat.
No. 1,564,507, Unilever, published April 10, 1980, discloses aqueous bath foam compositions
comprising from 1 to 50% by weight of glyceryl monoesters of C
8-C
14 fatty acids with from 5% to 50% by weight of anionic surfactants. The compositions
are intended for personal cleansing (e.g., bath and shower) use and for washing of
dishes and fabrics. The patent emphasizes low solubility of the fatty monoglycerides
as facilitating their deposition on skin. The intended function of the monoglycerides
in the said compositions is as skin emollient,- rather than. as an adjunct to detergency.
[0005] Japanese Patent Application No. 73500/73, Ajinomoto, Inc., published March 11, 1975,
discloses a liquid detergent composition comprising an N-long chain acylated amino
acid salt and a fatty acid nonionic surfactant, which can be glyceryl monostearate,
optionally in the presence of a sequestering agent such as EDTA, NTA or citrate. Here,
also, the emphasis is on the function of the monoglyceride as a skin conditioning
agent.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,761, Peltre et al., issued March 11, 1980 teaches the use of
glyceryl fatty esters containing at least 16 carbon atoms as components of suds suppressing
systems for detergent compositions, including anionic and nonionic surfactants.
[0007] Glyceryl monoesters of C12-C18 fatty acids have also been disclosed as components
of dryer-added sheet substrate fabric softening compositions, examples of such disclosures
being those in U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,340, Murphy et al., issued December 28, 1976; U.S.
Pat. No. 3,632,396, Perez-Zamora, issued January 4, 1972; and British Pat. No. 1,571,527,
Norris, published July 16, 1980.
[0008] It is the object of the present invention to provide emulsifier compositions for
laundry use which improve the oily soil removal capabilities of said compositions
in aqueous solution, particularly under low temperature laundering conditions.
1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention is directed to a emulsifier system for improving the oily soil removal
properties of laundry detergents, the said emulsifier system comprising a mixture
of glyceryl monolaurin:glyceryl monocaprin in a weight ratio of 80:20 to 70:30.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Broadly, the present invention comprises a emulsifier system comprising a mixture
of glyceryl monolaurate:glyceryl monocaprate in a weight ratio of 80:20 to .70:30.
This emulsifier system is especially effective in improving the oily soil removal
performance of conventional laundry detergents at low wash temperatures, e.g., 60°-95°F
(15°-35°C). Neither component alone is as effective as the combination at these low
temperatures.
[0011] The invention also comprises detergent compositions comprising from 5% to 60% of
an anionic or ethoxylated nonionic surfactant from about 5% to about 60% of the emulsifier
system and from 0% to 60% of a sequestering builder.
[0012] All ratios and percentages herein are "by weight" unless otherwise stated.
The Emulsifier System
[0013] The emulsifier system of the present invention comprises a mixture of monolaurin:monocaprin
in a weight ratio of 80:20 to 50:50, preferably about 80:20 to 70:30.
[0014] The glyceryl esters useful in the present invention are the monoesters of C
10 and C12 aliphatic carboxylic acids, i.e., capric and lauric acid. The carboxylic
acids may be derived from natural sources i.e., vegetable oils or animal fats, or
may be synthetic in origin i.e., from olefin build-up or Oxo synthesis.
[0015] The preparation of glyceryl monoesters is well known in the art, and is conventionally
carried out by means of a two stage process involving partial glycerolysis of triglyceride,
followed by molecular distillation. Although it is preferred that the monoester comprises
at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% by weight of the glyceryl ester component,
esters of monoester content of 70% can be used in which the major portion of the remainder
is usually the diester together with minor proportions of glycerin and fatty acid.
The level of tri ester (i.e., the starting triglyceride) should be minimized and should
not exceed 1% by weight of the ester component, as It constitutes a cleaning load.
Separation of the desired monoester or monoester fraction from the glycerolysis reaction
mixture is normally carried out by means of vacuum distillation.
[0016] In the case of the glyceryl monocaprate, It may be more convenient to esterify the
glycerin with capric acid. This technique also has to be used where synthetically
derived fatty acids are employed in the monoester synthesis.
[0017] In order to provide the grease and oily soil removal benefits obtainable with detergent
compositions in accordance with the invention, the detergent composition should contain
from 5% to 60% (preferably from 20% to
. 45%, most preferably from 25% to 35%) of the monolaurin:monocaprin emulsifier system.
[0018] The amount of a composition added to a laundering solution should be such as to produce
a concentration of from 0.005% to 0.25%, preferably from 0.01% to 0.015% of the emulsifier
system in the solution.
Surfactants
[0019] Surfactants comprise from 5% to 60%, preferably from 25% to 50%, most preferably
from 35% to 45% of the detergent compositions herein. Preferably the surfactants are
anionic, but nonionics can be used, either alone or in combination with anionics.
[0020] The anionic surfactant can be any one or more of the materials used conventionally
in laundry detergents, and include fatty acid soaps such as sodium or potassium salts
of C to C
20 fatty acids as well as synthetic anionic surfactants. Suitable synthetic anionic
surfactants are water-soluble salts of alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, aikyl
polyethoxy ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, alpha-sulpho-carboxylates
and their; esters, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, fatty acid monoglyceride sulfates
and sulfonates, alkyl phenol polyethoxy ether sulfates, 2-acyloxy alkane-1-sulfonates,
and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates.
[0021] A particularly suitable class of anionic surfactants includes water-soluble salts,
particularly the alkali metal, and alkanolammonium salts of organic sulfuric reaction
products having in their molecular structure an alkyl or alkaryl group containing
from 8 to 22, especially from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric
acid ester group. (Included in the term "alkyl" Is the alkyl portion of acyl groups).
Examples of this group of synthetic detergents which form part of the detergent compositions
of the present invention are the sodium and potassium alkyl sulfates, especially those
obtained by sulfating the higher alcohols (C
8-C
18) carbon atoms produced by reducing the glycerides of tallow or coconut oil and sodium
and potassium alkyl benzene sulfonates, in which the alkyl group contains from 9 to
15, especially 11 to 13, carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain configuration,
e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Pat Nos. 2,220,099 and 2,477,383 and those
prepared from alkylbenzenes obtained by alkylation with straight chain chloroparaffins
(using aluminum trichloride catalysis) or straight chain olefins (using hydrogen fluoride
catalysis). Especially valuable are linear straight chain alkyl benzene sulfonates
in which the average of the alkyl group is 11.8 carbon atoms, abbreviated as C
11.8 LAS, and C
12-C
15 methyl branched alkyl sulfates.
[0022] Other anionic detergent compounds herein include the sodium C
10-18 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; and sodium or potassium salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfate
containing 1 to 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl groups
contain 8 to 12 carbon atoms.
[0023] Other useful anionic detergent compounds herein include the water-soluble salts or
esters of alpha-sulfonated fatty acids containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the
fatty acid group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts
of 2-acyloxy-alkane-l-sulfonic acids containing from 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl
group and from 9 to 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; alkyl ether sulfates containing
from 10 to 18, especially 12 to 16, carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from 1 to
12, especially 1 to 6, more especially 1 to 4 moles of ethylene oxide; water-soluble
salts of olefin sulfonates containing from 12. to 24, preferably 14 to 16, carbon
atoms, especially those made by reaction with sulfur trioxide followed by neutralization
under conditions such that any sultones present are hydrolyzed to the corresponding
hydroxy alkane sulfonates; water-soluble salts of paraffin sulfonates containing from
8 to 24, especially 14 to 18 carbon atoms, and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing
from 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane
moiety.
[0024] The alkane chains of the foregoing non-soap anionic surfactants can be derived from
natural sources such as coconut oil or tallow, or can be made synthetically as for
example using the Ziegler or Oxo processes. Water solubility can be achieved by using
alkali metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium cations; sodium is preferred.
[0025] Suitable fatty acid soaps can be selected from the ordinary alkali metal (sodium,
potassium), ammonium, and alkylolammonium salts of higher fatty acids containing from
8 to 24, preferably from 10 to 22 and especially from 16 to 22 carbon atoms in the
alkyl chain. Suitable fatty acids can be obtained from natural sources such as, for
instance, from soybean oil, castor oil, tallow, whale and fish oils, grease, lard
and mixtures thereof). The fatty acids also can be synthetically prepared (e.g., by
the oxidation of petroleum,
'or by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide by the Fischer-Tropsch process). Resin acids
are suitable such as rosin and those resin acids in tall oil. Naphthenic acids are
also suitable. Sodium and potassium soaps can be made by direct saponification of
the fats and oils or by the neutralization of the free fatty acids which are prepared
in a separate manufacturing process. Particularly useful are the sodium and potassium
salts of the mixtures of fatty acids derived from tallow and hydrogenated fish oil.
[0026] In preferred surfactant systems the anionic surfactants should be nonethoxylated,
as such surfactants show superior grease and oily soil removal capability. Preferably
also the surfactants are of the sulfonate or sulfate type and mixtures of anionic
surfactants are particularly suitable herein, especially mixtures of sulfonate and
sulfate surfactants in a weight ratio of from 10:1 to 1:5, preferably from 5:1 to
1:1.5, more preferably from 5:1 to 1:1. Especially preferred is a mixture of an alkyl
benzene sulfonate having from 9 to 15, especially 11 to 13 carbon atoms in the alkyl
radical, the cation being an alkali metal, preferably sodium; and an alkyl sulfate
having from 10 to 20, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical.
[0027] Nonionic surfactants useful in the present invention are condensates of ethylene
oxide with a hydrophobic moiety to provide a surfactant having an average hydrophilic-lipophilic
balance (HLB) in the range from 9 to 15, preferably from 9.5 to 13.5, more preferably
from 10 to 12.5. The hydrophobic moiety may be aliphatic or aromatic in nature and
the length of the polyoxyethylene group which is condensed with any particular hydrophobic
group can be readily adjusted to yield a water-soluble compound having the desired
degree of balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements.
[0028] Examples of suitable nonionic surfactants include:
1. The polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenol, e.g., the condensation products
of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms in either
a straight chain or branched chain configuration, with ethylene oxide, the said ethylene
oxide being present in amounts equal to 3 to 20, preferably 5 to 14 moles of ethylene
oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. The alkyl substitutent in such compounds may be derived,
for example, from polymerized propylene, di-isobutylene, octene and nonene. Other
examples include dodecylphenol condensed with 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of
phenol; di- nonylphenol condensed with 11 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol;
nonylphenol and di-isooctylphenol condensed with 13 moles of ethylene oxide.
2. The condensation product of primary or secondary aliphatic alcohols having from
8 to 24 carbon atoms, in either straight chain or branched chain configuration, with
from 2 to 15 moles, preferably 2 to 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
Preferably, the aliphatic alcohol comprises between 9 to 18 carbon atoms and is ethoxylated
with between 2 and 9, desirably between 3 and 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of
aliphatic alcohol. The preferred surfactants are prepared from primary alcohols which
are straight chain (such as those derived from natural fats or prepared by the Ziegler
process from ethylene, e.g., myristyl, cetyl, stearyl alcohols). Specific examples
of nonionic surfactants falling within the scope of the invention include the condensation
products of coconut alcohol with an average of between 5 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide
per mole of alcohol, the coconut alkyl portion having from 10 to 14 carbon atoms,
and the condensation products of tallow alcohol with an average of between 7 to 12
moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, the tallow portion comprising essentially
between 16 and 22 carbon atoms. Secondary linear alkyl ethoxylates are also suitable
In the present compositions, especially those ethoxylates of the Tergitol series having
from 9 to 15 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and up to 11, especially from 3 to 9,
ethoxy residues per molecule, Tergitol being a trade name of Union Carbide Corp.
3. The compounds formed by condensing ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed
by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The molecular weight
of the hydrophobic portion generally falls in the range of 1500 to 1800. Such synthetic
nonionic detergents are available on the market under the trade name of "Pluronic"
supplied by Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation.
[0029] Especially preferred nonionic surfactants for use herein are the C
9-C
15 primary alcohol ethoxylates containing 3 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of
alcohol, particularly the C
12-C
15 primary alcohols containing 6 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
[0030] Preferred compositions, in accordance with the invention, employ a ratio of anionic
surfactant to glyceryl ester of from 0.25:1 to 4:1, preferably 0.5:1 1 to 2:1, and
most preferably 0.67:1 1 to 1.5:1.
[0031] A particularly desirable additional component of detergent compositions in accordance
with the invention is a sequestering agent, present in an amount of from 0 to 60%,
more usually from 5 to 50% by weight of the composition. The sequestering agents can
be either organic or inorganic in form and may be water-soluble or water-insoluble
in character.
[0032] Suitable inorganic builder salts include orthophosphates, pyrophosphates, tripolyphosphates
and the higher polymeric glassy phosphates, silicates, carbonates, and the water-insoluble
crystalline aluminosilicates such as hydrated Zeolite A, X or P.
[0033] Organic sequestering agents that can be incorporated include the aminocarboxylates
such as the salts of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid
(EDTA) and diethyl- enetriaminepenta acetic acid (DETPA) and the methylene phosphonate
analogues of these materials NTMP, EDTMP and DETPMP, as well as the salts of polycarboxylic
acids such as lactic acid, glycollic acid and ether derivatives thereof as disclosed
in Belgian Pat. Nos. 821,368, 821,369 and 821,370; succinic acid, malonic acid, (ethylenedioxy)
diacetic acid, maleic acid, diglycollic acid, tartaric acid, tartronic acid and fumaric
acid, citric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid,
lactoxy- succinic acid, and 2-oxy-1,1,3-propane tri-carboxylic acid; oxy- disuccinic
acid, 1,1,2,2-ethane tetracarboxylic acid, 1,1,3,3-propane tetracarboxylic acid and
1,1I,2,3-propane tetracarboxylic acid; cyclo-pentane-cis, cis, cis-tetracarboxylic
acid; cyclo- pentadienide pentacarboxylic acid, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydrofuran-cis, cis,
cis-tetracarboxylic acid, 2,5-tetrahydrofuran-cis-dicarboxylic acid, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexane-hexacarboxylic
acid, mellitic acid, pyromellitic acid and the phthalic acid derivatives disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,569, issued November 18, 1975.
[0034] The above-described inorganic and organic sequestering agents can be used in combination
in order to ensure sequestration of each metal ion that influences detergency. An
example of such a combination would be the use of an insoluble zeolite primarily for
calcium, a polycarboxylate primarily for magnesium, and an amino polyphosphonate primarily
for heavy metal ions.
Additional Optional Components
[0035] The compositions of the present invention can be supplemented by a wide range of
additional optional components.
[0036] A principal optional component which is a highly preferred ingredient of the compositions
is an inorganic peroxygen bleach of the perhydrate type, defined for the purposes
of this invention as having hydrogen peroxide associated with the molecule. Alkali
metal perborates, percarbonates, persilicates and perpyrophos- phates are examples
of such bleaches. They are normally included at levels of from 5% to 35% by weight,
preferably from 15% to 25% by weight of the composition.
[0037] Preferred perhydrates are sodium perborate mono- and tetrahydrate and sodium percarbonate.
Sodium perborate is the most preferred perhydrate as the addition of this material
to compositions according to the invention provides an enhancement of their grease
and oily soil removal capability.
[0038] A highly preferred optional component of compositions in accordance with the invention
is an organic peroxyacid bleach precursor, a so-called bleach activator. Compounds
of this type are well known in the detergent art. They react with inorganic peroxygen
bleaches such as described above to produce peroxyacids: which are more powerful bleaches
than the inorganic peroxygen compounds. The inorganic peroxygen compound can be introduced
into the wash solution as part of a conventional laundry detergent or it can be introduced
as part of the deter- gent/emulsifier composition of the present invention, along
with the organic peoxyacid bleach precursor. Highly preferred precursors include tetraacetyl
ethylene diamine, tetra acetyl methylene diamine, tetraacetylglycouril, sodium p-acetoxybenzene
sulfonate, sodium p-C
7-c acyloxybenzene sulfonate, penta acetyl glucose and octa acetyl lactose. The precursors
are incorporated so as to provide from 5 to 50 ppm of available oxygen from the peroxy
acid in the wash liquor and normally are present in an amount so as to provide an
inorganic peroxygen compound to precursor molar ratio of at least 1.5:1, preferably
at least 2:1 and normally in the range from 3:1 to 12:1.
[0039] Rather than use organic peroxy acid bleach precursors, which depend on reaction with
an inorganic peroxygen compound, organic peroxyacid bleaches per se can be used in
the compositions herein. Examples of such bleaches are perlauric acid, diperoxydodecanedioic
acid, diperoxyazelaic acid, perphthalic acid and peroxymyristic acid.
[0040] Soil suspending and antiredeposition agents are also preferred components of the
compositions of the invention at levels of from 0.1% to 10% by weight. Methyl cellulose
and its derivatives such as water-soluble salts of carboxymethyl-cellulose, carboxy-
hydroxymethyl cellulose and polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of 400
to 10,000 are common components of the present invention.
[0041] Enzymes in minor amounts are conventional ingredients of the compositions, those
suitable for use including the materials discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,519,570, McCarty,
issued July 7, 1970, and 3,553,139, McCarty et al., issued January 5, 1971.
[0042] Anionic fluorescent brightening agents are well-known ingredients suitable for use
in the compositions herein at levels of from about: 0.05% to about 4%. Examples are
disodium 4,4'-bis-(2-di- ethanolamino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2:2'-disulfonate
and disodium 4,4'-bis-(2-morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino- stilbene-2: 21-disulfonate.
[0043] The present compositions also can contain suds regulating components In an amount
of from 0.05% to 3%. Preferred are microcrystalline waxes having a melting point in
the range from 35°C to 115°C and saponification value of less than 100. The microcrystalline
waxes are substantially water-insoluble, but are water-dispersible in the presence
of organic surfactants.. Preferred microcrystalline waxes having a melting point from
65°C to 100°C, a molecular weight in the range from 400-1000; and a penetration value
of at least 6, measured at 77°C by ASTM-D1321. Suitable examples of the above waxes
include microcrystalline and oxidized micro-crystalline petrolatum waxes; Fischer-Tropsch
and oxidized Fischer-Tropsch waxes; ozokerite; ceresin; montan wax; beeswax, candelilla;
and carnauba wax.
[0044] Where the formulations are particulate in nature anticaking agents such as sodium
sulfosuccinate or sodium benzoate can be included in varying amounts as desired. Aesthetic
ingredients such as dyes, pigments, photo activated bleaches such as tri-and tetra-sulfonated
zinc phthalo cyanine, and perfumes are also normal components of the compositions.
[0045] Detergent compositions, in accordance with the invention, can be solid or liquid
and where they are solid can take any of the conventional forms, e.g., spray dried
or agglomerated particles, bars or tablets. The glyceryl esters can be incorporated
into spray dried granular compositions either with the components forming the spray
dried base powder or as a sprayed or prilled additive to the base granules. In general,
addition to the spray dried base powder is preferred.
[0046] According to another aspect of the invention, aqueous laundry liquors are provided
comprising from 100 to 25,000 ppm of the compositions as hereinbefore described and
such liquors can be formed in the conventional manner by direct dissolution of the
compositions into water to form the wash solution. However, in accordance with a further
aspect of the invention, the liquors can also be formed by the addition of a laundry
additive product incorporating some of the components of the present invention to
a previously formed wash liquor containing the remainder.
[0047] Such laundry additive products can take a variety of physical forms, viz., liquids,
particulate solids, tablets, pouches or sachets or impregnated sheet substrates. Typically,
but not invariably, the aqueous wash liquor will already contain an anionic surfactant
and possibly also a sequestering agent and the additive product will comprise the
glyceryl ester emulsifier system of the present invention. In certain preferred executions,
additive products may themselves constitute compositions containing the emulsifier
system and other materials, designed to be added to detergent liquors to provide a
boost in overall detergency performance in addition to the improved oily soil removal
provided by the emulsifier system.
[0048] Additive products in accordance with this aspect of the present invention may comprise
one or more of the components of the composition in combination with a carrier such
as a compatible particulate substrate, a flexible non particulate substrate or a container.
Examples of compatible particulate substrates include inert materials such as clays
and other aluminosilicates including zeolites both natural and synthetic in origin.
Other compatible particulate carrier materials include hydratable inorganic salts
such as phosphates, carbonates and sulfates.
[0049] Additive products enclosed in bags or containers are manufactured such that the containers
prevent egress of their contents when dry but are adapted to release their contents
on immersion in an aqueous solution.
[0050] A convenient execution of this form of the additive product comprises a particulate
solid composition enclosed in a container. Usually the container will be flexible,
such as a bag or pouch. The bag may be of fibrous construction coated with a water-
impermeable protective material so as to retain the contents, such as is disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,747, issued February 22, 1983. Alternatively, it may be formed
of a water-insoluble synthetic polymeric material provided with an edge seal or closure
designed to rupture in aqueous media as disclosed in European published Patent Application
Nos. 0011500, published May 28, 1980, 0011501, published May 28, 1980, and 0011968,
published June 11, 1980, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,293, issued September 7, 1982. A
convenient form of water frangible closure comprises a water soluble adhesive disposed
along and sealing one edge of a pouch formed of a water impermeable polymeric film
such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
[0051] An alternative form of the additive product comprises a composition in water releasable
combination with a nonparticulate flexible substrate in a weight ratio of 1:10 to
30:1. Laundry additive products in this form, suitable substrates for such products
and procedures for preparing such products, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,562,
Spadini et al., issued September 2, 1980, incorporated by reference herein.
[0052] The invention will be illustrated by the following examples.
EXAMPLE 1
[0053] 35 gms glyceryl monolaurate (GML) and 15 gms glyceryl monocaprate (GMC) both having
90% minimum monoester content, were melted and stirred at 65°C to 70°C for approximately
five minutes. The melt was poured onto a cold surface upon which it solidified. The
resulting solid was ground to a powder and passed through a 16 mesh (U.S. Standard)
screen. The result is a 70:30 blend of GML/GMC.
EXAMPLE II
[0054] A detergent composition having the following formula was prepared by dry-mixing the
granular GML/GMC composition of Example I with the other materials of the composition
in the proportions indicated.
[0055] :28.6% GML/GMC of Example I 21.50% C
11-C
12 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (C
11-C
12 LAS, Calsoft F-90 , powdered form)
21.50% C
12-C
14 alkylethoxylate (2.25) sulfated (100% active dried paste) 22.30% Sodium tripolyphosphate
(anhydrous powder) 2.05% Flourescent Whitening Agent 4.05% Enzyme Granulate (protease/amylase
T-Granulate from Novo Inaustri)
[0056] This composition is formulated to be used at about 1300 ppm in a typical 17 gallon
U.S. washing machines.
EXAMPLE III
[0057] The detergent composition described in Example II was utilized as a laundry additive
in addition to the normal laundry detergent in a performance test. The test was conducted
in a 2 gallon automatic miniwasher. The two treatments were, TIDER detergent alone
at recommended usage of 1500 ppm (11.3 gms), and TIDE at recommended usage plus the
detergent composition described in Example II at 1320 ppm (2.64 gms). The water was
set at 95°F temperature and 7 grains/gallon water hardness. 290-300 gms. of fabrics
soiled with a laboratory-simulated body soil were added to each wash, simulating a
real laundry load. Performance was measured by visual comparison by expert graders
of cotton, and polyester/cotton blend swatches which were prepared in an identical
manner for each treatment. In this test, the detergent plus test composition gave
better overall stain removal performance than detergent alone, particularly on grease/oil
stains such as bacon grease, makeup, and facial body soil. The results are reported
in Table 1. The data in the table represent the difference in average panel score
(visual grading) between the detergent and the detergent plus additive. "+" indicates
an advantage for detergent + additive.

EXAMPLE IV
[0058] 22.5 gms glyceryl monolaurate and 9.65 gms glyceryl monocaprate were melted and stirred
at 65°-70°C. To this liquid was added the following solids: 24.10 gms C
11-C
12 LAS, 24.95 gms of AE 2.25S, 25.0 gms sodium tripolyphosphate, 2.3 gms Fluorescent
Whitening Agent #27, and 4.5 gms protease/amylase enzyme. This mixture has the same
formula as the composition in Example II. The temperature was maintained at 65°-70°C,
and the mixture was stirred to produce a fairly uniform slurry. A pre-weighed 9"×14"
nonwoven rayon substrate containing 1-2 mm diameter aperatures was placed on a flat
heated steel plate and 23 gms of the slurry was poured onto the substrate and spread
to obtain an even coating. The substrate was removed, allowed to cool in ambient,
low humidity air In order to permit the active to solidify, and then it was weighed.
The substrate was then returned to the hot plate, additional slurry was added, followed
by cooling and weighing. This process was repeated until 22.4 gms of the composition
was bound to the substrate.
[0059] This article is intended for use as a laundry additive by adding to a laundry detergent
solution in a typical 17 gallon capacity washing machine.