| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 368 622 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
27.03.1991 Bulletin 1991/13 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
16.05.1990 Bulletin 1990/20 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 07.11.1989 |
|
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL SE |
| (30) |
Priority: |
08.11.1988 GB 8826109
09.10.1989 GB 8922683
|
| (71) |
Applicants: |
|
- UNILEVER PLC
London EC4P 4BQ (GB)
GB
- UNILEVER N.V.
NL-3013 AL Rotterdam (NL)
CH DE ES FR IT LI NL SE
|
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Thompson, Laurence Griffith
Wirral
Merseyside L49 6LA (GB)
- Hull, Michael
Helsby
Warrington WA6 9PS (GB)
- Giles, Dennis
Wirral
Merseyside L63 0EH (GB)
- Hammond, Estelle Jacqueline
Wirral
Merseyside L61 2XA (GB)
- Bernardi, Paolo
I-20090 Vimodrone (IT)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Fransella, Mary Evelyn et al |
|
Unilever PLC
Patent Division
Colworth House
Sharnbrook
Bedford MK44 1LQ
Bedford MK44 1LQ (GB) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Detergent compositions |
(57) A detergent composition for washing soiled materials, notably fabrics is based on
alkyl orthoxylene sulphonate as detergent active. Good detergency is achieved by restricting
electrolyte concentration so that there is an ionic strength of not more than 0.05
mole/litre in the wash liquor. A detergent composition for this purpose contains not
more than 60% by weight of water-soluble alkali metal salts and preferably contains
zeolite as water-insoluble builder. Alternatively or additionally a second surfactant,
which is soluble in electrolyte solution is included, in which case ionic strength
may be greater than 0.02 mole/litre and there is synergy between the surfactants.