Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a bleach or bleaching detergent composition containing
a bleach activator having a cationic group.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] A chlorinated bleaching agent has disadvantages in that the fibers to which it is
applicable are limited, i.e., it is not applicable to colored or patterned soft goods,
materials, cloths, fabrics and the like, and that it has a peculiar odor, so that
an oxygenic bleaching agent free from these disadvantages has recently been used widely.
[0003] As such an oxygenic bleaching agent, sodium percarbonate and sodium perborate are
particularly utilized from the standpoint of bleaching performance and stability.
[0004] However, the bleaching power of the oxygenic bleaching agent is poorer than that
of a chlorinated bleaching agent, so that various bleach activators have been used
together therewith.
[0005] Although tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED), acetoxybenzene sulfonic acid salts,
tetraacetyl glycoluril and glucose pentaacetate have been representatively used as
the bleach activator, they are still insufficient in bleach activating effects.
[0006] The present inventors previously found that a compound which reacts with hydrogen
peroxide to form an organic peracid having a cationic group is excellent as a bleach
activator (see U. S. Patent Nos. 4,933,103 and 5,059,344, and European Patent Publication-A
Nos. 371809 and 403152).
[0007] For instance, European Patent Publication-A No. 403152 mentions a bleach activator
represented by the following formula:

However, when a bleach or bleaching detergent composition containing such a compound
which can form an organic peracid having a cationic group is applied to colored or
patterned soft goods, materials, cloths, fabrics and the like, the discoloration of
the soft goods, etc. cannot be acceptably inhibited, though the compound is excellent
in bleach activating performance.
Disclosure of the Invention
Summary of the Invention
[0008] Under these circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide a bleach
or bleaching detergent composition which is excellent in bleach activating performance
and which hardly discolors colored or patterned soft goods, materials, cloths, fabrics
and the like.
[0009] The present inventors have extensively studied to solve the above-mentioned problems
and have found that a composition which comprises hydrogen peroxide or a peroxide
which liberates hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution thereof and compounds represented
respectively by the following general formulae (I) and (II) at a specified ratio solves
the aforementioned problems:

in which R¹ is, either a straight- or branched-chain, substituted or unsubstituted,
alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or alkenyl having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, R² and R³
are, each independently, an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and A and B are, each
independently, either a straight- or branched-chain, substituted or unsubstituted,
alkylene having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and

in which R¹, R², R³ and A are defined above.
[0010] The present invention has been accomplished on the basis of this finding.
[0011] Namely, the present invention provides a bleach or bleaching detergent composition
which comprises or essentially consists of:
(a) hydrogen peroxide or a peroxide which liberates hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous
solution thereof,
(b) a quaternary ammonium compound having the general formula (I);

in which R¹ is, either a straight- or branched-chain, substituted or unsubstituted,
alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or alkenyl having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, R² and R³
are, each independently, an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and A and B are, each
independently, either a straight- or branched-chain, substituted or unsubstituted,
alkylene having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and
(c) an amide derivative having the general formula (II);

in which R¹, R², R³ and A are defined above, wherein the weight ratio of (b)/(c)
is in the range of from 100/0.01 to 100/5.
[0012] R¹ in the formulae (I) and (II) is, preferably, either a straight- or branched-chain,
alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having at least one substituent selected from
the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a halogen atom or alkenyl having 2 to
20 carbon atoms and having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting
of a hydroxyl group and a halogen atom.
[0013] When R¹ in the formulae (I) and (II) is alkyl, it is preferably, either a straight-
or branched-chain, alkyl having 1 to 9 carbon atoms.
[0014] When R¹ in the formulae (I) and (II) is alkenyl, it is preferably a straight-chain
alkenyl having 2 to 17 carbon atoms.
[0015] A and B in the formulae (I) and (II) are preferably, each independently, a straight-chain
alkylene having 2 to 10 carbon atoms.
[0016] The molar ratio of component (a)/component (b) is in the range of preferably from
99.9/0.1 to 20/80, and more preferably from 99/1 to 50/50.
[0017] The weight ratio of component (b)/component (c) is in the range of preferably from
100/0.1 to 100/4.
[0018] The composition may further comprise at least one component selected from the group
consisting of a bleach activator other than component (b), a surfactant, a divalent
metal ion-sequestering agent, an alkaline agent, an inorganic electrolyte, an antiredeposition
agent, an enzyme, a fluorescent dye, a stabilizer for the peroxide, a perfume and
a coloring matter in their respective effective amounts.
[0019] Further scope and the applicability of the present invention will become apparent
from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood
that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments
of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and
modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0020] Component (a) according to the present invention is either hydrogen peroxide or a
peroxide which can generate hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution thereof. Examples
of the latter include sodium percarbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate/hydrogen peroxide
adduct, sodium pyrophosphate/hydrogen peroxide adduct, urea/hydrogen peroxide adduct,
4Na₂SO₄·2H₂O₂·NaCl, sodium perborate monohydrate, sodium perborate tetrahydrate, sodium
peroxide and potassium peroxide, among which sodium percarbonate, sodium perborate
monohydrate and sodium perborate tetrahydrate are preferable.
[0021] Component (b) according to the present invention is a quaternary ammonium compound
represented by the general formula (I) and examples thereof include the following
compounds:

When these compounds, that is, compounds (a) to (e), for example, are synthesized,
an inorganic salt such as an alkali metal halide and an ammonium halide or an organic
salt such as a quaternary ammonium halide is generally formed as a by-product. The
bleach or bleaching detergent composition of the present invention may contain at
least one of the above-mentioned inorganic salt and the above-mentioned organic salt
in such an amount that it does not hinder the object of the present invention.
[0022] The molar ratio of component (a) to component (b) is preferably in the range of from
99.9 : 0.1 to 20 : 80, and still more preferably from 99 : 1 to 50 : 50.
[0023] Component (c) according to the present invention is an amide derivative represented
by the general formula (II) and examples thereof include the following compounds:

In the present invention, it is necessary that component (c) is used in an amount
of from 0.01 to 5 parts by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 4 parts per 100 parts by
weight of component (b). This range is critical, because when the amount of component
(c) used is less than 0.01 part by weight per 100 parts by weight of the component
(b), the discoloration of colored or patterned soft goods, materials, cloths, fabrics
and the like in bleaching will not be sufficiently inhibited, while when it exceeds
5 parts by weight, bleaching performance will be hindered.
[0024] The bleach or bleaching detergent composition of the present invention may contain
a bleach activator other than component (b) and additives which are ordinarily added
to a bleach or bleaching detergent composition, in addition to the above essential
components (a), (b) and (c). Examples of such additives are as follows:
[1] bleach activators other than component (b)
[0025] tetraacetyl ethylene diamine (TAED), acetoxybenzene sulfonic acid salts, tetraacetyl
glycolyl uril, glucose pentaacetate and a compound which reacts with hydrogen peroxide
to form an organic peracid having a cationic group (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open
Nos. 315666/1988, 147698/1990 and 17196/1991).
[2] surfactants
[0026]
(1) salts of alkyl (a straight chain or branched) benzenesulfonic acids or alkyl (a
straight chain or branched) benzenesulfonates wherein the alkyl group has 10 to 16
carbon atoms on average.
(2) ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or butylene oxide adducts of salts of alkyl or
alkenyl ether sulfates, or, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide or butylene oxide adducts,
at a molar ratio of ethylene oxide : propylene oxide or butylene oxide ranging 0.1
: 9.9 to 9.9 : 0.1, of salts of alkyl or alkenyl ether sulfates, wherein the adducts
have 0.5 to 8 the above-described alkylene oxide units per molecule on average and
the alkyl or alkenyl group is a straight chain or branched and has 10 to 20 carbon
atoms on average.
(3) salts of alkyl- or alkenyl-sulfuric acids, or, alkyl- or alkenyl-sulfates wherein
the alkyl or alkenyl group has 10 to 20 carbon atoms on average.
(4) salts of olefin (or alkene) sulfonic acids or olefin sulfonates wherein 10 to
20 carbon atoms are contained per molecule on average.
(5) salts of alkanesulfonic acids or alkanesulfonates wherein 10 to 20 carbon atoms
are contained per molecule on average.
(6) salts of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids wherein 10 to 24 carbon atoms are
contained per molecule on average.
(7) ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or butylene oxide adducts of alkyl or alkenyl
ether carboxylic acid salts, or, ethylene oxide and propylene oxide or butylene oxide
adducts, at a molar ratio of ethylene oxide : propylene oxide or butylene oxide ranging
0.1 : 9.9 to 9.9 : 0.1, of alkyl or alkenyl ether carboxylic acid salts, wherein the
adducts have 0.5 to 8 the above-described alkylene oxide units per molecule on average
and the alkyl or alkenyl group has 10 to 20 carbon atoms on average.
(8) salts and esters of α-sulfo fatty acids represented by the following formula:

wherein Y represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a counter ion;
Z represents a counter ion; and R¹⁰ represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 10
to 20 carbon atoms.
The counter ion constituting the above anionic surfactant includes ions of alkali
metals such as sodium and potassium.
(9) polyoxyethylene alkyl or alkenyl ethers wherein the alkyl or alkenyl group has
10 to 20 carbon atoms on average and the polyoxyethylene moiety is derived from 1
to 30 ethylene oxide molecules on average.
(10) polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers wherein the alkyl group has 6 to 12 carbon
atoms on average and the polyoxyethylene moiety is derived from 1 to 25 ethylene oxide
molecules on average.
(11) polyoxypropylene alkyl or alkenyl ethers wherein the alkyl or alkenyl group has
10 to 20 carbon atoms on average and the polyoxypropylene moiety is derived from 1
to 20 propylene oxide molecules on average.
(12) polyoxybutylene alkyl or alkenyl ethers wherein the alkyl or alkenyl group has
10 to 20 carbon atoms on average and the polyoxybutylene moiety is derived from 1
to 20 butylene oxide molecules on average.
(13) ethylene oxide and propylene oxide or butylene oxide adducts, at a molar ratio
of ethylene oxide : propylene oxide or butylene oxide ranging 0.1 : 9.9 to 9.9 : 0.1,
of alkyl or alkenyl ethers, wherein the adducts have 1 to 30 the above-described alkylene
oxide units per molecule on average and the alkyl or alkenyl group has 10 to 20 carbon
atoms on average.
(14) higher fatty acid alkanolamides and adducts thereof with alkylene oxide represented
by the following general formula:

wherein R¹¹ represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms;
R¹² represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; n is an integer of 1 to 3; and m
is 0 or an integer of 1 to 3.
(15) esters of sucrose with fatty acids having 10 to 20 carbon atoms on average.
(16) monoesters of glycerol with fatty acids having 10 to 20 carbon atoms on average.
(17) alkylamine oxides represented by the following general formula:

wherein R¹³ represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms;
and R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ each represent an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
(18) nonionic surfactants commercially available under the trade name of "Pluronic"
which is prepared by the condensation of ethylene oxide.
(19) cationic surfactants represented by the following general formulae:

wherein at least one of R¹⁶, R¹⁷, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ represents an alkyl or alkenyl group
having 8 to 24 carbon atoms and the others each represent an alkyl group having 1
to 5 carbon atoms; and X' represents a halogen atom or a methylsulfate;

wherein R¹⁶, R¹⁷, R¹⁸ and X' are each as defined above; and

wherein R¹⁶, R¹⁷ and X' are each as defined above; R²⁰ represents an alkylene
group having 2 to 3 carbon atoms; and p is an integer of 1 to 20.
[3] divalent metal ion-sequestering agents
[0027] One or more builder components selected from among the following compounds, for example,
alkali metal salts and alkanolamine salts which may be present in an amount of 0 to
50% by weight per the bleach or bleaching detergent composition of the present invention:
(1) alkali metal salts and alkanolamine salts of phosphoric acids such as orthophosphoric
acid, pyrophosphoric acid, triphosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid, hexametaphosphoric
acid and phytic acid.
(2) alkali metal salts and alkanolamine salts of phosphonic acids such as ethane-1,1-diphosphonic
acid, ethane-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid, ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid and
their derivatives, ethane-hydroxy-1,1,2-triphosphonic acid, ethane-1,2-dicarboxy-1,2-diphosphonic
acid and methanehydroxyphosphonic acid.
(3) alkali metal salts and alkanolamine salts of phosphono carboxylic acids such as
2-phosphonobutane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, 1-phosphonobutane-2,3,4-tricarboxylic acid
and α-methylphosphonosuccinic acid.
(4) alkali metal salts and alkanolamine salts of amino acids such as aspartic acid,
glutamic acid and glycine.
(5) alkali metal salts and alkanolamine salts of aminopolyacetic acids such as nitrilotriacetic
acid, iminodiacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic
acid, glycoletherdiaminetetraacetic acid, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, triethylenetetraminehexaacetic
acid and djenkolic acid.
(6) polyelectrolytes such as polyacrylic acid, polyfumaric acid, polymaleic acid,
poly-α-hydroxyacrylic acid and polyacetalcarboxylic acid and alkali metal salts and
alkanolamine salts thereof.
(7) alkali metal salts and alkanolamine salts of organic acids such as diglycolic
acid, oxydisuccinic acid, carboxymethyloxysuccinic acid, citric acid, lactic acid,
tartaric acid, oxalic acid, malic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, gluconic acid, carboxymethylsuccinic
acid and carboxymethyltartaric acid, among which alkali metal salts are preferable.
(8) aluminosilicates represented by zeolite A.
[4] alkaline agents and inorganic electrolytes
[0028] silicates, carbonates and sulfates, among which alkali metal salts, for example,
Glauber's salt are preferable.
[5] antiredeposition agents
[0029] polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone and carboxymethylcellulose.
[6] enzymes
[0030] protease, lipase, amylase and cellulase.
[7] fluorescent dyes
[0031] salts of 4,4'-bis(2-sulfostyryl)-biphenyl, salts of 4,4'-bis(4-chloro-3-sulfostyryl)-biphenyl,
2-(stylphenyl)naphthothiazole derivatives, 4,4'-bis(triazol-2-yl)stilbene derivatives
and bis(triazinylamino)stilbene disulfonic acid derivatives.
[8] stabilizers for peroxides
[0032] magnesium salts such as magnesium sulfate, magnesium silicate, magnesium chloride,
magnesium silicofluoride, magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide; and silicates such
as sodium silicate.
[9] perfumes and dyestuffs or coloring matters
[0033] The bleach or bleaching detergent composition according to the present invention
exhibits not only an excellent bleaching effect but also an excellent detergency against
sebum and mud dirts. Further, even when it is applied to colored or patterned soft
goods, materials, cloths, fabrics and the like, it does not cause the discoloration
of the soft goods, etc.. Furthermore, the bleach activator used in the bleach or bleaching
detergent composition according to the present invention is biodegradable, being extremely
safe for the human bodies.
Examples
[0034] The present invention will now be described by referring to the following Examples,
though the present invention is not limited to it.
Example 1
[0035] Bleach compositions were prepared according to the formulations specified in Table
1 and subjected to the following bleaching test and discoloration test:
(1) Bleaching Test
Preparation of tea-stained cloth:
[0036] 80 g of Nitto black tea (yellow package) was dipped in 3 ℓ of deionized water, and
was boiled for about 15 minutes and filtered through a desized bleached cotton cloth.
A cotton shirting cloth # 2003 was dipped in the obtained filtrate, followed by boiling
for about 15 minutes. The boiled liquid was taken off the fire and allowed to stand
for about 2 hours. The cloth was dried spontaneously, washed with water until the
washings became colorless, dehydrated, pressed and cut into a test piece of 10 cm
× 10 cm. This test piece was used in the following determination.
Determination of rate of bleaching:
[0037] Each bleaching composition specified in Table 1 was added to 300 ml of water at 20°C
so as to give an available oxygen content of 0.04%. The tea-stained cloth prepared
above was dipped in the solution for 30 minutes, washed with water and dried. The
rate of bleaching of the resulting cloth was determined according to the following
formula:
Rate of bleaching of tea-stained cloth:

Each reflectance was determined with a reflectometer NDR-101 DP (mfd. by Nippon
Denshoku Kogyo) with a filter of 460 nm. The results are given in Table 1.
(2) Discoloration Test
[0038] Each bleach composition specified in Table 1 was dissolved in tap water at 40°C so
as to give an available oxygen content of 0.04%. A cotton cloth dyed with a direct
dye (Sumilight Supra Blue FBGL) was dipped in the solution prepared above, dried and
examined for discoloration with a gray scale for discoloration according to JIS L
0804. Cases wherein the grade was 4.5 or above is shown by "ⓞ"; cases wherein the
grade was 4 or above but below 4.5 is shown by " ⃝"; cases wherein the grade was 3
or above but below 4 is shown by "△"; and cases wherein the grade was below 3 is shown
by "x". The results are set forth in Table 1.

1. A bleach or bleaching detergent composition comprising:
(a) hydrogen peroxide or a peroxide which generates hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous
solution thereof,
(b) a quaternary ammonium compound having the general formula (I);

in which R¹ is, either a straight- or branched-chain, substituted or unsubstituted,
alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or alkenyl having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, R² and R³
are, each independently an alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and A and B are, each
independently, either a straight- or branched-chain, substituted or unsubstituted,
an alkylene having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and
(c) an amide derivative having the general formula (II);

in which R¹, R², R³ and A are defined above; and wherein the weight ratio of (b)/(c)
is in the range of from 100/0.01 to 100/5.
2. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein R¹ in the formulae (I) and (II) is,
either a straight- or branched-chain, alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and having
at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and
a halogen atom or alkenyl having 2 to 20 carbon atoms and having at least one substituent
selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a halogen atom.
3. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein R¹ in the formulae (I) and (II) is,
either a straight- or branched-chain, alkyl having 1 to 9 carbon atoms.
4. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein R¹ in the formulae (I) and (II) is
a straight-chain alkenyl having 2 to 17 carbon atoms.
5. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein A and B in the formulae (I) and (II)
are, each independently, a straight-chain alkylene having 2 to 10 carbon atoms.
6. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of component (a)/component
(b) is in the range of from 99.9/0.1 to 20/80.
7. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein a molar ratio of component (a)/component
(b) is in the range of from 99/1 to 50/50.
8. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of component (b)/component
(c) is in the range of from 100/0.1 to 100/4.
9. The composition as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises at least one component
selected from the group consisting of a bleach activator other than component (b),
a surfactant, a divalent metal ion-sequestering agent, an alkaline agent, an inorganic
electrolyte, an antiredeposition agent, an enzyme, a fluorescent dye, a stabilizer
for the peroxide, a perfume and a coloring matter in an effective amount thereof.