Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to the use of amine oxide surfactants in cleaning compositions
and more particularly to their ability to remove stains, soils or combinations thereof
from carpets and fabrics.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Carpets produced from synthetic or natural fibers and mixtures thereof are commonly
used in residential and commercial applications as a floor covering. Various types
of fibers can be used in making carpets such as polyamide fibers, polyester fibers
as well as wool, cotton or even silk.
[0003] However, carpets as well as fabrics,irrespective of whether they are made from natural
or synthetic fibers,are all prone to soiling and staining when contacted with many
household items. Foods, grease, oils, beverages in particular such as coffee, tea
and soft drinks especially those containing acidic dyes can cause unsightly, often
dark stains on carpets and fabrics.
[0004] Also carpet fibers may become soiled as a result of dirt particles, clay, dust, particulate
soils in general, coming into contact with and adhering to the fibers of the carpets.
These latter soils often appear in the form of a diffuse layer of soils rather than
in the form of spots and tend to accumulate particularly in the so called "high traffic
areas" such as near doors as a result of intensive use of the carpets in such areas.
[0005] There are a number of carpet cleaning compositions described in the art for removing
stains and soils from carpets as well as a number of fabric cleaning compositions
described in the art for removing stains and soils from fabrics. However, these compositions
do not satisfactorily meet the consumer's needs regarding their cleaning performance
on different types of stains and soils. For example, carpet cleaning compositions
are not fully satisfactory on removing particulate stains and/or greasy stains, especially
in the so called "high traffic areas" of carpets.
[0006] Thus the object of the present invention is to provide improved stain removal performance,
in a manner which is applicable to a variety of cleaning compositions, i.e. compositions
being either in a liquid form, or in a powder form, or in a granular form, and to
a variety of applications like carpets and/or fabrics cleaning applications.
[0007] It has now been found that the above object can be met by incorporating amine oxide
surfactants according to the formula R1 R2R3NO, wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently
a saturated substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl group of from 1
to 30 carbon atoms, in a cleaning composition. Indeed, it has now been found that
said amine oxide surfactants allow to deliver improved stain removal performance on
a variety of stains including particulate stains, greasy/oily stains like chocolate,
sphagetti sauce, mayonnaise as well as bleachable stains like coffee, tea, and enzymatic
stains like blood. The present finding is applicable both in laundry cleaning application,
especially in laundry pretreatment, and in carpet cleaning application.
[0008] An advantage of the present invention is that it is applicable to all carpet types,
especially delicate natural fibers and is also safe to all carpet dye types, particularly
sensitive natural dyes used therein. The present invention is particularly suitable
for the cleaning of upholstery and car seat coverings.
[0009] Another advantage is that the compositions to be used according to the present invention
may be applied directly on the carpet without causing damage to the carpet. In addition
the cleaning action of the invention commences as soon as the carpet cleaning composition
has been applied to the surface. Indeed, the use of the carpet cleaning compositions
of the present invention does not necessarily require rubbing and/or brushing of the
carpet.
[0010] A further advantage of the present invention is that it is applicable to all types
of fabrics, especially delicate fabrics upon pretreatment conditions, e.g., when applied
onto the fabrics even for a prolonged period of contact, before said fabrics are washed.
Summary of the Invention
[0011] The present invention encompasses the use of an amine oxide surfactant according
to the formula RlR2R3NO, wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a saturated
substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl group of from 1 to 30 carbon
atoms, in a cleaning composition, to improve the stain removal performance of said
composition.
[0012] The present invention further encompasses a method of cleaning a carpet wherein a
composition comprising an amine oxide surfactant according to the formula R1R2R3NO,
wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a saturated substituted or unsubstituted,
linear or branched alkyl group of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, is applied to said carpet,
wherein said carpet is then optionally rubbed and/or brushed, and wherein said composition
is then removed from said carpet.
[0013] The present invention also encompasses a method of pretreating fabrics with a composition
comprising an amine oxide surfactant according to the formula R1R2R3NO, wherein each
of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a saturated substituted or unsubstituted, linear
or branched alkyl group of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, said method comprising the steps
of applying said composition in its neat form onto the fabric, and allowing said composition
to remain in contact with said fabric before said fabric is washed.
[0014] All amounts, percentages and ratios are given by weight of the total composition
in its neat form unless otherwise stated.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0015] In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to the use of amine oxide surfactants
according to the formula R1 R2R3NO, wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently
a saturated substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl group of from 1
to 30 carbon atoms, in a cleaning composition to improve the stain removal performance
of said composition.
[0016] As an essential ingredient, the compositions to be used according to the present
invention comprise an amine oxide surfactant or mixtures thereof.
[0017] Suitable amine oxide surfactants to be used herein are according to the following
formula R
1R
2R
3NO wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a saturated substituted or unsubstituted,
linear or branched alkyl groups of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and preferably of from
1 to 20 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred amine oxide surfactants to be used according
to the present invention are amine oxide surfactants having the following formula
R
1R
2R
3NO wherein R1 is a saturated linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 30 alkyl group,
preferably of 6 to 18 alkyl group, more preferably of 6 to 14, most preferably of
6 to 10 and wherein R2 and R3 are independently substituted or unsubstituted, linear
or branched alkyl groups of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably of from 1 to 3 carbon
atoms, and more preferably are methyl groups. In the most preferred embodiment of
the present invention said amine oxide surfactants are pure-cut amine oxide surfactants,
i.e., a pure single amine oxide surfactant, e.g. C
8 N,N-dimethyl amine oxide, as opposed to mixtures of amine oxide surfactants of different
chain lenghts.
[0018] Suitable amine oxide surfactants for use herein are for instance pure cut C8 amine
oxide or pure cut C10 amine oxide or pure cut C14 amine oxide, natural blend C8-C10
amine oxides as well as C12-C16 amine oxides. Said amine oxide surfactants may be
commercially available from Hoechst or Stephan.
[0019] Indeed, it has now been found that said amine oxide surfactants allow to deliver
improved stain removal performance on a variety of stains/soils including particulate
stains, greasy/oily stains, bleachable stains and/or enzymatic stains.
[0020] Indeed, it has been found that the removal of stains, in particular particulate stains
and/or greasy/oily stains and/or bleachable stains and/or enzymatic stains achieved
by using a cleaning composition comprising said amine oxide surfactants, is improved,
as compared to the removal of stains obtained by using the same composition without
said amine oxide surfactants or the same composition but with another surfactant like
for instance alkyl sulphate instead of said amine oxide surfactants.
[0021] By "particulate stains" it is meant herein any soils or stains of particulate nature
that can be found on carpets or fabrics, e.g., clay, dirt, dust, mud, concrete and
the like.
[0022] By "greasy/oily stains" it is meant herein any soils or stains of greasy/oily nature
that can be found on carpets or fabrics, e.g., make-up, lipstick, dirty motor oil
and mineral oil, greasy food like mayonnaise and spaghetti sauce.
[0023] By "bleachable stains" it is meant herein any stains on carpets or fabrics that can
be oxidised by bleach, e.g. coffee, tea, wine, grass or fruit juice.
[0024] By "enzymatic stains" it is meant herein any soils or stains of enzymatic nature
that can be found on carpets or fabrics, e.g., blood.
[0025] Also in the preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the compositions
herein further comprise a source of active oxygen, the presence of said amine oxide
surfactants improves the chemical stability of said compositions. Indeed, we have
observed that improved chemical stability, i.e., lower decomposition of the bleach
and the bleach activator, if present, is obtained by adding such an amine oxide surfactant.
It is believed that such stability is due to the capacity of the amine-oxide surfactants
to limit interactions between the bleach and the bleach activator, if present, possibly
through emulsification. It is believed that this stabilising effect is matrix independent.
[0026] Furthermore, said amine oxide surfactants, especially pure-cut short chain (C6-C10)
amine oxide surfactants have the advantage to reduce the amount of residues left onto
fibers being treated with a composition comprising them. Also, the residues left after
said composition comprising them has performed its cleaning action are partially in
a crystalline form. Indeed, it has been observed that with the compositions according
to the present invention comprising said amine oxide surfactants, especially pure-cut
amine oxide surfactants, more than 90%, preferably more than 95%, of the residues
left onto the fibers are crystals (generally lamellar and/or needle-shaped) with an
average particle surface bigger than 300µ
2. This results in a process of cleaning carpets whereby the residues left onto the
carpets are removed more easily as opposed to residues being sticky and thus difficult
to remove by for example vacuum cleaning said carpets.
[0027] Another advantage of the presence of said amine oxide surfactants, for example mixtures
of short chain amine oxide surfactants (C6-C10) with longer chain ones (e.g., C12-C30
amine oxide surfactants), in the compositions according to the present invention,
is that they allow to control the foam level and especially the foam persistence in
said compositions. This results in compositions being particularly suitable to be
used in carpet cleaning machines as well as neat onto carpets and/or fabrics without
formation of high amounts of foam.
[0028] Actually, an advantage of the finding of the present invention is that it is applicable
in different cleaning processes including carpet cleaning and fabric cleaning especially
fabric pretreatment.
[0029] Accordingly, such cleaning compositions comprising said amine oxide surfactants are
particularly useful as laundry pretreaters, i.e. in a process where said composition
is applied in neat form onto soiled portions of fabrics before said fabrics are washed
in a separate, typical laundry operation. Preferably, said composition in neat form
is left to act on said portions for a period of time before the fabrics are washed
in said laundry operation. Preferably, said composition in neat form is not left to
dry onto said portions. Preferably, said period of time is in between 1 minute to
several hours, more preferably 1 minute to 1 hour, more preferably 1 minute to 30
minutes and most preferably 2 to 10 minutes. Optionally, when said fabrics are soiled
with encrustrated stains and soils, said pretreatment process may additionally involve
rubbing and scrubbing. It has been observed that in such a pretreatment process, the
presence of said amine oxide surfactants improves the stain removal performance on
a variety of stains. It is believed that this improvement in stain removal performance
is matrix independent.
[0030] Such cleaning compositions comprising said amine oxide surfactants are also particularly
useful as carpet cleaning compositions. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses
a method of cleaning a carpet wherein a composition comprising an amine oxide surfactant
according to the formula R1R2R3NO, wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 is independently
a saturated substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl group of from 1
to 30 carbon atoms, is applied to said carpet, wherein said carpet is then optionally
rubbed and/or brushed, and wherein said composition is then removed from said carpet.
[0031] Indeed, in the method of cleaning a carpet according to the present invention the
step of applying a composition for the cleaning of carpets as described herein before,
may be followed by a rubbing step and/or a brushing step. An advantage of the present
invention is that the cleaning action of said compositions commences as soon as said
compositions are applied onto said carpet. Thus, the cleaning process of the present
invention does not necessarily require rubbing and/or brushing. It is only in the
case of highly soiled carpets or in the so called "high traffic areas" that the carpet
may be cleaned by applying onto it said composition for the cleaning of carpets according
to the present invention, then rubbing and/or brushing it more or less intensively
for example by means of a sponge or a brush or other mechanical/electrical device,
optionally with the aid of water. In general, the rubbing/brushing-times are between
1 to a few minutes per square meter. After the composition for the cleaning of carpets
according to the present invention has been applied onto the carpet and optionally
rubbed and/or brushed, said composition is removed from said carpet, preferably by
mechanical means including brushing out and/or vacuum cleaning.
[0032] The compositions for the cleaning of carpets according to the present invention may
be applied to the carpet to be cleaned either in neat or diluted form, this applies
to compositions being either liquid compositions or granular compositions or powder
compositions.
[0033] By "diluted form" it is meant herein that the compositions for the cleaning of carpets
according to the present invention may be diluted by the user, preferably with water.
Said compositions can be diluted up to 150 times, preferably up to 50 times and more
preferably up to 25 times.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment herein, the compositions for the cleaning of carpets according
to the present invention are liquid aqueous compositions. Indeed, a liquid aqueous
composition, i.e. an aqueous composition for the cleaning of carpets in its neat form
or which has been diluted with water by the user or an aqueous composition resulting
from the dilution of a granular composition or of a powder composition, is applied
to the carpet to be cleaned, said carpet is optionally rubbed and/or brushed, then
said composition is left to dry and then removed from said carpet. Indeed, said liquid
aqueous composition is left to dry until said composition which combined with dirt
has been changed into dry residues. These residues are then removed from the carpet
mechanically. Such liquid aqueous compositions may be applied directly onto the area
to be treated or applied using a cloth or piece of material such as spraying device
or aerosol can, a sponge, a brush or other mechanical/electrical device. In a preferred
embodiment of the invention a liquid aqueous composition is applied to the area to
be treated by using a spraying device or an aerosol can. Such a spraying device may
be trigger operated or pump operated or electrically operated or operated by any source
of pressurised gas such as a can or a pressurizer. Such spraying devices are particularly
preferable if a large area is to be treated as it facilitates the ease of use for
the consumer. The spraying devices ensure uniform coverage of the area to be treated
and maximises the advantage of the using liquid aqueous compositions containing peroxides.
This is because the application of product by spray best allows the product to be
left to dry on the area treated, even without rubbing or brushing. This optimises
the action time of the composition and allows the best exploitation of the bleaching
action of peroxides.
[0035] In another embodiment, the compositions for the cleaning of carpets according to
the present invention are granular compositions or powder compositions. Such compositions
for the cleaning of carpets according to the present invention may be applied directly
onto the area of the carpet to be treated by for example sprinkling said composition
over said area or may be applied by using a sponge, a brush, or other mechanical/electrical
device preferably in presence of water and then left to dry and then removed from
said carpet.
[0036] The area to be treated using the compositions according to the present invention
may be any size. In addition, a complete section or even a whole carpet may be applied
with the composition for the cleaning of carpets according to the present invention.
For such purposes when using a liquid aqueous composition a spraying device with a
pump to allow prolonged spraying is particularly useful.
[0037] The amount of the compositions for the cleaning of carpets according to the present
invention applied will depend on the severity of the stains or soils. In the case
of stubborn stains more than one application may be required to ensure complete removal
of the stain. The carpet cleaning compositions may also be used in order to deodorise
the carpet and remove the dinginess of the carpet resulting from a diffused layer
of soil which results from general wear.
[0038] The compositions for the cleaning of carpets according to the present invention may
be used both for manual carpet cleaning and carpet cleaning machines. For carpet cleaning
machines the compositions for the cleaning of carpets according to the present invention,
i.e. either liquid compositions or granular compositions or powder compositions, may
be preferably diluted according to the machine operating instructions.
[0039] The compositions suitable to be used according to the present invention may be formulated
either as solids or liquids. In the case where the compositions are formulated as
solids for example as granular compositions or powder compositions, they may be applied
directly on the surfaces to be treated or they may be diluted with an appropriate
solvent, typically water, before use. In liquid form, the compositions are preferably
but not necessarily formulated as aqueous compositions. Liquid compositions are preferred
herein for convenience of use.
[0040] The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise as an optional
but highly preferred ingredient a source of active oxygen or mixtures thereof. In
the preferred embodiment, said compositions are liquid aqueous compositions and have
the advantage, due to the presence of said amine oxide surfactants, to be particularly
efficient in terms of overall cleaning performance and to be chemically stable. Indeed,
said liquid aqueous compositions according to the present invention do not require
pH adjustment prior to use and can be stored for long periods of time prior to use.
[0041] A preferred source of active oxygen according to the present invention is hydrogen
peroxide or sources thereof. As used herein a hydrogen peroxide source refers to any
compound which produces hydrogen peroxide when said compound is in contact with water.
Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use herein include percarbonates,
metal peroxides and perborates.
[0042] In addition other classes of peroxides can be used as an alternative to hydrogen
peroxide and sources thereof or in combination with hydrogen peroxide and sources
thereof. Suitable classes include dialkylperoxides, diacylperoxides, preformed percarboxylic
acids, persilicates, persulphates, organic and inorganic peroxides.
[0043] Suitable organic and inorganic peroxides for use in the compositions according to
the present invention include diacyl and dialkyl peroxides such as dibenzoyl peroxide,
dilauroyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, persulphuric acid and mixtures thereof.
[0044] Suitable preformed peroxyacids for use in the compositions for the cleaning of carpets
according to the present invention include diperoxydodecandioic acid DPDA, magnesium
perphthalatic acid, perlauric acid, perbenzoic acid, diperoxyazelaic acid and mixtures
thereof.
[0045] Accordingly, the compositions suitable to be used according to the present invention
comprise from 0.1% to 15%, preferably from 0.5% to 10%, more preferably from 1% to
7% by weight of active oxygen in said compositions.
[0046] As used herein, active oxygen concentration refers to the percentage concentration
of elemental oxygen, with an oxidation number zero, that being reduced to water would
be stoichiometrically equivalent to a given percentage concentration of a given peroxide
compound, when the peroxide functionality of the peroxide compound is completely reduced
to oxides. The active oxygen sources according to the present invention increase the
ability of the compositions to remove colored stains, to destroy malodorous molecules
and to kill germs.
[0047] The concentration of available oxygen can be determined by methods known in the art,
such as the iodimetric method, the permanganometric method and the cerimetric method.
Said methods and the criteria for the choice of the appropriate method are described
for example in "Hydrogen Peroxide", W. C. Schumb, C. N. Satterfield and R. L. Wentworth,
Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York, 1955 and "Organic Peroxides", Daniel Swern,
Editor Wiley Int. Science, 1970.
[0048] The compositions suitable to be used according to the present invention may further
comprise a bleach activator or mixtures thereof, as another optional ingredient. By
"bleach activator", it is meant herein a compound which reacts with hydrogen peroxide
to form a peracid. The peracid thus formed constitutes the activated bleach. Suitable
bleach activators to be used herein include those belonging to the class of esters,
amides, imides, or anhydrides. Examples of suitable compounds of this type are disclosed
in British Patent GB 1 586 769 and GB 2 143 231 and a method for their formation into
a prilled form is described in European Published Patent Application EP-A-62 523.
Suitable examples of such compounds to be used herein are tetracetyl ethylene diamine
(TAED), sodium 3,5,5 trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate, diperoxy dodecanoic
acid as described for instance in US 4 818 425 and nonylamide of peroxyadipic acid
as described for instance in US 4 259 201 and n-nonanoyloxybenzenesulphonate (NOBS).
Also suitable are N-acyl caprolactam selected from the group consisting of substituted
or unsubstituted benzoyl caprolactam, octanoyl caprolactam, nonanoyl caprolactam,
hexanoyl caprolactam, decanoyl caprolactam, undecenoyl caprolactam, formyl caprolactam,
acetyl caprolactam, propanoyl caprolactam, butanoyl caprolactam pentanoyl caprolactam
or mixtures thereof. A particular family of bleach activators of interest was disclosed
in EP 624 154, and particularly preferred in that family is acetyl triethyl citrate
(ATC). Acetyl triethyl citrate has the advantages that it is environmentally friendly
as it eventually degrades into citric acid and alcohol. Furthermore, acetyl triethyl
citrate has a good hydrolytical stability in the composition upon storage and it is
an efficient bleach activator. As used herein and unless otherwise specified, the
term bleach activator includes mixtures of bleach activators.
[0049] The compositions suitable to be used according to the present invention may comprise
up to 30% by weight of the total composition of said bleach activator, or mixtures
thereof, preferably from 1% to 20%, and more preferably from 2% to 10%.
[0050] The pH of the liquid compositions suitable to be used according to the present invention
can be from 0 to 14. In a preferred embodiment, wherein the liquid compositions herein
comprise a source of active oxygen, the recommended pH range to achieve good hydrogen
peroxide stability is from 0 to 9, preferably between pH 0 and 8, more preferably
between pH 0 and 7 and most preferably between 1 and 6. Accordingly, the compositions
herein may further comprise an acid to adjust pH. In addition, some acids can have
the advantage that they can form small concentrations of the corresponding peracids
by reaction with hydrogen peroxide in-situ, thus enhancing the overall performance
of the composition. These acids can be further selected so as to have chelating and/or
building properties. The acids of the present invention that may be used for these
purposes can be organic or inorganic acids, preferably organic acids such as citric,
maleic, oxalic succinic, and tartaric acids or inorganic acids such as sulphuric acid.
[0051] The composition suitable to be used according to the present invention may comprise
various optional ingredients depending on its end use as a laundry cleaning composition
or as a carpet cleaning composition.
[0052] The compositions suitable to be used according to the present invention may comprise
a chelating agent or mixtures thereof, as a highly preferred optional ingredient.
Chelating agents suitable to be used herein include chelating agents selected from
the group of phosphonate chelating agents, amino carboxylate chelating agents, polyfunctionally-substituted
aromatic chelating agents, and further chelating agents like glycine, salicylic acid,
aspartic acid, glutamic acid, malonic acid, or mixtures thereof.
[0053] Suitable phosphonate chelating agents to be used herein may include ethydronic acid
as well as amino phosphonate compounds, including amino alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonate),
alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy diphosphonates, nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates, ethylene
diamine tetra methylene phosphonates, and diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates.
The phosphonate compounds may be present either in their acid form or as salts of
different cations on some or all of their acid functionalities. Preferred phosphonate
chelating agents to be used herein are diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates.
Such phosphonate chelating agents are commercially available from Monsanto under the
trade name DEQUEST®.
[0054] Polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents may also be useful in the
compositions herein. See U.S. patent 3,812,044, issued May 21, 1974, to Connor et
al. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such
as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.
[0055] A preferred biodegradable chelating agent for use herein is ethylene diamine N,N'-
disuccinic acid, or alkali metal, or alkaline earth, ammonium or substitutes ammonium
salts thereof or mixtures thereof. Ethylenediamine N,N'- disuccinic acids, especially
the (S,S) isomer have been extensively described in US patent 4, 704, 233, November
3, 1987, to Hartman and Perkins. Ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acids are, for instance,
commercially available under the tradename ssEDDS® from Palmer Research Laboratories.
[0056] Suitable amino carboxylates to be used herein include ethylene diamine tetra acetates,
diethylene triamine pentaacetates, diethylene triamine pentaacetate (DTPA),N- hydroxyethylethylenediamine
triacetates, nitrilotri-acetates, ethylenediamine tetrapropionates, triethylenetetraaminehexa-acetates,
ethanoldiglycines, propylene diamine tetracetic acid (PDTA) and methyl glycine di-acetic
acid (MGDA), both in their acid form, or in their alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted
ammonium salt forms. Particularly suitable amino carboxylates to be used herein are
diethylene triamine penta acetic acid, propylene diamine tetracetic acid (PDTA) which
is, for instance, commercially available from BASF under the trade name Trilon FS®
and methyl glycine di-acetic acid (MGDA).
[0057] Particularly preferred chelating agents to be used herein are diethylene triamine
methylene phosphonate, ethylene N,N'-disuccinic acid, diethylene triamine pantaacetate,
glycine, salicylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, malonic acid or mixtures thereof
and highly preferred is salicylic acid. Salicylic acid may be commercially available
from Rhone-Poulenc under the name Salicylic Acid®. Indeed, it has been observed that
the addition of salicylic acid on top of said amine oxide surfactants results in a
synergystic effect on stain removal performance on a variety of stains including particulate
stains and/or greasy/oily stains, this especially in the method of cleaning carpets
according to the present invention.
[0058] The compositions suitable to be used according to the present invention comprise
up to 5% by weight of the total composition of said chelating agent or mixtures thereof,
preferably from 0.1% to 4% and more preferably from 0.1% to 2%.
[0059] The compositions suitable to be used herein may also comprise soil suspending polycarboxylate
polymers. Any soil suspending polycarboxylate polymer known to those skilled in the
art can be used according to the present invention such as homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylic
acids or their salts including polyacrylates and copolymers of maleic anhydride or/and
acrylic acid and the like. Indeed, such soil suspending polycarboxylate polymers can
be prepared by polymerizing or copolymerizing suitable unsaturated monomers, preferably
in their acid form. Unsaturated monomeric acids that can be polymerized to form suitable
polymeric polycarboxylates include acrylic acid, maleic acid (or maleic anhydride),
fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic
acid. The presence in the polymeric polycarboxylates herein of monomeric segments,
containing no carboxylate radicals such as vinylmethyl ether, styrene, ethylene, etc.
is suitable provided that such segments do not constitute more than about 40% by weight.
[0060] Particularly suitable polymeric polycarboxylates to be used herein can be derived
from acrylic acid. Such acrylic acid-based polymers which are useful herein are the
water-soluble salts of polymerized acrylic acid. The average molecular weight of such
polymers in the acid form preferably ranges from about 2,000 to 10,000, more preferably
from about 4,000 to 7,000 and most preferably from about 4,000 to 5,000. Water-soluble
salts of such acrylic acid polymers can include, for example, the alkali metal, ammonium
and substituted ammonium salts. Soluble polymers of this type are known materials.
Use of polyacrylates of this type in detergent compositions has been disclosed, for
example, in Diehl, U.S. Patent 3,308,067, issued March 7, 1967.
[0061] Acrylic/maleic-based copolymers may also be used as a preferred soil suspending polycarboxylic
polymer. Such materials include the water-soluble salts of copolymers of acrylic acid
and maleic acid. The average molecular weight of such copolymers in the acid form
preferably ranges from about 2,000 to 100,000, more preferably from about 5,000 to
75,000, most preferably from about 7,000 to 65,000. The ratio of acrylate to maleate
segments in such copolymers will generally range from about 30:1 to about 1:1, more
preferably from about 10:1 to 2:1. Water-soluble salts of such acrylic acid/maleic
acid copolymers can include, for example, the alkali metal, ammonium and substituted
ammonium salts. Soluble acrylate/maleate copolymers of this type are known materials
which are described in European Patent Application No. 66915, published December 15,
1982. Particularly preferred is a copolymer of maleic / acrylic acid with an average
molecular weight of about 70,000. Such copolymers are commercially available from
BASF under the trade name SOKALAN CP5.
[0062] The compositions suitable to be used herein may also comprise soil suspending polyamine
polymers as optional ingredients. Any soil suspending polyamine polymer known to those
skilled in the art may also be used herein. Particularly suitable polyamine polymers
for use herein are polyalkoxylated polyamines. Such materials can conveniently be
represented as molecules of the empirical structures with repeating units :

and

wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, usually of 2-6 carbon atoms; R
1 may be a C
1-C
20 hydrocarbon; the alkoxy groups are ethoxy, propoxy, and the like, and y is 2-30,
most preferably from 10-20; n is an integer of at least 2, preferably from 2-20, most
preferably 3-5; and X- is an anion such as halide or methylsulfate, resulting from
the quaternization reaction.
[0063] The most highly preferred polyamines for use herein are the so-called ethoxylated
polyethylene amines, i.e., the polymerized reaction product of ethylene oxide with
ethyleneimine, having the general formula :

when y = 2-30. Particularly preferred for use herein is an ethoxylated polyethylene
amine, in particular ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine, and quaternized ethoxylated
hexamethylene diamine.
[0064] The compositions suitable to be used herein may further comprise other additional
compounds such as other surfactants, builder system, solvents, perfumes, dyes, suds
suppressing agents, enzymes, photobleaching agents, other chelating agents and other
minors. In the preferred embodiment, where the compositions herein comprise a source
of active oxygen, the optional ingredients are selected so that they are compatible
with said source of active oxygen.
[0065] Solvents suitable for use herein may be selected from octyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol,
propyl alcohol, and/or furfuryl alcohol.
[0066] Pyrocatechol is a highly preferred optional ingredient to be used in the liquid compositions
according to the present invention. The liquid compositions according to the present
invention comprise up to 5% by weight of the total composition of pyrocatechol, preferably
from 0.01% to 1% and more preferably from 0.01% to 0.5%.
[0067] Pyrocatechol improves the chemical stability of the liquid compositions of the present
invention that further comprise a source of active oxygen, i.e. lower the decomposition
of the bleach and the bleach activator if present. Indeed, it is believed that the
chemical stabilising effect of pyrocatechol is twofold. Firstly they may work as radical
scavengers and secondly they may interact with the hydrogen peroxide preventing or
limiting hydrolysis, therefore reducing the rate of peroxide decomposition.
[0068] Other surfactants suitable for use herein are well known in the art and include anionic,
nonionic, zwitterionic and cationic surfactants and mixtures thereof. The surfactants
suitable for use herein are compatible with hydrogen peroxide and sources thereof.
[0069] The anionic surfactants which may be used herein include alkali metal salts of alkyl
substituted benzene sulphonates, alkali metal alkyl sulphonates, alkali metal alkyl
sulphates and alkali metal alkyl ether sulphates derived from for example fatty alcohols
and alkyl phenols, alkali metal alkane sulphonates, alkali metal olefin sulphonates
and alkali metal sulphosuccinates and alkyl succinates, whereby the sodium salts are
preferred, alkyl carboxylates and alkyl ether carboxylates.
[0070] The nonionic surfactants which may be used herein include any liquid or solid ethoxylated
C
6-C
24 fatty alcohol nonionic surfactant, alkyl ethoxylates/propoxylates and mixtures thereof,
fatty acid C
6-C
24 alkanolamides, C
6-C
20 polyethylglycol ethers, polyethylene glycol with molecular weight 1000 to 80000 and
glucose amides, alkyl pyrrolidones, betaines.
[0071] Suitable cationic surfactants for use herein include quaternary ammonium compounds
of the formula R
1R
2R
3R
4N
+ where R
1,R
2 and R
3 are methyl groups, and R
4 is a C
12-15 alkyl group, or where R
1 is an ethyl or hydroxy ethyl group, R
2 and R
3 are methyl groups and R
4 is a C
12-15 alkyl group.
[0072] Zwitterionic surfactants are also suitable optional ingredients for use herein. Suitable
zwitterionic surfactants include derivatives of aliphatic quaternary ammonium, phosphonium,
and sulphonium compounds in which the aliphatic moiety can be straight or branched
chain and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from about 8 to about
24 carbon atoms and another substituent contains, at least, an anionic water-solubilizing
group. Particularly preferred zwitterionic materials are the ethoxylated ammonium
sulphonates and sulfates disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,925,262, Laughlin et al., issued
December 9, 1975 and 3,929,678, Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975. The compositions
herein comprise up to 70% by weight, preferably from 0.1% to 50% by weight of the
total composition of a surfactant or mixtures thereof.
[0073] The compositions suitable to be used according to the present invention may further
comprise a builder system. Any conventional builder system is suitable for use herein.
Suitable builders for use herein include citric acid, preferably in the form of a
water-soluble salt, derivatives of succinic acid of the formula R-CH(COOH)CH
2(COOH) wherein R is C
10-20 alkyl or alkenyl, preferably C
12-16, or wherein R can be substituted with hydroxyl, sulpho sulphoxyl or sulphone substituents.
Specific examples include lauryl succinate, myristyl succinate, palmityl succinate,
2-dodecenylsuccinate, 2-tetradecenyl succinate. Succinate builders are preferably
used in the form of their water-soluble salts, including sodium, potassium, ammonium
and alkanolammonium salts.
[0074] Other suitable builders are oxodisuccinates and mixtures of tartrate monosuccinic
and tartrate disuccinic acid such as described in US 4,663,071.
[0075] Further suitable builders for use herein are fatty acid builders including saturated
or unsaturated C
10-18 fatty acids, as well as the corresponding soaps. Preferred saturated species have
from 12 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. The preferred unsaturated fatty acid
is oleic acid.
[0076] A preferred builder system for use herein consists of a mixture of citric acid, fatty
acids and succinic acid derivatives described herein above. The compositions herein
may comprise from 0% to 10%, preferably from 1% to 7% by weight of the total composition
of a builder system.
Examples
[0077] The following examples will illustrate the present invention. The compositions are
made by combining the listed ingredients in the listed proportions (weight % unless
otherwise specified).
Compositions (weight %) |
I |
II |
III |
IV |
Hydrogen peroxide |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
Na CnAS |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
MA/AA |
1.0 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
DETPMP |
0.2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
PA |
-- |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
C8 Amine Oxide |
1 |
2 |
2 |
-- |
C14 Amine Oxide |
1 |
1 |
1 |
-- |
C10 A mine Oxide |
1 |
-- |
-- |
3 |
Water and minors |
Balance |
Sulphuric acid up to pH |
5 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
[0078] DETPMP is diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonic acid available from Monsanto
under the trade name Dequest 2060 or Dequest 4060. MA/AA is copolymer of maleic/ acrylic
acid, average molecular weight about 70,000. PA is an ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine,
average molecular weight about 70,000.
[0079] The carpet cleaning compositions of examples I to IV exhibit excellent stain removal
performance on a variety of stains/soils including particulate stains, greasy/oily
stains, bleachable stains like coffee, beverages and enzymatic stains like blood.
[0080] Composition III is preferably used in manual carpet cleaning applications in neat
or diluted form. Composition I is preferably used in carpet cleaning machines. Compositions
II and IV can be used for both applications, they are preferably used diluted when
used in carpet cleaning machines.
[0081] The following laundry pretreater compositions further illustrate the present invention.
These compositions are made by combining the listed ingredients in the listed proportions
(weight % unless otherwise specified).
Compositions (weight %) |
V |
VI |
VII |
VIII |
IX |
X |
Hydrogen peroxide |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
Anionic surfactants |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
2 |
4 |
Dobanol® 45-7 |
6 |
12 |
-- |
6 |
6.4 |
6.4 |
Dobanol® 23-6.5 |
6 |
-- |
12 |
6 |
-- |
-- |
Dobanol® 23-3 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
8.6 |
8.6 |
Amine oxide |
1.5 |
0.5 |
1.5 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
Propandiol |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
-- |
-- |
Acetyl triethy citrate |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
3.5 |
3.5 |
Water and minors |
Balance |
[0082] The laundry pretreater compositions V to X provide excellent stain removal performance
on a variety of stains including particulate stains, greasy/oily stains, bleachable
stains like coffee, beverages and enzymatic stains like blood, when used to pretreat
fabrics.