Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – With oxygen or halogen containing chemical bleach or oxidant...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-16
2003-03-18
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
With oxygen or halogen containing chemical bleach or oxidant...
C510S379000, C510S302000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06534465
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to bleaching compositions, which can be used to bleach various surfaces including but not limited to fabrics, clothes, carpets and the like as well as hard-surfaces like walls, tiles, floors, glass, bathrooms surfaces, kitchen surfaces, toilet bowls and dishes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bleach-containing compositions for bleaching various surfaces, e.g., fabrics, are well known in the art.
Amongst the different bleaching compositions available, those relying on bleaching by hypohalite bleach, such as hypochlorite, are often preferred, mainly for bleaching performance reasons.
However, a drawback associated with the use of hypohalite bleach-containing compositions, e.g., hypochlorite-based compositions, is that said compositions may potentially damage and/or cause yellowing of the fabrics being bleached. During the bleaching operation, a liquid hypochlorite-containing composition for example, can be applied onto the fabric in neat or diluted form. The hypochlorite bleach can be present in various forms, including hypochlorous acid and in the form of various molecule fragments resulting from its decomposition pathways. Hypochlorous acid and these molecule fragments are reactive with fabrics and may cause damage and/or yellowing of fabrics being bleached.
Therefore, bleaching compositions are often formulated comprising bleach and a fabric protective system. Compositions comprising bleach and one of various fabric protective systems are well known in the art. An example is a bleaching composition based on hypohalite bleach comprising a polymer and a borate as a fabric protective system (EP-A-0 824 147), or bleaching compositions based on hypochlorite comprising a metaborate as a fabric protective system (EP-A-0 781 840).
However, there are some limitations to the convenience of said bleaches comprising a fabric protective system. In particular, it is well known from consumer research that said compositions may still damage and/or yellow the fabrics which are being bleached, although said compositions comprise a fabric protective system.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bleach-containing composition, suitable for use in laundry applications, whereby the fabric yellowing-prevention is further improved.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bleaching composition, suitable for use in laundry application, whereby fabric safety is further improved.
Fabrics made of cotton and/or synthetic materials have free hydroxyl groups. It is believed that fabric damage and/or fabric yellowing occurs due to the oxidation of the hydroxyl groups by the bleach. The oxidation of the hydroxyl groups is believed to be further emphasised at lower pHs. Indeed, low pH shifts the chemical equilibrium between hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid in favor of the latter. Hypochlorous acid is a more aggressive bleach, which has been found to further contribute to fabric yellowing and fabric damage. Moreover, it is further believed that the hydroxyl groups of the fabric are more easily oxidised at lower pHs.
It has been found that fabric protection can be achieved using a combination of a borate and/or boric acid and a tertiary alcohol and/or a polyalcohol in bleach-containing compositions. The bleaching compositions of the present invention provide further improved fabric yellowing-prevention and/or further improved fabric safety on fabrics bleached therewith, as compared to bleaching compositions comprising other fabric protective systems, e.g., a metaborate alone, or bleaching compositions comprising no fabric protective system. It is believed that the hydroxyl groups of a fabric are protected by the fabric protective system as disclosed herein from oxidation by a bleach, especially a hypochlorite bleach, thus, providing fabric safety and/or fabric yellowing-prevention.
Advantageously the bleaching compositions of the present invention are suitable for various laundry bleaching applications both when used in diluted conditions, e.g., as a detergent additive or a fully formulated laundry detergent composition, and when used in neat condition, e.g., as a liquid pretreater (spotter).
A further advantage of the bleaching compositions according to the present invention is that they are able to perform in a variety of conditions, i.e., in hard and soft water as well as when used neat or diluted.
Yet another advantage of the bleaching compositions of the present invention is that said bleaching compositions may also be suitable for the bleaching of different types of surfaces including hard-surfaces like floors, walls, tiles, glass, kitchen surfaces, bathrooms surfaces, toilet bowls and/or dishes and the like, as well as fabrics. More particularly, the bleaching compositions of the present invention are suitable for bleaching any type of fabrics including natural fabrics (e.g., fabrics made of cotton, viscose, linen, silk and wool), synthetic fabrics such as those made of polymeric fibers of synthetic origin as well as those made of both natural and synthetic fibers. Indeed, the bleaching compositions of the present invention may be used on synthetic fibers despite a standing prejudice against the use of hypohalite bleaches, especially hypochlorite bleaches, on synthetic fibers, as evidenced by warning on labels of commercially available hypochlorite bleaches and clothes.
BACKGROUND ART
Bleach-containing compositions based on hypohalite bleach suitable for bleaching surfaces, e.g., fabrics or hard-surfaces, have been described in the art.
EP-A-781 840 discloses a composition comprising hypochlorite and a metaborate as a pH buffering means. However, compositions comprising a borate and/or boric acid and a tertiary alcohol as described herein are not disclosed.
EP-A-0 824 147 discloses liquid bleaching compositions comprising a hypohalite bleach and a polymer. The composition may further comprise a boron salt as pH buffering component. However, compositions comprising a borate and/or boric acid and a tertiary alcohol as described herein are not disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention encompasses a bleaching composition comprising a hypohalite bleach, a borate or boric acid or a mixture thereof, and a tertiary alcohol or a polyalcohol or a mixture thereof.
The present invention also encompasses a process of bleaching surfaces, e.g., fabrics, wherein said surfaces are contacted with a bleaching composition as defined herein.
The present invention further encompasses the use of a borate or boric acid or a mixture thereof and a tertiary alcohol or a polyalcohol or a mixture thereof, as a fabric protective system in a hypohalite bleach-containing composition to treat fabrics whereby a fabric yellowing-prevention benefit and/or good fabric safety benefit is provided.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The Bleaching Composition
The bleaching compositions may be formulated either as solids or liquids.
In the case where the bleaching compositions are formulated as solids, for example as granules, tablets or powders, they are preferably applied on the fabrics to be bleached according to the present invention in a liquid form, i.e., solid compositions are used in combination with an appropriate solvent, typically water.
In the case where the bleaching compositions are formulated as liquids including gel and paste form, the bleaching compositions are preferably but not necessarily formulated as aqueous compositions. Liquid bleaching compositions are preferred herein for convenience of use. Preferred liquid bleaching compositions of the present invention are aqueous and therefore, preferably comprise water in an amount of from 60% to 98%, more preferably of from 80% to 97% and most preferably 85% to 97% by weight of the total composition.
Hypohalite Bleach
As a first essential ingredient, the compositions of the present invention comprise a hypohalite bleach. Any hypohalite bleach known to those skilled in the art may be suitable for use herein.
Suitable hypohalite bleaches may be provided by a variety of
Briatore Andrea
Grande Giovanni
Todini Oreste
Camp Jason J.
Gupta Yogendra N.
McBride James F.
Petruncio John M.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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