Detergent compositions

Details Detergent compositions Detergent compositions

1997-06-25

2001-01-09

Fries, Kery (Department: 1751)

Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification

Cleaning or laundering

C435S263000, C510S281000, C510S320000, C510S392000, C510S530000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06171345

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to the field of detergent and cleaning compositions. More in particular, the invention is concerned with a composition and a process for cleaning fabrics.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
Conventional modern detergent compositions for washing fabrics are complex mixtures of ingredients which act to remove soil from the fabric during the washing process. Such compositions comprise one or more surface active agents or surfactants which act to lower the surface tension of the washing solution, thus enabling the dissolution or dispersion of soil into the washing solution. The oldest example of such a surfactant is soap which was already used by the ancient Egyptians.
A significant improvement in the cleaning performance of detergent compositions was obtained by the addition of so-called builders, which enhance the cleaning action of the composition by complexing calcium ions which are present in hard water. Examples of such builders are sodium tripolyphosphate (STP), nitrilotriacetate (NTA) and zeolite.
A further significant improvement in the performance of detergent compositions was achieved by the addition of bleaching systems which react chemically with stains present on the fabrics and thereby decolorize the stains. Examples of efficient bleaching systems are tetra acetyl ethylene diamine (TAED)/sodium perborate, and sodium nonanoyloxybenzene sulphonate (SNOBS).
Another significant improvement in the performance of detergent compositions was achieved by the addition of enzymes to detergent compositions. The use of protease in fabric washing compositions is most wide spread, whereas lipases, amylases and cellulases are used less frequently.
Although each of the above improvements has been successful to a certain extent, there is still a need to provide alternative or further improved detergent compositions. In particular, there is a need for effective cleaning action against specific coloured stains which are often difficult to remove. It is therefor an object of the present invention to provide effective alternative or improved detergent compositions for fabric washing. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an effective alternative or improved process for washing fabrics.
We have now surprisingly found that these and other objects can be achieved by the detergent compositions of the invention, which are characterized in that they comprise one or more surfactants and a compound which is capable of binding to a coloured substance which may occur as stains on fabrics.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a detergent composition comprising one or more surfactants and a compound which is capable of binding to a coloured substance which may occur as stains on fabrics. According to a second aspect, there is provided a process for removing coloured stains from a fabric, characterized by treating the fabric with detergent composition comprising one or more surfactants and a compound which is capable of binding to a coloured substance present in said coloured stain.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detergent composition of the present invention comprises (a) one or more surface active agents or surfactants and (b) a compound capable of binding to a coloured substance which may occur as stains on fabrics and, optionally, (c) conventional detergent ingredients.
(a) The Surfactant
The detergent compositions according to the invention comprise, as a first constituent, one or more detergent-active compounds (surfactants) which may be chosen from soap and non-soap anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic detergent-active compounds, and mixtures thereof. Many suitable detergent-active compounds are available and are fully described in the literature, for example, in “Surface-Active Agents and Detergents”, Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch.
The preferred detergent-active compounds that can be used are soaps and synthetic non-soap anionic and nonionic compounds. The detergent composition may comprise both nonionic and anionic surfactant, it is preferred if the ratio of nonionic surfactant to anionic surfactant is at least 1 to 3, more preferably at least 1 to 1.
Anionic surfactants are well-known to those skilled in the art. Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulphonates having an alkyl chain length of C
8
-C
15
; primary and secondary alkylsulphates, particularly C
8
-C
15
primary alkyl sulphates; alkyl ether sulphates; olefin sulphonates; alkyl xylene sulphonates; dialkyl sulphosuccinates; and fatty acid ester sulphonates. The sodium salts of these surfactants are generally preferred.
Nonionic surfactants that may be used include the primary and secondary alcohol ethoxylates, especially the C
8
-C
20
aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol, and more especially the C
10
-C
15
primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with an average of from 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Non-ethoxylated nonionic surfactants include alkylpolyglycosides, glycerol monoethers, and polyhydroxyamides (glucamides).
The choice of detergent-active compounds (surfactant), and the amount present, will depend on the intended use of the detergent composition. In fabric washing compositions intended for use in washing machines, as is well known to the skilled formulator, different surfactant systems may be chosen than for products intended for handwashing. The total amount of surfactant present will also depend on the intended end use and may be as high as 60% by weight of the total composition, for example, in a composition for washing fabrics by hand. In compositions for machine washing of fabrics, an amount of from 5 to 40% by weight is generally appropriate, especially from 10 to 30% by weight.
Detergent compositions suitable for use in most automatic fabric washing machines generally contain anionic non-soap surfactant, or nonionic surfactant, or combinations of the two in any ratio, optionally together with soap.
b) Compound Capable of Binding to a Coloured Substance
The novel cleaning composition according to the present invention is based on the presence of a compound capable of binding a coloured substance, or pigment, which may occur in stains. The degree of binding of a compound A to another molecule B can be generally expressed by the chemical equilibrium constant K
d
resulting from the following binding reaction:
[A]+[B]&rlarr2;[A::B]
  (1)
The chemical equilibrium constant K
d
is then given by:
K
d
=
[
A
]
×
[
B
]
[
A
⁢
::
⁢
B
]
Whether the binding to a coloured substance in a stain is specific or not can be judged from the difference between the binding (K
d
value) of the compound to that coloured substance, versus the binding to material to which that substance is applied. For substances which occur in stains, the latter material can be envisioned to be the fabric on which the stain is present. The difference between the two binding constants should be minimally 100, and preferably more that 1000. Typically, the compound should bind the coloured substance with a K
d
value of 1*10
−5
−1*10
−6
, with a background binding to fabric with a K
d
of 1*10
−2
1*10
−3
. Higher binding affinities (K
d
of less than 1*10
−5
) and/or a larger difference between coloured substance and background binding would increase the stain removal performance. Also, the weight efficiency of the compound in the total detergent composition would be increased and smaller amounts of the compound would be required.
Several classes of compounds can be envisaged which deliver the capability of specific binding to, a coloured substance. In the following we will give a number of examples of such compounds having such capabilities, without pretending to be exhaustive.
Antibodies
Antibodies are well known examples of compounds which are capable of binding

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Detergent compositions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Detergent compositions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Detergent compositions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2499490