Detergent compositions

Details Detergent compositions Detergent compositions

2002-10-15

2003-08-19

Delcotto, Gregory (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing

For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...

C510S330000, C510S336000, C510S341000, C510S350000, C510S351000, C510S357000, C510S360000, C510S504000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06608016

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to laundry detergent compositions containing a combination of anionic and cationic surfactants giving improved oily soil detergency.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
Laundry detergent compositions containing cationic (quaternary ammonium) surfactants in combination with anionic surfactants are disclosed in EP 2084A and EP 225A (Procter & Gamble) and a large number of later patent applications.
WO 97 43364, WO 97 43365A, WO 97 43371A, WO 97 43387A, WO 97 43389A, WO 97 43390A, WO 97 43391A and WO 97 43393A, (Procter & Gamble) disclose laundry detergent compositions containing so-called “AQA” alkoxylated quaternary ammonium surfactants in combination with other surfactants. The AQA surfactant has the general formula
wherein R
1
is a C
8
-C
18
alkyl group, R
2
is a C
1
-C
3
alkyl group, and each of R
3
and R
4
is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, A is C
1
-C
4
alkoxy, and p is an integer from 2 to 30.
WO 97 12018A (Procter & Gamble) discloses liquid laundry detergents free of linear alkylbenzene sulphonate and containing a cationic surfactant that may optionally be ethoxylated, although no ethoxylated materials are exemplified or specifically disclosed.
GB 1 336 556 (Unilever) discloses a dishwashing detergent composition containing an amphoteric surfactant (Miranol H2M, an imidazole-based betaine), a C
8
alkane sulphonate, and an ethoxylated cationic surfactant of the formula
wherein the total of (x+y) is 12.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,285 (Colgate-Palmolive) discloses stable structured liquid detergent compositions containing alkylbenzene sulphonate, phosphate and carbonate builders, and an ethoxylated amine cationic surfactant of the formula
wherein R
1
is a C
8
-C
18
hydrocarbon chain and R
2
is a C
1
-C
3
alkyl group or a benzyl group, x and y are each 1 to 8 and (x+y) is from 2 to 9.
GB 1 301 909 (Atlas) discloses, as a surfactant mixture for use in surfactant/solvent textile treatment systems, a mixture of potassium lauryl sulphate and the ethyl chloride salt of polyoxypropylene(15)dodecylamine.
The present invention is based on the discovery that laundry detergent compositions containing certain cationic surfactants which are quaternary ammonium salts having an ethoxylated alkyl chain, in relatively small amounts in combination with larger amounts of anionic surfactants, give significantly enhanced removal of oily soils.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention accordingly provides a laundry detergent composition comprising
(a) an anionic sulphonate or sulphate surfactant and
(b) a cationic surfactant of the general formula (I):
wherein
R
1
is a C
6
-C
20
alkyl group,
n is an integer from 1 to 20,
R
2
and R
3
which may be the same or different, each represents a C
1
-C
4
alkyl group or a C
2
-C
4
hydroxyalkyl group,
R
4
represents a C
1
-C
4
alkyl group, and
X
−
represents a monovalent solubilising anion;
the weight ratio of (a) to (b) being from 1:1 to 99:1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The Ethoxylated Cationic Surfactant
In preferred ethoxylated cationic surfactants of the formula I used in accordance with the invention,
R
1
is a C
10
-C
16
alkyl group,
n is from 1 to 4,
R
2
, R
3
and R
4
are methyl groups, and
X
−
represents Cl
−
.
An especially preferred ethoxylated cationic surfactant used in accordance with the present invention is of the formula I in which
R
1
is a C
12
-C
14
alkyl group,
n is 3,
R
2
, R
3
and R
4
are methyl groups, and
X
−
represents Cl
−
.
This material has the formula II:
wherein R
5
is a C
12
-C
14
alkyl group.
In the detergent compositions of the invention, the cationic surfactant is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 15 wt %, preferably from 0.2 to 10 wt %, more preferably from 0.5 to 5 wt %, suitably from 0.8 to 2 wt %.
Preparation of the Cationic Surfactant
The cationic surfactant may be prepared by a method analogous to that generally described by J Miller Harris in “Laboratory Synthesis of Polyethylene Glycol Derivatives” JMS-Rev. Macromol. Chem. Phys. C25(3), 325-345 (1985). According to this method, chlorides of PEG or similar materials may be prepared by reaction with thionyl chloride in toluene, and the chloride subsequently reacted with the relevant trialkylamine (eg trimethylamine) in ethanol to produce the corresponding quaternary ammonium chloride. Alternatively, PEG or similar materials may be reacted with phosphorus tribromide in diethyl ether/pyridine to form the corresponding bromide which can subsequently be reacted with a trialkylamine.
The Surfactant Combination
In the compositions of the invention, the weight ratio of anionic surfactant (a) to cationic surfactant (b) is from 1:1 to 99:1, preferably from 2:1 to 50:1, more preferably from 3:1 to 25:1. Especially good results are obtained when the ratio is within the range of from 4:1 to 20:1.
In preferred compositions of the invention, the amount of anionic surfactant may suitably range from 4 to 30 wt %.
In compositions containing no other surfactants, the amount of anionic surfactant may suitably range from 4 to 30 wt %, and the amount of the cationic surfactant may suitably range from 0.2 to 15 wt %.
Optionally a nonionic surfactant may also be present. In compositions containing a ternary surfactant system (anionic, nonionic and cationic) the preferred amounts are as follows:
(a) from 4 to 25 wt % of the anionic surfactant,
(b) from 0.2 to 10 wt % of the cationic surfactant,
(c) from 1 to 10 wt % of a nonionic surfactant.
Optionally soap may also be present, for example, in an amount of up to 5 wt %.
The Anionic Surfactant
The anionic surfactant is a sulphonate or sulphate anionic surfactant.
Anionic surfactants are well-known to those skilled in the art. Examples include alkylbenzene sulphonates, 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. Sodium salts are generally preferred.
Preferably the anionic surfactant is linear alkylbenzene sulphonate or primary alcohol sulphate. More preferably the anionic surfactant is linear alkylbenzene sulphonate.
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 (glucamide).
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.
Detergent Ingredients
As well as the surfactants discussed above, the compositions preferably contain detergency builders, and may optionally contain bleaching components and other active ingredients to enhance performance and properties.
The compositions may suitably contain from 10 to 80%, preferably from 15 to 70% by weight, of detergency builder. Preferably, the quantity of builder is in the range of from 15 to 50% by weight.
The detergent compositions may contain as builder a crystalline aluminosilicate, preferably an alkali metal aluminosilicate, more preferably a sodium aluminosilicate (zeolite).
The zeolite used as a builder may be the commercially available zeolite A (zeolite 4A) now widely used in laundry detergent powders. Alternatively, the zeolite may be maximum aluminium zeolite P (zeolite MAP) as described and claimed in EP 384 070B (Unilever), and commercially available as Doucil (Trade Mark) A24 from Crosfield Chemicals Ltd, UK. Zeolite MAP is defined as an alkali metal aluminosilicate of zeolite P type having a silicon to aluminium ratio not exceeding 1.33, preferably within the range of from 0.90 to 1.33, preferably with

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