Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-12
2001-09-11
Ogden, Necholus (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S441000, C510S443000, C510S446000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06288016
ABSTRACT:
FIELD
The present invention relates to a detergent granule having improved dissolution. The present invention further relates to a surfactant-containing detergent granule having improved dissolution.
BACKGROUND
There is a current trend for commercially available granular detergent compositions to have higher bulk densities as well as higher active ingredient content. Such detergent compositions offer greater convenience to the consumer and at the same time, reduce the amount of packaging materials which will ultimately be disposed of. But for such granular detergent compositions, there are problems of poor dissolution resulting in residue and/or partially dissolved detergent clump/gel-like mass left on fabric, in the washing machine, or in a washing machine dispenser drawer. This residue can vary from fine particles to masses as large as 10 to 100 millimeters in size, and is very undesirable for consumers.
Although not wanting to be limited by theory, several examples are illustrated showing how poor dissolution may occur. For example, when consumers first put detergent composition and clothes in the washing machine prior to the addition of water in the tub, significant residue is left in the tub or on the clothes. This residue is formed as the machine is filling with water, since the detergent is trapped in the clothes and there is no agitation of the tub contents. Under these conditions, hydration and dissolution occur on the surface of the detergent, wherein the detergent forms a hydrated paste, or gel-like mass.
In another example, detergent compositions containing zeolite-built powders dispense poorly, especially when such compositions are placed in a dispenser drawer of a washing machine and/or a detergent dosing device. This poor dispensing may be caused by the formation of a gel-like mass, which have high levels of surfactant, upon contact with water. The gel-like mass prevents a proportion of the detergent powder from being solubilized in the wash water, which reduces the effectiveness of the detergent. These solubility problems especially occur in conditions having low water pressures and/or lower washing temperatures.
It is known that bleach activators in powder form do not remain stable when incorporated in detergent compositions. Therefore, such particles are used as extrudates or otherwise formed into larger bleach activator particles or bodies in order to maintain the stability of the bleach activator particles. But these large particles have dissolution problems in the wash solution. As a result, water-soluble disintegrants have been used in large bleach activator particles in order to have better dissolution of the bleach activators. In this technique, the water-soluble disintegrants are incorporated into the large bleach activator particle. Then, as moisture is exposed to the large particle, the water-soluble disintegrants solubilize in the wash solution, leaving gaps in the large particle, and thereby promote the rupturing of the large particle and release the activator particles to the water.
It is also known to use disintegrating aids in bleach activator particles that are not very water-soluble, but are water-swellable in the presence of water, such as upon contact with the wash solution. In this technique, larger particles containing these water-swellable disintegrants break up into small particles due to the swelling up of the disintegrants, thus releasing the activator into the wash solution.
It has now been surprisingly found that the use of substantially water-insoluble disintegrants can improve the dissolution of detergent granules containing high levels of surfactant. Particularly, it has been surprisingly found that the water-insoluble disintegrants improve the dissolution of residue and/or partially dissolved detergent clump/gel-like masses.
None of the existing art provides all of the advantages and benefits of the present invention.
SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a detergent granule with improved dissolution, containing, by weight of the granule, from about 10% to about 60% surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactant, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof. The detergent granule also contains from about 0.1% to about 10% water-insoluble disintegrant impregnated within the detergent granule, with the remainder being made up of optional other detersive ingredients.
This invention also relates to processes for impregnating the water-insoluble disintegrant within the detergent granule.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art from a reading of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It has now been found that a detergent granule having nonionic and/or linear alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactants and a water-insoluble disintegrant impregnated within the detergent granule have surprisingly improved dissolution, especially in cold water. While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description.
All percentages are by weight of the detergent granule unless specifically stated otherwise.
All ratios are weight ratios unless specifically stated otherwise.
As used herein, “comprising” means that other steps and other ingredients which do not affect the end result can be added. This term encompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.
As used herein, “cold water” means water which is at a temperature of below 30° C.
As used herein, “density” means bulk density unless specifically stated otherwise.
All cited references are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Citation of any reference is not an admission regarding any determination as to its availability as prior art to the claimed invention.
It has now been found that a detergent granule having, by weight of the granule, from about 10% to about 60% surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactant, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof, and from about 0.1% to about 10% water-insoluble disintegrant impregnated within the detergent granule can have surprisingly improved dissolution. The detergent granule has particularly improved dissolution in cold water.
As used herein, detergent granule is a granular particle containing at a minimum, a surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactant, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof, and a water-insoluble disintegrant impregranted with the detergent granule. The detergent granule can optionally comprise other detersive ingredients. Detergent compositions, such as laundry detergent compositions, may comprise such detergent granules, in addition to other optional detersive ingredients. The detergent granule preferably has a density from about 400 to about 1200 grams per liter, preferably from about 450 to about 950 grams per liter. The detergent granule preferably has a mean particle size of from about 200 microns to about 800 microns.
As used herein, impregnated within, means that the water-insoluble disintegrant is substantially ingrained into the interior and dispersed throughout the detergent granule.
As used herein, water-insoluble means substantially water-insoluble. Preferably, the solubility in water of the water-insoluble disintegrant is not more than about 25%, more preferably not more than about 10%.
It has been found that dissolution problems occur for detergent compositions having a high level of particular surfactants. Specifically, detergent granules having a high level of either a nonionic surfactant, linear alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant, or a combination of both, have been found to possess dissolution problems, especially in cold water. Detergent granules having other surfactants, especially crystalline surfactants such as alkyl sulfates and alkyl alkoxy sulfates, also possess decreased dissolution when used in conjunction with nonionic and/or linear alkyl be
Hidalgo Noe Ongcoy
Inoue Tomotaka
Katsuda Rinko
Ramanan Ganapathy Venkata
Dressman Marianne
Miller Steven W.
Ogden Necholus
The Procter & Gamble & Company
William Zerby Kim
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