Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Solid – shaped macroscopic article or structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-14
2002-08-27
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Solid, shaped macroscopic article or structure
C510S276000, C510S283000, C510S302000, C510S444000, C510S446000, C510S451000, C510S473000, C510S475000, C510S477000, C510S488000, C510S498000, C510S506000, C510S509000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06440926
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is applicable to compositions which need to be dissolved in an aqueous medium in an easy and fast way. This technology may found application in various fields, e.g., in detergent compositions like laundry detergent compositions, soaking detergent compositions, dishwashing compositions or any other compositions for household applications, in pharmaceutical preparations, dental preparations, food and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to granular detergent compositions intended for the cleaning of fabrics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A problem associated to conventional granular compositions which are to be used by the consumer after having been diluted typically with water, is their tendency towards poor dissolution. That tendency has been exacerbated by the recent trend in for example the detergent industry towards higher bulk density granular compositions and towards granular detergent compositions which have a higher content of active ingredients. Granular detergent compositions of high bulk densities ranging from 650 to 1100 kg/m3 are attractive to consumers but not satisfactorily dissolved into an aqueous medium.
Another difficulty with detergent compositions is that they are not easily flushed from the dispenser drawer of a washing machine. Similar problems are encountered when using such granular detergent compositions in a dosing device in the washing drum.
It is known to use citric acid and bicarbonate in powder compositions to promote dissolution of for example pharmaceutical preparations. In order to ensure an uniform distribution of these effervescent materials in these preparations it is essential to utilise sodium bicarbonate and citric acid in the form of fine powders. It is also necessary to incorporate considerable proportions of these effervescent materials in the preparations in order to obtain the desired effect. Furthermore, a major issue with such powder compositions is the poor storage stability when they are exposed to moisture.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide compositions with improved dissolution and/or dispensing characteristics upon dilution in an aqueous medium. It is a further object of the present invention that the effective dissolution characteristics of the compositions of the present invention are not reduced or lost during storage.
It has now been found that these objects can be met by providing a detergent composition comprising effervescence material containing an acid and a carbonate source having a specific effervescence index. Preferably, the effervescence material or at least part thereof, is comprised in a dry effervescence granule. In particular, it has been found that the objectives can thus be met by providing a granular composition obtainable by a process which comprises the step of first forming a dry effervescent granule comprising an acid, carbonate and/or bicarbonate and optionally a binder wherein the acid, carbonate and/or bicarbonate and the binder are in close physical proximity, then incorporating this granule in the granular composition. Indeed, it has been found that for example the incorporation of such pre-formed dry effervescent granules typically obtainable by dry-powder compaction or pressure agglomeration into the compositions according to the present invention provides improved dissolution and/or dispensing characteristics to all the active ingredients present in the compositions and good storage stability in respect of the dissolution potential. It has been found that the compositions according to the present invention deliver enhanced effervescence which results in improved dissolution or dispensing of the compositions, when the compositions are contacted with water (i.e., in use conditions), as compared to compositions having the same effervescence powders present at the same levels, wherein all the effervescent materials are uniformly distributed in the whole granular compositions, i.e., are two separate granular particles.
Another problem associated to conventional detergent is their tendency of not always satisfactorily meeting consumer needs in respect to the performance delivered by the active ingredients present in said compositions.
Furthermore, when formulating bleach-containing detergent compositions, comprising an oxygen bleach, it is not only desirable to deliver effective stain removal performance (e.g., on bleachable stains), but importantly such compositions need also to be thermally stable upon prolonged storage time before their actual use.
It has now been found that these problems are solved by the detergent compositions of the invention, as described herein. Furthermore, it has been found that in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the presence of the pre-formed dry effervescent granules, as described herein, in a detergent composition comprising an active detergent ingredient, produces enhanced effervescence upon contact with water, which results in improved dissolution and/or dispensing of the composition and improved stain removal performance observed on the fabrics treated, as compared to the stain removal performance delivered in the same conditions with compositions, having the same ingredients, at the same levels, which however comprise all the effervescent materials uniformly distributed in the whole granular compositions, or with the same compositions but being free of any effervescent materials. More particularly, it has been found that the stain removal performance is even more improved due to the presence of the dry pre-formed effervescent granules, in a detergent composition. This has also been found when the composition is used in short soaking operations, i.e. when the soiled fabrics are immersed in a soaking liquor comprising water and said composition, simultaneously or immediately after its preparation (e.g., before 5 minutes and more preferably before 1 minute after its preparation), for typically less than 30 minutes, before being removed from the soaking liquor. Advantageously, the stain removal performance improvement associated to the detergent compositions of the present invention is also even more noticeable at low usage temperatures, typically below 30° C.
Advantageously the improved stain removal performance is observed on a variety of stains including tough outdoor dirt like greasy stains (e.g. spaghetti sauce, bacon grease), enzymatic stains (blood), bleachable stains (grass) and/or particulate soils (mud/clay).
Another advantage of the present invention is that the stain removal performance, when soaking/washing a fabric in presence of a detergent composition as described herein, is improved even in the presence of relatively high levels of hardness ions.
It has now been found that compositions of the invention and the dry pre-formed effervescent granules are bleach-compatible and stable upon storage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a detergent composition comprising a effervescence source, containing an acid and a carbonate source, whereby the effervescence index of the composition is at least 10, as described herein.
The present invention also encompasses a dry effervescent granule comprising an acid, a carbonate source, preferably carbonate/bicarbonate and optionally a binder, wherein said acid, carbonate source and optionally binder are in close physical proximity.
The present invention also encompasses a process of manufacturing the dry effervescent granules as described herein, wherein said process comprises the steps of:
first mixing the acid, the carbonate source and optionally the binder together to obtain a mixture,
then submitting the mixture to a pressure agglomeration step, as defined herein, to obtain agglomerated mixture,
and finally submitting the agglomerated mixture to a granulation step.
The present invention also encompasses a composition obtainable by a process which comprises the step of first forming a dry effervescent granule comprising an acid, a carbonate source, preferably carbonate and/or bicarbonate and optionall
Canceil Sylvestre
Hartshorn Richard Timothy
Morelli Roberto
Spadoni Luca
Douyon Lorna M.
Dressman Marianne
Glazer Julia A.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
William Zerby Kim
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