Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Patent
1994-09-08
1996-11-19
Lieberman, Paul
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
510224, 510228, C11D 152, C11D 183, C11D 128, C11D 332
Patent
active
055762778
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to detergent compositions for fabric cleaning and more especially to high density granular detergent compositions comprising one or more surfactant-containing particulate components.
Granular detergent compositions containing linear alkyl benzene sulfonate salts are well known in the art and are in widespread commercial use. Conventionally the linear alkyl benzene sulfonate salt forms part of a surfactant mixture in association with one or more other anionic or nonionic surfactants. The former dissolves readily in water over a wide range of temperatures and, at ambient i.e. cool water temperature may aid solubilisation of any of the other anionic or nonionic surfactants which are relatively water-insoluble.
Concern has recently been expressed over the fate of linear alkyl benzene sulfonates and their biodegradation products in the environment. Of particular concern is the persistence in surface water of certain di-alkyl tetralin compounds which are found as impurities in commercial supplies of linear alkyl benzene sulfonates. Interest has therefore increased in the use of alternatives to alkyl benzene sulfonates as major components of detergent products.
Examples of primary anionic or nonionic surfactants that are readily biodegradable and which could replace the alkyl benzene sulfonate component either partially or in toto include alkyl sulfate salts, alkane sulfonate salts, alkyl methyl ester sulfonate salts and polyhydroxy fatty acid amides. However, where the alkyl benzene sulfonate forms part of a mixture with such primary anionic or nonionic surfactants in a granular component of a high density detergent composition, its removal gives rise to a major change in the physical properties of that granular component. The principal effect is to make the granule hydrophobic in character, with a consequential decrease in its rate of dissolution, particularly in water of temperatures <40.degree. C.
This hydrophobicity can be utilised to advantage where the granule forms part of a laundry detergent product introduced into an automatic washing machine through a dispensing drawer, and the commonly assigned copending European Application Publication No. 0342043 seeks protection for a product having such characteristics.
However, the excessive hydrophobicity of any granular components has been found to lead to unacceptable dissolution characteristics for a concentrated high-density detergent product, i.e. one of density >550 g/liter, containing such components as a significant fraction. Concentrated products of this type are typically introduced into the drum of the washing machine via a dispensing device and excessive hydrophobicity leads to product residues remaining on fabrics or in the dispensing device at the end of the wash cycle.
The use of such a dispensing device provides transient localised high concentrations of detergent product in the drum of an automatic washing machine at the start of the wash cycle. Such high transient concentrations have been shown to provide fabric cleaning benefits. To achieve these high transient concentrations rapid dissolution/dispersion of the detergent product is required. Unacceptable dissolution characteristics associated with the excessive hydrophobicity of any granular components will prevent achievement of these required high transient concentrations and therefore lead to a loss in fabric cleaning benefits.
Where the primary anionic surfactant is C.sub.14 -C.sub.20 alkyl sulfate salt incorporation of alkyl sulfate salts of shorter chain length does not provide an acceptable solution to the problem of excessive hydrophobicity of the granular components, particularly where the C.sub.14 -C.sub.20 alkyl sulfate salt-containing component is a spray dried powder. This is because alkyl sulfate salts contain an appreciable level of unsulfated material and the spray drying of powders having an alkyl sulfate salt-content >5% gives rise to significant levels of the volatilised unsulfated material in the spray drying gases which cause safety and envi
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MacBeath Fiona S.
Powell Suzanne
Lieberman Paul
Ogden Necholus
Patel Ken K.
Rasser Jacobus C.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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