Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – With oxygen or halogen containing chemical bleach or oxidant...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-29
2002-09-10
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
With oxygen or halogen containing chemical bleach or oxidant...
C510S375000, C510S422000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06448214
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to bleaching compositions particularly suitable for the pretreatment of fabrics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Peroxygen bleach-containing compositions typically based on hydrogen peroxide have been extensively described in laundry applications as laundry detergents, laundry additives or laundry pretreaters.
Indeed, it is known to use liquid aqueous bleaching compositions comprising hydrogen peroxide in laundry pretreatment applications. Although, these liquid aqueous bleaching compositions provide some bleaching performance when used to pretreat a soiled fabric, there is still some room for further improvement regarding the stains removal performance on various stains including for example greasy stains as well as for further improvement on bleaching performance in pretreatment conditions, i.e. when the liquid aqueous composition is applied neat on the fabric to bleach before the fabric is subsequently rinsed or washed then rinsed with water.
Also such liquid aqueous compositions for laundry pretreatment application should have water-like behaviour (low viscosity) for appropriate usage.
It is know that stain removal performance of liquid aqueous peroxygen bleach-containing compositions may be improved by the additions of surfactants. However, a problem encountered with the use of surfactant systems in liquid aqueous peroxygen bleach-containing compositions is that while providing effective stain removal performance to the fabrics pretreated therewith, high viscosity is also delivered to these compositions.
Accordingly, the formulator of bleaching compositions suitable for laundry pretreatment is faced with the challenge of formulating a liquid aqueous bleaching composition which exhibits effective stain removal performance and bleaching performance as well as low viscosity. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid aqueous composition providing effective bleaching performance and effective stain removal performance under laundry pretreatment conditions, while exhibiting low-viscosity properties.
It has now been found that this object can be efficiently met by formulating a liquid aqueous composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant (0.001%-30%), a zwitterionic betaine surfactant (0.001%-20%) and a viscosity controlling agent selected from the group consisting of C3-C6 alkyl ammonium salt, solvents, i.e., glycols as defined herein, C3-C8 alcohols, and/or aromatic alcohols as defined herein, and mixtures thereof.
It has now been found that such compositions when used to pretreat fabrics boosts the removal of various types of stains including greasy stains and/or enzymatic stains and more surprisingly the bleaching performance as compared to the stain removal and bleaching performance delivered by the same compositions comprising only one of these surfactants (i.e., ethoxylated nonionic surfactant or zwitterionic betaine surfactant) at equal total level of surfactant while delivering low viscosity. Indeed, it has been found that the addition of such a viscosity controlling agent allows to decrease the viscosity of a liquid aqueous peroxygen bleach-containing composition comprising an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant and a zwitterionic betaine surfactant without compromising on the stain removal performance and bleaching performance of the composition. In other words, it is by combining these ingredients that a liquid aqueous composition particularly suitable for pretreating fabrics, can be provided that combines optimum stain removal and bleaching performance as well as optimum viscosity characteristics.
Advantageously, the compositions of the present invention exhibit effective stain removal performance on stains like kitchen soils comprising mainly edible oils, bathroom soils comprising mainly sebum and/or soap scum, floor soils comprising mainly particulate soils and more generally on any greasy stains (e.g., olive oil, mayonnaise, vegetal oil, make up like lipstick), enzymatic stains (grass, blood) as well as bleachable stains (e.g., tea, coffee).
Advantageously, they also provide satisfactory fabric and colour safety when used as laundry pretreaters.
It has further surprisingly been found that the addition of C3-C6 alkyl ammonium salt and/or solvent as defined herein, in a liquid aqueous peroxygen bleach-containing composition comprising an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant and a zwitterionic betaine surfactant improves the physical stability of these compositions upon prolonged periods of storage.
Advantageously, the addition of C3-C6 alkyl ammonium salts and/or solvents as defined herein, in a liquid aqueous peroxygen bleach-containing composition comprising an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant and a zwitterionic betaine surfactant improves the rheological stability of such compositions. Indeed, the initial viscosity of the compositions herein is maintained constant (typically do not undergo more than 40%, preferably not more than 30%) when these compositions are used in a wide range of temperatures, typically from 10° C. to 45° C. Also these compositions are clear in a broad range of temperature, e.g. up to 45° C.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an improved liquid bleaching composition with low viscosity which is also a clear composition in a broad range of temperature, e.g. up to 45° C.
An advantage of the compositions of the present invention is that they exhibit a great flexibility in the soils they may clean. Although the compositions of the present invention are primarily formulated to be used as a laundry pretreater in its neat form, they may also be used in other laundry applications e.g., as a laundry detergent or a laundry additive, or even in other household applications like in hard surface cleaning applications. Accordingly, the compositions according to the present invention are able to perform in a variety of conditions, i.e., in hard and soft water in diluted form.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention encompasses a liquid aqueous composition having a viscosity of 1 cps to 100 cps when measured with a Brookfield viscometer at spindle 2, rpm 30 and 20° C. and comprising a peroxygen bleach, from 0.001% to 30% by weight of the total composition of an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, from 0.001% to 20% by weight of a zwitterionic betaine surfactant and a viscosity controlling agent selected from the group consisting of:
C3-C6 alkyl ammonium salt,
glycol according to the formula:
R
1
—O—(C
x
—H
2x
)
n
—R
2
,
wherein R
1
is a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl group containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R
2
is hydrogen or a saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl group containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, x ranges from 2 to 4 and n ranges from 1 to 5;
an alcohol having the formula R
a
—OH wherein R
a
is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group containing from 3 to 8 carbon atoms,
an aromatic alcohol according to the formula R
b
—OH wherein R
b
is an alkyl substituted or non-alkyl substituted aryl group containing from 5 to 15 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.
The present invention further encompasses process of pretreating fabrics wherein, the composition of the present invention is applied neat on the fabrics, and the fabrics are subsequently rinsed,or washed in a normal wash cycle and then rinsed with water.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The Liquid Cleaning Composition
The compositions according to the present invention are liquid compositions as opposed to a solid or a gas. As used herein “liquid” includes “pasty” compositions. The liquid compositions herein are aqueous compositions.
Typically, the liquid aqueous compositions herein comprise from 10% to 99.9% by weight of the total composition of water, preferably from 30% to 97%, even more preferably from 50% to 95% and more preferably from 60% to 90%.
Typically, the liquid compositions according to the present invention have a pH up to 7, preferably from
Del Duca Valerio
Ricci Carlo
Scaramella Roberto
Echler Sr. Richard S.
Gupta Yogendra N.
McBride James F.
Petruncio John M.
The Proctor & Gamble Company
LandOfFree
Liquid aqueous bleaching 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 Liquid aqueous bleaching compositions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Liquid aqueous bleaching compositions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2852876