Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-16
2002-11-19
Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S276000, C510S286000, C510S289000, C510S291000, C510S302000, C510S356000, C510S433000, C510S421000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06482786
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to liquid bleaching compositions with high phase stability at low temperatures. More particularly, the compositions herein are suitable for use on various surfaces including hard-surfaces and fabrics to provide stain removal and bleaching performance.
BACKGROUND
Liquid aqueous peroxygen bleach-containing compositions have been extensively described in the art, especially in laundry applications as laundry detergents, laundry additives or even laundry pretreaters.
For example, it is known that peroxygen bleach-containing compositions comprising nonionic surfactants in laundry applications show a good removal performance for encrustated stains/soils, which are otherwise particularly difficult to remove, such as grease, coffee, tea, grass, mud/clay-containing soils and the like. However, we have found that a drawback associated with such peroxygen bleach-containing compositions comprising nonionic surfactants is, that said compositions show a poor physical stability, especially at low temperatures, e.g., typically below +5° C. Indeed, the nonionic surfactants tend to separate from the aqueous phase and form a surfactant film on top of the peroxygen bleach-containing composition, this effect is accelerated at low temperatures and it is irreversible even when said composition gets back at ambient temperature.
It is thus an object of the present invention to formulate a peroxygen bleach-containing composition comprising a nonionic surfactant, said composition being physically stable upon prolonged periods of storage, especially at low temperatures.
It has now been found that improved physical stability, especially at low temperatures, i.e., typically below +5° C., can be achieved by adding a sulphonated hydrotrope and a zwitterionic betaine surfactant to a liquid peroxygen bleach-containing composition comprising at least a nonionic surfactant. Indeed, it is by adding these ingredients to said peroxygen bleach-containing composition that the tendency of the nonionic surfactants to separate from the aqueous phase and form a surfactant film on top of the peroxygen bleach-containing composition is reduced or even prevented. Additionally, the phase separation, occurring at low temperatures is reversible, i.e., it is possible to recuperate to a single phase solution when recovering from low temperatures.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the zwitterionic betaine surfactants used herein are salt free. Indeed, it has been found that using a salt free zwitterionic betaine surfactant in the compositions according to the present invention reduces or even prevents the damage to fabrics and/or colors, which would otherwise occur, when fabrics are treated with liquid bleaching composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, especially when pretreating said fabrics, i.e., applying a composition in its neat form onto the fabrics for prolonged periods of time before rinsing said fabrics.
Advantageously, the present compositions also provide excellent stain removal performance on various stains including greasy stains and excellent bleaching performance. Indeed, it has been found that the compositions of the present invention, comprising a peroxygen bleach and as a surfactant system, a nonionic surfactant, preferably an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, together with a zwitterionic betaine surfactant, preferably a salt free zwitterionic betaine surfactant, boost the removal of various types of stains including greasy stains like mayonnaise, vegetal oil, sebum, make-up, and more surprisingly boost the bleaching performance.
More particularly, the compositions of the present invention provide excellent stain removal performance on a broad range of stains and soils and excellent bleach performance when used in any laundry application, e.g., as a laundry detergent or a laundry additive, and especially when used as a laundry pretreater, or even in other household applications like in hard surface cleaning applications.
A further advantage is that the compositions herein are chemically stable upon prolonged periods of storage.
Yet another advantage of the compositions according to the present invention is that they are able to perform in a variety of conditions, i.e., in hard and soft water as well as when used neat or diluted.
BACKGROUND ART
EP-A-0 351 772 discloses stabilized hydrogen peroxide-containing compositions. However hydrogen peroxide-containing compositions comprising a nonionic surfactant, together with a betaine surfactant and a sulphonated hydrotrope are not exemplified.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,454 discloses liquid dishwashing compositions comprising a betaine surfactant, a nonionic surfactant and a solubilizing agent. However, no peroxygen bleach-containing compositions are disclosed.
WO 96/30484 discloses liquid alkaline detergent compositions comprising a mixture of nonionic and anionic surfactants, hydrogen peroxide, and a sulphonated hydrotrope. No betaine-containing compositions are disclosed.
WO 97/25397 discloses liquid dishwashing detergent compositions comprising a surfactant, a skin feel and rinsability enhancing system, and a protease enzyme. No peroxygen bleach-containing compositions are disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention encompasses a liquid composition comprising a nonionic surfactant, a zwitterionic betaine surfactant, a sulphonated hydrotrope, and a peroxygen bleach.
The present invention further encompasses processes of treating a surface, e.g., a fabric or a hard-surface, starting from a liquid composition as defined herein. For example, the processes of treating fabrics include the steps of contacting said fabrics with the liquid composition herein neat or diluted, and subsequently rinsing said fabrics. In the preferred embodiment, when the fabrics are “pretreated”, the composition is applied neat on the fabrics, and the fabrics are subsequently washed in a normal wash cycle.
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 preferably aqueous compositions. The liquid compositions according to the present invention preferably have a pH up to 9, more preferably from 2 to 7, and most preferably from 2 to 6. In a preferred embodiment the compositions according to the present invention are formulated in the neutral to the acidic pH range, which contributes to the chemical stability of the compositions and to the stain removal performance of the compositions. The pH of the compositions may be adjusted by any acidifying agents known to those skilled in the art. Examples of acidifying agents are organic acids such as citric acid and inorganic acids such as sulphuric acid.
Peroxygen Bleach
As a first essential element the compositions according to the present invention comprise a peroxygen bleach or a mixture thereof. Indeed, the presence of peroxygen bleach contributes to the excellent bleaching benefits of said compositions. Suitable peroxygen bleaches to be used herein are hydrogen peroxide, water soluble sources thereof, or mixtures thereof. As used herein a hydrogen peroxide source refers to any compound that produces perhydroxyl ions when said compound is in contact with water.
Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use herein include percarbonates, persilicates, persulphates such as monopersulfate, perborates, peroxyacids such as diperoxydodecandioic acid (DPDA), magnesium perphtalic acid, perlauric acid, perbenzoic and alkylperbenzoic acids, hydroperoxides, aliphatic and aromatic diacyl peroxides, and mixtures thereof. Preferred peroxygen bleaches herein are hydrogen peroxide, hydroperoxide and/or diacyl peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is the most preferred peroxygen bleach herein.
Suitable hydroperoxides for use herein are tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumyl hydroperoxide, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl-2-hydroperoxide, di-isopropylbenzene-monohydroperoxide, tert-amyl
Del Duca Valerio
Giunti Stefano
Ishida Nobuo
Boyer Charles
McBride James F.
Miller Steven E.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
Zerby Kim W.
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