Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Patent
1994-09-30
1997-01-07
Caldarola, Glenn A.
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
510353, 510445, 510460, 510466, 510488, 510491, 510511, C11D 900
Patent
active
055917054
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is concerned with rinse-active foam control particles for inclusion in a detergent composition, i.e. foam control particles mainly active in the rinse-cycle of a laundry process, with a method for making such particles, and with detergent compositions containing such particles.
BACKGROUND
It has become common practice in the detergent industry to include in detergent compositions materials which are intended to control the amount of foam produced during a laundry process.
Although suds-control during the washing cycle of a laundry process is important, so as to avoid negative interference with the action of the wash liquor upon the fabrics, it is also known that suds-control during the rinse cycle of a laundry process is desirable;
Indeed, excessive foaming during the rinse cycle in a washing machine can cause foam spillage and damage to the machine, while in a handwash context, there is an advantage in lowering the foam production during rinsing, so as to shorten this step.
Soaps of fatty acids have been used for such a rinse-active suds control function, and they have always been spray dried together with the rest of the detergent composition;
However, there is a desire to reduce organic emissions during manufacturing of detergents, in particular during spray-drying.
The present invention provides foam control fatty acid soap particles which are made separately from the rest of the spray-dried detergent composition, and a process to make them, not causing organic emissions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides rinse-active foam-control particles for inclusion in a detergent composition in powder form, consisting essentially of a soap of fatty acids of which at least 80% contain from 16 to 18 carbon atoms, the geometric mean particle size of the particles being inferior to 1 mm, preferably inferior to 0.4 mm.
The present invention also encompasses a process for making said foam-control agents, as well as high suds and low sud executions of detergent compositions containing said foam-control particles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The Antifoam Particles
The foam-control particles of the invention are mainly constituted of a soap of fatty acids of which at least 80% by weight contain from 16 to 18 carbon atoms; preferred fatty acids are tallow or tallow/coconut mixtures at a weight ratio of tallow to coconut not less than 70/30; particularly preferred is a 90/10 tallow/coconut mixture. Suitable cations which render the soap water soluble and/or dispersible include sodium, potassium, ammonium, monoethanolammonium, diethanolammonium, triethanolammonium, tetramethylammonium, etc. Sodium ions are preferred.
The particles of the invention are further characterized by their particle size, which is such that the geometric mean particle size, which is the median of the cumulative weight distribution, should be less than 1 mm and preferably less than 0.4 mm.
The individual particle size of a particle is meant as being the sum of the longest and the shortest dimension of the particle divided by two.
The cumulative weight distribution of the particles can be conveniently measured by sieving with an air-fluidized sieve.
Optional Ingredients
The particles herein optionally include a free-flowing agent such as amorphous silica, at levels not exceeding 5% by weight of the particle.
Making process for the anti-foam particles of the invention
The process herein contains essentially the steps of drying a fatty acid soap slurry to a low moisture level, i.e. a moisture level not exceeding 9%, preferably not exceeding 5% by weight of the slurry, then pressing the slurry into noodles, and successively grinding the noodles to a fine powder with the particle size required herein.
The control of the moisture level is a particularly critical feature of the process herein, since successful grinding to the required particle size will not be possible without meeting the claimed moisture level.
Drying of the soap slurry is preferably achieved under vacuum. Su
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Brinson Alan D.
Cumming David X.
York David W.
Caldarola Glenn A.
Hailey Patricia L.
Patel Ken K.
Rasser Jacobus C.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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