Nonaqueous detergent compositions containing specific alkyl...

Details Nonaqueous detergent compositions containing specific alkyl... Nonaqueous detergent compositions containing specific alkyl...

1998-12-22

2001-05-29

Ogden, Necholus (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing

For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...

C510S407000, C510S414000, C510S492000, C510S495000, C510S497000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06239094

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to liquid laundry detergent products which are nonaqueous in nature and which are in the form of stable dispersions of particulate material such as bleaching agents and/or other detergent composition adjuvants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Liquid nonaqueous detergents are well known in the art. This class of detergents is particularly interesting for enhancing the chemical compatibility of detergent composition components, in particular bleaching agents.
In such nonaqueous products, at least some of the normally solid detergent composition components tend to be less reactive with each other than if they had been dissolved in the aqueous liquid matrix.
Even though chemical compatibility of components may be enhanced in nonaqueous liquid detergent compositions, physical stability of such compositions may become a problem. This is because there is a tendency for such products to phase separate as dispersed insoluble solid particulate material drops from suspension and settles at the bottom of the container holding the liquid detergent product. As one consequence of this type of problem, there can also be difficulties associated with incorporating enough of the right types and amounts of surfactants, in particular anionic surfactants, into nonaqueous liquid detergent products. Anionic surfactants must, of course, be selected such that they are suitable for imparting acceptable fabric cleaning performance to such compositions but utilization of such materials must not lead to an unacceptable degree of viscosity increase. Viscosity control agents can be added to such products to improve the physical stability thereof. Such materials, however, can add cost and bulk to the product without contributing to the laundering/cleaning performance of such detergent compositions.
Given the foregoing, there is clearly a continuing need to identify and provide liquid, anionic-containing detergent compositions in the form of nonaqueous liquid products that have a high degree of physical stability along with commercially acceptable pourability. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide nonaqueous, anionic-containing liquid detergent products which have such especially desirable physical stability characteristics as well as outstanding pourability characteristics.
Nonaqueous liquid detergent compositions containing high level of anionic surfactants are described in DE 3 728 047, EP 484 095 and WO 92/09678. None of the art teaches, discloses or suggests that selectivity of the alkylbenzene sulfonates results in a liquid nonaqueous detergent composition with excellent physical and pourability characteristics.
Matheson and Matson, J. Am. Oil. Chem. Soc. 60:9 (1983) reported on the effect of carbon chain and phenyl isomer distribution on use properties of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, a comparison of “high” and “low” 2-phenyl LAS homologs. The 2-phenyl content varies with the type of alkylation catalyst, as HF produces 19% 2-phenyl and AlCl
3
produces 29% 2-phenyl. The authors reported that the 2-phenyl content had little effect on LAS performance in both light-duty and heavy-duty detergent applications, and the carbon-number chain size is far more important.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides nonaqueous liquid detergent compositions comprising an anionic surfactant selected from the alkali metal salts of C
10
-C
16
alkylbenzene sulfonic acids having a 2-phenyl isomer content lower than 22%.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(A) Essential Anionic Surfactant
The anionic surfactant essentially utilized as an essential component of the nonaqueous liquid phase is one selected from the alkali metal salts of alkylbenzene sulfonic acids in which the alkyl group contains from about 10 to 16 carbon atoms, in straight chain or branched chain configuration characterized in that the 2-phenyl content of the alkylbenzene sulfonic acid is less than 22%, preferably less than 18%.
Especially preferred are the sodium and potassium linear straight chain alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from about 11 to 14. Sodium C
11
-C
14
LAS is especially preferred.
The alkylbenzene sulfonate anionic surfactant will be partially dissolved in the nonaqueous liquid diluent. To form the structured liquid phase required for suitable phase stability and acceptable rheology, the alkylbenzene sulfonate anionic surfactant is generally present to the extent of from about 30% to 65% by weight of the liquid phase. More preferably, the alkylbenzene sulfonate antionic surfactant will comprise from about 35% to 50% by weight of the nonaqueous liquid phase of the compositions herein. Utilization of this anionic surfactant in these concentrations corresponds to an anionic surfactant concentration in the total composition of from about 15% to 60% by weight, more preferably from about 20% to 40% by weight of the composition.
(B) The nonaqueous detergent composition of this invention may further comprise a surfactant- and low-polarity solvent-containing liquid phase having dispersed therein the alkyl benzene sulfonic acid. The components of the liquid and solid phases of the detergent compositions herein, as well as composition form, preparation and use, are described in greater detail as follows:
All concentrations and ratios are on a weight basis unless otherwise specified.
Additional Surfactant
The amount of the surfactant mixture component of the detergent compositions herein can vary depending upon the nature and amount of other composition components and depending upon the desired Theological properties of the ultimately formed composition. Generally, this surfactant mixture will be used in an amount comprising from about 10% to 90% by weight of the composition. More preferably, the surfactant mixture will comprise from about 15% to 50% by weight of the composition.
A typical listing of anionic, nonionic, ampholytic and zwitterionic classes, and species of these surfactants, is given in U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,961 issued to Norris on May 23, 1972.
Preferred anionic surfactants include the alkyl sulfate surfactants hereof are water soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO
3
M wherein R preferably is a C
10
-C
24
hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having a C
10
-C
18
alkyl component, more preferably a C
12
-C
15
alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation (e.g. sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperdinium cations).
Highly preferred anionic surfactants include alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants hereof are water soluble salts or acids of the formula RO(A)
m
SO3M wherein R is an unsubstituted C
10
-C
24
alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C
10
-C
24
alkyl component, preferably a C
12
-C
18
alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, more preferably C
12
-C
15
alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m is greater than zero, typically between about 0.5 and about 6, more preferably between about 0.5 and about 3, and M is H or a cation which can be, for example, a metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), ammonium or substituted-ammonium cation. Alkyl ethoxylated sulfates as well as alkyl propoxylated sulfates are contemplated herein. Specific examples of substituted ammonium cations include quaternary ammonium cations such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperdinium cations Exemplary surfactants are C
12
-C
15
alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0) sulfate (C
12
-C
15
E(1.0)M), C
12
-C
15
alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfate (C
12
-C
15
E(2.25)M), C
12
-C
15
alkyl polyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate (C
12
-C
15
E(3.0)M), and C
12
-C
15
alkyl polyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate (C
12
-C
15
E(4.0)M), wherein M is conveniently selected from sodium and potassium.
Other suitable anionic surfactants to be used are alkyl ester sulfonate surfactants including linear esters of C
8
-C
20
carboxylic acids (i.e., fatty acids) which are sulfonate

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