Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Utility Patent
1999-10-04
2001-01-02
Gupta, Yogendra (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, C510S317000, C510S320000, C510S347000, C510S392000, C510S443000, C510S444000, C510S466000, C510S509000, C510S510000, C510S530000, C510S531000
Utility Patent
active
06169063
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to detergent compositions, and more particularly to granular detergent compositions employed in low water wash processes. The invention is directed to granular detergent compositions containing cellulase and protease enzymes and a high level of a selected particulate foam control agent. Together these components produce a reduced level of suds in a low water wash process as well as surprisingly increased stain removal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As is well known, detergent compositions, in granular or powder form, have been used in commercially available machines for laundering textiles. These detergent compositions generally contain certain organic surfactants, builders, bleaching agents and various inorganic or organic additives. The conventional method of laundering textiles, used by United States consumers in the home, is carried out by placing from about 5 pounds to about 8 pounds of textiles into a top loading washing machine which typically uses about 45 gallons of water. Detergent is added to the machine in an amount determined by the manufacturer to provide the best cleaning results for a specified amount of textiles and volume of water. The water and detergent form what is referred to as the wash liquor. Soil is removed from the textiles and suspended in the wash liquor by mechanical agitation. At the end of the washing cycle, the wash liquor is drained from the wash basket and the textiles are rinsed with water. Additional mechanical agitation, which occurs during the rinse cycle, removes the detergent residue from the textiles. After the rinse water is drained from the wash basket, a high speed spin of the wash basket removes most of the water from the textiles.
A number of features of the conventional washing method could be improved to provide better consumer satisfaction with the process itself and the results obtained. For example, the changing of one feature, the amount of water used in the wash process, would result in a sizable cost savings to the consumer. It is well-established that the largest single factor effecting the consumer's cost per wash load is the amount of energy used to heat the water used in the washing cycle. Accordingly, it would be desirable to modify existing washing processes to consume less energy, and therefore result in a lower cost to the consumer. One such convenient way in which this can be accomplished is to reduce the amount of water consumed in the process. In response to this need, washing machines have been developed which use less water in the wash process and represent a significant improvement over existing technology since the cost to the consumer of each load of clothes cleaned is tremendously decreased. Appliance or washing machine manufacturers responding to this need for a washing machine have developed so-called “low water” washing machines which use about 25 gallons of water for each wash and rinse cycle or 40% less water than conventional top loading washing machines. For maximum cleaning benefits, the detergent used in such low water washing processes must be tailored to the machine operating conditions. Currently available detergent compositions are not optimized to deliver superior cleaning results in newly developed low water wash systems. During the mechanical agitation phase of a normal wash cycle, surfactants in the detergent composition can produce an excessive amount of foam, which reduces the quality of the washing process. Where a reduced amount of water is used in the washing process, currently available detergent compositions almost always produce unacceptably large amounts of foam which are found aesthetically objectionable to consumers and which reduce the level of cleaning resulting from the washing process.
Thus, the need exists for a commercially available detergent composition capable of producing superior cleaning over current detergent formulations, especially when used at a high concentration in a low water wash process. While the detergency art is replete with references which teach detergent compositions which include at least a minor amount of a particulate foam control agent to control the amount of foam produced during conventional wash cycles, the art falls short of suggesting a detergent composition which provides effective sudsing control in “low water” washing machines while also maintaining superior cleaning performance. This need is especially prevalent when the low water washing process involves washing liquors having low temperatures, i.e. less than about 30° C.
Accordingly, despite the aforementioned disclosures in the art, there remains a need in the art for a granular detergent composition which effectively controls sudsing, especially in low wash water washing machines, and yet maintains superior cleaning performance. There is also a need for such a detergent composition which exhibits superior sudsing control and cleaning performance in a low water washing machine that uses cold water (less than about 30° C.).
BACKGROUND ART
The following patents disclose detergent compositions comprising a particulate foam control agent: Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,596 (Dow Corning, S. A.); Burrill, U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,266 (Dow Corning Ltd.); Appel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,593 (Lever Brothers Company); Baginski et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,392 (The Procter & Gamble Company); Tai, U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,349 (Lever Brothers Company); Tai, U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,387 (Lever Brothers Company); Burrill, EP 0210731 (Dow Corning Limited); Foret, EP0206522 (Unilever PLC); Gowland, EP 0142910 (Procter & Gamble Limited); De Cupere, EP0495345A1 (The Procter & Gamble Company); Kolaltis, EP0636684A2 (Dow Corning S. A.); Kolaltis, EP0636685A2 (Dow Corning S. A.).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned needs in the art are met by the present invention which provides a granular detergent composition which is not sudsy in a low water wash process and which provides superior stain removal. The detergent composition comprises high levels of a particulate foam control agent in combination with optimally selected levels of a surfactant, builder, hydrated magnesium sulfates, and protease and cellulase enzymes. Preferably, the granular detergent composition is substantially free of phosphates. Addition of hydrated magnesium sulfate to the detergent composition delivers surprisingly excellent hardness surfactancy in wash solutions. Moreover, the detergent composition unexpectedly produces low levels of foam required for optimal cleaning in a low water wash process which employs a reduced amount of wash water as compared to currently available methods. Also, unexpected superior cleaning performance, and enhanced brightening of the colors of dyed fabrics, is exhibited.
As used herein, the phrase “low water wash process” refers to a washing process where the total amount of wash and rinse water employed in all cycles of a commercially available washing machine is no more than 30 gallons, preferably less than 25 gallons or the concentration of the detergent is from about 2,000 parts per million (ppm) to about 10,000 ppm. In addition, the low water wash process is further characterized by a fabric to water ratio of from 1:1 to 1:9, a water volume of from about 3 to about 8 gallons, and a wash time of from about 8 to about 16 minutes.
All percentages, ratios and proportions used herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. All documents including patents and publications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a detergent composition in the form of granules is provided herein. The detergent composition comprises at least about 1% by weight of a surfactant and at least about 1% by weight of a builder. The detergent composition also includes from about 6% to about 9% of a particulate foam control agent. In addition, the detergent composition includes from about 0.1% to about 10% of a hydrated magnesium sulfate, from about 0.05% to about 0.4% of a protease enzyme and from about 0.05% to about 0.2% of a c
Kvietok Frank Andrej
Norman Wendell Ivan
Swift, II Ronald Allen
Varadarajan Jyoti
Boyer Charles
Dressman Marianne
Gupta Yogendra
Miller Steven W.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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