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Patent 1080576 Summary

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(12) Patent: (11) CA 1080576
(21) Application Number: 270540
(54) English Title: NONIONIC SURFACTANT-CONTAINING DETERGENT COMPOSITION WITH CELLULOSE ETHER
(54) French Title: DETERGENTS CONTENANT DES AGENTS TENSIO-ACTIFS NON IONIQUES ET DE L'ETHER DE CELLULOSE
Status: Expired
Bibliographic Data
Abstracts

English Abstract




NONIONIC SURFACTANT-CONTAINING DETERGENT
COMPOSITION WITH CELLULOSE ETHER

Charles H. Nicol

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Cellulose ether soil release agents are used in
detergent compositions containing a nonionic surfactant which
has a critical micelle concentration of at least 50 ppm
and a ratio of ethylene oxide units to number of carbon
atoms in the hydrophobic chain of at least 0.4.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property
or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A granular detergent composition consisting essentially
of (a) from 5% to 35% of a water-soluble nonionic surfactant
wherein the surfactant,has the formula


RO(C2H4O)nH


wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkylaryl group of from
8 to 20 carbon atoms, n is from 4 to 30, the ratio of
n to the number of carbon atoms in R is at least 0.4 and
the critical micelle concentration is at least 50 ppm;
(b) from 0.1% to 3% of a cellulose ether as a soil release
agent wherein the cellulose ether is selected from the group
consisting of alkyl cellulose ethers having a DS alkyl of
from 1.2 to 2.9, hydroxyalkyl cellulose ethers having a
DS hydroxyalkyl of from 1.2 to 2.9, and hydroxyalkyl alkyl
cellulose ethers having a DS alkyl of from 1.0 to 2.7, a
DS hydroxyalkyl of from 0.01 to 1.0 and a total degree of
substitution of at least 1.05 and wherein the alkyl and
hydroxyalkyl substituents of the cellulose ethers have from 1 to
4 carbon atoms; and (C) from 10% to 80% of a detergency builder.

2. The detergent composition of Claim 1 wherein
the ratio of n to the number of carbon atoms in R is at
least 0.6 and the critical micelle concentration is at
least 150 ppm.




- 21 -

3. The detergent composition of Claim 1 wherein
R is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl moiety derived
from a primary or secondary alcohol and has from 10 to 15
carbon atoms and n is from 4 to 15.

4. The detergent composition of Claim 1 wherein
R is an alkyl phenol-based moiety where the alkyl chain has
from 6 to 12 carbon atoms and n is from 4 to 15.

5. The detergent composition of Claim 1 wherein the
cellulose ether is an alkyl cellulose ether.


6. The detergent composition of Claim 1 wherein
the cellulose ether is a hydroxyalkyl cellulose ether.

7. The detergent composition of Claim 1 wherein the
cellulose ether is a hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose ether.

8. The detergent composition of Claim 5 wherein the
cellulose ether has a molecular weight of from 3000 to
10,000 and a DS alkyl of from 1.8 to 2.7.

9. The detergent composition of Claim 8 wherein the
cellulose ether has a molecular weight of from 3500 to 8000.

10. The detergent composition of Claim 9 wherein
the cellulose ether has a molecular weight of from 4000 to
5500 and a DS alkyl of from 2.1 to 2.4,



- 22 -


11. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein
the detergency builder is present at a level of from 25% to 75%.
12. The detergent composition of claim 11 wherein the
cellulose ether is present at a level of from 0.5% to 2% and the
nonionic surfactant is present at a level from 8% to 20%.
13. A liquid detergent composition consisting
essentially of (a) from 5% to 65% of a water-soluble nonionic
surfactant wherein the surfactant has the formula:
RO(C2H4O)nH
wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkylaryl group of from 8 to
20 carbon atoms, n is from 4 to 30, the ratio of n to the number
of carbon atoms in R is at least 0.4 and the critical micelle
concentration is at least 50 ppm; (b) from 0.1% to 5% of a
cellulose ether as a soil release agent wherein the cellulose
ether is selected from the group consisting of alkyl cellulose
ethers having a DS alkyl of from 1.2 to 2.9, hydroxyalkyl
cellulose ethers having a DS hydroxyalkyl of from 1.2 to 2.9,
and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose ethers having a DS alkyl of
from 1.0 to 2.7, a DS hydroxyalkyl of from 0.01 to 1.0 and a
total degree of substitution of at least 1.05 and wherein the
alkyl and hydroxyalkyl substituents of the cellulose ethers have
from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and (c) the balance of the composition
being a liquid carrier selected from the group consisting of water
and water-alcohol mixtures wherein the alcohol contains from 1
to 4 carbon atoms and the ratio of water to alcohol is from
30:1 to 3:1.
14. The detergent composition of claim 13 consisting
essentially of from 20% to 50% of the nonionic surfactant and
from 0.5% to 3% of the cellulose ether.


23

15. The detergent composition of claim 14 wherein the
liquid carrier is water.
16. The detergent composition of claim 14 wherein the
liquid carrier is a water-alcohol mixture.
17. The detergent composition of claim 20 additionally
containing from 0.1% to 10% of potassium chloride.




24

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.



B~CKGROUND OF ~HE INVENTION

This invention relates to detergent compositions con-
taining cel~ulose ether soil release agents. More particularly,
the detergent compositions herein contain (1) a nonionic sur-
factant having a specified critical micelle concentration
and ratio of ethylene oxide groups to number of carbons in
the hydrophobic portion of the surfactant and (2) a ceilulose
ether soil release agent.
There has been considerable effort expended in testing
various compounds for use in detergent compositions for the
purpose of imparting soil release properties to fabrics.
The work has primarily been directed toward using various
polymers as detergent composition additives with the intent
of depositing such polymers onto cotton, polyester and
polyester/cotton fabrics from the wash solution. The de-

; position of the polymers upon the fabrics insures that when
the fabrics are subsequently soiled and washed, the soil is
removed more easily therefrom.
.` ' ' ' ' ~


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., . '
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.

108~)576

Various cellulose ethers in particular have received
a great deal of attention in the area of soil release tech-

nology. Examples of prior art wherein detergent compositionsare disclosed containing various cellulose ethers are the
following: .



South African Patent Application, 72/7174, published
October 9, 1972, Bevan;
South African Patent Application, 73/5423, published
August 9, 1973, Aldcroft, et al; -

South African Patent Application, 7V 5149, published
August 7, 1971, Foster;

South African Patent Application, 70/3911, published
` June 9, 1970, Davies, et al;
British Patent 1,314,897, published April 26, 1973;

British Patent 340,232, published December 17, 1930,
: Johnson;

British Patent 994,353, published June 2, 1965,Gibbons;
U.S. Patent 3,328,305, June 27, 1967,
Lamberti;

: U.S. Patent 3,703,470, November 21, 1972,
Brennan; and

U.S. Patent 3,723,326, March 27, 1973,.
Cheng, et al.


The above prior art teaches that the disclosed detergent
compositions may contain a wide range of anionic surfactants,

nonionic surfactants, ampholytic surfactants, or zwitterionic
surfactants. It has now been discovered that the selection
of the surfactant for use in combination with the cellulose
ethers has a substantial effect on the efficacy of the soil

release properties imparted to the fabrics by the cellulose
ether. The prior art fails to recognize that a detergent


.
.,~
'

108~576

composition containing a nonionic surfactant and a cellulose
ether soil release agent does not achieve optimum performance
primarily because the commonly used nonionic surfactants will
deposit upon fabrics prior to the cellulose ether. This has
S the effect of hindering the de~osition of the soil release
agent and/or of adversely affecting the bonding of the soil
release agent to the fabrics.
It is an object of this invention to provide deter-
gent compositions having satisfactory soil release pro-


10 perties.
It is another object of the invention to provide anonionic surfactant-containing detergent composition which
is able to impart soil release properties to 'abrics.
It is still another object of this invention to provide
a detergent composition containing a nonionic surfactant as
the major surfactant component together with a cellulose ether
so as to provide a satisfactorily cleaning detergent composition.
- These and other objects will become apparent from the
. .
description to follow. ;;
As used herein, all percentages and ratios are by
weight unless otherwise indicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
. , .. .. _ . , , ~: .
~ s mventicnprovides a detergent co~osition capable of ~arting a soil ~ ~

; reIease benefit to fabrics consisting essentially of: ~ -

(a) from 5% to 65% of a water-soluble nonionic surfactant ;~

, having the formula

:,

RO(C H 0) H



~;'~A .

.
. . .
' ~ .

~08~576

wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkylaryl group of from
8 to ~0 carbon atoms, n is from 4 to 30, the ratio of
n to the number of carbon atoms in R is at least 0.4 and
its critical micelle concentration is at least 50 ppm;
(b) from 0.1% to 5% of a cellulose ether wherein thé cellu-
lose ether is selected from the group consisting of alkyl
cellulose ethers ha~ing a DS alkyl of from 1.2 to 2.9,
hydroxyalkyl cellulose ethers having a DS hydroxyalkyl of
from 1.2 to 2.9, and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose ethers
having a DS alkyl of from 1.0 to 2. 7, a DS hy~roxyalkyl
of from 0.~1 to 1.0 and a total degree of substitution of
at least 1.05 and wherein the alkyl and hydroxvalkyl sub-
stituents have from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and (c) the balance
of the composition comprising detergency adjunct materials.

:
: In a more particular aspect, the present invention
resides in a granular detergent composition consisting
essentially of (a) from 5% to 35% of a water-soluble nonionic
surfactant wherein the surfactant has the formula


: R(C2H4)nH
; wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkylaryl group of from
8 to 20 carbon atoms, n is from 4 to 30, the ratio of n to the
number of carbon atoms in R is at least 0.4 and the critical
micelle concentration is at least 50 ppm; (b) from 0.1% to 3%
: of a cellulose ether as a soil release agent wherein the cellu-
lose e.ther is selected from the group consisting of alkyl
cellulose ethers having a DS alkyl of from 1.2 to 2.9, hydroxy-
alkyl cellulose ethers having a DS hydroxyalkyl of from 1.2 to
: 2.9, and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose ethers having a DS

alkyl of from 1.0 to 2.7, a DS hydroxyalkyl of from 0.01 to 1.0
and a total degree of substitution of at least 1.05 and wherein
~ ~4~
~'' ~A ,,

: .

108~)5~76

the alkyl and hydroxyalkyl substituents of the cellulose ethers
have from l to 4 carbon atoms; and (c) from 10% to 80% of a
detergency builder.
The invention in a further aspect, resides in a liquid
detergent composition consisting essentially of (a) from 5~ to
65% of a water-soluble ~onionic surfactant wherein the surfactant
has the formula


RO(C2H4O)nH

wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkylaryl group of from 8 to
20 carbon atoms, n is from 4 to 30, the ratio of n to the number
of carbon atoms in R is at least 0.4 and the critical micelle
concentration is at least 50 ppm; (b) from 0.1% to 5% of a
cellulose ether as a soil release agent wherein the cellulose
ether is selected from the group consisting of alkyl cellulose
ethers having a DS alkyl of from 1.2 to 2.9, hydroxyalkyl
cellulose ethers having a DS hydroxyalkyl of from 1.2 to 2.9,
and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose ethers having a DS alkyl of
from 1.0 to 2.~, a DS hydroxyalkyl of from 0.01 and a total -;
degree of substitution of at least 1.05 and wherein the alkyl
and hydroxvalkyl substituents of the cellulose ethers ha~e from
l to 4 carbon atoms; and (c) the balance of the composition being
a liquid carrier selected from the group consisting of water
and water-alcohol mixtures wherein the alcohol contains from
1 to 4 carbon atoms and the ratio of water to alcohol is from
30:1 to 3:1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detergent compositions of the present invention
consists essentially of a nonionic surfactant, a cellulose ether
soil release agent, and the balance detergency adjunct materials.

Each of the components are described hereinafter.
~ -4a-



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,: ,
..... .

)576

Nonionic Surfactant
The nonionic surfactant included in the compositions ofthis invention has the following formula:

2 4 n

wherein R is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkylaryl group having from
8 carbon atoms to 20 carbon atoms, preferably




.. . .

: - :

~' ~
. . .


:"
-4b-
:


.. . . :

108~)576

10 carbon atoms to lS carbon atoms and n is from 4 to 30,
preferably 4 to 15, most preferably 6 to 12. Additionally
the nonionic surfactant is characterized by having a :
critical micelle concentration at 25C of at least 50 ppm,
preferably at least 150 ppm and a ratio of n to the number
of carbon atoms in R of at least 0.4, preferably at least
0.6.
~onionic surfactants are condensation products of
; a long chain ethylene oxide moiety with a primary alcohol,
seconaary alcohol or alkyl phenol. Thus, R is a straight
; or branched chain hydrocarbyl moiety derived from a primary
or secondary alcohol containing 8 to 20 carbon atoms,
preerably 10 to 15 carbon atoms or an alkyl phenol-based
! moiety where the alkyl chain is straight or branched and
. 15 contains from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 9
carbon atoms.
- Illustrative nonionic surfactants having the desired
. characteristics (where EO is an abbreviation for the ethylene
: oxide moiety) are as follows:
: `
~ 20 n-C8 alkyl (EO)4 n-C13 alkenYl (EO)10
n-C10 alkYl EO)6 C8 alkylaryl rEO)8
n-C12 alkyl (EO)15 C~ alkylaryl (EO)20
n-C~3 alkyl (EO)20
sec-C10 alkyl (EO~5
: ~ 25 sec-C12 alkyl (EO)3~
sec-cl3 alkyl (E)30
n-C12 alkenyl (EO)g
: . ',
. .,~

`, .

: _ 5 _

10~ 576
The above described nonionic surfactants are not
normally considered to possess optimal detergency. However,
it has been found that such surfactants do not interfere
with the deposition and/or adherence of the cellulose ether
soil release agent to fabrics. The detergent compositions
of this invention do satisfactorily clean despite containing
a less than optimum detergency surfactant due to the fact
the effective and efficient deposition of the soil release
agent alleviates the need for a good detergency surfactant.
That is, the deposition of the soil release agent on the
fabrics insures that when the fabrics are soiled and sub-
sequently washed, the soil is removed more easily. As such,
a nonionic surfactant having less than what would be con-
sidered optimal detergency is able to remove the soil.
Detergent compositions of this invention contain
from ~ to 65% of the above described nonionic surfactant.


Cellulose Ether Soil Release Agen~
- The soil release component herein comprises etheri-
fied celluloses. The basic structure of the cellulose ethers
used in the present compositions is depicted as iollows:




. .

108()576


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.
~ :C
,4 q ' O "
\/
/\




.~ ' I 1 I .'
1~ o ~p~ ,

:~ ~c~ 7L
.. , . ~ ' .



.-~j $~f




`'~3: 0 $
.,. ~C .
, . ~
.;.;l
. ~ .
`,',''
,,
- :.
.'.`'.-, .

-- 7

~ 10130~i76

wherein n is a finite number and wherein R' represents
hydrogen, Cl_4 alkyl, hydroxyalkyl having 1 to 4 carbon
atoms, or mixed alkyl and hydroxyalkyl substituents each
having 1 to 4 carbon atoms as described hereinafter. The
molecular weight of the cellulose ether ranges from 3,000
to 185,000. Useful alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl,
propyl and butyl. The preferred alkyl group is methyl.
Hydroxyalkyl groups include hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl,
hydroxypropyl and hydroxybutyl,with hydroxybutyl being
preferred. Of the commercially available materials having
mixed alkyl and hydroxyalkyl substituents, preferred
materials have R' as mixtures of methyl and hydroxybutyl.
Processes for preparing the cellulose ethers are
known. Briefly, when preparing the alkyl cellulose ether
; 15 soil release agents employed in the present compositions,
the hydroxy groups of the anhydroglucose units of cellulose
are reacted with an alkylating agent, thereby replacing the
hydrogen of the hydroxyls with alkyl substituents. The
number of substituent alkyl groups can be designated by
weight percent, or by the average number of alkyl (i.e.,
; as alkoxyl) groups per anhydroglucose units, i.e., the
Degree of Substitution (DS) alkyl. If all three available
positions on each anhydroglucose unit are substituted, the
DS alkyl is designated three (3); if an average of two
-OH's are substituted, the DS alkyl is designated two (2),
~'! etc. Similar nomenclature is used to define the hydroxy-
alkyl and hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose ethers èmployed herein.



~ ':



-- 8 --

108~576
When describing the hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulosics, the
degree of substitution of both substituent types is set
forth.
Commercial processes for preparing alkyl cellulose
ethers involve, for example, simply combining the desired
alkyl halide, e.g., methyl chloride, with a cellulose
feed stock under alkaline conditions. Suitable cellulose
feedstocks include natural cellulose materials such as
wood pulp, cotton linters, etc. Such a process results
in a DS alkyl below 2, and most generally a DS alkyl of
about 1.5.
Higher DS alkyl cellulose ethers are prepared by
, the exhaustive alkylation of cellulose using an alkyl halide,
e.g., methyl chloride, and caustic, preferably sodium hy-
droxide, in a pressure vessel in a manner well known in
the art for preparing the lower DS alkyl cellulosics.
However, the alkylation procedure is simply repeated and
continued until the higher DS materials are secured. In
either case, the progress of the alkylation reaction is
monitored by periodically sampling the reaction product
and determining the degree of alkoxylation by various means
well known in the art. The exhaustive alkylation procedure
herein results in the formation of cellulose ethers having
a DS alkyl in the range of 1.7 to 2.9.
The alkyl cellulose ethers have a DS alkyl of from
1.2 to 2.9. Preferably the alkyl substituent has from l to
; 4 carbon atoms. One class of highly preferred alkyl cellulose
ethers herein has group R' as methyl and is characterized
~:.
, by a DS methyl in the range of 2.0 to 2.7.
;::
`~'

_ g _


... , ., ~ . ~. ...

1080576
The manufacture of the hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose
soil release agents used herein is also carried out using
well known procedures.~ In a typical method, a cellulose
feedstock is swelled with caustic soda solution to produce
alkali cellulose, which is then treated with an alkyl halide
(preferably a Cl 4 alkyl halide, especially methyl chloride)
and an al~ylene oxide (preferably a Cl 4 alkylene oxide,
especially butylene oxide). The DS alkyl and DS hydroxy-
alkyl of the resulting cellulose ether are ~aried, depending
on the reaction stoichiometry and reaction times and
temperatures used, all in well known fashion. The DS alkyl
is from 1.0 to 2.7, preferably 1.3 to 2.5 and ~S hydroxy-
alkyl of from 0.01 to 1.0, preferably 0.06 to 1.0 with a
total DS of at least 1.05, preferably at least l.5.
Similarly, hydroxyalkyl cellulose ethers are prepared
by reacting cellulose feedstocks with an alkylene oxide and
ca~stic, usually at elevated temperatures and pressures,
in the manner known in the art. Its DS hydroxyalkyl is

from 1.2 to 2.9, preferably 1.3 to 1.7. The hydroxyalkyl
substituent preferably contains 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
The hereindescribed cellulose ethers have a molecular
weight of from 3,000 to 185,000. Cellulose ethers having a
low molecular weight, i.e., of from 3000 to 10,000, preferably
3500 to 8000, more preferably 4000 ~o 5500~and a DS methyl of
from 1.8 to 2.7, preferably 2.1 to 2.4Jare especially useful
herein. Such cellulose ethers are described in U. S. Patent
.. . . ....................... .. . . . .
; 4,048,433 of Burns et al., granted September 13, 1977, said patent ~
' :


,' .

~4'
.,: .;,. , . ' . .:'~
- . .. .

1080576
being entitled "NOVEL CELLULOSE ETHERS AND DETERGENT COMPOSI-
TIONS CONTAINING SAME". These cellulose ethers are prepared
by initially methylating the cellulose feedstock in the manner
above described and thereafter reducing its degree of poly-
merization by means of gaseous hydrogen chloride, aqueous acid
hydrolysis or oxidative depolymerization. Such depolymeriza-
tion reactions are described in the prior art. Alternatively
the cellulosic feedstock may be cleaved initially, e.g. by
using an oxidative depolymerization step, and then methylated
in a conventional manner.
Representative, non-limiting examples of cellulose
soil release agents used herein are as follows: methyl
cellulose, DS methyl 2.1, M.W. 30,000; ethyl cellulose, DS
ethyl 1.2, M.W. 100,000; methyl ethyl cellulose, DS methyl
1.0, DS ethyl 0.7, M.W. 50,000; hydroxyethyl cellulose, DS
hydroxyethyl 1.2, M.W. 60,000; hydroxypropyl cellulose, DS
hydroxypropyl 1.5, M.W. 40,000; methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose,
DS methyl 1.5, DS hydroxyethyl 0.1, M.W. 120,000; methyl
hydroxybutyl cellulose, DS methyl 1.5, DS hydroxybutyl 0.5,
M.W. 30,000; butyl cellulose, DS butyl 1.5, M.W. 80,000;
methyl cellulose, DS methyl 2.0, M.W. 4500; and methyl
cellulose, DS methyl 2.5, M.W. 6000.
C~llulose ethers employed herein are water-soluble
and are characterized by a negative temperature coeffici~nt
of solubility. Being polymeric, and having the potential
for inter-molecular association by virtue of their side-
chain substituents, the cellulose ethers herein increase
the viscosity of aqueous solutions, especially when present
therein in concentrations of about 2%. The solution

.

-- 11 --




,: . . . .

1~84)576

viscosity of the cellulose ethers is not important when pre-
paring granular detergent compositions, inasmuch as they are
ultimately present in ~he aqueous laundry bath in such small
concentrations. However, when preparing liquid detergent
compositions in the manner of the present invention the
solution concentration of the soil release ether is high
enough that viscosity can be a problem. For example, it is
desirable to provide liquid detergent compositions which are
readily pourable and measurable, and which are not of a
gelatinous or syrupy consistency. When preparing such liquid
detergent compositions, it is preferred to select a cellulose
ether of the foregoing type having a solution viscosity
below about 250 centipoise (cps). Preferably, the solution
viscosity of the cellulose ethers employed in the liquid
detergent compositions prepared according to the present
invention lies in the range from about 20 cps to about 200 cps
(measured as a 2% wt. aqueous solution at 32C).
The cellulose ether soil release agent comprises from
0.1% to 5%, preferably from 0.5% to 3~ of the detergent
composition. An amount below 0.1% is avoided due to the
fact :a noticeable effect is not obtained. Amounts
greater than 5~ can be used; however, additional soil
release benefits are not obtained and therefore such amounts
are avoided.


Detergent Adjunct Materials
The balance of the detergent composition comprises
known detergency adjunct materials. Such materials include
detergency builders, bleaches, e.g. perborate bleaches,

;'

10~30S76
enzymes, perfumes, optical ~leaches, processing aids, anti-
caking agents, fa~ric softeners, and the like.
The detergent compositions herein can contain a minor
amount of another surfactant. The minor addition of this
surfactant does not detract from the overall benefits enjoyed
by the above described detergent compositions. The additional
surfactant can be a nonionic surfactant not meeting the above
described limitations as to cmc and n to carbon atom ratio
as well as an anionic, ampholytic or zwitterionic surfactant.
Such surfactants should not exceed 5% of the total
surfactant concentration. Examples of this
additional surfactant are found in U. S. Patent 3,664,961,
May 23, 1972, Norris, column 2, line 61 to column 9, line 3,


.. . . . . . .
Detergent compositions herein are in any physical form,

e.g. solid, granular, powder, liquid or paste form. Pre-
. ~ .
ferably the detergent composition is in a granular form.
Such compositions contain from 0.1~ to 3%, preferably 0.5
` to Z~ of the cellulose ether soil release agent, from 5%
20 to 35~, preferably 8~ to 20% of the nonionic surfactant and
from 10% to 80~, preferably 25% to 75% of a detergency
;j builder.
Such built detergent compositions are intended for
heavy duty laundering. Any of t~e known detergency builders
are useful herein. Examples of suitable detergency builders
are found in U. S. Patent 3,664,961, May 23, 1972, Norris,
column 9, lines 4-35,

... .. .._ .

Suitable detergency builders

also include the water-insoluble aluminosilicate described
. . . . ......... ... . . . . . . .
; in Canadian Patent No. 1,035,234 of Corkill et al,

.
. , .
- 13 -
~,'i'

108(~576

granted July 25, 1978.
The gra~ular detergent compositio~s also optionally
contain processing aids, e.g. sodium sulfate, and an anti-
corrosion agent, e.g. sodium silicate. A source of
alkalinity is generally added when the composition is to
be used for industrial cleaning purposes. Sodium or potassium
h~droxide added at a level of up to 20% of the composition
raises the p~ of a wash solution to about 12 under normal
useage conditions.
Liquid detergent compositions contain from 0.1% to
5%, preferably 0.5% to 3% of the cellulose ether soil
release agent, from 5% to 65%, preferably 20~ to 50~ of the
nonionic s~rfactant, and the balance a liquid carrier.
Examples of suitable liquid carriers are water and water-
alcohol mixtures in the ratio of water to alcohol of from
3~:1 to 3:1. Lower alcohols, i.e. Cl to C4 alcohols are
preferred herein. The li~id formulaticns optionall-y con-
tain an electrolyte, e.g. potassium chloride or potassium
a hydroxide at a level of from 0.1% to lO~, preferably
0.5~ to 5%.
~ he following examples illustrate this invention.




~,:

'


~080S7~

E ~ ~LE I
The detergent compositions of this invention are
tested for their ability to remove oily soil from fabrics
in the manner discussed below.
A detergent composition of the following formula
is used for testing purposes.




Sodium tripolyphosphate 53.0%
Nonionic surfactant 17.7% '
Sodium sulfate 22.0%
Sodium silicate (SiO2:Na20 = 2.0) 6.2%
"Methocel HB-15,000"* 1.1%
. .
~ Methocel HB-15,~0 is a hydroxybutyl methyl cellulose
.. . .
ether supplied by the Dow Chemical Company. It has a DS methyl

of 2.1, DS hydroxybutyl of 0.08 and a molecular wcigh~ O r
! ~ 1 5
127,500 as determlned by ultracentrifuge techniques.

Polyester (PE~ and polyesterjcotton (PE/C) fabric
swatches are laundered in an aqueous bath containing 0.18~
- of the above detergent composition. The laundering is done
... . .. .. .. .. ... .. .. . . . ....... .. . . . . ... . .
in a "Tergotometer"** for 10 minutes using 7 grain per gallon
;: -
hardness water. Following the laundering/soil release ether
treatment, the swatches are spotted with dirty motor oil and
relaundered under the same conditions. Percent soil release
`~ is determined gravimetrically for each of the swatches. The
following table indicates the results obtained from the


above detergent compositions with different nonionic sur-
factants and different wash solution temperatures.

.. ..
*Trademark

**Trademark
- -- 15 --

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. 15)805~76
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1080576

The above results show satisfactory soil release
performance (especially at higher temperatures) is ob-
tained from the detergent compositions containing a nonionic
surfactant having the proper cmc and n/C ratio, i.e.
Compositions A, C, E, F and G. Composition B shows signi-
ficantly less soil release performance than the compositions
of this invention when used on polyester fabrics at the
higher temperatures, with about the same performance at the
lowest temperature. Composition D gives unsatisfactory
oily soil relea~e performance when used on both polyester
and polyester/cotton fabrics.
Substantially the same results are obtained when
the following cellulose ethers are substituted for the
A Methocel HB-15,000.methyl cellulose, DS methyl = 1.5,
M.W. = 3~,000; hydroxypropyl cellulose, DS hydroxypropyl = 1.3,
M.W. = 100,000; hydroxybutyl cellulose, DS hydroxybutyl = 2.1,
-` M.W. = 100,000; methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, DS methyl = 1.2,
DS hydroxypropyl = 0.5, M.W. = 150,000; and methyl cellulose,
DS methyl = 2.1, M.W. = 4,000.
EXAMPLE II
Detergent compositions containing various methyl
cellulose ethers are tested in the manner indicated below. The
~-~ cellulose ether and a nonionic surfactant as listed below
; are used to prewash polyester and polyester/cotton fabric
swatches. The prewash comprises washing the fabrics in a
Tergotometer~for 10 minutes at 38C with 7 grain hardness
water; 12 ppm cellulose ether and 100 ppm surfactant A or
200 ppm surfactant B are used. Surfactant A is a C10
straight chain alcohol ethoxylated with 4 moles of ethylene
; 30 oxide(cmc = 151 ppm, n/C = 0.4). Surfactant B is a C10


- 17 ~

1080576

straight chain alcohol ethoxylated with 9 moles of ethylene
oxide (cmc = 350 ppm, n/C = 0.9). After the fabrics have
been soiled with dirty motor oil, they are washed with a
detergent composition having the following formulation.

S Sodium C12 linear alkyl benzene sulfonate 7.6%
Sodium tallow alkyl sulfate 9.4% .
Sodium tripolyphosphate 50.0%
Sodium silicate (SiO2:Na20 = 2.0) 6.0%
Sodium sulfate 15.0%
Miscellaneous (water, brightener and Balance
perfume)

The following results are obtained.




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1~)576



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1080576
The above results indicate that a variety of
cellulose ethers having different DS methyls and molecular
weights are all effectively used in a detergent composition
containing the indicat,ed nonionic surfactants.



S EXAMPLE III
A liquid detergent composition is as follows:
.
Percent
Cl straight chain alcohol 20.0
e~hoxylated with 6 moles
of ethylene oxide

Methyl cellulose ether (DS 2.0
methyl = 1.8, M.W. = 6000) :~

Triethanolamine 3.0

Water 71.0

Ethanol 2.5

Perfume, dye, minors Balance
.

; The composition of Example III is used at a concen-
tration of 0.1% in an aqueous bath to launder polyester
fabrics. The fabrics are cleaned and provided with a soil
release finish of the cellulose ether.




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- 20 -

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Representative Drawing

Sorry, the representative drawing for patent document number 1080576 was not found.

Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date 1980-07-01
(45) Issued 1980-07-01
Expired 1997-07-02

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
THE PROCTER AND GAMBLE COMPANY
Past Owners on Record
None
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Drawings 1994-04-07 1 7
Claims 1994-04-07 4 120
Abstract 1994-04-07 1 19
Cover Page 1994-04-07 1 17
Description 1994-04-07 22 713