Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to an aqueous built
l:iquid detergent composition and more particularly to an
aqueous built, highly alkaline liquid detergent composition
w:ith an increased solids content.
Aqueous built liquid detergent compositions are well-
known in the art, and many types and formulations have already
been described in the prior art. Such formulations are gen-
erally of the type containing one or more synthetic surface-
active agents, one or more water-soluble builder salts, and
10 water-soluble detergent adjuvants. A governing factor in
formulating such liquids is the solubility of the various
ingredients, to arrive at a homogeneous, stable, clear liquid.
This often sets limits to the amounts of the ingredients
that can be incorporated, so that it is not always possible
15 to prepare more concentrated liquids without taking special
steps and/or using special ingredients.
This is particularly true for liquid detergent compo-
sitions with a relatively high pH, normally used in e.g.
industrial laundering.
It has now been found that an aqueous built liquid
detergent composition with a high pH and an increased solids
content can be prepared, using a fatty acid soap as the main
detergent-active compound, as well as a certain amount of
free potassium hydroxide, in formulations containing alkaline
25 builder salts, as well as sodium carboxymethylcellulose.
The present invention therefore relates to an aqueous
built liquid detergent composition comprising, as essential
ingredients, a potassium fatty acid soap, a potassium builder
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salt, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and free potassium
hydroxide, said composition having a solids content of 32-
40% by weight and a pH of ~11 (1% aqueous solution). Further
details of the invention, as well as particular features
thereof, will now be discussed below.
The fatty acid soap is a potassium salt of fatty acids
having from 10-18 carbon atoms in the fatty acid radical.
Typical examples thereof are lauric, myristic, oleic, stearic
and palmitic acid, as well as mixtures thereof, and mixtures
of fatty acids derived from natural sources like coconut- and
palmkernel oil. Fatty acids, obtained from coconut oil are
especially preferred. Depending upon the KOH-content, the
amount of the soap component used in the composition of the
invention varies from 1-15%, and preferably from 2-8% by
weight, based on the free fatty acids incorporated in the
15 composition. Other detergent-active materials may also be
present, such as nonionics, carboxylated nonionics, and
anionics. Examples of the former are ethylene oxide conden-
sation products of primary C8-C18 alcohols, such as Cg-Cll
alcohol condensed with 6 moles of ethylene oxide; examples
20 o~ the second are alkyl(poly-l-oxapropene)oxaethane carboxylic
acids such as lauryl(poly-l-oxapropene)oxaethane carboxylic
acid. Examples of the latter are: alkylaryl sulphonates,
alkane sulphonates, alkyl sulphates, alkylether sulphates,
olefin sulphonates, etc. These additional detergent-active
25 materials are used in amounts less than half the amount of
soap, preferably less than one third of the amount of soap.
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The potassium builder salts used according to the
present invention are potassium salts, such as pentapotassium
tripolyphosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate and tripotassium
orthophosphates. Other potassium salts may also be used, such
as potassium carbonate r -borate and the like r but these are
less preferred. Of the above builder salts, pentapotassium
tripolyphosphate is the preferred one. This can be incorpor-
ated in the composition of the invention either as such, e.g.
in powdered form, or in pre-dissolved form. The amount of
potassium builder salt incorporated in the composition varies
from 5-25% by weight, preferably from 10-20% by weight of the
composition. Alkaline silicates may also be present in the
composition of the invention, e.g. sodium or potassium sili-
cate, in an amount of 1-15%, but preferably 1-5% by weight.
This compound functions as a builder, as well as alkaline
material to aid in obtaining and maintaining the desired pH
of the composition.
The composition further contains sodium carboxymethyl
cellulose. It has been found that not every type of carboxy-
methylcellulose (CMC) is suitable in the present invention.The CMC to be incorporated according to the present invention
should have a degree of substitution of at least 0.7, and
should have a viscosity (Hoppler at 20C in cP) of between
20 and 100. A typical example of such a CMC has a DS of 0.7,
a DP of 150 and a viscosity of 25-32 cP for a 2% aqueous
solution. The amount of CMC that is incorporated varies from
0.2-1.5, preferably 0.5-1% by weight.
The alkalinity of the compositions of the invention is
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obtained by the addition of potassium hydroxide. Sufficient
potassium hydroxide should be added to neutralize acid
c:omponents if present in the composition, and to provide for
free potassium hydroxider necessary to adjust the pH of the
composition to a value of > 11. The amount of free KOH
present in the composition varies from 2 to 10%, preferably
from 4 to 8~ by weight.
The composition of the invention may furthermore
advantageously contain a hydrotrope, such as sodium xylene
sulphonate, sodium toluene sulphonate, phosphate esters, a
solvent such as hexylene ~lycol, and fluorescers. As to the
latter, it has been found that fluorescers that do not readily
dissolve in the system as such, e.g. fluorescers in acid form,
are preferably used together with a small amount of a carboxy-
lated nonionic as herebefore described and hexylene glycol,whereby they are completely dissolved. The hexylene glycol
can be replaced by triethanol amine, resulting in an end
product with a better stability.
The compositions of the invention may furthermore
comprise other ingredients in minor amounts, such as perfumes,
various anti-redeposition agents, opacifiers, thinning agents,
co-solvents and the like.
The compositions of the invention have a total solids
content of 32-40~ by weight, are stable liquid laundry products,
25 and are suitable, e.g. for laundering cotton. They work both
in soft and in hard water.
It has furthermore been found that the compositions of
the invention should be prepared by a particular process.
This process comprises the essential step that the soap and
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the builder, and as the case may be part or all of the KOH,
should be added to an aqeuous medium that contains the CMC
and as the case may be, the fluorescer and the carboxylated
nonionic and hexylene glycol or triethanol amine. A preferred
process comprises the following steps:
1) prepare an aqueous solution of triethanol amine or
hexylene glycol and the carboxylated nonionic;
2) add the fluorescer under agitation to obtain a clear
solution;
3) add balance of water;
4) add CMC under agitation until no lumps remain;
5) add hydrotrope;
6) add the fatty acids under agitation to obtain a
homogeneous dispersion;
7) add potassium hydroxide under agitation to completely
neutralize the fatty acids;
8) add predissolved pentapotassium tripolyphosphate and
the alkaline silicate.
Naturally, variations are possible, as long as the
addition of the soap, the builder and KOH takes place after
the CMC and fluorescer have been dissolved first.
The invention will now be further illustrated by way
of example.
Example
The following formulations were prepared:
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% by weight
distilled coconut fatty acids 4 4
lauryl(poly-l-oxapropene)oxaethane-
carboxylic acid0.5 0.5
sodium xylene sulphonate (90~)5.0 5.0
alkaline sodium silicate (40%)5.0 5.0
KOH (50%) 20.5 16.9
pentapotassium tripolyphosphate (50%) 28.0 28.0
Na CMC (DS 0.7 DP 150 visc. 25-32 cP)0.7 0.7
hexylene glycol 1.5
triethanol amine - 2.5
fluorescer (Blankophor ~ BBH 766, a diethanolamine-and
anilyl-substituted N, N'-bis-l, 3, 5 triazinyl-4,4'-
diaminostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid type fluorescer)
0.15 0.15
water to 100 to 100
the pH of these compositions (1%
aqeous solution) was: 12.1 12.1
and the solids content (in % by weight) 37.5 36.7
These products were prepared as follows:
The hexylene glycol or triethanol amine and the lauryl
(poly-l-oxapropene)oxaethane carboxylic acid were added to
18% by weight of softened water. Subsequently the fluorescer
; was added, and the mixture stirred until the fluorescer was
ccmpletely dissolved. Then the balance of the water was
added, and subsequently the CMC was stirred in until all
lumps had disappeared. Thereafter the sodium xylene sulphon-
ate and the coconut fatty acids were added, and the mixture
stirred until it was homogeneous. Then the KOH was
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stirred in until the neutralization was complete, and
finally the pre-dissolved potassium tripoly phosphate, and
the alkaline sodium silicate were added.
The products were clear, stable liquids.
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