Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~.~21~
- 1 ~ c~.~03
DETERGENT CO~OSITIONS
.
The present invention relates to powdered detergent
compositions which are adapted ~or fabric washing, and which
contain synthetic detergent active compounds together with
mixed phosphate aetergency builders~ ~he invention eoncerns
in particular the production o~ detergent compositions which
eontain levels of the mixed phosphate detergency builders
which ean be lower than conventional phosphate builder le~els,
but which still retain good detergency properties.
~ceording to the present invention, a particul~te
detergent composition based on mi~ed phosphate detergency
builders comprises a synthetic anionic, nonionic, amphoteric
or zwitterionic detergent compound or mixture thereof~ an
alkali metal orthophosphate, and diserete particles of alkali
me-tal or ammonium polymer phosphate.
,
~2~
~2- cC.1034
The invention includes a process for the preparation of the
detergent composition, which comprises forming a detergent base
powder containing some or all of the detergent active compound
or compounds and optionally some of the alkali metal orthophosphate,
and admixing an alkali metal or ammonium polymer phosphate in
discrete particulate form with the base powder. Preferably the
base powder is prepared by spray drying in the normal way using
conventional equipment and process conditions. However, other
conventional techniques may be used for preparing the base powder
containing some or all of the detergent active compound or com-
pounds and of the alkali metal orthophosphate. Other heat-sens-
itive ingredients may be admixed with the base powder together
r~ith or separately from the alkali metal or ammonium polymer
phosphate, for example oxygen bleach compounds such as sodium
perborate.
In UK patent No. 1,530,799 we described powdered fabric
washing detergent compositions which essentially contain mixed
alkali metal tripolyphosphate and alkali metal orthophosphate
detergency builders in the ratio of from 10:1 to 1:5 parts by
weight. These compositions were found to have surprisingly
good detergency properties though containing lower levels'of the
phosphate detergency builders than in conventional sodium
tripolyphosphate-based detergent compositions. This development
enabled either a reduction in manufacturing cost because the
difference in phos,phate content could be made up with a cheaper
filler, or an improvement in overall detergency by adding extra
bleach or other additive instead. Additionally, this development
facilitated the achievement of decreased phosphorus levels in
'~
--3--
detergent products to meet present or expected leyislation.
Products of the type described in our aforementioned patent,
have already met with apprecia~le commercial success, especially
as economy brands. However, one potential problem which has been
found with the detergent compositions based'on mixed alkali metal
tripolyphosphate, and orthophosphate builders, is the level of
inorganic deposits which are sometimes found on washed fabrics
and to a lesser extent surfaces in washing machines, expecially
heater elements. he present invention is directed to decreasing
the level of such deposits whilst retaining benefits of good
detergency building properties~
Whilst not wishing to be bound by theory, it appears that
the partial or complete replacement of the sodium tripolyphosphate,
in the detergent compositions of our aforementioned patent by the
alkali metal or a~monium polymer phosphate gives less inorganic
deposition on the washed fabrics, because the polymer phosphate
has a decreased tendency to degrade to alkali metal pyrophosphate
during the washing process. Also, adding some and preferably all
or at least a major part of the polymer phosphate to the detergent
composition is discrete particulate form, as distinct from in-
cluding the polymer phosphate in a spray dried base powder,
avoids the degradation of the polymer phosphate during spray
drying which would form more alkali metal pyrophosphate. We
have found that the presence in the detergent composition of
such alkali metal pyrophosphate contributes paricularly to
inorganic deposits on the washing machines. By avoiding or
substantially decreasing the initial presence of alkali metal
pyrophosphate, and taking steps to hinder its formation during
~\~
~l~Z~
the washing process itself, it appears possible now to control
inorganic deposition on fabrics and washing machine sur~aces
better than hitherto, and yet still achieve good detergency
building at relatively low phosphate levels.
The alkali metal polymer phosphate used in the compositions
of the invention is preferably sodium polymer phosphate, but if
desired the potassium or ammonium salts can be used. For con-
venience the term alkali metal polymer phosphate is used below
and in the claims to include the sodium, potassium and ammonium
salts. The alkali metal polymer phosphates are generally re-
presented as having the formula M2O(~PO3)n, where M is sodium,
potassium or ammonium and _ is an integer which is at least 4 and
~p to about 100 or more, preferably from about 6 to about 50. In
the case of the preferred sodium polymer phosphates, these figures
correspond to a P2O5 content of at least about 60.4% by weight
up to a theoretical maxiumum of about 69.6%, preferably about 63%
to about 69% P2O5 by weight of the polymer phosphates. To be
effective the p~lymer phosphates must of course be water-soluble.
It should be appreciated that the chemical structures of the
polymer phosphates are not precisely defined, and some degree
of ring formation or branching may be
\,
~z~
5 _ oC.103~
present in the otherl~ise normally linear polymer strwcture,
especially with the shorter polyl~er chain lengths. ~he
polymer phosphates are sometimes also l~own as glassy phos-
phates or Graha~'s salt.
It is preferred that all or at least a major part o~
the alkali metal polymer phosphc~te should be admiYed with
the detergen-t base po~Yder, ie postdosed, to obtain the most
bene:Cit of lo~er alkali metal pyrophosphate content i~n
the product. ~owever, some alkali metal polymer
phosphate can be included in the base powder if desired, and
this can help -to improve the powder properties, particularly
when relatively low alkali me-tal orthophospha-te levels are
used. The alkali metal polymer phosphate which is pos-tdosed
should, of course, have a suitable particulate ~orm ~or post-
~5 dosing, that is to say lt should have an appropriate particlesize range and powder density for uniform mixing with the
base powder, so as to avoid undue segregation in the
finished product.
The alkali metal orthophosphate used is either potassium
or pre~erably sodium orthophosphate, as the latter is oheaper
and more readily available. Normally the tri alkali metal
salts are used, but orthophosphoric acid or the di- or mono-
alkali metal salts, eg disodium hydrogen orthophosphate or
monosodium dihydrogen orthophosphate could be used i~ desired
in the production o~ the compositions. In the la~ter evsn~
other more alkaline salts should also be presen-t to maintain
a high pH in the end product, ie with ~ull neutralisation to
2~34~L
- 6 - cc~103~
-the -triall~ali metal or-thophosphc~te salts. The use of a
mix-ture of the monosodi~ dihydrogen ancl disodiutn hydrogen
orthophosphc~tes in the r~-tio of 1:3 to 2:3, especially abou-t
i:2, is par-ticularly adv~ntageous, as such a mi~ture (known
as kiln-feed) is made in the productio~ of sodiu~ tripoly-
phosphate and is rea~ily available. I-t is pre~erred to
have all the alkali metal orthophosphate present in the
detergent base powder, eg by inclusion in ~n aqueous
detergent slurry and then spray dried, but part of the
orthophosphate can be postdosed i:E desired, either separately
or together ~rith the alkali metal pol~ner phosphate~
The alkali metal orthophosphate can be used in the form
of the anhydrous or hydrated salts, bu^t in the former case it
is preferred to promote hydration during processing, eg by
adding the anhydrous orthophosphate to a detergent slurry and
spray drying to form the base powder. ~he alkali metal
polymer phospha-tes do not form hydrated salts as such, and
are normally used in anhydrous form, bu-t they are hygrosc~pic
and tend to absorb atmospheric moisture. ~he amou~ts o~ the
salts used are expressed in anhydrous form.
The total amoun-ts of the essential alkali metal
polymer phosphate and alkali metal orthophosphate, and any
other phosphates whlch may be present in the detergent
compositions, are chosen according to the overall detergency
builder level which is desired in the detergent compositions
or according to the maximum permit-ted phosphorus content.
Normally the total phosphate builder :level, which is
~2B~
--7--
preferably derived solely from alkali metal polymer phos?hate
and alkali metal orthophosphate, is between about 10~ and about
40%, by weight of the composition, preferably with an amount of at
least about 5~ and at least about 2~ up to about 20% each of the
alkali metal polymer phosphate and orthophosphate, respectively.
Preferably the amounts of the alkali polymer phosphate and alkali
metal orthophosphate are each from about 5~ to about 15%,
espccia;ly about 5% to 10~, b-,~ Tois t of th~ cor~sitLon. 'lhe
total amount of alkali metal polymer phosphate and alkali metal
orthophosphate is preferably from about 10% to about 25%,
especially about 15% to about 20%, by weight of the composition.
It is preferred to have amounts of the alkali metal polymer
~phosphate and the alkali metal orthophosphate generally within
the ratio of from about 3:1 to about 1:3, especially about 2:1 to
about 1:2, parts by weight, respectively. These ratios of polymer
phosphate to orthophosphate are particularly suitable for detergent
compositions used at relatively high product concentrations,
ie 0.3% to 0.8~ by weight, as is common practice in Europe,
especially in front-loading automatic washing machines, and
where moderate levels of phosphates are allowed in the products,
ie equivalent to about 3% to 7~ P.
It is preferable that the only phosphate detergency builders
used to make the compositions of the invention should be the
alkali metal polymer phosphate and
~lZ~34f~ 1
--8--
alkali metal orthophosphate. In particular, it is desirahle
to add no alkali metal, ie sodium or potassium, pyrophosphates
to the compositions as they tend to increase inoryanic deposition
as mentioned above. It is also preferred not to have any alkali
metal tripolyphosphate present because of the relative ease with
which it hydrolyses to form the alkali metal pyrophosphate.
~owever, some alkali metal tripolyphosphate may be present if
desired either in the base powder or postdosed thereto, for
example because of its beneficial effect on the base powder pro-
perties or because of its relative cheapness. But for optimum
detergency in relation to total phosphate content, it is pre-
ferred to have not more than about 10% by weight of other alkali
metal phosphate builders, and especially not more than about 5%
of tripolyphosphate present in the detergent composition.
Some tripolyphosphate and pyrophosphate are also generally
found as impurities at low levels in other commercial alkali metal
phosphates, and some tripolyphosphate and pyrophosphate may be
f~rm~d by hydrolysis of any polymer phosphate during processing,
especially if some of it is present in the slurry rather than
being all postdosed. Hence, total absence of alkali metal tri-
polyphosphate and pyrophosphate is generally unattainable in the
detergent compositions. It is particularly preferred to have
not more than about 2.5% of alkali metal pyrophosphate present
in the compositions, as at higher levels the amounts of inorganic
deposits on the washing machine parts become significantly more
noticeable.
~z~
9 CC.103~
The detergent compositions of the inven-tiorl necessarily
incl~lde from about 2.5% -to about 50%~ preEerably about 5% to abou~
30%~ ancl especially about 10% to abollt 25~o~ by weigh-t o e a
synthetic anionic, nonionic, ampho-teric or zwitterionic
detergent compo~md or mi.~ture thereof. Many suitable
detergen-t compounds are commercially available and are ~ully
described in the li-terature, for example in ~'Surface ~ctive
~genbs and Detergents", Volumes I and II, by Schwartz, Perry
~ Berch.
The preferred detergent compounds which can be used are
synthe-tic anionic and nonionic compounds. ~he former are
usually water-soluble alkali metal salts of organic sulphates
and sulphona-tes having alkyl radicals containing from about 8
to about 22 carbon atoms, the term alkyl being used to inclucle
'15 the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples o~
suitable synthe-tic anionic de-tergent compounds are sodium and
potassium alkyl sulphates, especially those obtained by
sulphating higher ~G~-C18) alcohols produced for example ~rom
tallow or coconut oil; sodium and potassium alh~l (C9-C
2b benzene sulphonates, par-ticularly sodium linear secondary
alhyl (C1v-Cl5) benzene sulphonates; 'sodium alhyl glyceryl
'' ether sulphates, especially those ethers of the higher
alcohols derived from tallow or coconut oil and synthetic
alcohols derived from petroleum; sodium coconu-t oil fa~ty
2~ monoglyceride sulphates and sulphonàtesi sodium and
potassium salts of sulphuric acid esters O:e higher (Cg-Cl8)
fatty alcohol-alkylene o~ide,'particularly ethylene o~ide,
- - -...
~Z8~
- 10 - cC.103~
reac-tion prodncts; the reaction products O:e ~'at-ty acids
such as coconut fat-ty acids esteri:eied l~ith ise-thionic acid
and neutralised with sodillm hydroxicle; sodium c~nd potassium
sal-ts of fat-ty acid ~ides o~ methyl taurine; alkane mono~
sulphonates such as those derived by reac-ting alpha-ole~ins
(C8-C20) with sodi~ bisulph:i-te and -those derived by
reacting para~fins with S02 ~nd Cl~ ana then hydrolysing
with a base to produce a random sulphonate; and olefin
sulphonates, which term is used to describe the material
made by reacting olefins, particularly C10-C20 alpha ole~ins,
with S03 and then neutralising and hydrolysing t,he reac-tion
product. ~he preferred anionic detergent compounds are
sodium (C11-C15) alkyl ben~ene sulphon~tes and sodium
(Cl~j-C18) all~i sulphates. ' '''
Suitable nonionic detergent compo-~mds which may be used
include in particular the reaction products o~ compounds
having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom, ~or
example aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides or alkyl phenols
with alkylene oxides, especially ethylene oxide either alone
or with propylene oxide. Speçi~ic nonionic detergent
compounds are alkyl (C6-C22) phenol-ethylene o~ide
condensates, generally 5 to 25 E0, ie 5 t,o 25 units o~
ethylene o~ide per molecule, the condensation products o~
aliphatic (C8-Cl&) primary or secondary linear or branched
alcohols with et,hylene o~ide, generally 6 ~o 30 E0, :or wi-th bo-th
ethylene and propylene oxide,and produc-ts made by
condensation of ethylene oxide wi-th -the reaction
products of propylene oxide and e-thylenedia~ine.
. ____ . _ ._.. _ ., .. , .. , , . .... .. . .. , , . . _ .. ,. ,.. ....... ... , ... ,,, .. . . ,.. . . ,, . ,
~ . . ... . . . ... .. . .......
~ c~.103~
Qther so~called nonionic detergen-t compounds include long
chain tertiary amine oxides, long chain tertiary phosphine
oxiaes c~nd dialkyl sulphoxides.
Mi~tures o~ de-tergent compourlds, :for example mixed
S anionic or mixed anionic and nonionic compounds may be used
in the de-tergent compositions, par-ticularly in -the lat-ter
case to provide controlled low sudsing properties. This is
bene~icial ~or compositions intended ~or use in suds-intoler-
ant automatic washing machines. We have also found tha-t the
use of some nonionic detergent compounds in the compositions
decreases the tendency o~ insoluble phosphate salts to
deposit on the washed fabrics, especially when used in
admixture with some soaps as described below.
~mounts of amphoteric or ~witterionic detergent compounds
can also be used in the composi-tions o~ the invention but
this is not normally desired due to their reIatively high
cost. If any amphoteric or zwitterionic detergent compounds
are used it is generally in small amounts in compositions
- based on the much more commonly used synthetic anionic and/or
nonionic detergent compounds. For example, mixtures of
amine oxides and ethoxylated nonionic detergent compounds can
be used.
Soaps may also be present in the detergent compositions
o~ the invention, but not as the sole detergent compounds.
~he soaps are particularly use~ul at low levels in binary and
ternary mixtures, toge-ther with nonionic or mixed synthetic
anionic and nonionic detergent compolmds, which have low
- l2 ~ cC.103~
sudsing prop~rties. 'rhc soaps which are used are the
sodium, or less desira~ly potassiu~ sal-ts oI C10_C2~ f~tty
acids. I-t is particulc~r~Ly preferred -tha-t the soaps should
be based mainly on ~the longer chain fa-tty acids ~ thin -this
5 range, -that is with a-t leas-t hal:e O:e tlie soaps having a
carbon chain length of 16 or over. This is most con~enien-t-
ly accomplished by using soaps from natural sources sucll as
tallow, palm oil or rapeseed oil, which can be hardened if
desired, with lesser ~lo~ts O:e other shorter chain soaps,
preparecl from nut oils such as coconut oil or palm kernel
oil. The amount of such soaps can be va-ried bet~een about
0. 5% and about 25% by weight, with lower amounts of abou-t
0. 5% to about 5% being generally sufficient for lather
control. ~noun-ts of soap bètween about 2% ~nd abou-t 20%,
especially between about 5yo and about 15%, can advantageously
be used to give a beneficial effect on detergency.
Apart from the essential de-tergent compounds and
detergency builders, the detergent composi-tions of the
invention can con-tain any of the conventional additives in
the amounts in which such materials are normally employed in
fabric ~ashing detergent compositions. Examples of these
additives include lather boos-ters such as alkanolamides,
particularly the monoethanolamides derived from palm kernel
fatty acids and coconu-t fa-tty acids, lather depressants such
as alkyl phospha~es, wa~es and silicones, antiredepositlon
agents such as sodium carbo~ymethylcëllulose and polyvinyl
pyrrolidone optionally copolymerised with vinyl acetate,
~., .. .. _... .. . . .... .. . ..
- 13 ~ ~.103~
oxygen-releasing bleaching agen-ts such ~s sodium perbora-te
and sodium percarbon~te, per-acid bleach precwrsers,
chlorine-releasing bleaching agen-ts such as trichloroisocyan-
uric acid and alkali metal salts of dichloroisocyanuric acid?
fabric softening agents, inorganic salts such as sodium
sulpha-te, soclium carbonate and magnesium silicate, and,
usually present in very minor amoun-ts, fLuorescent agents,
perf~es, enzymes such as proteases and amylaseq, germicides
and colourants.
. , . . . . ........... . . , . . ..... .. _ _ .. . . .. ... .
It is particularly beneficial to include in the detergent
compositions an ~nount of sodium perborate, pre~erably between
~ .` r - .. . .
about 1~o and abou~ 40%, for e~ample abou-t 1~% to about 300k,
by weigh-t. It has been found -that the blear,hing action of
sodium perborate is boosted under the highly alkaline
conditions which also give optimum detergency building action
for the alkali metal orthophosphate. Thus, it becomes
possible to achieve improved bleaching properties by using
the same ~evels of sodiu~ perborate as normal; or decreasad
levels of sodium-perborate can be used to give equal
bleaching properties to those o~ conventional products wl-th
higher levels of perborate and sodium tripolyphosphate as
the sole detergency builder. The latter option can also be
used to ~urther decrease the raw materials costs o~ the
, _ .
compositlons; if à chèa ~iller;is,used in place of~part o~
the sodium perborate.
It is desirable to include one or more antideposition
agents in the detergent compositions o~ the invention, to
~Z8~
- cC.103~
decrease th~ tende:ncy -to :eorm inorg,~nic depo.sits on washed
~abrics. It appears -that the ef.tective anti-leposition
agents are materials ~ ich s-tabilise insolub].e calcium
orthophospha-te par-ticles and thereby inhibi-t their
deposition onto the fabrics. ~he most effec-tive antidepo-
sition agents are anionic polyelec-troly-tes, especially
polymeric aliphatic carboxylates. The amount of any such
antideposition agent can be from abou-t 0. 01% -to abou-t 10% of
the compositions, bu-t is normally from about 0.1% to a~ou-t
5% by l~eight, preferably ~rom about 0. 2% to about 2% by
weight of the compositions.
Specific preferred antideposition agen-ts are the alkali.
metal or ammonium, preferably the sodi~, salts o~ homo-:and
co-polymers o~. acrylic acid or substi-tuted acrylic acids,
such as sodium polyacrylate, the sodium salt of copolymeth-
acrylamide/acrylic acid and sodium poly-alpha-hydroxyacrylate,
salts of copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene,acrylic acid,
vinylmethylether or styrene, especially l:l copolymers~ and
optionally with partial esterification of the carboxyl
groups. Such copolymers preferably have relatively low
molecular weights, eg in the range of about l,OOO to 50,000.
Other antideposition agents include thè sodium salts of poly-.
maleic acid, polyitaconic acid and polyaspartic acid,
phosphate esters of ethoxylated aliphatic alcohols, poly-
ethylene glycol phosphate esters, a~d certain organic;phosphonicacids or salts thereof ~uch as sodium ethane-1-h~droxy~ diphos-
phonate, sodiu~ ethyle~eliamine tetramethylene phosphonate and
~Z8~ cC.'103~
- 15
sodiwn-2-phosphollo~u-tarLe tricarboxylate. Mixtures of organic
acids or substitu-tecl acrylic acids or the:ir salts wi-th protec-tive
colloids such as gela-tin may also be used. r~he most preferred
an~ideposi-tion agent are sodium polyacrylates ha~ing a MW of abou-t
10,000 -to 50,000, for example about 20,000 -to ~0,000.
Detergent compositions which are based on mixed phosphate
builders and incorporate an alkali metal orthophosphate arld
aIkali metal polymer phospha-te -together wi-th an an-tideposi-tion
agent are described in our copending UK patent applica-tion ~9071~78
of even date.
It is also possible to include in the de-tergent compositions
of -the invention minor amounts, preferably no-t more than about
20% by weight, of o-ther non-phosphate detergency builders, which
may be either so-called precipltant builders, ion-exchange or
sequestrant builders. ~his is of particular benefit where it
is desired to increase detergency whilst using particularl~ low
levels of the essential alkali metal polymer phosphate and alkali
metal orthophosphate builders, so as to achieve especially low
phosphorus conte~ts in the detergent compositions. Examples of
such other detergency builders are amine carboxylates such as sodium
nitrilotriacetate~ sodium carbonate, sodium aluminosillcate ion-
excha~ge materials such as zeolites A and X, sodium citrate and
soap, which can function as a detergency builder, as discussed above.
However, such other builder materials are not essential and it is a
particular benefit of using the mixed alkali metal poly~er phosphate
and orthophosphate that s~tis~actQry detergency properties ca~ be
achieved at lower total phosphate levels than hitherto considered
necessary without other detergency builders.
. '
~z~
l~ cC.~03~
I-t is generally also desirable to include in the compo-
sitions an ~nount of an alkali me-tal silicate, par-ticularly
sodi~ or-tho-, meta- or preferably neutral or alkaline
silicalte. The presence of such alkali metal silicates at
levels of at least about 1%, and preferably from about 5% to
about 15%, by weigh-t of the compositions, is advantageous in
decreasing the corrosion of metal parts in washing machines,
besides giving processing benefi-ts and generally improved
po~lder properties. The morê highly alkaline ortho- and meta-
silicates would normally only be used at lower amoun-ts within
this range, in admixture with the neu-tral or alkaline
silicates.
The compositions of the inven-tion are required to be
alkaline, but not too,strongly alkaline as this could result
in fabric damage and also be hazardous for domestic usage.
In prac-tice the composi-tions should give a p~ of from 9 to 11
in use in aqueous wash solution. It is preferred in
particular for domes-tic products to have a minimum-p~ of at
least 9.25 and especially a p~ o~ 9.5 or over, as lower pEs
tend to be less effective for optimum detergency building,
and a ma~imum pH of 10.5, as more highly alkaline products
can be hazardous if misused. The pH is measured at the
lowest normal usage concentration of 0.1~ w/~ of the product
in water of 12H (Ca), (French permanent hardness, calcium
only) at 50C so that a ~qatisfactory degree o~ alkalinity
can be assured in use at all normal product concentra~ions.'
r
. .
~L~2~
_ l7 _ c~.103
~ he pE O:r thc de-tergent Gomposit-ions in use is
controlled by the ~nount of alkali metal orthophosphate and
any other alkaline salts such as alkali metal silicate,
sodiwn perbora-te ~ld sodium carbonate present. 'rhe
presence of such other alkaline salts, especially the
alkali metal silicates, is particularly beneficial, because
the alkalinity of the alkali metal orthophosphate is
diminished in hard water due to precip:itation o~ the calcium
salt. In addition the alkali metal polymer phosphate is
more stable and resistant to hydrolysis under highly alkaline
conditions. The o-ther ingredients in the alkaline detergent
compositions of the inven-tion should of course be chosen ~or
alkaline stability, especially the pE sensit-ve materials
such as enzymes.
~he detergent compositions of the invention are in
particulate form after admixture of the spray dried base
powder and the alkali metal polymer phosphate.
~owever, if desired the detergent compositions may be
compressed or compacted into tablets or blocks, or otherwlse
treated for e~ample by granulation, prior to packaging a~d
sale. Because of the hygroscopic nature of the alkali
metal polymer phosphates, it may be desirable to use
moisture impermeable packaging for the detergent compositions,
for e~ample in plastic or fabric sache-ts containing pre-
measured doses for washing machine usage.
The invention is illustrated by the following Examplesin which parts and percentages are by weight except where
otherwise indicated.
.
~lZ8~
- .L8 - cc~103
Ex~mples 1 to 9
~ series of detergent powde:rs were prepared by firstly
spray drying a detergen-t base powder to the following
formulation:
Ingredient~ (based on :Einal product)
Sodium alkyl benzene 9
sulphonate
Nonionic detergent compound1
Sodium orthophosphate S
Sodium silicate 10
(Na20:SiO2, 1:2)
Magnesium silica~e 0.5
Sodium sulphate 27.2
Water and minor additives 9.3
65.0
C1~-C15 alcohol - 18 E0 condensate.
~mounts o~ additives as specified in the Table below were
then adaed to this base powder to ma~e the ~ormulations as
~ollows: :
In~redient Ex: 1 2 3 ~ 5 6 7 8 9
Base powder 65 ~
Sodium poly~er ~ 10 - ~ 10 ~ - 10
phosphate
25~ Sodium poly~er - 10 ~ - 10 ~ - 10
phosphate
Sodium poly~er - 10 - - 10 - - 10
phosphate--
Sodium polyacrylate5 - - - 2 2 a
30 Sodium sulpha~e 2 2 2
(con-tinued ov~r~
, .. , .. , . ~. _ . . . . ~i
Z84~.
- 19 - cc.103
(continued)
Ingredient ~x: 1 2 3 ~ S 6 7 8 9
_
Sodi~n perborate 20 - -
Nonionic detergent 2 ~ >
5 Enzyme and perfume 0.~ - ->
Lather controller6 O. 6
Polymer chain length 6-8.
3 Polymer chain length 15-20 (plus 0. 36% NaOEI for pH
control).
~ Polymer chain length 25-30 (plus 0, 72% NaO~ for pH
control).
Versicol E7. (MW 27,000)
6 ~lkyl phosphate.
These detergent compositions were evaluated for washing
. . . ~,
performance, including especially inorganic deposition on
fabrics. The tests were accomplished in laundrometer
machines using a product concentration of 8 g/l in water of
- ~0 French hardness at 95C. ~he levels of deposition an
the fabrics were de-termined after 10 repeat wash cycles
using standard fabrics as indicated.
- ~0 inor~anic dep~sition
Fabric- Ex:1 2 3 ~ 5 6 7 8 9
, __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Cotton poplin 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 0,2
Polyester/cotton 0.5 1.0 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0,2
blend ~50:SO)
Unsi~ed cotton 1.8 2.0 2.1 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.8 0~3 0.3
1:12t3401 cc. 1034
- 20 -
'rhese re~uLts a~e ~ood in cor~lp~rison with o-ther reduced
phosphate builder products, and show especially -the benefit
of using polyacryla-te ln conj~c-tion with the or-tho-
phospha-te polymer phosphate builder mixture. ~ compara-tive
produc-t with 12% sodium tripolyphosphate ins-tead of the polymer
phospha-te and with no polyacryla-te gave 1.8%~ 2.9yo and 6.0%
deposition on the same f`abrics, respectively, under the same
tes-t conditions~
Exam~e 10
A detergen-t composition was prep æed to the following
formulation by dry mixing the ingredients to which -the
p æticulate sodium polymer phosphate was added :
In~redient %
Sodium alkyl benzene sulphonate 6
15 Nonionic detergent compounds (mixed L~
alcohol-12 and 18 ~0)
Sodium polymer phosphate (~hain 6
length 18)
Sodium orthophosphate 6
20 Sodium silicate 12
Sodium c æboxymethyl cellulose
Sodium polyacrylate (MW 30,000) 2
Sodium ~sulphate ~
Sodium perborate - 22
25 Water + minor additives to 100
The composition was tested for detergency and inorganic
deposition o~ washed fabrics (ash). Considering the low
phosphate builder level the detergency properties were good,
and the ash levels were particularly low, being 0.5% on cotton
poplin fabric and 1.5% on Krefeld cotton after 10 wash cycles.
~,~z~9~o~ cC.103~1
'~he -tes-ts were conducted a-t a p:roduct concen-tra-tion of 8g/1 in
an Atlas launderome-ter at 95C in 23GII wa-ter. By wa-y of
comparison, the ash levels for a similar sodium tripolyphosphate-
sodium-orthophosphate buil-t f`ormulation were 2.0% and 5.7%
respectively, under -the same conditions.
ExamE~es 11-14
~ our detergent compositions were made -to -the formula-tion
below:
Ingredient %
Sodium aIkylbenzene sulphona-te 7
~onionic detergent compounds (12-18E0) 5
Sodium or-thophospha-te 6.0
Sodium polymer phosphate1 (chain
length 18) 10.0
15 Sodium silicate -12.0
Sodium sulphate 28.0
Antideposition agent1~2 2.0
Sodium perborate 22
W~ter and minor additives to 100
Added in particulate form to the dry-mixed base powder
- 2In Example 11 - Sodium polyacrylate (MW27000)
12 - Ethylene diamine. tetra methylene phosphonic acid
" .13 - Polyhydrox~ acrylic acid
" 15 - Polymaleic acid (MW 1400)
lhese compositions were evaluated for detergency and
inorga~ic fabric deposition, and found to be good in both
respect. ~he average figures for the latter on differen-t cotton
types af-ter 10 wash cycles were only 0.3%, 0.65%, 0.75% and 1.3~,
respectively, under -the same conditions as for Example 10.
.
- 22 - ~ ~fZ8~ cc.10~
Simi.lar reslllts were also achieved when sodi~n ethane-
1-hyc~roxy-1, 1-diphosphonate and o-ther molecular weigh-t po].y-
acryla-tes were used as an-tideposi.tion agents in the formula-tions.
