Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
W094/268562 1 6 2 l ~ 2 I e ~ PCT~S94/04329
MIXING ORDER TO PREPARE AQUEOUS
DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS
Technical field
The present invention relates to a process for the
manufacture of an aqueous detergent composition. The present
invention relates more particularly to a mixing order to
prepare such a composition comprising a substantial amount of
organic components.
Backqround of the invention
Aqueous,- detergent compositions have been described
extensively in the art. More specifically it is well known
that such compositions may be formulated as solutions
comprising water and organic components such as surfactants,
perfumes, stabilizers and the like. These organic components
are predominantly poorly soluble or even insoluble in water.
Therefore, there is a natural tendency for said compositions to
be unclear, i.e. turbid, as said organic components may not be
W094/268~6 ^!{~ ~ ~ PCT~S94/04329
~ 1 62l~ ~ '2
fully dissolved in the aqueous matrix. This becomes even more
of a problem as the total proportion of organic components is
increased. This phenomenon results in mitigated consumer
acceptance. Therefore, the problem the present invention seeks
to solve is to avoid turbidity in the compositions finally
obtained.
In response to 'his technical problem, applicants have
found that by incorporating the different organic components in
a specific order during the manufacture of such an aqueous
detergent composition, a clear and transparent final
composition could be obtained.
It is thus an object of the present invention to obtain an
aqueous detergent composition which is clear and transparent.
Applicant's European patent application EP-A-517 996
discloses stable hydrogen peroxide-containing bleaching
compositions which are made by mixing together all ingredients
except for hydrogen peroxide which is added as a final step in
the process. Said application discloses nothing about the
aforementioned turbidity problem.
SummarY of the invention
The present invention includes a process for the
manufacture of an aqueous detergent composition comprising a
nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant and a perfume. Said
process includes the steps of :
- mixing said nonionic surfactant in said water
(composition A);
- dissolving said perfume in said anionic surfactant
(composition B);
- thereafter mixing said composition B in said
composition A (composition C).
W094/26856 ~l 6 2 1 1 2 PCT~S94/04329
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Detailed description of the invention
The present invention concerns the manufacture of an
aqueous detergent composition. Said aqueous detergent
composition comprises water, a nonionic surfactant, an anionic
surfactant and a perfume. tThe compositions according to the
present invention can be formulated in a variety of different
embodiments, especially household cleaners.
As a first essential ingredient, the compositions
manufactured according to the present invention comprise a
nonionic surfactant according to the formula
R1~0~[(R20)n(R30)m]-R4, wherein :
- R1 is a C1_25 alkyl or alkenyl chain, preferably Clo_l5,
preferably alkyl;
- R2 is a C2_4 aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, preferably C2;
- R3 is a methyl or ethyl monosubstituted C2-C4 aliphatic
hydrocarbon chain, preferably a methyl substituted
ethylene;
- R4 is a Cl_2s alkyl or alkenyl carboxyl chain, or H,
preferably H;
- n is an integer of from 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 5;
- m is an integer of from 0 to 20; preferably 0 to 10,
most preferably 0 to 3; or mixtures thereof.
It is to be understood that, in the chemical formula
above, R20 and R30 groups may appear in any sequence in the
molecule; also, when n and m are greater than 1, different
R20 and R30 groups may appear in a same molecule.
Commercially available nonionic surfactant compounds are
described for instance in the European Patent Applications
EP-A-0 518 401 or EP-A-0 517 996. The compositions
manufactured according to the present invention comprise
from 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total composition of said
nonionic surfactant or mixtures thereof, preferably from
0.5% to 10%.
W094/26856 ;~ PCT~S94/04329
~ 6~ 4
As a second essential ingredient, the compositions
manufactured according to the present invention further
comprise an anionic surfactant or mixtures thereof.
Suitable anionic surfactants for use herein have been
extensively described in the art and include alkyl benzene
sulphonates and alkyl sulphates. Alkyl sulphates
surfactants for use herein can ~ë obtained from natural
source, e.g coconut. AccQ~ingly, the compositions
manufactured according to th~ present invention preferably
comprise from 0.5% to 40~% by weight of the total
composition of said anionic surfactant or mixtures thereof,
preferably from 0.5% to 10%. Particularly preferred herein
is sodium coconut alkyl sulfate.
The compositions manufactured according to the present
invention may further comprise additional surfactants such
as described in the art including cationic and zwitterionic
surfactants.
As a third essential ingredient, the compositions
manufactured according to the present invention further
comprise from 0.03% to 5% by weight of the total
composition of a perfume, preferably from 0.03% to 3%.
The compositions manufactured according to the present
invention comprise from 60% to 99~ by weight of the total
composition of water, preferably from 80% to 95%.
The compositions manufactured according to the present
invention may also comprise additional conventional
ingredients such as solvents, hydrotropes, chelating
agents, thickeners, fragrance and whitening agents,
provided all these ingredients are compatible with the
compositions. Said ingredients are not critical for the
clarity of the compositions of the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment the compositions
manufactured according to the present invention also
s ~
W094/26856 ~ ~ 2 1 ~ ~ PCT~S94/04329
comprise from 1% to 15% by weight of the total composition
of a bleach, preferably from 2% to 10%. Preferred bleach
for use herein is hydrogen peroxide.
The compositions manufactured according to the present
invention are preferably acidic and have a pH of from 2 to
6, preferably 3 to 5, m~st preferably 4. Such pH range can
be attained by the additi~on of appropriate acidifiers such
as organic or inorganic ac~s, acidic salts which buffer pH
to an acid value. Exampl~s of suitable acidifiers are
sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid although it is somewhat
undesirable from an environmental viewpoint, hydrochloric
acid, phosphonic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, tartaric
acid, maleic acid and the like.
In a further preferred embodiment the compositions
manufactured according to the present invention further
comprise butyl hydroxy toluene as an antioxydant and a H22
stabilizer. Said compositions comprise from 0.01% to 1% by
weight of the total composition of butyl hydroxy toluene,
preferably from 0.01% to 0.8%.
The process according to the present invention comprises
the following steps.
In one step the nonionic surfactant is mixed in water so as to
obtain a composition, hereinafter composition A.
In an other step the perfume is dissolve in the anionic
surfactant so as to obtain a composition, hereinafter
composition B.
The order in which compositions A and B are made is not
. critical for the present invention.
In a further step of the process according to the present
invention, said composition B is mixed in said composition A so
as to obtain composition C. In said step, the composition of
-~62l1~
W094/26856 ~ PCT~S94/04329
,;.,....
the present invention becomes clear and transparent when said
compositions A and B are mixed together.
In a preferred embodiment where the compositions
manufactured according to the present invention further
comprise a bleach, said bleach is added on top of the
composition C, in the final step ~ the process.
In a ~urther preferred embodiment where the compositions
manufactured according to the present invention further
comprise butyl hydroxy toluene, said butyl hydroxy toluene is
dissolved in the perfume before the step where said perfume is
dissolved in said anionic surfactant so as to obtain a
composition B.
In a further preferred embodiment where said aqueous
bleaching composition further comprise acidifiers, it is
preferred to include an additional step in the process of
the present invention, where said acidifiers are added to
the composition C before the final addition of the
bleaching compounds. The acidifiers can be added pure or
pre-diluted.
ExamPle
The following compositions were made by the listed
ingredients ln the listed proportion according to the process
of the invention as described hereinafter.
Compositions 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6
_______________________ I____I____I____I____I____I____I
I Weight %
H2o2 ¦ 6 ¦ 8 1 8 ¦ 6 ¦ s ¦ 5 1
alkyl sulphate ¦ 3.5¦ 4 ¦ 1 ¦ 1 ¦ 3 ¦ 1 ¦
Citric acid 1 6 1 0 ¦ 4 ¦ 6 ¦ 4 1 4
Polyethoxypropoxy
alcohol ¦ 1.5¦ 4 ¦ 1 ¦ 1 ¦ 1 ¦ 1
perfume 1 0.51 0.11 o.ll 0.3¦ 0.51 0.1
~ W094/268~6 . ~ ? 1 2 PCT~sg4/04329
Butyl hydroxy toluene ¦0.03l0.03l0.03¦ ¦ ¦0.03¦
NH3 up to pH ¦ 4 ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ 4 ¦
NaOH up to pH l l ¦ 3 ¦ 4 ¦ ¦ 3.5¦
H2SO4 up to pH ¦ ¦ 4
5 Water & minors l......... up to 100%......... l
In one step of the process according to the present invention
the polyethoxypropoxy alcohol is mixed in water. The
composition obtained is named A.
In another step, the butyl hydroxy toluene is dissolved in the
perfume. After that, the perfume is dissolved in the anionic
surfactant. The resulting composition is named B.
Thereafter, in a further step of the process according to the
present invention, composition B is mixed in composition A.
The pH is adjusted.
And finally, hydrogen peroxide is added as a final step in the
process, on top of the remainder of the composition.
The present compositions prepared in accordance with the
specific mixing order of the present invention is clear and
transparent.
