Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Multi-compartment Pouch Comnrising Solid and Liguid Components
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pouch having at least two compartments, said pouch
comprises
a composition comprising a solid component and a liquid component, said solid
and
liquid components are contained in different compartments.
Background to the Invention
Laundry detergent products can be found on the market to date in various
forms, such as
solid granular compositions and tablets, or liquid compositions. This gives
the consumer
a choice of detergent products they can use.
Some detergent ingredients currently used by the laundry industry, are
preferably
manufactured and processed in solid form, for example because these
ingredients are
water-insoluble and are difficult or costly to include in a liquid detergent
composition, or
because these materials are preferably transported and supplied in solid form
and
therefore require extra processing steps to enable them to be included in a
liquid
detergent composition. Such detergent ingredients include surfactants, hence
these
surfactants require extra processing steps to enable them to be included in
liquid
detergent compositions. Also, certain ingredients are formed into granular
form and
supplied and processed in solid form for stability reasons, for example
certain enzyme
prills.
Current methods of incorporating water-insoluble solid ingredients and
ingredients
typically supplied in solid form such as surfactants, into liquid detergent
compositions
include the use of emulsifiers, and dispersants. However, these liquid
detergent
compositions comprise only low amounts of these solid ingredients. For
example, liquid
detergent ingredients can comprise only low amounts of certain water-insoluble
building
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agents such as aluminosilicates or water-insoluble fabric softening agents
such as clays,
provided dispersants or emulsifiers are used.
However, it is desirable to include higher levels of water-insoluble solid
ingredients such
as water-insoluble building agents in a detergent composition with a
substantial amount
of liquid detergent ingredients. It is also desirable to be able to
incorporate detergent
ingredients that are typically transported in solid form, including granules
comprising
surfactants, in to a detergent composition comprising a substantial amount of
liquid
ingredients without the need for extra costly and difficult processing steps.
The inventors have found that by using a multi-compartment water-soluble pouch
comprising at least two separate compartments, water-insoluble solid detergent
ingredients can be included in a detergent composition comprising other liquid
detergent
ingredients, without the need for difficult, costly manufacturing and
processing steps. The
water-insoluble solid detergent ingredient is comprised by one compartment of
a multi-
compartment water-soluble pouch whilst the liquid detergent ingredients are
comprised
by another compartment of said pouch. Detergent compositions comprised by a
multi-
compartment water-soluble pouch in this way can comprise higher levels of
water-
insoluble solid detergent ingredients such as water insoluble building agent
together with
liquid detergent ingredients.
The inventors have also found that by using a multi-compartment water-soluble
pouch
comprising at least two separate compartments, detergent ingredients that are
usually
transported and supplied to the detergent manufacturers in solid form, such as
agglomerates comprising surfactants, can be included in a detergent
composition
comprising substantial amounts of liquid detergent ingredients, without the
need for
difficult, costly manufacturing and processing steps. The solid detergent
ingredients are
comprised by one compartment of a multi-compartment water-soluble pouch whilst
the
liquid detergent ingredients are comprised by another compartment of said
pouch.
Summary of the Invention
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In a first embodiment of the invention, a multi-compartment pouch made from a
water-
soluble film and having at least two compartments, said multi-compartment
pouch
comprises a composition comprising a solid component and a liquid component,
wherein;
(a) a first compartment comprises a solid component comprising (by weight of
the solid
component) at least 10% water-insoluble solid material; and
(b) a second compartment comprises a liquid component.
In a second embodiment of the invention, a multi-compartment pouch made from a
water-
soluble film and having at least two compartments, said multi-compartment
pouch
comprises a composition comprising a solid component and a liquid component,
wherein;
(a) a first compartment comprises a solid component comprising (by weight of
the solid
component) at least 15% particles which contain at least 20% by weight of the
particle
of surfactant; and
(b) a second compartment comprises a liquid component.
In one particular embodiment there is provided a multi-compartment pouch made
from
a water-soluble film and having at least two compartments, each defining a
volume
space, said multi-compartment pouch comprising a composition which comprises a
solid component and a liquid component, wherein; (a) a first compartment
comprises
the solid component comprising, by weight of the solid component, at least 10%
water-
insoluble solid material; and (b) a second compartment comprises the liquid
component, said liquid component comprising at least 1% water-soluble perfume
and
wherein said second compartment comprises an air bubble having a volume no
more
than 50% of the volume space of said second compartment.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Multi-compartment pouch and materials thereof
The multi-compartment pouch of the invention, herein referred to as "pouch",
comprises at least two, preferably two compartments.
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The pouch herein is typically a closed structure, made of materials described
herein,
enclosing a volume space which is separated into at least two compartments.
The pouch
comprises a composition comprising a liquid component and a solid component.
The
pouch and volume space thereof, can be of any form, shape and material which
is
suitable to hold the composition, e.g. without allowing the release of the
composition
from the pouch prior to contact of the pouch to water. The exact execution
will depend
on, for example, the type and amount of the composition in the pouch, the
number of
compartments in the pouch, the characteristics required from the pouch to
hold, protect
and deliver or release the compositions. Preferably, the pouch has a spheroid
shape.
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The pouch may be of such a size that it conveniently contains either a unit
dose amount
of the composition herein, suitable for the required operation, for example
one wash, or
only a partial dose, to allow the consumer greater flexibility to vary the
amount used, for
example depending on the size and/ or degree of soiling of the wash load.
The pouch is made from a water-soluble film which encloses an inner volume,
said inner
volume is divided into the compartments of the pouch.
The compartments of the pouch herein typically are closed structures made of a
water-
soluble film which encloses a volume space which comprises the components of
the
detergent composition. Said volume space is preferably enclosed by a water-
soluble film
in such a manner that the volume space is separated from the outside
environment.
The solid component or liquid component that are comprised by a compartment of
the
pouch are contained in the volume space of the compartment, and are separated
from the
outside environment by a water-soluble film.
The term "separated" means for the purpose of this invention "physically
distinct, in that
a first ingredient comprised by a compartment is prevented from contacting a
second
ingredient if said second ingredient is not comprised by the same compartment
which
comprises said first ingredient".
The term "outside environment" means for the purpose of this invention
"anything which
cannot pass through the material which encloses the compartment and which is
not
comprised by the compartment".
The compartment is suitable to hold the solid or liquid components of the
composition,
e.g. without allowing the release of the components from the compartment prior
to
contact of the pouch to water. The compartment can have any form or shape,
depending
on the nature of the material of the compartment, the nature of the components
or
composition, the intended use, amount of the components etc.
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It may be preferred that the compartment which comprises the liquid component
also
comprises an air bubble, preferably the air bubble has a volume of no more
than 50%,
preferably no more than 40%, more preferably no more than 30%, more preferably
no
more than 20%, more preferably no more than 10% of the volume space of said
5 compartment. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the presence
of the air
bubble increases the tolerance of the pouch to the movement of liquid
component within
the compartment, thus reducing the risk of the liquid component leaking from
the
compartment.
The pouch is made from a water-soluble film, said water-soluble film typically
has a
solubility of at least 50%, preferably at least 75% or even at least 95%, as
measured by
the method set out hereinafter using a glass-filter with a maximum pore size
of 50
microns, namely:
Gravimetric method for determining water-solubility of the material of the
compartment
and/or pouch:
10 grams 0.1 gram of material is added in a 400 ml beaker, whereof the
weight has
been determined, and 245ml lml of distilled water is added. This is stirred
vigorously
on magnetic stirrer set at 600 rpm, for 30 minutes. Then, the mixture is
filtered through a
folded qualitative sintered-glass filter with the pore sizes as defined above
(max. 50
micron). The water is dried off from the collected filtrate by any
conventional method,
and the weight of the remaining polymer is determined (which is the dissolved
or
dispersed fraction). Then, the % solubility or dispersability can be
calculated.
Preferred films are polymeric materials, preferably polymers which are formed
into a
film or sheet. The material in the form of a film can for example be obtained
by casting,
blow-moulding, extrusion or blow extrusion of the polymer material, as known
in the art.
Preferred polymer copolymers or derivatives thereof are selected from
polyvinyl alcohol
(PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, acrylamide, acrylic acid,
cellulose,
cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides, polyvinyl acetates,
polycarboxylic
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acids and salts, polyaminoacids or peptides, polyamides, polyacrylamide,
copolymers of
maleic/acrylic acids, polysaccharides including starch and gelatine, natural
gums such as
xanthum and carragum. More preferably the polymer is selected from
polyacrylates and
water-soluble acrylate copolymers, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose
sodium,
dextrin, ethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose,
maltodextrin, polymethacrylates, most preferably polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl
alcohol
copolymers and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Preferably, the level of
polymer in the film, for example a PVA polymer, is at least 60%.
The polymer can have any weight average molecular weight, preferably from
about 1000
to 1,000,000, or even form 10,000 to 300,000 or even form 15,000 to 200,000 or
even
form 20,000 to 150,000.
Mixtures of polymers can also be used. This may in particular be beneficial to
control the
mechanical and/or dissolution properties of the compartment or pouch,
depending on the
application thereof and the required needs. For example, it may be preferred
that a
mixture of polymers is present in the material of the compartment, whereby one
polymer
material has a higher water-solubility than another polymer material, and/or
one polymer
material has a higher mechanical strength than another polymer material. It
may be
preferred that a mixture of polymers is used, having different weight average
molecular
weights, for example a mixture of PVA or a copolymer thereof of a weight
average
molecular weight of 10,000- 40,000, preferably around 20,000, and of PVA or
copolymer
thereof, with a weight average molecular weight of about 100,000 to 300,000,
preferably
around 150,000.
Also useful are polymer blend compositions, for example comprising
hydrolytically
degradable and water-soluble polymer blend such as polylactide and polyvinyl
alcohol,
achieved by the mixing of polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol, typically
comprising 1-35%
by weight polylactide and approximately from 65% to 99% by weight polyvinyl
alcohol,
if the material is to be water-dispersible, or water-soluble.
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It may be preferred that the polymer present in the film is from 60-98%
hydrolysed,
preferably 80% to 90%, to improve the dissolution of the film.
Most preferred films are films which comprise a PVA polymer with similar
properties to
the film which comprises a PVA polymer and is known under the trade reference
M8630,
as sold by Chris-Craft Industrial Products of Gary, Indiana, US.
The film herein may comprise other additive ingredients than the polymer or
polymer
material. For example, it may be beneficial to add plasticisers, for example
glycerol,
ethylene glycol, diethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures
thereof,
additional water, disintegrating aids. It may be useful when the composition
herein is a
detergent composition, that the film itself comprises a detergent additive to
be delivered
to the wash water, for example organic polymeric soil release agents,
dispersants, dye
transfer inhibitors.
The compartment and preferably pouch as a whole are made from water-soluble
material.
Suitable examples of commercially available water-soluble materials include
polyvinyl
alcohol and partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate, alginates, cellulose
ethers such as
carboxymethylcellulose and methylcellulose, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylates
and
combinations of these.
Composition
The pouch herein comprises a composition, typically said composition is
contained in the
volume space of the pouch.
Preferred compositions are cleaning compositions or fabric care compositions,
preferably
hard surface cleaners, more preferably laundry or dish washing compositions
including,
pre-treatment or soaking compositions and other rinse additive compositions.
Typically, the composition herein comprises such an amount of a cleaning
composition,
that one or a multitude of the pouched compositions is or are sufficient for
one wash.
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Preferably, the composition herein comprises at least one surfactant and at
least one
building agent.
The composition comprises a solid component and a liquid component. A first
compartment comprises the solid component and a second compartment comprises
the
liquid component, so that the solid component and liquid component are
separated by a
water-soluble film.
Solid component
The solid component is comprised by a compartment of the pouch. Said
compartment is a
different compartment to the one that comprises the liquid component.
Typically, the solid component is substantially solid in that at least 90%,
preferably at
least 95%, more preferably at least 98% of the ingredients comprised by the
solid
component are in a solid form. Preferably the solid component comprises
ingredients
that are either difficult or costly to include in a substantially liquid
composition or that are
typically transported and supplied as solid ingredients which require
additional
processing steps to enable them to be included in a substantially liquid
composition.
Said solid component comprises (by weight of the solid component) at least
10%, more
preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 30%, more preferably at
least 40%, more
preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 60%, more preferably at
least 70%, more
preferably at least 80% water-insoluble solid material.
Water-insoluble solid material includes water-insoluble building agents,
preferably the
water-insoluble building agent is aluminosilicate, or water-insoluble fabric
softening
agents such as clay. Preferably, said water-insoluble solid material comprises
a water-
insoluble building agent. Preferred water-insoluble building agents are
described in more
detail hereinafter.
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In another embodiment of the invention the solid component comprises (by
weight of the
solid component) at least 15%, or even at least 20%, or even at least 25%, or
even at least
30%, or even at least 40%, or even at least 50%, or even at least 70%
particles surfactant.
Said agglomerate particles comprise at least 20%, preferably at least 40%,
more
preferably at least 60%, more preferably at least 80%, more preferably at
least 90%, more
preferably at least 95% surfactant. Typical surfactants for use in the present
invention are
described in more detail herein. The particle may be of any form, for example
an
agglomerate, spray-dried particle, extrudate or for example a surfactant flake
consisting
essentially of surfactant.
Said solid component preferably comprises at least one ingredient selected
from the
group consisting of building agent, chelating agent, bleaching agent, bleach
activator,
enzyme or enzyme prill, brightener, suds suppressor and dye. Said ingredients
are in solid
form, such as a particulate ingredient.
It may be possible that part or all of the ingredients of the solid component
are not pre-
granulated, such as agglomerated, spray-dried, extruded, prior to
incorporation into the
compartment, and that the component is a mixture of dry-mixed powder
ingredients or
even raw materials. Preferred may be that for example less than 60% or even
less than
40% or even less than 20% of the component is a free-flowable pre-granulated
granules.
Liquid component
The liquid component is comprised by a compartment of the pouch. Said
compartment is
a different compartment to the one that comprises the solid component.
Typically, the liquid component is substantially liquid in that at least 90%,
more
preferably at least 95%, %, more preferably at least 98% ingredients comprised
by the
liquid component are in a liquid form at room temperature.
The liquid component preferably comprises (by weight of the liquid component)
at least
1% water-soluble perfume. The level of perfume comprised by the liquid
composition is
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preferably at least 2%, more preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least
10%, more
preferably at least 40%.
Preferably, said liquid component comprises a solvent. Preferably said solvent
is an
5 alcohol/water or alcohol based solvent, more preferably said solvent
contains or consists
of ethanol and/or n-butoxy propoxy propanol. Preferably, said liquid component
comprises (by weight of liquid component) from 0.1% to 30%, more preferably
from 5%
to 25%, more preferably from 10% to 20% solvent.
10 Preferred ingredients of the liquid and solid components
As described above, in the composition the liquid component is substantially
liquid (in
that the liquid component comprises less than 10%, preferably less than 5%,
more
preferably less than 2% material in solid form at room temperature) and the
solid
component is substantially solid (in that the solid component comprises less
than 10%,
preferably less than 5%, more preferably less than 2% material in liquid form
at room
temperature). Thus, ingredients that are difficult or costly to include in a
composition
comprising a substantial amount of liquid ingredients are comprised by the
solid
component. The preferred amounts of ingredients described herein are % by
weight of the
whole composition and not % by weight of either the solid component or liquid
component which comprise said ingredient.
Water insoluble buildingagent
The composition herein, especially the solid component of the composition
herein
preferably comprises a water-insoluble building agent.
Examples of water insoluble builders include the sodium aluminosilicates.
Suitable aluminosilicate zeolites have the unit cell formula
Naz[(AlO2)z(SiO2)y]. xH2O
wherein z and y are at least 6; the molar ratio of z to y is from 1.0 to 0.5
and x is at least
5, preferably from 7.5 to 276, more preferably from 10 to 264. The
aluminosilicate
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material are in hydrated form and are preferably crystalline, containing from
10% to 28%,
more preferably from 18% to 22% water in bound form.
The aluminosilicate zeolites can be naturally occurring materials, but are
preferably
synthetically derived. Synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate ion exchange
materials are
available under the designations Zeolite A, Zeolite B, Zeolite P, Zeolite X,
Zeolite HS
and mixtures thereof. Zeolite A has the formula:
Na 12 [A102) 12 (Si02)12]. xH2O
wherein x is from 20 to 30, especially 27. Zeolite X has the formula Na86
[(A102)86(Si02)106]= 276 H20.
Preferred crystalline layered silicates for use herein have the general
formula:
NaMSixO2x+1 =yH2O
wherein M is sodium or hydrogen, x is a number from 1.9 to 4 and y is a number
from 0
to 20. Crystalline layered sodium silicates of this type are disclosed in EP-A-
0164514
and methods for their preparation are disclosed in DE-A-3417649 and DE-A-
3742043.
Herein, x in the general formula above preferably has a value of 2, 3 or 4 and
is
preferably 2. The most preferred material is 8-Na2Si205, available from
Hoechst AG as
NaSKS-6.
Water-insoluble fabric softening agents
The composition herein, especially the solid component thereof, preferably
comprises a
water-insoluble fabric softening agents. Such water-insoluble fabric softening
agents
include clays. Preferably the water-insoluble fabric softening agents are
cationic
compounds. Suitable cationic fabric softening agents include the water
insoluble tertiary
amines or dilong chain amide materials as disclosed in GB-A-1 514 276 and EP-B-
0 011
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340. Preferably, these water-insoluble tertiary amines or dilong chain amide
materials are
comprised by the solid component of the composition herein.
Detersive surfactants
Nonionic alkoxylated surfactant
Essentially any alkoxylated nonionic surfactants can be comprised by the
composition
herein. Those nonionic surfactants which are liquid at room temperature, are
preferably
included in the liquid component. The ethoxylated and propoxylated nonionic
surfactants
are preferred. Preferred alkoxylated surfactants can be selected from the
classes of the
nonionic condensates of alkyl phenols, nonionic ethoxylated alcohols, nonionic
ethoxylated/propoxylated fatty alcohols, nonionic ethoxylate/propoxylate
condensates
with propylene glycol, and the nonionic ethoxylate condensation products with
propylene
oxide/ethylene diamine adducts.
Highly preferred are nonionic alkoxylated alcohol surfactants, being the
condensation
products of aliphatic alcohols with from 1 to 75 moles of alkylene oxide, in
particular
about 50 or from 1 to 15 moles, preferably to 11 moles, particularly ethylene
oxide and/or
propylene oxide, are highly preferred nonionic surfactants. The alkyl chain of
the
aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary,
and generally
contains from 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the
condensation products
of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with
from 2 to 9
moles and in particular 3 or 5 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
Nonionic polyhy. ~~fatty acid amide surfactant
Polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are highly preferred nonionic surfactant
comprised by the
composition, in particular those having the structural formula R2CONRIZ
wherein : R1
is H, C 1-18, preferably C 1-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy
propyl, ethoxy,
propoxy, or a mixture thereof, preferable C 1-C4 alkyl, more preferably C 1 or
C2 alkyl,
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most preferably Cl alkyl (i.e., methyl); and R2 is a C5-C31 hydrocarbyl,
preferably
straight-chain C5-C19 or C7-C 19 alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably straight-
chain C9-
C 17 alkyl or alkenyl, most preferably straight-chain C 11-C 17 alkyl or
alkenyl, or mixture
thereof; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain
with at
least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated
derivative (preferably
ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z preferably will be derived from a
reducing sugar
in a reductive amination reaction; more preferably Z is a glycityl.
A highly preferred nonionic polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant for use
herein is a
C 12-C 14, a C 15-C 17 and/or C 16-C 18 alkyl N-methyl glucamide.
It may be particularly preferred that the composition herein comprises a
mixture of a
C 12-C 1 g alkyl N-methyl glucamide and condensation products of an alcohol
having an
alkyl group containing from 8 to 20 carbon atoms with from 2 to 9 moles and in
particular 3 or 5 moles, of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
The polyhydroxy fatty acid amide can be prepared by any suitable process. One
particularly preferred process is described in detail in WO 9206984. A product
comprising about 95% by weight polyhydroxy fatty acid amide, low levels of
undesired
impurities such as fatty acid esters and cyclic amides, and which is molten
typically
above about 80 C, can be made by this process.
Nonionic fatty acid amide surfactant
Fatty acid amide surfactants or alkoxylated fatty acid amides can also be
comprised by
the composition herein. They include those having the formula: R6CON(R7) (R8 )
wherein R6 is an alkyl group containing from 7 to 21, preferably from 9 to 17
carbon or
even 11 to 13 carbon atoms and R7 and R8 are each individually selected from
the group
consisting of hydrogen, C 1-C4 alkyl, C 1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, and -(C2H40)xH,
where x is
in the range of from 1 to 11, preferably 1 to 7, more preferably form 1-5,
whereby it may
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be preferred that R7 is different to R8, one having x being 1 or 2, one having
x being
from 3 to 11 or preferably 5.
Nonionic alkyl esters of fatty acid surfactant
Alkyl esters of fatty acids can also be comprised by the composition herein.
They include
those having the formula: R9COO(R10) wherein R9 is an alkyl group containing
from 7
to 21, preferably from 9 to 17 carbon or even 11 to 13 carbon atoms and R10 is
a Cl-C4
alkyl, C 1-C4 hydroxyalkyl, or -(C2H4O)xH, where x is in the range of from 1
to 11,
preferably 1 to 7, more preferably form 1-5, whereby it may be preferred that
R10 is a
methyl or ethyl group.
Nonionic alkylpolysaccharide surfactant
Alkylpolysaccharides can also be comprised by the composition herein, such as
those
disclosed in US Patent 4,565,647, Llenado, issued January 21, 1986, having a
hydrophobic group containing from 6 to 30 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide,
e.g., a
polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from 1.3 to 10 saccharide units.
Preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula
R2O(CnH2nO)t(glycosyl)x
wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl,
hydroxyalkyl,
hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups contain
from 10 to
18 carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3; t is from 0 to 10, and x is from 1.3 to 8. The
glycosyl is
preferably derived from glucose.
Polyethylene/prop l~giycols
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The composition herein may comprise polyethylene and/or propylene glycol,
particularly
those of molecular weight 1000-10000, more particularly 2000 to 8000 and most
preferably about 4000.
5 Anionic surfactant
The composition herein, preferably comprises one or more anionic surfactants.
Any
anionic surfactant useful for detersive purposes is suitable. Examples include
salts
(including, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium
salts
10 such as mono-, di- and triethanolamine salts) of the anionic sulphate,
sulphonate,
carboxylate and sarcosinate surfactants. Anionic sulphate surfactants are
preferred.
Other anionic surfactants include the isethionates such as the acyl
isethionates, N-acyl
taurates, fatty acid amides of methyl tauride, alkyl succinates and
sulfosuccinates,
15 monoesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C 12-C
18 monoesters)
diesters of sulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C6-C 14
diesters), N-acyl
sarcosinates. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are also suitable, such
as rosin,
hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids present in or
derived
from tallow oil.
Anionic sulphate surfactant
Anionic sulphate surfactants suitable for use herein include the linear and
branched
primary and secondary alkyl sulphates, alkyl ethoxysulphates, fatty oleoyl
glycerol
sulphates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulphates, the C5-C 1 7 acyl-N-(C
1-C4 alkyl)
and -N-(C1-C2 hydroxyalkyl) glucamine sulphates, and sulphates of
alkylpolysaccharides
such as the sulphates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic non-sulphated
compounds
being described herein).
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Alkyl sulphate surfactants are preferably selected from the linear and
branched primary
C9-C22 alkyl sulphates, more preferably the C 11-C 15 branched chain alkyl
sulphates and
the C 12-C 14 linear chain alkyl sulphates.
Alkyl ethoxysulfate surfactants are preferably selected from the group
consisting of the
C 10-C 1 g alkyl sulphates which have been ethoxylated with from 0.5 to 50
moles of
ethylene oxide per molecule. More preferably, the alkyl ethoxysulfate
surfactant is a C11-
C18, most preferably C 11-C 15 alkyl sulphate which has been ethoxylated with
from 0.5
to 7, preferably from 1 to 5, moles of ethylene oxide per molecule.
Anionic sulphonate surfactant
Anionic sulphonate surfactants suitable for use herein include the salts of C5-
C20 linear
or branched alkylbenzene sulphonates, alkyl ester sulphonates, in particular
methyl ester
sulphonates, C6-C22 primary or secondary alkane sulphonates, C6-C24 olefin
sulphonates, sulphonated polycarboxylic acids, alkyl glycerol sulphonates,
fatty acyl
glycerol sulphonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulphonates, and any mixtures
thereof.
Anionic carboxylate surfactant
Suitable anionic carboxylate surfactants include the alkyl ethoxy
carboxylates, the alkyl
polyethoxy polycarboxylate surfactants and the soaps ('alkyl carboxyls'),
especially
certain secondary soaps as described herein.
Suitable alkyl ethoxy carboxylates include those with the formula RO(CH2CH2O)x
CH2C00-M+ wherein R is a C6 to C18 alkyl group, x ranges from 0 to 10, and the
ethoxylate distribution is such that, on a weight basis, the amount of
material where x is 0
is less than 20 % and M is a cation. Suitable alkyl polyethoxy polycarboxylate
surfactants
include those having the formula R0-(CHR1-CHR2-O)X-R3 wherein R is a C6 to C18
alkyl group, x is from 1 to 25, R1 and R2 are selected from the group
consisting of
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hydrogen, methyl acid radical, succinic acid radical, hydroxysuccinic acid
radical, and
mixtures thereof, and R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen,
substituted or
unsubstituted hydrocarbon having between 1 and 8 carbon atoms, and mixtures
thereof.
Suitable soap surfactants include the secondary soap surfactants which contain
a carboxyl
unit connected to a secondary carbon. Preferred secondary soap surfactants for
use herein
are water-soluble members selected from the group consisting of the water-
soluble salts
of 2-methyl-l-undecanoic acid, 2-ethyl-l-decanoic acid, 2-propyl-l-nonanoic
acid, 2-
butyl-l-octanoic acid and 2-pentyl-l-heptanoic acid. Certain soaps may also be
included
as suds suppressers.
Alkali metal sarcosinate surfactant
Other suitable anionic surfactants are the alkali metal sarcosinates of
formula R-CON
(R1) CH2 COOM, wherein R is a C5-C17 linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl
group, R1
is a Cl-C4 alkyl group and M is an alkali metal ion. Preferred examples are
the myristyl
and oleoyl methyl sarcosinates in the form of their sodium salts.
Cationic surfactant
Another preferred surfactant is a cationic surfactant, which may preferably be
present at a
level of from 0.1% to 60% by weight of the composition herein, more preferably
from
0.4% to 20%, most preferably from 0.5% to 5% by weight.
When present, the ratio of the anionic surfactant to the cationic surfactant
is preferably
from 35:1 to 1:3, more preferably from 15:1 to 1:1. most preferably from 10:1
to 1:1.
Preferably the cationic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of
cationic ester
surfactants, cationic mono-alkoxylated amine surfactants, cationic bis-
alkoxylated amine
surfactants and mixtures thereof.
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Cationic mono-alkoxylated amine surfactants
Preferred cationic mono-alkoxylated amine surfactant for use herein, has the
general
formula:
R N 4 X-
/ R3
R2
wherein R1 is an alkyl or alkenyl moiety containing from about 6 to about 18
carbon
atoms, preferably 6 to about 16 carbon atoms, most preferably from about 6 to
about 11
carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are each independently alkyl groups containing from
one to
about three carbon atoms, preferably methyl; R4 is selected from hydrogen
(preferred),
methyl and ethyl, X- is an anion such as chloride, bromide, methylsulphate,
sulphate, or
the like, to provide electrical neutrality; A is selected from C1-C4 alkoxy,
especially
ethoxy (i.e., -CH2CH2O-), propoxy, butoxy and mixtures thereof; and p is from
1 to
about 30, preferably 1 to about 15, most preferably 1 to about 8.
Highly preferred cationic mono-alkoxylated amine surfactants for use herein
are of the
formula:
Rl /(CH2CH2O)1-5 H
N+ XO
CH3 CH3
wherein R1 is C6-C 18 hydrocarbyl and mixtures thereof, preferably C6-C 14,
especially
C6-C 11 alkyl, preferably C8 and C 10 alkyl, and X is any convenient anion to
provide
charge balance, preferably chloride or bromide.
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As noted, compounds of the foregoing type include those wherein the ethoxy
(CH2CH2O) units (EO) are replaced by butoxy, isopropoxy [CH(CH3)CH2O] and
[CH2CH(CH3O] units (i-Pr) or n-propoxy units (Pr), or mixtures of EO and/or Pr
and/or
i-Pr units.
Cationic bis-alkoxylated amine surfactant
The cationic bis-alkoxylated amine surfactant for use herein, has the general
formula:
Rl ApR3
N X-
R2~ ~A,qRa
wherein Rl is an alkyl or alkenyl moiety containing from about 6 to about 18
carbon
atoms, preferably 6 to about 16 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to about 11,
most
preferably from about 8 to about 10 carbon atoms; R2 is an alkyl group
containing from
one to three carbon atoms, preferably methyl; R3 and R4 can vary independently
and are
selected from hydrogen (preferred), methyl and ethyl, X- is an anion such as
chloride,
bromide, methylsulphate, sulphate, or the like, sufficient to provide
electrical neutrality.
A and A' can vary independently and are each selected from Cl-C4 alkoxy,
especially
ethoxy, (i.e., -CH2CH2O-), propoxy, butoxy and mixtures thereof; p is from 1
to about
30, preferably 1 to about 4 and q is from 1 to about 30, preferably 1 to about
4, and most
preferably both p and q are 1.
Highly preferred cationic bis-alkoxylated amine surfactants for use herein are
of the
formula:
R\ CH2CH2OH O
N + X
CH3 CH2CH2OH
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wherein R1 is C6-Cl8 hydrocarbyl and mixtures thereof, preferably C6, C8, C10,
C12,
C14 alkyl and mixtures thereof. X is any convenient anion to provide charge
balance,
preferably chloride. With reference to the general cationic bis-alkoxylated
amine
structure noted above, since in a preferred compound R1 is derived from
(coconut) C12-
5 C14 alkyl fraction fatty acids, R2 is methyl and ApR3 and A'qR4 are each
monoethoxy.
Other cationic bis-alkoxylated amine surfactants useful herein include
compounds of the
formula:
~
R +11-~(CH2CH2O)pH
N X
10 R2,,-' (CH2CH2O)qH
wherein Rl is C6-C 1 g hydrocarbyl, preferably C6-C 14 alkyl, independently p
is 1 to
about 3 and q is 1 to about 3, R2 is C1-C3 alkyl, preferably methyl, and X is
an anion,
especially chloride or bromide.
Other compounds of the foregoing type include those wherein the ethoxy
(CH2CH2O)
units (EO) are replaced by butoxy (Bu) isopropoxy [CH(CH3)CH2O] and
[CH2CH(CH3O] units (i-Pr) or n-propoxy units (Pr), or mixtures of EO and/or Pr
and/or
i-Pr units.
Amphoteric surfactant
Suitable amphoteric surfactants for use herein include the amine oxide
surfactants and the
alkyl amphocarboxylic acids.
Suitable amine oxides include those compounds having the formula
R3(OR4)xN0(R5)2
wherein R3 is selected from an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, acylamidopropoyl and alkyl
phenyl
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group, or mixtures thereof, containing from 8 to 26 carbon atoms; R4 is an
alkylene or
hydroxyalkylene group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, or mixtures
thereof; x is
from 0 to 5, preferably from 0 to 3; and each R5 is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl
group
containing from 1 to 3, or a polyethylene oxide group containing from 1 to 3
ethylene
oxide groups. Preferred are C 10-C 1 g alkyl dimethylamine oxide, and C 10-18
acylamido
alkyl dimethylamine oxide.
A suitable example of an alkyl aphodicarboxylic acid is Miranol(TM) C2M Conc.
manufactured by Miranol, Inc., Dayton, NJ.
Zwitterionic surfactant
Zwitterionic surfactants can also be comprised by the composition herein.
These
surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary
amines,
derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of
quaternary
ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. Betaine and
sultaine surfactants are exemplary zwitterionic surfactants for use herein.
Suitable betaines are those compounds having the formula R(R')2N+R2CO0-
wherein R
is a C6-C 1 g hydrocarbyl group, each RI is typically C 1-C3 alkyl, and R2 is
a C 1-C5
hydrocarbyl group. Preferred betaines are C 12-1 g dimethyl-ammonio hexanoate
and the
C10-18 acylamidopropane (or ethane) dimethyl (or diethyl) betaines. Complex
betaine
surfactants are also suitable for use herein.
Water-soluble building agent
The composition herein may comprises a water-soluble building agent, typically
present
at a level of from 0% to 36% by weight, preferably from 1% to 35% by weight,
more
preferably from 10% to 35%, even more preferably from 12% to 30% by weight of
the
composition or particle. Preferably, the water-soluble builder compound is an
alkali or
earth alkali metal salt of phosphate present at the level described above.
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Other typical water-soluble building agents include the water soluble
monomeric
polycarboxylates, or their acid forms, homo or copolymeric polycarboxylic
acids or their
salts in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxylic
radicals
separated from each other by not more that two carbon atoms, borates,
phosphates, and
mixtures of any of the foregoing.
The carboxylate or polycarboxylate builder can be monomeric or oligomeric in
type
although monomeric polycarboxylates are generally preferred for reasons of
cost and
performance.
Suitable carboxylates containing one carboxy group include the water soluble
salts of
lactic acid, glycolic acid and ether derivatives thereof. Polycarboxylates
containing two
carboxy groups include the water-soluble salts of succinic acid, malonic acid,
(ethylenedioxy) diacetic acid, maleic acid, diglycolic acid, tartaric acid,
tartronic acid and
fumaric acid, as well as the ether carboxylates and the sulfinyl carboxylates.
Polycarboxylates containing three carboxy groups include, in particular, water-
soluble
citrates, aconitrates and citraconates as well as succinate derivatives such
as the
carboxymethyloxysuccinates described in British Patent No. 1,379,241,
lactoxysuccinates
described in British Patent No. 1,389,732, and aminosuccinates described in CA
973,771,
and the oxypolycarboxylate materials such as 2-oxa-1,l,3-propane
tricarboxylates
described in British Patent No. 1,387,447.
Polycarboxylates containing four carboxy groups include oxydisuccinates
disclosed in
British Patent No. 1,261,829, 1,1,2,2-ethane tetracarboxylates, 1,1,3,3-
propane
tetracarboxylates and 1,1,2,3-propane tetracarboxylates. Polycarboxylates
containing
sulfo substituents include the sulfosuccinate derivatives disclosed in British
Patent Nos.
1,398,421 and 1,398,422 and in US Patent No. 3,936,448, and the sulphonated
pyrolysed
citrates described in British Patent No. 1,439,000. Prefen-ed polycarboxylates
are
hydroxycarboxylates containing up to three carboxy groups per molecule, more
particularly citrates.
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Suitable examples of water-soluble phosphate builders are the alkali metal
tripolyphosphates, sodium, potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and
potassium and ammonium pyrophosphate, sodium and potassium orthophosphate,
sodium
polymeta/phosphate in which the degree of polymerization ranges from about 6
to 21, and
salts of phytic acid.
Peroxide Source
Another preferred ingredient is a perhydrate bleach, such as salts of
percarbonates,
particularly the sodium salts, and/ or organic peroxyacid bleach precursor. It
has been
found that when the pouch or compartment is formed from a material with free
hydroxy
groups, such as PVA, the preferred bleaching agent comprises a percarbonate
salt and is
preferably free form any perborate salts or borate salts. It has been found
that borates and
perborates interact with these hydroxy-containing materials and reduce the
dissolution of
the materials and also result in reduced performance.
Inorganic perhydrate salts are a preferred source of peroxide. Preferably
these salts are
present at a level of from 0.01% to 50% by weight, more preferably of from
0.5% to 30%
by weight of the composition or component.
Examples of inorganic perhydrate salts include percarbonate, perphosphate,
persulfate
and persilicate salts. The inorganic perhydrate salts are normally the alkali
metal salts.
The inorganic perhydrate salt may be included as the crystalline solid without
additional
protection. For certain perhydrate salts however, the preferred executions of
such
granular compositions utilize a coated form of the material which provides
better storage
stability for the perhydrate salt in the granular product. Suitable coatings
comprise
inorganic salts such as alkali metal silicate, carbonate or borate salts or
mixtures thereof,
or organic materials such as waxes, oils, or fatty soaps.
Alkali metal percarbonates, particularly sodium percarbonate are preferred
perhydrates
herein. Sodium percarbonate is an addition compound having a formula
corresponding to
2Na2CO3.3H202, and is available commercially as a crystalline solid.
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Potassium peroxymonopersulfate is another inorganic perhydrate salt of use in
the
compositions herein.
Bleach / Bleach Activator
The composition herein preferably comprises a bleach activator, preferably
comprising an
organic peroxyacid bleach precursor. It may be preferred that the composition
comprises
at least two peroxy acid bleach precursors, preferably at least one
hydrophobic
peroxyacid bleach precursor and at least one hydrophilic peroxy acid bleach
precursor, as
defined herein. The production of the organic peroxyacid occurs then by an in
situ
reaction of the precursor with a source of hydrogen peroxide.
The bleach activator may alternatively, or in addition comprise a preformed
peroxy acid
bleach.
Preferably, at least one of the bleach activators, preferably a peroxy acid
bleach precursor
having an average particle size, by weight, of from 600 microns to 1400
microns,
preferably from 700 microns to 1100 microns is present in the composition
herein.
Hereby, it may be preferred that at least 80%, preferably at least 90% or even
at least 95
% or even substantially 100% of the component or components comprising the
bleach
activator have a particle size of from 300 microns to 1700 microns, preferably
from 425
microns to 1400 microns.
The hydrophobic peroxy acid bleach precursor preferably comprises a compound
having
a oxy-benzene sulphonate group, preferably NOBS, DOBS, LOBS and/ or NACA-OBS,
as described herein.
The hydrophilic peroxy acid bleach precursor preferably comprises TAED, as
described
herein.
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Or ag nic peroxyacid bleaching system
The composition herein preferably comprises an organic peroxyacid precursor.
The
production of the organic peroxyacid may occur by an in situ reaction of such
a precursor
5 with the percarbonate source. In an alternative preferred execution a pre-
formed organic
peroxyacid is incorporated directly into the composition.
Peroxyacid bleach precursor
10 Peroxyacid bleach precursors are compounds which react with hydrogen
peroxide in a
perhydrolysis reaction to produce a peroxyacid. Generally peroxyacid bleach
precursors
may be represented as:
0
11
X C-L
where L is a leaving group and X is essentially any functionality, such that
on
perhydrolysis the structure of the peroxyacid produced is:
0
11
X-C-OOH
Suitable peroxyacid bleach precursor compounds typically contain one or more N-
or 0-
acyl groups, which precursors can be selected from a wide range of classes.
Suitable
classes include anhydrides, esters, imides, lactams and acylated derivatives
of imidazoles
and oximes. Examples of useful materials within these classes are disclosed in
GB-A-
1586789. Suitable esters are disclosed in GB-A-836988, 864798, 1147871,
2143231 and
EP-A-0170386.
Leaving groups
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The leaving group, hereinafter L group, must be sufficiently reactive for the
perhydrolysis reaction to occur within the optimum time frame (e.g., a wash
cycle).
However, if L is too reactive, this activator will be difficult to stabilize
for use herein.
Preferred L groups are selected from the group consisting of:
Y R3Y
-O , -O R3Y and -O
0
11 A O 11
-N-C-R1 -N N -N-C-CH-R4
R3 R3 ,
Y
I
Y
R3 Y
I I
-O-C H=C-C H=C H2 -O-C H=C-C H=C H2
O O
Y
O CH2-C C 4
-U-C-R~ -NCNR4 _N\C/NR
p O 11
R3 O Y
I II I
-O-C=CHR4 , and -N-S-CH-R4
R3 O
and mixtures thereof, wherein R1 is an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group
containing from 1 to
14 carbon atoms, R3 is an alkyl chain containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R4
is H or
R3, and Y is H or a solubilizing group. Any of R1, R3 and R4 may be
substituted by
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essentially any functional group including, for example alkyl, hydroxy,
alkoxy, halogen,
amine, nitrosyl, amide and ammonium or alkyl ammonium groups.
The preferred solubilizing groups are -SO3 M + , -CO2 M+, -SO4 M+, -N+(R3)4X
and
O<--N(R3)3 and most preferably -SO3 M+ and -CO2 M+ wherein R3 is an alkyl
chain
containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, M is a cation which provides solubility
to the bleach
activator and X is an anion which provides solubility to the bleach activator.
Preferably,
M is an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, with sodium and
potassium being most preferred, and X is a halide, hydroxide, methylsulphate
or acetate
anion.
Amide substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursors
Amide substituted alkyl peroxyacid precursor compounds are suitable herein,
including
those of the following general formulae:
Ri C N-R2-C-L Ri N C R2 C-L
0 R5 0 or R5 O 0
wherein R1 is an alkyl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkylene
group
containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and R5 is H or an alkyl group containing
1 to 10
carbon atoms and L can be essentially any leaving group. Amide substituted
bleach
activator compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0170386.
Pre-formed organic peroxyacid
The organic peroxyacid bleaching system may contain a pre-formed organic
peroxyacid.
A preferred class of organic peroxyacid compounds are the amide substituted
compounds
of the following general formulae:
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R1-C N-R2-C OOH R1-N-C-R2-C OOH
O R5 O or R5 O 0
wherein R1 is an alkyl, aryl or alkaryl group with from 1 to 14 carbon atoms,
R2 is an
alkylene, arylene, and alkarylene group containing from 1 to 14 carbon atoms,
and R5 is
H or an alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Amide
substituted
organic peroxyacid compounds of this type are described in EP-A-0170386.
Other organic peroxyacids include diacyl and tetraacylperoxides, especially
diperoxydodecanedioc acid, diperoxytetradecanedioc acid and
diperoxyhexadecanedioc
acid. Mono- and diperazelaic acid, mono- and diperbrassylic acid and N-
phthaloylaminoperoxicaproic acid are also suitable herein.
Chelating agents or heaw metal ion sequestrant
The composition herein, preferably comprises as an optional ingredient, a
chelating agent
or heavy metal ion sequestrant. By heavy metal ion sequestrant it is meant
herein
components which act to sequester (chelate) heavy metal ions. These components
may
also have calcium and magnesium chelation capacity, but preferentially they
show
selectivity to binding heavy metal ions such as iron, manganese and copper.
Heavy metal ion sequestrants are generally present at a level of from 0.05% to
2%,
preferably from 0.1% to 1.5%, more preferably from 0.25% to 1.2% and most
preferably
from 0.5% to 1% by weight of the composition herein.
Suitable heavy metal ion sequestrants for use herein include organic
phosphonates, such
as the amino alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonates), alkali metal ethane 1-
hydroxy
bisphosphonates and nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates.
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Preferred among the above species are diethylene triamine penta (methylene
phosphonate), ethylene diamine tri (methylene phosphonate) hexamethylene
diamine
tetra (methylene phosphonate) and hydroxy-ethylene 1,1 diphosphonate.
Other suitable heavy metal ion sequestrant for use herein include
nitrilotriacetic acid and
polyaminocarboxylic acids such as ethylenediaminotetracetic acid,
ethylenetriamine
pentacetic acid, ethylenediamine disuccinic acid, ethylenediamine diglutaric
acid, 2-
hydroxypropylenediamine disuccinic acid or any salts thereof. Especially
preferred is
ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) or the alkali metal, alkaline
earth metal,
ammonium, or substituted ammonium salts thereof, or mixtures thereof.
Other suitable heavy metal ion sequestrants for use herein are iminodiacetic
acid
derivatives such as 2-hydroxyethyl diacetic acid or glyceryl imino diacetic
acid,
described in EP-A-317,542 and EP-A-399,133. The iminodiacetic acid-N-2-
hydroxypropyl sulfonic acid and aspartic acid N-carboxymethyl N-2-
hydroxypropyl-3-
sulfonic acid sequestrants described in EP-A-516,102 are also suitable herein.
The (3-
alanine-N,N'-diacetic acid, aspartic acid-N,N'-diacetic acid, aspartic acid-N-
monoacetic
acid and iminodisuccinic acid sequestrants described in EP-A-509,382 are also
suitable.
EP-A-476,257 describes suitable amino based sequestrants. EP-A-510,331
describes
suitable sequestrants derived from collagen, keratin or casein. EP-A-528,859
describes a
suitable alkyl iminodiacetic acid sequestrant. Dipicolinic acid and 2-
phosphonobutane-
1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid are also suitable. Glycinamide-N,N'-disuccinic acid
(GADS),
ethylenediamine-N-N'-diglutaric acid (EDDG) and 2-hydroxypropylenediamine-N-N'-
disuccinic acid (HPDDS) are also suitable.
Enzyme
Another preferred optional ingredient useful in the composition herein, is one
or more
additional enzymes.
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Preferred additional enzymatic materials include the commercially available
lipases,
cutinases, amylases, neutral and alkaline proteases, esterases, cellulases,
pectinases,
lactases and peroxidases conventionally incorporated into compositions.
Suitable
enzymes are discussed in US Patents 3,519,570 and 3,533,139.
5
Preferred commercially available protease enzymes include those sold under the
trade-
marks Alcalase, Savinase, Primase, Durazym, and Esperase by Novo Industries
A/S
(Denmark), those sold under the trade-marks Maxatase, Maxacal and Maxapem by
Gist-Brocades, those sold by Genencor International, and those sold under the
trade-
10 marks Opticlean and Optimase by Solvay Enzymes. Protease enzyme may be
incorporated into the composition herein at a level of from 0.0001% to 4%
active
enzyme by weight of the composition.
Preferred amylases include, for example, a-amylases obtained from a special
strain of
15 B licheniformis, described in more detail in GB-1,269,839 (Novo). Preferred
commercially available amylases include for example, those sold under the
trade-mark
Rapidase by Gist-Brocades, and those sold under the trade-marks Termamyl and
BAN
by Novo Industries A/S. Amylase enzyme may be incorporated into the
composition
herein at a level of from 0.0001 % to 2% active enzyme by weight of the
composition.
Lipolytic enzyme may be present at levels of active lipolytic enzyme of from
0.0001%
to 10% by weight of the particle, preferably 0.001% to 3% by weight of the
composition, most preferably from 0.001% to 0.5% by weight of the
compositions.
The lipase may be fungal or bacterial in origin being obtained, for example,
from a
lipase producing strain of Humicola sp., Thermomyces sp. or Pseudomonas sp.
including Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes or Pseudomas fluorescens. Lipase from
chemically or genetically modified mutants of these strains is also useful
herein. A
preferred lipase is derived from Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes, which is
described in
Granted European Patent, EP-B-02 18272.
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Another preferred lipase herein is obtained by cloning the gene from Humicola
lanuginosa and expressing the gene in Aspe 'llus oryza, as host, as described
in
European Patent Application, EP-A-0258 068, which is commercially available
from
Novo Industri A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark, under the trademark Lipolase. This
lipase is
also described in US Patent 4,810,414, Huge-Jensen et al, issued March 7,
1989.
Suds suppressing system
The composition may comprise a suds suppresser at a level less than 10%,
preferably
0.001% to 10%, preferably from 0.01% to 8%, most preferably from 0.05% to 5%,
by
weight of the composition Preferably the suds suppresser is either a soap,
paraffm, wax,
or any combination thereof. If the suds suppresser is a suds suppressing
silicone, then the
detergent composition preferably comprises from 0.005% to 0.5% by weight a
suds
suppressing silicone.
Suitable suds suppressing systems for use herein may comprise essentially any
known
antifoam compound, including, for example silicone antifoam compounds and 2-
alkyl
alcanol antifoam compounds.
By antifoam compound it is meant herein any compound or mixtures of compounds
which act such as to depress the foaming or sudsing produced by a solution of
the
composition herein, particularly in the presence of agitation of that
solution.
Particularly preferred antifoam compounds for use herein are silicone antifoam
compounds defined herein as any antifoam compound including a silicone
component.
Such silicone antifoam compounds also typically contain a silica component.
The term
"silicone" as used herein, and in general throughout the industry, encompasses
a variety
of relatively high molecular weight polymers containing siloxane units and
hydrocarbyl
group of various types. Preferred silicone antifoam compounds are the
siloxanes,
particularly the polydimethylsiloxanes baving trimethylsilyl end blocking
units.
Preferably the composition herein comprises from 0.005% to 0.5% by weight suds
suppressing silicone.
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Other suitable antifoam compounds, in particular for the liquid component,
include the
monocarboxylic fatty acids and soluble salts thereof. These materials are
described in US
Patent 2,954,347, issued September 27, 1960 to Wayne St. John. The
monocarboxylic
fatty acids, and salts thereof, for use as suds suppresser typically have
hydrocarbyl chains
of 10 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Suitable salts
include the
alkali metal salts such as sodium, potassium, and lithium salts, and ammonium
and
alkanolammonium salts.
Other suitable antifoam compounds include, for example, high molecular weight
fatty
esters (e.g. fatty acid triglycerides), fatty acid esters of monovalent
alcohols, aliphatic
C 1 g-C40 ketones (e.g. stearone) N-alkylated amino triazines such as tri- to
hexa-
alkylmelamines or di- to tetra alkyldiamine chlortriazines formed as products
of cyanuric
chloride with two or three moles of a primary or secondary amine containing 1
to 24
carbon atoms, propylene oxide, bis stearic acid amide and monostearyl di-
alkali metal
(e.g. sodium, potassium, lithium) phosphates and phosphate esters.
A preferred suds suppressing system in particular for inclusion in the solid
component,
comprises:
(a) antifoam compound, preferably silicone antifoam compound, most
preferably a silicone antifoam compound comprising in combination:
(i) polydimethyl siloxane, at a level of from 50% to 99%, preferably 75% to
95% by weight of the silicone antifoam compound; and
(ii) silica, at a level of from 1% to 50%, preferably 5% to 25% by weight of
the antifoam compound;
wherein said silica/silicone antifoam compound is incorporated at a level of
less
than 5%, preferably 0.01% to 5%, more preferably 0.05% to 4%, even more
preferably 0.1% to 3%, by weight;
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(b) a dispersant compound, most preferably comprising a silicone glycol rake
copolymer with a polyoxyalkylene content of 72-78% and an ethylene oxide to
propylene oxide ratio of from 1:0.9 to 1:1.1, at a level of less than 5%,
preferably
0.01% to 5%, more preferably 0.05% to 4%, even more preferably 0.1% to 3%, by
weight; a particularly preferred silicone glycol rake copolymer of this type
is
DC0544, commercially available from DOW Corning under the trademark
DC0544;
(c) an inert carrier fluid compound, most preferably comprising a C 16-C 18
ethoxylated alcohol with a degree of ethoxylation of from 5 to 50, preferably
8 to
15, at a level of less than 5%, preferably 0.01% to 5%, more preferably 0.05%
to
4%, even more preferably 0.1% to 3%, by weight;
A highly preferred particulate suds suppressing system is described in EP-A-
0210731 and
comprises a silicone antifoam compound and an organic carrier material having
a melting
point in the range 50 C to 85 C, wherein the organic carrier material
comprises a
monoester of glycerol and a fatty acid having a carbon chain containing from
12 to 20
carbon atoms. EP-A-0210721 discloses other preferred particulate suds
suppressing
systems wherein the organic carrier material is a fatty acid or alcohol having
a carbon
chain containing from 12 to 20 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof, with a
melting point
of from 45 C to 80 C.
Polymeric dye tcansfer inhibiting a ents
The composition herein may also comprise from 0.01% to 10 %, preferably from
0.05%
to 0.5% by weight of polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents. These polymeric
dye
transfer inhibiting agents are in addition to the polymeric material of the
water-soluble
film.
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The polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents are preferably selected from
polyamine N-
oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole,
polyvinylpyrrolidonepolymers or combinations thereof.
a) Polyamine N-oxide polymers
Polyamine N-oxide polymers suitable for use herein contain units having the
following
structure formula :
P
(I) Ax
R
wherein P is a polymerisable unit, and
00 0
A is NC, CO, C, -0-, -S-, -N-; x is 0 or 1;
R are aliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatics, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic
groups or any
combination thereof whereto the nitrogen of the N-O group can be attached or
wherein
the nitrogen of the N-O group is part of these groups.
The N-0 group can be represented by the following general
structures :
O
0
(R1) x -N-(R2)y
(R3)Z or N-(R1)x
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wherein R1, R2, and R3 are aliphatic groups, aromatic, heterocyclic or
alicyclic groups or
combinations thereof, x or/and y or/and z is 0 or 1 and wherein the nitrogen
of the N-O
group can be attached or wherein the nitrogen of the N-O group forms part of
these
5 groups. The N-O group can be part of the polymerisable unit (P) or can be
attached to the
polymeric backbone or a combination of both.
Suitable polyamine N-oxides wherein the N-O group forms part of the
polymerisable unit
comprise polyamine N-oxides wherein R is selected from aliphatic, aromatic,
alicyclic or
10 heterocyclic groups. One class of said polyamine N-oxides comprises the
group of
polyamine N-oxides wherein the nitrogen of the N-O group forms part of the R-
group.
Preferred polyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such
as
pyrridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine, quinoline, acridine
and derivatives
thereof.
Other suitable polyamine N-oxides are the polyamine oxides whereto the N-O
group is
attached to the polymerisable unit. A preferred class of these polyamine N-
oxides
comprises the polyamine N-oxides having the general formula (I) wherein R is
an
aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups wherein the nitrogen of the N-O
functional
group is part of said R group. Examples of these classes are polyamine oxides
wherein R
is a heterocyclic compound such as pyrridine, pyrrole, imidazole and
derivatives thereof.
The polyamine N-oxides can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerization.
The
degree of polymerization is not critical provided the material has the desired
water-
solubility and dye-suspending power. Typically, the average molecular weight
is within
the range of 500 to 1000,000.
b) Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole
Suitable herein are co-polymers of N-vinylimidazole and N-vinylpyrrolidone
having an
average molecular weight range of from 5,000 to 50,000. The preferred
copolymers have
a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone from 1 to 0.2.
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c) Poly&-lpyrrolidone
The composition herein may also utilize polyvinylpyrrolidone ("PVP") having an
average
molecular weight of from 2,500 to 400,000. Suitable polyvinylpyrrolidones are
commercially available from ISP Corporation, New York, NY and Montreal, Canada
under the product names PVP K-15 (viscosity molecular weight of 10,000), PVP K-
30
(average molecular weight of 40,000), PVP K-60 (average molecular weight of
160,000),
and PVP K-90 (average molecular weight of 360,000). PVP K-15 is also available
from
ISP Corporation. Other suitable polyvinylpyrrolidones which are commercially
available
from BASF Co-operation include SokalanP HP 165 and Sokalan HP 12.
d) Polyvinyloxazolidone
The composition herein may also utilize polyvinyloxazolidones as polymeric dye
transfer
inhibiting agents. Said polyvinyloxazolidones have an average molecular weight
of from
2,500 to 400,000.
e) Polyvinylimidazole
The composition herein may also utilize polyvinylimidazole as polymeric dye
transfer
inhibiting agent. Said polyvinylimidazoles preferably have an average
molecular weight
of from 2,500 to 400,000.
Optical Bri~htener
The composition herein may also optionally comprise from 0.005% to 5% by
weight of
certain types of hydrophilic optical brighteners.
Hydrophilic optical brighteners useful herein include those having the
structural formula:
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R1 R2
)7N H H N~
N~>--N q C=C O N---~O N
~N H H N:: -<
R2 S03M SO3M R,
wherein Rl is selected from anilino, N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and NH-2-
hydroxyethyl; R2 is
selected from N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl, N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-methylamino,
morphilino,
chloro and amino; and M is a salt-forming cation such as sodium or potassium.
When in the above formula, Rl is anilino, R2 is N-2-bis-hydroxyethyl and M is
a cation
such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'; bis[(4-anilino-6-(N-2-bis-
hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine-
2-yl)amino]-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid and disodium salt. This particular
brightener
species is commemially marketed under the trademark Tinopal-UNPA-GX by Ciba-
Geigy Corporation. Tinopal-UNPA-GX is the preferred hydrophilic optical
brightener
useful in the compositions herein.
When in the above formula, R1 is anilino, R2 is N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-2-
methylamino and
M is a cation such as sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-(N-2-
hydroxyethyl-
N-methylamino)-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid disodium
salt. This
particular brightener species is commercially marketed under the trademark
Tinopal
5BM-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation.
When in the above formula, Rl is anilino, R2 is morphilino and M is a cation
such as
sodium, the brightener is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-morphilino-s-triazine-2-
yl)amino]2,2'-
stilbenedisulfonic acid, sodium salt. This particular brightener species is
connnercially
marketed under the trademark Tinopal AMS-GX by Ciba Geigy Corporation.
Other optional innedients
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Other optional ingredients suitable for inclusion in the composition herein
include
perfumes, colours and filler salts, with sodium sulphate being a preferred
filler salt.
Laundry washing method
Preferably, the multi-compartment pouch dissolves or disintegrates in water to
deliver the
solid detergent ingredients and liquid detergent ingredients to the washing
cycle.
Typically, the multi-compartment pouch is added to the dispensing draw, or
alternatively
to the drum, of an automatic washing machine.
Preferably, the multi-compartment pouch comprises all of the detergent
ingredients of the
detergent composition used in the washing. Although it may be preferred that
some
detergent ingredients are not comprised by the multi-compartment pouch and are
added
to the washing cycle separately. In addition, one or more detergent
compositions other
than the detergent composition comprised by the multi-compartment pouch can be
used
during the laundering process, such that said detergent composition comprised
by the
multi-compartment pouch is used as a pre-treatment, main-treatment, post-
treatment or a
combination thereof during such a laundering process.
Examples
Example I
A piece of plastic is placed in a mould to act as a false bottom. The mould
consists of a
cylindrical shape and has a diameter of 45mm and a depth of 25mm. A lmm thick
layer
of rubber is present around the edges of the mould. The mould has some holes
in the
mould material to allow a vacuum to be applied. With the false bottom in place
the depth
of the mould is 12mm. A piece of Chris-Craft M-8630 film is placed on top of
this mould
and fixed in place. A vacuum is applied to pull the film into the mould and
pull the film
flush with the inner surface of the mould and the false bottom. 5m1 of the
liquid
component of a detergent composition is poured into the mould. Next, a second
piece of
Chris-Craft M-8630 film is placed over the top of the mould with the liquid
component
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and sealed to the first piece of film by applying an annular piece of flat
metal of an inner
diameter of 46mm and heating that metal under moderate pressure onto the ring
of rubber
at the edge of the mould to heat-seal the two pieces of film together to form
a
compartment comprising the liquid component. The metal ring is typically
heated to a
temperature of froml35oC to 150oC and applied for up to 5 seconds.
The compartment comprising the liquid compartment is removed from the mould
and the
piece of plastic acting as a false bottom is also removed from the mould. A
third piece of
Chris-Craft M-8630 film is placed on top of the mould and fixed in place. A
vacuum is
applied to pull the film into the mould and pull the film flush with the inner
surface of the
mould. 40g of the solid component of the detergent composition is poured into
the mould.
Next, the compartment comprising the liquid component is placed over the top
of the
mould with the solid component and is sealed to the third layer of film by
applying an
annular piece of flat metal of an inner diameter of 46mm and heating that
metal under
moderate pressure onto the ring of rubber at the edge of the mould to heat-
seal the pieces
of film together to form a pouch comprising two compartments, where a first
compartment comprises the liquid component of the detergent composition and a
second
compartment comprises the solid component of the detergent composition. The
metal
ring is typically heated to a temperature of froml35oC to 150oC and applied
for up to 5
seconds.
Example II
A pouch was made by the process described in example I which comprises the
following
liquid component and solid component.
Solid component deter eg nt ingredient Amount (by weight of the Solid
component)
Zeolite 40%
Surfactant 11%
Bleach 20%
Chelating agent 0.8%
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Enzyme 6%
Suds suppressor 1%
Bleach activator 12%
Sodium carbonate 6%
5 Soap 1%
Brightener 0.5%
Minors to 100%
Liquid component detergent ingredient Amount (by weight of liquid component)
Nonionic surfactant 54%
Solvent 12%
Perfume 22%
Water 2%
Minors to 100%
Example III
A pouch was made by the process described in example I which comprises the
following
liquid component and solid component.
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Solid component detergent in re~ dient Amount (by weight of the solid
component)
Zeolite 64%
Bleach 16%
Chelating agent 2%
Enzyme 10%
Suds suppressor 1 %
Sodium carbonate 4%
Brightener 1 %
Minors to 100%
Liquid component detergent in erg dient Amount (by weight of liquid component)
Nonionic surfactant 69%
Solvent 179%
Perfume 10%
Water 3%
Minors to 100%
