Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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wo orc°r~asovo~mo
1
MULTI-COMPARTMENT POUCH MADE WITH PRE-SEAL1:D
COMPARTMENT
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to watear soluble pouches.
Back~to the Invention
The laundry industry has been trying to develop ways that minimise the contact
between
incompatible detergent ingredients during the manufacturing, transport and
storage of
detergent products prior to addition to the washing cycle.
One such way is the development of a mufti-compartment water-soluble detergent
pouch.
Incompatible detergent ingredients are comprised by different compartments of
said
pouch in such a manner so that they do not come into contact with each other
until said
pouch dissolves or disintegrates in water during the washing cycle.
Examples of these mufti-compartment pouches are described in US4973416 and
US5224601. The use of compartments which can contain different d~etexgent
ingredients
is designed to overcome the problems associated with the storage of
incompatible
detergent ingredients, since said ingredients do not come into contact daring
storage as
they are in separate compartments.
The inventors have found that there is a risk of detergent ingredients lealang
from multi-
compartment pouches, in addition the inventors have found that detergent
ingredients are
more likely to leak from the seals of a mufti-compartment pouch, especially
when the
compartments are sealed simultaneously, due to the poor seal strength. The
risk of
leakage is greater when one of the compartments comprises a liquid.
Furthermore, the inventors have found that if the compartments are sealed
simultaneously, a process which requirGS unsealed comments being in relatively
close
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proximity, there is a risk that ingrediems may leak from one unsealed
compartme~rt to
another during the sealing process, due the Iack of a seal to prevent the
exch~ge of
ingredients between the two compartments during the early stages of the
sealing pmcess.
This is especially applicable if one or more of the ingredients is a liquid
Herein, the im~entors have found that by using a pre-sealed water-soluble
compartment to
close an unsealed compartment, thus forming a mufti-compartment water-soluble
pouch,
said mufti-compartment water-soluble pouch is more stable having a reduce risk
of
ingredients leaking from the seals of said pouch both during the manufacturing
and
storage of the pouch. This is due to the multiple seal that is formed by the
above closing
process. This is especially applicable if the pre-sealed watier soluble
compartment
comprises a liquid
Summary of the invention
In a first embodiment of the invention, a mufti-comparhnent pouch made from a
water-
soluble film and having at least two compartments is provided, said mufti-
compartinent
pouch is obtained by the pmcess of closing an open compartment with a pre-
sealed
cou~ar~ent, the process forms a second seal on the pre-sealed compartment
which is in
a different position to the first seal of the pre-sealed compaiiment.
In a second embodiment of the invention, a process for making a mufti-
compartment
pouch made from a water-soluble film and having at Ieast two compartments is
provided
which comprises the step of closing an open compartment with a pre-sealed
compartment.
Detailed description of the invention
Mufti-compartment youch and material thereof
The mufti-compartment pouch, herein refereed to as "pouch", has at least two,
preferably
two compartments. The pouch herein is typically a closed structure, made of
materials
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described herein, enclosing a volume space which preferably comprises a
composition.
Said composition is described in more detail herein. The pouch 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.
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, said film encloses an inner
volume, said
inner volume is divided into the compartments of the pouch. The exact process
of making
said pouch is described in more detail hereinafter
The compartment of the pouch is a closed structure, made of materials
described herein,
enclosing a volume space which comprises the components. 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 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 water-soluble film which encloses the compartment and
which is
not comprised by the compartment".
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Preferably, the volume space of the open compartment is greater than the
volume space
of the pre-sealed compartment. Thus, it is preferred that the compartment of
the pouch
which is derived from the open compartment has a volume space which is greater
than
the compartment of the pouch which is derived from the pre-sealed compartment.
The pouch preferably comprises a composition, said composition may comprise a
solid
component or a liquid component. If the composition comprises a solid
component and a
liquid component, then it may be preferred that the solid component and liquid
component are comprised by two different compartments, typically so that that
said solid
component and said liquid component are separated by a water-soluble film
which acts as
a barrier.
Preferably, if present the liquid component is comprised by the pre-sealed
compartment
and, upon formation of the pouch is comprised by the compartment of the pouch
which is
derived from the pre-sealed compartment. It may also be preferred that the pre-
sealed
compartment comprises a solid component, or that the open compartment
comprises a
liquid component, or that both the pre-sealed compartment and the open
compartment
comprise a solid component, or that both the pre-sealed compartment and the
open
compartment comprise a liquid component.
It may be preferred that a compartment which comprises a 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 the
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
ingredients within
the compartments of the pouch, thus reducing the risk of liquid ingredients
leaking from
the pouch.
The compartment is suitable to hold the components, 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
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compartment, the nature of the components or composition, the intended use,
amount of
the components etc.
Preferably, the composition is a composition to be delivered to water and thus
the pouch
5 and the compartments) thereof are designed such that at least one or more of
the
components is released at or very shortly after the time of addition to the
water. It is
especially preferred that at least one component is delivered to the water
within 3
minutes, preferably even within 2 minutes or even within 1 minute after
contacting the
pouch to water. Thus, it is preferred that the compartment and preferably the
pouch as a
whole comprises material which is water-dispersible or more preferably water-
soluble.
Preferred water-dispersible material herein has a dispersability 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.
More preferably the material is water-soluble and 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 or water-dispersability 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 245m1 ~ 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.
The pouch is made from a water-soluble film. Preferred films are polymeric
materials,
preferably polymers which are formed into a film or sheet. The film can for
example be
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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
alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyalkylene oxides, acrylamide, acrylic
acid, cellulose,
cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, cellulose amides, polyvinyl acetates,
polycarboxylic
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
co-polymers, polyvinyl alcohol ter-polymers, and hydroxypropyl methyl
cellulose
(HPMC).
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.
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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.
It may be preferred that the polymer present in the film is from 60% to 98%
hydrolysed,
preferably 80% to 90%, to improve the dissolution of the material.
Suitable examples of commercially available water-soluble films include
polyvinyl
alcohol and partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate, alginates, cellulose
ethers such as
carboxymethylcellulose and methylcellulose, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylates
and
combinations thereof. Most preferred are elms which comprises PVA polymers and
have
similar properties to films that are 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 pouched
composition is a
detergent composition, that the pouch or compartment material itself comprises
a
detergent additive to be delivered to the wash water, for example organic
polymeric soil
release agents, dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors.
Process of closin the open compartment
The pouch is obtainable by the process of closing an open compartment with a
pre-sealed
compartment. Said process comprises the' step of closing an open compartment
with a
pre-sealed compartment. Said process forms a second seal in a different
position to the ,
first seal of the pre-sealed compartment. Preferably, said second seal has a
greater
equivalent surface diameter than the first seal of the pre-sealed compartment.
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The process of closing the open compartment closes the open compartment to
obtain a
closed compartment, said process of closing an open compartment with a pre-
sealed
compartment is herein referred to as "process of closing".
An open compartment has a volume space that is not separated from the outside
environment. The process of closing the open compartment forms a compartment
that has
a volume space which is separated from the outside environment, such a
compartment is
a closed compartment, such as a compartment of the mufti-compartment pouch of
the
invention.
The formation of the open compartment can be done by any known method.
Typically,
the open compartment is formed by fitting a water-soluble pouch around a mould
and
vacuum pulling the film so that it is flush with the inner surface of the
mould, thus
forming a volume space which is not separated from the outside environment,
said
volume space being the vacuum formed indent or niche in said water-soluble
film.
Preferred open compartments are made by introducing the film to form the
compartment
to a mould, then applying a vacuum to the mould, so that the material adopts
the shape of
the mould, also referred to as vacuum-forming. Another preferred method is
thermo-
forming to get the material to adopt the shape of the mould.
The process of closing typically comprises the steps of;
(i) bringing into close proximity the pre-sealed compartment and the open
compartment,
preferably so that at least part of the water-soluble film which encloses the
volume space
of the pre-sealed compartment also partially encloses the volume space of the
open
compartment; and
(ii) closing the open compartment by a sealing process, said sealing process
forms a seal
on the open compartment to close said compartment and also forms a second seal
on the
pre-sealed compartment at a different position to the seal already present.
If a mould is used in the process for producing the pouch, especially if a
mould is used in
the process step of closing the open compartment with a pre-sealed
compartment, then
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preferably the pre-sealed compartment is formed in a different mould to the
mould used
to close the open compartment with the pre-sealed compartment.
Preferably, the open compartment is closed with the same material as the
material of the
open compartment. The closing material, and thus preferably also the open
compartment
material, is preferably thermoplastic so that it can be closed by heat-
sealing.
Alternatively, a thermoplastic coating may be provided, either over the whole
material or
just in the areas where seals are to be formed. The sealing can also be made
by solvent
welding. Suitable heat-sealable materials include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl
acetate,
polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, acrylic resins and mixtures
thereof, in
particular polyvinyl alcohols (PVA). These heat-sealable materials may also be
used in
combination with the other water-soluble or water-dispersible materials.
The pre-sealed compartment is typically already sealed prior to contact to the
open
compartment in such a manner so that any ingredient comprised in the volume
space of
the pre-sealed compartment is separated from the outside environment. The pre-
sealed
compartment typically comprises at least one seal, preferably only one seal,
prior to the
process of closing the open compartment.
Typically, the seal formed by the process of closing, has a greater equivalent
surface
diameter than the seal already present on the pre-sealed compartment. By
greater
equivalent surface diameter, it is typically meant that the diameter of the
second seal is
longer than the diameter of the first seal. Typically, the seal formed by the
process of
closing closes the open compartment, adds a second seal to the pre-sealed
compartment,
and forms a mufti-compartment pouch by structurally bringing together the open
compartment and pre-sealed compartment to form a mufti-compartment pouch.
Composition
The pouch preferably comprises a composition, typically said composition is
contained in
the volume space of the compartments of the pouch.
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Typically, the composition comprises such an amount of a cleaning composition,
that
one or a multitude of the pouched compositions is or are sufficient for one
wash.
Preferably, the composition comprises at least one surfactant and at least one
building
5 agent.
The composition may comprises a solid component and a liquid component.
Preferably
the pre-sealed compartment comprises a liquid component. Said liquid component
and
solid component are described in more detail herein.
Liquid component
If present, the liquid component is comprised by a compartment of the pouch.
Preferably,
said compartment is a different compartment to the compartment that comprises
the solid
component. The term "liquid component" includes components in the form of a
viscous
liquid and/or a gel.
The liquid component preferably comprises (by weight of the liquid component)
at least
50%, preferably at least 55%, more preferably at least 60%, more preferably at
least 70%,
more preferably at least 80% surfactant. Typically the surfactant is a liquid
at room
temperature. Preferably, the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant, an anionic
surfactant or a
combination thereof, most preferably the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant.
Preferably, said liquid component of the invention comprises a solvent or a
perfume.
Preferably, said liquid component comprises (by weight of the liquid
component) at least
2%, more preferably at least 5%, more preferably at least 10%, more preferably
at least
40% perfume. 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. Preferably said solvent is an alcohol based solvent, more
preferably
said solvent is ethanol and/or n-butoxy propoxy propanol.
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Preferably, 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.
Solid component
If present, the solid component is comprised by a compartment of the pouch.
Preferably,
said compartment is a different compartment to the compartment that comprises
the
liquid component.
Said solid component preferably comprises (by weight of the solid component)
at least
10%, more preferably at least 20%, more preferably at least 30% water-
insoluble solid
material.
Preferably, said water-insoluble solid material includes water-insoluble
building agents,
preferably the water-insoluble building agent is an aluminosilicate, or water-
insoluble
fabric softening agent 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.
Said solid composition preferably comprises at least one detergent ingredient
selected
from the group consisting of building agent, chelating agent, bleaching agent,
bleach
acfiivator, enzyme, brightener, suds suppressor and dye. Preferably, said
detergent
ingredient is. in the form of a solid.
It may even 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.
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Preferably 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.
Preferred ingredients of the liquid and solid components
The composition herein typically comprises ingredients. These ingredients are
described
hereinafter. The composition may comprises a liquid component and a solid
component.
Typically, ingredients that are preferably manufactured and processed in a
solid form are
comprised by the solid component and ingredients that are preferably
manufactured and
processed in a liquid form are comprised by the liquid component. The
preferred amounts
of ingredients described herein are % by weight of the composition herein as a
whole and
not % by weight of either the solid component or liquid component which may
comprise
said ingredient.
Water insoluble building agent
The composition herein preferably comprises a water-insoluble building agent.
Preferably
the water-insoluble building agent is comprised by the solid component.
Preferably the
water-insoluble building agent is in solid form. Examples of water insoluble
builders
include the sodium aluminosilicates. The aluminosilicate material may be 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.
Chelating agents
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The composition herein, preferably comprises a chelating agent. By heavy
chelating
agent 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. Chelating agents 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 chelating agents
for use
herein include organic phosphonates, such as the amino alkylene poly (alkylene
phosphonates), alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy bisphosphonates and nitrilo
trimethylene
phosphonates. Preferred among the above species are diethylene triamine penta
(methylene phosphonate), ethylene diamine tri (methylene phosphonate)
hexamethylene
diamine tetra (-methylene phosphonate) and hydroxy-ethylene l,l diphosphonate.
Other
suitable chelating agents 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.
Detersive surfactants
Nonionic alkoxylated surfactant
Essentially any alkoxylated nonionic surfactants can be comprised by the
composition
herein. 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.
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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 polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant
Polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are highly preferred nonionic surfactant
comprised by the
composition herein. 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.
Other Preferred Nonionic surfactants
Fatty acid amide surfactants or alkoxylated fatty acid amides can also be
comprised by
the composition herein. Alkyl esters of fatty acids can also be comprised by
the
composition herein. Alkylpolysaccharides can also be comprised by the
composition
herein, such as those 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.
Polyethylene/propylene glycols
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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 X000 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.
Anionic sulphate surfactants suitable for use herein include the linear and
branched
primary and secondary alkyl sulphates, alkyl ethoxysulphates, fatty oleoyl
glycerol
15 sulphates, alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulphates, the CS-Cl~ acyl-N-
(Cl-C4 alkyl)
and -N-(Cl-C2 hydroxyalkyl) glucamine sulphates, and sulphates of
alkylpolysaccharides
such as the sulphates of alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic non-sulphated
compounds
being described herein). Alkyl sulphate surfactants are preferably selected
from the linear
and branched primary Cg-C22 alkyl sulphates, more preferably the C 11-C 15
branched
chain alkyl sulphates and the C12-C14 linear chain alkyl sulphates.
Anionic sulphonate surfactants suitable for use herein include the salts of CS-
C20 linear
or branched alkylbenzene sulphonates, alkyl ester sulphonates, in particular
methyl ester
sulphonates, C6-C22 primary or secondary alkane sulphonates, Cg-C24 olefin
sulphonates, sulphonated polycarboxylic acids, alkyl glycerol sulphonates,
fatty acyl
glycerol sulphonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulphonates, and any mixtures
thereof.
Other suitable anionic surfactants are the alkali metal sarcosinates.
Preferred examples
are the myristyl and oleoyl methyl sarcosinates in the form of their sodium
salts.
Cationic surfactant
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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 of the composition
herein.
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.
Suitable amphoteric surfactants for use herein include the amine oxide
surfactants and the
alkyl amphocarboxylic acids. Preferred amine oxides are C10-Clg alkyl
dimethylamine
oxide, and C10-18 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.
Complex
betaine surfactants are also suitable for use herein.
Water-soluble buildin~a~ent
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
CA 02404678 2006-O1-05
WO 01/'85&98 PCT/US01/07710
17
composition or particle. Preferably, the water-soluble builder compound is an
alkali or
earth alkali metal salt of phosphate present at ~e level deacn'bed above.
Other typical
water-soluble building agents include the water soluble monomeric
polycatbox3rlates, or
their acid forms, hamo 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. 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 polymerisation 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 pemxyacid 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 percaifionate
salt and is
preferably free from any perborate salts or borate salts. It has been fouad
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,
pezphosphate,
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 protecti~. For certain perhydrate salts however, the ~d
executions of such granular compositions utilise a coated form of the material
which
provides better storage stability for the perhydrate salt in the granular
product. Alkali
metal percarbonates, particularly sodium percarbonate are preferred
perhydrates herein.
Sodium percarbonate is an addition compound having a fornaula corresponding to
2Na2C03.3H202, and is available commercially as a crystalline solid. Potassium
CA 02404678 2002-09-25
WO 01/85898 PCT/USO1/07710
18
peroxymonopersulfate is another inorganic perhydrate salt of use in the
compositions
herein.
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. 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.
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
with the percarbonate source. In an alternative preferred execution a pre-
formed organic
peroxyacid is incorporated directly into the composition.
Peroxyacid bleach precursors are compounds which react with hydrogen peroxide
in a
perhydrolysis reaction to produce a peroxyacid. Amide substituted alkyl
peroxyacid
precursor compounds are also suitable for use herein.
Pre-formed organic peroxyacid
The organic peroxyacid bleaching system may contain a pre-formed organic
peroxyacid.
Preferred organic peroxyacids include diacyl and tetraacylperoxides,
especially
CA 02404678 2006-O1-05
wo onsss~s rcr~soiro~mo
19
dipemxydodecanedioc acid, diperoaytetradecanedioc acid and
dipero~cyhexade~nedioc
acid. Mono- and diperazelaic acid, mono- and diperbrassylic acid and N
phthaloylaminoperoxicaproic acid are also suitable herein.
me
Another preferred optional ingredient useful in the composition herein, is one
or more
additional enzymes. 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.
Preferred commercially available protease enzymes include those sold under the
'trade marksAlcalase, Savinase, Prinnase, Dutazym, and Fsperase 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
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, those sold under the tradename
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 hcrein
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~/o by weight of the particle, preferably 0.001% to 3% by weight of the
composition,
most preferably from 0.001% to O.S°/ by weight of the compositions.
preferred lipase is
commercially available fmm Novo Industri A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark, under the
trade
mark Lipolase.
CA 02404678 2006-O1-05
wo o~8ss9s pcT~soiro~no
Suds suppressing, system
The composition may comprise a suds suppresser at a level less than 10~/0,
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,
paraffn, wax,
or any combination thereof. If the suds suppresser is a suds suppressing
silicone, then the
5 detergent composition preferably comprises fmm 0.005% to 0.5% by weight a
suds
suppressing silicone.
Particularly preferred suds suppressers are silicone antifoam compounds
defined herein
as any antifoam compound including a silicone component. Preferred silicone
antifoam
10 compounds are the siloxanes, particularly the polydimethylsiloxanes having
trimethylsilyl
end blocking units. Other suitable antifoam compounds include the
monocarboxylic fatty
acids and soluble salts thereof.
Polymeric dye transfer inhiibiting agents
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
ag~ts
are in addition to the polymeric material of the water-soluble film. 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.
Optical Brig
The composition herein may also optionally comprise from 0.005% to 5% by
weight of
certain types of hydmphilic optical brighteners.
A preferred optical brightener is 4,4'; bis[(4-anilino-6-(N-2-bis-
hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine-
2-yl)amino]-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid and disodium salt, which is marketed
under the
trade mark Tinopal-UNPA GX by G'i'ba-Geigy Corporation. Tinopal-UNPA-GX is the
preferrod hydrophilic optical brighbener useful in the compositions herein.
Another
preferred brightens is 4,4'-bis[(4-anilino-6-(1~T 2-hydroxyethYl'N
methYlamino)-s-
CA 02404678 2006-O1-05
WO 01/85898 PCT/US01/07710
21
triazine-2-yl)amino]2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid disodium salt, which is
commercially
marketed under the trade mark Tinopal SBM-GX by Ciba-Geigy Corporation. Also,
4,4'-
bis[(4-anilino-6-morphilino-s-triazine-2-yl)amino]2,2'-stilbenedisulfouic
acid, s
salt, is a preferred optical brightener and is marketed under the trade mark
Tin~l AMS-
GX by Ciba Geigy Corporation.
Cationic fabric softening a~
Cationic fabric softening agents are preferably present in the composition
herein. Suitable
cationic fabric softening agents include the water insoluble tertiary amines
or dilong
chain amide materials. Preferably, these water-insoluble tertiary amines or
dilang chain
amide materials are comprised by the solid component of the composition
herein.
Cationic fabric softening agents are typically incorporated at total levels of
from 0.5% to
15% by weight, normally from 1% to 5% by weight.
Other optional in reg_ died
Other optional ingredients suitable for inclusion in the composition herein
include
perhmaes, colours and filler salts, with sodium sulphate being a preferred
filler salt.
Laun washing method
Preferably, the mufti-compartment pouch dissolves or disintegrates in water to
deliver the
solid detergent ingredients and liquid detergent ingredients to the washing
cycle.
Typically, the mufti-comps 'rtment pouch is added to the dispensing draw, or
alternatively
to the drum, of an automatic washing machine.
Preferably, the mufti-comparhnent 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 mufti-compartment pouch and are
added
to the washing cycle separately. In addition, one or more detergent
compositio~os other
than the detergent composition comprised by the mufti-compartment pouch can be
used
CA 02404678 2002-09-25
WO 01/85898 PCT/USO1/07710
22
during the laundering process, such that said detergent composition comprised
by the
mufti-compartment pouch is used as a pre-treatment, main-treatment, post-
treatment or a
combination thereof during such a laundering process.
CA 02404678 2006-O1-05
wo o~ss9s pcTnrsoiro~no
z3
~amPle I
A piece of Chris-Craft'''~''i M-8630 film is placed on top of a small mould
and fixed in place.
The small mould consists of a hemispherical shape and has a diameter of 33mm
and a
depth of l4.Smm. 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
A
vacuum is applied to pull the film into the mould and pull the film flush with
the inner
surface of the mould. Sml 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 small mould with the liquid component and sealed to the fnrst pipe of film
by
applying an annular piece of flat metal of an inner diameter of 34mm and
heating that
metal under moderate pressure onto the ring of rubber at the edge of the mould
to heat-
t 5 seal the two pieces of film together to form a pre-sealed compartment
comprising the
liquid component. The metal ring is typically heated to a temperature of
from135°C to
150°C and applied for up to 5 seconds. The pre-sealed compartment has a
75mm rim of
Chris-Craft film which extends in an outwardly direction from the seal away
from the
centre of the pro-sealed compartment so that the pre-sealed compartment can be
fixed
into place and completely cover the opening of a mould with a larger diameter
of
48.Smm.
Next, a third piece of Chris-Graft M-8630 film is placed on top of a larger
mould and
fixed in place. The large mould consists of a cylindrical shape aad has a
diameter of
48.Smm and a depth of 22mm. 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 A vacuum is applied to pull the film into the large mould and pull the
film flush
with the inner surFacx of the mould to form an open cogent. 40g of the solid
component of the detergent composition is poured into the open compartment.
Next, the pre-sealed compartment is placed over the top of the large mould
with the solid
component and fixed into place so that the pre-sealed compartment covers the
opening of
CA 02404678 2002-09-25
WO 01/85898 PCT/USO1/07710
24
the large mould and the rim of elm of the pre-sealed compartment is suitably
placed over
the layer of rubber which is present around the edges of the large mould so
that the rim of
film can form part of the seal which closes the open compartment.
The rim of film of the pre-sealed compartment is sealed to the third layer of
film by
applying an annular piece of flat metal of an inner diameter of SOmm 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 froml35°C to
150°C 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.
Liquid component deter-e~ nt in_ erg diem Amount (by weight of the liquid
component)
Nonionic surfactant 74%
Solvent 12%
Perfume 7%
Water 2%
Minors to 100%
Solid component deter_eg nt in erg client Amount (by weight of the solid
component)
Cationic surfactant 5%
Bleaching agent 26%
Chelating agent 0.8%
Enzyme 6%
Suds suppressor 1
Bleach activator 12%
CA 02404678 2002-09-25
WO 01/85898 PCT/USO1/07710
Sodium carbonate 6%
Soap 1%
Brightener 0.5%
~' Zeolite 40%
5 Minors to 100%
Example III
A pouch was made by the process described in example I which comprises the
following
10 liquid component and solid component.
Liquid component deter_ent in erg diem Amount (by weight of liquid component)
Nonionic surfactant 69%
Solvent 9%
15 Perfume 10%
Water 3%
Minors to 100%
Solid component deter eg nt in er d~~~ent Amount (by weight of the solid
component)
20 Bleaching agent 36%
Chelating agent 2%
Enzyme 10%
Suds suppressor 1%
Sodium carbonate 6%
25 Brightener 3
Zeolite 40%
Minors to 100%
